As Lightening from Heaven

I saw someone ask in Facebook:

Do you know Hebrew?
Can you translate this - Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven...
Thanks!!

Here's my take:

If you look at the scriptures both before and after that statement of Jesus' you will understand that Jesus is saying "I was there and saw Satan (Lucifer, the Devil) cast out of heaven and fall to earth like lightening."

Luk 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Luk 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

The disciples had just mentioned that devils (demons, evil spirits) left when they commanded them to using the name of Jesus.

So Jesus is saying "I was there, saw him fall..." to emphasize that He is still powerful, then He goes on to say that He was giving them power to tread on serpents (another word for Satan) and scorpions (mean "sting").

In my studies of spiritual warfare, I've found that "torment" refers to demons or evil spirits. The only other place in the KJV that you will see the word scorpion is in Rev 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

Notice the word "torment" and "torment of a scorpion".

Therefore when Jesus says "I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions" He's saying I'm giving you power over Satan and the demons, which is why it goes on to say "over all the power of the enemy"

Sadly most Christians fail to recognize that the only power Satan has is to deceive and lie. Therefore, he convinces them that he is powerful and they are subject to his power. When in fact, there is not much he fears as much as a Believer who know his/her authority in Jesus Name, and who stands up and resists him and his demons.

Therefore, it is time for Believers to stand up, understand that in the Name of Jesus, you have His authority and power to stand against the hoards of hell. All hell is breaking loose on earth, and the only ones who are going to be able to make it (no matter how much you prep) are those who have on the armor of God, the sword of the Spirit and walk in the authority of Jesus' Name.

Pre-Wrath or Post-Tribulation Rapture

Here's a message I posted in Facebook in response to a question about the timing of the Rapture. I share some insights I believe the Lord has given me (and believe me, I'm not thrilled about some of it!). However, it is what I understand of the Word at this point:

You know, Mike, after the Holy Spirit showed me the truth in the Word, I said I was "pre-wrath" as well. Then a few weeks ago, I was reading Revelation, and while I'd already seen that the 6th Seal and the 7th Trumpet seemed to be describing the same event, I suddenly noticed that the 7th Vial also seemed to be describing the same event: earthquake, darkness, "it's done", sky falling...many, many similarities to the Day of the Lord described throughout the Bible.

I'd already pretty much decided that the Seals were describing a distance view that encompassed a good deal of time, perhaps decades or even a century or two. Then the Trumpets were a closer look at a some events that were closer to the end and happened in a shorter length of time, perhaps decades or years.

I also believed that the Vials happened very quickly, as in when you pour out something it doesn't usually dribble out. Instead the container (vial) empties quickly. So I figure the vials are describing events that happen very quickly, perhaps months weeks or days.

So when I saw the similarity in the 6th Seal, the 7th Trumpet and the 7th Seal, I sought some clarification in the Word.

Most people base a "pre-wrath" designation on the fact that the Bible says we are not "call to wrath". However, since God doesn't change, perhaps there are examples in the Bible of God protecting His people during great judgment. Two off the top of my head: the children of Israel in Goshen when God was pouring on judgment on Egypt. Before that, when He poured out His wrath on the entire earth in the flood. Noah and his family weren't taken out...they were protected in the ark, a symbol of being protected in the arms of God.

Also, I noticed recently something interesting about the 7th trumpet. Rev 10:7  "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished..." Suddenly I saw "when he shall BEGIN to sound..." To me that implies a span of time involved in the sounding of the 7th trumpet.

Which since the 7th trumpet is the LAST TRUMP which is when the rapture is supposed to occur, it would make sense that we won't know the DAY or the HOUR...but we will know the season. When we see those thing happening, we can know that we are close, and can actually know, as events happen, that we are closer and closer.

Also notice in Rev 10:7 were it says "the mystery of God should be finished..." is similar in meaning to Rev 16:17 the 7th vial where we see "It is done".

Also, in Rev 16:15, we see Jesus saying "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame."

This is just before the pouring out of the 7th vial. We know that His coming as a thief in night is for those that are NOT watching. But here He say "Blessed is he that watches". To me this implies that the rapture has NOT taken place yet.

Check out this Bible study on the Day of the Lord to see whether the 6th Seal, 7th Trumpet and 7th Vial might possibly be describing the same event. One event, not two or three or more. One Event...the Day of the Lord and the Second Coming and Rapture of the Church all the same.