Revelation Radio with Andi Hale

The Bible urges us to forgive – totally. It is very surprising, therefore, to learn that there is no teaching of this kind for forgiveness in Judaism.

Last time we read together we covered lessons learned from Joseph's example. Do not let anyone know what someone said about you or did to you? Do not allow anyone to be afraid of you or intimidated by you. We will want them to forgive themselves and not feel guilty. But there's more. Let's cover those tonight.  

Last time we talked about how Joseph's actions toward his brothers demonstrated total forgiveness. So what lessons about total forgiveness can the example of Joseph teach us?

Encore! and Bravo! present "Comfort and Joy". University United Methodist Church December 10, 2024 7:00 p.m.

The story of Joesph provides a heart-searching frame of reference by showing us how he was able to totally forgive his brothers.

Forgiveness isn't approving of, excusing, justifying or pardoning an offense. It doesn't have to include reconciliation and it doesn't mean we deny, turn a blind eye or forget the sin against us. We don't have to refuse to take a wrong seriously or pretend that we weren't hurt by it. But forgiveness is necessary. “Just as God forgives people without approving of their sin, we also must learn that forgiving people does not imply an endorsement of their evil deeds.” So let's take a look at what forgiveness is.

Last week we started chapter 1 and left off with this quote: Total forgiveness does not mean closing our eyes to those who will continue to harm others. Before going any further, let me clarify what total forgiveness is not.  

One must totally forgive those who will not be reconciled. It must happen in the heart, and when it does, peace emerges – with or without a complete restoration of the relationship. What matters is that the Holy Spirit is able to dwell in us ungrieved, able to be utterly Himself.

He has chosen to share many of those prophecies with us, if we will only heed what they say.

We've now spent twenty-nine chapters exploring the reality of the Rapture. A moment is coming when our world will change “in the twinkling of an eye”. The Lord Jesus will appear in the clouds and gather His people to Himself – first those who've died in Him, and then those who are fortunate enough to witness His return in the sky.

When Jesus leads His heavenly offensive against Satan and the Antichrist at that battle, He will follow a similar strategy as the US forces in Iraq – although He will have no part with conventional ammunition. His weapon will be glory. Christ's transcendent splendor and power will be fully aimed at the evil that has bedeviled humanity for so long. In that final showdown, the rebellion of the Tribulation Period will come to a head. The Antichrist, the kings of the earth, and the souls that follow them will gather one last time to try to defeat Jesus Christ. Their armies will be made up of soldiers from the ten nations of the revived Roman Empire. The Antichrist, with the False Prophet at his side, will lead those massive armies in defying Ghrist's authority and right to rule – the ultimate revolt against God. When Christ's return draws near, they will do everything they can to prepare for the battle of the ages. And they will fail spectacularly.

When Jesus leads His heavenly offensive against Satan and the Antichrist at that battle, He will follow a similar strategy as the US forces in Iraq – although He will have no part with conventional ammunition. His weapon will be glory. Christ's transcendent splendor and power will be fully aimed at the evil that has bedeviled humanity for so long. In that final showdown, the rebellion of the Tribulation Period will come to a head. The Antichrist, the kings of the earth, and the souls that follow them will gather one last time to try to defeat Jesus Christ. Their armies will be made up of soldiers from the ten nations of the revived Roman Empire. The Antichrist, with the False Prophet at his side, will lead those massive armies in defying Ghrist's authority and right to rule – the ultimate revolt against God.  

Signs play an important role in the modern driving experience. They tell us what's coming. They alert us to possible problems. And they help keep us safe. The same is true for the “signs” identified throughout God's Word. Thankfully, those signs cannot be altered or adulterated!

In order to have a firm grasp of God's prophetic plan for the future, we need to notice the distinctions between the Rapture and the Second Coming.

There are many times when silence is a powerful witness to the facts, and that's true when it comes to the Rapture of the chruch and the events of the Tribulation as we find them in the book of Revelation. So far, we've already established our conviction that the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation. The “curious incident” of dead silence regarding the church in the core chapters of Revelation comes alongside that conclusion and helps corroborate it.

The Rapture is a biblical promise stating that one day Jesus will drop everything, bring His people to Himself, and make our deepest dreams come true by welcoming us to His Father's house for all eternity. In this chapter, we're going to closely examine one verse of Scripture that indicates a before-the-Tribulation Rapture. It's one of the most important verses in the entire New Testament on this subject and worthy of investigation.

All of us who know Christ are His ambassadors, His representatives in a deteriorating world. Just before the storm of the Tribulation's violence hits the gates of the church, our great Commander is literally going to airlift us to safety, rescuing us before the storm. We've talked about that rescue often in these pates – it's the Rapture. What you may be surprised to learn is that God has followed that pattern many times in history. Proverbs 11:8 says, “The righetous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead.”

From Dr. David Jeremiah's book, The Great Disappearance We saw in the previous chapter that the Rapture is Imminent, meaning it can happen at any moment. Yet our Lord Jesus has not yet returned. For two thousand years, Christians have watched and waited for the catalyst of the Rapture to coalesce into the next phase in God's prophetic plan. And we are still waiting. It's fair to ask the question: Why the delay?

One of the key teachings about the Rapture that is recorded in several places in Scripture is often called the doctrine of imminency. When something is imminent, it could happen at any moment. There are no barriers that need to be removed or qualifications that need to be met before it occurs. Importantly, an event that is “imminent” is not necessarily “immediate.” Saying an event is imminent does not mean it is guaranteed to occur in the immediate future, only that it could occur at any time. Bible expositor A. T. Pierson wrote, “Imminence is the combination of two conditions . . . certainty and uncertainty. An imminent event is one which is certain to occur at some time, uncertain at what time. Imminent is not synonymous with impending. It is not exact to say what is imminent is near at hand; it may or may not be.” I am highlighting this term because the Bible presents the Rapture as an imminent event – one that could take place at any moment. This chapter will show you where to find those claims in Scripture and why the doctrine of imminency is important for your everyday life.

Join us every week as we read through another chapter from our book review series. SALVATION IN THE TRIBULATION CH 20 The grace of God will pull many people out of the rubble of the Tribulation. There will still be hope for those left behind after the Rapture. The gospel will still be available, even if the church is gone. There will be at least four streams of gospel truth that will cut a channel through the Tribulation. In fact, it is possible that the spiritual awakening that will occur during the Tribulation will be the greatest evangelistic harvest the world has ever seen. https://www.diggingdeepertv.com

Reading about the horrors of war as a student of biblical prophecy causes me to think about what our entire world will experience in the future. Reading about the trials and tribulations of people in a war-torn country reminds me that the Tribulation is coming — and perhaps coming soon. Remember, the Rapture will not occur in a vacuum. The moment Jesus steps through the gates of heaven and returns to rescue His people from this world, the countdown to Tribulation will begin. Therefore, it's important for us to learn more about that seven-year period looming on the horizon of human history. The Picture of the Tribulation Seven Years of Surprise

Now that we know a little more about what heaven is and what we will experience there, let's learn how the reality of heaven impacts our lives here on earth. The New Testament constantly affirms that what we believe about heaven affects how we live now. How we view the future has a tremendous influence on how we conduct ourselves in the present.

We've spent many pages exploring and seeking to uderstand the Rapture of the church, during which Jesus will escort believers to heaven to live with Him forever. We know amazing new experiences are in store for believers in heaven, and we will learn about some of them in this chapter. But what, specifically, can we expect to encounter there? What will we find? In a word, everything! Everything that is most precious and clear to you and me, everything that is important to Christ-followers, is currently in heaven. Everything we need or desire will be found in heaven once we pass through its magnificent gates, either by death or by being caught up with Christ at the Rapture.

Perhaps you've been wondering about the relevance of the Rapture. If the Rapture is coming in the future, why does it matter now? And if the Rapture is the moment when all Christians – living and dead – are reunited with our Lord in heave, why should that event affect my life on Earth? In the same way death can help all people recognize the value of life, the reality of the Rapture must motivate followers of Jesus to make proper use of our time in the here and now. History will not endure forever. There is an end coming – and perhaps coming soon. Therefore, we are responsible to love God and love others to our fullest capacity while we still have the opportunity to impact eternity. If ever there was a time for the church of God and the people of Christ to catch this sense of urgency, that time is now. Paul offered four keys to resisting the seductiveness of our generation and remaining alert to the coming of Christ. I like to think of those keys as Rapture Priorities for the people of God.

What happens to children when they die is key to understanding what will happen to them should they be lifing on earth when the Rapture takes place. Many ask what will happen to young children on the day of the Rapture? What will happen to those little ones who are too young to make a decision about eternity when eternity crashes into our world? Does the Bible offer any clarity for parents and grandparents – any hope? Yes. What happens to children when they die is key to understanding what will happen to them should they be lifing on earth when the Rapture takes place. Scripture gives us four solid reasons for believing that children who die – and children who ar eliving when the Rapture occurs – will go straight to heaven.

The Rapture must never become just an academic journey. The revelation in the New Testament of this future event is meant to encourage, challenge, and motivate us. If we really, truly comprehend the reality of the Rapture, it will change the way we go about life in the here and now. Let's look at four words that describe the Rapture effect – four words that will help you determine if you are rapture ready. Not just ready for the Rapture if it should happen today, but ready even if it does not happen in your lifetime.

The Great Disappearance Ch 13 By Dr. David Jeremiah Read by Andi and Brian Hale "The Reunion" The idea of family reunions is not new, of course. Eternity represents the grandest family reunion on could ever imagine. The idea of family reunions is not new, of course. Bible students know we are all decendants of Adam and Ev and therefore all related. The human race as a whole is truly a worldwide family – a “Global Family”. But there is a difference between the world family and the family of God – those who are related to God by faith in Jesus Christ. For us, eternity represents the grandest family reunion on could ever imagine. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. ‭‭1 THESSALONIANS‬ ‭4:16‭-‬18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Rapture will be restricted only to those – living or dead – who carry the passport called Christ. We've explored the “what” and “why” of the Rapture in many ways and from many angles throughout these pages. Yet it would be a mistake for us to ignore the “who.” Meaning, who will take part in the Rapture? Who will be “caught up” with Christ during that future event? The answer: not everyone. The Rapture will be restricted only to those – living or dead – who carry the passport called Christ. I know such a claim clashes with the values and norms of our culture. It's becoming more and more dangerous to even hint that only certain people will experience eternal life. But that's exactly why it's important for us to have a solid understanding of this issue. You could say this chapter explores the apologetics of the Rapture – we'll examine both the reality of and the reasons for the restrictions connected to the Rapture.

Another Chapter Reading with Andi and Brian Hale... One day soon the followers of Christ will be transported to another world in the twinklin of an eye. They'll vanish from this world and appear with the Lord in glory. The Bible calls this the Rapture. While most Christians are familiar with the Rapture of the church – the future moment when Christ will gather His church from the earth to meet Him in the clouds – many are unaware ther are other raptures mentioned in Scripture. Five other “disappearances” are recorded: those of Enoch, Elijah, Jesus Christ, Paul and two individuals who will appear during the Tribulation. Let's take a biblical tour of these vanished victors as we read through chapter 11 of The Great Disappearance by Dr. David Jeremiah

The Rapture, the moment believers disappear from the earth in a moment. Imagine how officials will try to explain the spontaneous disappearance of millions or even billions of people. How will the governments explain it? What conspiracy theories will grip the popular imagination? what panic will haunt the hearts of those left on earth? LISTEN IN as Brian and Andi review chapter 10 of Dr. David Jeremiah's book, The Great Disappearance.

Wouldn't we all like to have “the perfect body”? Im not interested in looking amazing, but wouldn't it be wonderful to have a body that never broke down? One that wasn't plagued by the imperfections of age and ailments, sickness and senility? Here's some wonderful news: if you are a follower of Jesus, you will receive such a body! At some point in the future, you will upgrade your current model to one that is top-of-the-lilne in every respect! Listen in as Brian and Andi read chapter 9 of the Great Disappearance by Dr. David Jeremiah.   On the Web : https://www.diggingdeepertv.com Listen on Podbean : https://faithmatterspodcast.podbean.com Watch on Rumble : https://rumble.com/c/diggingdeepertv

The Bible is filled with mysteries – though not the type we find in novels. When you find the word mystery in the Bible, it always describes something God has waited until the right time to tell us. These truths or realities have always existed – they have always been part of God's plan – yet were only disclosed at a specific point in history. Biblical mysteries are an important part of the New Testament. The word mystery occurs twenty-six times from Matthew to Revelation (it's found nowhere in the Old Testament). These mysteries are theological truths connected to salvation, the church, God's kingdom, and other important topics. Listen in as Brian and Andi read through 5 specific mysteries in chapter 8 of The Great Disappearance by Dr David Jeremiah.

Devotional from Carols and Lessons for Advent on YouVersion by Phillips Brooks.According to The United Methodist Church, Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) wrote this beloved Christmas hymn for the Sunday school children at his Philadelphia parish, Holy Trinity Church, following a pilgrimage to Bethlehem in 1865, according to British hymnologist J. R. Watson. The hymn was printed on an informal leaflet in December 1868 and then appeared in The Sunday School Hymnal in 1871.In the United States, the hymn is generally sung to its original tune, ST. LOUIS by Louis H. Redner (1931-1908), a wealthy real estate broker who served as a church organist for his avocation. UM Hymnal editor Carlton Young notes that Redner “increased Sunday school attendance at Holy Trinity Episcopal, where Phillips Brooks was rector, from thirty-six to over one thousand during his nineteen years as superintendent.”According to the story, Brooks traveled on horseback between Jerusalem and Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.“Before dark we rode out of town to the field where they say the shepherds saw the star. It is a fenced piece of ground with a cave in it, in which, strangely enough, they put the shepherds. . . . Somewhere in those fields we rode through, the shepherds must have been. As we passed, the shepherds were still ‘keeping watch over their flocks,' or leading them home to fold.”https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-o-little-town-of-bethlehem

Tonight we review Chapter 5, The Return. Join us as we read through and review Dr. David Jeremiah's book, The Great Disappearance on our Faith Matters Podcast each Friday night. Tune in to this one to find out about the Beginning of The End (The Rapture!)

Join Andi and Brian Hale as they dig into Dr. David Jeremiah's book, The Great Disappearance. The Hales read through and comment on Dr. Jeremiah's work under the fair use act. We encourage everyone to purchase his book of 31 ways to be rapture ready!Watch on diggingdeepertv.com either on on demand or on our Rumble channel, all at www.diggingdeepertv.comWebsite and Multimedia services by Hale Multimedia

Join us as we read through and review Dr. David Jeremiah's book, The Great Disappearance on our Faith Matters Podcast each Friday night. Tonight we review Chapter 2, 'A Great Day' referring to that glorious event that no one will REALLY believe until it happens, then they will still doubt.

We truly admire the work of Dr. David Jeremiah, as a pastor and author and many other things. Please join us in purchasing his book and read along with us as we review his latest "The Great Disappearance". It's of highest priority to be ready for what's to come. Remember, you cannot work your way out of this one. You are either informed and ready, or you aren't. LISTEN IN!