Horizon Pointe Baptist Church, Newcastle, Ok

09/14/2024

Do NOT accept any friends request from me!
I have been hacked. If you get any suspicious activity from me, delete immediately.
I am seriously thinking about dropping FB altogether.
TBA
Blessings

03/23/2024

HORIZON POINTE VACATED THE FACILITY ON AUGUST 28, 2023. The congregation that is slated to begin using the facility has not yet moved in.

10/09/2023

09/06/2023

As of August 27, 2023, HPBC has ceased operation. Another congregation will soon be meeting in that location.
Horizon Pointe Ministries will continue online at
horizonpointe.org. At that sight you will find Bible Studies, past newspaper articles, as well as links to other valuable information.
Thanks for the past nine years!
God Bless you all!

The purpose of this site is to continue reaching out to anyone looking for encouragement, Godly discipleship, and Christian commentary.

03/06/2022

“THE FIRST THING WE SEE IN HEAVEN”. Revelation 4:1-11

REV. 4:1. “After this.........” The end of the church age signals a change as the third division of the book begins. “I looked and behold a door was opened in Heaven” See Rev. 3:8
“......first voice ....as of a trumpet talking with me.” See I Thess. 4:16
“Come up hither......” Since the word church is not mentioned anymore in Revelation, this must signify The Rapture of the church.
“...and I will show thee things which must be hereafter” The theme of the third division.

REV. 4:2. “And immediately I was in the spirit....” In the twinkling of an eye John was changed “behold a throne was set in Heaven and one set on the throne..” The first thing John beheld is the focal point in Heaven.

REV. 4:3 “He that sat......like a jasper stone and sardine stone” Jasper was clear, signifying the purity and glory of God; sardine (from Sardis) was blood red, signifying the blood atonement;
“....rainbow round about the throne......like an emerald.” Rainbow, the representing the covenant God made; round denotes eternity; emerald, (green) the symbol of life

REV. 4:4 “...twenty-four seats...twenty-four elders” Twelve tribes + twelve apostles = all those covered under the law and grace. The twenty-four represent all the redeemed of the earth
(See Rev. 5:8-10)
“sitting” At rest “clothed in white raiment” Garb of a priest/ and righteousness (Rev 1:6)
“crowns ...” Our crown of righteousness (II Tim. 4:8)
“...of gold” Symbol of a king (Rev 1:6)

REV. 4:5. “lightenings......voices” Ominous rumblings of things to come. While those raptured are safe from the storm, those on earth are not.
“seven lamps burning before the throne which are the seven Spirits of God.” The third part of the Trinity, the fullness of the Spirit of God, shines its Shekinah glory on Christ.

REV. 4:6. “....sea of glass like unto crystal” Could possibly refer to the Molten Sea (Laver) of 2 Chron. 4 where priests ceremonially washed their hands. The “sea” represented the
Word of God. In Heaven, the “washing” is complete as we stand upon the pure, clean Word.

REV. 4:7 “four creatures” A twofold reference representation of the Gospel in its power
(1) MATTHEW . (lion); Jesus is King
(2) MARK (CALF) Servant/Sacrifice
(3) LUKE (Man) Humanity/Deity
(4) JOHN (Eagle) Conqueor

Rev, 4:8 “six wings” As in Isaiah 6:2, two cover the eyes (reverence); two cover the feet (humility); two fly (spread the Word)

“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Praise to the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Rev. 4:9-11 All of creation falls at the feet of Jesus and cast their crowns at His feet as Creator, Redeemer, and Lord.

THE CROWNS OF LIFE WE RECEIVE ARE NOT BECAUSE WE ARE SO GOOD, BUT BECAUSE THE LORD IS SO MERCIFUL, GRACIOUS, LOVING.
CROWNS DO NOT BELONG TO US, BUT TO JESUS CHRIST. WE GLADLY AND HUMBLY RETURN THEM!

AS THE REDEEMED, SHOULDN’T WE BEGIN PRACTICING
BOWING, SUBMITTING, ADORINGNOW, NOTJUST LAT(2)

03/06/2022

WILL THE RAPTURE COME BEFORE GREAT TRIBULATION?
The Great Tribulation is a term designated by Jesus in Matthew 24:21. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

“Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city…” (Daniel 9:24) In Daniel, one week equals 49 years, so 70 x 7 = 490 years.From the timing of Daniel’s prophecy to Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection comes to 69 weeks or 483 years.

The 70th week is a period when antichrist will rise. According to Daniel 9:27 He (Man of sin) will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven’ In the middle of the ‘seven’‘ he will put an end to sacrifices.

So when will antichrist appear in relation to what we know as The Rapture? A good clue is found in Revelation 4:1
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

With the ending of the letters to the seven churches, 4:1 begins third part of the theme of The Revelation : The things that shall be.
So how can we be confident about a pretribulation Rapture of the church?

Rev. 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Since the final seven years are concentrated on the Jewish people, we can assume the church will be gone from this earth.

Tribulation is the wrath of God poured out on sinful man. It is not intended to punish His children, but those outside His family. The only way to keep His own from being chastised with sinful man is to remove us from the scene.
It is also a time for Jews to be saved.
Hence, “Come up here!” or The Rapture. "Rapture" actually comes from the Latin word "raptus" meaning "to be suddenly seized or caught up." This phrase comes from the Greek word harpazo and is used three times in the New Testament. Each time it denotes a supernatural snatching away.
Acts 8:39-40: “...the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip that the eu**ch saw him no more...but Philip was found at Azotus...” Immediately after witnessing the baptism of the Ethiopian, the Spirit transported Philip to Azotus.
Rev. 12:5: “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” We will deal with this instance later.

1 Thess 4:17: “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” All believers will be instantly caught up to meet the Lord in the air.

The rapture occurs unexpectedly prior to the tribulation period. That is the message of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16, we learn Jesus will descend from heaven and dead believers will rise up first. Then those of us who are alive when Christ comes in the air will rise next and both groups will go up together.
The Lord will return for us at a time when people are least expecting it just as a thief in the night.

If the Rapture occurred after the Tribulation, then we know when the Rapture would happen: After seven years. But the Lord returns when no one expects Him.

The Rapture is NOT the Second Coming.
The Second Coming is when Christ returns at the end of the Great Tribulation.

Hope this comforts you and inspries you to accept Christ today!