Facing the Last Days - Conclusion - by Pastor Doug Riggs

This message was originally recorded February 2, 2016.

My notes:

From 1 Peter 1:5 we see there is "a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." This speaks of "an eschatological time of crisis and opportunity." Doug has taught on this as the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:12), a time of blessing for those walking in righteousness and of judgment for those in apostasy. It is "a time of testing, but also a great opportunity." Also in 1 Peter 4:12 it is called "the fiery trial" and verse 17, "It is time for judgment to begin with the household of God." To further the context of these references, we see the connection to the revealing - or revelation - of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7 cp. Revelation 1). It is the time of preparation for the rapture - also known as the day of visitation, "when God breaks in, He oversees the affairs and condition of God's people, and those on the side of Laodicea is judgment (on whom) He'll vomit out of His mouth; and those that are in the condition and the representation we see of Philadelphia, that will be exalted in due season."

In this message, Doug goes to the extreme in quoting and reading countless scriptures as he describes the last days prophecies pertaining to the church leading up to the rapture. "At the revelation of Jesus Christ, the day of visitation, it's going to result in an out-shining, an exanastasis (out-resurrection)... Philippians 3:11." Doug further explains the morning star arising in the hearts of individuals, and that prior to the rapture it will be a corporate experience related to the out-resurrection from the dead and the revelation of Jesus Christ in the church, His body.

"They are different facets of one spiritual reality... a living reality... The rising of Christ as the morning star in our hearts, that's the fulness of Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords in whom He is as the glorified Son of Man coming in power and great glory at His second coming. Subjectively, His second advent glory has to become a reality in the hearts of the church and the body of Christ." Speaking of "the rapture generation - there will be a surviving remnant who collectively will represent a company who have finished their course."

How did Peter make known the power and coming (literally: presence) of Jesus Christ? "Jesus had arisen in his heart as the morning star." This is the testimony of Jesus, 'making known His power and coming'. This is what shall be at the end of this dispensation of grace at the world's darkest hour in a corporate body, those who endure and survive to be rescued and snatched at the rapture. I like what Doug said about people coming into our assemblies, "So if somebody comes into our midst and is full-blown SRA-DID, and His (Jesus’) power and coming is made known, you think they're going to remain that way? How can they?"

The shaking coming on the church will result in that which remains, what cannot be shaken. It will be the testimony of Jesus in power and presence. "There's going to have to be something very radical happen in the body of Christ before the Lord returns for His church... and when all the shaking is done, there will be Philadelphia on one side, Laodicea on the other, and that which is not repented (of) will be vomited out of His mouth." This shaking will have a polarizing effect. Those in the church who are awake and in any other condition than Philadelphia will either repent and become overcomers, or will be taken out before they finish the race, "saved so as through fire", with less reward than what was their allotted portion (Acts 26:18). This is connected with the 'apostasy' that will occur prior to the day of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

There's nothing wrong with listening to truth - but if there's no transformation, it just remains intellectual knowledge. We need to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2) "by the washing of water with the word" (Ephesians 5:26) so it is not only objective information, but becomes subjective resulting in an experiential transformation until Christ is fully formed in us (Galatians 4:19) and we are conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), demonstrating the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the morning star arising in our hearts (2 Peter 1:16, 19), an out-resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:11), etc. (as Doug clearly presents an almost endless list of scriptures that relate to the end of this age).

Link to Audio: https://dougriggs.s3.amazonaws.com/Assemblies/2-2-16+assembly.mp3

Doug indicates two of the following books by T. Austin-Sparks that he read to the assembly in February of 2016: Men Whose Eyes Have Seen the King (https://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/000932.html) and That He Might Fill All Things (https://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/001812.html). To listen to these messages, you will find them on the 2016 Archives Page (https://www.dougriggs.org/Ministry-Archives-2016.html - near the bottom of the page).

Maranatha!

John Mark

...hereby committing this unto the providential care of the enthroned Head of the Church; whose Name is blessed forevermore, Yeshua Mashiach - Jesus Christ!