TIMELINE MINISTRIES NEWS
Many thanks to Pastor Greg and Judy Willis for their latest newsletter from Timeline Ministries. Praise God for the few watchmen on the wall sounding the alarm about the impending Rapture of the Church.
Gibber! Gibber!
Chugley
Pastor Greg writes:
Topping up your oil & trimming your wick! Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Eph 6:11 The word for schemes is the Greek methodia, from which comes the English word “method.” Satan has many methods and strategies as he comes against the people of God Almighty with the aim to steal and kill and destroy [John 10:10]. The Bible urges us to be alert to the devil’s schemes, “in order that Satan might not outwit us” (2 Corinthians 2:11). One of the oldest and ongoing schemes of the devil is the deception and confusion regarding the rapture [the Greek word being Harpazo in 1 Thess 4:17, meaning to be caught up or snatched away] which is meant to be a great encouragement and motivation in our daily walk with the Lord. The devil wants to steal away the blessed hope of Christians [Titus 2:13]. Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) and he attempts to deceive us by twisting or completely changing God’s Word on this topic. Following are a few brief points which teach the truth of a pre-tribulation rapture. 1] The Rapture and Second Coming of Jesus are two distinct events separated by a period of at least 7 years. This is borne out by the terminology of the Lord coming for His saints in 1 Thess 4:16-18 and coming with His saints in Jude 14 Rev 17:14; 19:14. When the Rapture happens the Church goes up to meet Jesus in the air (I Thess. 4:13- 18), but at the end of the Tribulation Period the Church, the Bride of Christ will come down to the earth with Jesus at His Second Coming (Rev. 19:14-21). The Rapture will happen in the blink of an eye [1 Cor 15:52] and the Second Coming is witnessed by the whole world [Rev 1:7]. 2] At the Rapture the Restrainer is removed. In 2 Thess 2 it teaches God’s restraining influence will be taken away before the Antichrist rises to power. Christ restrains the evil of this world today through the Church, who is the light and salt of the world. Hence the Church will be raptured before the Antichrist’s seven-year reign begins. 3] The Tribulation is for Israel’s redemption. Jeremiah 30 describes the Tribulation as the “time of Jacob’s trouble.” Not the Churches trouble. In the book of Revelation, the Church [Ekklesia] is not mentioned once from Rev 6 to 18 being the tribulation period. The Church was not here on earth for the first 69 weeks of Daniel’s prophecy, nor will she be on earth for the 70th week which is the 7 years of tribulation. Israel is repeatedly the focal point of the Tribulation and the centre of God’s work of redemption, not the Church. Jesus comes to the Church as the bright morning star [Rev 22:16] to Israel He comes as the sun of righteousness with healing in his wings [Mal 4:2]. Just as the morning star precedes the rising of the sun, so Christ will meet His bride, the Church, before He returns as the Sun of Righteousness to Israel at His Second Coming. 4] While the earth faces God’s judgments during the 7 years of tribulation, the Church will be in Heaven to face the Bema Seat of Christ, a trial by fire, not for salvation but for the works we have done in the body for the Lord [1 Cor 3:10-15 2 Cor 5:10 Romans 14:12] and rewards are given out. The fire will test the quality of each man’s work. Was it of the Spirit or of the flesh? That which has been done in the flesh will be burnt up and that which is of the Spirit will be rewarded through the giving of crowns [1Cor 9:25 1Thess 2:19 2Tim 4:8 1Peter 5:4 Rev 2:10] and what remains are the righteous acts of the saints which will be the Bride of Christs final preparation for the Wedding of the Lamb. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Rev 19:7-8 ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord’ Pastor Gregory and Judith Willis “Hebron’ Vanvilla Lane, Alectown, NSW 2870 Ph. 0429 3777 38 Email: timeline1@bigpond.com Web Site: www.timelineministries.online Direct transfers St George bank July 2022 BSB 114879 Account 042 025 839 Timeline Ministries 5] The Millennial Kingdom needs to be repopulated. If all believers are raptured up at the Second Coming of Jesus as some claim, and given glorified bodies, bodies which cannot reproduce, then who is left to repopulate the Millennial Kingdom? The Rapture cannot possibly happen post-Tribulation, for no more children would be born. 6] Some will argue that the Pre-Tribulation Rapture view is just “too new” to be true, crediting it to John Darby and others some 200 years ago. But is that assessment historically accurate? Not at all! The Pre-Tribulation Rapture view is a reawakening of the long-ignored teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. 7] God’s wrath lasts the entire seven years of the tribulation. Jesus Himself breaks and initiates the seals which launch all 21 of Revelation’s judgments. The final Seven Bowl Judgments are said to finish the wrath of God, not begin His wrath, hence rebuking a Mid-tribulation and Pre-Wrath rapture claim. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess 5:9 8] Imminency. As you read the New Testament you must ask, did the early Church believe that Jesus could come today, were they looking and waiting with a sense of anticipation, if so, that is the doctrine of imminency and only a pre-tribulation rapture can fit such a belief. Only those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture can truly say that Jesus could come today. 9] The Old Testament foreshadows a pre-tribulation rapture. Enoch was taken from the world before the flood came [Gen 5:24]. Noah and his family were lifted up above the waters of God’s judgment. Lot and his family were removed from Sodom before the judgment of God was poured forth. Gen 19:22-24 The Rapture Enables Us to Stand Firm. The hope of Jesus’ imminent return encourages us to persevere in our faith against fierce opposition. Philip 3:20-21 and Philip 4:1 The Rapture Motivates Us to Purity. The apostle John identifies holiness and purity as the result of focusing on Jesus and His imminent appearing. 1 John 3:2-3 1 John 2:28 The Rapture Encourages Steadfast Service. Our anticipation of the immortal bodies we receive at the rapture encourages our “dedicated” service for the Lord. 1 Cor 15:58 The Rapture Comforts Us in Sorrow. The hope of Jesus’ imminent return for His followers was and is something we are to use in comforting and encouraging one another.1 Thess 4:13-18 The Rapture Helps Us Maintain an Eternal Perspective. When we know the Lord could come for us at any time it challenges our focus on life. Col 3:1-3 2 Cor 4:16-18. The rapture is a truth the apostle Paul said we should not be ignorant of or uninformed about; Brothers we do not want you be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope… [1 Thess 4:13f] To combat the schemes of the devil, we must stay clothed in the full armour of God being immersed in His Word so that we recognize the deceptive schemes of the evil one who only wants to rob you of a tremendous truth, hope and motivation in your life. Greg and Judy’s Update: We recently went on a ministry trip to QLD. Starting on the south side of Brisbane, then up to Biggenden, Gin Gin and the Bundaberg region, finishing in the Maryborough area. The Word of the Lord was well received. Throughout July and part of August we will be speaking at places more local to us. The way we shape where we go on ministry trips is done through one of two means. Firstly, someone either rings up and asks us to come and then we build a ministry trip around that request. Secondly, we pray and ask the Lord to lead which direction we should go and then contact Churches in that area and look for the Lord to open up doors of opportunity for ministry. Prayer Corner: Once again Israel is facing new elections on the 1st of November 2022. Pray for this time and for stability to come into the Israeli government. Pray for Jenny Willis [Greg’s mum] who has been having heart problems and struggling with great breathlessness. We praise God for our faithful prayer warriors and for the financial support the Lord provides in keeping the work of Timeline Ministries going. Our daughter Sarah is still waiting on her appointment for the heart specialist. Being in the country region the specialist only comes up once a month and he has had to cancel his trips on several occasions and hence the long delay. Her next appointment is set for the 15th of July. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
Pastor Gregory and Judith Willis “Hebron’ Vanvilla Lane, Alectown, NSW 2870 Ph. 0429 3777 38 Email: timeline1@bigpond.com Web Site: www.timelineministries.online Direct transfers St George bank July 2022 BSB 114879 Account 042 025 839
‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord’
About Pastor Greg and Judy Willis
Pastor Greg and Judy have been in full time Christian ministry since 1984 and have pastored churches in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. Greg has a diploma of ministry through the Churches of Christ in NSW. Judy has done studies through the Jerusalem Institute along with other courses over the years. We have been ministering as itinerant biblical teachers in the area of eschatology under the banner of Timeline Ministries since 2004. To date we have authored nine books [see resources] and travelled Australia and parts of New Zealand teaching this material. The aim of our ministry is to educate people in the area of Biblical Prophecy as declared by both the Old and New Testament prophets. Having an understanding of Biblical prophecy produces faith, hope, encouragement, direction, purpose, anticipation and wisdom as God’s blueprint for this world is revealed.
Our teachings cover a variety of topical subjects and can be suitable for evangelistic outreach. Presentations include a visual stimulus through power point. There is no set fee for our services. We are a faith based ministry though a love gift would be gratefully received. We are available to bring this teaching in Church Services, small groups, mid-week meetings, seminars, camps etc. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further information or bookings.
Our teaching sessions go for about 35 to 45 minutes and we can do anything from a one off session to longer seminars. The resource catalogue on the web site gives you some ideas of the variety of topics we can cover.
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