Are You an Ostrich Christian?

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

Check out my 2019 Book Catalogue

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines 
the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23

“Matters of the Heart” is a weekly blog that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart, the issues we all face but sometimes don’t want to talk about. The heart is the programming center of our lives. What is programmed into our heart will affect every area of our lives. Learn how to examine your heart and how to program your heart for success.

NOTICE: This is the penultimate post of Matters of the Heart. You will receive the last post on January 28th, after which Matters of the Heart will cease publication. I wish to thank all of my readers for their faithful support over the years. May our Lord continue to bless you.  While this is the penultimate post, previous posts can be accessed through the archives in the right sidebar or through a search in the search box. Thank you again for. your faithful support over the years! ~ MaryAnn 

 

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So, it’s not true! Ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand. If they did, they wouldn’t be able to breathe!

But ostriches do dig holes that they then use to hatch their eggs. Several times a day, ostriches put their heads in the hole to turn the eggs in preparation for hatching. This is where the expression “bury their heads in the sand” comes from.

That said, are you an Ostrich Christian?

As I go about my daily life, I meet three kinds of Christians: 

1) Those in the know:

2) Those who don’t know;

3) Those who don’t care to know.

Let’s take a quick look at each one.

1) Those in the know. These are Christians who are fully aware that we are in the end times. They have studied Bible prophecy and keep abreast of world news in relation to Bible prophecy. These Christians are actively looking for the Lord’s return and keeping busy as they wait, telling others to repent and be saved.

2) Those who don’t know. These are Christians who have no clue that we are in the end times. They are so busy with their own lives, their own personal agendas, that they don’t take time to “discern the times.”  Such Christians are too busy with the mundane to care about the divine.

3) Those who don’t care to know. These are Christians who have heard about the end times but figure that when those end times come, they will come. No need to bother oneself about them now because so many false warnings have been issued in the past that every new warning may be another false warning. So, just let things happen when they may.

Which kind of Christian are you? Does it matter? 

Yes, it matters a lot!

Why?

1) The Christian in the know is obeying Christ Who commands us in several passages of Scripture to discern the times. When Jesus came to earth the first time, He rebuked the Pharisees for being able to discern the coming of a storm but for failing to discern, based on Old Testament prophecies, that He was the Messiah. When they pretended that they didn’t have any signs of His coming, He called them hypocrites! The Christian in the know takes seriously Christ’s command to pay attention to Bible prophecy as it relates to current world events.

2) The Christian who doesn’t know we are in the end times needs to reorder his priorities and get with the program. He needs to put the things of God above his own agenda and focus on “the things that are unseen,” not on “the things that are seen” (2 Corinthians 4: 18). 

3) The Christian who doesn’t care to know needs to ask himself why. Why doesn’t he want to know that His Lord Jesus Christ will be returning soon to take His Church out of the earth? Why isn’t that truth important to this Christian? Indeed, why isn’t Christ’s return of paramount importance in this Christian’s life? Perhaps, like the Christian who doesn’t know, the Christian who doesn’t care to know has his priorities all wrong.

So, where do you fit in? Are you pleased with where you fit in? Most of all, is God pleased with where you fit in? 

If not, I think it’s time to re-evaluate. It’s time to stop being an Ostrich Christian and start being a knowledgeable one. Even more, it’s time to be a “watchman on the wall,” discerning the times and warning others to repent that they might be saved.

Now, it’s YOUR turn: Are you ready to meet Jesus when He returns? Have you been born again? Please share your questions and insights in the Comments box below. Thank you!

TWEETABLE: “Are You an Ostrich Christian?” by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio @DrMaryAnnDiorio (Click to Tweet)

Photo Source: Graphics from <a href=”https://pngtree.com/freepng/an-ostrich_2586306.html “>pngtree.com</a>
Created by sznnn – pngtree.com.  ©pngtree.com

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Need a break? Read my latest short story, “Fire-Engine Love.” Only $1.99!

Tammie Burke is expecting her second child. But when her husband is suddenly taken from her, Tammie faces the fear of having to raise their two children alone. Will her faith in God help her to put her life back together?

BUY NOW for ONLY $1.99

_______________________________________________

THE ITALIAN CHRONICLES TRILOGY

 Book 1: The Madonna of Pisano    Book 2: A Sicilian Farewell    Book 3: Return to Bella Terra

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If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend. Thank you! You may also be interested in reading the following popular posts:

“How to Destroy Mental Strongholds”

“Convergence: Clear Sign of the End Times”

“The Rise of Wicca, Witches, and Warlocks” 

“How to Recognize a Controlling Spirit”

“Sex and Soul Ties”

Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right. 

For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:

A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life

Winning with the Word Podcast Series

Write Your Heart Out! – Podcasts for Writers

Please tell your family and friends about this blog and my other resources, and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!

___________________________________________

Copyright 2019 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies. 

 

On the Verge of the Mark of the Beast

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

Check out my 2018 Christmas Catalogue to Simply Your Christmas Shopping

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines 
the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23

“Matters of the Heart” is a weekly blog that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart, the issues we all face but sometimes don’t want to talk about. The heart is the programming center of our lives. What is programmed into our heart will affect every area of our lives. Learn how to examine your heart and how to program your heart for success.

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog, click here 

If this blog has blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

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In case you haven’t been paying attention, the world is on the verge of accepting the Mark of the Beast.

So, who is the Beast and what is his mark? If you don’t know, here is a simple explanation:

The Beast is the Antichrist, the man who will at first bring world peace but who will then reveal his true character as the most vicious, horrific dictator in all of human history. The Beast will be the embodiment of Satan himself and will rule with terror during the Tribulation period.

The Beast’s mark is an identifying mark that will be placed on or in the forehead or hand of all those who worship him. This mark will be required in order to buy and sell anything, to conduct all forms of business, and to function in society.

It is speculated that the mark will be either a computerized ID chip implanted in the forehead or hand or a tattoo of some sort. Whichever it is, the mark will contain all of one’s personal, medical, financial, political, and religious information. 

The mark will replace all other forms of identification. It will also replace the credit card for buying and selling. So, if one buys groceries, instead of handing the clerk at the checkout counter a credit card, those with the mark embedded in their forehead or hand will simply allow the clerk to scan the mark in order to pay the bill.

Lest you think the concept of the mark is far-fetched or far ahead in the future, be aware that a prototype of the mark is already being used by many people in Sweden. Read this article for more on how Swedes are already using the mark in daily business: 
https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/end-times-thousands-are-having-microchips-implanted-in-their-hands.html

While the mark is now received on a voluntary basis, during the Tribulation the Antichrist will demand that everyone take the mark as a sign of worshipping him. In other words, by taking the mark, a person will acknowledge that the Antichrist is God. Those who refuse to take the mark of the beast (aka the Antichrist) will be summarily executed.

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” – Revelation 13: 16-17 NKJV

What about Christians? During the Tribulation, some people will become Christians. As a result, they will refuse to take the mark of the Beast because accepting the mark is tantamount to worshiping Satan. Because of their refusal to take the mark, these Christians will be martyred.

For many years now, our world has been programming people to receive the mark. Back in the 80s, my husband and I took our children to Disney World. I was greatly troubled when I noticed that workers at Disney World stamped the backs of people’s hands in order to admit them into a ride or an event. In my opinion, this is an example of programming people to be comfortable with receiving a mark on their hand. I refused to have my hand stamped and told the clerk I would show my ticket stub instead.

But today, a ticket stub may not be accepted in place of a hand stamp. Indeed, many places are already refusing to accept anything other than a stamp on the hand. Moreover, many places are no longer accepting cash in payment for an item. We are, indeed, on the verge of a cashless society and, therefore, the mark of the Beast.

While the current microchips being used as forms of identification are not necessarily the mark of the Beast, they are, without question, preparing the world to accept the mark of the Beast. The mark demanded by the Antichrist will be necessary in order to buy and sell. This means that a person without the mark will not be able to buy food and other necessities of life.

To accept the mark of the Beast is to accept certain damnation to Hell for all eternity. The Antichrist will be Satan incarnated in a man, and accepting his mark will mean accepting him as God. This is blasphemy! It is the complete rejection of Jesus Christ as one’s Savior and Lord and, rather, the acceptance of Satan as one’s savior and lord.

Please warn others about the grave dangers of accepting the mark of the Beast. The mark is not a tool of convenience. Rather, under the guise of convenience, it is a Satanic tool for causing those who take it to be eternally separated from God and suffer the unending torments of Hell.  

Now, it’s YOUR turn: Please share your questions and insights in the Comments box below. Thank you!

TWEETABLE:  “On the Verge of the Mark of the Beast” by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio @DrMaryAnnDiorio (Click to Tweet)


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To be sure you don’t miss any of my future blog posts, you may wish to subscribe to Matters of the Heart. CLICK HERE 

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Check out my You-Tube series, YOU WERE MADE FOR GREATNESS!, based on my popular book by the same title.  

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NOW AVAILABLE!

THE ITALIAN CHRONICLES: The Complete Trilogy
in a single e-book or print format.

Save almost $4.00 over the purchase price
of the three individual novels.

BUY E-BOOK NOW!

BUY PRINT BOOK NOW!

_______________________________________________

AVAILABLE FOR ORDER NOW! 

HARDCOVER
SOFTCOVER
E-BOOK

_______________________________________________

Need a break? Read my latest short story, “Fire-Engine Love.” Only $1.99!

Tammie Burke is expecting her second child. But when her husband is suddenly taken from her, Tammie faces the fear of having to raise their two children alone. Will her faith in God help her to put her life back together?

BUY NOW for ONLY $1.99

_______________________________________________

THE ITALIAN CHRONICLES TRILOGY

 Book 1: The Madonna of Pisano    Book 2: A Sicilian Farewell    Book 3: Return to Bella Terra

_______________________________________________

If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend. Thank you! You may also be interested in reading the following popular posts:

“How to Destroy Mental Strongholds”

“Convergence: Clear Sign of the End Times”

“The Rise of Wicca, Witches, and Warlocks” 

“Don’t Let Satan Play Your Pipes!”

“How to Recognize a Controlling Spirit”

“Sex and Soul Ties”

Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right. 

For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:

A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life

Winning with the Word Podcast Series

Write Your Heart Out! – Podcasts for Writers

Please tell your family and friends about this blog and my other resources, and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!

___________________________________________

Copyright 2018 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies. 

Is Your Church Apostate or Apostolic?

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

Check out my 2018 Christmas Catalogue to Simply Your Christmas Shopping

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines 
the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23

“Matters of the Heart” is a weekly blog that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart, the issues we all face but sometimes don’t want to talk about. The heart is the programming center of our lives. What is programmed into our heart will affect every area of our lives. Learn how to examine your heart and how to program your heart for success.

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog, click here 

If this blog has blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

________________________________________________

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s been a major shift in the direction of the Church in recent years. The Body of Christ as a whole has moved from the original church founded by Christ to a “seeker-sensitive” church founded by man. The result is a spiritual and cultural phenomenon known as the “Emergent Church” — a phenomenon fraught with deception and heresy and jeopardizing the spiritual destiny of Christians throughout the world. 

So, what is all the ruckus about, and why should we be concerned?

We should be concerned for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that the emergent church is fast turning into the Apostate Church that will lead to the one-world religion of the end days. We are already witnessing the formation of this one-world religion. 

How can we know, then, if our church is an apostate church and not an apostolic one? First of all, let’s define our terms. An apostolic church is a church that adheres to the doctrines of the early, first-century Church as founded by the Apostles. These doctrines are explained in the New Testament, and their application is found primarily in the Book of Acts.

The Apostate Church, on the other hand, has moved away from these foundational doctrines to an experience-based theology that deifies feelings. This new way of “doing church” promotes experience over truth by shifting the focus of its members from the Cross of Christ to personal experience. 

“What fellowship has light with darkness?” ~ 2 Corinthians 6: 14 NASB

So, what questions should you ask to determine if you are in an apostate church or an apostolic church? (By the way, it is critically important to ask these questions).  Here are some extremely important ones:

1__Does your church teach that Absolute Truth exists, or does your church teach that everyone has his own truth? The Apostate Church teaches relativism: what’s true for you doesn’t necessarily have to be true for me, and vice versa. The true Church teaches that there is such a thing as Absolute Truth and that relativism is a doctrine of devils.

2__Does your Church teach that the Bible is the final authority in life, or does it teach that Scripture evolves with the times? The Apostate Church teaches that the Church must adapt to today’s culture. It attempts to build the Church according to the world’s ways, hiring consultants from corporate America to build the Church like a corporation. We now have offices like Executive Pastor, Pastor of Communications, Pastor of Church Growth, etc. Moreover, we now see churches employing worldly methods of growth that utilize marketing gimmicks instead of teaching its members how to receive the power available through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit–the power that ignited the stunning growth of the early Church. 

3__Does your church minimize sin, repentance, and hell and talk instead of love and peace? Does it teach that a good God would not send people to Hell?

4__Does your church use the methods of the world to draw people? For example, does your church use gimmicks like strobe lights, darkened sanctuaries, artificial smoke, and other worldly means to attract the younger generation? To my utter surprise, churches are now offering ear plugs to older folks who complain about the loud music. In my opinion, this is ridiculous and a terrible waste of God’s money when all they would have to do is turn down the volume button. My physician husband mentioned to me that many young people have partial hearing loss because of their frequent attendance at blaring rock concerts. So now church music must blare to accommodate their hearing loss.

5__Does your church approve of yoga, contemplative prayer, and walking the labyrinth as methods of drawing closer to God? Does your church teach goddess worship and adoration of the Queen of Heaven? These are practices associated with Eastern Mysticism, a philosophy that has infiltrated the Apostate Church.  

6__Does your church teach “dominionism,” the false doctrine that man can make the world a better place through promoting a social Gospel? Does your church place more emphasis on social injustice than on issues like the imminent return of Christ in the Rapture, the Great Tribulation, and the final judgment of Christ?

7__Does your church teach that people are born homosexual and that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle? That transgenderism is acceptable? These teachings are in direct contradiction to God’s Word.

8__Does your church teach that there are many ways to Heaven besides Jesus? That all religions lead to God? Yes, all people will eventually face God, but only Christians will face His mercy. The rest will face His wrath. 

9__Does your church teach that abortion is all right in some cases, like rape or incest? Or does it teach that abortion is murder in every case? Shockingly, some churches today are calling abortion “sacred!”

10__Does your church teach that the Church has replaced Israel? This false teaching is called “replacement theology” and has also infiltrated the Church. Beware of teachers who say that Israel has now been replaced by the Church.   

We must ask these hard questions if we do not want to be sucked in by the Apostate Church. Pastors, in particular, must carefully examine the messages they are preaching to be certain they align with God’s Word. Also, pastors must review the videos they show to their congregations. Many of these videos are taught by prominent pastors and teachers who call themselves “evangelicals” but who are preaching a false doctrine to congregations all over the country. In reality, they are promoting apostate teachings that are undermining the Church. 

The Bible teaches that each person must work out his own salvation in fear and trembling. This means that each of us is responsible for the teaching we listen to and the teaching we make our own. Measure everything—and I mean EVERYTHING–you hear and read by the standard of the Word of God. If it agrees with God’s Word, it is truth. If it does not agree with God’s Word, then reject it.

Jesus warned us that deception would run rampant in the last days. It is now upon us, so we must guard our hearts against it. It will only get worse until the return of our Lord at the Rapture. If you are in an apostate church, get out of it as fast as you can. To remain is to open yourself up to the possibility of losing your salvation.

Now, it’s YOUR turn: Please share your questions and insights in the Comments box below. Thank you!

TWEETABLE:  “Is Your Church Apostate or Apostolic?” by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio @DrMaryAnnDiorio (Click to Tweet)


____________________________________________

To be sure you don’t miss any of my future blog posts, you may wish to subscribe to Matters of the Heart. CLICK HERE 

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JOIN MY TEAM

____________________________________________

Check out my You-Tube series, YOU WERE MADE FOR GREATNESS!, based on my popular book by the same title.  

_______________________________________________

NOW AVAILABLE!

THE ITALIAN CHRONICLES: The Complete Trilogy
in a single e-book or print format.

Save almost $4.00 over the purchase price
of the three individual novels.

BUY E-BOOK NOW!

BUY PRINT BOOK NOW!

_______________________________________________

AVAILABLE FOR ORDER NOW! 

HARDCOVER
SOFTCOVER
E-BOOK

_______________________________________________

Need a break? Read my latest short story, “Fire-Engine Love.” Only $1.99!

Tammie Burke is expecting her second child. But when her husband is suddenly taken from her, Tammie faces the fear of having to raise their two children alone. Will her faith in God help her to put her life back together?

BUY NOW for ONLY $1.99

_______________________________________________

THE ITALIAN CHRONICLES TRILOGY

 Book 1: The Madonna of Pisano    Book 2: A Sicilian Farewell    Book 3: Return to Bella Terra

_______________________________________________

If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend. Thank you! You may also be interested in reading the following popular posts:

“How to Destroy Mental Strongholds”

“Convergence: Clear Sign of the End Times”

“The Rise of Wicca, Witches, and Warlocks” 

“Don’t Let Satan Play Your Pipes!”

“How to Recognize a Controlling Spirit”

“Sex and Soul Ties”

Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right. 

For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:

A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life

Winning with the Word Podcast Series

Write Your Heart Out! – Podcasts for Writers

Please tell your family and friends about this blog and my other resources, and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!

___________________________________________

Copyright 2018 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies. 

The Spirit of Lawlessness: Sign of the End Times

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines 
the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23

“Matters of the Heart” is a weekly blog that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart, the issues we all face but sometimes don’t want to talk about. The heart is the programming center of our lives. What is programmed into our heart will affect every area of our lives. Learn how to examine your heart and how to program your heart for success.

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog, click here 

If this blog has blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you!

________________________________________________

Rudeness. Ruthlessness. Rebellion. We are witnessing all three in our culture today in proportions that were unimaginable less than a decade ago. Why is this happening, and what is the real cause?
 

In the second Book of Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul gives us the reason for the unbridled lawlessness we are now seeing all around us:

“For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” -2 Thessalonians 2: 7-12 NLT.

Notice this part of the verse: “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works.” This statement tells us that lawlessness is directly related to Satan.

Lawlessness is the result of rebellion. Satan fell from his position as Chief Worshipper in Heaven because he rebelled against God. All lawlessness proceeds from Satan and is instigated by him. In a land that has turned its back on God, it is no wonder that lawlessness is increasing. If lawlessness is the fruit of rebellion, then rebellion in our country is increasing because lawlessness is increasing.

 “A culture that rejects Truth is doomed to destruction.” – Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

Paul notes that people become lawless when they refuse to love the truth and to be saved by it (v. 10b). Our culture has rejected truth and is now suffering the consequences of doing so. In my 48 years of walking with Jesus, I have learned these four things about Truth:

__Truth never changes.
__Truth is universal and applies to all people in all places and at all times of history.
__Truth offends.
__Truth alone sets us free.
 
A culture that rejects truth is doomed to destruction. We in America have, as a society, rejected Truth. Such rejection is rebellion, and rebellion leads to lawlessness.
 
The Word of God prophesies that the spirit of lawlessness will be unleashed in greater measure during the last days. We are witnessing the fulfillment of that prophecy before our very eyes. Only while the Church is still here will the spirit of lawlessness be restrained from being completely unleashed. After the Rapture, when the Church is removed from the earth, the spirit of lawlessness will be unleashed in all of its raw fury with the rise of the AntiChrist and his globalist takeover.
 
If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as Your Savior and Lord, do so now! Click here to learn how.

Jesus said this about Himself: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”(John 14: 6). To accept Jesus is to accept Truth.

 
Prayer for Today: Lord God, I pray for all those reading this that You would touch their hearts with the truth of Your Word. If they do not yet know You, I ask that You would reveal Yourself to them in a way that they would understand. I thank You, Lord, that, when all is said and done, Truth will win out over evil. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!


Now, it’s YOUR turn: 
Please share your questions and insights in the Comments box below. Thank you!

TWEETABLE:  “The Spirit of Lawlessness: Sign of the End Times by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio @DrMaryAnnDiorio (Click to Tweet)

____________________________________________

To be sure you don’t miss any of my future blog posts, you may wish to subscribe to Matters of the Heart. CLICK HERE 

____________________________________________

JOIN MY TEAM

____________________________________________

Check out my You-Tube series, YOU WERE MADE FOR GREATNESS!, based on my popular book by the same title.  

_______________________________________________

NOW AVAILABLE!

THE ITALIAN CHRONICLES: The Complete Trilogy
in a single e-book or print format.

Save almost $4.00 over the purchase price
of the three individual novels.

BUY E-BOOK NOW!

BUY PRINT BOOK NOW!

_______________________________________________

AVAILABLE FOR ORDER NOW! 

HARDCOVER
SOFTCOVER
E-BOOK

_______________________________________________

Need a break? Read my latest short story, “Fire-Engine Love.” Only $1.99!

Tammie Burke is expecting her second child. But when her husband is suddenly taken from her, Tammie faces the fear of having to raise their two children alone. Will her faith in God help her to put her life back together?

BUY NOW for ONLY $1.99

_______________________________________________

THE ITALIAN CHRONICLES TRILOGY

 Book 1: The Madonna of Pisano    Book 2: A Sicilian Farewell    Book 3: Return to Bella Terra

_______________________________________________

If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend. Thank you! You may also be interested in reading the following popular posts:

“Convergence: Clear Sign of the End Times”

“The Rise of Wicca, Witches, and Warlocks” 

“Don’t Let Satan Play Your Pipes!”

“How to Recognize a Controlling Spirit”

“Sex and Soul Ties”

Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right. 

For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:

A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life

Winning with the Word Podcast Series

Write Your Heart Out! – Podcasts for Writers

Please tell your family and friends about this blog and my other resources, and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!

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Copyright 2018 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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“Why Should You Be Ready for the Rapture?”

by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines 
the course of your life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23

“Matters of the Heart” is a weekly blog that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart, the issues we all face but sometimes don’t want to talk about. The heart is the programming center of our lives. What is programmed into our heart will affect every area of our lives. Learn how to examine your heart and how to program your heart for success.

AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog, click here 

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Are you ready for the Rapture? 

You may be hearing this question more frequently than usual lately. Why so? 

First, let’s talk about what the Rapture is. The English word “rapture” as used in this instance comes from the Latin word “rapio” which means “to seize, snatch, or carry off; to be caught up or taken out of; to remove in spirit and/or in body from one place to another.”  The Rapture of the Church means the removal of the church from earth to Heaven. In other words, the Rapture is the rescue of the Church from the realm of earth–where the wrath of God will be poured out during the Tribulation
–to the realm of Heaven where the Church will be safe and secure.

The Greek translation of the Latin word for rapture is harpazo, which means to snatch away or to take away. The Apostle Paul uses the word harpazo in 1 Thessalonians 4: 17 where he writes: “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

This same word harpazo is used in other places of the Bible as well. For example, in Acts 8: 39 when Holy Spirit “caught up” Philip near Gaza and brought him to Caesarea or in Paul’s recounting of his experience in “being caught tup to the third heaven” in 2 Corinthians 12: 2-4. So, in the case of 1 Thessalonians 4: 17, we can be sure that the word harpazo means the actual removal of born-again Christians from the earth to Heaven.

So, we are settled that when the Lord returns for His Church, if we are still on the earth, we who are born again will be removed from the earth and taken to Heaven. 

That said, we need to ask ourselves why we must be ready to be removed and what we need to do to get ready.

The answer to the reason we must be ready to be removed from the earth at the time of the Rapture is simple: in order to escape the wrath to come. Paul describes this reason in 1 Thessalonians 1: 10: “…to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

There is a time of wrath coming upon the earth. It will be a time of the worst terror, suffering, persecution, and hardship the world has ever seen. It will occur under the brutal rule of the AntiChrist. Only those who have accepted Christ as their Savior and Lord will be spared from this wrath by being taken out of the earth by God Himself. All others will be left behind to experience this most horrific of times. 

What about you? Are you ready for the Rapture? If not, you need to get ready right now. How do you get ready? By repenting of your sins and acknowledging that Jesus Christ is the Only One Who can save you. Receive Him now as Your Savior and Lord by praying this simple prayer:

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner in need of Your mercy and grace. I choose to turn from my sin and to receive You now as my Savior and Lord. I want to live with You forever. Amen.

If you sincerely prayed this prayer from your heart, you are now born again and will be raptured with the rest of us who are born again. Now, tell others about what you have done and encourage them to do the same. 

In my next few posts, I will be discussing more about the end-times and what we, as Christ-Followers, can expect. Meanwhile, I refer you to two videos recorded at the recent “Understanding the Times Prophecy Conference” hosted by Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries. These videos are not pleasant to watch, but we need to know the signs of the times as prophesied in the Scriptures in order to live and to minister in these last days. So, I urge you to watch them. WARNING: They are not for children!

Here are the links to the two videos:

“Home Invasion: The Rise of the Surveillance Society” by Eric Barger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE5lvqAujnQ

“Artificial Intelligence and the Coming Apocalypse” by Pastor Billy Crone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUN8DJJAKJY

Prayer for Today: Lord God, we thank You that through Christ, we can have eternal life. We praise You for the gift of salvation through Christ. Guide us as we share this truth with those whom You bring across our paths. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Now, it’s YOUR turn: Please share your questions and insights in the Comments box below. Thank you!

TWEETABLE:  “Why Should You Be Ready for the Rapture? by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio @DrMaryAnnDiorio (CLICK TO TWEET).

To be sure you don’t miss any of my future blog posts, you may wish to subscribe to Matters of the Heart. CLICK HERE 

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Check out my You-Tube series, YOU WERE MADE FOR GREATNESS!, based on my popular book by the same title.  

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If you found this post helpful, please forward it to a friend. Thank you! You may also be interested in reading the following popular posts:

“Are You on the Verge of Giving Up?”

“How to Stay Sane in an Insane World”

“Is Regret Stealing Your Joy?”

“How to Recognize a Controlling Spirit”

“Sex and Soul Ties”

Please check our archives in the right sidebar for older posts on a variety of topics. You may also search for a particular topic in the search box at the top right. 

For additional encouragement, check out my podcasts at the following links:

A Moment with MaryAnn – Podcasts on Living the Good Life

Winning with the Word Podcast Series

Write Your Heart Out! – Podcasts for Writers

Please tell your family and friends about this blog and my other resources, and please pass this post on to them. Thank you!

___________________________________________

Copyright 2018 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be published or printed in any form whatsoever without the written permission of Dr. MaryAnn Diorio. You may contact her at info@maryanndiorio.com to request permission.

Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Disclaimer: This site uses cookies. Your continued use of this site constitutes your consent to our use of cookies.