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Our physical brains quickly and easily handle mundane sequences of operations, or processes without question. It repeats processes like a machine: ABC…Z. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the word process to mean “a series of actions, operations, or motions involved in the accomplishment of an end”. Heartbeat, breathing, and digestion are processes that occur without a single thought about what comes next. But, in many cases, our movement has become so consistent, that life itself becomes one of the mechanistic processes of the physical brain. Although, life is supposed to be dynamic, the brain only handles what it knows—what it has learned and what is sequenced.

Just as life is a process of the physical brain, so is the mind. We can touch, feel, or see a brain, but we can’t touch a mind because it is a sequence of operations that occur to accomplish one or more tasks. The mind is our dynamic structure that takes in information, pushes it through the rules of our belief systems and stored knowledge, and devises a solution. The brain has many processes that interact with each other. The brain’s mind process has two lesser processes of interest: an ability to analyze and another to react.

Where do we develop dynamic solutions if our brains are so rigid? First of all, when the brain encounters a sequence of events many times, it stores that information so that it knows how to automatically react and what to expect—a new process. It is a way that we handle those daily tasks that we know must be done and don’t have to think about it. Taking out the garbage, saying “hi” to our mates, and some tasks at work become so ingrained that they are processed quickly and easily without thought or emotion. Call it the physical body’s way of making our lives more efficient.

Is it really an efficient method? In some ways, yes. We can simply go through life without thinking and allow our physical brains to issue commands to ensure that tasks are completed. Going through life without thinking is the key point here! We can set our physical brain’s mechanisms in motion to process life and then phase-out to let it run its path. In general, a consistent and repetitive motion in life, without thought, is called a rut. This is where we run into trouble.

Is going through life without thought a positive move? It all depends on what you want out of life. We can let it ride or actively participate. It is in active participation that we begin to acquire dynamic solutions and processes in our physical brains. But, all dynamic processing and information occurs within an area known as the virtual mind. The thoughts and dynamic ideas in this mind are intercepted and processed by the physical mind and turned into new or altered mechanistic enhancements—call it retooling.

However, we have to be open to the new information and understand what it is before we can truly make beneficial use of it. Some of the unique ideas that are intercepted become colored by our own mind to fit within our experiences and belief systems through analytic overlay. Analytic overlay, taken from remote viewing, is the mixing of signals. It is our need to take incoming information and apply our own assumptions, views, and beliefs to make it fit within our realm. With this regard, it is our taking of information arriving externally, and modifying it to fit our understanding and systems. In this way we become more comfortable with new information; however, we tend to obscure information that could provide us with new and intriguing insight.

Virtual Mind

The virtual mind is the higher self. Some call it the subconscious, other the soul. It is that part of us that exists among and communicates with the other entities across the Universe. It allows us to move about freely from our physical realm, investigate new ideas, communicate with others, and acquire information that is seen as a flash of genius.

We have, as a society, grown to ignore the virtual mind. It has been overcome and overpowered by orthodoxy, which is the basis of the physical brain—standard processing of standard information. The orthodox methods limit us as the greatest amount of information is limited by the person with the least amount of knowledge. In this view, it is ourselves that is the person with the least knowledge because we are limiting our access to the vast amount of information available to us.

Many have come to accept the idea of the virtual mind in religious terms. That which is not physically understood is taken as a miracle or as an understanding of faith. However, to truly grasp and take hold of the realities of life, one must move from the elements of faith to that of knowledge. Knowledge of ourselves, the Universe around us, and the interaction gives us the power to understand and control our lives.

The Doomsday Device

Without the virtual self, left to its own recognizance, the physical brain creates its own dynamic structures. But, these structures are merely replications of what is already there. When one lives inside their own head they tend to generate their own ideas. Such generation is a downward spiral because the physical brain is focusing and processing itself. In this case, we end up poking holes in our own existence because the mind is seeking resolution and solutions for itself.

By creating its own structures, it defines resolutions that actually require problems or issues to create the cause for the effect or solution. As such, our brain tells us to go out and seek a problem to which it can apply its solution. This is, as grandma called it, idle hands. I believe it was idle hands are the devil’s playground.

In both of these cases, self-flatulation and the search for chaos, the physical brain is seeking information and issues for those solutions that it’s created within its own realm. This occurs when we cut off the information given to use by the virtual self. It literally creates a doomsday device, or a self-destructive situation, in which we cannot move forward, cannot move back, and simply exist in a situation of pure chaos.

What’s next?

Essentially, you need to hang a sign on your brain that states Authorized Personnel Only. We are not smart enough to go into a closed off brain and create something forward moving. The brain, alone and cut off, can create the most tumultuous chaos out of, literally, nothing at all. However, it is in our virtual mind that we can interact and grow to acquire the information we need to move forward in our lives.

The virtual mind is that part of us that gives us the power, knowledge, and ability to move forward in the physical life. The physical realm is never satisfied and is only bent on survival. It is the virtual mind, the soul that is easily fulfilled and is bent on life, love, and happiness. Let it come to the surface once in a while. Distract your conscious mind and let your brain have a piece of a souler vacation from time to time. Not only will it allow you to acquire the knowledge you seek, but it will also allow your virtual mind to help you resolve and move forward in your physical life.

I think that I recall John Milton, in Paradise Lost, saying “The mind is its own place and in itself can make a heaven of hell and hell of heaven”. Bravo!

Edward B. Toupin, Ph.D., is a published author, life-strategy coach, counselor, Reiki Master, and technical writer living in Las Vegas, NV. Edward works with people to help them strive for a richer life. He also authors books, articles, and screenplays on topics ranging from career success through life organization and fulfillment. Check out some of his recent print and electronic books as well as his articles covering various life-changing topics! Contact Edward at etoupin@toupin.com or visit his site at http://www.make-life-great.com .

However, this does vary with some providers charging 31 interest and so on. For many it simply can’t arrive soon enough as we attempt to juggle bills and expenses, as well as trying to have a little fun in life. As with all dutch minikrediet it is best to take a complete search of the market before you apply for a payday loan for aount 330 euro so you can compare interest rates and make sure you are getting the best deal for your needs. A online minikrediet is a way to solve a short-term cash issue for amounts like 270 euro.

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The words are pop culture heroes.

Movies such as “The Insider,” books like “All The President’s Men” and television series including “The West Wing” have immortalized them.

“On-the-record,” “on background,” “on deep background” and “off-the-record” are celebrity phrases, used regularly as shorthand to represent the mysteries of the journalism underworld.

In reality, these words aren’t used all that frequently in newsrooms; moreover, they’re not particularly helpful. Unless you’re a whistleblower or working on sensitive issues at the highest levels of government, it is almost always better to remain “on-the-record,” meaning that everything you say can be published and attributed to you.

As simple as this basic rule may seem, spokespeople regularly get coaxed into saying more than they intended. They may become comfortable with a reporter, decide to trust the wrong journalist, or develop the mistaken belief that a member of the press has agreed to their terms. It often backfires, with the interviewee facing an unwelcome dose of public scorn when the story hits.

Here are three reasons you should (almost) always stay on-the-record:

1) Definitions Vary - Different news organizations - and different reporters within those news organizations - define terms such as, “on background” and “off-the-record” differently. A simple Internet search reveals the problem - to some news organizations, off-the-record means the reporter can’t mention your interview to even her mother, and to others, it means that your comments can be printed anonymously with the corroboration of just one other source. Without shared agreement on what the terms even mean, agreeing to an interview as anything other than on-the-record is a crapshoot.

2) Agreement Breeds Confusion - In 2002, Washington Post reporter Sally Squires interviewed Gary Taubes, an author who had written a controversial article for The New York Times Magazine challenging the accepted wisdom about the role of dietary fat in weight gain. Before agreeing to the interview, Taubes insisted that he have final approval of his quotes before they were allowed to run - in other words, that his comments were off-the-record until further notice. Ms. Squires agreed - or so he thought - so he was shocked and embarrassed when his overly candid remarks were printed. Far from being unusual, the ambiguity of agreements between reporter and source often leads to mismatched expectations.

3) “Official” Interviews Don’t Exist - Many interviewees think they are on-the-record during the “official” interview, but off-the-record before and after. In fact, anything said in the presence of a reporter is quotable, including the off-handed remarks made at last night’s dinner party.

In August 1984, for example, President Ronald Reagan famously leaned into a microphone for a sound check just prior to his weekly radio address. Joking around with those gathered in the room, Reagan quipped “My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you I just signed legislation which outlaws Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”

Even though the comments weren’t broadcast live, the microphone was on and two news networks recorded them. They almost immediately broadcast the comments, which they clearly deemed newsworthy in the midst of the Cold War.

The incident sparked international outrage, with the West German government pouncing on Reagan’s comments as a sign of his ill will.

White House Spokesman Larry Speakes claimed that the news organizations acted irresponsibly since any remark made before the official radio address was “off-the-record.” However, since the journalists didn’t agree to that condition in advance, they had every right to air it.

To be sure, there are occasionally good reasons to leave the safety of an on-the-record conversation. Instances of corruption or fraud, for example, can be leaked to a reporter in an attempt to hold public officials or executives accountable. But do yourself a favor. If you’re unclear of the rules or unfamiliar with the reporter, get a professional opinion before proceeding. It might save your “off-the-record” comments from appearing on tomorrow’s front page.

Brad Phillips is the founder and president of Phillips Media Relations (http://www.PhillipsMediaRelations.com). He was formerly a journalist for ABC News and CNN, and also headed the media relations department for the second largest environmental group in the world.

For decades, Japanese glass floats were a big find on Oregon’s coastline, having drifted thousands of miles after fishing boats lost these smooth, crystalline balls, used to keep their nets afloat. It was a tradition among coastal visitors to scour the beaches for them, and many locals still adorn their cabins or porches with them. They practically disappeared in the 80’s, and are extremely rare finds these days.

Now, a new glass float tradition is rising on the coast, with a few artisan glass ball blowing shops showing up in the last couple of decades and creating beautiful, ingenious works of art. They come in a myriad of colors and unique designs, and are now considered one of the more treasured finds on the coast - even if you can just buy them.

However, Newport - on Oregon’s Central Coast - is giving visitors a chance to win these valuable catches throughout the winter. No beachcombing in stormy weather is required to find one of these 200 luminous beauties, which are considered collectables. Each is engraved with “2006,” created by the highly acclaimed Schmitz family of Pyromania Glass Studios in Newport, Lincoln City and Depoe Bay.

Until January 31, 2006, several will be given away each week by various businesses around Newport. Visit one of the shops listed on www.newportchamber.org, or on a map provided by the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce. Fill out an entry form, return it to the float display at one of the businesses on the list, and wait for the weekly drawing there (which will arrive by mail).

Call 800-262-7844 for more information.

The promotion is part of Newport’s “value season,” which features numerous lodging specials throughout this adorable town with two lighthouses.

Here, you’ll find the ancient Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, only used for three years back in the 1880’s and open for tours. Then there’s the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, sitting atop a majestic basalt headland, towering into the sky and blinking its signature flash still to this day.

Other family attractions include the awe-inspiring Oregon Coast Aquarium (including its 360-degree view of the ocean from inside a glass-like tunnel), and the famed Hatfield Marine Science Center with its cutting-edge scientific research and displays for all ages.

There’s a legendary wine bar in the charming Nye Beach District called Blu Cork, regular wine tasting at Nye Beach Gallery, a heavily supported art scene, and the streets of that neighborhood are made up to look somewhere between America at the turn of the century and Old Europe. The district is becoming famous for its many fine cuisine choices, such as the stellar, Mediterranean-themed fine dining at April’s at Nye Beach, the unique pizzas at Panini Bakery, and the family-style gourmet of Caf© Stephanie. Or shop until you drop at a dozen distinctive sellers of various interesting ideas for yourself or for gifts, such as the kid’s clothing at Bambini at Nye Beach, surprises at Illingworth’s Gifts or the global fare at Jovi.

There are dozens of places around Newport that are part of the Glass Treasures Promotion, but in Nye Beach you can find them at April’s and at the Viking Cottages & Condos.

In the meantime, you’ll want to explore the pristine beaches of Newport - most of which are up against Nye Beach. You may still run across a real Japanese glass float that has been wandering the oceans for decades.

For more on Nye Beach, see www.nyebeach.org. For a detailed virtual tour of Newport and Nye Beach, see www.beachconnection.net/vtour_newport.htm

Vibrators could be difficult to include into a partnership Some folk will notice the introduction of sexual toys In a partnership daunting & it might bring up questions such as “why do we need sex toys”? Though sex play toys can often be an awesome & satisfying endeavour & sex toys also help to build lust between you & your wife. Vibrators will send you wild.

Figuring out which marital aid to choose might often be an adventure. A time where you and your wife can sit down and talk about what you together want out of the affair & choose a marital aid together that meets both of your wants. Please don’t go straight in for the heavy weight gigantic dildos, just start off slow.

Once both of you have chosen a sexy toy & have had the joy of turning on your new sex play toy you and your partner need to set the seductive mood. Candles & quiet music are the perfect platform to just start off any sexual experience. Make the time special, unplug the mobile phone, turn off the DVD player & focus fully on your boyfriend. Extensive sensual stimulation before bringing out the vibrating toy is an awesome idea. Quiet & loving strokes increases the sexual sensations & helps towards a very relaxing & enjoyable event.

And please do not forget to get into the moment, have fun and enjoy it.

Pet urine can be a huge problem in a residential home. Luckily,
pet urine is easily removed, as long as you can follow these
simple steps.

Everything you need for pet urine removal can be found in most
households. Here they are.

1. White Vinegar 2. Water 3. White rags 4. Spray Bottle 5.
Enzyme Deodorant

You can purchase an “enzyme pet deodorant” at you local carpet
supply store.( Ex. If you live in Dallas, you could search for
“carpet supply store dallas”) Also, most Home Depot’s carry some
type of pet deordorizer.

The best case scenario is that the urine is 24 hours old or
less, any older and it will start to permanently damage the
carpet from the acidity in the urine. Blot the urine up with a
white rag by pressing with the heel of your foot, while standing
on one leg if possible.

This distributes the most amount of weight in the smallest area
possible. It will also soak some of the urine from the pad as
well. Do this for about 10 seconds and release.

Take your spray bottle and put 50/50 vinegar and water, shake
for a few seconds. Turn the trigger until it is spraying a mist.
Spray the pet urine spot until the stain is completely
saturated. If you are concerned that there is a heavy amount of
urine in the pad, peel the carpet off of the tack strip and
remove the affected area.

If you do not have extra pad and want to try and save the
existing pad that is affected by the stain, you can spray some
enzyme deodorant on the pad until it is completely saturated.

After you have soaked the urine up with your towel and sprayed
white vinegar on it, you then want to blot up the excess vinegar
after about 15 or 20 minutes. The vinegar’s job is to neutralize
the acid in the urine, so it does not permanently stain the
carpet.

The final step is to spray the enzyme pet deodorant until it has
totally saturated the affected area, wait another 15 to 20
minutes and blot the excess. Like I said earlier, you can treat
the pad with the enzyme deodorant by pulling the carpet back and
spraying the pad directly with the enzyme or it can be removed
and replaced with new.

It was Christmas Eve last year that the car carrier, Tricolor, was issued with a wreck removal notice. Having been crashed into by a ship trying to overtake it, it has been lying there a wreck ever since. I know how it must have felt.

I was issued with a wreck removal notice on Christmas Eve also. I felt a wreck, that much is true. I’d been at that vodka the night before, the one that had made the local papers because it was dangerously wrong, overly strong and should you have any in the house, to take it straight back for a product recall scenario. Hmm …

So there’s me sorting out the tree, with the kids belting around the house and this letter of eviction comes through the door saying:

“I am sorry to have to inform you that the landlord has decided to sell the property in the spring and therefore will not be renewing your tenancy at the end of the initial six-month period.”

The letter went on, apologetically as the waves broke over my upturned bow… I never could wrap presents. That one about the bow was tenuous, I’ll grant you. Still, let’s press on, eh?

A couple more ships ran into this car carrier before the shipping lanes got the message and gave it a wide berth, so to speak. The second of these ships being a tanker carrying kerosene, a substance only marginally less dangerous than that vodka I’d been at. This tanker got itself rather ignominiously stuck on top. The kids caught sweetheart in a similar position but there we are. It was Christmas. I’m sure they’ll have forgotten by now.

Well, it would appear that at last holes are being drilled in the ships hull, with a view to its eventual removal sometime this coming autumn. And as I type this, I can hear drilling coming from the garage as my new landlord slowly gets my new accommodation finished.

It’s now June and we moved in on February 28th and still he drills away aimlessly, every other week, for a couple of hours and I think I know how that damn ship must feel.

The misery of eviction is bad enough. In my case, a solution has been found. As we waded through the flood that had appeared at our new front door on the wettest day of the year so far, the waves listlessly, muddily seeping round the front door, at least it’s a roof over the family’s head.

And of course there’s the white horses. From the back of the house we have them galloping around doing it all very well and gracefully but come October the Tricolor will remember the white horses as just a fond and distant memory.

(Never look these gift horses in the mouth. I had no idea how to tie this one up but I think that last bit just saved me.

And you.)

Freelance Journalist: a young gentleman specialising in bewildered think-pieces, autobiographical in nature.

Alright. There are many sensational cheescake recipes from around the world. Connoisseurs will, no doubt have enjoyed baked versus cold, French versus New York cheesecakes and many more as well. Perhaps you are looking for a refreshing change. Why not try this traditional, sensational Aussie cheesecake!

Ingredients

Filling
250 grams of reduced fat cream cheese (room temperature)
1 cup of reduced fat condensed milk (room temperature)
juice of two lemons
lemon zest from one lemon
1 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Base
2 cups of finely crushed plain sweet biscuit crumbs
2 rounded teaspoons of cocoa powder
2-3 oz of melted butter

Topping
1 cup passionfruit pulp
2 rounded teaspoons of gelatin
2 oz of hot water

Directions

Base
1. Thoroughly mix biscuit crumbs, sifted cocoa powder and melted butter.

2. Press firmly into the base of greased cheesecake pan.

3. Place in the refrigerator to set whilst preparing the filling.

Plain biscuits can vary in butter content. If you find the base does not form a ball when squeezed in your fist, add a little more melted butter to ensure the base will hold together when cold.

Filling
1. In an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until softened and fluffy.

2. Add condensed milk, lemon zest and vanilla essence until well combined.

3. In a separate container, with very clean beaters, whisk the cream until firm peaks form. Set aside.

4. Add the lemon juice to the cream cheese and condensed milk mixture. Beat well. The lemon juice will start to react and cause the mixture to thicken.

5. On a very slow speed beat in the whipped cream until just combined.

6. Pour mixture onto chilled biscuit base.

7. Place cheesecake into the refrigerator for 3 hours to firm up.

Topping

1. Dissolve the gelatin powder in the hot water according to manufacturer’s directions.

2. Mix dissolved gelatin into passionfruit pulp and place in the refrigerator in a small bowl.

3. When nearly set, but still pourable, pour passionfruit and gelatin mixture over the chilled cheesecase.

4. Return to the refrigerator and chill several hours before serving.

Kim Beardsmore M.B.A., B.Sc. (Biochemistry) is a writer for the online weight loss, health & fitness magazine Weight Loss Health. For free resources, tips and healthy recipes to help you lose weight and gain energy, visit http://weight-loss-health.com.au

Here is the 50 million dollar question - will there be a Rapture of God’s saints before the Tribulation, or will all of God’s people living at that time have to go through the Tribulation and possibly be martyred for their faith?

I’m going to go ahead and give you the main Scripture verses dealing with the possibility of a Rapture. There is divided opinion in the Body of Christ as to whether or not there is going to be a rapture.

Each one of you will have to come to your own conclusion on this subject per your own interpretation of the Scripture verses listed below. I’ll give you my two cents on the subject. I’ll point out key words and key phrases in the following verses.

As you will see in the following verses, I feel there is very strong evidence from Scripture that there will be a Rapture, and that it will occur before the Antichrist starts the persecution of God’s saints, and before God starts to pour out His wrath upon the earth during the 7 year Tribulation. In other words, it will be a pre-tribulation Rapture.

1. This first verse is very interesting. You already know that one of the names of the Antichrist is the “Lawless One” per the Scripture verse I gave you in my first article. This verse is definitely talking about the Antichrist. Here is the verse:

“And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in our time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8)

You know the lawless one is referring to the Antichrist because then the verse says Jesus will destroy him when He comes back for the second time. But look very closely at the phrase “only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the Lawless One will be revealed.” The “H” in the word “He” is a capital H. That means “He” is either referring to God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit.

Since God and Jesus are in heaven right now, the “He” has to be referring to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has always been referred to as the One who restrains evil from getting out of control on this earth. It says that the Antichrist cannot be revealed until He is taken out of the way. Since we know that the Holy Spirit still has to be down here even if there is a Rapture, who is “He” referring to?

If there is a Rapture, there still will be a multitude of people that are going to get saved and then martyred. If they are saved, then they are sealed with the Holy Spirit, which means the Holy Spirit is living on the inside of them like He is with us.I believe the “He” may be referring to the “Holy Spirit operating through the Church.” That means that the Body of Christ - the Church will be what is taken out before the Antichrist can be revealed.

Think about this. The Antichrist is going to be very easy to spot once he starts to enter into the world scene. All the Scripture verses I gave you on the Antichrist and 7 year Tribulation spell out exactly what is going to occur, and there will be more than enough astute Christians who are going to be able to pick up who he is when all of these events start to occur.With some of the powerful TV ministries that we have in place such as the Pat Robertson 700 Club, I am sure that the Body of Christ will be shouting from the rooftops once the Antichrist is spotted. The word will be spread and it will become very hard for the Antichrist to rise to the kind of power that the Bible is foretelling.

I believe that the Church has to be taken out, as the above verse is stating, before the Antichrist can be revealed to the rest of the world. And the above verse states exactly that - that the Antichrist will not be revealed until “He,” who is restraining him, is taken out of the way!!!

Once the Body of Believers are Raptured off of the earth, there will nothing that will be able to stop the Antichrist’s rise to power. The rest of the world is going to be easily duped in believing in this man - especially with all of the “false signs and wonders” that will be performed by the False Prophet on his behalf.

I believe the above verse alone is very strong Scriptural evidence that there will be a Rapture of God’s saints before the Antichrist rises to full power.

2. This next verse talks about that those who are “alive” will be “caught up” to meet the Lord in the “air”. Here is the verse:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

This verse really seems to be implying that there will be a group of saints who are going to “caught up” or pulled up to meet the Lord in the air while we are still alive! Those words spell possible “Rapture” to me.

3. The next verse tells us a “mystery”- that not all of God’s saints are going to “sleep” - and that this group is going to be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and that this event will occur at the last trumpet. I believe the Last Trumpet is God’s last call to His people, and that it implies that whoever is saved and born again when this trumpet sounds off, will be Raptured and spared going through the horrors of the Tribulation.

I believe that the word “mystery” is being used to let us know that God is keeping the possibility of a Rapture a “secret,” a “mystery” to the rest of the world. That is why all of the Scripture verses pertaining to this event do not “perfectly” spell it out or state it without any shadow of a doubt. There is enough of a “hint” in these verses for His own people to pick it up, but not to the rest of the unbelieving world. Here is the verse:

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” (1 Corinthians 15:51)

I believe that the words “last trumpet” tells us this event will occur at the end of times. The words “shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye”, really do describe what could be a Rapture - the immediate vanishing or disappearance of God’s people from the face of the earth in the “snap of a finger.”

4. The next verse is from Jesus Himself out of Revelations. Here is the verse:

“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.” (Revelations 3:10)

This verse could be literal translation - that Jesus will keep His Body of Believers that are living at this time out of the hands of the Antichrist. He obviously will either do it by Rapturing them off the face of the earth or by providing some kind of physical protection for them if there is no Rapture. My guess is that He will do this by Rapturing them off of the earth.

5. Here is another verse from Jesus stating that we watch and pray that we be counted worthy to escape all the things that may be coming our way. The verse is:

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be COUNTED WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS THAT WILL COME TO PASS, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)

This verse really seems to be hinting or implying once again that God is going to allow some of us to escape or be prevented from having to go through the events of the Tribulation.

6. Now here are some additional verses that are not quite as strong as the above verses, but do suggest the possibility that God will keep us from these events.

“… and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who DELIVERS US FROM THE WRATH TO COME.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

This verse either means Jesus will deliver us before the wrath comes, which would line up with a Rapture, or it may mean when He comes down for the second time at the battle of Armageddon to put an end to all of the carnage with the Antichrist.

“FOR GOD DID NOT APPOINT US TO WRATH, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9)

This verse could be implying that His Body will not be appointed or be subject to the events of the Tribulation - or the “wrath” could simply be pointing to people going to hell for refusing to accept Jesus and His gift of eternal salvation.

Conclusion

If there is going to be a Rapture, I believe that God will rapture His believers off of this earth sometime before the start of the 7 year Tribulation. I don’t think He will wait to the midpoint of the Tribulation where the Antichrist seats himself in the Temple proclaiming himself to be God and then starts all the persecution.

I feel the Antichrist will be fully revealed to the world at the beginning of the 7 year Tribulation when he enters into a peace treaty and covenant with Israel, and then allows them to start rebuilding their Temple so that he can eventually get into it at the midpoint of the Tribulation to proclaim himself to be God.

And remember the very first verse above, that the Antichrist cannot be revealed until “He” is taken out of the way. And when “He” is taken out of the way, then the Antichrist can be fully revealed to the rest of the world. And “He” in my opinion may be the Church or the Body of Believers that are living at the time of these events.

The other reason I think the Rapture will occur sometime before the start of the 7 year Tribulation is that the Antichrist is going to need some time to set things up. Once the Church is taken out, he will be free to start operating at full scale. The first thing he is going to do is convince and persuade the rest of the world to follow him and I feel he will do that by trickery and deception. If he starts the persecution too early on those who will not take his mark, he will risk not being able to gain full control of everything.

I feel he will first suck everyone in by peace and diplomacy and the promise of a better world. Then once he has enough of the nations on his side and the Jewish Temple is once more rebuilt, that will be the time that He will then go for all of the marbles. He will seat himself in the temple at the midpoint of the Tribulation, proclaim himself to be God, kill anyone who will not accept his mark, and will then seek total world domination and control. Think about this. This one man, through the power of Satan, will get a chance to have more power and control over the entire world than any other man has ever had during the entire course of our human history. This will be the ultimate ego trip for a power hungry human being.

I think that the last three and half years of the Tribulation is going to be the last and final history lesson from God to us. With the Church being taken out of the way so Satan and the Antichrist can operate at full force, I feel that God is going to show all of us how much terror, death and destruction humans and demons are capable of committing if given half the chance without God directly intervening.

In three and half years, Satan and the Antichrist are going to cause so much death and destruction on this earth, that Jesus Himself says that had these days not been shortened by God the Father Himself - that no flesh would have been saved! I really feel that Satan, if he knew he had the chance, would set up the entire scenario with the Antichrist to destroy the entire world through nuclear weaponry.

Satan already knows he is defeated. He knows he will eventually end up in the Lake of Fire and Brimstone forever and ever. He knows that this is his last chance for mass destruction and terror. He hates all humans and anything to do with God and heaven. If God would allow him anymore time than the three and half years, I really believe Satan would set the world up for mass destruction through nuclear weapons. He would then have the satisfaction that he literally destroyed the entire world before he goes to his final fate.

But thank God, He will not allow this scenario to go this far. But God is going to allow it to go far enough to teach us all a lesson that we will never ever forget. He is going to show us how quickly humans can be deceived by Satan and his demons, and the only thing that has kept this world in one piece for the last 6000 years has simply been the power and restraining force of God the Father Himself operating through the Holy Spirit.

Bottom line - there is only maximum life with God or maximum death without Him. The last three and half years in the Tribulation will show us what “maximum death” will really be like when God removes His Church off the face of this earth, and he then allows the Devil and the Antichrist to do what they want with the power that will be given to them.

After we watch and see all of these events unfold, we will never, ever want to forsake our God again. We
will come to the full realization that without God in our lives - that we can never have or find true happiness, joy, love, peace or fulfillment in our lives.

Without God in our lives, there is only eventual maximum death, and the last three and half years on this earth is going to prove that point once and for all to all of us. It will be the greatest history lesson that the world will ever receive, and something that we will never ever forget for the rest of our eternal lives.

Will there be a Rapture? You will each have to decide for yourselves on the way the above Scripture verses are worded. My conclusion, after putting all the above verses together like a “jigsaw puzzle,” is that there will be a rapture, and that it will occur sometime before the beginning of the 7 year Tribulation.

I feel the Rapture is a “mystery” from God, and that it is “hidden” in the above verses. God does not want the rest of the unbelieving world to have full access to this mystery, otherwise people will be accepting salvation for the wrong reasons - to escape the coming horrors of the Tribulation and not with a true, repentant heart to want to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior for the sinners that we all truly are.

Again, you may want to put this article on the shelf in the event that we start to fast approach end time events in our lifetime. This article will make for good debate with other Christians who may not believe in the Rapture.

Article written by Michael Bradley of Bible Knowledge Ministries. Their website is a resource of Bible, articles, commentary and teaching. They currently have over 100 Bible articles. All free of charge.
If you do not want to wait for the next article, you can go to our
end times section of our website for all 15 articles regarding the 2nd Coming of Jesus.
Copyright © 2005 by Michael Bradley. All Rights Reserved.

Doesn’t weight training build muscle and increase your metabolic
rate and therefore the increase in your metabolic rate reduces
fat? And if so, then doesn’t this mean that you have gained
muscle and lost fat at the same time?

I can understand how you might be confused because it’s true
that the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolic rate
will be and the more fat you will burn as a result of having
more muscle.

My point was not that building muscle and losing fat at the same
time is impossible, but that attempting to build muscle and lose
fat at the same time is not as efficient because you are chasing
after two conflicting goals.

Let me explain…

If you want to put on the most muscle possible, you would engage
in what’s called a ‘bulking’ diet. That is where you eat 10-15%
over your maintenance level calories. The rate of muscle growth
can be quite rapid at this level of caloric intake, but the rate
of fat gain can often be as high as the rate of muscle gain (a
1:1 ratio).

So why would you ever want to gain fat along with the muscle?
Simply because you will gain the maximum amount of muscle
possible only if you stay in a caloric surplus. People who want
to gain muscle and lose fat at the same time have to alternate
periods of caloric surplus with periods of caloric deficit and
therefore will gain muscle much more slowly.

Let’s talk about cutting diets.

The goal on a cutting diet is to eat 10-20% below your
maintenance calories in order to burn as much fat as possible
without sacrificing muscle. On any cutting diet, some muscle
loss is almost inevitable, but your goal is to maintain as much
lean body mass as possible.

A beginner is much more likely to build muscle and burn fat at
the same time. (That’s why being a beginner is pretty cool). For
a beginner, almost anything works because your body isn’t used
to the stress of training, so great “beginner gains”can be made
with virtually any training program.

But after about 6 months, the gains slow down, then nearly stops
as you become more advanced and get closer to the limits of your
genetic potential.

At this point, You have to work harder and smarter in order to
keep your body progressing and changing. Not counting the
initial “beginners gains” growth spurt, the only ways I know of
to date that you can do both (build muscle and lose fat quickly)
is thru anabolic steroids or to be extremely genetically gifted.

You see, testosterone promotes leanness and it builds muscle.
Having super high levels will allow you to chase both goals and
do it well. Of course, that isn’t a risk free path and in the
U.S. it is illegal. And there are a slew of other problems with
that. I just wanted to insert that point.

Is it impossible to build muscle and lose fat at the same time?
Nope. It’s possible. It’s simply more difficult and not the most
efficient approach.

There’s an old proverb that says, “If you chase two rabbits, you
will catch neither.” Gaining muscle and losing fat require
different eating methods to achieve. If you attempt to do both,
you may end up in limbo going nowhere.

If you don’t mind making much slower progress in muscle gains,
you can put on muscle and trim down body fat. But many people
want faster results, so they focus on a single goal and put all
their effort and energy into that one goal.

Then when they reach a certain body fat percentage, they go the
other way. Keep all the muscle they just built and lose the fat.
In essence, you might start off at 200 lbs, 15% body fat but at
the end, you might be 195 lbs, 9% body fat and have more muscle
then you did at 200 lbs. Because you gained as much as possible,
then cut away the fat. Now you are bigger but leaner.

My recommendation: Pick one goal and stick with it until you are
satisfied. It’s faster, easier and works better then trying to
do both.