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Pro and Con 1335
Posted 5-7-07
ONE WEEK WARNING?
Supernova five times brighter than any ever seen before
Artist's conception
Astronomers Spot Exploding Faraway Star
http://enews.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20070507/463ea440_3ca6_1552620070507524261160
By SETH BORENSTEIN, 5-7-07
WASHINGTON - A massive exploding faraway star - the brightest supernova astronomers have ever seen...announced Monday by NASA... about five times brighter than any of the hundreds of supernovae ever seen before, said discovery team leader Nathan Smith of the University of California at Berkeley....
"This one is way above anything else," Smith told The Associated Press. "It's really astonishing."
Smith said the star, SN2006gy, "is a special kind of supernova that has never been seen before." He called the star "freakily massive" at 150 times the mass of the sun.
Observations from the Chandra X-ray telescope helped show that it didn't become a black hole like other supernovae and skipped a stage of star death.
Unlike other exploding stars, which peak at brightness for a couple of weeks at most, this supernova, peaked for 70 days, according to NASA. And it has been shining at levels brighter than other supernovae for several months, Smith said.
Incoming e-mail, Re:
For about 70 days it got brighter, peaking with a brightness comparable to 50 billion suns, much brighter than most other supernovas. Supernovas are usually bright for a couple of weeks at most.
Wonderful painting of God/Jesus
http://www.artakiane.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZSGK5lvYMY&eurl
http://www.gotjesustalk.com/?p=56
http://www.artakiane.com/akiane_life.htm
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2004/004/7.24.html
"About the painting, Yuri Sizenov from the Russian television and radio network Shabolovka reported, "We are all in total awe here, at this Russian television station! We compared Akiane's extraordinary painting 'Prince of Peace' with the computerized image taken from the Shroud of Turin that was hanging in my office. To our complete shock and marvel, we found virtually an exact match! It is a miracle and it must come from God!'"
http://religionandspirituality.com/mov_book_mus_art/view.php?StoryID=20070226-080639-9425r
Inspired by visions of God, Akiane Kramarik, a blond haired 12-year-old prodigy, says that she painted God. It looks like Jesus, which is correct. He is both man and God. She was struck by the beauty of his eyes.
Her parents were athiests, never mentioning God in their household. Yet, Akiane had visions of God and Heaven. Her family found Jesus through Akiane's experiences. When 4, Akiane had a life-changing spiritual transformation that brought her family to God.
Akiane said, "The visions to me I felt was like he's explaining himself to me and what he does in the world." She also said, "The most important thing in this world is faith. Without faith, you cannot communicate with God. It's just so beautiful there" (meaning Heaven). Akiane says that she has been blessed by God to help others. Her visions started when she was 4 years old. At 9, she painted Jesus and called it "Prince of Peace."
She taught herself to paint, write poetry and play the piano. Her painting is so good, it is shocking. She painted Jesus when she was 9 years old and said it was called "Father Forgive Them". She claims to paint by the inspiration of God.
She said that sometimes she would get frustrated, because she wanted to get it just right. She would walk away from her painting and talk to God. He would calm her down right away, and she would go back to her painting.
Peres to Friends: I’m Running for President
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/125989
(IsraelNN.com) Vice Premier Shimon Peres (Kadima) told members of his inner circle that he will, in fact, run in next month’s elections for a new Israeli President. Peres lost to suspended incumbent Moshe Katzav seven years ago...
FWD: email Re: Question for Marilyn Agee
From: Ellen Gonzalez (posted on Five Doves site)
Marilyn, I think you could be right about Jesus taking the dead in Christ to heaven the same day they were raised. However, when would they have been seen in the city? That would only have been a short time, but they were seen by many. I have not looked closely at the hours of that day but maybe you have.
My reply
I don't know the exact hours, either, but Jesus arose before Mary Magdalene went to the tomb as it began to dawn, and they could touch him that evening. Therefore his trip to Heaven to take those in Paradise to Heaven was on Sunday between the time when he could not be touched and the time when he could be touched. The time is even less than this, because he appeared to the two men on the road to Emmaus. Let's review some pertinent scriptures.
Concerning those that came out of their graves, Mt. 27:52,53 says, "the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."
I assume that these saints could have gone into Jerusalem as quickly as Philip was transported to Azotus. Acts 8:39,40 says, "And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away (harpazo, as in I Thess. 4:16) Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus".
Mt. 28:1-10 spans the day. It says, "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to DAWN toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee (meaning a circle, i.e., a type of the heavenly sphere and its encircling rings); there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and HELD HIM BY THE FEET, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee (i.e., go up north), and there shall they see me."
John 20:17-20 also spans the day. It says, "Jesus saith unto her, TOUCH ME NOT; FOR I AM NOT YET ASCENDED TO MY FATHER: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ASCEND UNTO MY FATHER, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Then THE SAME DAY AT EVENING, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord."
Mark 16:9-14 sums up the events of the day. It says, "Now when JESUS WAS RISEN EARLY the first day of the week, HE APPEARED FIRST TO MARY MAGDALENE, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that HE APPEARED IN ANOTHER FORM UNTO TWO OF THEM, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. AFTERWARD HE APPEARED UNTO THE ELEVEN AS THEY SAT AT MEAT and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen."
Luke 24:29-31 says, "But they (the two men at Emmaus) constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for IT IS TOWARD EVENING, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; AND HE VANISHED OUT OF THEIR SIGHT. "
It looks like Jesus' trip to Heaven and back was between dawn and when he appeared to the two men on their way to Emmaus. Therefore, those that came out of their graves and appeared in Jerusalem were there a very short time. Agape
Incoming e-mail, Re: "Dead in Christ"
Concerning the Dead in Christ rising first there is yet to be defined exactly how this will happen - we will just have to wait and see.
It must happen prior to our rising to meet Christ in the air, there is no question of that.
However, HOW they rise - and where is a big question:
1. Do they rise first - here on earth or do they rise and meet Christ in the Air and we later will rise also to meet Christ in the air - in other words they not actually rising to life on Earth itself at all?
2. Do they rise first and spend 40 days on Earth like what happened when Christ rose from the dead?
3. Do they rise first and spend 10 days on Earth prior to our rapture?
4. Could the time be much shorter than 10 days?
I have always thought that it would be either a 10 day window or a 40 day window that they would be on Earth but I am not totally convinced. I do not see option 1 above being very likely but don't see anything in Scripture that strictly prohibits that kind of "rising first."
The idea of a much shorter time came to me over the study of the 10 virgins and those sent away to buy oil but didn't have enough time. I think that the dead rising will be just the thing to wake up the unprepared virgins but if the dead in Christ were here a full 10 or 40 days then I think there would be time for the foolish to buy the oil. As Jim Bramlett mentioned the two days in May that are so significant, I see it entirely possible that the dead in Christ will rise just hours prior to our being taken up.
Time will tell - and what an exciting time it is right now and will be soon!!
My reply
> > Do they rise first and spend 40 days on Earth like what happened when Christ rose from the dead?
I can't see the time span between the dead in Christ rising and our being caught up with them in the air being 40 days. I think Jesus took those that came out of their graves and were seen in Jerusalem to Heaven on Resurrection Day. He ascended alone 40 days later, on Iyar 26.
According to I Thess. 4:16, the Lord shouts and the trump of God sounds. One shout and one trumpet blast would normally happen in a short time. Each takes just one breath. The trump of God would probably not sound again at the first Rapture, the Pre-Trib Rapture, because the "last trump" will sound at the second Rapture (I Cor. 15:51,52), the Pre-Wrath Rapture. I expect two trumps of God because there are two Raptures. Also, a "last trump" makes a first trump necessary.
I Thess. 4:15-17 says, "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (Old English for precede) them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up TOGETHER WITH THEM in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
The word translated "together" is hama. Strong's Concordance says that hama is "A primary particle; properly at the 'same' time." I think we will be caught up together with them at the same time. As they rise up, we will join them. Philip was caught up suddenly.
1 Cor. 15:51-53 says of the second Rapture, "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." That doesn't sound like it will take long, either.
> > The idea of a much shorter time came to me over the study of the 10 virgins and those sent away to buy oil but didn't have enough time
I agree with you. This limits it to a short time.
> > I see it entirely possible that the dead in Christ will rise just hours prior to our being taken up.
It might happen as it did on Resurrection Day. After Jesus arose, the saints came out of their graves and were seen in Jerusalem. Then Jesus took them to Heaven that same day, not 40 days later. He ascended alone on the 40th day.
After his resurrection, "Jesus saith unto her (Mary Magdalene), touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God" (John 20:17). Later in the day, he could be touched.
Eph. 4:8 says, "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." Jesus took all the saints in Paradise to Heaven on Resurrection Day. When Paul was caught up to the third heaven (probably (1) Mars, (2) Jupiter and (3) Saturn), Paradise was in the third Heaven.
In II Cor. 12:2-4, Paul said, "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one CAUGHT UP TO THE THIRD HEAVEN. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth. How that he was CAUGHT UP INTO PARADISE, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."
Since Jesus went to Heaven and returned on the same day, I think the Rapture will take place on one day, but we have to take into consideration that at any one time, there are two dates on Earth. Therefore, the date should be as in Israel.
> > I think that the dead rising will be just the thing to wake up the unprepared virgins
You are so right. Mt. 24:51 says that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Psalm 40:1-3 says, "I waited patiently (as in Rev. 3:10) for the LORD; and he inclined (bent down) unto me, and heard my cry. HE BROUGHT ME UP also out of an horrible pit (grave?), out of the miry clay (body of clay?), and set my feet upon a rock (the third heaven), and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth (sung by the raptured saints in Rev. 5:9), even praise unto our God: MANY SHALL SEE IT (the Rapture), and fear, and shall trust in the LORD." Agape
"The foolish virgins"
Diane Gilbert (30 Apr 2007)
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/apr2007/dianeg430-1.htm
In reply to Charles Holler's question regarding the foolish virgins, here is an excellent commentary I pulled off of www.GraceThruFaith.com. His teachings, I believe, are well researched, explained clearly, and make scriptural sense.
Back Slidden Brides Maids?
Many commentaries are wrong about this parable on four counts. First, a careful reading shows it takes place after the 2nd Coming. The phrase "At that time" which opens chapter 25 refers back to Matt 24:36, the day of the Lord's return to earth. Not for the rapture, but the 2nd Coming.
Second, the church is never called a bridesmaid in scripture, yet the 10 virgins are often called bridesmaids. The church is called the bride and the word is always singular. There's never more than one bride.
Third, every member of the church, "back slidden" or not, has sufficient oil, which represents the Holy Spirit sealed within us at the first moment of belief (Ephes. 1:13-14) before there was any chance to "back slide." By the way, I consider every believer over let's say one year old in the Lord to be "backslidden."
But the parable doesn't say that five of them had oil and somehow lost it. On the contrary it says that five of them never took any oil in the first place, implying they were never saved. And remember, all 10 of the virgins were asleep at the Lord's return.
Fourth, the wedding banquet follows the wedding. In the parable there's no mention of the wedding ceremony or the bride, so all ten missed it, oil or not.
To see this parable as a teaching about the church one would have to believe that if there's a Rapture it follows the 2nd Coming, that some believers are not the Bride of Christ but are only bridesmaids who can lose their salvation, the Holy Spirit "unsealed" from within them, and their reservation at the wedding canceled for no discernible reason. In short, there's no Biblical support for the "back slider" view.
Every logical fact about the parable points to the 10 virgins being Tribulation survivors alive at the Lord's return, some of whom have become believers during the Great Tribulation and are welcomed into the Kingdom, while others are not and are excluded.
My reply
> > In reply to Charles Holler's question regarding the foolish virgins, here is an excellent commentary I pulled off of www.GraceThruFaith.com. His teachings, I believe, are well researched, explained clearly, and make scriptural sense.
> > Back Slidden Brides Maids?
> > Many commentaries are wrong about this parable on four counts. First, a careful reading shows it takes place after the 2nd Coming. The phrase "At that time" which opens chapter 25 refers back to Matt 24:36, the day of the Lord's return to earth. Not for the rapture, but the 2nd Coming.
I don't believe that for a second. We must be careful not to accept what commentaries say without comparing them to what Scripture says. Looking up the original words in Strong's Concordance helps too.
To understand the Parable of the Ten Virgins correctly, we must compare it to what other sections of Scripture say. Also, keep in mind that there were no chapter divisions in the original. Mt. 25:1 continues the thought in Mt. 24:51.
Mt. 25 starts off with the word "tote." Strong's says that "tote" means, "the when, that is, at the time." Dr. R.B. Thieme took Greek 6 years. He said that "tote" means "at the same time." That is important for us to know.
Let's compare similar passages in Luke 12 and Matthew 24. They are speaking of the time of the Pre-Trib Rapture.
Luke 12:45,46 says, "BUT AND IF THAT SERVANT SAY IN HIS HEART, MY LORD DELAYETH HIS COMING; AND SHALL BEGIN TO BEAT THE MENSERVANTS AND MAIDENS, AND TO EAT AND DRINK, AND TO BE DRUNKEN; AND SHALL BEGIN TO BEAT THE MENSERVANTS AND MAIDENS, AND TO EAT AND DRINK, AND TO BE DRUNKEN; THE LORD OF THAT SERVANT WILL COME IN A DAY WHEN HE LOOKETH NOT FOR HIM, AND AT AN HOUR WHEN HE IS NOT AWARE, AND WILL CUT HIM IN SUNDER, AND WILL APPOINT HIM HIS PORTION WITH THE UNBELIEVERS."
In Luke, that portion with the unbelievers is the Shortened Tribulation. Quoted below, Matthew says essentially the same thing. The portion with the hypocrites, pretenders, is also the Shortened Tribulation. Then, Matthew adds "there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." It is the foolish virgins that will weep and gnash their teeth when they are left behind at the Pre-Trib Rapture.
Mt 24:48-51 says, "BUT AND IF THAT EVIL SERVANT SHALL SAY IN HIS HEART, MY LORD DELAYETH HIS COMING ; AND SHALL BEGIN TO SMITE HIS FELLOWSERVANTS, AND TO EAT AND DRINK WITH THE DRUNKEN; THE LORD OF THAT SERVANT SHALL COME IN A DAY WHEN HE LOOKETH NOT FOR HIM, AND IN AN HOUR THAT HE IS NOT AWARE OF, AND SHALL CUT HIM ASUNDER, AND APPOINT HIM HIS PORTION WITH THE HYPOCRITES: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Mt. 22:14 echoes the weeping and gnashing of teeth and adds one more thing. In Mt. 22:9-14, we are told of a man that was cast into outside-the-doors darkness, because he "had not on a wedding garment." It says, "Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. FOR MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN."
At the time of the Pre-Trib Rapture, we must be called, and chosen, and faithful. Rev. 17:14 says, "he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that ARE with him (i.e., at the Pre-Trib Rapture) are CALLED, AND CHOSEN, AND FAITHFUL." The called, and chosen, and faithful are the wise virgins. Those that are not chosen at the Pre-Trib Rapture are the foolish virgins.
Since there were no chapter or verse separations in the original, Mt 25:1,2 continues with the same thought in mind as in Mt. 24:51. Mt. 25 1.2 (KJV) says, "Then (tote, at the same time, i.e., at the Pre-Trib Rapture) shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish."
Mt. 25:1 (ISV) says, "AT THAT TIME (i.e., at the Pre-Trib Rapture; Mt. 24:51), the kingdom of heaven will be compared to ten bridesmaids who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the groom" (Jesus).
Of the time of the second Rapture, the Pre-Wrath Rapture, we can see the difference between the bride that comes out of her closet in Heaven and the Tribulation saints that are gathered from Earth at this time. Joel 2:16 says, "Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the BRIDE OUT OF HER CLOSET."
Mt. 24:31 speaks of the gathering of the saints that are in Heaven. They are the Bride saints that are in their closet. Mark 13:27 speaks of that gathering too, but adds something else, the gathering of the Tribulation saints from Earth. We have to read Scripture very carefully. One word can have such far-reaching implications, we can tell that it is certainly God-breathed.
Mt. 24:28-31 says, "For wheresoever the carcase (body, i.e., the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ) is, there will the eagles (i.e., high flying Tribulation saints, Prov. 23:5: 'they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.') be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened (6th seal), and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet (i.e., the 'last trump' of I Cor. 15:51-54), and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of HEAVEN to the other." These elect were taken to Heaven in the Pre-Trib Rapture.
Mark 13:24-27 says, "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened (6th seal), and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the EARTH to the uttermost part of HEAVEN." These elect gathered from Earth are the Tribulation saints. They are gathered on the Day of God's Wrath, but just before the wrath hits Earth.
In the last chapter in the Bible, Rev 22:17,20 says, "And the Spirit and the BRIDE say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely....He which testifieth these things (Jesus) saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
Jesus comes quickly at the Pre-Trib Rapture. Rev. 2:5 says to the church at Ephesus, "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." If a candlestick was to be removed out of its place in Heaven at the first Rapture, it would be restored to its place in Heaven at the second and last Rapture.
> > Second, the church is never called a bridesmaid in scripture, yet the 10 virgins are often called bridesmaids.
According to e-Sword (http://www.e-sword.net/), a wonderful free Bible software program, the word bridesmaid, or bridesmaids, does not appear at all in the KJV New Testament.
> > Third, every member of the church, "back slidden" or not, has sufficient oil, which represents the Holy Spirit sealed within us at the first moment of belief (Ephes. 1:13-14) before there was any chance to "back slide."
The sealing is different from the extra oil the 10 virgins took with them in another vessel.
> > But the parable doesn't say that five of them had oil and somehow lost it. On the contrary it says that five of them never took any oil in the first place, implying they were never saved.
If you look up the original words, you will find out that he lamps of the foolish virgins were sputtering in the process of going out. They had not yet gone out.
> > Every logical fact about the parable points to the 10 virgins being Tribulation survivors alive at the Lord's return, some of whom have become believers during the Great Tribulation and are welcomed into the Kingdom, while others are not and are excluded.
I think all 10 virgins were already saved when the Tribulation began. The wise virgins had been taken up to Heaven in the Pre-Trib Rapture. The foolish virgins were left behind to go through the Tribulation, and hopefully to "buy" enough oil of the Holy Spirit, the thing they lacked at the time of the Pre-Trib Rapture. Agape
Pro and Con 1336 Or Return
Contact me for more information at: mjagee1@earthlink.net
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© 1996-2007, Marilyn J. Agee
Updated 5-7-07