David Harshman
on April 22 2023 at 12:56 AM Edited public
God practices the one form of control that we also are obligated to, self-control. Controlling others? It is not required except in civil law, in which other people's rights are violated ( civic law is broken). I could never be associated with any group (church group) that attempts to control others, especially their thoughts and beliefs. All such people as that follow in the ways of dictators. Trust me when I tell you that those who follow in that way will not escape what's soon coming upon the...  more
David Harshman
on April 21 2023 at 08:22 PM public
Satan is a control freak.
When people are control freaks, they're working for evil with a d,i.e., the d-evil.
Why is this mindset so popular in the church in these times?
God is not a control freak.

David Harshman
on April 20 2023 at 04:48 PM public
Interestingly the term "great tribulation" is used in the Revelation from which a huge number of believers are martyred into heaven relatively early on in the tribulation. All of those believers are seen by John in heaven, so many in fact that they couldn't be numbered. It's interesting in part because these are not pre-trib believers rather they come out of "great tribulation". This indicates a huge unequaled revival will breakout early in the Tribulation bringing about a huge persecution.

...  more
David Harshman
on April 20 2023 at 04:12 PM public
Two more verses concerning the tribulation, one in which Jesus calls the event great tribulation," which is undoubtedly more than the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD.

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Interestingly we can speculate here that ...  more
David Harshman
on April 20 2023 at 03:45 PM public
Luke 21:35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

This is an ultracritical Olivet Discourse verse because in it, we have a direct and irrefutable reference to the "The Great Tribulation" being the final worldwide cataclysmic tribulation. Without this verse, it would be easy to assign the Olivet discourse primarily to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. But in Luke 21:35, Jesus looks into the future to declare to the disciples a worldwide entrapmen...  more
David Harshman
on April 20 2023 at 02:52 PM public
The only way to gain a true understanding of the Olivet discourse recorded in three of the gospels is by slow, careful, and detailed study, word for word. Hang on to every word as though your life depends on it because, in a very real sense, it does. Other teachers/teachings on the subject have some limited value but they can never replace the personal and prayerful study of the scriptures.
David Harshman
on April 20 2023 at 02:39 PM public
The Olivet discourse can seem somewhat confusing, and this is why; the disciples' questions were multifaceted, kind of all rolled into one type of question, and it all tied into or back to the destruction of the temple. So when we read the answer by Jesus to their question, it's equally complex and multifaceted (covering a lot of subjects), including the rapture, tribulation, second coming, and the final end of the world. But be assured His answer was perfect, just like He is perfect, the perfec...  more
David Harshman
on April 20 2023 at 02:21 PM public
Matthew 24:3

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?

This is a critical verse for our understanding of Christ's teachings on the rapture, tribulation, and the end of the world, or so it seems to me.

So why?
David Harshman
on April 17 2023 at 09:06 PM Edited public
Here's another Old Testament reference to the Tribulation I've just found. (Jacob's trouble)

Jeremiah 30:7  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. 

David Harshman
Just be careful not to have faith (belief in) invented doctrines cobbled together to tickle the ears of listeners, i.e., false feel-good doctrines declared the truth through the excessive speculation of cleverly inventive minds. People like feel-good doctrines for the simple reason they make people feel good, so they're highly marketable and lucrative to preach by huckster preachers in the ministry for the money. In these latter times, the church is awash in false doctrines even as the end appro...  more
David Harshman
on April 17 2023 at 05:00 PM public
This is the only direct Old Testament reference to the Tribulation I know.

Daniel 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 
David Harshman
on April 14 2023 at 07:15 PM public
There is true doctrine.
There is false doctrine.
There are "feel-good" doctrines that can be true or false doctrines.
People often will defend cherished feel-good doctrines aggressively with hostility.
For this reason, false feel-good doctrines are insidiously evil.
David Harshman
on April 14 2023 at 04:57 PM public
One way to understand what Jesus taught about watching for His return is mental posturing i.e. having the right mental attitude or mid-set to meet Him when He comes. Jesus, in the gospel of Mark, describes this idea most succinctly and forcefully.

Mark 13

35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
...  more
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