False Teachings: Dr. John Killinger

A friend sent me an email regarding an article titled, “CBF presenter questions Christ’s deity “. When I read through the article, I was floored! I wish that I could copy the entire article here, but that would be wrong… So, I will take some excerpts from the article for our discussion. I would highly recommend that you click the link and read the article in its entirety for yourself so that you get a complete and contextual idea of what was written. The picture to the left is of Dr. John Killinger, the speaker of which the article is written about.

Many of you are aware of the Ecumenical movement and the Emerging church movement and how they believe that we must “reinvent” the Christian faith (life), which means changing the true Word of God (Bible) to fit into their self-seeking, self-pleasing, humanistic point of view. If you are unaware of this movement, you can read about it at these links: Understand The Times, Slice Of Laodicea, A Little Leaven, Lighthouse Trails, Discernment Ministries also, if you would like more links, please visit my “Links” page.

These movements have caused quite the shake in the Church and are gaining momentum in some outrageous ways as of late. This article is just one more example of the heretical teachings that are creaping into the Church just as the Bible predicted would happen in the last days.

2 Peter 2:1 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

2 Timothy 4:1-4 “I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

 Dr. Killinger seems to look down on fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, however, to be a true Christian… you must believe what it says in the Word of God on how to become a Christian… This is fundamental, correct? Otherwise you are just playing a game that has no true outcome of which you strive for, so that being said, what would be the use? Your effort would be in vain. The Word of God is an all or nothing sort of thing. Jesus Himself said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) and also, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” (John 15:10). It is logical, don’t you agree, that in order to do what the Word says, you must believe what the Word says and then you get what the Word says… eternal life in the Lord’s love.

Now, lets take a look at some excerpts from the article…

Excerpt 1

“Doctrine isn’t the driving force to many people today” except “to the fundamentalists who insist on it,” Killinger said. “But doctrine is a thing of the past now religiously.”

Pastors can follow this cultural shift by preaching about Jesus’ human side rather than insisting that He was God and that He always existed, Killinger said.

This excerpt goes along with what I have stated in the previous paragraph as you can clearly see.

Excerpt 2

“I find from pastors a greater and greater reluctance to preach from the Gospel of John, which used to be the greatest pleasure for most preachers because John was so assertive about the incarnation and the role of Christ” versus “the tendency to go back to Mark and Matthew and Luke to see the more human side of Jesus, who was anointed at the time of His baptism to be the savior of Israel, but not necessarily to be the preexistent one that we find in John.”

The part of this excerpt that stands out the most is the very last phrase, which is underlined by me. I would like to share the following verse with you, which was written before Jesus, the man, came to earth.

Psalm 110:1 “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

Also, Jesus clarified Himself to the scribes in the following statement:

Luke 20:41-44 “And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David’s son? And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?”

Now, how do we know for sure that it was Jesus, the Lord (as Jesus Himself claimed to be)? Well, lets take a look at the following:

Hebrews 1:13-14 “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

This proves that it was not an angel which was spoken of. Lets continue…

Acts 2:34-36 “For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Ah-ha! I think we have a winner! Jesus is the One! Is Dr. Killinger going to through out the book of Acts along with the book of John? If so, then how do we explain the Church being filled with the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit which they so love to claim? You can learn more about the exploited gifts of the Spirit by researching the Toronto Blessing, etc. from the links which were provided above.

Excerpt 3

“Jesus Himself has had a lot of things said in His behalf that He never intended. This is one of the things that’s going on today in biblical studies — and I think is much more promising than some of the fundamentalists will allow — is that we are questioning whether Jesus Himself said this or whether an institutional church that grew up in Jesus’ wake said this. This was the purpose of the so-called Jesus Seminar,” Killinger said.

Lets just take a look back at what Jesus said about Himself, shall we?

John 14:6-7 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”

Then Jesus is questioned by Philip regarding what Jesus just told them and Jesus responds with:

John 14:9-10 “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”

This is why Dr. Killinger doesn’t want to hold to the doctrine in the book of John.  The book of John is to the point, direct, in your face or as Dr. Killinger stated, “assertive”.

Excerpt 4

“I’m just suggesting that I think we need to be a little less certain about what Jesus meant, what He was about, what His life and work were about. I think we’re reevaluating all that.”

For example, Jesus did not conceive of Himself as the Savior of the world and may not have viewed Himself a sacrifice at all until the crucifixion, Killinger said.

Again, please notate the underlined portion, emphasis mine. Now, lets take a look at some more scripture:

John 3:14-21 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

 This as we can clearly see, is another reason why Dr. Killinger doesn’t want to pay attention/teach the book of John… it clearly states that Jesus IS the Savior. Jesus clarifies in the following verses:

Matthew 16:15-17 “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

 The word “Christ” in the Greek is Χριστός which means:

 Christ = “anointed”

1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God

2) anointed

Dictionary.com determins Christ as a Messiah. It also clarifies a “Messiah” as a savior, deliverer, liberator.

 So, as we can see… whether by the Word of God (English, Greek, Hebrew) it all spells out that Jesus was, is and always will be the Savior of the World. 

Dr. Killinger goes on to state that he can read the book of John to himself and compares it to a “mystical” experience. This is classic Emergent phylosophy.  

Excerpt 5

Many CBF pastors agree with his views of salvation, Killinger said, citing an experience at a gathering of pastors in South Carolina. When he asked them what salvation meant to them, they all talked about self-fulfillment and love rather than doctrine, Killinger said.

The pastors also said they did not disbelieve in an afterlife but were not overly concerned about it, Killinger said. When asked whether they thought people of other world religions are going to hell, the pastors replied that they did not think in terms of heaven and hell, he said.

 I find it interesting that Pastors today are so not concerned about heaven and hell, yet Jesus cared enough to warn us all about it. (Please read the books of Matthew - John and the book of Revelation for specifics, for there are too many to list now).

Dr. Killinger goes on to attempt discrediting the book of Daniel and its prophetically acurate writings, stating that the book of Daniel “fibbed a lot”.

I have given you pretty much the gist of the article, however, I do recommend that you read it in its entirety. I hope that all of you will search out the scriptures and align everything with them, in the proper context, not withholding any books because of personal preference, as Dr. Killinger and others are trying to do. If these heretical teachers do not turn from their destructive ways, the Lord Himself will come unexpectedly with their just reward (condemnation), which they will not escape.

We are all accountable for what we influence others toward, so as watchmen on the wall… you have been warned. Now it is up to you what you will do with that, as you will be accountable for it.

 

Living the Christian Life - Part II

In Living the Christian Life - Part I, we looked at how the Bible defines “love”. We began our study in Galatians 5:22-26 as we will pick up our study today with looking at “joy”. To recap, this is what those verses state:

Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Dictionary.com has one definition of joy as follows:

Joy

Joy\, n. [OE. joye, OF. joye, joie, goie, F. joie, L. gaudia, pl. of gaudium joy, fr. gaudere to rejoice, to be glad; cf. Gr. ? to rejoice, ? proud. Cf. Gaud, Jewel.]

1. The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; pleasurable feelings or emotions caused by success, good fortune, and the like, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exhilaration of spirits; delight.

If we look at Philippians 1:25 and 2 Corinthians 1:24, we can see that joy is based in faith and if we look further in Romans 15:13 and 1 Thessalonians 1:6, we can see that our joy (or faith) is given through the power of the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) and Acts 13:52.

In 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, we see that our joy is correlated with hope and a crown of rejoicing. The hope of our joy is what helped Jesus to endure the cross as in Hebrews 12:2. Then if we look at Luke 15:10, we can see that joy is in the salvation of those who are included in the Bride of Christ (Christians) and the fullness of the Bride is the Lord’s joy fulfilled (John 3:29).

In John 15:11, we can see that the Word of the Lord is joy to us, as well as John 17:13. In John 16:22 we see that the Lord gives us joy that no man can take away. We can see that it is through the Holy Spirit in Christ that we attain our joy in Romans 5:11 and Romans 14:17.

We can see that in Hebrews 11:11 faith is strength and we have already concluded that joy is through faith, therefore, our joy in the Lord through the Word inspired by the Holy Spirit is what gives us the faith to strengthen us through our lives and the hope of our salvation to the conclusion of the fullness of the Bride of Christ.

We have this joy, hope, faith and strength because of our love toward the Lord our God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Now, this takes us to our next topic, peace, which will be covered in Part III.

 

Stand Firm In Times Of Trouble

In the days of violence and persecution, it is difficult to find peace and joy.  It is because of this, that I have chosen to write on this topic today. There are a few scriptures that came to mind, which deal directly with this topic. The life of a Christian believer is not one of ease and comfort, though many would like you to believe that it is. Once you become a believer in Christ Jesus, you become a target. We are meek in the fact that we put our trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus and not on our own abilities and influences. We are strong in the fact that our faith is an example, which cannot be disputed during the judgment of the unbelievers. That is right, we are an example.

 

Hebrews 12:1-4 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

 

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

 

2 Corinthians 4:13-15 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

 

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

So, what are we to think on??? We are to think on the things which are eternal, the things which we are taught by the Word of God, the things which we hope and long for by the redemption of our bodies at the rapture/resurrection of the Church, for this is our blessed hope – to be with the Lord God forever. When all around you seems to fail, when all around you seems hopeless, just remember, you have a hope… you have a Savior.

 

Psalm 34:17,19 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles…Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

 

Psalm 97:10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

 

The time to press on, is coming to an end, the work is almost done… 

 

Matthew 9:37 Then saith He unto His disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few…

 

Will you work while you can? Will you store up treasures, where moth, rust and thieves cannot corrupt? Will you be counted worthy to escape the things, which are about to come?

 

Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

 

Now is not the time to loose heart. Be encouraged, the day is almost done and your rewards await you in Christ Jesus.

 

 

There Is Hope For Myanmar Cyclone Disaster Victims

There is hope for Myanmar cyclone nagris disaster victims… We have received an update from Roger Oakland with Understand The Times, International Ministry. Please read the following message:

Myanmar Missions Update
From Understand The Times

As the world now knows, the destruction that hit Yangon and surrounding area two weeks ago may go down in history as one of the most severe catastrophes of all time. While the loss of life is indescribable, there is much more to this story. Not only is Myanmar one of the poorest places in the world, the people of the country may be the most oppressed in the world. 

UTT has been working with Christians in the country of Myanmar for the last three years. We have over 60 underprivileged children that are being cared for in four different homes (Bryce Lodges 1,2,3 and 4). We have also helped to establish Yangon Grace Bible Fellowship that has planted an additional five churches in two years. Before the storm hit we were in the process of establishing a Bible School and 25 Bible School students to share the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the country.

Four days passed following the storm before we received word from our people (who mostly live in Yangon) that all had survived the disaster. By surviving, we mean that all are alive. The conditions they now face are very difficult.

Understand The Times has established a Myanmar Relief Fund to assist the survivors. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the people who have already contributed. We have prayed and come up with what we believe is the proper way to distribute one hundred percent of the funds we receive to those who are in need.

Our strategy is to move financial resources into the country by several different means, and get these funds to the local Christians that Understand The Times has been working with over the last 3 years. Through their network of house churches and Bible School students we will identify needs and means of securing food, clothing and supplies for shelter and daily living and then provide for as many needs as possible along with proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is a report from one of our leaders from May 13: 

“We went to the most destroyed places this morning but returned from half way because the military (army) do not like us to go. They check every truck to see whether the people bring rice, cooking oils, etc. The morality has been the issue.” “It looks like I will have to borrow the money and buy chain saws and help the Buddhist outreach area. Their house was completely destroyed. I will send the picture. Today, we gave them some money to buy rice. It is very humbling to see where they sleep and eat.”

And from another leader in Yangon:

“Nowadays, our main work is to go around and help the needy people in the way we could. Many of them are still in government school because of having no place to stay. According to the situation of Outskirt people (Buddhist slums), if you can come and supply the needs of rice, material needs for houses like bamboo roof cover like a roof grass- thatch tents, mosquito nets, cooking oil, salt, water for use so that no loss motion comes and solves the problems which they can not solve by their own, I believe it will be helpful and useful for reaching out the gospel to the people. The above things are getting higher day by day. Some are rising twice to sixth than the normal price. We brought even water very costly.”

We must exercise caution since foreign activity is suspect there and if we are too visible we can bring much trouble upon the local Christians. We must be very discreet and proceed with much caution and we must protect names and faces. We are presently in the process of sending someone over to Yangon to provide assistance and to help organize and oversee the dispersal of assistance through Understand the Times in the surrounding area. Others will follow as they are able to secure visas. Please pray for favor that we may receive the necessary visas and be able to go. 

All funds taken will be documented and accounted for and records will be kept showing who received the support and how it was spent. Our benevolent efforts will be in the name of Jesus and the gospel will be presented along with the physical assistance. A fund for supporting the victims of the Myanmar disaster has been established at  www.understandthetimes.org. Checks can be sent to our two offices in Canada and USA. Again, one hundred percent of all donations to the Myanmar Relief Fund go to help the people of Myanmar.

Sincerely In Christ,
Roger Oakland

As you can see, so much is going on in Yangon Myanmar and the surrounding areas. It reminds me of the verses: 

 

Amos 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.”

 

These poor people are going from a horrific event then having to suffering from the elements, food starvation, water dehydration and if that wasn’t enough, their own government is out to get them… or at least let them suffer and die. So, please, if you can do nothing else… pray for them and for those who are trying to help them. Let Understand The Times know you are keeping them in your prayers, encourage them in their difficult tasks ahead. You can visit their website at:  Understand The Times.

Be sure to subscribe to my feed for updates as they happen and please remember that your prayers and support are greatly appreciated. Also, if you have any questions or comments you would like passed along, please feel free to leave them in the comments section of this post. Thank you, God bless.

 

The Feast of Pentecost and The Rapture of the Church

Could the rapture of the church happen on Pentecost 2008?

First of all, the true biblical holiday of Pentecost is NOT this weekend (May 17-18). Christians who are celebrating Pentecost on this weekend are basing their judgment on Easter, which they believe represents the Passover… this is not true. Easter was celebrated a month before Passover this year based on the Gregorian calendar not the Hebrew calendar. The true Passover was on April 20th not March 23rd. Therefore, Pentecost is actually June 8th. [*edit by author* Thanks to a wonderful reader, Donna, she pointed out that Pentecost in 2008 is actually June 15th. I went back to research this information and found that she is correct. I began my counting from the Sabbath between Passover and First Fruits, but I was suppose to count from the following Sabbath. This takes us to June 15, 2008, which is a Sunday. I deeply appologize for the inacuracy, but I gratefully thank Donna for the correction.]

Now here is where it may get a little confusing to some… If we base our dates and times according to Jerusalem, since that is how God did it, then this would cause us to begin our celebration on June 7th. According to the Bible, the beginning of a day is at sunset on the previous day. So, June 8th would actually begin at sunset on June 8th and go until sunset on June 8th. Well, if you live in CST in the United States (we are currently 8 hours behind Jerusalem) that would be around 10:00 am ‘ish our time. CLICK HERE to calculate the sunset times for these dates. CLICK HERE to see what time it will be in your area. You also need to keep in mind that the Biblical Sabbath is actually on Saturday not Sunday as the pagans celebrate.

Now that we have that covered, lets take a look at a few things about Pentecost and the rapture, taking place on Pentecost…

A Specific Time vs. A Specific Number of Believers

Regarding Romans 11:25 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness inpart is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Some base their belief that no one knows the day or the hour because you cannot know how many will be included into the church, therefore, you cannot determine when the rapture/resurrection will occur.

Okay, I agree that there is a definite number of those who will be saved by grace before the tribulation, however, I would not limit God to say that He couldn’t calculate this to fit perfectly with a specific date… The Lord God is one of perfect accuracy; the Bible says that God knows the day and the hour in which the rapture/resurrection will occur.

Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, My Father only.”

Now, we must keep the ‘lack of information’ towards man in the proper context here. In this chapter, Jesus is speaking to the Jewish people who will be here during the tribulation, not the Church. The point I am trying to make with this verse is that the Father already knows when it is all going to happen. For more clarification on my previous sentence, please read: Amos 3:7

The Bible also states that the festivals are a shadow of things to come, which means that they each have a prophetic fulfillment.

Colossians 2:16-17 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come;…”

Some may say that these holy days are fulfilled “for the Jewish people…” Well, the Church began on Pentecost and it includes the Gentiles… not just the Jewish people. A good way to look at it is that Pentecost could be the parentheses around the Church age between Daniel’s 69th week and the 70th week.

Lets continue to look at God, as a God of specifics (this character trait is what allows us to put our trust in His Word and the accuracy of His Word). If we were to compare the rapture/resurrection of the Church to a nautical picture, as some may, based on Romans 11:25, then we must look at it from more of a military image rather than one of a random traveler. We are soldiers in Christ, which is why we are called to put on the full armor of God:

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

A military ship, though sailors may get drunk on their leaves, will leave at precisely the right time and if you aren’t ready when the time comes… you would get left and charged with an AWOL. Kind of sounds like the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, don’t you think? Matthew 25

Pentecost Beginnings

Pentecost is celebrated on the 6th of Sivan, which is 50 days after the Passover Sabbath (First Fruits). This holy day is sandwiched between the three holy days in the spring (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits) and the three holy days in the fall (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot “Tabernacles”). Its true Hebrew name is Shavuot. We get the name Pentecost from the Greeks, which means 50 because of the 50 days we count from the Passover Sabbath.

Leviticus 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest unto the priest:

Leviticus 23:15-16 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete: And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete:

Pentecost Reference Names

The Feast of Weeks (because of the counting of weeks between Passover to Pentecost)
First Fruits of the Wheat Harvest (because this is when the wheat harvest is gathered)
Feast of Ingathering (because this is when the harvest is gathered unto the high priest)

Pentecost History

1. According to Jewish tradition based in the book of Enoch, Enoch was born and raptured to heaven on the holy day Pentecost. CLICK HERE for the book of Enoch. Genesis 5:21-24 Enoch is viewed as a type of the Church whereas, we too will be spared from the tribulation period as he was from the flood. Many scholars refer back to Jesus stating in Matthew 24:37 that His coming would be as in the days of Noah.

With this assumption, then the world (nations) would be destroyed (judged) by His wrath, a remnant of Israel (Noah) would be spared through His wrath and the Church (Enoch) would be removed before His wrath. I believe that the beginning of God’s wrath starts with the first seal in Revelation 6, but that is a topic to be covered later.

So, if this is the case and Enoch was raptured on his birthday… then the conclusion could be made that the Church might also be raptured on it’s birthday – Pentecost, for we are sealed for the day of redemption Ephesians 4:30.

2. The Torah was given to the Jewish people as a covenant between them and the Lord God on Mount Sinai. Exodus 19

3. The Holy Spirit filled the Church and sealed them for the day of redemption. Acts 2 and Ephesians 4:30

Pentecost Practices

Exodus 23:16 And the Feast of Harvest, the First Fruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field: and the Feast of Ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors out of the field.

Exodus 34:22 And thou shalt observe the Feast of Weeks, of the First Fruits of wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at year’s end.

Leviticus 23:17 “Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord.”

We may assume that these two loaves of leavened bread, which are also called the “first fruits” to the Lord, are the Church (1=Jewish believers, 2=Gentile believers). We are called the First Fruits unto the Lord. The leaven represents sin and giving it in a wave offering is a way of sanctifying it before the Lord as He did with us through Christ the Messiah. A good point to make here as well, is that this is the ONLY feast where leaven is used and so it can be viewed that this is the only feast directly dealing with the Church.

James 1:18 “Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.”

The book of Ruth is read. The book of Ruth, has been compared to, the story of the Church, our relationship to Israel and the Lord by many scholars. I would like to quote Jack Kelly now on his take regarding this:

Naomi in the role of Israel, destitute and alone; Ruth as the Church, the gentile bride; Boaz as the Kinsman Redeemer (Messiah) and the story a prediction of the relationship between the three of them. On His way to redeeming Israel, the Kinsman Redeemer takes a gentile bride, saving both from destitution.

Pentecost Future

Exodus 19:13 “…when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.”

Acts 2:1 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

Matthew 13:30 “Let both [wheat and tares] grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn.”

Pentecost Summary

In summation, Pentecost is a very good possibility for the rapture/resurrection of the Church. One more idea I would like to share regarding whether we will be aware of it right before or not… If we use Enoch as an example, then according to the book of Enoch, he was told the day of his rapture that it was time to go. If memory serves me correctly, he was told a year before that he had a year left to get his house in order.

Anyway, Enoch is a “Lost Book of the Bible”, so its infallibility is in some question whether it has been preserved completely or not. The canonized Bible that we use today makes reference to the book (teachings) of Enoch, so researching it with discernment could prove beneficial. Jude 1:14-15

Either way, whether it happens on Pentecost or not, we will keep looking up… watching and preparing while sharing the Word of God with others until we cannot work in the harvest fields any longer because our Beloved has called us home.

Click here for Part II

Breaking The Myanmar Blockades

The Junta government ties the hands of those who wish to help, but we have a way to get the victims in Myanmar what they need…

According to this article, (Yahoo article may change/update) the ruling military Junta, has allowed the US only one shipment of supplies/aid to the people devastated by Cyclone Nagris in Myanmar.

Article Excerpt: Earlier Friday, Ky Luu, director of the U.S. office of foreign disaster assistance, had said that skilled aid workers were being forced to sit on the sidelines as victims of last week’s cyclone die…

However, we have contact with a ministry who already has people inside Myanmar, just north of Yangon. They may have a better ability to get shipments of supplies and aid to them because they already have insiders working at the Lodges.

The following is an email, which was sent out by Roger Oakland of Understand The Times International Ministries, that he received from his people running the Bryce Lodges (orphanages) in Myanmar (which were previously established before the Cyclone)…

Early this morning I received two more letters from our Understand The Times representatives in Yangon. All our immediate family have been preserved from the storm.
We are presently in the process of sending someone over to Yangon to provide assistance and to help organize the dispersal of assistance through Understand The Times in the surrounding area.
Please pray for favor that we may receive the necessary visas and be able to go.
A fund for supporting the victims of the Myanmar disaster has been established at www.understandthetimes.org
Checks can be sent to our two offices in Canada and USA.
Following are the two letters that were received today:

Dear Roger,

Internet access was down, now only I can email you again. Hope that you are getting better in these days. With our children we are always praying for your health.

At t