by David Brenneman
Many many people in the last 2,000 plus years have indeed uttered the statement: "And saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation." 2 Peter 3:4 NASB.
People look at such things as what's in the book of Revelation and maybe some of the Old Testament books that talk about wars that apparently have not happened yet and consider it a work of fiction. Something that's not going to happen. It's impossible! We're on the precipice of knowledge! Mankind is far more advanced than ever! Look at our accomplishments! Look at...well that list goes on and on and on. So what? Knowledge without wisdom is useless.
Proverbs 9:10 NASB says: "The fear (reverence, not actual FEAR) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
Jesus said as well in Matthew 11:19 NASB "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a heavy drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' and yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."
My Bible reading today has me not only in Amos chapters 1-3, but also in Revelation 6. When I read through the 4 horses of the Apocolypse as it's been called, the white horse, red horse, black horse, ashen horse, then reading of the martyrs crying out for vindication...wanting avenged for taking their stand in Christ during the 7 year Great Tribulation. There were 5 great seals that were broken thus far and the 6th is what caught my eye today. We read in 2 Peter what's said there and how people reacted then now read "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?".
My Dear Reader...consider it well that you do NOT want to be here during that 7 year period of human history. We've lived through many things as a civilization in even the last 200 or so years. Yes great advancements in technology, in medical, in literature, in well...knowledge. Yet indeed as the Bible has also already said that knowledge puffs up. People indeed think more highly of themselves than they ought to as the Bible also said would happen. People these days are being played by society and governments to bring about changes that Satan wants. The Bible says that he is the 'god of this world'. He's the one who yet still wants the Throne of God for himself. He cares not who goes to Hell, he seriously doesn't want anyone to go to Heaven.
What's to come...oh my Friend, consider it well that you and I never expected the things that this world has seen in our lifetimes. Never thought you'd see or live through so much that's happened in this world. The unexpected seems to be becoming the new normal. We also see another truth of the Bible coming true to beware of those who call good evil and evil good. People who shouldn't be locked up are and those who should be are being let go free. Victims are being punished rather than the perpetrators in society. Standing up for what you believe in is quickly becoming a crime...if it's not what social media says is valid, right and true.
News agencies in the most of the world will never report the people being murdered simply because they came to Christ for salvation. This too will change.
Those people under the Throne who cry out after the 6th seal is broken are exceedingly great in number. They were only killed for coming to Christ during the Great Tribulation. Satan will have people celebrating killing those who do not worship him. Far fetched? Look at things like how people love to watch, faked or real it matters not, people getting the tar beaten out of them in the ring. Be it boxing, kick boxing, wrestling, or go for it and include YouTube videos people took of fights in the streets. Think of that on steroids. Beheadings will be happening. We think not of it in today's 'modern' society but the Bible says that it will make a come back as the punishment of choice for not worshipping the AntiChrist.
We don't think that life can change in an instant yet that's exactly what the Bible says heralds in the Great Tribulation. "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." 1 Corinthians 15:52 NASB.
How many people watch dash cams videos only to watch how quickly, in easily more than just the twinkling of an eye, lives are permanently changed, scarred even. In my own life, this has happened more times than I am aware of. I only am aware of the 'big ones'. God knows all of them that have happened in order to bring about the current result in my life.
Certainties in life of Believers, of Christian's is this: Satan wants us to shut up, sit down, and quit messing with his plans. He will do, say, and when permitted by God, do, whatever is necessary to further his goals and ambitions of bringing about his own will.
He wants us to ignore the Bible. Wants us to not tell others about what Jesus did to save mankind. Wants us to not warn people. Noah preached for over a hundred years. For over a hundred years he heard "For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation."
For over a hundred years...think about how deeply he COULD have fallen into a great depression. Here he was preaching what he was told to preach when he wasn't working with his son's and their wives at building a boat in the middle of dry land. Consider how he was mocked! Building a boat as big as he did under instructions from God! Doing what he was told by God! How obsurd! Building something that would never see water! What an idiot! He certainly was mocked, probably endured sabotage during those years. Satan certainly isn't stupid. He would have even tried to interrupt what Noah was doing because even HE knows that if God said something was going to happen that it would happen. Satan didn't want to lose his 'kingdom' that he had 'created' here on Earth. Then the day came when it was time to enter the Ark. Odds are the boat had been done for quite some time. But the preaching didn't stop. Days were 'normal' people marrying and being given in marriage. Then Jesus said it was time. The animals showed up 2 by 2 and Noah, his Wife, his sons and their wives were told to get in. The Lord Jesus Himself closed and sealed the door. Imagine that! These people who mocked Jesus saw a door close by itself! There were probably people who still were in disbelief when the rain started. But then it kept on coming. Not only from the sky but from the ground. No doubt people were beating the sides of that boat wanting in. Convinced too little too late but only far enough to save their own skins.
Will you be among those convinced too little too late when the Rapture of the Church happens? Will it be you who only ends of believing after Jesus keeps His promise of returning to get all who have placed their faith and trust in Him alone for salvation? Will it be you who sees a world completely turned on it's side during all the judgments that will be coming upon this world? Will it be you crying out to the Heavens or Jesus to come back to get you? Will you be just like those people beating on the Ark?
My Dear Reader, we indeed are only awaiting to hear that trumpet, that call from Jesus to "Come!" and that's it, those of us who have placed our faith and trust in Christ Jesus alone for salvation will be gone...in that twinkling of an eye. We are much like Noah, trying to convey the urgency of the hour. To convey the truth that without salvation in Jesus you cannot go when He comes to get all Believers. You WILL still be here...there's no leaving on 'good behavior'. There's no second chances. He's not going to reopen the door and give another call for those who were 'close'. Being a good person will never be enough.
What's to come? Oh if you haven't liked the changes in society in your lifetime you will loath what's to come. If you haven't liked what you're now having to do because of various mandates...you're going to hate what's to come. Don't like the idea of worshipping anyone? If you're still here, you WILL or you will die.
Jesus said HE is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, NO ONE comes to the Father (that is to enter into Heaven) except through Him. No exceptions.
What's to come? As I often quote movies...the best way not to get hit is not to be there. The best way to avoid a punch is not to be in the path of it. The truth is simple. Jesus Christ came to save. He's reaching out for you and I. He loved mankind enough to lay His own life on the line, taking our place, so that we would have the chance, the opportunity to live, for all who believe.
"But what does it say? "The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" -- that is, the word of faith that we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says "Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek (that is everyone else in the world who isn't a Jew); for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for "Everyone who calls on the mame of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10: 6-13 NASB.
For the time being, you have a choice that leads to leaving when the Rapture happens by choosing in this hear, this now.
When the Rapture happens, those who believe in Christ for salvation will face horrific times because they will indeed eventually become the hunted for what they believe and in trying to tell others about Jesus. You must choose because nobody can choose for you. Nobody can pray you into Heaven after you die.
Those in Hell do NOT want to be there and do NOT want any of us to join them. They all know why they are there, all doubts, reasons, and excuses are eliminated when they arrive. They all have no problem in knowing that Jesus is Lord and that there's no hope of being saved from where they are.
Time is running out. What's to come? A life IN Christ now means a new life that's a transformed life...one that will only get better as the Spirit leads, and changes us to become more like Christ. A life OUTSIDE of Christ...will always appear to look better. Looks are very very deceiving. You've probably heard it said to never judge a book by it's cover. Never think you know or understand what it's like being a Christian until you become one. Looking from the outside in is nothing like what it is to be on the inside looking out.
My prayer is that in all the times that I'm given to write, that somehow somewhere, someone heeds the call and comes to Jesus to be saved. Politics mean nothing in Heaven. We who are in Christ are called to pray "Your Will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven." We eagerly await Jesus's return and know it will happen because we know by the facts of our lives that He IS alive and IS on His Throne hearing and answering prayers. We know by growing in Christ.
We know that we know that we know...and you can too if only you would come to Jesus before you find out the hard way that it is GOING to get much harder later.
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