Timing of the Rapture Pt.7

But no man knows where we are on that calendar; only God knows.  Does Paul tell us in scripture how close we are?  Yes.  Paul uses two terms:  latter times and last days.  Paul is talking about the last days of the dispensation of grace.

1 Timothy 4:1-4

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

They will leave the truth of the Pauline doctrine to give heed to the satanic policy of evil that will take them away from the faith.  There will be seducing spirits and doctrines of devils which will include teachings and supernatural manifestations that are not of God but of the devil.  This will happen inside the body of Christ; Paul is talking about the church.

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

They are going to lie to the church, knowing that what they are saying is not true.  The religious system is going to be saying things that they don’t do or believe themselves without giving it a second thought.  They are only doing it to get your money. [Titus 1:11]

Forbidding to marry,

They will require you get their permission to marry, by choosing the person for you, or just forbidding you to marry.

and commanding to abstain from meats,

They will put you under a performance-based acceptance system in which you can’t eat meat.  They will go into Israel’s program.  But Paul says nothing is being withheld from us in this dispensation of grace. [1 Corinthians 10:23; 1 Corinthians 8:8; Colossians 2:16]

…which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

In other words, the body of Christ will be bombarded with this religious, legalistic system.  Isn’t that happening right now?  Isn’t 99% of the body of Christ in religious confusion?

1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Touch not; taste not; handle not; don’t eat meat; don’t marry – all part of the religious system.

Colossians 2:20-22

Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,  (Touch not; taste not; handle not;  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

To be continued…