Some Die Once – Many Die Twice [Part 31]
In Part 31 of our series of Blog Posts from our upcoming book titled “One Way or Another Your Eternal Destination is Guaranteed” the question today looks at: “When will the Rapture Occur? Part 2 – The Falling Away – Final Conclusion – and why write: ONE WAY OR THE OTHER YOUR ETERNAL DESTINATION IS GUARANTEED?”
Watch Out
The Bible tells us over 65 times to watch out, or to be careful, or to not be deceived. In these postmodernism times many church leaders have been disregarding what God has said in His Word. Denominational headquarters are instructing their hundreds of local churches spread across the globe to rewrite certain points in their man-made constitutions. (It is interesting to note that the word constitution is not in the Bible.)
The Falling Away
Many churches—in fact, most churches—seem to be falling away from God’s prescription for conducting the Lord’s Day meetings. In the national and world news reports at the time of this book being written, we are hearing alarming reports of large declining numbers of Christians. We hear also of many immoral acts with children including LGBTQ+ indoctrinations in elementary schools, “drag queen” story hours and pornography in public libraries, transgender body mutilations for minors, etc. Paul prophesied and taught that this would happen (Romans 1:18-32). He also wrote:
Now the Spirit expressly [explicitly] says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 1 Timothy 4:1
John repeats and reinforces:
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 1 John 4:1-3
Apostasy
The Holman Bible Dictionary describes apostasy:
In 2 Thess. 2:3 Paul addressed those who had been deceived into believing that the day of the Lord had already come. He taught that an apostasy would precede the day of the Lord. The Spirit had explicitly revealed this falling away from the faith (1 Tim. 4:1). Such apostasy in the latter times will involve doctrinal deception, moral insensitivity, and ethical departures from God’s truth.
SOURCE: Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Completely Revised, Updated and Expanded, © 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee,Apostasy Definition, New Testament column 2, paragraph 3, Pg.87
Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 1 Corinthians 11:2
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 2 Thessalonians 2:15
Know the Word
In order not to fall into apostasy and deception, if you do not already maintain focus on the Lord by frequently and regularly hearing and/or reading His Word, we urge you to do so and realize that the Rapture is imminent. God wants us to know Him so as to love Him.
The word know is in the Bible 767 times. Notice the words: knows, knowledge, know, and known in the following verses:
Jesus said to His Father:
“But let he who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:24
“For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offering.” Hosea 6:6
“And this is eternal life, that they [all people] may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3
“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” John 10:14
We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 1 John 4:6-9
Know God
In the short Book of 1 John the word know appears 27 times. Here are just a few examples of why it is so eternally important to know God:
By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 1 John 4:13
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:2
God’s Prescription for the Church
“That we may know Him who is true” in 5:20 would necessitate spending some time with Him. How do we do that? He has provided us with His Holy Bible and with an open door to bring our prayers to the throne of God. There are many churches for choosing a place to worship with others. The latter begs clarification:
Some of today’s churches do not heed God’s prescription in which He has given us on how He wants us to conduct the Lord’s Day meeting each first day of the week. Leaders of churches will likely be held doubly accountable. The ones who humbly serve well will be rewarded with double honor:
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 1 Timothy 5:17
Warren B. Smith authored a recent book, The Titanic and Today’s Church: A Tale of Two Shipwrecks. He explains: “One took place over a century ago; the other is in progress and is happening today.”
Finding the right church in which to gather with fellow believers and worship with them is vitally important. Denominational churches are increasingly bickering with each other on what parts of the Bible they accept or deny. It is best to accept all of God’s truth and to conduct ourselves and His church meetings according to His guidance. In today’s age of so many differing theologies, it seems good to find a nondenominational assembly that simply goes by both the OT and NT, and follows the NT church principles.
SOURCE: 2022 Assembly Address Book, Published by: Emmaus Worldwide, (ECS) Ministries, PO Box 1028, Dubuque, IA 52004-1028, Copyright © 2022 Emmaus Worldwide, ISBN 978-1-59387-296-0
The Falling Away
As we see society becoming more and more lawless, the end of the Church Age seems to be imminent. Apostasy in the churches is increasingly turning people away from seeking the Savior.
In regards to your life after your death, the book you are reading right now has stressed the importance of knowing there is a vitally important Decision to be made. Everyone, and especially each Church leader, will be held accountable when judged by the Lord. But each of us should heed all of God’s Words:
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:12
Obey those who rule over [lead] you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Hebrews13:17
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine [teaching] which accords with godliness, he is proud knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 1 Timothy 6:3-5
But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 2 Timothy 2:23
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for the are unprofitable and useless. Titus 3:9
Conclusion
It is with much prayer, thanksgiving, adoration, praise, worship, and love of the Lord Jesus and love for all who read God’s powerful, saving Words, that they will gain wisdom from above to know both what God promises and what He expects.
We urge you to prepare for the coming judgment seat for your reward. Commit to be pleasing to Him and to better know our God with inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Whether we live or die, we will all bow our knee when we face the Lord. After all Jesus has done for us, God help us to be prepared.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:8-11
Decision Time
Now is decision time. The Decision is to accept the free gift by putting our pride aside and beginning a life-changing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Let God know the sincere regret we have in our consciences for having offended Him. Receive His loving forgiveness.
It is my prayer for those who have not believed, that they will discern and absorb the truth of God’s Word and come to know Him. I cannot save anyone. I pray that God’s Word will save them and that they will never die … the second death.
One way or the other, your eternal destination is guaranteed.
Jesus Almighty God said,
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” John 11:25b
Inspiration for this book
What Prompts One to Write Such a Book as “ONE WAY OR THE OTHER YOUR ETERNAL DESTINATION IS GUARANTEED?“
Death spread to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12b;
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, Hebrews 9:27
Thinking of our most valuable possession and inheritance for our children and grandchildren:
“It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you It’s what you leave behind you when you go.”
SOURCE: From album Rise and Shine, and the song Three Wooden Crosses by Randy Travis Lyric Writers Doug Johnson/Kim Williams
The nudge of the Holy Spirit inspired the love and the compassion of the heart for the multitude of lost sinners who are bound for eternal sufferings.
Quoting Alfred P. Gibbs:
As one is brought to realize the deep need of the unsaved, he learns to view them in the light of Scripture, as lost and guilty, helpless and undone, and thus in danger of eternal ruin. Then the conviction is borne home to his soul of the dire necessity for them to hear the soul-emancipating message of the Gospel.
SOURCE: The PREACHER and His PREACHING By Alfred .P. Gibbs, 2002 update edited by John Bjorlie, Published by ECS Ministries, Copyright © 2002, 2010 ECS Ministries, p. 80
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but esteem others better than himself. Philippians 2:3
Next Blog Post on December 18, 2025: “To be Announced”
Pray that people will come to the saving knowledge of the Truth before it’s too late, and love their children to teach them the Truth.
Thank you for reading and God bless you!
Blog Posts Related to this Topic:
What is a Believer? What is an Unbeliever?
The Decision – Is it only for Self?
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Resources:
Check Out these Interesting Resources:
The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry. Inc.
Gospel Folio Press – William MacDonald – Believers Bible Commentary
Warren Henderson Publishing
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version, unless stated otherwise. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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