ldysly
Advanced Member
Lord make me thy servant.
Posts: 1,732
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Post by ldysly on Aug 24, 2011 10:29:55 GMT -6
There weren't enough to save Sodom and Gamorrah tho...Bud. And I don't think there are enough to save the United States. As much as we love this country I firmly believe it is in decline. It may survive but not as a super power. As Keith has often said...the rapture will be the end. True, true I too don't believe there are enough to save us especially when you count all those lukewarm "Lord show me the money" folks. We will not survive as a superpower if we survive at all. I think China and Russia will fullfill the earthly superpower thing along with the son of perdition in Babylon. But we will be gone and watching it from some really great seats. What we have to do is get as many on board as possible so they are not left behind.
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Post by Bud on Aug 24, 2011 11:17:30 GMT -6
Yes I agree with you,this nation will probably decline as a super power before the end-time prophecy's are fulfilled.In Daniel's vision in Chapt.7 and Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Chapt.2 of the 4 world empires and the decline of the 4th one and then it's recovery in the end-time,there is no room for a superpower like the U.S. Whether the rapture is what causes the U.S. to decline or not would depend on how many righteous people there is here that will go in the rapture.As you say there probably aren't enough here for God to spare it now,then the rapture probably wouldn't make much of a difference.
If not for God's mercy and grace now He could righteously destroy all the nations for none of them are righteous according to His Righteous standard.Thankfully He is still saving individuals from all nations and will continue until the Church is complete,Then all H--- will break loose.
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Post by Keith on Aug 24, 2011 13:14:30 GMT -6
Whether the rapture is what causes the U.S. to decline or not would depend on how many righteous people there is here that will go in the rapture.As you say there probably aren't enough here for God to spare it now,then the rapture probably wouldn't make much of a difference. I believe there are many more saved people in America than we realize Bud, but most of them have become complacent in their salvation. Let's remember though, their attitude is not a bearing on whether they're saved or not. It's only a determining factor as to how many, or how few rewards they receive. Their attitude notwithstanding, the Holy Spirit is still at work in the members of the church who are aware of the time, and when removed, their absence will be felt dramatically throughout this nation. So yes, I feel the Rapture will have a major affect on the country, not only with the disasters due to it's occurence, but to the lack of stability due to the Holy Spirit's work through those taken.
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Post by Bud on Aug 24, 2011 14:28:26 GMT -6
I'm sorry,I've totally misunderstood what was considered righteous in this discussion.I consider everyone that is saved righteous and I thought what was being said was there wasn't enough saved ones in this country to warrant God not to destroy it and if that was true then the rapture wouldn't make much difference.But the subject must be "not enough saved people living righteous" for God not to destroy the country.I didn't realize it was just the complacent ones in discussion. I agree with you on the effects of the rapture on this nation and probably other nations.I believe the rapture will have a big effect on this country and if it hasn't declined by then,it probably will after the rapture.
But to say God is going to destroy this country because of it's ungodliness,I'm not sure of because all the countries are ungodly. God has used this country and blessed this country,I think for several reasons.One, it has been a refuge for the Jew and still is.He has preserved the Jew here and still is.
Two, He has used the wealth of Jews in this country to help sustain Israel and still is.He has used Jewish influence in our government to help Israel and still is.Compared to many other countries we are still friends with Israel.Some might think that is harsh for God to use this nation to help sustain Israel,but God is sovereign and can do that if He chooses.He chose that nation (Israel) out of all nations for a purpose and He will fulfill that purpose and He has used many nations down through history as I believe He is using this country if He needs to.
Third this nation has been, through the church, a strong missionary country with the spread of the Gospel and still is.There are many churches supporting missionaries.This site is also spreading the gospel for sure (at your expense since you don't take donations and put up with people like me)and many other sites just like it. Yes the country morally speaking is pretty bad and the influence of the part of the church that is in this nation isn't very great,but it isn't very great in it's influence in other countries either.
I guess my point is if God is going to destroy this country because of its morals and the influence of the part of the church that is here,He will have to destroy a lot of other countries too.
How long God will continue to bless this nation,I suppose the reasons I stated would be one gauge.
Again I am sorry for misunderstanding,I'll try to read the posts more closer before I open my mouth.
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Post by Bud on Aug 24, 2011 18:13:56 GMT -6
Keith if you or anyone here thought for a moment that I meant that only the ones living a righteous life would be the only ones to go in the rapture,then please go and reread my posts under Food for Thought.I would be contradicting everything I believe and have taught for 41 years.
But I don't expect the lost people in this nation or any nation to straighten up and clean up their lives and live a Godly life.They aren't capable of that.The morals of this country are bad and it could eventually lead to it's decline and it could fall.But for God to expect the lost to shape up and live Godly lives so He want destroy the country would be a lot for God to expect,wouldn't you think,after all His word has taught us about the sinful nature and what it cost God to provide His perfect salvation.
The lost people in this country and any country doesn't need me telling them they need to clean up and live a good moral life,they need me to tell them they are lost and need Christ.If I tell them they need to live a good moral life, then they would think that is all they need for salvation.What do I really expect from lost people?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2011 20:34:21 GMT -6
I don't think you were saying that at all. In fact, all saved persons are counted righteous by the blood of Christ. They may not be living right, but none of us are if we consider the perfect standard that the Bible demands. So, even Christians living less than worthy of the name will be taken up at the rapture, where they will be in the line for little or no rewards . . . they will be saved (are saved) yet so as by fire.
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Post by Bud on Aug 25, 2011 7:16:38 GMT -6
We must never forget that this sinful nature,this Adamic nature,the flesh,the old man,however you choose to identify it,is just as wicked,wretched and sinful,as this world system,with it's nations,leaders and governments and all God could do with it was crucify it.
We don't owe it anything and provision has been made that we don't have to yield to it's desires and provision has been made,when we do yield we can confess it.Recognizing this flesh and it's fruit should be an ongoing experience in our lives,just as we recognize this world system with it's governments and it's leaders and it's total rejection of God.
Nothing this world system does should surprise us and the same goes for this flesh.It's so much easier to see what is wrong with the world than it is with what is wrong within me.
Oh that the world might see Christ in me and not the fruit of my flesh.
Yes the judgement of God will come on this world just like it came on me at Calvary in my Savior as He took my sins and my sin nature and crucified them in Himself on the cross.
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Post by Keith on Aug 25, 2011 7:26:58 GMT -6
Keith if you or anyone here thought for a moment that I meant that only the ones living a righteous life would be the only ones to go in the rapture... Good morning Bud! That's what I was thinking and I apologize 'cause I do know you don't believe that. I think I was crossing up subject matter between Christian complancy and the decline of America and Christian complancy and the Rapture. Again, sorry brother.
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Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
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Post by Murph on Aug 25, 2011 7:36:25 GMT -6
Shucks...I was wondering as I read this how many churches today...even know what the rapture is?
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Post by Keith on Aug 25, 2011 13:17:50 GMT -6
I'm betting they all know what it's supposed to be, but many more than we realize are being taught it's a 'concept', not an actual prophecy. These are our brethren like I was describing above: complacent.
They're saved, but not living for nor looking for Him. They will be chastised serverely for their negligence:
"The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes." (Luke 12:46-47)
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