Dr. B. Batarseh 97/03/31
Transcribed from audio tape by Philip Blom
In these times so close to the end of this age, it
is appropriate to draw attention to possible pre-emptive action by the Lord
to save some from the coming tribulation to be inflicted on mankind. We read
about it in Isaiah 57:1
The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his
heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous
are taken away to be spared from evil.
To show that we are indeed close to the end, we need to have a look at
Israel's history.
In 1450BC Israel entered the Promised Land, but they first had to clear the
land and did probably not start planting crops before after 7 or 14 years,
after which the 7 yr rest followed, viz. 14 or 21 yrs. Therefore, start counting
from 1450-14 or 21 yrs. = 1436 or 1429 BC.
They stayed 490 yrs before they were banned to Babylon = 490x70 = 3430 -
1436 or 1429 = 1994 or 2001 = Daniel's 70 weeks before the end will come.
Dates can be influenced by differences with the Jewish calender and the fact
that Jesus was probably born about 3.5 yrs earlier than what everybody
thinks.
We also need the Spirit's testimony in our hearts -
"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come Lord Jesus'"
Believers all over the world feel in their spirits that his coming
draws near and the Lord is telling them to pray and fast.
631 AC the Moslems attacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple.
Grooves on the rock in the Dome of the Rock indicate that the Jews used it
to slaughter sacrifices, eg. 100,000 sheep and 20,000 cattle when Solomon
inaugurated the temple. Some say a new temple can fit in next to the Dome
on the north side, but David bought the whole mountain from the Jebusites
for the Lord's temple. It cannot be shared.
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1886 the ingathering of the Jews started and the National Anthem, The HaTikva
was composed.
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1887 Ben Yehuda and his family vowed to speak only Hebrew.
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1897 Herzl declared at the first Zionist Convention in Switzerland that Israel
was born that day and that it was to be seen in a little more than 50 yrs.
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1917 The Balfour declaration that provided for a Jewish state to be established.
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1948 The State was born ("In a Day")
The Rapture The fact that there is a First Resurrection is vital in
our acceptance that there will be a RAPTURE.
Revelation 20:5 (The rest of the dead did not come
to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The
second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and
of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
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The following points are relevant: Resurrection of the chosen one(s)
Matthew 24:31 And he will send his angels with a
loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from
one end of the heavens to the other.
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Resurrection of the righteous
Luke 14:12 Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner,
do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors;
if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when
you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. 14
And you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid
at the resurrection of the righteous.
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Children of the Resurrection
Luke 20:35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that
age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given
in marriage. 36 And they can no longer die; for they are like the angels.
They are God's children, since they are children of the
resurrection.
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Resurrection of life
John 5:28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time
is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice.
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Those who shall rise first
I Thessalonians 4:16 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.
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The dead will be raised
imperishable
I Corinthians 15:52 In a flash, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the
dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
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The better Resurrection
Hebrews 11:35 Women received back their dead, raised
to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they
might gain a better resurrection.
It is spoken of in 7 places. Then the rapture of those still alive will
follow:
I Thessalonians 4:17 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
"We will meet him in the air" means exactly what it
says. How can we accommodate the Resurrected from the dead among us on earth?
Can we absorb OT saints in our churches; they don't know what salvation,
baptism, etc. is. After Jesus' resurrection he said, "don't touch me".
John 20:17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for
I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell
them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your
God.'
Is the Rapture possible?
If God could do it with Enoch and Elijah, why can't
he do it for other chosen ones?
Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; then he was
no more, because God took him away Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken
from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found,
because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended
as one who pleased God II Kings 2:11 As they were walking along and talking
together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated
the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
Matthew 17:3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking
with Jesus.
Moses represents the righteous (OT & NT) who died
and will rise in the First Resurrection, while Elijah represents those who
will be taken alive in the Rapture.
Why is Jesus coming back?
Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you
stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from
you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into
heaven.
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To deliver Israel from the nations beleaguering
it.
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To rule the nations from his holy mountain in Jerusalem.
1. & 2. See What Zion refers to in
Scripture
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To fulfil his desire as the Bridegroom to meet with
his Bride.
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To reward the
faithful.
Revelation 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on
to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
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To enable the faithful to escape the Lord's wrath.
Isaiah 26:20 Go, my people, enter your rooms
and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his
wrath has passed by. 21 See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish
the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood
shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer.
John 11:52 And not only for that nation but also for the scattered children
of God, to bring them together and make them one.
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To show his love to the
chosen
I Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared
for those who love him"
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To serve as a warning to the careless, backsliders
and unbelievers not to be left behind.
Matthew 24:40 Two men will be in the field;
one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with
a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
Luke 17:34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will
be taken and the other left.
Mark 13:23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of
time.
Due to time differences from country to country, some
will be sleeping while others will be working. It shows that the rapture
is going to take place in an instant at the same time all over the world,
and that it will not be spread over time.
How to be ready for the Rapture
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Be changed from the kingdom of the devil to the kingdom
of God.
Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from
the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he
loves
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Stop belonging to this
world.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to
the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing
and perfect will
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Walk with God like
Enoch.
Genesis 5:22 And after he became the father
of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and
daughters.
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Don't grief the Holy
Spirit.
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption.
II Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for
the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
After the Rapture
Daniel 12:1 "At that time Michael, the great prince
who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such
as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that
time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will
be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake:
some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those
who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who
lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
Jeremiah 30:7 How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be
a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.
When will the rapture be relative to the seven
year tribulation, before or in the middle, or at the end? Dr Batarseh
is in favour of "before". He reckoned that the first 3½ might be easier.
The anti-Christ will force Israel to make a peace treaty with their neighbours.
He will have great influence in Europe, which will become a super power.
In the end he will declare himself God in the temple;
the Jews will reject him; he will break the peace treaty and gather the nations
against Israel. This will lead to Jacob's trouble. Women will be raped, there
will be blood everywhere.
This war will be against Jerusalem and will take place
on the mountains of Juda - Rev. 14 and Ezekiel 38/39 - as against the war
in the Valley of Jehoshaphat in Rev. 16 and Joel 3:12-13. The later will
be the LAST devastation. Before that the harvest of the weeds (Rapture) will
take place.
Revelation 14:18 Still another angel, who had charge
of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had
the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes
from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe. 19 The angel swung his
sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress
of God's wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city,
and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles
for a distance of 1,600 stadia.
Ezekiel 38:3 And say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against
you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around,
put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army--your horses,
your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields,
all of them brandishing their swords. 5 Persia, Cush and Put will be with
them, all with shields and helmets 6 Also Gomer with all its troops, and
Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops--the many nations with
you........11 You will say, "I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I
will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people--all of them living without
walls and without gates and bars .......14 "Therefore, son of man, prophesy
and say to Gog: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: In that day, when
my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it 15
You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with
you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army 16 You will
advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days
to come, O Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may
know me when I show myself holy through you before their eyes....... 21 I
will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign
LORD. Every man's sword will be against his brother 22 I will execute judgment
upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones
and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with
him.
Revelation 16:13 Then I saw three evil spirits that
looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth
of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet 14 They are spirits
of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the
whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty
16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called
Armageddon.
Joel 3:2 I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of
Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my
inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations
and divided up my land. 'Let the nations be roused; let them advance into
the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations
on every side
At this point, Dr Batarseh said, Jesus was going to
come down on Mt. Olives to defend Jerusalem, making it seem that the angels
will lead the initial attack (See Rev. 14:18).
The Millennium
Jesus will rule for a thousand years
Micah 4:1 In the last days the mountain of the LORD'S
temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised
above the hills, and peoples will stream to it 2 Many nations will come and
say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the
God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem 3 He will
judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far
and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into
pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they
train for war anymore.
Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the
key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain :2 He seized the dragon,
that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand
years 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to
keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were
ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. 4 I saw thrones
on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw
the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus
and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image
and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came
to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years 5 (The rest of the dead
did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first
resurrection 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first
resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests
of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
After the Millennium
Revelation 20:7 When the thousand years are over,
Satan will be released from his prison. 8 And will go out to deceive the
nations in the four corners of the earth--Gog and Magog--to gather them for
battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore 9 They marched across
the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city
he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.
Judgments
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Gog and Magog
Ezekiel 39:4 On the mountains of Israel you will
fall, you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as
food to all kinds of carrion birds and to the wild animals.
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The Beast and the Anti-Christ
Revelation 19:19 Then I saw the beast and
the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against
the rider on the horse and his army 20 But the beast was captured, and with
him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf.
With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast
and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery
lake of burning sulfur 21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that
came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged
themselves on their flesh
The anti-Christ will most probably be Jewish, because:
(i) Non-Jews won't be allowed in the temple; (ii) Jews won't accept a non-Jewish
Messiah.
The anti-Christ is probably already here, and is probably about as old as
what Jesus was. He will find most support in Europe.
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End of Satan and the Anti-Christ.
Revelation 20:10 And the devil, who deceived
them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the
false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever
and ever.
II Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them
to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment 5 If he
did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly
people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others
6 If he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes,
and made them an example of what is going to happen to the
ungodly.
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The Living
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel
flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who
live on the earth--to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said
in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment
has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs
of water. 9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone
worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or
on the hand 10 He, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been
poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with
burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb 11 And
the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day
or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who
receives the mark of his name.
Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on
it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books
were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life.
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The Day of God's
wrath
Zephaniah 1:17 I will bring distress on the
people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against
the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like
filth 18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on
the day of the LORD'S wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world
will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the
earth.
Hebrews 10:31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living
God
Hebrews 12:29 For our "God is a consuming fire.
Revelation 6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the
rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among
the rocks of the mountains 16 They called to the mountains and the
rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne
and from the wrath of the Lamb 17 For the great day of their wrath has come,
and who can stand?
Rewards
Five kinds of crowns:
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The Crown of Life
Revelation 2:10 Do not be afraid of what
you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison
to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even
to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life 2. Crown of
Righteousness.
II Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I
have kept the faith.
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The Crown of Righteousness
II Timothy 4:8 Now there is in store for
me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will
award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed
for his appearing.
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A Crown that does not Perish
I Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, our
joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus
when he comes? Is it not you.
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The Crown of Glory
I Peter 5:1 To the elders among you, I appeal
as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will
share in the glory to be revealed 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears,
you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
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A Lasting Crown
I Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in
the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will
not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
God is going to restore six things
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Everything
Acts 3:20 And that he may send the Christ,
who has been appointed for you--even Jesus 21 He must remain in heaven until
the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through
his holy prophets.
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The Kingdom from the devil
I Timothy 6:14 To keep this command without
spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ 15 Which God will
bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of
kings and Lord of lords.
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The Kingdom of Israel
Acts 1:6 So when they met together, they
asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?
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Remove the Curse from the earth
Genesis 3:17 To Adam he said, "Because you
listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you,
'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful
toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
Romans 8:20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own
choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 That the
creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into
the glorious freedom of the children of God.
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Peace among Animals
Isaiah 11:7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the
ox 6. Peace between Humans and Animals. 8 The infant will play near the hole
of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's
nest.
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Long Life
Isaiah 65:20 "Never again will there be in
it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out
his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who
fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.
Man's inclination to sin
Acts 3:26 When God raised up his servant, he sent
him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.
Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes
of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Psalms 23:3 He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for
his name's sake. Psalms 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and
grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me 13 Then I will teach transgressors
your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens,
and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and
ever.
Future Events
There will be war with Syria and Damascus will be destroyed. The US will
turn against Israel. In the end ALL ISRAEL WILL BE
SAVED!
Romans 11:26 And so all Israel will be
saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn
godlessness away from Jacob 27 And this is my covenant with them when I take
away their sins.
27 things will change in the Millennium
1. The church will be part of Israel.
2. God will be with us.
3. We will be called His people.
4. Seas will not divide continents as a sign of unity.
5. No tears.
6. No deaths.
7. No sadness.
8. No crying.
9. No pain.
10. All former things shall pass away-New heaven and Earth.
11. No thirst.
12. No police, armies or fighting.
13. No guilt
14. New bodies.
15. No loss of inheritance.
16. No Temple.
17. No light.
18. No theft.
19. No doctors or hospitals.
20. No dirt.
21. No curse.
22. No sorcerers or witchcraft.
23. No abomination.
24. No end to the Kingdom.
25. We will be called prophets.
26. We will not lose our reward.
27. We will have authority over the TREE OF LIFE we have lost.
John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust
in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were
not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you
to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Jude 1:14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See,
the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones. 15 To
judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they
have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners
have spoken against him.
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