“Then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud in great glory. But
when these things begin to happen, straighten up and lift up your heads. Because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).
Hey
Gang: I pray you have had time in your
busy schedules to read and read and get the drift of what this writer is
saying. I have found it difficult, sitting
here in my eight by ten foot office, to determine what might be of interest to
you and what might ring your bell. I am
always amazed, when the subject of “What’s Happening Man” comes up, how many
Christians run and hide. I have a great concern for many who attend
church regularly but do not feel the need to share God’s salvation message or,
that He is coming soon and the door of salvation will be closed to friends,
relatives or even an enemy. They need to know that Jesus loves them and He is
still in the forgiveness business. One of my greatest joys throughout, my
lifetime, has been to snatch one of Satan’s warriors out of his grasp.
Well, I
could continue along this line of through for a day or two but need to return
to the subject at hand: What is the
second greatest sign of the times that you have experienced in your lifetime? Six of the experts said that spiritual
corruption or apostasy was the second
most profound sign. Jesus certainly
agreed that this would be a clear sign, in the latter days, when he warned, “Be not deceived” in the Olivet
Discourse.
Paul also warned of this tragic event
contaminating the church when he wrote, “Let
no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy coms first, and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction” (2 Thess. 2:3).We’ve got
major evangelical leaders today who are denying that Jesus is the only way to
God. We have churches that have
homosexual pastors and have not only endorsed same sex marriage but are
promoting it.
There is
gross apostasy in the Church today,
and the term ‘evangelical’ has ceased to have any meaning.
Four of the
gurus felt that the revival of the Roman Empire was the second most important
develop. No question that is a very
important development that has been a topic of discussion for many years. The Bible said it would happen in the latter
times and it has happened right before my eyes.
Third place
on the list was Gog and Magog, the alignment of nations found in Ezekiel
38-39. One has to have their head in the
sand, if they do not see the great bear from the North jockeying for dominance
in the Middle East. In recent weeks they
have set up military shop in Syria, just miles from the Israeli border. And the
news is filled daily with their growing alliance with Iran.
The fourth
most identified sign was the rapid growth of technology in the world. Things such are worldwide television, the
rise of the internet - increase in speed and the discovery of the chip have
changed our world. The Word tells us
that in the last days the two witnesses will be killed and lie in the streets
of Jerusalem for three days and the entire world will see them, rejoice over
their deaths and see them rise from the concrete and be taken up into the
heavenlies. No one understood this
prophecy until the mid-1960’s. The world
knew within minutes of the tragic attack in Paris.
Two of the
respondents chose the reoccupation of Jerusalem as their choice. The Jewish people, who have experienced wars,
intifada’s, and terrorist, since they reoccupied the Holy City, have not had
many opportunities to truly rejoice in the fact they have a homeland after
thousands of years of diaspora-living but, on June 7, 1967 when they took
Jerusalem back from their enemies there was great rejoicing among all Jews
around the world.
But, the reoccupation
of Jerusalem has not been without its tragedies and current stresses and
dangers. Even as I write this there is a
news alert that another stabbing of an innocent lady has taken place in
Jerusalem and another missile has been fired from Gaza. The UN, in their infinite wisdom from the
evil one, passed six resolution last week- once again condemning Israel for
cruelty of various shapes and sizes.
There was no mention of the killing fields of Syria, Iraq or Iran or
North Korea, that is perhaps the cruelest of all nations towards their people.
If you have
not done so recently, I would suggest that you take an hour and read Zechariah,
which I feel is a book for the moment, and pay special attention to Chapters 12
through 14. If you have doubt that
Israel is the pinnacle of all that is
going to happen to transpire in our world in the future, note the following
words by Zechariah: “Behold, I am going
to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the people around; and when
the siege is against Jerusalem, it will
also be against Judah. It will come
about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy sto0ne for all the
peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nation of the earth will be
gathered against it” (Zech.
12:2-3).
So ends
session two on When All These Things
Happen, Look Up. As I mentioned in
the first blog on this subject, I have learned that, if you are researching the
signs of the times, each writer had their own list that they felt sends the
best message. We need to be ready with
armor in place and lamp filled with oil at all times. I have my list which I will share in the next
blog. But, I also want you to know that
prophecy is second in my agenda, my main focus remains on how prepared I am to
stand before the Lord and give an account of my life, and being prepared to be
used by the Lord to be a witness for Him.
Blessings,
Gramps
No comments:
Post a Comment