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Phillip Wrote: Sincerely, Phillip _______ Don Love Wrote: Hello Phillip: Isn't it cool how that in just seconds, we can send notes back and forth from New Mexico to Florida—in fact, with just the push of a button, we can speak to people all over the world. Pray with us that God's people will learn how to make this powerful tool into a positive force for good and make our God proud. I won't tell you my age because B'Ann and I are the same age and she wouldn't want me giving out that information, but she and I have been blessed with five children. If you are able to download the free Real Player, you'll be able to hear the oldest three singing with us when they were very young. Hopefully, this summer we will be able to record some new CD's that will feature their grown up voices, and perhaps we can include some of our new songs on our site. We will be praying for your children and your wisdom to raise them in the way they should go. Ours have all grown up loving the Lord and doing their best to serve Him, but as any parent our age will tell you, the world did nothing to make parenting easy. The way things are going, it looks like raising children will be much more difficult in the days ahead. May the Lord remind all of God's people to pray for one another in this matter of raising children unto the Lord in such a day of spiritual wickedness! As to your question about the Rapture, a term invented by the church to describe the Lord's taking up of His Church at His Second Coming, thank goodness that the Scriptures leave us opinionated human beings little place for controversy on the subject. We discuss the Rapture of the Church several times in our book THE CLOCK OF THE AGES, which is included in its entirety on our web site. For the most part, the only real disagreement that I've noticed among church members is with when this event will take place in respect to the Tribulation Period. We have dealt with the differing stances fairly thoroughly throughout the book, but especially in the introduction. (There is much controversy concerning the Tribulation Period, and we have tried to deal with that in our book as well.) There are several key Scriptures about the Rapture (Paul's epistles are peppered with them), three of the main passages being found in Matthew, chapters 24 & 26 and in I Thessalonians, chapters 4 & 5. [If you are seriously interested in knowing what the Scriptures have to say about the Rapture, or any other Scriptural term/concept, and if you like to study from the web itself, check out our Bible Study Treasure Chest. The button is on the home page. But if you're someone who likes a book in hand, I would recommend that you invest in a couple of study books that are well worth the money to the serious Bible student. I personally could not get along without my Thompson Chain-Reference Bible and my Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. The Thompson study Bible uses the King James Version of the Bible; and in addition to its "on the page references," it has a very good topical index in the back which has proved invaluable in my studies. The Strong's Exhaustive Concordance is just that—it is exhaustive in that it has every word of the Bible listed in alphabetical order. Try them, you'll like them!] Again, let me send you to my book THE CLOCK OF THE AGES for the bulk of my comments about the Rapture; but in the way of emphasis, I will mention a couple of thing in this WRAP AROUND. First, we should be aware that the Rapture is only the first of two events associated with our Lord's Second Coming. The other event will be His returning to the earth to set up His Kingdom for the Kingdom Age. The two events are separated by a short period of time. I include several drawings in our books that illustrate both events. The second important point is that when Jesus returns for His Church and takes it up to be with Him (the Rapture), He will not touch down on the earth at this time. Consequently, anyone who tries to pass himself off as the Christ prior to or after the Rapture should be recognized as one of the false Christ of which Jesus often warned the disciples. Let me finish my comments with an observation. I have occasion to often associate with young people, ages 12-19. Many of these youngsters go to church on a fairly regular basis. Just recently I conducted a survey of about 20 of these youngsters and came up with 0% that had even heard about the Rapture. I guess this shouldn't have surprised me since not long ago, when teaching an elementary age Sunday School class at a local church, I discovered that many of the children who had been brought to Sunday School by concerned workers in the church, had no clue as to the identity of Moses, Joseph, or Adam and Eve. Although we may never know just how this could be in our "one nation under God," we do know how to prevent the next generation from slipping even farther from the Book on which our nation was founded. It's as easy as every child of God never missing an opportunity to share his faith with those around him. Thanks again, Phillip, for your comments. We'll pray for your boldness and you pray for ours. Let me punctuate this comment with a Scripture. "And they overcame him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Rev. 12:11). We may not have to go through this awful time of which John wrote, but if this stance will make believers to be overcomers during that day, surely it will do the same for us today. God bless, Don Love |
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Lance wrote: Hello! I was just checking out your site, and read the things you said. I truly believe along side of you. I would love to talk to someone about the soon return of the lord. I am unable to function in chat rooms, so if you could write me every now and again that'd be great. Maranatha!!!! Don and B'Ann Love Wrote: Dear Lance: Thanks for your response. We've designed this WRAP AROUND page for people like you who don't get to use the chat rooms because of time, equipment--or for whatever reason. Our WRAP AROUND gives you the opportunity to put your input onto our web site via comments or questions; and you can also respond to our response. This gives you a chance to be heard on the web and to share your thoughts with others. Be sure and let us know what you think about our WRAP AROUND feature--and let us know what you think about anything else that your fellow cybernauts might be interested in. As to our rapping about the Lord's return, let me suggest that you read in entirety the book on the site--The Clock of the Ages--and any comments or questions that come to mind, shoot them to us and we will go from there. Don and B'Ann Love |
DEANNA WROTE: Please, if you have the time read this. I am just a housewife, but I believe the Lord may have revealed to me the true meaning of Matthew 24:26. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the DESERT; go not forth: behold, he is in the SECRET CHAMBERS; believe it not. A few months ago I read on a prophecy web page that there was reason to believe that Alexander the Great may be the prophesied antichrist to be resurrected. Strange, I thought. I decided to research a little about his life, mainly to disprove
this theory. I was astounded. Alexander died at the age of 33....same as Jesus. His mother
Olympus, maintained that she was impregnated by a serpent, rather than her husband Philip. Alexander went to the temple
of Zeus (the serpent god) and was told he indeed was the son of Zeus. Alexander conquered
the world.....Jesus conquered death. Both conceptions had to do with the supernatural. The
antichrist is supposed to mimic Jesus. The whereabouts of Alexander's tomb and body have
remained a mystery many archeologists say this would be the discovery of all time if
found. This is all interesting enough. Research done, I thought. Then, I stumbled across
an article by a world renowned Egyptologist, John Anthony West. He believes the tomb and
body of Alexander the Great is located in a SECRET CHAMBER of the sphinx! A friend and I
had discussed some of the remarkable coincidences concerning Alexander and the antichrist,
and decided to read together in the bible about what Jesus had to say about the end time
deception. We went to Matthew. The word DESERT caught our attention in 24:26. In verse 25,
Jesus said..."Behold, I have told you before." (ahead of time?) For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. This
year...Dec. 1999, I've read that a grand world millennial celebration is planned in
Egypt,, (in front of the sphinx) and at the great pyramid, with all of the world leaders
and dignitaries to attend. Could they be the eagles, in this verse, gathering around the
carcase; (Alexander's tomb)? Read if you will about project equinox 2000, study it and see
what you think? Deanna I am no prophet...just a housewife who loves the Lord B'ANN WROTE: Hello Deanna: I have to keep reminding the Body of Christ over and over of two evident teachings that Jesus went to great lengths to give us. First, He gave the Church Mt. 24:26, the scripture that you referred to, as a source of comfort. In it He gives us this exhortation, "...go not forth" and "…believe it not." This seems to be that He is simply saying, LEAVE IT ALONE! Second, God did not tell Jesus all the end-time events. Jesus talked with his disciples about this when He was approached with their curiosity. If you read my comment in the WRAP AROUND to Walter, then you can see that Jesus was not worried about the end-time. He was more worried about people who would not do the simple little basic tasks given to them as Christians. Indeed He said to His disciples, "…What? Could ye not watch with me for one hour?" Jesus' immediate job was to die on the Cross to redeem mankind. He marched straightforward to this task. He was trying to tell the Christian of that day that Father God was the only one that knew about the end-time. I do not know why God didn't share this Knowledge with Jesus. From reading the revelations in the Bible, we can know that the end time will be a dreadful time. However, we are most certainly not able to create worlds without end; so, maybe we don't need to know the complete, graphic details of the end-time—because it would take an entity such as God to carry such an awesome truth. Back to the false christ. We have had a few forerunners to this "thing." Hitler certainly was an eye opener to a slumbering Church. The ethnic cleansing that occurs from time to time in individual countries is of the same spirit. Paul said, "…it already worketh." True, we are told in the Bible that when we read or hear, we should understand. This does not mean, however, that we are to understand things that even Jesus did not know…this simply means to understand our responsibility…that the "fields are white already unto harvest"…To observe that a storm is coming and to get the harvest in from the ripened fields...and to fulfill our WATCH which is "go ye into all the world." I can understand your curiosity about the false christ, and indeed there are parallels in the occult world; but remember, when Jesus came to the earth, He found people caught up in worship of Zeus, Hera, Aprodite, Minerva (Greek/Roman gods and goddesses). He came to throw this down. In Acts 17:23 we're told that the people of Athens (named after the goddess Athena) had an altar to an unknown god and Paul told them, I'm here to declare HIM unto you. And today, with the resurgence of fortune telling (especially on the media) there are those who are unwittingly trying to resurrect the religiosity of that long ago day, a day in which Jesus died in order to break the bonds of ignorance. You say that you have limited time. Then let me strongly exhort you in Christ Jesus to "don't go there." Use your time wisely. Use it to get about the harvest. You also say you are "just a housewife." I attended a church service when our first child was about six months old. The evangelist was preaching about Moses and his rod when he said, "What's that you have in your hand?" At that moment, the Spirit of the Lord moved quietly across the congregation and people looked at what they actually had in their hands. I had a baby diaper. I knew immediately that what I had in my hands was a new life that I could introduce to Jesus in a balanced, meaningful way. This I achieved. Your job may be to just raise your babies grounded in the Bible; not in historical events that only God really knows the answer to—digging up history from long ago that had no saving power. Or it may be to witness to your neighbors. We all want to do a great, marvelous thing; to receive a great, fantastic revelation. But the greatest revelation is to realize that Jesus paid the price for us to inherit eternal life and that each child of God has but to do his or her simple task of "Go Ye" while we have the time to go into the harvest. Thanks for sharing! B'Ann |
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[The following is a two part discussion between "Pastor Don J." and Don and B'Ann Love] Pastor Don J. wrote: Dear Sir: I really do feel sorry for you, but to know that you are out there hurting the body of Christ by delibertly trying to make folks think that all denominations are of the devil is a terrible sin. I happen to belong to a denomination and have for 27 years. I find none of the things that you are saying to apply to me or my denomination. Shame on you. Don and B'Ann Love Wrote: Dear Pastor Don: "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch" (Acts 11:26). "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35). Your retort proves my point. The symptoms of people who have succumbed to denominational pride is disdain and distrust for any who do not speak, act, or believe as they do. Their lives become devoted to fighting for the purity of their groups, and love for others with faith in Christ outside their group falls by the wayside. Indeed, rather than showing the love of Christ to the world, they become champions of some denomination. In the light of all this, perhaps the members of every division of the body of Christ should list the requirements for joining their denomination and ask themselves, on what Scriptures are such assumptions based. Thanks for responding to my site. If we will pray for one another with a sincere, open heart to our Lord, He will resolve this issue for us. Sincerely, Don Love Pastor Don J. wrote: My friend: My retort, as you call it, in no way proves your point. Just because I belong to a denomination and you do not, does not put you in a position to judge me. I happen to love all people including you, although I strongly disagree with your point of view. You sound just like someone that has been hurt in a denominational church. I agree that some ministers would be better off to be off in some independent setting, some can not get along with others, so naturally they should not belong to any group or denomination. My life is, and has been for the past 27 years, devoted not to denominational pride, but to the winning of souls to My Lord Jesus Christ. I happen to have many friends that pastor Independent Churches, I have preached in their churchs and they in mine. I don't have to fight for the purity of my denomination, it's reputation speaks for it's self. By the way, when I pastored a denominational church in _________, Fla. I ministered to a family that the father, Pastor of an Independent Church ran off with his Piano Player, came back and took the church building away from the church members and sold it. Just because you are a Pastor, or member of an Independent Church does not make you pure. As far as having the issue resolved, on my part it is resolved. I am right where God wants me, if you are not maybe we should pray for God will for you. God bless you and make you a little less harsh in your judgments. Don and B'Ann Love Wrote: Dear Pastor Don J, As to pure, the problem with denominations has nothing to do with purity. As you know, only the blood of Christ can make one pure. Yes, I have been hurt by denominations, along with millions of others. When praying for His Church, the Lord Jesus said: "...the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me" John [17:22-23]. It has always been the enemies' strategy to divide and scatter and make ineffective the efforts of the church. Denominationalism has been Satan's crowning achievement with this "divide and conquer" tactic. I challenge you to prove that denominational dogmas do not "divide/separate." Not only are believers at odds with one another over persuasions/opinions which are proudly labeled as doctrines, but because of denominations, believers and their resources are scattered. WHAT IF OUR NATION WAS GOVERNED AS IS THE CHURCH? What if our nation did not have a national treasury or if it had more than one president and more than one capitol building? And what if every state in the union also had a governor over each little town? if each little block had a governor? if each little street had a governor? It would not be hard to imagine the chaos and fights over who's in charge and who gets what resources for what agenda. In such an arena, the business of the government would be brought to a stand still and instead of being a stabilizing force for man, the government would actually become an instrument of chaos and confusion that would lead to all kinds of conflict and disorder. I contend that this is exactly what has happened to the church, and the people it is supposed to serve are paying the price. The church's unity is gone. Its resources are scattered. Individuals, hiding behind the call and purpose for the church, are in power struggles for their own purposes, they are making merchandise of the church. As a result, the church has lost sight of its true purpose and the resources given to man that should have been used as doors for God's love have been grasped and utilized by the champions of sin and doubt. Is there an answer to this dilemma? Can the church ever return to the faith once given to the saints wherein Christ was the Head of the church and the Holy Spirit was the controlling power? Can the divisions in the Body of Christ ever be healed so that, for example, the "saved and lost" believers can really love and fellowship with those in the "once saved always saved" camp? I know that with God, all things are possible, but in this issue, God is not the only one involved. Man's freedom of choice actually holds the reigns. Consequently, although the Church says the blood of Christ is important, the prevailing attitude is: those things having to do with the blood of Christ and the redemption it purchased for man must wait in the wings until we can firmly entrench our denominational dogmas and opinions. After we have successfully indoctrinated or proselyted the minds of those we are commissioned to liberate in Christ Jesus, then perhaps we can turn to secondary things like the power in the blood or the inheritance of the saints in Christ Jesus. I also have friends in the churches. Some of them are winning souls and establishing the faith and promoting the well-being of those in their charge. But in order to use the church facilities that are under the control and ownership of the denominations, they have learned how to "play the game" so as not to offend the powers that be. Only then can they use the buildings and resources to the glory of Christ. I know others, though, who move in fear of the powers that be in the denominations and in turn offend the Lord that called (?) them. The fruit of their ministries and their church tell the tale--for by their fruit we can know them. Today, we have thousands unchurched in the communities, but ten's in the churches, and in the churches we have a few "white heads" in the buildings at the appointed time, while the majority of their children and grandchildren are out in the world. Do we say that because the church has become divided, it has left the love of Christ; or do we say that it left the love of Christ and became divided? Either way, no one can argue that it has lost its influence in the very world that it was to supposed to "salt" with the love of Christ. I say all this not to argue with anyone, but to bring us to an examination of ourselves. Paul said: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves, Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates." [II Cor 13:5]. We each can know within ourselves if we have the fellowship, the nurture, the correction of Christ Jesus via His Spirit--and thank God for His grace in this matter. But we also can know [and surely wisdom dictates that we should know] if we are functioning in faith and love in the ministry to which we are called. I have no ax to grind with you. If your ministry is firmly grounded in love and faith, then it will be flourishing and making a difference in your community. What I am called to do, however, is to provoke those who are turned in on themselves and hiding behind denominationalism to justify their failures. Let's face it. One can be "successful" in a denomination while they are miserably failing their Lord and their neighbor. It is my prayer that God will establish you and your ministry so that it will do that which all ministries are called to; i.e., go into the highways and the hedges and lead those in their watch care into the true riches of Christ...and all of this to the glory of God, not to glory of a denomination/ division of the Body of Christ. There is also another important indicator as to the spiritual state of a church. The old saying is true: show me a man's heart and I'll show you his pocket book. If all churches were to check and see how much of their funding is designated for building funds, congregational comforts and aesthetics, and traveling expense for denominational conventions and support of the denominations hierarchy; and then compare that with how much is spent for "traveling expense" for a bus ministry, for help for those who can't help themselves, for financial support of bona fide missionary endeavors, and for dispersion of the unadulterated Word of God, then they will have a pretty accurate assessment of their success or failure in fulfilling the great commission of our Lord and Savior. A COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL SHEET MIGHT LOOK LIKE THIS. spent on denominational spent on forwarding the buildings/programs kingdom of God _____Building programs _____Housing for homeless _____Comforts/aesthetics _____Clothing for poor _____Travel expense for _____Travel expense for denomination conventions, bus ministry denomination training... _____Expense for church socials _____Food for needy _____Expense for padding pews _____Bedding for needy _____Occasional visit to nursing home _____Nursing home fund _____Denominational literature _____Bibles for non-members _____Member weddings _____Pre-marital counseling _____Visit to sick members _____Hospital fund for needy It is as if most churches are saying, "If you are a member of my group, I will take care of you." But the Great Commission is: "Go ye (church members) into the highways and the hedges..." I sincerely hope you sense what I feel when I write this...I certainly do not feel bound by walls of any type; but rather, I ask Christ Jesus to let me see "all the Kingdom of Heaven--the trash fish along with the good fish", and let him guide my heart to see what is really "trash." As to the brother (?) who ran off with his piano player/secretary, I contend that most of the fault for this lies with the church leaders. (The following can apply to only the born-again in the church--yet apply it does.) God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, yet we do not teach our young people to seeks God's choice of a wife; rather, like the world, we embrace the Hollywood version--we look, we sample, we feel, we taste, we smell. What an awesome decision to leave to our "five senses." The Kingdom of God was never based on the "five senses" but rather on the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Why do we leave Christ out of our decisions to marry? Was He not able to find Jacob a wife, Ruth a husband? The one that is able to stir up our carnal flesh may not be the "soul mate" at all. Indeed, Jesus addressed this when he said, "If ye look upon a woman...". I have friends who have a steady diet of soap operas. Need I say more? We all desperately need help with our "flesh." Consider the Scripture, "In Noe's day they were marrying and giving in marriage"...Does not logic teach us that the reason God destroyed it all with a flood was because there was no righteousness; i.e., no desire among the people to please God or to do His revealed will? SELAH. Prayerfully yours, Don & B'Ann Love. |
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