Wake up- the Rapture and end times are imminent

I have been strongly led to write this, seeing as how due to various factors that the rapture and, later the end times tribulations are due to happen anytime. Firstly some verses about the imminent, any day rapture:

(John 14:1)  "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

(John 14:2)  In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

(Joh 14:3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

(1 Corinthians 15:51)  Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

(1 Corinthians 15:52)  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

(1Corinthians 15:53)  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

(1 Thessalonians 4:15)  For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

(1 Thessalonians 4:16)  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

(1 Thessalonians 4:17)  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

According to the following verses the rapture must happen before the Anti- Christ can be revealed for the Holy Spirit must be taken out of the way, for He hinders the Anti-Christ and His evil, preventing them from appearing

(2 Thessalonians 2:3)  Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

(2 Thessalonians 2:4)  who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

(2 Thessalonians 2:5)  Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

(2 Thessalonians 2:6)  And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.

(2 Thessalonians 2:7)  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

(2 Thessalonians 2:8)  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

(2 Thessalonians 2:9)  The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,

These are verses relating to the rapture. Here are the ways people often are nowadays – even Proverbs 30 describes it well, too many fit it nowadays

(Proverbs 30:11)  There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.

(Proverbs 30:12)  There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.

(Proverbs 30:13)  There are those--how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift!

(Provers 30:14)  There are those whose teeth are swords, whose fangs are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mankind.

How aptly it describes a lot of people today. So much selfishness in the world now. This is backed up by scripture in 2 Timothy 3

(2 Timothy 3:1)  But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.

(2 Timothy 3:2)  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

(2 Timothy 3:3) heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,

(2 Timothy 3:4) treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

(2 Timothy 3:5)  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

(2 Timothy 3:6)  For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions,

(2 Timothy 3:7)  always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

All the things in Matthew 24, also Mark 13 and Luke 21 are indeed happening now:

(Matthew 24:3)  As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?"

(Matthew 24:4)  And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray.

(Matthew 24:5)  For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray.

(Matthew  24:6)  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

(Matthew 24:7)  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

(Matthew 24:8)  All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

The world is definitely in the birth pains of the end times- I have no doubt in writing of this. Church services  and especially the mainstream media say little to nothing about it. The best place of finding out information and end times related news is actually certain channels on YouTube. I am not sure if Godtube and others may also have things. This is unfortunate because many believers are kept, even perhaps willfully by some agents, in the dark on these very important matters. Look at what the prophet Hosea says about the lack of knowledge:

(Hosea 4:6)  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

The churches and their leaders will be held accountable for this. Alas there are also far too many people who want their ears ticked too and to not really hear the truth on things

(2 Timothy 4:3)  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

(2 Timothy 4:4)  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Churches are only too willing to oblige these people so as to not scare people off about messages of the truth. Also many get into worldly things as well. They after all do NOT want their offering baskets- their income- to dry up at all but want it to keep flowing in.

(1 Timothy 6:9)  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

(1 Timothy 6:10)  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Sadly, for many of these reasons churches have indeed lost their first love- Christ(and getting people saved, and help for the needy). Look at what Jesus says to the Church at Ephesus who did the same thing:

(Revelation 2:1)  "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

(Revelation 2:2)  "'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

(Revelation 2:3)  I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.

(Revelation 2:4)  But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

(Revelation 2:5)  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

(Revelation 2:6)  Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

(Revelation 2:7)  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.'

Another set of verses that I am led to apply to the modern church scene is the church of Sardis as described in Revelation 3:

(Revelation 3:1)  "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: 'The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

(Revelation 3:2)  Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

(Revelation 3:3)  Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

(Revelation 3:4)  Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

(Revelation 3:5)  The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

(Revelation 3:6)  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

I myself have been in churches where I can feel very little or no Holy Spirit energy. Indeed many churches, especially at the denominational ones, do not even welcome Him today. They also believe miracles and the other deeds of the spirit like healing, prophecy, and tongues have ceased and were relegated to the days of the Apostles. That wrongful belief actually drives away the Holy Spirit, making the church feel dead.

All these and the powerful influence of the world, such as TV, movies, and violent video games, often can make for lukewarm Christians. Lets all see what the Lord Jesus says about the lukewarm in the Church of Laodicea:

(Revelation 3:14)  "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

(Revelation 3:15)  "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

(Revelation 3:16)  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

(Revelation 3:17)  For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

(Revelation 3:18)  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

(Revelation 3:19)  Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

(Revelation 3:20)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

(Revelation 3:21)  The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

(Revelation 3:22)  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

Yes, the Lord promises to spit the lukewarm out of His mouth, unless they repent. He does indeed rebuke and chasten, and I am thankful for that, for that is a good way to get spiritual growth and maturity. It can be painful, but it is also said in truth, no pain, no gain.  I am led strongly to believe there will be many, many who needlessly miss the rapture just because they are lukewarm and will be left behind to face the tribulation period. This is a big reason why I am writing this, hoping some will wake up, repent, and get on fire for the Lord, and not to be lukewarm.

            As things are, the people will be caught off guard and the Lord will come as a thief in the night and take many greatly by surprise. Please read what it says in Matthew 24 about what is happening today it fits really well

(Matthew 24:33)  So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

(Matthew 24:34)  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

(Matthew 24:35)  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

(Matthew 24:36)  "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

(Matthew 24:37)  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

(Matthew 24:38)  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,

(Matthew 24:39)  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

(Matthew 24:40)  Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.

(Matthew 24:41)  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.

(Matthew 24:42)  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

(Matthew 24:43)  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

(Matthew 24:44)  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

(Matthew 24:45)  "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?

(Matthew 24:46)  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

(Matthew 24:47)  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

(Matthew 24:48)  But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,'

(Matthew 24:49)  and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards,

(Matthew 24:50)  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know

(Matthew 24:51)  and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And, for emphasis, repetition in the bible means that something is important and worthy to put emphasis on, please look at Luke 12

(Luke 12:34)  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

(Luke 12:35)  "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,

(Luke 12:36)  and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.

(Luke 12:37)  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.

(Luke 12:38)  If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!

(Luke 12:39)  But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.

(Luke 12:40)  You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

(Luke 12:41)  Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?"

(Luke 12:42)  And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?

(Luke 12:43)  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

(Luke 12:44)  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

(Luke 12:45)  But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,

(Luke 12:46)  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.

(Luke 12:47)  And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.

(Luke 12:48)  But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Also Luke 17

(Luke 17:26)  Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.

(Luke 17:27)  They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

(Luke 17:28)  Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot--they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,

(Luke 17:29) but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all--

(Luke 17:30) so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

(Luke 17:31)  On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.

(Luke 17:32)  Remember Lot's wife.

(Luke 17:33)  Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.

(Luke 17:34)  I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.

(Luke 17:35)  There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left."

(Luke 17:36)  [Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.]

Here is another parable foreshadowing even the wedding supper of the lamb

(Matthew 22:2)  "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,

(Matthew 22:3)  and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.

(Matthew 22:4)  Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.'

(Matthew 22:5)  But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,

(Matthew 22:6)  while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

(Matthew 22:7)  The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

(Matthew 22:8)  Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy.

(Matthew 22:9)  Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.'

(Matthew 22:10)  And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

(Matthew 22:11)  "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.

(Matthew 22:12)  And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.

(Matthew 22:13)  Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

(Matthew 22:14)  For many are called, but few are chosen."

We MUST be sure we are NOT the one without the garment!! So wake up and be careful. That is an excellent parable of today.

Also my last scripture of this thing is the parable of the ten virgins also in Matthew, but this time chapter 25, speaking of the rapture and the wedding of the lamb:

(Matthew 25:1)  "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

(Matthew 25:2)  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

(Matthew 25:3)  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,

(Matthew 25:4)  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.

(Matthew 25:5)  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

(Matthew 25:6)  But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'

(Matthew 25:7)  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.

(Matthew 25:8)  And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

(Matthew 25:9)  But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'

(Matthew 25:10)  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

(Matthew 25:11)  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.'

(Matthew 25:12)  But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'

(Matthew 25:13)  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

There are just way too many foolish virgins this day, those who have let the cares of the world dominate them. I strongly urge them all to all repent and not allow that to happen to them as their plight will be identical to the foolish virgins in the parable; they will be shut out of the supper- the marriage supper of the lamb. That means they will miss the rapture and be left behind to face the seven year tribulation period, which will be the most horrible time of all on this earth. Instead be as one of the wise virgins who preserves her oil, by repenting every day as often as needed and seeking Him always for all things, also rebuking any and all forms of temptation from the flesh and/or Satan.

            I share a link of what is up at the rapture https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/jay-dougherty/at-the-rapture/10200290432677039

Also I recommend reading this https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/jay-dougherty/the-rapture-is-imminent-are-you-ready/206251099517699

Here is an excellent like page on the rapture

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-RAPTURE-IS-IMMINENT-Are-YOU-Ready/315464171909804

To sum up I want to be absolutely and completely clear that I am sharing this so that people see the stark and massive contrast between making the rapture like the wise virgins in the parable and being with Jesus in heaven and missing it like the foolish virgins and being left behind on earth to face the tribulations which will be so bad, the worst period ever. The only way to make it is to know Jesus as your savior as He is the ONLY way to heaven. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and want to know Him(and He you) in order to make the rapture please pray this prayer with me:

 Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.
Amen.

Now, that you have prayed this prayer I cannot strongly enough suggest praying to Him each day, to get to know Him and for Him to know you, too. I also strongly advise reading and doing the following too, to be that much surer of making the rapture:

 1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see the salvation prayer above and use it if need be).

2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.

3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).  Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.

4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessolonians 4 and 5, other placesd but the  book of Revelation in particular)  until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.  This will help keep you from temptation and sin.  JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!

5. Do something for the Lord.  (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)

6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.

7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)

8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.  ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.  PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.

9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready, and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:

"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.  It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return.  Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.  Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.  Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.  Use me in whatever way you can to help others

who may not be ready for your Return.  Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.  In Jesus' mighty name, Amen

If, by some chance, you are reading this after the rapture has taken place, all is not lost, just pray immediately to accept Jesus as savior and /or recommit your life to Him, if backsliding was the cause of missing the rapture, repenting of any and all sin and backslidings and lukewarmness that caused you to miss the rapture and whatever else you do NEVER, EVER TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beat means you are married to Satan, the antichrist, the beast and false prophet ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FORHEAD OR HAND). IT IS NOT AT ALL FORGIVABLE TO TAKE THIS MARK- and this is something God DOES NOT forgive for- so again do all you can to survive even though you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, and so on, have to hide from civilization, face jail, torture, and be executed. If you do die that way, for refusing the mark of the beast and if you are Jesus’ you will go to heaven immediately as a tribulation saint. I cannot Stress enough to NEVER, EVER accept the mark of the beast, no matter what the cost!!!!

Here is a video link of the above http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbvC-9Ei83E&feature=youtu.be