LOOKING FOR JESUS!

Since when do we have the right to judge the true by the false? I know the false exist, but that gives me no right to judge the true ones by them.
Let's not forget there's two prophets to come that will prophesy to the nations. That seems to tell me God still has them around.

I know what I believe. You believe what you want.

You said: "That which Christians are suffering today are not those things Jesus told His disciples THEY would suffer."
To even say such is an act of willful ignorance brought on by unbelief and a hard heart.

Christ prayed(and is praying) for those who belong to Him = especially for those who are suffering persecution as HE said in Matt ch24.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

Again, WE are not the participants of THAT particular persecution and tribulation that Jesus predicted would come upon THEM. Why can't you see that? Are WE to suffer persecution from the Jews of the first century? Are WE to suffer tribulation and trials from ROME?

The CONEXT of those passages you quoted speaks to THOSE of THAT day and NOT to us. We suffer because of the name of Christ in our day, but that suffering is not the SPECIFIC suffering Christ predicted for His disciples standing right there with Him.

Who is demonstrating "unbelief and a hard heart" other than he who will not look at the clear teachings of Scripture and place them into their proper CONTEXT? Futurists do NOT believe the words of Our Lord. Unbelief doesn't get any worse than that!

What is so hard about understanding that ALL THESE THINGS Jesus warned His disciples about would happen in THAT generation--to THEM? Jesus used that expression "this generation" 20 times and He ALWAYS meant His contemporaries. When a student of God's Word brings to the Scriptures a preconceived idea so precious and so unrelinquishable that He is willing to refuse to see that which is right before him, he is exercising "unbelief and a hard heart."

Perhaps we should all look within ourselves at our own hearts and assess whether there is hardness and unbelief there when we are confronted with that which is clear and plain--especially those words coming directly from OUR LORD!

Did the resurrection also occur(not the resurrection of Christ) and we are now past that?

Did the resurrection also occur(not the resurrection of Christ) and we are now past that?

In other words, we are looking for life, not death; love, not hate; and so, we look forward with joy rather than despair.

The resurrection was the hope of Israel--according to Paul himself. The Jews feared Sheol. The grave for them was not a tomb; it was the place where the dead existed. Paul told Felix that there was ABOUT TO be a resurrection. He stated: "It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day" (24:21). Paul shared the hope of Israel and made no reference to any thought that it was the hope of the Church. Why do we hope for that which we already have? "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prov. 13:12).

The resurrection was VICTORY over and RESCUE from HADES. This is the whole point of 1 Corinthians 15. Christ went to Hades because it was the destination of ALL men as physical death. BUT He overcame its hold; He conquered the separation from God caused by sin. He was the first fruits of the resurrection. Proof of His resurrection is found in His coming forth from the tomb. Paul wrote that there was ABOUT TO be a resurrection of the just and the unjust because Christ was ABOUT TO return from the heavenly holy of holies with complete victory or sin for the just. At the same time, the unjust in Hades would be cast out. At HIs return, Christ emptied Hades and destroyed it. From that time onward, ALL believers die and go to be with Him in their resurrection "bodies" fitted for heaven. That which is dust remains in the earthly realm. It does not and cannot go to any other realm. It is EARTHLY. The seed is not transformed to be fitted for another realm. It remains in the earth from where it came, but that which is NOT like the seed emerges into a different realm--the heavenly realm. The physical body (which is GOOD) is a vehicle with which we move about and exist in THIS realm. Apart from this world, we do not need it. Our essence is NOT our physical body.

The resurrection of the dead has nothing to do with physical bodies popping up out of their graves. This belief has caused much confusion and has denied countless believers the joy of their full salvation and the comfort that he who lives shall never die and he who dies shall ever live.

The Lord Jesus physically died and His Dead Body rose from the Grave.

The Apostle Paul - 1 Corinthians chapter 15

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith. In that case, we are also exposed as false witnesses about God. For we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead, but He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised.

For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.

Those whom Paul was addressing did NOT deny that Jesus' physical body was restored to life. He already established that they knew that, believed that, and accepted that. No one denied that His physical body came out of the tomb. Paul made that clear. But His coming back into His physical body was NOT the resurrection. His coming forth from the tomb was evidence of the resurrection that had already taken place. The point is that if Christ did not overcome the power of Hades, no one ever would. That is why we would still be in our sins. He conquered the sin that held people in Sheol/Hades. He accomplished resurrection before He was restored to His body. His being resuscitated back to life on earth was so that He could finish His work here. When He ascended, He no longer needed His earthly body--no more than we ever will. It was EARTHLY and ours are EARTHLY. But just because Jesus did not ascended in a physical body does not remove His nature as MAN. We are not man because of our bodies. They are vehicles for maneuvering this world while we live here. That which makes us MAN is apart from the body, although the body is GOOD.

The resurrection was the hope of Israel. It was accomplished when Jesus overcame the prison of Sheol/Hades. We ARE resurrected already in that we die and yet we live; we live and never die. It is finished. Futurists look for that which they already have!

What we need to see is the need to have the ministries alive today because Christ gave them to the church.
Eph 4:
9(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?b 10He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherdsc and teachers,d 12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,e to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

I don't see the modern church walking in the measure of fullness of maturity yet. If anything, I see many backing away from it.

The gifts were given because there was no Bible as we have today.
These were Gentile believers coming out of all kinds of idol worship and needed much teaching to turn from the past evil unto proper understanding.
There is absolutely no excuse for a believer to not understand the Scripture today through a prayerful and proper study.
Lack of maturity is a result of lazy believers, not willing to learn how to study and then just not doing it.
Why do you think there are so many different beliefs today?
Why are these false teachers so successful today?
Because most believers are lazy and willfully ignorant.

Is that all we need? just study? just study & prayer?

Write this Scripture and speak it out in praise to the LORD everyday.

The Apostle Paul - 1 Corinthians chapter 15

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith. In that case, we are also exposed as false witnesses about God. For we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead, but He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised.

For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

Read and study 1 Thessalonians

WHAT is the resurrection of the DEAD? You are assuming that it is the popping up of bodies out of their tombs because you do not significance of "body" or "dead" and wrongly associate Christ's being brought back into His body to complete His mission on earth as RESURRECTION. As I said before, Israel's hope of resurrection was NOT bodies coming up out of their tombs. It was their being rescued from Sheol and being restored to fellowship with God. Christ accomplished this victory over the "grave" (SHEOL) when He went there and returned from there! He conquered SHEOL/HADES. Paul's point was that if He didn't overcome SHEOL/HADES through resurrection from the dead, they all would remain in their sins. This is perfectly in line with Paul's teachings in 1 Thessalonians.

The CONTEXT of 1 Corinthians 15 is clearly established that the people BELIEVED that Jesus had risen out of the tomb. It was not THAT that some were denying. They denied that He had conquered SHEOL/HADES. Paul's point is that IF JESUS HIMSELF had died and had not overcome the prison of SHEOL/HADES that held ALL men, there was no hope for anyone. His coming forth out of the tomb by His own power established that He had ALREADY been RESURRECTED from the DEAD ONES (participle). He was the first fruits of that resurrection that was SOON to come to the just and the unjust in THAT generation.

Paul told Felix (Acts 24:15): "There is ABOUT TO BE a resurrection of the just and the unjust." That resurrection occurred in A.D. 70 when Christ returned, brought fully completed salvation for the just, and emptied Hades FOREVER. THAT was the resurrection and it is long past.

Daniel Chapter 12
At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.
2And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever.

4“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

5Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. 6And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”

7Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

8Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”

9And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

11“And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

13“But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Daniel Chapter 12
At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.
2And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever.

4“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

5Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. 6And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”

7Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

8Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”

9And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

11“And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

13“But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Those who sleep in the "dust of the earth" are simply the dead. Sleeping in the dust of the earth was a metaphor for death.

Also, that time of trouble is the very same time of trouble Jesus Himself said would happen in HIS generation (Mat. 24:34).

Peter spoke of those "end of days" when he wrote: "The end of ALL things is AT HAND" (1 Peter 4:7).

DANIEL chapter 8--Daniel was told to "seal up the vision for it refers to many days from now" (verse 26). The Advent was merely hundreds of years from this time and that was considered "many days." Yet, futurists want to claim that thousands of years is NEAR. John was told to NOT seal up the vision because it was for a time that was then NEAR. "Many days [hundreds of years] is far off, how can thousands of years be NEAR? They cannot.


Those who sleep in the "dust of the earth" are simply the dead. Sleeping in the dust of the earth was a metaphor for death.
Also, that time of trouble Daniel spoke of is the very same time of trouble Jesus Himself said would happen in HIS generation (Mat. 24:34).
Peter spoke of those "end of days" when he wrote: "The end of ALL things is AT HAND" (1 Peter 4:7). The time of trouble is long past. It came upon those apostate Jews of Jesus' days--those whom He declared "guilty of all the righteous blood shed on the earth." He was then ABOUT TO judge them in he destruction of their city and their "house" (The Temple, A.D. 70).

The gifts were given because there was no Bible as we have today.

There is absolutely no excuse for a believer to not understand the Scripture today through a prayerful and proper study.

Why are these false teachers so successful today?
Because most believers are lazy and willfully ignorant.

What else do you use?
Some internet prophet?