Archive for service

The Imminent Rapture Should Change How We Live – Mark Wilson

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Mark Wilson, Rapture with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 9, 2026 by paulthepoke

Mark provides outstanding Biblical content on X @ https://x.com/Mark_Wilson_25/

A dramatic cityscape under a cloudy sky, with beams of light shining down on a crowd of people on a reflective surface. The text overlay includes religious references about the imminent rapture and instructions to be ready.

Prophecy was never given merely to satisfy our curiosity about what happens next.

It was given to make us ready.

Jesus promised: “I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world…” Revelation 3:10

And Paul described the glorious gathering:

“We who are still alive…will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17

If the Rapture is truly imminent, the Church should live with expectancy.
But expectancy without accountability is incomplete.

Because after the gathering comes the Bema Seat.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 5:10

This is not judgment for salvation. Christ already bore our condemnation.

But grace does not erase accountability.
Our works will be examined.

Our motives will be exposed.

Our stewardship will matter.

Scripture does not give us a transcript of the questions Jesus will ask, but it tells us clearly what will matter.

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💡 HOW WERE YOU LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS?

“You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14

Did your life point people toward Christ? Did you shine when darkness increased? Or did you hide the lamp because shining became uncomfortable?

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🧂 HOW WERE YOU SALT IN A DECAYING CULTURE?

“You are the salt of the earth.” Matthew 5:13

When truth became unpopular, did you preserve it, speak it, and live it? Or did you slowly become indistinguishable from the world?

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📣 WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE GOSPEL?

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel…” Mark 16:15

Who heard about Jesus because you were here? Who did you pray for? Who did you tell? Who might be in eternity because you refused to remain silent?

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📖 WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE TRUTH I GAVE YOU?

“Correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Did you contend for truth when compromise was easier? Did you handle Scripture faithfully? Or reshape it to fit the culture?

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⏳ WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE TIME I GAVE YOU?

“Making the most of every opportunity…” Ephesians 5:16

Your days were numbered. Your conversations were numbered. Your opportunities were numbered. Did you redeem them?

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❤️ WHY DID YOU SERVE ME?

The Lord: “will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.” 1 Corinthians 4:5

Did you serve Christ for His glory? Or for recognition, applause, influence, and reputation? Was it really about Him?

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🔥 WHAT DID YOU BUILD THAT WILL SURVIVE?

Paul says every believer’s work will be tested. Gold. Silver. Precious stones. Wood. Hay. Straw.

“The fire will test the quality of each person’s work.” 1 Corinthians 3:13

Some things that look enormous on earth may disappear at the Bema. Some quiet acts of obedience nobody noticed may shine forever.

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🛡️ WHEN FOLLOWING ME COST YOU SOMETHING, WERE YOU FAITHFUL?

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial…” James 1:12

Did you stand when standing became costly? Did you love Christ more than comfort?

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🌿 WHAT DID YOU DO WITH ISRAEL?

Paul says salvation came to the Gentiles: “to make Israel envious.” Romans 11:11

So ask it plainly: Did my life provoke the Jewish people to jealousy for their own Messiah? Did I show them love? Did I pray for their salvation? Did I honor the people through whom came the covenants, the Scriptures, the patriarchs, and Messiah according to the flesh?

Or did I boast against the branches?

“Do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches.” Romans 11:18

Gentile believers were called to gratitude, humility, mercy, prayer, and Gospel witness.

Did Israel see something in us that made them long for their Messiah?

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👀 DID KNOWING PROPHECY ACTUALLY CHANGE YOU?

Did prophecy make us more holy? More urgent? More compassionate? More evangelistic? More focused on eternity? Or merely more informed?

“All who have this hope in him purify themselves…” 1 John 3:3

If prophetic knowledge never changes how we live, something is wrong.

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👑 DID YOU OCCUPY UNTIL I CAME?

Jesus said: “Put this money to work… until I come back.” Luke 19:13

Then the nobleman returned and called his servants to account for what they had done with what he entrusted to them. That is the force of the Parable of the Minas.

The issue was not merely: “Did you know I was coming back?”

It was: “What did you do while I was gone?”

And for us: “What did you do because you believed I was coming?”

Not speculate until I come. Not retreat until I come. Occupy. Serve. Witness. Pray. Stand. Love. Work. Watch.

Because the Jesus who promised: “I will come back and take you to be with me…” John 14:3

also said: “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me…” Revelation 22:12

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IMMINENCE → EXPECTANCY → HOLINESS → SERVICE → ACCOUNTABILITY → REWARD

One day the trumpet will sound. The dead in Christ will rise. We who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

Then every earthly opportunity will be over. No more darkness in which to shine. No more culture in which to be salt. No more person to evangelize. No more Jewish friend to love and provoke to jealousy for Messiah. No more assignment to finish.

And the question will no longer be: “When was the Rapture going to happen?”

It will be: “What did you do while you were waiting for Me?”

“Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” Romans 14:12

And even the crowns we receive will ultimately return to Him.

The elders cast their crowns before the throne: “You are worthy, our Lord and God…” Revelation 4:10–11

That is the destination. Not merely receiving a crown. Having something to lay at His feet.

Prophecy should not produce spectators. It should produce servants.

The imminent Rapture is not permission to abandon the world. It is a reason to spend ourselves for Christ while there is still time.

He is coming.

Be watching.

Be working.

Be witnessing.

Be faithful.

Be ready.

Mark provides outstanding Biblical content on X @ https://x.com/Mark_Wilson_25/

Freedom in Christ

Posted in Freedom in Christ with tags , , , , , , on January 9, 2022 by paulthepoke

Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. NASB

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. ESV

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. KJV

We are opening a series to start the new year. The topic is “Freedom in Christ”.

Note the three translations from the English Standard Version (ESV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), and the King James Version (KJV). There is purpose in understanding how translators operate. Translators are looking at the original Greek text as written by the Apostle Paul in the case of the verse from Galatians. Ultimately, the Spirit of God is the author as communicated to Paul as written in the original Koine Greek. This is the common, street language of the day in the first century.

So what is Biblical “freedom” or “liberty”? What are free from? How does one live in “freedom”? Why are we free? What does a Christian do with their newly found “freedom”? What does it mean to be free?

What is “freedom” or “liberty”? This is the Greek word ἐλευθερία/eleutheria. Multiple lexicons and dictionaries state the term as freedom or liberty. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines the term as liberty to do or to omit things having no relation to salvation; the liberty to do as one pleases.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free…

Christ’s work on the cross set us free. He paid for the consequence of humanity’s sin. The result is our freedom. We are free from sin. We are called to live in freedom apart from sin.

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Humanity and culture have perverted the notion of freedom and liberty. The world says, “Do whatever you want.” The world wants to negate the consequence of these choices. We also have choices in Christ.

We are not free to sin. Yes we will still sin, hopefully less and less as we grow in Christ. But those sins are covered too. We are forgiven. He loves us as we are. And we are called to love others in our freedom. Give and provide for others.

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

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At some point, this nonsense will be brought to a close. Jesus Christ will reign and there will be consequences.

Philippians 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Revelation: Thyatira with Love, Faith, Service, & Perserverance

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation with tags , , , , , , on March 18, 2017 by paulthepoke

Revelation 2:19 “I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.” –Jesus

Jesus knows what is going on in His church. The local body in Thyatira receives high marks and they are getting better. They appear to be the model church. Here are the characteristics demonstrated.

Love…the Greek word αγαπε/agape. Per Strong’s Concordance, it means: brotherly love, affection, good will, benevolence, to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly. This love is the nature of God.

Faith…the Greek word πιστισ/pistis. There is the dictionary definition and then there are times where Scripture defines the term. This is an example where the Bible is the definitive authority. The author of Hebrews defines “faith”.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

The idea of “hope” is the expectation of reality at some point in the future. “Hope” is not happen stance…well maybe? Gee, I hope so? No, Biblical “hope” is the belief the promise will come to pass.

Hebrews 11 is the chapter in the Bible on the topic of faith. The chapter has been called the “Heroes of Faith.” Faith was the issue, is the issue, and will be the issue. Do we believe God and what He has to say?

Hebrews 11:2-3 For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

Service…the Greek word διακονια/diakonia. It means: service of the office of prophet, apostle, evangelist, elder, administration, or a deacon; those who by the command of God proclaim and promote religion among men; the service of those who prepare and present food.

In the sense of the body of Christ, we are all ministers. We can all serve the Lord in one way or another. We have different skill sets and gifts. We all need each other in Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

Ephesians 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ…

The book of 2 Corinthians discusses this term more than any other book in the New Testament.

Perseverance…the Greek word ηυπομονε/hupomone.  It means: constancy, endurance; in the New Testament the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith by even the greatest trials and sufferings; patiently and steadfastly enduring.

Love one another. Have faith in the promise of God’s word. Serve one another whatever your calling. And persevere and endure until He comes and gets us.