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End Times are Here!  

Now is the time to direct your heart

more fully to God because we are all

 in a race against time!

(I don't talk about my views on end times in any of the books or the small group materials -- only here.) 

Forgive me on this if your views are different than mine. I share these things because they are strong reason for Christians to draw nearer to the Lord. I believe the physical rapture happens at the beginning, in the middle, and after the tribulation when we meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:17). When you are raptured depends on where you are in your learning to stand before Him while you are here.  

Even though I think many will be here during the tribulation, the protection that can be experienced during that time will be no less powerful than if we had been raptured at the start.

David wrote, 

"One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock" (Psa. 27:4-5).

This site is for helping you to prepare yourself by learning to enter the throne room now. 

Jesus told us to keep praying that we would have strength escape all the things that are about to take place. To do that you have to "stand before Him," now before you die.  Jesus said, 

"Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:34-36).

You can escape the things that are about to take place. To do that you have to repent so that you are not "weighted down" and can find freedom to enter the throne room and "stand before" the Lord. 

The protection available to us during the tribulation is for anyone who repents so as to enter the throne room to "stand before" the Lord and who stays there because they have sets their affections on God as their refuge and strength. 

The apostle John wrote,

"Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months" (Rev. 11:1,2).  

Those Christians who live their lives here—in the "outer court" of the heavenly temple, are headed for some difficult times. I believe those who through repentance find freedom to enter into the holy of holies will escape the things that are about to take place because God will be protecting them while they are here. 

Pray that you would have strength to enter and stand before the Lord.

Why at the Beginning, Middle, and the End? 

Why do I believe that there will be a rapture at all 3 times during the tribulation. My answer is that there are scriptures supporting a rapture at all three times. The mind-set of most people is that it has to be one or the other. 

I think that because the scriptures are all true, it must be all three times. And, when you are raptured depends on when you are ready - when you learn to enter and stand before the Lord. 

I know this view is different and I may be wrong about it. That is why I don't push these things on others or make it a big deal at all. My point is to encourage you to enter and draw near.

Let's Focus on Building the Spiritual Temple

I do believe that the physical temple needs to be rebuilt. But the apostle Paul believed it was the building of the spiritual temple that was most important,

"...you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit" (Eph. 2:19-22). 

The reason I say the building of the "spiritual temple" is more important, is because the passage that most people use to talk about the building of the physical temple in Jerusalem is the one that Paul was quoting from in the passage above. Paul interpreted the Old Testament "temple" in spiritual terms (Zec. 8:9). He was quoting from that passage when he wrote the letter to the Ephesians above. 

I do believe the physical temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, but that should not be our focus. Growing into a dwelling place for God should be our focus. Our focus should be the same as Paul. 

By helping others to draw near to stand before the Lord, you will be helping to build the spiritual temple. It works that way because when we draw near to God we become a temple for His manifest presence because He draws near to us.

Of Repentance and Protection

I believe that repentance can help you find the protection you need during these last days. The Bible says, "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent" (Rev. 3:19). Repentance can help you find freedom to enter and to stand before the Lord, now before you die. 

The time is short, don't wait for God to force you to your knees! 

The Bible says, "They will walk after the Lord, He will roar like a lion; indeed He will roar and His sons will come trembling from the west" (Hos. 11:10). 

Don't wait to the last minute to cooperate with God and draw near to Him. Be zealous about turning your heart to God! Be zealous now about getting your heart to hear the truth about standing before the Lord. 

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I am praying for the Lord's abundant blessing on your efforts to direct your heart toward Him.

Barry.

     Why Repent — Continued...

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(C) Barry Hall 1999

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Scriptures are taken from the updated NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1987, 1988, The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. 

Other scriptures are from the New International Version or Amplified Bible as noted.