ARE YOU
READY?
By Doug
Hethcox
First I would like to
thank
both
Terry
and Todd
for
letting
me
submit
this
article.
I feel
the
timing,
considering
where we
are in
history,
couldn’t
be
better.
But
first,
please
pause
for a
brief
moment
and
offer to
our Lord
a prayer
of
thanksgiving
for
whether
you
believe
it or
not you
are part
of a
blessed
generation,
one that
will see
the
return
of our
Lord and
Savior
Jesus
Christ.
My name is Doug
Hethcox.
Presently
I live
and work
in a
small
town in
Arkansas,
but my
permanent
home is
being
prepared
for me
by Jesus
whom I
firmly
expect
to see
coming
to take
us there
soon in
an event
called
the
Rapture.
My father was a
preacher
so I’m
one of
those
dreaded
P.K.’s.
I was
raised
up in
church,
and at
the
young
age of
ten in a
church
in
Oceanside,
California,
the
minister
used me
in his
sermon
by
having
me sit
in a
chair on
stage.
He then
proceeded
to tie
me up
with
ropes to
demonstrate
how sin
can bind
us up
and we
by
ourselves
cannot
break
those
bonds.
He then
produced
a pocket
knife
that he
called
the
sword of
truth
and cut
the
ropes to
demonstrate
how
Jesus
can set
us free,
and
those
who are
set free
are free
indeed
(John
8:36).
For years after that I
continued
in
church
and
relied
on the
teachings
of my
Sunday
School
teachers
and
pastors
to tell
me what
God’s
word
said
about
how to
live the
Christian
life.
Then in
the
early
70’s I
happened
across a
book in
paperback
title
‘Raptured’.
It
scared
me
almost
to
death, I
had
never
heard
about
this in
church.
So I
began a
quest
and
prayed
that the
Holy
Spirit
would
guide me
to learn
what
God’s
Holy
Word
really
says
about
this so
called
‘Rapture
of the
Church’.
What I
would
like to
share
with you
is what
I feel
the Lord
has laid
upon my
heart as
the
seven
most
important
signs of
our
Lord’s
return
for His
Church
that is
happening
for the
first
time in
the
generation
we live
in now.
In the book of Matthew,
Chapter
24,
Jesus
was
asked by
his
disciples
“Tell us
when
shall
these
things
be. And
what
shall be
the sign
of Thy
Coming?
I
believe
this one
question
has been
the most
controversial
question
ever
asked.
Let’s
look at
seven
prophecies
I feel
are key
to the
imminent
return
of our
Lord.
In the following, each
section
is
preceded
by
Scripture
reference.
Please
read the
Scripture
first
before
reading
section.
1)
Matthew
24:
32-34
Israel has always been known as the fig tree of God. On May
15,
1948,
His
branch
yet
tender
(Israel)
put
forth
its
leaves
and was
recognized
as a
nation
for the
first
time in
almost
2000
years.
The
generation
that saw
the
return
of
Israel
is
quickly
coming
to an
end. But
note
that
Jesus
said the
generation
that saw
this
happen
will not
pass
away
until
all
these
things
be
fulfilled.
Are you ready?
2)
Zechariah
12: 1-3
Turn on
the news
any day
of the
week and
Israel
will be
there
front
and
center.
As a
matter
of fact
the key
to
almost
all end
of days
prophecies
is
centered
on
Israel.
Why?
Because
the
seven
year
tribulation
is
directed
toward
the
restoration
of the
Jewish
nation
unto God
through
the
recognition
of His
Son
Jesus as
their
Messiah.
Are
you
ready?
3)
Daniel
Chapter
8
This
chapter
is the
account
of the
‘Abomination
of
Desolation’
where
the
antichrist
will
proclaim
himself
to be
God. But
in order
for the
antichrist
to bring
Daniel’s
prophecy
to pass,
the
temple
in
Jerusalem
must be
rebuilt,
since it
was
destroyed
in 70
A.D.
Look up
‘The
Temple
Institute’
on the
internet.
This is
an
amazing
website.
The
third
temple
is
already
prefabricated
and
ready to
go up at
a
moment’s
notice
including
furnishings,
priestly
robes,
and
altar,
priests
are
being
trained
all
according
to the
Jewish
Rabbinical
law. And
to add
to this,
Benjamin
Netanyahu
believes
his
destiny
is to
rebuild
the
Temple
of
Solomon.
Are you
ready?
4)
Matthew
Chapter
24
Let’s go
back to
Chapter
24 of
Matthew
and look
at the
disaster
prophecies.
The one
response
I always
get here
is
‘those
things
have
always
happened
since
the
beginning
of
time’.
My
answer –
not so
much!
Geologists
and
scientist
will
tell you
we are
experiencing
more
natural
disasters
in this
age than
have
ever
been
experienced
in
recorded
history.
They’re
trying
to
explain
it away
on
global
warming,
sun
spots,
whatever,
anything
except
God’s
warning
us to
prepare.
Are you
ready?
5)
Revelations
16:12
This is
the
prophecy
that
when I
learned
that the
great
river
Euphrates
was in
the
process
of going
dry it
sent a
chill
down my
spine, a
good
chill
because
I yelled
out
‘Maranantha’
as loud
as I
could.
As I’m
sure you
know
that
means
‘Lord
come
quickly’.
The
Euphrates
is one
of the
oldest
rivers
ever
recorded
in
history.
It is
thought
to be
part of
what is
called
the
‘cradle
of
civilization’.
Geologists
have no
clue as
to why
the
river is
going
dry, but
we do.
Are you
ready?
6)
Revelations
Chapter
13
This
prophecy
is
concerning
the rise
of the
antichrist
where he
will
establish
a One
World
Government
and a
currency
he will
have
total
control
over.
The
entire
world’s
economy
is in
shambles,
nations
are
failing,
riots,
wholesale
murder
in the
streets,
dictators
being
overthrown,
people
out of
work,
and
prices
keep
rising
on
everything
even in
the USA.
Our
government
is doing
its best
to bring
in the
rise of
socialism.
One of
their
mantras
is never
let a
crisis
go to
waste,
in fact
it’s
been
said
that one
more
major
crisis
that
affects
the
entire
world
stage
could
collapse
the
governmental
and
economic
structure
of the
planet.
So I ask
you,
what
could
happen
that
would
affect
the
entire
globe so
completely
as to
open the
door for
the rise
of the
antichrist?
Are you
ready?
7)
Matthew
24:
37-39
and
1Thessalonians
4: 16-17
These
verses
typify
what we
see
happening
in our
world
today.
For
almost
100
years
Noah
preached
one
sermon,
the
coming
judgement
of the
world
because
of not
just its
wickedness
but also
its
total
ridicule
and
denial
of God.
Sound
familiar?
1Corinthians
6: 9-10
We now
as
Christians,
instead
of the
majority
in
America,
have
become
the
minority.
The
Bible
speaks
of a
great
revival
just
before
the
Lord’s
return.
This is
happening,
millions
are
coming
to
Christ
in
China,
Mexico,
Russia,
Africa,
places
where if
caught
it could
mean
death,
and many
are
dying.
But here
in
America,
because
of
political
correctness
our
rights
as
followers
of Jesus
Christ
are
swiftly
diminishing.
The
words
‘God’
and
‘Jesus”
are
being
kicked
out of
schools,
courthouses
and all
government
buildings.
Don’t
believe
me? Just
try to
go up to
any
state or
federal
building
and hold
a group
prayer
vigil
and see
what
happens.
There is
so much
more
going on
now than
just
these
seven
things.
One that
saddens
my heart
so much
is how
so many
ministers
here in
America
have
forgotten
their
first
love and
calling.
They
have
fallen
into a
feel
good,
prosperity
type of
message
that
doesn’t
even
resemble
the
Great
Commission.
The
gospel
we need
and
should
be
preaching
has been
watered
down and
diluted.
Is it
any
wonder
why
churches
are
closing?
In
summary
please
look at
1Thessalonians
4:
16-17.
Are you
ready?
Are you
ready to
be
caught
up? Are
you
ready to
meet the
Lord in
the air?
God’s
desire
is that
no one
should
perish,
but that
all may
obtain
salvation
through
His son
Jesus
Christ.
But He
requires
three
things
from you
–
Belief,
Faith
and
Action.
Belief
that
Jesus
died on
a cross
for your
sins,
Faith
that He
rose
from the
grave
and is
preparing
a place
for you
in
Heaven,
and
Action,
publically
confessing
you are
a sinner
and
asking
for
forgiveness
of your
sins and
accepting
Him into
your
heart to
become
like
unto
Him. He
had the
strength
to shed
His
blood
for you,
do you
have the
humbleness
to stand
up, step
out and
reach
out to
Him.
Only you
and
Jesus
know if
you’re
truly
‘Rapture
Ready’.
Are you
ready?
