"Don't get your theology from a movie."

For years, as far as I knew, I believed the rapture would occur before the seven years of tribulation. Around my second week of the internship, I discovered my rapture paradigm is largely based on the movie "Left Behind" and very few supplemental teachings, also stemming from the pre-tribulation rapture ideology.


Well, don’t get your End Times theology from a movie!


Generally speaking, “End Times” is not a commonly preached sermon in the church, yet there are over 150 chapters in the Bible that discuss the End Times; our future. Merely reading through the chapters certainly will not give the revelation we need. In order to get a deeper understanding of the End Times, it is essential for one to ask the Holy Spirit for grace to guide us through a study of the Scriptures that give us the blueprint for the End Times.


During The Pursuit, we’ve had in-depth teachings on the End Times during various classes such as End Times Group, Gatekeeper School of Ministry classes and various Foundational teachings. We also attend the End Times Service, every Friday, as part of our internship schedule. We are currently six weeks into the study of The Book of Revelation.


All of the End Times Services are open to the public. The past teachings are online at http://ihop-atlanta.com/page.php?p=media_mediacast with the notes to help guide you as you listen. This way you are able to lock in and study along as well, from wherever you reside, whenever you want.

Catch my drift

This train of thought started on March 6, and began to paint a picture this past Wednesday. Alex and Auntie Tade are leading our group in the study of Galatians during Digging Deep.

Pastor Isoken is in our group and everything she said was hitting points. She gave a real example and concluded by saying:

"may we all make Heaven."

*thinking* {wow, and I'm not even a Pastor or Deaconess etc., don't be so sure that everything you're doing will guarantee your name in that Book - The Lamb's book of eternal life. I would like to think so, but I know I could be a better Kingdom steward.}

Later that night I see Daniel's facebook status: 

"They told me Christ was comin back and I was scared of that, but ever since I got saved I'm prepared for that."

So I commented: 

is that right? go 'head DaCypha! wooot wooot!

#lowkey not sure if we're all prepared for that just yet. #letsgotowork!

The next morning Henry sends his devotion text: 

Our prayers have stains in them, our faith is mixed with unbelief, our repentance is not so tender as it should be, our communion is distant and interrupted. We cannot pray without sinning, and there is filth even in our tears. And yet He still loves us and wants us to live with Him forever. What an awesome God! Devotion folks!

That morning, on my way to the city, I heard Dietrick Haddon's 'Well Done' on the radio. I heard it first when Jonathan posted it on Buzz.

"I just want to make it to Heaven, I just want to make it in. I want to cross that river, I want to be free from sin. I want my name written in the Lamb's book of Life"

{Okay message. Not fully, He is still painting.}


The next day: Japan.

 Japan "hundred times worse than Haiti" - @cnn - via Tolu

Later that day, I see a tweet from Jerry:  

These pics from Japan I'm seeing look like something out of some end times movie.

Meanwhile, at our leadership conference, Pastor Omolehin was explaining  how many Christians are focused on the Kingdom aspect of the phrase "Kingdom Stewardship." Yet, there is a lack of the stewardship message amongst end-times-pastors.

{it's officially official}
  
Then . . .


Catch my drift? Painted.

Let Your Kingdom come, Let Your will be done.

Are these the days of Elijah?

People have been saying we are in the end times for quite some time it seems. So, as another year comes to an end, and we anticipate the next one, I see how people could receive the end times message with a grain of salt. 

For many people who have the privilege of internet access and accordingly this blog, our proximate surroundings do not resemble what has been prophesied as the "end times." {Or do they . . .} Generally speaking, we're hopeful and optimistic that the economy will eventually pick up and unemployment will fall. Likewise, people will naturally hold some skepticism of an end times message and continue making long-term 401k-type plans.

Fatherlessness is the great crisis of the last generation. The greatest crisis that our nation will face is Fatherlessness. –Derek Loux 

This morning, I came across a video, recorded in 2007, and posted below, where Derek Loux is preaching in South Korea on Fatherlessness. (Fatherlessness meaning the fathers heart is turned away from his child.) He believes we are living in a Fatherless generation and says we need to rise up and be spiritual moms and dads. 

See I will send you the prophet of Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers or else I will come and strike the land with a curse. Malachi 4:6

Well . . .

• As of 2007, an estimated 163 million children in the world were orphaned. These children have lost one or two parents to any cause. 
• As of 2009, an estimated 18.52 million children have no parental care at all.
• In America, 40% of children grow up in a home without their father present at all.

The facts and his personal story held my attention and I was drawn to his adoption revolution. A quick online search further revealed that he is the father of 10 beautiful children, eight of which are adopted. His family also has a Josiah Fund for their son that went to be with the Lord in 1996. Last December, after a tragic car accident, Derek also went to be with the Lord.

It could seem ironic that as a father revolutionizing the adoption movement, his 10 children would also become physically fatherless. But I don't believe in coincidences. I believe in revelation.

So, I can’t help but to think that these really are the days of Elijah's return. Are The People watching well? Still processing that  . . .