Many Christians in the prophetic realm today believe that when the rapture takes place, very few individuals left behind will understand the true reason for its occurrence. The common reasoning portrays the people left behind as being stunned at first, but then quickly developing some sort of amnesia. The idea that no one will pay any lasting attention to what would have to be a cataclysmic event seems hard to believe. This is especially true since so much information about the rapture has already been disseminated in the form of millions of books, radio or TV broadcasts, and even in the form of bumper stickers: "In Case Of Rapture This Car Will Be Unmanned."
How the Idea of a Secret Rapture Became Predominant
Most Christian writings, when it comes to the world's reaction regarding the rapture, paint a picture of total ignorance of what has happened. The common understanding is, in order to have the Antichrist come to power, a blanket of ignorance needs to be thrown over all tribulation events. The unsaved typically say, "Where did everyone go?" This thought process has dominated rapture writings for the past 25 years. I believe the whole purpose of the rapture is to get people's attention. In contrast to what some authors think, information about the rapture permeates society, so much so that the occurrence of the rapture will likely cause a good deal of weeping and wailing.
Will the World Take Notice of the Rapture?
The world will most certainly take notice when the rapture occurs. If the Statue of Liberty suddenly vanished from New York Harbor, ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN would break from regular programming to cover this marvel. To have millions of people disappear without a trace, the media storm cannot be imagined. If one car or airplane crashed without a driver or pilot, it would be a major news item. After the rapture, the media will have thousands of examples to choose from. Think of the vital positions that Christians hold in the workplace. Many businesses will be paralyzed by the loss of key personnel; the economy will suffer a devastating blow; and millions of people, who had friends and family members raptured, will be terrified. The rapture will create a media event that will rival any breaking news event from the past. If you turned on your television, you would find 24-hour-coverage on every channel. The President would be calling emergency meeting after emergency meeting, and churches would be filled to overflowing.
How the Devil Will Deceive the World
Right after the rapture, millions of people will find "religion," repenting of every sin they have committed--and of some they haven't. The prophecy section in all Christian bookstores will be cleaned out, and you may need reservations to attend Sunday church services. Well, maybe not at all churches. The world will be in a state of supreme chaos, and out of this mess will arise the man who will have an answer to every question. This man, the Antichrist, has been repeatedly mentioned in the New Testament. Paul the Apostle spoke of him frequently. The Antichrist will be the greatest salesman in history because he will sell the people the biggest lie ever. Satan will be so impressed with him that he will give this man his full power. Paul also stated that because the people will have no pleasure in the truth, God will send them strong delusion that they may be damned. Exactly what that delusion is, we can only guess. What methodology the Antichrist will use to explain away the rapture, I have no idea. Some say he will cite space aliens as the reason, and some say the explanation will be that they went into another dimension to receive better understanding. If we are truly grounded in the Word of God, no lie, no matter how beguiling, will be able to shake us loose from the truth.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
America: Meltdown to Global Multipolarism
Has the financial bust of the Apocalypse started after all? One could be tempted to think so. Since financial markets began to fracture more than 15 months ago, waves of selling, unwinding and deleveraging have continued unabated around the world. Just before this writing, the entire global stock market had fallen 55% (as represented by the MSCI Barra, All Country World Index in US dollars. See chart on back page.) Imagine that? By more than half, or almost $36 trillion! Of course, there has been rampant devastation everywhere, not just in the stock markets. US housing values are sinking the fastest since the Great Depression and everything from bond markets to art and used trucks are deflating in value.
Any extra-terrestrial visiting this planet would greatly wonder about a civilization that is so fickle about the value of its wealth. Of course, we know better. This world—which Christians surely live within, but its values do not endorse—is vulnerable to mankind’s idolatries and vain confidence. In fact, it is hubris and confidence taken to the extreme—mankind’s confidence in its surveys of confidence—that has brought the planet to this brink. But is it the beginning of the end?
Well yes … and no. Yes, great global events such as are occurring now must be seen as part of mankind’s progression to an end … actually, one of several ends that still lie ahead as the Bible tells us. But it is not yet the start of the Great Apocalypse, though surely very close. We lay out the reasons for this perspective in the recent article series, What Chance a Global Financial Apocalypse Now.
Then what does the present global financial storm signify? We think at least two … perhaps three developments. Firstly, it is the natural outcome of bad, bad economic policies and financial management. Here, leaders and voters can be blamed. Any common-sense observer will confirm this view. The world is simply reaping what it sowed. A second one is that a massive world crisis is required at this late, great stage of global economic and financial integration. For this, accountability can be given to powers in high places (Ephesians 6:12) but also flesh and blood complicitor elites. But why? This current crisis will serve the familiar role of catalyst, drawing most nations together and further setting up the conditions for the last-day 10 kings (more about which in a moment).
A third corollary development that must fall out of this prophetic fulfillment of 10 kings, is that the world must first enter an age of multipolarism. What is multipolarism? It is a world power arrangement that is balanced between many countries and not dominated by one or more powerful nations. Certainly, there can be no world power structure comprised of 10 kings as the Bible prophesies (Daniel 2:41-42, Daniel 7, Revelation 12, 13, 17) if there is one superpower that can ignore or undermine such a world order. We have recently written a 2-part article series on this exact question, entitled Endtime Shoe: Fitting The World for 10 Toes. We touch on a few of its points in this article.
Financial Meltdown: How Much Further
We have long expressed our concerns that the day of a financial meltdown was becoming ever more probable. (In fact, we laid out the possibilities for such a scenario in the 2002 book, The Endtime Money Snare.) But, we are not prophets. It has not been given to mankind to know the near future, thankfully. Yes, the Bible clearly lays out the future in advance, but it provides no specific calendar dates for this dispensation. It would be a much more chaotic world than it already is, were humankind to be given the capacity to know the near-term future (in other words, perfect future visibility). It couldn’t work, given mankind’s fatal penchant for money (“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” -1 Titus 6:10) security and self-reliance. Imagine. If we did know the exact timing of future events, everyone would act on this information at the same time, thus changing the future. It would be a maniacal world.
Related to this is the reason why God doesn’t much oblige so-called “spirit-led” investors. The Holy Spirit must have much more important functions than to provide “buy/sell” advice to materialistic Christians. Investors continue to get scammed by so-called Christian advisors who see themselves as divinely inspired to meet people’s appetite for gains. Beware. There are already plenty of prosperity gospel teachers who fill this service niche. Crucially, this deceptive, corrupt teaching lies at the very foundation of the troubles that America and other nations are presently experiencing.
Prosperity gospel is deeply imbedded in the psyche of Western Christians. While many will guffaw at the shamefully transparent teachings and techniques of the likes of Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar and Peter Popoff—he of the “divine transfer”—and many others, this false gospel has much more sophisticated forms. Why, of course, Christianity and the Bible was invented by God for no other reason than the sanctification of human esteem and as a self-help regime to personal betterment in the here and now. In this view, eternity gets short shrift—either not believed nor promising sufficient instant gratification to the earth-bound consumer. In fact, I am personally ashamed to sometimes fall for the more subtler forms of prosperity gospel myself, as likely will most others. We whine sometimes to God as did Jeremiah, “Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails?” (Jeremiah 15:18).
Jeremiah figured that since he was walking with God and answering His calling, that he deserved a few easy breaks. He bargained with God, saying “I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because your hand was on me, and you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable?” (Jeremiah 15-17-18). How did God respond? He didn’t even acknowledge the complaint. He simply said this: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me” (verse 19). No doubt, all 12 of the New Testament apostles met this same issue. They were doing the Lord’s will, yet 11 of them died an unnatural death. Was this just? Said Paul, “Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love […]” (2 Corinthians 6:4-6). Yes, there is great eternal value to be found in the privilege of serving Him; the undeserved promise of eternal life and the indescribable prospect of being in His presence forever more.
But, most so-called Christians today would not identify with such a perspective. That is exactly why the present juncture in America is so terrifying at present. For, what will be the result of the deep economic troubles that have now come upon the America? Will there be repentance or rebelliousness and anarchy? Both outcomes are possible. But I greatly fear for the latter outcome. As Revelation tells us about the Great Tribulation, we learn that people refused to repent, despite the wrath and hardship on no less than 4 occasions. (Revelation 9:20-21, 16:9, 11, 21) They would not let go of their idolatries.
That could happen now. It would be understandable, after all. Hasn’t our great society ingrained in us the right to prosperity … the good life … and effortless, endless progress to greater wealth? Haven’t countless pastors told us that prosperity is the emblem and purpose of our Christian faith? It would be no surprise, therefore, if many “fair-weather” Christians turned on God, bewailing the same perspectives as will the earthdwellers during the Apocalypse. What God would allow such economic hardships and prove to be such a “false brook” of prosperity? Fair-weather Christians and most others would reject such a God, and instead turn to the promises of government or some future demagogue. And, if in turn these don’t end the economic sufferings, would some resort to rioting and pillaging? We certainly hope not, although some are actually predicting such an outcome.
One reputable trend watcher (Gerald Celente, CEO of Trend Research Institute) goes so far as to open the possibility that America will “plunge to the status of an undeveloped nation” and that “America’s going through a transition the likes of which no one is prepared for.” He predicts that by December 2012, consumer Christmas will only be a memory, since getting food on the table will be the priority, not gifts. Anything is possible. However, we are suspicious of the date he uses, (December 2012) which seems to be coming up in a lot of forecasts lately, particularly from those seers basing their views on the Mayan calendar.
But why is America being hit so hard financially and economically? Indeed, the current troubles facing the US are epic and much more severe than most other countries. Who are we to confirm the reasons why God would want to either test or discipline the US (this also being true from some of its sister nations like the UK and Canada)? Could it be that He finally has remembered the sins of this once “evangelistic” Philadelphian nation? Or has America shot itself in the foot?
As always. we seek to take the pre-millennial perspective (in other words, we take a literal Biblical view). Then what might be underfoot? It indeed has much to do with a foot, we think … the foot with 10 toes seen by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:41-42).
Is America now being downsized, making way for the 10-king multipolar world to arrive? Bible prophecy confirms such an outcome. As such, at some point, in some way, America must become a relatively smaller power. This may be a process that may yet require a long time. However, conditions are such that this shift on the world stage could happen rather suddenly.
Just how bad will things yet get? To this point, I have been rather silent on this issue. After many years of warning that America and other Western nations were on an unsustainable path leading to certain disaster, I do not now want to be a fearmonger. It has happened. Yet blindness is as entrenched as ever. People do not know the purposes of the Lord. While the current crisis is now obvious to everyone, few still have any idea as to the next developments … the traps, both economic and political, and likely the rapidly-nearing multipolar reign of 10 kings.
But, even were an economic downturn to become as severe as in the Great Depression of the 1930s (possible, but likely not that bad) violent upward surges can be expected to occur in financial markets. Two major recoveries were experienced in the 1930s, triggering stock markets surges that doubled and tripled market levels. Similar surges are likely today.
However, it will not be easy navigating this environment.
These are treacherous, diabolical times. The world seems to be urgently wanting to meet its destiny … hurrying along the path. I expect enormous shifts over the next several years that the vast majority of savers and investors will not anticipate. Just consider the recent deceptions of the Mammon realm. No sooner was everybody convinced that the US dollar was going to collapse forever (after the euro had already risen 93% in US dollar terms from its low), the US dollar soared 29% over a few short months.
It is virtually impossible to forecast anything accurately. All the doomsters who had predicted that gold bullion prices would explode when the long-awaited financial crisis finally arrived, also have been wrong. Most of them are licking their wounds … some of these Christian prophetic ministries. There are assuredly explainable reasons for these twists and turns, aspects of which are the subject of our studies. Though we might understand many of these developments, it is yet quite another matter to predict their timing.
As we often mention, we are not prophets but simply “seeking to understand the times” as this slogan is Eternal Value Review’s motto (EVR).
Given the manic and desperate situation that is unfolding for America, you can be sure that everyone who is running into Treasury bonds will eventually be caught in a trap. Once the panic phase is over, it is likely that the US dollar will again fall markedly. And, then gold will likely again surge as will inflation. It is all very confusing and desperate. But such is the times … the approaching brief time of the emerging 10- king order before the Antichrist appears. It is only “one hour” that they will have the dubious honor of holding global power in the service of the Antichrist (Revelation 17:12).
Just how deeply could America fall? As we have already suggested, there are sufficient reasons to worry, especially with respect to a deeply imbedded condition of idolatry. However, even secular economic analysts see ominous long-term problems. The next few years are critical. Will America earn a reprieve? The jury is out.
Any extra-terrestrial visiting this planet would greatly wonder about a civilization that is so fickle about the value of its wealth. Of course, we know better. This world—which Christians surely live within, but its values do not endorse—is vulnerable to mankind’s idolatries and vain confidence. In fact, it is hubris and confidence taken to the extreme—mankind’s confidence in its surveys of confidence—that has brought the planet to this brink. But is it the beginning of the end?
Well yes … and no. Yes, great global events such as are occurring now must be seen as part of mankind’s progression to an end … actually, one of several ends that still lie ahead as the Bible tells us. But it is not yet the start of the Great Apocalypse, though surely very close. We lay out the reasons for this perspective in the recent article series, What Chance a Global Financial Apocalypse Now.
Then what does the present global financial storm signify? We think at least two … perhaps three developments. Firstly, it is the natural outcome of bad, bad economic policies and financial management. Here, leaders and voters can be blamed. Any common-sense observer will confirm this view. The world is simply reaping what it sowed. A second one is that a massive world crisis is required at this late, great stage of global economic and financial integration. For this, accountability can be given to powers in high places (Ephesians 6:12) but also flesh and blood complicitor elites. But why? This current crisis will serve the familiar role of catalyst, drawing most nations together and further setting up the conditions for the last-day 10 kings (more about which in a moment).
A third corollary development that must fall out of this prophetic fulfillment of 10 kings, is that the world must first enter an age of multipolarism. What is multipolarism? It is a world power arrangement that is balanced between many countries and not dominated by one or more powerful nations. Certainly, there can be no world power structure comprised of 10 kings as the Bible prophesies (Daniel 2:41-42, Daniel 7, Revelation 12, 13, 17) if there is one superpower that can ignore or undermine such a world order. We have recently written a 2-part article series on this exact question, entitled Endtime Shoe: Fitting The World for 10 Toes. We touch on a few of its points in this article.
Financial Meltdown: How Much Further
We have long expressed our concerns that the day of a financial meltdown was becoming ever more probable. (In fact, we laid out the possibilities for such a scenario in the 2002 book, The Endtime Money Snare.) But, we are not prophets. It has not been given to mankind to know the near future, thankfully. Yes, the Bible clearly lays out the future in advance, but it provides no specific calendar dates for this dispensation. It would be a much more chaotic world than it already is, were humankind to be given the capacity to know the near-term future (in other words, perfect future visibility). It couldn’t work, given mankind’s fatal penchant for money (“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” -1 Titus 6:10) security and self-reliance. Imagine. If we did know the exact timing of future events, everyone would act on this information at the same time, thus changing the future. It would be a maniacal world.
Related to this is the reason why God doesn’t much oblige so-called “spirit-led” investors. The Holy Spirit must have much more important functions than to provide “buy/sell” advice to materialistic Christians. Investors continue to get scammed by so-called Christian advisors who see themselves as divinely inspired to meet people’s appetite for gains. Beware. There are already plenty of prosperity gospel teachers who fill this service niche. Crucially, this deceptive, corrupt teaching lies at the very foundation of the troubles that America and other nations are presently experiencing.
Prosperity gospel is deeply imbedded in the psyche of Western Christians. While many will guffaw at the shamefully transparent teachings and techniques of the likes of Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar and Peter Popoff—he of the “divine transfer”—and many others, this false gospel has much more sophisticated forms. Why, of course, Christianity and the Bible was invented by God for no other reason than the sanctification of human esteem and as a self-help regime to personal betterment in the here and now. In this view, eternity gets short shrift—either not believed nor promising sufficient instant gratification to the earth-bound consumer. In fact, I am personally ashamed to sometimes fall for the more subtler forms of prosperity gospel myself, as likely will most others. We whine sometimes to God as did Jeremiah, “Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails?” (Jeremiah 15:18).
Jeremiah figured that since he was walking with God and answering His calling, that he deserved a few easy breaks. He bargained with God, saying “I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because your hand was on me, and you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable?” (Jeremiah 15-17-18). How did God respond? He didn’t even acknowledge the complaint. He simply said this: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me” (verse 19). No doubt, all 12 of the New Testament apostles met this same issue. They were doing the Lord’s will, yet 11 of them died an unnatural death. Was this just? Said Paul, “Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love […]” (2 Corinthians 6:4-6). Yes, there is great eternal value to be found in the privilege of serving Him; the undeserved promise of eternal life and the indescribable prospect of being in His presence forever more.
But, most so-called Christians today would not identify with such a perspective. That is exactly why the present juncture in America is so terrifying at present. For, what will be the result of the deep economic troubles that have now come upon the America? Will there be repentance or rebelliousness and anarchy? Both outcomes are possible. But I greatly fear for the latter outcome. As Revelation tells us about the Great Tribulation, we learn that people refused to repent, despite the wrath and hardship on no less than 4 occasions. (Revelation 9:20-21, 16:9, 11, 21) They would not let go of their idolatries.
That could happen now. It would be understandable, after all. Hasn’t our great society ingrained in us the right to prosperity … the good life … and effortless, endless progress to greater wealth? Haven’t countless pastors told us that prosperity is the emblem and purpose of our Christian faith? It would be no surprise, therefore, if many “fair-weather” Christians turned on God, bewailing the same perspectives as will the earthdwellers during the Apocalypse. What God would allow such economic hardships and prove to be such a “false brook” of prosperity? Fair-weather Christians and most others would reject such a God, and instead turn to the promises of government or some future demagogue. And, if in turn these don’t end the economic sufferings, would some resort to rioting and pillaging? We certainly hope not, although some are actually predicting such an outcome.
One reputable trend watcher (Gerald Celente, CEO of Trend Research Institute) goes so far as to open the possibility that America will “plunge to the status of an undeveloped nation” and that “America’s going through a transition the likes of which no one is prepared for.” He predicts that by December 2012, consumer Christmas will only be a memory, since getting food on the table will be the priority, not gifts. Anything is possible. However, we are suspicious of the date he uses, (December 2012) which seems to be coming up in a lot of forecasts lately, particularly from those seers basing their views on the Mayan calendar.
But why is America being hit so hard financially and economically? Indeed, the current troubles facing the US are epic and much more severe than most other countries. Who are we to confirm the reasons why God would want to either test or discipline the US (this also being true from some of its sister nations like the UK and Canada)? Could it be that He finally has remembered the sins of this once “evangelistic” Philadelphian nation? Or has America shot itself in the foot?
As always. we seek to take the pre-millennial perspective (in other words, we take a literal Biblical view). Then what might be underfoot? It indeed has much to do with a foot, we think … the foot with 10 toes seen by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:41-42).
Is America now being downsized, making way for the 10-king multipolar world to arrive? Bible prophecy confirms such an outcome. As such, at some point, in some way, America must become a relatively smaller power. This may be a process that may yet require a long time. However, conditions are such that this shift on the world stage could happen rather suddenly.
Just how bad will things yet get? To this point, I have been rather silent on this issue. After many years of warning that America and other Western nations were on an unsustainable path leading to certain disaster, I do not now want to be a fearmonger. It has happened. Yet blindness is as entrenched as ever. People do not know the purposes of the Lord. While the current crisis is now obvious to everyone, few still have any idea as to the next developments … the traps, both economic and political, and likely the rapidly-nearing multipolar reign of 10 kings.
But, even were an economic downturn to become as severe as in the Great Depression of the 1930s (possible, but likely not that bad) violent upward surges can be expected to occur in financial markets. Two major recoveries were experienced in the 1930s, triggering stock markets surges that doubled and tripled market levels. Similar surges are likely today.
However, it will not be easy navigating this environment.
These are treacherous, diabolical times. The world seems to be urgently wanting to meet its destiny … hurrying along the path. I expect enormous shifts over the next several years that the vast majority of savers and investors will not anticipate. Just consider the recent deceptions of the Mammon realm. No sooner was everybody convinced that the US dollar was going to collapse forever (after the euro had already risen 93% in US dollar terms from its low), the US dollar soared 29% over a few short months.
It is virtually impossible to forecast anything accurately. All the doomsters who had predicted that gold bullion prices would explode when the long-awaited financial crisis finally arrived, also have been wrong. Most of them are licking their wounds … some of these Christian prophetic ministries. There are assuredly explainable reasons for these twists and turns, aspects of which are the subject of our studies. Though we might understand many of these developments, it is yet quite another matter to predict their timing.
As we often mention, we are not prophets but simply “seeking to understand the times” as this slogan is Eternal Value Review’s motto (EVR).
Given the manic and desperate situation that is unfolding for America, you can be sure that everyone who is running into Treasury bonds will eventually be caught in a trap. Once the panic phase is over, it is likely that the US dollar will again fall markedly. And, then gold will likely again surge as will inflation. It is all very confusing and desperate. But such is the times … the approaching brief time of the emerging 10- king order before the Antichrist appears. It is only “one hour” that they will have the dubious honor of holding global power in the service of the Antichrist (Revelation 17:12).
Just how deeply could America fall? As we have already suggested, there are sufficient reasons to worry, especially with respect to a deeply imbedded condition of idolatry. However, even secular economic analysts see ominous long-term problems. The next few years are critical. Will America earn a reprieve? The jury is out.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Is America the Modern Sodom?
Because of the economic crisis and countless other events, millions of Americans at this very moment are wondering if God is pouring out His judgment upon America. And if He is, will it get worse? Let’s look at two cities that were destroyed by God’s judgment and find out why they were destroyed.
We have all heard the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord said of these two cities that “the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great” and “their sin is very grievous”. (Genesis 18:20) What were the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah? Some might think that it was just the sin of homosexuality. It’s true that homosexuality was a prevalent sin --so prevalent in fact, that even the youth of the city Sodom were involved in this sin. Genesis 19:4, 5 “But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them”. The word ‘youth’ refers to the age of infancy to adolescence. The word ‘old’ indicates that even the aged seniors were involved in this heinous sin.
Our country has been invaded by homosexual ideology. Homosexuals compose only a small percentage of our population; yet, they have tried to shove this sin down society’s throat. They don’t just ask that they ‘not be discriminated against’, but it appears that they want everyone in society to agree that homosexuality is not a sin. This ridiculous concept would be the same as a group of adulterers, arsonists, thieves, murderers, etc. banding together and trying to force society to accept their immoral acts.
Along with this culture decline is the lack of acknowledgement of sin. Fifty years ago, a homosexual would have been ashamed of their sin; any sinner would have been ashamed of having their sin exposed. However, that’s not true today. Jeremiah 6:15 “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord”. Isaiah 3:9 “The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves”.
Are there other sins for which Sodom and Gomorrah were guilty? Yes. Ezekiel 16:49, 50 “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me”:
Is America full of pride? 7deadlysins.com defines pride as “excessive belief in one's own abilities that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God.” Our country has been bombarded with humanistic doctrine--doctrine that puts man on a pedestal. We have been taught that life here on earth is all about ‘self’. What financial gain can I achieve? How will the actions I take benefit me? What will I receive? Psychology teaches that we must have a high self-esteem. However, Philippians 2:3 proclaims, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves”.
Has America strengthened the hand of the poor and needy? Edward Wolff, professor of economics at New York University, stated that in the United States, the richest one percent of households own thirty-eight percent of all wealth. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2007 estimates that 3.5 million people are likely to experience homelessness in a given year.
Has America suffered because of her sins? Sure we have---I believe 911, Katrina and the present economic crisis are directly related to the sins of this nation. Jude 1:7 states “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel in The Philosophy of History, Introduction (1807), wrote History...is, indeed, little more than the register of the ‘crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind. But what experience and history teach is this - that peoples and governments have never learned anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it.
It appears that America has not learned from history as she spirals down to further degradation. The Holy Bible, which is God’s inspired word, gives historical accounts of what happens when a nation becomes spiritually bankrupt. Indeed, America’s outcome looks dreary.
Yet, there is always hope in the mercy of our heavenly Father. 2 Chronicles 20:9 “If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help”. Brothers and sisters, I urge you to cry to God for help.
We have all heard the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord said of these two cities that “the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great” and “their sin is very grievous”. (Genesis 18:20) What were the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah? Some might think that it was just the sin of homosexuality. It’s true that homosexuality was a prevalent sin --so prevalent in fact, that even the youth of the city Sodom were involved in this sin. Genesis 19:4, 5 “But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them”. The word ‘youth’ refers to the age of infancy to adolescence. The word ‘old’ indicates that even the aged seniors were involved in this heinous sin.
Our country has been invaded by homosexual ideology. Homosexuals compose only a small percentage of our population; yet, they have tried to shove this sin down society’s throat. They don’t just ask that they ‘not be discriminated against’, but it appears that they want everyone in society to agree that homosexuality is not a sin. This ridiculous concept would be the same as a group of adulterers, arsonists, thieves, murderers, etc. banding together and trying to force society to accept their immoral acts.
Along with this culture decline is the lack of acknowledgement of sin. Fifty years ago, a homosexual would have been ashamed of their sin; any sinner would have been ashamed of having their sin exposed. However, that’s not true today. Jeremiah 6:15 “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord”. Isaiah 3:9 “The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves”.
Are there other sins for which Sodom and Gomorrah were guilty? Yes. Ezekiel 16:49, 50 “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me”:
Is America full of pride? 7deadlysins.com defines pride as “excessive belief in one's own abilities that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God.” Our country has been bombarded with humanistic doctrine--doctrine that puts man on a pedestal. We have been taught that life here on earth is all about ‘self’. What financial gain can I achieve? How will the actions I take benefit me? What will I receive? Psychology teaches that we must have a high self-esteem. However, Philippians 2:3 proclaims, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves”.
Has America strengthened the hand of the poor and needy? Edward Wolff, professor of economics at New York University, stated that in the United States, the richest one percent of households own thirty-eight percent of all wealth. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2007 estimates that 3.5 million people are likely to experience homelessness in a given year.
Has America suffered because of her sins? Sure we have---I believe 911, Katrina and the present economic crisis are directly related to the sins of this nation. Jude 1:7 states “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel in The Philosophy of History, Introduction (1807), wrote History...is, indeed, little more than the register of the ‘crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind. But what experience and history teach is this - that peoples and governments have never learned anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it.
It appears that America has not learned from history as she spirals down to further degradation. The Holy Bible, which is God’s inspired word, gives historical accounts of what happens when a nation becomes spiritually bankrupt. Indeed, America’s outcome looks dreary.
Yet, there is always hope in the mercy of our heavenly Father. 2 Chronicles 20:9 “If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help”. Brothers and sisters, I urge you to cry to God for help.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
World in Crisis: Hour of Temptation
Planet Earth is on the brink of disaster. And, the impending crisis is as individual as it is collective. Winds of the times-altering sort pervade and saturate life in our communities–where we live most intimately. It is not just within the nation and the larger society and culture, but within our very living rooms that we are experiencing the transformation. Instant communication brings wave after wave of the portentous change invading our places of personal sanctuary. We cannot escape it.
It is much more than merely the historic firsts that have thrust the enigmatic Barack Hussein Obama to the U.S. presidency that ring alarm bells. Numerous developments pique the spiritual sensitivity meters of those who observe the dynamics of the times for possible prophetic application. Building events alert the spiritually attuned to the likelihood that America and the world have dramatically transitioned into an era that has brought this generation to the precipice of something profoundly ominous.
Moral Morass
Loss of comprehension about what is the pillar to which America’s national conscience was once secured constitutes the core of the causes of the sea-changes that have swamped the nation, and as a result have caused the planet to quake. The following Scripture has never been more apropos than for America today in describing the moral morass in which we are mired: “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush…” (Jeremiah 8:12a).
One whose worldview is truly biblical cannot in good conscience do other than acknowledge that the nucleus of the crisis–the many crises—America and Planet Earth face is spiritual. The end of all rebellion against God just before death is depravity that flows from minds that have become reprobate.
The obvious similarity of proliferating signs in this generation to the “perilous times” conditions the Apostle Paul foretold can’t be shunted aside as mere coincidence. The characteristics of end times man of which Paul vividly forewarned fit perfectly in defining the generation alive today both in American and world societies and cultures.
Perilous Times Manifested
The “perilous times” characteristics Paul foretold for the generation that will be alive when Christ returns are manifesting themselves in every aspect of life in America and the world today. Let us examine that declaration to some extent. (Read 2 Timothy 3:1-7 to get the overview.)
Men (and Women) Lovers of Selves
Humans have, since the disobedience in the Garden of Eden, been in love with themselves. They fell victim to the serpent’s deadly narcissistic venom. When Satan told Adam and Eve they would be as God, the idea was so appealing that fallen man has since that time marched in line behind Lucifer in saying “I will”…
Fallen man wants no one to rule over him –i.e., wants nobody getting in the way of his pursuit of doing what is right in his own eyes. Oppressive regimes are for the most part the result of it becoming necessary to bring under subjugation man’s natural tendency to gravitate toward chaos and anarchy. Only when he willingly submits to his Creator and the order God establishes does man thrive under truly moral governance. The founding fathers of the United States were wise enough to realize this governing principle.
Today entertainment and marketing/advertising tell us to love ourselves above God or anyone else. The results of love of self are divorce, children with broken homes, devilish levels of crime, and even murder.
Generation of Proud Boasters
We have to go no further in searching for this end-times characteristic given by Paul than to consider the most recent election season. Pride –that sin to which Lucifer fell, and which God says goes before a fall—permeated the political process and the participating protagonists. “Me, myself, and I” were front and center for the microphones and cameras to capture, project, and broadcast so the audiences at the political rallies and across the nation and world could see and hear the proud boasters.
The people of 21st century America readily fell for propaganda not unlike the half-truths and outright fabrications put out by Joseph Goebbles’ propaganda machine for Adolf Hitler in the first half of the 20th century. That’s because much of the populous of this most blessed nation in history also manifests the characteristics of being proud and boasters. How long before this leads to downfall, only God knows.
Blasphemy Abounds
To understand the blasphemous attitude of many in America, all we must do is think on the kinds of entertainment millions love to cerebrally ingest, according to the DVDs, movie tickets, and books they purchase.
Think about the Harry Potter series, which tugs the thoughts of even Christians at record-setting levels to the dark side (the satanic side) and away from the righteous side (God’s side). Defenders of the Harry Potter series, including Christians who find these novels harmless, fail to recognize the subtle siren song that lures souls into these destructive shoals.
Books such as The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown mock the deity of Jesus Christ, and it is a worldwide smash hit almost instantly, with media fawning over the blasphemous story-telling as if it were a work revealing newly discovered facts.
The Raising of Rebels (Disobedience to Parents)
This characteristic of end-times man has grown exponentially since the Supreme Court, by fiat in 1963, told God He is no longer welcome in public classrooms. With the expelling of prayer and Bible reading has come great increase in turning from parental guidance to a disastrous turning of much of America’s youth to everything deleterious society and culture has to offer. Gangs have taken the place of families in raising many of the inner-city youth.
Shortly after the 1963 expulsion of the Almighty from public schools, the nation’s fires of optimism were doused by a president’s assassination, the coming of a catastrophic sexual revolution, and a war that for the first time in its history saw the U.S. military unable to achieve victory.
The nation, in effect, became bankrupt with Lyndon B. Johnson’s war on poverty that failed to produce the “Great Society” he and the big spenders envisioned. Along with the 50,000 plus dead in Vietnam came the assassinations of Martin Luther King, and Robert F. Kennedy.
The drug culture and Woodstock spewed forth with anti-American protestation by young people grown to be full-scale rabble-rousers whose slogan was “Make love, not war.”
Shortly thereafter came the fall of a president who had to resign because of the Watergate debacle.
It seems the biblical warning was proven true. “God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man [or nation] seweth, that shall he [it] also reap.”
Unthankful, Unholy Hordes
While America’s blessings have grown, the U.S. population’s recognition of the One who blesses decreases by the day. People in America are for the most part pleased for the things they have, for the bounty of food they enjoy, and happy that they aren’t in squalor like people of Third World nations. But, most don’t stop to think for a moment to give true thanks to the giver of all things good. As a matter of fact, most Americans don’t know the God of heaven in any sense whatever.
The Thanksgiving holiday has, except for a diminishing number of believers in Christ for salvation, become a sham celebration, a reason for time off to watch football and eat heartily.
The designations “unthankful” and “unholy” fit the condition of today’s American society and culture very well.
Without Natural Affection
For brevity’s sake –for this manifestation of Paul’s perilous times forewarning could become quite extensive—I will mention the two primary issues that speak starkly to the characteristic of end-times man: “without natural affection.”
· Homosexuality--A small portion of the U.S. population that is homosexual has the government, media, and corporate entities large and small championing their abominable activities. God’s Word calls it abominable, so don’t throw stones of hatred at the writer, who merely gives God’s Word on the matter.
Homosexuality is not a lifestyle, but a death-style. Homosexuality cannot by its abased nature reproduce humankind. Diseases associated by and large to homosexual interaction have brought about an incurable plague –AIDS. Other STDs are spawned by the perversions of men having sexual relations with men.
States like California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and others constantly deal with this small portion of America’s populations seeking validation for their sexual debauchery, which, again, God calls abominable.
Every major civilization that has come and gone has at the very end of its life span been deep into the practice of homosexuality, with, for example, Rome having degenerated to the point homosexuality was considered as much or more the norm than heterosexuality.
This is an abomination, the Bible says, and is a way of death that is without natural affection.
. Abortion--Killing babies while in their mothers’ wombs is the most heinous manifestation in our time of the Apostle Paul’s prophecy that the generation alive at the time of Christ’s return will be “without natural affection.”
More than 50 million children have been thus murdered–legally—since Roe versus Wade in 1973. The incoming Obama administration, if we can depend upon the rhetoric of promised legislative/judicial/executive-approved increase of “a woman’s right to choose” in the coming months and years, will assure that many millions more little ones will be killed.
Jesus forewarned about this, and all who would harm children: “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones” (Luke 17: 2).
Abortion is proof beyond any doubt that this is a generation “without natural affection.” For a mother to allow–even welcome--the killing of her baby goes against nature itself. Even animals protect their young fiercely. Most abortions by far in these closing days of the age are for expedience–birth control after the fact. Children in the womb, because they are not wanted, are an inconvenience. This is a sin for which America and the world will pay beyond any penalty that has yet been experienced.
Trucebreakers, False Accusers
Setting aside the geopolitical history that includes the infamous and never brought to light truce breaking and false accusations, we think for a moment of the matter of marriage in the United States.
There could be no greater truce breaking than that of the covenant broken when divorce occurs. This form of truce breaking–the marriage bond—is epidemic in this nation. Much of the family break-ups come from the accusations that rage while husbands and wives spew vitriol at each other.
False accusations leveled in order to gain advantages over others in the personal and corporate worlds fly like untamed winds across the land in today’s society. The young learn quickly by watching the adults in their lives the luciferian black art of lying to get ahead.
The Incontinent
Bible prophecy forewarns of a time near the end of the age and beyond into the tribulation when people will be “incontinent,” as is the word used in the KJV. That people at the end of the age will be “incontinent” doesn’t mean that they will require adult diapers because of uncontrollable biological excretions. The word means that people will be unbridled in their lusts, their wants. They will give in to their addictions to the point that their sins in this area will constitute a major contribution to the times the Apostle Paul terms “perilous.”
The over prescribing and overuse of prescription drugs, not to mention the illicit drugs that pervade the American culture, are the tip of the iceberg. Overindulgences in every kind of pleasure, in every area of life, demonstrate the degree to which this generation has moved toward becoming the “incontinent” of Paul’s prophecy.
The terms “shopaholic,” “chocaholic,” and other designations we use in a humorous way belie the serious nature of the truly soul-wrenching terms, “alcoholic,” “drug addict,” “pedophile,” and other horrendous addictions that more and more drive this generation toward the abyss.
These addictions and others are scheduled to get infinitely worse during the tribulation, according to the Revelation.
Fierce, Despisers of Those Who Are Good
The evil characteristic, “fierce,” can readily be seen on the world and national scenes today. Piercing anger that threatens life and limb increasingly makes its presence known, and fits with Jesus’ prophetic words: “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man” (Luke 17:26).
Jesus foretold that the world would be at the very end of the Church Age (this present dispensation) much like it was in the times of Noah, just before the Flood that destroyed all human life. Jesus prophesied: “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11).
Whether considering the viciousness of Islamic terrorists who produced the horrors of September 11, 2001, and suicide bombers who walk into the middle of civilian gatherings and blow up themselves and others with them, or people who arm themselves and go into America’s classrooms to murder as many as possible, we are in a generation that is fierce.
The recent hostage-taking in India and the ongoing piracy on the high seas of late testify to the treacherous times. Violence fills the whole earth!
The second characteristic listed here by the Apostle Paul is that there will come “despisers of those that are good.”
In God’s economy, there is only one “good.” That “good” is in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
More and more there are assaults on the principles Jesus taught and preached. More and more assaults are perpetrated upon Christians because of their beliefs in Jesus as the only way to God the Father and heaven for eternity.
For example, the fierceness with which militant homosexuals continue to attack Christians–even in the pews of churches--shows the rise in level of hatred in the hearts of those who are despisers of those who are good.
Traitors, Heady, High-Minded
In my view, those who would betray America by sacrificing the nation’s sovereignty upon the altar of a global economic order are traitors of the most egregious sort. This is occurring at a pace that is nothing less than astonishing.
The betrayal is happening at every level of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. The economic insanity is simply inexplicable, except in the context of the prophecies that there will be 10 kings (or leaders of economic world trade blocs that will give their power and authority to Antichrist at some point during the tribulation era (read Revelation 17:12-13).
The heady, high-minded, one-world order elitist types have incessantly thrust and sliced and chopped into America’s autonomy. Finally, they have started the nation on an economic slide that can end only in a collapse that will eventuate in the U.S. being absorbed along with others into the long ago prophesied world order of Revelation chapter 13.
Perilous times are here and now!
Lovers of Pleasure More than Lovers of God
The last two categories of Paul’s “perilous times” prophecies can be applied to the secular, non-religious world, of course. Certainly, we don’t have to examine society and culture in any in-depth way today to know that people in general love the pleasures of the flesh more than they love the God who created them. We take that as a given, so won’t consider it here; it is too obvious.
The subtle, more devilish thing to consider in examining these last two characteristics of the 2 Timothy chapter 3 account of Paul’s prophecies about the characteristics of end-times man is the involvement of those of the many churches who name the name of Christ. Looking into the churches–that is, examining those who populate the churches of our time, gives profound insight into exactly where this generation must be on God’s prophetic timeline.
Having a Form of Godliness, but Denying the Power Thereof The “falling away” of Paul’s 2 Thessalonians prophecy is well underway: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition…” (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
To “fall away,” one must be first at a high point from which to fall. Paul is talking here about true Christians –those who have been born again in the family of God (John 3:3).
This, it should be obvious to anyone whose spiritual ears are attuned to the Holy Spirit conviction of these strange, troubled times, is the condition of much of the Church of Jesus Christ.
This is not even to include the obvious pretenders to the title “Christian.” These have never been born again–have never claimed that Jesus Christ is the virgin born, only begotten Son of the Living God, who alone has taken away the sins of the world. These do not accept the deity of Jesus or that the Holy Scripture (the Bible) is inerrant. They haven’t “fallen away” –begun the road into apostasy—because they have never been at the high point of being born again.
Paul’s condemnation here is for true members of God’s family who have known the closeness required in the salvation process, then have gone back to the ways of the world.
Sadly, tragically, this is the condition of the vast majority of the Church today. The mega-church movement into entertainment and merchandising, turning many into centers more like social clubs than places of worship, makes manifest the end-times condition of which Paul forewarned. Much of the Church today has a form of godliness, but denies the power thereof.
Pastors who never speak of sin that separates people from God, who never preach and teach the horrendous price Jesus paid on the cross at Calvary to take away, to cover, that sin, who teach only how to feel good about one’s self, are in the majority. These get the most TV air play, receive the greatest financial support from parishioners in their vast audiences. These “pastors” tickle the itching ears of their contributors/congregations. The preachers give the heads-in-the-sand pew- and couch-sitters the non-doctrine pabulums they seek in order to soothe their seared consciences, promising formulaic ways to cause God to shower them with wealth and health.
These deny the true power of Christ –His sole ability to save the souls of men, women, and children.
This “falling away” is an American catastrophe that has taken the nation, perhaps, too far down the pathway toward the abyss to ever be turned around. I believe that these are indeed the “perilous times” prophesied by the Apostle Paul.
Two Churches in View
We are seeing on the scene today two religious bodies foretold by the Lord: one the false, and the other the true Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The ascended Jesus told the prophet and apostle John of these two distinctive churches that would be on the world scene at the time of His coming again.
The Laodicean Church
Jesus’ prophecy about the Laodicean church was transcribed by John while the old apostle was exiled on the Isle of Patmos: “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (Revelation 3:14-18).
Jesus Calls His Sheep to Come Out of This False System--This church has among its huge multitudes the apostate believers–the ones who have fallen away. It is condemned by Christ in harsh terms. Still He calls those who have fallen away to come back to their family status, that He might clothe them in righteous robes of godly works. There are true believers in this body, and there are the lost souls. Their shepherds are mostly of the ravenous wolf variety, I’m of the conviction. This body, minus the born again among them, will go into the tribulation hour when Christ calls “Come up here!” to all who belong to Him.
The Philadelphian Church
Jesus has no condemnation for this church, only commendation. The King of all kings has some thrilling things to say to this body: “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 3:7-13).
Fascinating Words--Jesus commends the church that has remained true to His calling. This is the Body–His Bride—that will join Him in the air when He calls. (Read John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15: 51-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 4:1-2.)
There will be those who, if I do not clarify, send notes asking if I, based upon this statement, believe that only some Christians will be taken in the rapture. Let me be very clear: ALL Christians, whether they are in or out of the holy will of God, will go to be with the Lord at the rapture of the Church. This is scripturally provable. The Apostle Paul said, under Holy Spirit inspiration: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15: 51-52).
Every single individual, dead and alive, who has come to salvation will be changed in one moment of rapture. Paul said “ALL” because God told him to say “ALL” will be changed. God cannot lie!
It is fascinating to consider the Lord’s words in this account of His love for the church of Philadelphia. Jesus told John to write: “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”
I do not think it far-fetched to see in the Lord’s words a condemnation of those who declare that they have now inherited the mantle of God’s chosen people, the Jews–the literal nation of Israel. We call this replacement theology. This is a terrible error in some cases, and a downright satanic lie put forth in other cases.
No one and nothing has replaced Israel in God’s never-changing regime. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! The literal descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will receive each and every promise God made to them. Those promises have not and will not be given to anyone other.
Jesus indicates here, perhaps, that those of His faithful Church walking most closely in His ways will hold to this truth about Israel and belief in the veracity of His promises to the physical descendants of the patriarchs.
Perhaps Jesus is saying as recorded in Revelation 3:9 that those who have denied that His promises to Israel are any longer in effect will be brought to bow at the feet of the faithful Philadelphian church. Possibly, they will have to admit that the faithful Church was right and true in this all-important matter to the God of heaven.
Another fascinating statement is found in chapter 3, verse 10. Jesus told John to write: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
The word “temptation” here means “testing.” Jesus promises to keep from a specific hour of “testing” those who have remained faithful to the word of His patience. The terms to consider are “testing” and “patience.” The Philadelphian church, Jesus says in this foretelling, has been faithful to His Word about His “patience.” Those of this church will, therefore, be kept out of the hour of “testing.”
Jesus said, as recorded in the gospel of Luke: “In your patience possess ye your souls” (Luke 21:19). What “patience” was the Lord referring to, here? The Apostle Peter clarifies for us: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
The “patience” of the Lord is wrapped up in the all-important issue of salvation of lost souls. This is God’s word of His patience. Those who are truly in His family have kept in their hearts the Word of His patience –trust in Him for their salvation. These who are alive at the time before the hour of “testing,” who keep the word of His patience, will not go into that hour of “testing” –the tribulation era, Daniel’s seventieth week.
Does this mean that because believers “keep” the word of His patience –hang on to our salvation belief—we can lose it if we don’t “keep” the word of His patience? No. We can’t lose the “word of His patience” because the Word is Jesus Christ:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4).
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14: 6).
Jesus, who is the Word, who is the life –eternal life—said, “My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand” (John 10:29).
Finally, the Apostle Paul, through Holy Spirit inspiration, nails down the truth that it is impossible to do other than “keep the word of my patience,” as Jesus said it. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Testing Time for Nominal Christians
The term “nominal Christians” is used to describe those who are Christians who claim Christianity as their “religion.” These are, however, Christians of convenience. They don’t mind the pretense of being associated with the name of Jesus Christ, but truly living under His governance when the requirements include their turning in repentance from their favorite sins is something they refuse to do.
This is not to imply in any way that one can lose his or her salvation once the person has truly accepted (believed in) Christ for salvation. We looked at that previously. One who is truly God’s child –and there is but one way to become His child, remember John 14:6—will not continually wallow in the pig pen of deliberate sinfulness. The child of God will, like the prodigal son, at some point get out of the pig pen and return to the Father for cleansing, with the intention of living in the Father’s house, not in that proverbial pig pen.
Tragically, many of today’s churches are of the nominal Christian variety. The pastors preach and the teachers teach feel good earthly doctrine not unlike that of the secular and corporate worlds. These are those of the churches Jesus prophesied will NOT be kept out of the time of testing (tribulation).
The nominal churches have encouraged millions, by keeping their pew-sitters in darkness, to believe all is well with their souls. This is the attitude cultivated in those church settings, even though deeply in the congregants’ spirits there is the void that only Christ can fill.
The Mark of the Beast
These nominal Christians–those who don’t know Christ for salvation—will have to endure the time of testing –the seven years of tribulation—if they do not come to Christ before the rapture of the true Church.
Perhaps --even likely—it will be the decision of whether to take the hellish mark of the beast (Antichrist) that will be the most agonizing “time of testing” Jesus foretold that His Church will not have to endure (Revelation 3:10).
The end-times signals are literally blaring at this generation from every direction. Worldwide crisis is obviously afflicting all nations, each of which Jesus prophesied will be in great distress with perplexity (Luke 21: 25) at the time of His return. The drive toward one world economy, government, and religion is in our headline news on an hourly basis. Society and culture reflect the violence and corruption Jesus said will make the time He returns like it was in the days of Noah, and the times of Lot in Sodom.
Tomorrow Too Late!
The crisis overspreading the world might look for a time like all will be clear and sunny again. Certainly, many look to the new presidential administration as promising leadership that will lead America and the world out of darkness that has begun to close in on even the homes that shelter us. But, regardless of temporal fixes to the monetary madness and the governmental gyrations, the tribulation storm approaches with astonishing swiftness. Only Christ can shelter from that monstrous tempest. Tomorrow might well be too late. Don’t go into the time of testing along with the world of lost souls. Accept Christ today.
“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
It is much more than merely the historic firsts that have thrust the enigmatic Barack Hussein Obama to the U.S. presidency that ring alarm bells. Numerous developments pique the spiritual sensitivity meters of those who observe the dynamics of the times for possible prophetic application. Building events alert the spiritually attuned to the likelihood that America and the world have dramatically transitioned into an era that has brought this generation to the precipice of something profoundly ominous.
Moral Morass
Loss of comprehension about what is the pillar to which America’s national conscience was once secured constitutes the core of the causes of the sea-changes that have swamped the nation, and as a result have caused the planet to quake. The following Scripture has never been more apropos than for America today in describing the moral morass in which we are mired: “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush…” (Jeremiah 8:12a).
One whose worldview is truly biblical cannot in good conscience do other than acknowledge that the nucleus of the crisis–the many crises—America and Planet Earth face is spiritual. The end of all rebellion against God just before death is depravity that flows from minds that have become reprobate.
The obvious similarity of proliferating signs in this generation to the “perilous times” conditions the Apostle Paul foretold can’t be shunted aside as mere coincidence. The characteristics of end times man of which Paul vividly forewarned fit perfectly in defining the generation alive today both in American and world societies and cultures.
Perilous Times Manifested
The “perilous times” characteristics Paul foretold for the generation that will be alive when Christ returns are manifesting themselves in every aspect of life in America and the world today. Let us examine that declaration to some extent. (Read 2 Timothy 3:1-7 to get the overview.)
Men (and Women) Lovers of Selves
Humans have, since the disobedience in the Garden of Eden, been in love with themselves. They fell victim to the serpent’s deadly narcissistic venom. When Satan told Adam and Eve they would be as God, the idea was so appealing that fallen man has since that time marched in line behind Lucifer in saying “I will”…
Fallen man wants no one to rule over him –i.e., wants nobody getting in the way of his pursuit of doing what is right in his own eyes. Oppressive regimes are for the most part the result of it becoming necessary to bring under subjugation man’s natural tendency to gravitate toward chaos and anarchy. Only when he willingly submits to his Creator and the order God establishes does man thrive under truly moral governance. The founding fathers of the United States were wise enough to realize this governing principle.
Today entertainment and marketing/advertising tell us to love ourselves above God or anyone else. The results of love of self are divorce, children with broken homes, devilish levels of crime, and even murder.
Generation of Proud Boasters
We have to go no further in searching for this end-times characteristic given by Paul than to consider the most recent election season. Pride –that sin to which Lucifer fell, and which God says goes before a fall—permeated the political process and the participating protagonists. “Me, myself, and I” were front and center for the microphones and cameras to capture, project, and broadcast so the audiences at the political rallies and across the nation and world could see and hear the proud boasters.
The people of 21st century America readily fell for propaganda not unlike the half-truths and outright fabrications put out by Joseph Goebbles’ propaganda machine for Adolf Hitler in the first half of the 20th century. That’s because much of the populous of this most blessed nation in history also manifests the characteristics of being proud and boasters. How long before this leads to downfall, only God knows.
Blasphemy Abounds
To understand the blasphemous attitude of many in America, all we must do is think on the kinds of entertainment millions love to cerebrally ingest, according to the DVDs, movie tickets, and books they purchase.
Think about the Harry Potter series, which tugs the thoughts of even Christians at record-setting levels to the dark side (the satanic side) and away from the righteous side (God’s side). Defenders of the Harry Potter series, including Christians who find these novels harmless, fail to recognize the subtle siren song that lures souls into these destructive shoals.
Books such as The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown mock the deity of Jesus Christ, and it is a worldwide smash hit almost instantly, with media fawning over the blasphemous story-telling as if it were a work revealing newly discovered facts.
The Raising of Rebels (Disobedience to Parents)
This characteristic of end-times man has grown exponentially since the Supreme Court, by fiat in 1963, told God He is no longer welcome in public classrooms. With the expelling of prayer and Bible reading has come great increase in turning from parental guidance to a disastrous turning of much of America’s youth to everything deleterious society and culture has to offer. Gangs have taken the place of families in raising many of the inner-city youth.
Shortly after the 1963 expulsion of the Almighty from public schools, the nation’s fires of optimism were doused by a president’s assassination, the coming of a catastrophic sexual revolution, and a war that for the first time in its history saw the U.S. military unable to achieve victory.
The nation, in effect, became bankrupt with Lyndon B. Johnson’s war on poverty that failed to produce the “Great Society” he and the big spenders envisioned. Along with the 50,000 plus dead in Vietnam came the assassinations of Martin Luther King, and Robert F. Kennedy.
The drug culture and Woodstock spewed forth with anti-American protestation by young people grown to be full-scale rabble-rousers whose slogan was “Make love, not war.”
Shortly thereafter came the fall of a president who had to resign because of the Watergate debacle.
It seems the biblical warning was proven true. “God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man [or nation] seweth, that shall he [it] also reap.”
Unthankful, Unholy Hordes
While America’s blessings have grown, the U.S. population’s recognition of the One who blesses decreases by the day. People in America are for the most part pleased for the things they have, for the bounty of food they enjoy, and happy that they aren’t in squalor like people of Third World nations. But, most don’t stop to think for a moment to give true thanks to the giver of all things good. As a matter of fact, most Americans don’t know the God of heaven in any sense whatever.
The Thanksgiving holiday has, except for a diminishing number of believers in Christ for salvation, become a sham celebration, a reason for time off to watch football and eat heartily.
The designations “unthankful” and “unholy” fit the condition of today’s American society and culture very well.
Without Natural Affection
For brevity’s sake –for this manifestation of Paul’s perilous times forewarning could become quite extensive—I will mention the two primary issues that speak starkly to the characteristic of end-times man: “without natural affection.”
· Homosexuality--A small portion of the U.S. population that is homosexual has the government, media, and corporate entities large and small championing their abominable activities. God’s Word calls it abominable, so don’t throw stones of hatred at the writer, who merely gives God’s Word on the matter.
Homosexuality is not a lifestyle, but a death-style. Homosexuality cannot by its abased nature reproduce humankind. Diseases associated by and large to homosexual interaction have brought about an incurable plague –AIDS. Other STDs are spawned by the perversions of men having sexual relations with men.
States like California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and others constantly deal with this small portion of America’s populations seeking validation for their sexual debauchery, which, again, God calls abominable.
Every major civilization that has come and gone has at the very end of its life span been deep into the practice of homosexuality, with, for example, Rome having degenerated to the point homosexuality was considered as much or more the norm than heterosexuality.
This is an abomination, the Bible says, and is a way of death that is without natural affection.
. Abortion--Killing babies while in their mothers’ wombs is the most heinous manifestation in our time of the Apostle Paul’s prophecy that the generation alive at the time of Christ’s return will be “without natural affection.”
More than 50 million children have been thus murdered–legally—since Roe versus Wade in 1973. The incoming Obama administration, if we can depend upon the rhetoric of promised legislative/judicial/executive-approved increase of “a woman’s right to choose” in the coming months and years, will assure that many millions more little ones will be killed.
Jesus forewarned about this, and all who would harm children: “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones” (Luke 17: 2).
Abortion is proof beyond any doubt that this is a generation “without natural affection.” For a mother to allow–even welcome--the killing of her baby goes against nature itself. Even animals protect their young fiercely. Most abortions by far in these closing days of the age are for expedience–birth control after the fact. Children in the womb, because they are not wanted, are an inconvenience. This is a sin for which America and the world will pay beyond any penalty that has yet been experienced.
Trucebreakers, False Accusers
Setting aside the geopolitical history that includes the infamous and never brought to light truce breaking and false accusations, we think for a moment of the matter of marriage in the United States.
There could be no greater truce breaking than that of the covenant broken when divorce occurs. This form of truce breaking–the marriage bond—is epidemic in this nation. Much of the family break-ups come from the accusations that rage while husbands and wives spew vitriol at each other.
False accusations leveled in order to gain advantages over others in the personal and corporate worlds fly like untamed winds across the land in today’s society. The young learn quickly by watching the adults in their lives the luciferian black art of lying to get ahead.
The Incontinent
Bible prophecy forewarns of a time near the end of the age and beyond into the tribulation when people will be “incontinent,” as is the word used in the KJV. That people at the end of the age will be “incontinent” doesn’t mean that they will require adult diapers because of uncontrollable biological excretions. The word means that people will be unbridled in their lusts, their wants. They will give in to their addictions to the point that their sins in this area will constitute a major contribution to the times the Apostle Paul terms “perilous.”
The over prescribing and overuse of prescription drugs, not to mention the illicit drugs that pervade the American culture, are the tip of the iceberg. Overindulgences in every kind of pleasure, in every area of life, demonstrate the degree to which this generation has moved toward becoming the “incontinent” of Paul’s prophecy.
The terms “shopaholic,” “chocaholic,” and other designations we use in a humorous way belie the serious nature of the truly soul-wrenching terms, “alcoholic,” “drug addict,” “pedophile,” and other horrendous addictions that more and more drive this generation toward the abyss.
These addictions and others are scheduled to get infinitely worse during the tribulation, according to the Revelation.
Fierce, Despisers of Those Who Are Good
The evil characteristic, “fierce,” can readily be seen on the world and national scenes today. Piercing anger that threatens life and limb increasingly makes its presence known, and fits with Jesus’ prophetic words: “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man” (Luke 17:26).
Jesus foretold that the world would be at the very end of the Church Age (this present dispensation) much like it was in the times of Noah, just before the Flood that destroyed all human life. Jesus prophesied: “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11).
Whether considering the viciousness of Islamic terrorists who produced the horrors of September 11, 2001, and suicide bombers who walk into the middle of civilian gatherings and blow up themselves and others with them, or people who arm themselves and go into America’s classrooms to murder as many as possible, we are in a generation that is fierce.
The recent hostage-taking in India and the ongoing piracy on the high seas of late testify to the treacherous times. Violence fills the whole earth!
The second characteristic listed here by the Apostle Paul is that there will come “despisers of those that are good.”
In God’s economy, there is only one “good.” That “good” is in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
More and more there are assaults on the principles Jesus taught and preached. More and more assaults are perpetrated upon Christians because of their beliefs in Jesus as the only way to God the Father and heaven for eternity.
For example, the fierceness with which militant homosexuals continue to attack Christians–even in the pews of churches--shows the rise in level of hatred in the hearts of those who are despisers of those who are good.
Traitors, Heady, High-Minded
In my view, those who would betray America by sacrificing the nation’s sovereignty upon the altar of a global economic order are traitors of the most egregious sort. This is occurring at a pace that is nothing less than astonishing.
The betrayal is happening at every level of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. The economic insanity is simply inexplicable, except in the context of the prophecies that there will be 10 kings (or leaders of economic world trade blocs that will give their power and authority to Antichrist at some point during the tribulation era (read Revelation 17:12-13).
The heady, high-minded, one-world order elitist types have incessantly thrust and sliced and chopped into America’s autonomy. Finally, they have started the nation on an economic slide that can end only in a collapse that will eventuate in the U.S. being absorbed along with others into the long ago prophesied world order of Revelation chapter 13.
Perilous times are here and now!
Lovers of Pleasure More than Lovers of God
The last two categories of Paul’s “perilous times” prophecies can be applied to the secular, non-religious world, of course. Certainly, we don’t have to examine society and culture in any in-depth way today to know that people in general love the pleasures of the flesh more than they love the God who created them. We take that as a given, so won’t consider it here; it is too obvious.
The subtle, more devilish thing to consider in examining these last two characteristics of the 2 Timothy chapter 3 account of Paul’s prophecies about the characteristics of end-times man is the involvement of those of the many churches who name the name of Christ. Looking into the churches–that is, examining those who populate the churches of our time, gives profound insight into exactly where this generation must be on God’s prophetic timeline.
Having a Form of Godliness, but Denying the Power Thereof The “falling away” of Paul’s 2 Thessalonians prophecy is well underway: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition…” (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
To “fall away,” one must be first at a high point from which to fall. Paul is talking here about true Christians –those who have been born again in the family of God (John 3:3).
This, it should be obvious to anyone whose spiritual ears are attuned to the Holy Spirit conviction of these strange, troubled times, is the condition of much of the Church of Jesus Christ.
This is not even to include the obvious pretenders to the title “Christian.” These have never been born again–have never claimed that Jesus Christ is the virgin born, only begotten Son of the Living God, who alone has taken away the sins of the world. These do not accept the deity of Jesus or that the Holy Scripture (the Bible) is inerrant. They haven’t “fallen away” –begun the road into apostasy—because they have never been at the high point of being born again.
Paul’s condemnation here is for true members of God’s family who have known the closeness required in the salvation process, then have gone back to the ways of the world.
Sadly, tragically, this is the condition of the vast majority of the Church today. The mega-church movement into entertainment and merchandising, turning many into centers more like social clubs than places of worship, makes manifest the end-times condition of which Paul forewarned. Much of the Church today has a form of godliness, but denies the power thereof.
Pastors who never speak of sin that separates people from God, who never preach and teach the horrendous price Jesus paid on the cross at Calvary to take away, to cover, that sin, who teach only how to feel good about one’s self, are in the majority. These get the most TV air play, receive the greatest financial support from parishioners in their vast audiences. These “pastors” tickle the itching ears of their contributors/congregations. The preachers give the heads-in-the-sand pew- and couch-sitters the non-doctrine pabulums they seek in order to soothe their seared consciences, promising formulaic ways to cause God to shower them with wealth and health.
These deny the true power of Christ –His sole ability to save the souls of men, women, and children.
This “falling away” is an American catastrophe that has taken the nation, perhaps, too far down the pathway toward the abyss to ever be turned around. I believe that these are indeed the “perilous times” prophesied by the Apostle Paul.
Two Churches in View
We are seeing on the scene today two religious bodies foretold by the Lord: one the false, and the other the true Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The ascended Jesus told the prophet and apostle John of these two distinctive churches that would be on the world scene at the time of His coming again.
The Laodicean Church
Jesus’ prophecy about the Laodicean church was transcribed by John while the old apostle was exiled on the Isle of Patmos: “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (Revelation 3:14-18).
Jesus Calls His Sheep to Come Out of This False System--This church has among its huge multitudes the apostate believers–the ones who have fallen away. It is condemned by Christ in harsh terms. Still He calls those who have fallen away to come back to their family status, that He might clothe them in righteous robes of godly works. There are true believers in this body, and there are the lost souls. Their shepherds are mostly of the ravenous wolf variety, I’m of the conviction. This body, minus the born again among them, will go into the tribulation hour when Christ calls “Come up here!” to all who belong to Him.
The Philadelphian Church
Jesus has no condemnation for this church, only commendation. The King of all kings has some thrilling things to say to this body: “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 3:7-13).
Fascinating Words--Jesus commends the church that has remained true to His calling. This is the Body–His Bride—that will join Him in the air when He calls. (Read John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15: 51-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 4:1-2.)
There will be those who, if I do not clarify, send notes asking if I, based upon this statement, believe that only some Christians will be taken in the rapture. Let me be very clear: ALL Christians, whether they are in or out of the holy will of God, will go to be with the Lord at the rapture of the Church. This is scripturally provable. The Apostle Paul said, under Holy Spirit inspiration: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15: 51-52).
Every single individual, dead and alive, who has come to salvation will be changed in one moment of rapture. Paul said “ALL” because God told him to say “ALL” will be changed. God cannot lie!
It is fascinating to consider the Lord’s words in this account of His love for the church of Philadelphia. Jesus told John to write: “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”
I do not think it far-fetched to see in the Lord’s words a condemnation of those who declare that they have now inherited the mantle of God’s chosen people, the Jews–the literal nation of Israel. We call this replacement theology. This is a terrible error in some cases, and a downright satanic lie put forth in other cases.
No one and nothing has replaced Israel in God’s never-changing regime. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! The literal descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will receive each and every promise God made to them. Those promises have not and will not be given to anyone other.
Jesus indicates here, perhaps, that those of His faithful Church walking most closely in His ways will hold to this truth about Israel and belief in the veracity of His promises to the physical descendants of the patriarchs.
Perhaps Jesus is saying as recorded in Revelation 3:9 that those who have denied that His promises to Israel are any longer in effect will be brought to bow at the feet of the faithful Philadelphian church. Possibly, they will have to admit that the faithful Church was right and true in this all-important matter to the God of heaven.
Another fascinating statement is found in chapter 3, verse 10. Jesus told John to write: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
The word “temptation” here means “testing.” Jesus promises to keep from a specific hour of “testing” those who have remained faithful to the word of His patience. The terms to consider are “testing” and “patience.” The Philadelphian church, Jesus says in this foretelling, has been faithful to His Word about His “patience.” Those of this church will, therefore, be kept out of the hour of “testing.”
Jesus said, as recorded in the gospel of Luke: “In your patience possess ye your souls” (Luke 21:19). What “patience” was the Lord referring to, here? The Apostle Peter clarifies for us: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
The “patience” of the Lord is wrapped up in the all-important issue of salvation of lost souls. This is God’s word of His patience. Those who are truly in His family have kept in their hearts the Word of His patience –trust in Him for their salvation. These who are alive at the time before the hour of “testing,” who keep the word of His patience, will not go into that hour of “testing” –the tribulation era, Daniel’s seventieth week.
Does this mean that because believers “keep” the word of His patience –hang on to our salvation belief—we can lose it if we don’t “keep” the word of His patience? No. We can’t lose the “word of His patience” because the Word is Jesus Christ:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4).
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14: 6).
Jesus, who is the Word, who is the life –eternal life—said, “My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand” (John 10:29).
Finally, the Apostle Paul, through Holy Spirit inspiration, nails down the truth that it is impossible to do other than “keep the word of my patience,” as Jesus said it. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
Testing Time for Nominal Christians
The term “nominal Christians” is used to describe those who are Christians who claim Christianity as their “religion.” These are, however, Christians of convenience. They don’t mind the pretense of being associated with the name of Jesus Christ, but truly living under His governance when the requirements include their turning in repentance from their favorite sins is something they refuse to do.
This is not to imply in any way that one can lose his or her salvation once the person has truly accepted (believed in) Christ for salvation. We looked at that previously. One who is truly God’s child –and there is but one way to become His child, remember John 14:6—will not continually wallow in the pig pen of deliberate sinfulness. The child of God will, like the prodigal son, at some point get out of the pig pen and return to the Father for cleansing, with the intention of living in the Father’s house, not in that proverbial pig pen.
Tragically, many of today’s churches are of the nominal Christian variety. The pastors preach and the teachers teach feel good earthly doctrine not unlike that of the secular and corporate worlds. These are those of the churches Jesus prophesied will NOT be kept out of the time of testing (tribulation).
The nominal churches have encouraged millions, by keeping their pew-sitters in darkness, to believe all is well with their souls. This is the attitude cultivated in those church settings, even though deeply in the congregants’ spirits there is the void that only Christ can fill.
The Mark of the Beast
These nominal Christians–those who don’t know Christ for salvation—will have to endure the time of testing –the seven years of tribulation—if they do not come to Christ before the rapture of the true Church.
Perhaps --even likely—it will be the decision of whether to take the hellish mark of the beast (Antichrist) that will be the most agonizing “time of testing” Jesus foretold that His Church will not have to endure (Revelation 3:10).
The end-times signals are literally blaring at this generation from every direction. Worldwide crisis is obviously afflicting all nations, each of which Jesus prophesied will be in great distress with perplexity (Luke 21: 25) at the time of His return. The drive toward one world economy, government, and religion is in our headline news on an hourly basis. Society and culture reflect the violence and corruption Jesus said will make the time He returns like it was in the days of Noah, and the times of Lot in Sodom.
Tomorrow Too Late!
The crisis overspreading the world might look for a time like all will be clear and sunny again. Certainly, many look to the new presidential administration as promising leadership that will lead America and the world out of darkness that has begun to close in on even the homes that shelter us. But, regardless of temporal fixes to the monetary madness and the governmental gyrations, the tribulation storm approaches with astonishing swiftness. Only Christ can shelter from that monstrous tempest. Tomorrow might well be too late. Don’t go into the time of testing along with the world of lost souls. Accept Christ today.
“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Monday, December 1, 2008
The World in Review
1. Canada:
Nurses at a northern Alberta hospital reused syringes, putting thousands of patients at risk.
The Federal Court upheld Ottawa’s decision to strip a Nazi collaborator of his Canadian citizenship (National Post).
A 15-year-old Toronto high school boy was stabbed in the stomach in an argument over a pair of $1 gloves.
The Loonie dropped to about 77 U.S. cents, the Canadian dollar’s lowest level since September 2004.
2. United States:
As newspaper and magazine circulations continue to decline and newsroom staffs are reduced through forced retirement, buyouts and layoffs, the Christian Science Monitor announced it will no longer publish in print, but online only.
U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, a Republican from Alaska, was found guilty of lying about receiving gifts from an oil company.
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, a Democrat, was found guilty of lying in connection with a sex scandal.
Consumer confidence reached its lowest recorded level in October.
The New York Times reported that “kidney stones, once considered a disorder of middle age, are now showing up in children as young as 5 or 6…While there are no reliable data on the number of cases, pediatric urologists and nephrologists across the country say they are seeing a steep rise in young patients. Some hospitals have opened pediatric kidney stone clinics.”
In a 29-city raid operation, federal, state and local authorities worked together to take down child prostitution rings throughout the country, arresting more than 600 adults and rescuing 47 children.
“About one out of seven female veterans of Afghanistan or Iraq who visit a Veterans Affairs center for medical care report being a victim of sexual assault or harassment during military duty, a study reports” (USA Today).
California, Ohio and other states are passing laws to protect renters who, only upon receiving eviction notices, learn their landlords defaulted on their mortgages.
3. Mexico:
University of Harvard researchers found that pollution cuts about two months off the life spans of Mexico City residents. Each year, roughly 7,600 deaths were attributed to diseases from air pollution, about 1.6% of the deaths per year in the nation.
4. Britain:
The Bank of England estimated the total global losses for financial institutions during the credit crisis has reached $2.8 trillion.
“British couples are choosing the sex of their babies at clinics abroad which offer the procedure illegally, according to an investigation” (The Telegraph).
A Canadian software developer was found guilty in a trial linked to a foiled fertilizer bomb plot in Britain (BBC).
Britons now average 60 million more text messages per day from cellphones than one year ago.
More than 10 million people in England are drinking too much; around one in four adults consume alcohol at “hazardous” levels, according to the National Audit Office (The Telegraph).
Peak Oil warned of a severe lack of oil within five years, and that falling oil production is a greater threat to Britain than terrorism (The Telegraph).
The UK economy is worth seven trillion pounds, according to the Office of National Statistics.
The Financial Services Authority reported that house repossessions are up 71% in the second quarter, and that house prices fell 10% during the past year.
5. Spain:
At least 19 people were injured after a car bomb went off at the University of Navarra in Pamplona in northern Spain. Authorities reported that the Basque separatist group ETA claimed responsibility for the attack. The detonation was the sixth attack on the campus since 1979.
6. Nigeria:
HIV-positive prostitutes operating in Bauchi State were given two options: Either repent and marry other HIV carriers, or leave the state (AllAfrica News).
7. Sudan:
Kidnappers killed five of nine Chinese oil workers held hostage.
8. Democratic Republic of Congo:
Angry over the inability of a United Nations security force of 17,000 troops to protect them from renewed rebel violence, thousands of protesters attacked the UN compound in Goma, damaging cars and shattering windows.
9. Zimbabwe:
The Southern African Development Community announced that President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, continuing to disagree over who should control which ministries, failed to put into effect the power-sharing deal both men signed. The 12-member group urged neighboring countries to help end Zimbabwe’s crisis. (See related news brief: “Zimbabwe: Election Crisis Unravels”; see related article: “Hope for Zimbabwe!”)
10. Kenya:
One in nine Kenyan children die before reaching age five, according to a joint report by the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Fund, the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, and the Ministry of Medical Services.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga announced the government will complete 30,000 housing units in less than three years for slum dwellers in Nairobi (AllAfrica News).
11. Somalia:
Suicide bombers killed up to 40 people in Bossaso and Hargeisa, capital of the self-declared republic of Somalia. (See related article: “Somalia’s Daily Nightmare – James 4 Explains Why!”)
A woman was executed through stoning after being found guilty of adultery in a Sharia law court.
12. Yemen:
More than 65 people were killed and more than 20,000 misplaced from their homes after torrential rains swept away infrastructure including buildings, roads and telecommunications networks in the southeastern part of the country. Local authorities said the storms were “the worst floods in decades.”
13. Israel:
While excavating the ruins of a 3,000-year-old fortified city overlooking Israel’s Valley of Elah, where the Bible records that David slew Goliath, archeologists have discovered artifacts that indicate historical evidence of King David and the golden age of his kingdom. (See news brief: “Archeological Discovery Supports Scripture?”)
Dropping efforts to form a government due to “impossible” bargaining demands from prospective political partners, Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni called for early parliamentary elections.
14. Jordan:
“Archaeologists believe a desert site in Jordan may contain the ruins of the elusive King Solomon’s mines” (CNN).
15. Georgia:
President Mikhail Saakashvili rejected evidence from the BBC indicating that Georgia may have committed war crimes in South Ossetia.
16. Iraq:
The Iraqi Health Ministry reported that deteriorating water supply systems, which often allow raw sewage to leak into clean drinking water, pose a threat to the health of Iraqis. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry, at least 17% of water nationwide and an estimated one third of the water in Baghdad is undrinkable. Authorities said a lack of clean water led to the recent cholera epidemic, which has already claimed the lives of eight people. (See related news brief: “One-Third of World Without Proper Sanitation”)
17. Pakistan:
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the nation, its epicenter about 400 miles southwest of Islamabad. The death toll is expected to reach 300.
18. China:
Asian and European leaders from over 40 nations met for the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing, China. Though generally filled with formalities and carefully worded statements, given the current international financial crisis, the two-day meeting set attainable goals. (See news brief: “Asian and European Nations Discuss Global Financial Crisis”)
The latest report from China’s statistics bureau suggests that it has moved from a low income country to a lower middle income country, according to definitions provided by the World Bank. The country’s $3 trillion-plus GDP now makes up 6% of the world economy (BBC).
HIV infections are spreading beyond China’s original high-risk groups: heroin addicts in the south and blood sellers in rural central counties. A new study found that the virus has spread to all provinces, and cases are rising quickly among homosexual men and female prostitutes (International Herald Tribune). (See related article: “The AIDS Pandemic...25 Years Later – Does a Cure Exist?”)
19. Australia:
A new book written by an Australian Catholic priest has angered Catholics and Protestants alike by purporting that Mary was not a virgin, Jesus Christ was not God, and that His resurrection should not be taken literally. (See related literature: The True Jesus Christ – Unknown to Christianity)
About 5.4 million workers are struggling to manage their household budgets or are only “just getting by” financially (The Nation).
“One in 10 hospital patients will be harmed in some way during their stay” (The Nation).
International:
For the 17th year in a row, the United Nations voted against a U.S. embargo on China; the votes were tallied 185 to 3.
Canada’s National Post reported that the world is heading for an “ecological crunch,” and that global demand for energy, water and other natural resources is 30% higher than the planet can replenish them.
According to the UN’s World Health Organization, the world’s top three killers are heart ailments, infectious diseases and cancer.
Nurses at a northern Alberta hospital reused syringes, putting thousands of patients at risk.
The Federal Court upheld Ottawa’s decision to strip a Nazi collaborator of his Canadian citizenship (National Post).
A 15-year-old Toronto high school boy was stabbed in the stomach in an argument over a pair of $1 gloves.
The Loonie dropped to about 77 U.S. cents, the Canadian dollar’s lowest level since September 2004.
2. United States:
As newspaper and magazine circulations continue to decline and newsroom staffs are reduced through forced retirement, buyouts and layoffs, the Christian Science Monitor announced it will no longer publish in print, but online only.
U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, a Republican from Alaska, was found guilty of lying about receiving gifts from an oil company.
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, a Democrat, was found guilty of lying in connection with a sex scandal.
Consumer confidence reached its lowest recorded level in October.
The New York Times reported that “kidney stones, once considered a disorder of middle age, are now showing up in children as young as 5 or 6…While there are no reliable data on the number of cases, pediatric urologists and nephrologists across the country say they are seeing a steep rise in young patients. Some hospitals have opened pediatric kidney stone clinics.”
In a 29-city raid operation, federal, state and local authorities worked together to take down child prostitution rings throughout the country, arresting more than 600 adults and rescuing 47 children.
“About one out of seven female veterans of Afghanistan or Iraq who visit a Veterans Affairs center for medical care report being a victim of sexual assault or harassment during military duty, a study reports” (USA Today).
California, Ohio and other states are passing laws to protect renters who, only upon receiving eviction notices, learn their landlords defaulted on their mortgages.
3. Mexico:
University of Harvard researchers found that pollution cuts about two months off the life spans of Mexico City residents. Each year, roughly 7,600 deaths were attributed to diseases from air pollution, about 1.6% of the deaths per year in the nation.
4. Britain:
The Bank of England estimated the total global losses for financial institutions during the credit crisis has reached $2.8 trillion.
“British couples are choosing the sex of their babies at clinics abroad which offer the procedure illegally, according to an investigation” (The Telegraph).
A Canadian software developer was found guilty in a trial linked to a foiled fertilizer bomb plot in Britain (BBC).
Britons now average 60 million more text messages per day from cellphones than one year ago.
More than 10 million people in England are drinking too much; around one in four adults consume alcohol at “hazardous” levels, according to the National Audit Office (The Telegraph).
Peak Oil warned of a severe lack of oil within five years, and that falling oil production is a greater threat to Britain than terrorism (The Telegraph).
The UK economy is worth seven trillion pounds, according to the Office of National Statistics.
The Financial Services Authority reported that house repossessions are up 71% in the second quarter, and that house prices fell 10% during the past year.
5. Spain:
At least 19 people were injured after a car bomb went off at the University of Navarra in Pamplona in northern Spain. Authorities reported that the Basque separatist group ETA claimed responsibility for the attack. The detonation was the sixth attack on the campus since 1979.
6. Nigeria:
HIV-positive prostitutes operating in Bauchi State were given two options: Either repent and marry other HIV carriers, or leave the state (AllAfrica News).
7. Sudan:
Kidnappers killed five of nine Chinese oil workers held hostage.
8. Democratic Republic of Congo:
Angry over the inability of a United Nations security force of 17,000 troops to protect them from renewed rebel violence, thousands of protesters attacked the UN compound in Goma, damaging cars and shattering windows.
9. Zimbabwe:
The Southern African Development Community announced that President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, continuing to disagree over who should control which ministries, failed to put into effect the power-sharing deal both men signed. The 12-member group urged neighboring countries to help end Zimbabwe’s crisis. (See related news brief: “Zimbabwe: Election Crisis Unravels”; see related article: “Hope for Zimbabwe!”)
10. Kenya:
One in nine Kenyan children die before reaching age five, according to a joint report by the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Fund, the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, and the Ministry of Medical Services.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga announced the government will complete 30,000 housing units in less than three years for slum dwellers in Nairobi (AllAfrica News).
11. Somalia:
Suicide bombers killed up to 40 people in Bossaso and Hargeisa, capital of the self-declared republic of Somalia. (See related article: “Somalia’s Daily Nightmare – James 4 Explains Why!”)
A woman was executed through stoning after being found guilty of adultery in a Sharia law court.
12. Yemen:
More than 65 people were killed and more than 20,000 misplaced from their homes after torrential rains swept away infrastructure including buildings, roads and telecommunications networks in the southeastern part of the country. Local authorities said the storms were “the worst floods in decades.”
13. Israel:
While excavating the ruins of a 3,000-year-old fortified city overlooking Israel’s Valley of Elah, where the Bible records that David slew Goliath, archeologists have discovered artifacts that indicate historical evidence of King David and the golden age of his kingdom. (See news brief: “Archeological Discovery Supports Scripture?”)
Dropping efforts to form a government due to “impossible” bargaining demands from prospective political partners, Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni called for early parliamentary elections.
14. Jordan:
“Archaeologists believe a desert site in Jordan may contain the ruins of the elusive King Solomon’s mines” (CNN).
15. Georgia:
President Mikhail Saakashvili rejected evidence from the BBC indicating that Georgia may have committed war crimes in South Ossetia.
16. Iraq:
The Iraqi Health Ministry reported that deteriorating water supply systems, which often allow raw sewage to leak into clean drinking water, pose a threat to the health of Iraqis. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry, at least 17% of water nationwide and an estimated one third of the water in Baghdad is undrinkable. Authorities said a lack of clean water led to the recent cholera epidemic, which has already claimed the lives of eight people. (See related news brief: “One-Third of World Without Proper Sanitation”)
17. Pakistan:
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the nation, its epicenter about 400 miles southwest of Islamabad. The death toll is expected to reach 300.
18. China:
Asian and European leaders from over 40 nations met for the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing, China. Though generally filled with formalities and carefully worded statements, given the current international financial crisis, the two-day meeting set attainable goals. (See news brief: “Asian and European Nations Discuss Global Financial Crisis”)
The latest report from China’s statistics bureau suggests that it has moved from a low income country to a lower middle income country, according to definitions provided by the World Bank. The country’s $3 trillion-plus GDP now makes up 6% of the world economy (BBC).
HIV infections are spreading beyond China’s original high-risk groups: heroin addicts in the south and blood sellers in rural central counties. A new study found that the virus has spread to all provinces, and cases are rising quickly among homosexual men and female prostitutes (International Herald Tribune). (See related article: “The AIDS Pandemic...25 Years Later – Does a Cure Exist?”)
19. Australia:
A new book written by an Australian Catholic priest has angered Catholics and Protestants alike by purporting that Mary was not a virgin, Jesus Christ was not God, and that His resurrection should not be taken literally. (See related literature: The True Jesus Christ – Unknown to Christianity)
About 5.4 million workers are struggling to manage their household budgets or are only “just getting by” financially (The Nation).
“One in 10 hospital patients will be harmed in some way during their stay” (The Nation).
International:
For the 17th year in a row, the United Nations voted against a U.S. embargo on China; the votes were tallied 185 to 3.
Canada’s National Post reported that the world is heading for an “ecological crunch,” and that global demand for energy, water and other natural resources is 30% higher than the planet can replenish them.
According to the UN’s World Health Organization, the world’s top three killers are heart ailments, infectious diseases and cancer.
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