Does the birth pangs of our times serve God's dual purpose?

Birth Pangs And Judgments

Q. In your article “2012…End of the World?” you stated, “Earth’s land mass has been pushed apart to form the current continents and islands, the Earth’s orbit has been extended by 5 ¼ days, and its axis tilted by 23.44 degrees. All this and more will have to be fixed in order for Earth to once again be the paradise it was created to be.” A journalist on a secular news video stated today that the earthquake in Chile, “moved so much mass on the planet that government scientists estimate it moved the earth off it’s axis by about three inches; shortened the day by a few millionths of a second; and raised the ground level of one island by six feet.”

I understand that earthquakes like these are part of the “birth pangs”, but do you also see this as God restoring the planet to its original form? Or do you see this happening more during Daniel’s 70th week and the Great Tribulation judgments?

A. I can’t prove this from the Bible, but it’s my belief that the End Times judgments, beginning in a small way with the so-called birth pangs, will serve a dual purpose. In addition to being the means of punishment for the unbelieving world they will also be preparing Earth for its restoration to the way it was when Adam was created. I believe that’s why the return of the Lord is sometimes called the renewal (regeneration, restoration, restitution)) of all things, as in Matt. 19:28 and Acts 3:21.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com

The Second Coming

The Rapture And The Scroll Of Remembrance

Q. What is your view in regards to the book of remembrance and the rapture of the church in respect to one’s salvation? It would seem to me that one could be saved and still not go in the rapture due to their inclusion/exclusion in the book of the remembrance spoke about in the book of Malachi ch 3.

A. Malachi 3:16-17 says,

Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.

“They will be mine,” says the LORD Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him.”

The only names written in the Scroll of Remembrance were those of the people who were speaking together at the time. When the Lord spoke of the day when He makes up His treasured possession, He was speaking about the Kingdom Age, so He was saying that they would be included in the Resurrection of Israel spoken of in Daniel 12:1-2. Also the term “treasured possession” specifically refers to Israel. (Exodus 19:5-6)

These verses do not in any way involve the church or the Rapture.

Website: www.gracethrufaith.com