Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Perilous Times Significant Signs-Shawn Smith
It's obviously very difficult to put into words the sorrow we as Americans and especially those in Boston of course must feel at a time like this. Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to you and to all those suffering and now recovering from the latest senseless and brutal act of violence to visit us here in America. Our world is obviously changing fast once again fulfilling biblical prophecies that are unfolding precisely as predicted. And obviously not for the better! No sadly corruption continues to rise in our day and time as godliness continues unfortunately to decline. These prophecies are all fulfilling exactly as the holy apostles and prophets of old predicted warning us all in the end what would eventually come to pass. In fact the Lord Jesus himself warned us that just like in Noah's day God will eventually judge mankind because of sin and the only escape would be through the Son of God himself. The apostle John said while writing to the believers in his day almost two-thousand years ago that they were living in the last "hour" with many anti-Christs already on the scene then (1 John 2:15-19). In light of that which is true I can't help but wonder just where we are today from God's perspective and from his point of view. We should realize that the mysterious rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) which is only for all true believers living for him now, is distinctly different from the second coming of Christ where in judgment he will return to rule and reign and be seen by all. The apostle Peter said that in the last days many scoffers would come mocking his return but the signs are all there now so we really should watch and learn.
If those alive were living in the final "hour" then could it be that we're just moments away now from reaching the end? If that's the case we should awake quickly and smell the coffee that's been cooling lately in our lukewarm cups! At the same time he may choose to tarry a while longer and we should realize that God's timing is rarely if ever ours. After all in his eyes a thousand years is as one day and one day is as a thousand years. So in that light this generation has just recently entered its third day of existence here on planet earth since Jesus left. Does that ring a bell? As you may recall on Easter Sunday Jesus rose again early on the third day and appeared to Mary before dawn. So early in fact that it was still dark when he appeared to her at the empty tomb. Is it possible that by doing so he was also giving us living today a sign signaling his return one day and when it would finally be time? Most were still asleep at the time obviously possibly indicating yet another sign. The days we live in are dark indeed with corruption on the rise and godliness on the decline. Not surprisingly though look what the apostle Paul once had to say about those of us in the end living today, "THIS KNOW ALSO THAT IN THE LAST DAYS TERRIBLE TIMES SHALL COME. FOR MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, COVETEOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNGRATEFUL, UNHOLY. WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, TRUCEBREAKERS, FALSE ACCUSERS, INCONTINENT, FIERCE, DESPISERS OF THOSE THAT ARE GOOD (2 Tim 3:1-3)."
Although many falsely predict today that things will somehow get better here some day but the truth is the world is becoming more corrupt day after day. In fact the mark of true Old Testament Hebrew prophets like Jeremiah and Noah for example was that their predictions foretold impending judgment for the rebellious not prosperity and peace like so many continue to wrongly predict today. And if we believe them we are sadly mistaken! The scriptures are clear that until the Messiah returns there will never be any true and lasting peace anywhere here. No unfortunately contrary to popular belief things will only get worse as mankind in general refuses to repent today and continues drifting farther away. In fact the anti-Christ who will appear on the scene soon will offer a very convincing pseudo-peace that the entire unbelieving world will one day fall for and succumb to! And all those still living here then who don't believe his lie one day won't ever be able to sell or even to buy (Revelation 13:11-18). But all true believers will see through his disguise because they know the only real peace is found in a personal relationship with the Prince of Peace the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
Here's what the apostle Paul had to say about the man of sin to appear on the scene soon one day, "THE COMING OF THE LAWLESS ONE WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH HOW SATAN WORKS. HE WILL USE ALL SORTS OF DISPLAYS OF POWER THROUGH SIGNS AND WONDERS THAT SERVE THE LIE AND ALL THE WAYS THAT WICKEDNESS DECIEVES THOSE THAT ARE PERISHING. THEY PERISH BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO LOVE THE TRUTH AND SO BE SAVED. FOR THIS REASON GOD SENDS THEM A POWERFUL DELUSION SO THAT THEY WILL BELIEVE THE LIE AND SO THAT ALL WILL BE CONDEMNED WHO HAVE NOT BELIEVED THE TRUTH BUT HAVE DELIGHTED IN WICKEDNESS (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)." So what does this all mean to you and I living in these last days? We need to grow in grace and seek his face to draw closer to him and farther from sin! Here's what Jesus himself said to those of us living at the end, "AND TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES LEST AT ANY TIME YOUR HEARTS BE OVERCHARGED WITH SURFEITING AND DRUNKENESS AND CARES OF THIS LIFE AND SO THAT DAY COME UPON YOU UNAWARES. FOR AS A SNARE SHALL IT COME UPON ALL THEM THAT DWELL ON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH. WATCH YE THEREFORE AND PRAY ALWAYS THAT YE MAY BE ACCOUNTED WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS THAT SHALL COME TO PASS, AND TO STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN (Luke 21:34-36)." It's true the end is now near it's all very clear we're living in perilous times with significant signs!
If those alive were living in the final "hour" then could it be that we're just moments away now from reaching the end? If that's the case we should awake quickly and smell the coffee that's been cooling lately in our lukewarm cups! At the same time he may choose to tarry a while longer and we should realize that God's timing is rarely if ever ours. After all in his eyes a thousand years is as one day and one day is as a thousand years. So in that light this generation has just recently entered its third day of existence here on planet earth since Jesus left. Does that ring a bell? As you may recall on Easter Sunday Jesus rose again early on the third day and appeared to Mary before dawn. So early in fact that it was still dark when he appeared to her at the empty tomb. Is it possible that by doing so he was also giving us living today a sign signaling his return one day and when it would finally be time? Most were still asleep at the time obviously possibly indicating yet another sign. The days we live in are dark indeed with corruption on the rise and godliness on the decline. Not surprisingly though look what the apostle Paul once had to say about those of us in the end living today, "THIS KNOW ALSO THAT IN THE LAST DAYS TERRIBLE TIMES SHALL COME. FOR MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, COVETEOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNGRATEFUL, UNHOLY. WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, TRUCEBREAKERS, FALSE ACCUSERS, INCONTINENT, FIERCE, DESPISERS OF THOSE THAT ARE GOOD (2 Tim 3:1-3)."
Although many falsely predict today that things will somehow get better here some day but the truth is the world is becoming more corrupt day after day. In fact the mark of true Old Testament Hebrew prophets like Jeremiah and Noah for example was that their predictions foretold impending judgment for the rebellious not prosperity and peace like so many continue to wrongly predict today. And if we believe them we are sadly mistaken! The scriptures are clear that until the Messiah returns there will never be any true and lasting peace anywhere here. No unfortunately contrary to popular belief things will only get worse as mankind in general refuses to repent today and continues drifting farther away. In fact the anti-Christ who will appear on the scene soon will offer a very convincing pseudo-peace that the entire unbelieving world will one day fall for and succumb to! And all those still living here then who don't believe his lie one day won't ever be able to sell or even to buy (Revelation 13:11-18). But all true believers will see through his disguise because they know the only real peace is found in a personal relationship with the Prince of Peace the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
Here's what the apostle Paul had to say about the man of sin to appear on the scene soon one day, "THE COMING OF THE LAWLESS ONE WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH HOW SATAN WORKS. HE WILL USE ALL SORTS OF DISPLAYS OF POWER THROUGH SIGNS AND WONDERS THAT SERVE THE LIE AND ALL THE WAYS THAT WICKEDNESS DECIEVES THOSE THAT ARE PERISHING. THEY PERISH BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO LOVE THE TRUTH AND SO BE SAVED. FOR THIS REASON GOD SENDS THEM A POWERFUL DELUSION SO THAT THEY WILL BELIEVE THE LIE AND SO THAT ALL WILL BE CONDEMNED WHO HAVE NOT BELIEVED THE TRUTH BUT HAVE DELIGHTED IN WICKEDNESS (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)." So what does this all mean to you and I living in these last days? We need to grow in grace and seek his face to draw closer to him and farther from sin! Here's what Jesus himself said to those of us living at the end, "AND TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES LEST AT ANY TIME YOUR HEARTS BE OVERCHARGED WITH SURFEITING AND DRUNKENESS AND CARES OF THIS LIFE AND SO THAT DAY COME UPON YOU UNAWARES. FOR AS A SNARE SHALL IT COME UPON ALL THEM THAT DWELL ON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH. WATCH YE THEREFORE AND PRAY ALWAYS THAT YE MAY BE ACCOUNTED WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS THAT SHALL COME TO PASS, AND TO STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN (Luke 21:34-36)." It's true the end is now near it's all very clear we're living in perilous times with significant signs!
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