Msg #1343 Discerning The Biblical Rapture

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice 

   It is not coincidence that those who deny the pretribulational rapture of the Church use a bible that conceals who the Forth-Man in the fire was, a bible that conceals that it was Lucifer fallen from heaven, it was not our Morning Star; it was not the Day Star which shall rise in our hearts that falls in Isaiah 14:12, and a bible that conceals where hell is located in God's Word. If their scholars, translators and Bible critics want to conceal these crucial truths, truths about The Son, the Devil and Satan's final destination, don't expect them to be upfront about the pretribulation rapture of the Church. Three five nines in 1Thessolonians, Hebrews and Romans tell us that we, who are to be raised incorruptible, are not appointed to wrath. The seven years of Great Tribulation is indeed the pouring out of the wrath of God. The Bible says Christ is coming FOR his saints. The Bible says he is coming WITH his saints. One must precede the other. The Bible says Christ is coming to take his Bride to the wedding, and the Bible says he is coming from the wedding. The Bible says he is coming to catch us up in the clouds (rapture) and he is coming when his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives (Armageddon). In Revelation 4 there is a trumpet sounding from the open door of heaven and it says “Come up hither...” and in 1Thessolonians 4 the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; it will say “Come up hither...” and we will meet him in the clouds. One cannot see these simple truths after trashing 1John5:7 and confusing the Forth-Man in the fire with Lucifer!

An Essay for week #43 Sun, Oct 27, 13

Published at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/ppulpit/biblesays13.pdf

In paperback at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Systematic Theology Blog www.theology.GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #1342 Prophetic Truth and Accuracy

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice 

For us it is a minor thing to comprehend how two witnesses slain in the streets of Jerusalem are seen all over the world for three days. For Martin Luther and other Protestant Reformers it was so incomprehensible that they thought the Revelation of Jesus Christ and its companion book, Daniel, were not inspired or belonging in the Bible, at best calling them allegorical, apocalyptic fiction. Protestants believed so little of these books they carried Roman Covenant Theology right into their reformation where it presently leavens as Reformed Theology. For the Bible believer, however, these books are true and accurate. Daniel has six chapters of history and six chapters of Biblical Prophecy. The first six teach us how to accurately read the last six. The interpretation of Neb's dream, and its exact unfolding in history reveals that the Stone Cut Out without hands, which smashes all previous kingdoms into chaff, is indeed the Christ who will come as King of kings and Lord of lords to a battle called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. He is the Ancient of Days, with hair like pure wool, and he is the Son of man come with the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of Days. All power is given to him. Likewise, in the literal, grammatical, historical understanding there is a little horn which, in separate visions, replaces three of ten, and comes out of one of four. It waxes great, has eyes of a man, speaks great things, and desecrates the daily sacrifice in the Temple at Jerusalem. He casts down hosts of heaven and is called the King of Fierce Countenance. He persecutes the Woman, Israel for 3 ½ years of a seven year tribulation. Jesus calls him the Abomination of Desolation. I'd sooner believe Jesus than a Reformed Theologian.

An Essay for week #42 Sun, Oct 20, 13

Published at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/ppulpit/biblesays13.pdf

In paperback at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Systematic Theology Blog www.theology.GSBaptistChurch.com

Msg #1412 Compromise NOT, Confederate NEVER

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Christianity has made ugly compromises with worldliness. It is confederate with progressive-liberals. The believing remnant should now pay careful attention to Isaiah 8. The theme is Maher-shalal-hash-baz, wherein the enemy goes quickly to the spoil and makes haste to the prey. When the compromise and confederacy is made, a generation will not pass before the destruction is wrought, vr4. Here, the grass roots refused the Living water, and rejoiced in Rezin, the bad King of Syria, and Remaliah's Son, the ugly, compromised, confederated, King of Israel, vr6. This chapter places emphasis on “a great roll and the writing on it with a mans pen,” vr1. When judgment arrives like an overwhelming flood the remnant of uncompromised believers are given five pieces of advice, when the LORD spake with a strong hand. (1) Make no association, compromise, or confederacy with the compromising majority, vr11-12. (2) Sanctify the Lord of hosts and let him be your fear, vr13-15. (3) Hold tight to your King James Bible, “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples … to the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them,” vr16, 20. (4) Wait on the Lord, vr17. (5) Be a peculiar people, be a sign and a wonder unto them, vr18. I would rather be mocked and persecuted as a King James Onlyite, than use a Vatican bible that rips out 1John 5:7 and more. The doom of the compromiser is sealed and rushing in hastily; i.e. Maher-shalal-hash-baz. God illustrates through Israel the horrid consequence of the neo-evangelical compromise. Dr. Kean once said, Three words should be removed from a Baptist's vocabulary “can't”, “quit”, and “compromise.” They all start with “K” so you can just strike them from your dictionary.

An Essay for week #12 03/23/2014

In audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs140323.mp3

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg #1340 Is This Our Last October Here?

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

And God said, Let us make man in our image, and after our likeness...” God's purpose for man was, is, and forever shall be, perfected fellowship, perfected worship, and perfected union. Since the fall of man, however, the purposes of man have been selfishness, pride, and ingratitude. Man has always needed the thorough washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost before he could accomplish God's purpose. Titus 3:5 declares that this cannot be accomplished by our own efforts, only by salvation. God has carefully walked man through test cases, called dispensations in the Bible. Periods where our conscious was tested to see if it could bring us back to innocence before God; if formal self governance could purge us of that old nature; if his unconditional promise might renew our mind; or even if His laying down the law at Mount Sinai would cause our reform. These dispensations are gracious demonstrations in our past which ended in a world flood, a Tower of Babel, a bondage in Egypt, and the cruel crucifixion of God's Only Begotten Son. Presently we live in a dispensation. where whosoever will may call on the risen Only Begotten Son, choose Him as Lord and Saviour, and receive His quickening, His justification, His redeeming, His washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. That is the gospel. The Revelation of Jesus Christ reveals that this gracious dispensation will soon close. As all previous dispensations, it closes in failure on mans part. As it was in the days of Noah, as it was in the days of Sodom, “even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” (Luke17:26-30) The transition to the seventh, and final dispensation will begin with the rapture of His own. Be ready, be saved.

An Essay for week #40 Sun, Oct 6, 13

Published at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/ppulpit/biblesays13.pdf

In paperback at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg #1351 We Worship The Christ

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Concerning the birth of Christ Matthew gives us Joseph's perspective and wise men who traveled from the east, Mark is virtually silent, Luke tells of the taxing decree, crowded inns, angels and shepherds, but John presents tremendous insights that are often overlooked. Before addressing His birth John reveals five of His character traits. In the beginning Christ was with God; in itself, an interesting morsel, that before birth he existed. The Christ was God, and Creator of everything, and He was Life, and He was True Light. When the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, his name was the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father. Today the world has this pretense of celebrating his birth. Roman paganism attempts to enshrine a day of longest dark in an aviance of their holy mass and penance. American commercialism enshrines the purchase of trinkets and gift giving to all. Martin Luther's protestantism honors the evergreen tree more than that purveyor of everlasting life. The humanist manifesto holds out for distraction, a fat red man with tiny reindeer. It is John who clarifies that the Light shined and the darkness comprehended it not. It is John who pens that Christ was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew him not. Alas, John writes the sad truth that He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. There are ills and ilks in the world that comprehends not, many traditions and isms in those who received not, but as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. God in the flesh. His name shall be called Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Christians worship Him everyday.

An Essay for week #51 Sun, Dec 22, 13

Published at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/ppulpit/biblesays13.epub

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Systematic Theology Blog www.theology.GSBaptistChurch.com 

Msg #1410 Isaiah the Prophet

What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Isaiah the prophet walks onto the page of our Bible and records sixty-six chapters which reflect its sixty-six books. Who is this man and are there more of them around? Nestled between the lines of 2Chron26:22 we find Isaiah as a young scribe in the courts of the king. Ussiah was king when Isaiah was born, schooled and so employed. Custom puts him in his late thirties in this verse and the chapter puts him in position to see the moral decay of the king he had known all his life. Isaiah's hero was exiled as a leper till his death, and Isaiah says, “In the year that king Ussiah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” A prophet is one who takes a message straight from Jehovah God, draws breath and says, “Thus saith the Lord...” Prophets never stray from the words of His Book. Don't use the modernist's bible that has what scholars think God meant to say as taken from the texts of Alexandria Egypt. Isaiah 6 gives seven things that caused Isaiah to be an extraordinary prophet. 1) He saw the Lord on the throne and not a human; 2) he saw greater creations giving God worship and awe, 3) he saw the LORD of Hosts as Holy, holy holy; 4) he saw the earth full of God's glory; 5) he uttered the seventh woe of his book, “Woe is me for I am undone... of unclean lips”; 6) from the altar God anointed his mouth and purged his sin; and 7) Isaiah had the greatest ability of all, avail-ability, saying, “Here am I; send me.” Get a checklist number it one to seven, and be a prophet of the Most High God.

An Essay for week #10 03/09/2014

In audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs140309.mp3

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg #1409 Reflections on Isaiah

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

There is a book in the Bible that contains 66 chapters just like the Holy Bible contains 66 books. It has a theme change after 39 chapters just as the Holy Bible changes from the Old Testament to the New. The redemption of man is the theme of both books. The writings of the Prophet Isaiah are worthy of a detailed study. In it is manifest the very heart and mind of God. In it is manifest the deplorable nature of man. In the shadow of a stiff-necked, rebellious people, called the Children of Israel, you see mankind lurking. Focus, and you also see the Americas lurking there. Meditate on this book, and you can see the dark shadow of your own individual rebellion manifest. God's plight, God's compassion, and God's pending judgment open this book, even as it opens the Holy Bible. The plea to “Come now, and let us reason together...” is prelude to great promises for the redeemed at the end of time. But, alas, between the two, stands God's song “Judge between me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard...” America is clearly guilty of all six woes listed in Isaiah chapter 5. And now our root shall be as rottenness, and our blossom shall go up as dust. Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them. Recession, Obama-Care, Sodomy, Wars, and rumors of them, “For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah5:25b)

An Essay for week #9 03/02/2014

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch 

Msg #1408 Listening Skills

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice 

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.(Phil. 2:5) The mind God speaks of here is a mind of comforting love, fellow-shipping spirit, and bowels of mercies.(Phil. 2:1) Doing what he asks fulfills our joy,(2:2) and ignoring what he asks, produces selfish strife and vain glory.(2:3) This concept is of paramount importance when addressing our daily conversations. Crippled communication, the downfall of any relationship, is most exasperated in the marriage relationship. An unconscious judgmental fault finding attitude invades each of us. We become insensitive, critical, impatient fault finders and nothing hurts a spouse more than such critically impaired communication. Conscious repair and maintenance of our communication skills comes about by letting the mind of Christ be in you, and fixing your listening skills. Normal listening is only 20% efficient. Thirty if you shut off the tv, radio, video, computer or any other distraction. Forty if you maintain eye contact throughout the conversation. Fifty if you listen with your heart as well as your ears. Sixty if you do not interrupt or jump to conclusions. Seventy if you repeat what you heard her say. Eighty if you break silences to keep them from becoming negative feed back, using approving eye contact, smiles and a squeezed hand with your nonverbal communication. Ninety if you learn to show appreciation and thankfulness for what she just shared with you and avow never to break that confidence to another. And your listening skills will surge to 100% when all your nonverbal responses say “what you have to say to me is important to me because you are important to me.” All of us could move our listening skills up a percentage or two. Husbands should not surge to the 100% level overnight, you will give her a heart attack.

An Essay for week #8 02/23/2014

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch

Msg #1407 Relationships: Salvage Before Severing

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

”Thou hast well said, I have no husband: for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.” (John 4) The subject of severed relationships is painful. Jesus uses it on the woman at the well to cut through a veneer and expose a broken life. On this Sunday, after Valentine's Day, after focusing on maintaining good relationships, attention is turned to the critically impaired relationships. There is nothing as hurtful in life as a severed relationship. The marriage relationship, sealed in a sacred vow, the parent-child or grandchild relationship sealed in blood, so too siblings and even intimate friendships, each of these relationships hold a portion of our soul and spirit in a delicate but certain grip. Each of us have one of these relationships in serious fracture, that is the nature of life. Each of us have or have seen one of these relationships severed; and wished more steps were taken to salvage it. Valentines, perched in the dead of winter, points toward a coming spring which marks an emphases on love. Use it to put some focus on a fragile, fracturing relationship. It is worth setting aside grudges, pride, and hurt feelings to shower our relationships with selfless love. Anything we can do to keep a relationship from severing is worth a supreme effort. Relationships fail because of unforgiven wrongs, followed by pride, and culminating in a grudge. Jesus, the fixer of all relationships, was innocent, but God in the flesh was wronged, he was rejected, he was reviled, but yet he said, “Father forgive them.” A Christian can do what he did. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1Peter.2:21)

An Essay for week #7 02/16/2014

In paperback at www.lulu.com/spotlight/GSBaptistChurch