The Times of the Signs #1 - The Days of Lot

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#0, The Times of the Signs #1 The Days of Lot
Posted by Christine on Sep-04-03 at 10:09 AM

LAST EDITED ON Sep-04-03 AT 11:04 AM (PST)


Volume II Issue #8 AUGUST, 2003

The Days Of Lot

"Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed." Luke 17:28-30


While I am painfully aware that this month's commentary is not without controversy, I have struggled long and hard with how to present it. Unfortunately, there is just no other way than to just get it out. If you are offended by it, then good. I hope that you will search the Scriptures to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11). Now that I have your attention, let me just say that I am going to do my best to expose this darkness, but share the love and mercy of Christ as well. I am also going to use a lot of Scripture, as the Holy Spirit needs to be able to do His job through the understanding of His Word.

The story of Abraham and Lot should be familiar to everyone, however I will refresh your memory on the details. Lot was Abraham's nephew and they had left Ur together in search of the Promised Land. Because God had prospered them both with huge herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, the land began to be too small for their needs. At that point they agreed to separate and each find room for their herds, flocks and families. Abraham let Lot choose first and he chose the plain of Sodom to dwell in. As time would go on, it would become apparent that Lot had made a poor choice.

The Bible does not have a lot to say about Sodom other than that it was very wicked.

Genesis 18:20-21

" And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,

21I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know."

We are told just what this grievous sin is until the next chapter...

Genesis 19...

1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.

2And he said, "Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way."
And they said, "No, but we will spend the night in the open square."


3But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

4Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house.

5And they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally."

6So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him,

7and said, "Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly!

8See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof."

9And they said, "Stand back!" Then they said, "This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them." So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door.

10But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door.

11And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.

As I said, the Bible doesn't say much about Sodom, but what it does say is loud and clear. There are days worth of study in this passage friends. Why was Lot sitting at the gate? This signified his high position on the city council. Lot was tolerant of the rampant sin in the city. What an apt picture of our day and age friends. This is our first clue to why Jesus pointed out the days of Lot as a model for the time of His return. However the second, and most glaring, description of Sodom is that it was filled with the sin of homosexuality. The men of Sodom wanted the 'men' that had come to Lot's house. In fact, they wanted them so bad that they tried to break down the door to get them, and, according to their own words, they wanted them just to have sex with them. They would not even accept the offer of Lot's daughters. Nope. They burned in lust for the men that had come to town.

So where does that leave us today? Jesus likened the days of his return unto the days of Lot. What do we know about the days of Lot other than the rampant homosexuality that marked it? Isn't odd that we do not know much more about it? I do not think so. In fact, I believe that it is exactly what Jesus was referring to.

The homosexual agenda has been pushing at us for decades with a marked increase in recent years. MTV has been a big factor in pushing it on shows like The Real World and Road Rules. Numerous TV shows, plays and even music stars have been instrumental in advance the homosexual lifestyle upon the world. However, it really seems that there has been a definitive increase in recent weeks. It is as if a line has been crossed, or a dam has been breached and the flood of homosexuality has begun to fill the world. I believe that the dam that broke was the Church. The big news recently was the appointment of the so-called "Gay Bishop". Deluded statements like, "Once again Jesus has turned Good Friday into Easter Sunday" (quoted by Gene Robinson on the day of his appointment), and "We have come to the conclusion as a Church that homosexuality is not wrong. It is just another of the many ways that God expresses himself through man." (in a statement made days earlier regarding the so-called 'Heresy Meeting' days before the appointment by a Episcopalian Church leader).

I do not think that many folks realize the spiritual significance of this story. This should never have even come up for discussion. This was the last frontier for the homosexual agenda friends and now it has been reached! The moral implications not withstanding, the legal implications are going to be very grave indeed. The door is wide open for the homosexual lifestyle to permeate every aspect of society now.

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You may have noticed that right on the heels of the bishop appointment were a flurry of TV shows on both cable networks and regular television (to use a phrase lightly). Many more are being advertised for the upcoming season as well. You see, that is the whole point. Now that Satan has officially sanctioned the homosexual lifestyle in the Church, what is holding back the same agenda in the world? Every church is now going to be expected, probably forced, to allow homosexuals to be placed in ministry positions. We can not only expect the flood to fill the obvious demonic controlled areas of society, but now the Church as well. Surely Jesus is coming for his Bride!

Is there anything wrong with homosexual sex? Many today actually believe that it is fine, if homosexuals just keep it to themselves. Well, what does the Word of God have to say about it?

Leviticus 20:13

If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.

It seems pretty clear what God thinks about the act of gay sex. But that was Old Testament some would say...

Romans 1 gives us an overall description of the fate of those who reject God and His salvation through Jesus Christ...

26For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

27Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.

And later we read that homosexuals will not enter in to Heaven unless they repent of their homosexual sins and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

I Corinthians 6:9-11

9Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

11And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Again in I Timothy 1:10

10for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.

I think the Bible is pretty clear, don't you? The problem isn't with homosexuality exclusively. You can replace that sin with any from the list, it simply doesn't matter. Sin is sin is sin! That is the key to this whole thing. However, the elusion to the days of Lot by Jesus Christ, and the delusion that is spreading in the world today are unmistakably linked to the homosexual lifestyle. Thus it is the issue that needs to be dealt with today.

As followers of and believers in Jesus Christ we must be compassionate and seek every opportunity to extend the Gospel to all sinners. Homosexuals do need to be reminded of their specific sins, but rather that their sins are forgiven through the blood of Jesus, should they want it and confess that Jesus is Lord.

For those who are watching the skies and looking for Christ's return, this impending flood is inching oh so much closer. The great rescuing of the Church is surely nigh. Keep the faith saints, and do not bend on the essentials of the faith. The degree of sin being displayed may be perceived as worse than any other, but it is still just sin. We were all guilty before we received the grace of God. Don't forget that God dearly loves the sinner and does not have any joy in the death of the wicked. He loves the homosexual just as much as any other, so much that he sent his Son to die for them too... Written by Jerry Cesario

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#1, RE: The Times of the Signs #1 The Days of Lot
Posted by Christine on Sep-07-03 at 02:42 PM
In response to message #0

Thanks for the loving treatment of this topic. All sin is sin, and we can't sacrifice that truth to appease those who want to justify it.

There is nothing new under the sun. There are no new or improved people, and there is certainly no new Christianity!

Heterosexuals sin their share of sexual sins, too. However, as this "lifestyle" marches into the church at a rapid pace, we have to ask ourselves why they want to join what clearly condemns them.

I can't help but notice what happens when the crowd gets to Lot's house,the first thing we know is that they couldn't get in and Lot tries to defend the purity of his home at great cost. Lot states that the men are under his roof, and therfeore, under his protection.

Then, the crowd who wanted to have sex with Lot's male guests threatens Lot and attempts to break down his door. The men say to Lot, "Get out of our way," and they kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door.

The angels then pulled Lot back inside and struck the men (young and old) with blindness, so they couldn't find the door!

Lot is told to take his family and flee from that place, or they will also be swept away when the city is punished. He hesitates, and the angels have to take him by the hand in order to lead him to safety. Isn't that a picture of many in the church today? We know the truth, but do we act on it? There is a choice to be made, and many church are compromising on this issue.

Did you notice the mocking laughter when Lot tells his sons-in-law that they must leave because the Lord is about to destroy the whole city? Although Lot is slow to action, Lot does not disbelieve or ignore the warnings of the Lord, although he seems rather shell-shocked. Everyone else is laughing at the idea of a final judgment, does this confuse Lot and slow him down?

What would have happened in the story if the men had gotten into Lot's house because Lot had allowed let them to come in? I think it would have been a very different story for Lot. No, Lot resists, and the crowd does over-power him, but the angels come to his aid.

From what I know of Lot, he was basically obedient, but not eager to give up his comforts. He actually complains as he escapes a fiery doom, bargaining around the commands so he can stay in a nearby town, rather than having to flee all the way to the mountains.

God remembered Abraham in sparing Lot. It was Abraham who pleaded for someone in Sodom to be spared. Abraham's impassioned plea that God not sweep away the righteous along with the wicked turns into a winnowing process, and finally reduces down to one family, and out of those, not all were saved. Lot's wife looked back and turned to a pillar of salt after being warned not to look or stop for any reason, his sons-in-law laughed at him and would not follow the family out.

In (Revelation 18:4-5 NIV) it says: "Then I heard another voice from heaven say "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. " This is after the rapture, when God judges Babylon, an idolatrous religious system, a one-world religion. Although the bride of Christ is safely in heaven by then, it's clearly a call to believers who are saved during the tribulation. In all times, God is calling us to separate ourselves from worldly religious systems or pay the price with them for their sins.


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Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Rom. 12:2 NIV Written by: Kyrie Eleison

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#2, RE: The Times of the Signs #1 The Days of Lot
Posted by Christine on Sep-07-03 at 02:43 PM
In response to message #1

As Robin, had mentioned!
EZEKIEL 16;49
Behold, THIS was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
50 And they were haughty, and commited ABOMINATION before ME: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

So this should be the state of man, at the time of the rapture. JMHO
Because in both Noah and Lots case, everyone was busy. Eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building and marrying. Just as thou nothing was going to happen! In fact the WORD tells us they will be so content at the time, because they will even be saying "peace and safety"! THEN SUDDEN DESTUCTION, comes upon THEM and they shall not escape.
But ye brethern, are NOT in darkness, that that DAY SHOULD OVER TAKE YOU.
So look at all the sins of Sodom, it was not just the abomination, of homosexuality. But I do believe it was the "last straw". JMHO


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As for me,I will behold Thy face in righteousness;I shall be SATISFIED,when I awake,with THY likeness. Written by: Hi Hopes

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#3, RE: The Times of the Signs #1 The Days of Lot
Posted by Christine on Sep-07-03 at 02:44 PM
In response to message #2

Excellent post! Post #25 of 36

It is indeed a time of sorrow when it comes to the 'institutional church' and it's laxidaisical attitude towards sin. That's exactly what it is, SIN!

Not a lifestyle, not a choice, not biological, just plain ol' SIN.

It is a particularly painful subject for me because of what I have seen it do to the people who are close -or- were close to me. I watched in dismay in the mid-90's when my best friend since 6th grade (over 20 years) left his wife and two children to follow a homosexual lifestyle. He, like me, had trained for the ministry and it had been a hope of mine that the Lord would one day allow for our families to serve togather on the same mission field. When he revealed his intentions to me I was stunned, but even more so when I found out the reason why he had "decided" that he was gay. It turns out that the youth pastor of our church had been repeatedly raping him in the 7th and 8th grade and he became convinced that it was "God's will" because why else would the youth minister have been attracted to him like that. Over the next couple of month's I tried to convince him to get help, but the way the church where he was currently serving at handled his "coming out" only caused him harden his heart and cement his beliefs. I spoke to him briefly twice after that and then never heard from him again. My wife and I kept in touch with his wife until she remarried and then she dropped out of our lives. That event had far reaching affects, for it marred my view of the Lord and His providence and I let the enemy convince me that the church was a joke (and so was my faith for that matter). I left the ministry with the intent never to serve again.

In the backdrop of this incident, was the fact that I also had a very close relative who was HIV positive, not because of their lifestyle, but because of the polluted blood supply back in the late eighties when the CDC had yet to identify the tenacity of the AIDS virus. They have been living on borrowed time ever since.

So where am I going with this you may be asking, I will tell you. The Lord never let me stray far, although I did my best to leave His presence, He kept His hand on me. Eventually I came to realize that what had happened to my best friend was the same thing that happens to all people who choose a life of carnality and self-indulgence (which in a sense is what I was doing, except my pursuit was to become successful at all cost in the business world). Homosexuality, like all other destructive habitual behaviour in our world, is only a sign of the times. When scripture says that in that day "People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unfeeling, uncooperative, slanderous, degenerate, brutal, hateful of what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Tim 3:2-4) it means that such behaviour will be acceptable, promotted socially, just as homosexuality is. We are now living in that day. Realizing this, I came to see the Lord's grace in a profound new way and recoginize what my responsibility is in this time. I still pray for my best friend, even more so now that I see the events of this day and age. Yet I also now pray for all those who are choosing a life of carnality, in whatever form it manifest itself, for the time is now short.

Maranatha


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To the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and has made us a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, be glory and power forever and ever! Amen. (Rev 1:5b-6 ISV)


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#4, RE: The Times of the Signs #1 The Days of Lot
Posted by Christine on Sep-07-03 at 02:49 PM
In response to message #3

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Jiggy37
With all due respect, I really have to disagree that it's absolutely not biological--we don't have enough information to prove that one way or the other for every case. Back a few centuries ago, we may have held, say, a mentally retarded person to the same standards as a normal person for the same crime, not understanding that it literally wasn't their fault--that it could have been a genetic defect, or brain damage, or something similar.
I don't think we should be so quick to say "it is absolutely not biological" about homosexuality. Do you really consider it to be that impossible that homosexuality is nothing more than a genetic defect?
I realize that there are many who are just deceived into homosexuality, but I can't rule out that some are that way because of something wrong in their genetics. Why do you?
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The first thing that came to my mind when I read this was, becasue God created us in His likeness and image - I personally don't see genetics being a factor in this lifestyle.

Just my thoughts,

God bless,

Patty


__________________
My Jesus, my Savior,
Lord there is none like You.
All of my days,
I want to praise
the wonders of Your
mighty love Patty T

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#5, RE: The Times of the Signs #1 The Days of Lot
Posted by Christine on Sep-07-03 at 02:50 PM
In response to message #4

Regarding the biological.

Because of the fall and our sin nature, it is plausible that it is genetic in the same way as other hereditary sins/weaknesses.

Regardless of whether or not there is a genetic predisposition to a particular sin, the fault lies in us (through Adam) and not in the Creator.

Have a predisposition does not equate to an irresistable compulsion.

No excuse.

The events at Lot's house when dissected and compared to the current liberal agenda of the last 50 years are quite similar.

"you will accept OUR way by force, be it through the compromised courts, be it through brainwashing via the media and eventually by force of arm"

Say a lie enough and many will believe that it is true.




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[katie]

I don't believe in rapture.

[Christine]

Originally Posted by katie

I don't believe in rapture.

Katie,

Perhaps you do not believe in the Rapture because your church has not taught directly from the Scriptures and you have not studied the Bible on your own to make an informed decision about it. Here is an article from another site that makes some good points in reference to the Rapture:

Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Matt 25:2: And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Matt 25:3: They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Matt 25:4: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Matt 25:5: While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Matt 25:6: And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Matt 25:7: Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Matt 25:8: And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Matt 25:9: But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Matt 25:10: And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Matt25:11: Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Matt 25:12: But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Matt 25:13: Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.


Ten Virgins-- Five wise, five foolish. Both THOUGHT that they were going to the wedding party. This passage could mean the church. Some are saved and some are not. Both go to church, both sing songs, both do great things for the Lord and both think that they are on their way to heaven. But the five foolish had no oil in their lamps. They were foolish because they were not saved. The wise were "wise" because they received Christ Jesus as their Savior. The oil in the lamps signifies the Holy Ghost indwelling the believers.

ALL SAVED PEOPLE, BORN AGAIN, BLOOD BOUGHT, CHILDREN OF GOD here on earth will be raptured.

BUT NOT all CHURCH members will be raptured. Not all pastors will be raptured. NOT ALL TELEVISION EVANGELISTS WILL BE RAPTURED! Not all deacons and not all missionaries will be raptured but ALL SAVED PEOPLE WILL BE RAPTURED.

SAVED PEOPLE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLING THEM. WHEN JESUS DESCENDS FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, ALL THOSE WHO ARE BORN AGAIN WILL GO IN THE RAPTURE TO MEET HIM IN THE AIR. THE SAVED HAVE OIL IN THEIR LAMPS.

1Thess 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Jesus said that, "My sheep hear my voice." When Jesus descends from heaven with a shout, all the saved will hear Him. Not all who sit in the church pews will hear Him but those who are born again will hear Jesus shout.


Now let's look at these verses:

Matt 24:40: Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Matt 24:41: Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Matt 24:42: Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Notice that the two people are busy working together, but only one is taken. Both are doing the same work. There will be many church people who will be left behind. There will be many preachers who will be left behind because they are not born again. Although they are diligently working and think that they are doing it for the Lord, they are not born again. They think they are born again. They think that they will be raptured but they are in for a terrible awakening.

Matt 7:22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Matt 7:23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

How can this happen? How can church people do things wonderful things for the Lord and yet Jesus will tell them, "I never knew you." Notice that these people that Jesus will say this to were NEVER born again. The Lord says, "I NEVER knew you." That is to say, "you have never been mine." This passage does not refer to the backsliders as many erroneous teachers have taught. God cannot lie. If God says, "I never knew you." It means just that. This passage refers to those church people who have done wonderful things but they themselves have NEVER been born again of God's Spirit. They do not know God personally and Jesus will tell them, "I NEVER knew you." The Lord didn't say "I knew you at one time...you used to be mine." The Lord says "I NEVER knew you."

Katie, Jesus believed in and taught about the Rapture in Scripture!! I sincerely hope that you will consider studying these relevant Scriptures (including Revelation) and discover more about it.

Previously, you had stated that you never read or studied the book of Revelation. That's a huge mistake!! Yes, it can be difficult to understand because of the symbolism and apocalyptic style in which it is written; however, the Person of Jesus Christ is uniquely revealed throughout its pages!! Don't miss what He has in store for you. The book ends with admonition and warnings to the unsaved, but with glorious hope for the saved!! In fact, Revelation 22:18,19 contains a warning to individuals (and churches) who would "add or take away" from the words of the book of this prophecy.

Revelation 22:6,7 tells us:

6 Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.

7 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

This is Jesus speaking, Katie. Please don't ignore the book of Revelation. Jesus tells us we will be blessed when we keep the words of the prophesy of this book. How can you keep the words if you do not know them?

[katie]

My pastor preached on the rapture, and he doesn't believe there is going to be one either.