Title: The Times
Category: Contemplative
Blog Entry: Bible prophecy as regards our present day and our future has always interested me. Even before being born again, I was captivated by the images the Bible drew in my mind depicting the end of days. But it was a now and then thing to think about. But since being born again and even more so in the last few weeks, this interest has taken on new life and I actively search news stories and compare them to scripture and pray about the findings.[br] I know that there are some really wild and crazy folks out there that seem to be able to link silly things to Bible prophecy...like you sneeze 3 times in a row and that means the Lord will return on Friday. Lord help us all. Our enemy, Satan the devil will do all he can to discredit the truth, and that includes the truth as far as signs of the times go, too. Jesus said that only the Father knows the time, when the final 7 year period of this system on earth would begin. So no matter what anyone predicts as 'The Day', it's probably wrong.[br] I assure you that I am not trying to be an alarmist or cause anyone to panic. That is unless you need to come to the Lord before it's too late. In that case feel free to message me or contact any true believer for help. And even better than that, just call out to the Lord for help. An honest "Lord save me!" would be a great place to start. He is faithful and true and is activly searching the earth for those would would turn to him. I encourage you to look to Him for help in your hour of need. In truth, He is all we really have.[br] Anyway, here is a short run down on what I feel confident about at this time. [br] As little as 100 years ago there was, for all practical purposes, little if anything happening on the earth that would indicate that Bible prophecy would be fulfilled any time soon. But since the time around the turn of the century from the 1800's to the 1900's the signs have been starting to show and build. Just as Jesus said, these times would be like birth pains which start off as small infrequent events but as the time draws near intensify and become more frequent. Such are the signs of the end and I believe we are seeing them become more vivid each day.[br] Starting around 1917, after the British ousted the Ottoman Dynasty (Turks) and later set aside a small area of land for the Jews to call home, things have started falling in place. In 1948 the nation of Israel was reborn. Jews that had been scattered among the nations, for many reason that would include WWI and WWII and the Nazis trying to wipe them from the face of the planet, began to return to their homeland just as God's Word said. And they are still returning today. It has not been a breeze for the Jews to reclaim and govern this land, for they have many enemies. But God's will trumps man's evilness and it happened and IS happening still now.[br] As today, there have been rumors of wars and reports of wars that never seem to stop before 2 more take their place in the middle east. This is simply amazing to me because of the sheer absurdity of it. Think of it like this:[br] Say you have a small ant hill in your back yard. So what? It's not that big of a deal. You bring it up in conversation with your neighbors and some say 'it needs to be destroyed!', and some say 'aw, leave the ants alone. They aren't bothering anyone'. Now just imagine that not only your two next door neighbors, but every single neighbor on your street develops an opinion on the future of this ant hill. But then to find out that people in the next community and the next are all obsessed over this little ant hill, and to top it off, are devising plans on how to either protect it or obliterate it. Absurd? You bet. But that is pretty much the story here. Every single nation on this planet has the future of this tiny nation on this small speck of dirt and rock on the front burner of it's agenda. This situation has God written all over it![br] Isiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Jeremiah, Joel, Jesus himself and many others are quoted in scripture that this will be just the case. All written thousands of years ago. Ezekiel and Isiah seem to give more detailed descriptions of the players in these end times and why they are involved and what they will do...and even more importantly...what God will do. In our current news, these players are falling in line just as foretold by God Himself. [br] All this is to bring up my point. Even unbelievers realize that something here is fishy. Something is up that is beyond what human reason can easily write off. Something is coming that is bigger than all of us. And they are right. Almighty God, through a series of events detailed in the Bible, and very clearly spelled out in the book of Revelation and others, will begin to wring out every last soul that will repent and turn to His Son Jesus from the planet. [br] I will not go into the differing Rapture theories out there, but I feel strongly that anything that would cause anyone to feel indifferent toward the dangers foretold in the Bible, as if they had done something to deserve a free ticket, well, I urge us all to think again. I mean, if the Lord takes us up before these last seven years and spares us the sorrow and grief, I'll be the first to shout Hallelujah! I have no doubt that the called children of our God, will never partake of His wrath, but He never promised us that we would never have suffering in this life. [br] And what if these Rapture 'theories' are wrong? What if we will have to 'endure till the end' in order to be saved? How many people in that situation would become angry and bitter at God and perhaps even forsake Him? That is not a good picture to look forward to. But let's be honest. What would you do if you realized several months into this last 7 years that God had left you here to endure. And arrogance and a false sense of pride that 'nothing like that will never happen to me, because I'm this, or because I've done that, will protect me?' had caused you to become dull and lazy spiritaully. What would you do then? Are you prepared to endure if God says you must?[br] The advice to live as if Jesus could return any moment, but be prepared in case He will not return in your lifetime, seems sound to me. All of this should cause our spirits to agree with the Holy Spirit as He prompts us to reach out in Love to the lost. More now than ever before as we see the day of the Lord approaching. What do we have to be ashamed of in preaching the Good News of God's Kingdom? Absolutely nothing. [br] I pray for blessings to you from the Most High God and our Lord Jesus Christ Kevin
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