Christmas Eve Service - JD Farag

God Always Provides (Christmas Eve Service), Matthew 2:1-12 – December 24th, 2020

Joseph a Type of Christ and the Pre-Trib Rapture: Sermon and Resource

This is such an amazing cross reference on Joseph being a type of Christ and evidence of a Pre-Trib Rapture:

Joseph a Type of Christ and the Pre-Tribulation Rapture

And the sermon where Pastor Farag taught this: Bible Prophecy Update 12/06/20: The Great Set Up

The Role of the Woman

Have you ever studied the book of Titus? Done more than a read through of it? If not, I highly recommend this tiny but powerful book of doctrine. At our church here recently we took a 6 weeks and broke the scripture down, verse by verse, and it was very edifying for our spiritual growth. If you would like to hear my pastor teach the book of Titus you can do so here.

But before he taught the entire congregation about the instruction Paul had for Titus, those of us ladies in the Women's ministry were blessed to have him instruct us on the portion of scripture that was specifically laid out for women in the church.

Titus 2:3-5

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

I love this portion from our study: "These traits were in strong contrast with the immoral behavior of the pagan society from which many of them came and in which they still lived." Additionally, the scriptures above are for ALL Christian women: married, single, widowed, older or younger.

I have wanted to share this portion of scripture for some time, and in fact have found myself drawn back to these verses many times since we did this study of scripture back in early September. The day and age we find ourselves in is very confusing, depressing, and highly immoral. Very much like the church in Crete that Titus was pastor over. 

So let's break down the four characteristics for a godly woman as listed in verse 3:

• Reverent in behavior

rev·er·ent /ˈrev(ə)rənt/

adjective
feeling or showing deep and solemn respect.
Similar: respectful, reverential,  worshipping,  worshipful,  adoring,  loving,  admiring,  devoted,  devout,  dutiful,  awed,  deferential, submissive, humble, meek 

Two verses to cross reference: Romans 12:1-2 & 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

• Not slanderers (malicious gossips)

slan·der /ˈslandər/

noun LAW

the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.

Similar: defamation, defamation of character, character assassination

verb

make false and damaging statements about (someone).

Similar: defame

James 3: 5-6 is about the tongue, and verse 6 tells us the ultimate source of the fires kindled by the tongue:

5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. (New American Standard Bible 1995)

Do not dismiss your words or tone ladies. Our tongues can be used as a tool of Satan which is why Paul felt the need to address this serious issue.

• Not given to much wine

 The original language suggests addiction, with some Bible versions referring to slaves to drink.

Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 states:

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. - New American Standard Bible 1995

The gist of words are if you as a believer can abstain from something and it helps another believer, then do it! 

Romans 14: 15-21 gives a loving response if drinking alcohol offends another believer:

15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. - New American Standard Bible 1995

I summed it up in study as such - "If it offends you, when I am with you, it will offend me."

Additionally, the Bible does say drunkenness is a sin and gives warnings.

• Romans 13:13
• Galatians 5:19-21
• 1 Peter 4:3
• Ephesians 5:18

Sisters, we are not to be "slaves" to excess. Paul focused on self-control and moderation to characterize women of every age in the church. Consider for yourself what words/activities you could insert instead of "wine."

• Teachers of good things

Paul instructed Titus to encourage the older women to be mentors and good examples of all the traits previously mentioned. In every church there are some older and some younger. I know I have personally been blessed by many older women who have instructed, guided, and directed me over the years.

The very first lesson the older women were to teach the younger women was to "love their husbands."

This type of love is "phileo" which calls for women to be affectionate towards their husbands, and it denotes friendship. The following verses show how a woman can express this type of love:

• Ephesians 5:22
• 1 Peter 3:4
• Philippians 2:3-4
• Mark 10:45

And after loving their husbands, they are called to love their children. Now, whether you are single, married, or widowed, more than likely you have children in your life. Nieces, students, friends kids. Think on ways you can show love to these children. I am thankful for the book "A Mom After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George. It is giving my practical ways to love on my kids as God intended.

Also to be taught to the younger women are attitudes and skills. Titus 2:5, " to be sensible, pure, workers at home." 

Discreet (sensible) - attentive, prudent, tactful, considerate

Chaste (pure) - celibate, virginal, unblemished

Workers at home. This always seems to throw a kink in people. Ideally, the woman should be at home, with her children, tending to them and the home. Making the house a home. Modern times have forced many, if not most women into the workforce. God understands, and is sympathetic to that. But if at all possible, especially when the children are young (before school age), a mom at home is the best foundation for a child.

This is still my desire. To one day be a stay-at-home-wife/mom. Possibly even homeschool my children. The world is full of sin, wickedness, and darkness. I want to shelter my kids from that. To train them up to be light bearers for Jesus. I love doing the home stuff - cooking, cleaning, decorating, living in my home. And I believe that desire is from God.

The last part of verse 5 is this, "kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored."

Kind is synonymous with Good. And that good comes from the Greek agathos - good nature, useful, upright, joyful happy, honorable.

And the source of goodness is found in Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB1995):

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

"Being subject to their own husbands" is also a way of saying being obedient. Its not being a meek mouse, but instead deferring to the husband, he is the head of the family as God intended. See Ephesians 5:22-25 and Colossians 3:18.

This does not only apply to married women, but to single women and widows. If we have no husband, we have a father, we have a boss, we have the LORD. (See Ephesians 5:19-20 and Philippians 2:5-11).

Now, "so that the word of God will not be dishonored." Some translations put blasphemed in place of dishonored. We as women are representatives of God, we can cause harm to the kingdom of God if we do not follow His commands. If we say we believe, then we have placed ourselves under the authority of God and we will be different in how live, love, have families, all of it.

Dear sisters, I hope you have been encouraged, as I was, by this break down from the Book of Titus. It really is a powerhouse of a book of scripture.

Advent 2020

It's December!

The holiday season is my most favorite season of the year. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I have two nativity sets that I love putting out on display. We did downsize this year, and instead of my standard tree and my super tall tree (both full of decorations), we opted juts for my standard tree. And with 3 kids and a new dog - what I have up is more than enough.

With December starting 2 things are forefront on my mind.

1. My daughter's 8th birthday (very soon)
2. Advent

I did not grow up doing Advent. But I do recall when I moved to the Houston area in 2008, I started doing it then. And now being mom to three children, I strive to be disciplined every year so my children will understand the true meaning of Christmas.

ad·vent

/ˈadˌvent/

noun

the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.

• the first season of the Christian church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays.
• CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY - the coming or second coming of Christ. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Starting December 1st, I read a chapter of the Book of Luke to my children, so Christmas Eve night we finish and hopefully some of God's wisdom has been imparted on my munchkins. To make it an easier time, I have found some great Advent chocolate calendars, and each kid (minus the toddler who would destroy the entire thing) gets to get their piece of chocolate out to enjoy while I read. I strongly encourage this tradition to anyone with young children.

Adding to my Advent routine this year, I am reading a new book (published October 2020). My brother-in-love actually wrote it, and I am so excited to be reading it this Christmastime. Here is about the book:

Beneath Bethlehem Skies: 26 Advent Meditations Upon the Miracle and Meaning of Jesus's Birth (link)

Advent is a season of remembrance and celebration of Jesus coming to earth. But as Christmas comes, we often find it challenging to be mindful of its miracle and meaning. In this daily devotional, Brandon Anthony Shuman offers twenty-six meditations that will prepare your heart for Advent. Comprised of scriptural interludes, contemplations from saints, past and present, and fifteen original compositions seasoned over the course of twelve Decembers, Beneath Bethlehem Skies: 26 Advent Meditations Upon the Miracle and Meaning of Jesus's Birth is a modern liturgy that awakens the soul to wonderful reality of Christmas. Lyrical and liturgical; simple, yet profound; rooted in scripture and rich in thought, these devotions linger, like Advent itself. Each meditation uniquely explores a paradoxical theme of Advent (exile, silence, justice, love, etc.) while exalting biblical truth with beautiful language. They wait in the aching tension of "already, but not yet" hope of redemption in a broken world. They recall what God has done. They anticipate the fulfillment of His promises. And they provoke our hearts to celebrate what Jesus is doing. The devotions of Beneath Bethlehem Skies are introduced by inspiring words from great saints - both ancient and modern - of the Christian faith. Their wisdom foreshadows the themes, lamentations, and joys to follow. Each meditation is complimented by the texts of classic Hymns of the Christmas season, allowing the reader to appreciate the rich and beautiful poetry expressed in their familiar refrains. Beneath Bethlehem Skies is more than a series quick words and pretty pictures wrapped with Bible verses. It is an invitation to be renewed by the miracle of Christmas and receive the gift of Jesus. Rediscover the wonder of Advent this season, Beneath Bethlehem Skies.

I hope that as this Christmas Season starts that you are readying your heart for Jesus. As His first Advent has come and gone, we as believers can eagerly await His second coming, The 2nd Advent.

Vote Biblically

It is here.

Election Day 2020. 

Today those who do not participate in Early Voting, will go to the polls and vote for the President of the United States (and other leaders, proposals, etc).

I am not here to tell you pick this person or that person.

That is a personal choice. If you want to know who I voted for, reach out to me.

But, if you are a believer I want you to remember this; each of us will answer to God for what we did with our lives - good and bad.

Romans 14:12 New American Standard Bible

12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

America is more divided then ever. This election is divisive. But I encourage you to put all that aside. As a Christian, we need to look to God's word to direct our vote.

Joshua 24:15 New American Standard Bible

15 But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Our Pastor on Sunday encouraged everyone to vote, and to vote biblically. Consider these 4 points before you cast your vote:

Abortion

Proverbs 6: 16-19

16 There are six things that the Lord hates,

Seven that are an abomination to Him:

17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

And hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that run rapidly to evil,

19 A false witness who declares lies,

And one who spreads strife among brothers.

Friends, who is more innocent than a baby in the womb? Roe v. Wade is evil, abortion is infanticide, it is murder. 

Psalm 127:3 NASB

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,

The fruit of the womb is a reward.

I think the world has forgotten this fact. God's word states clearly that children are a gift, a reward. And yet, for all time children have been cast aside, viewed as a distraction, a hinderance. During the times of 1 & 2 Kings, people participated in child sacrifice to their idols. Now that has been dressed up and is called "choice." 

Psalm 106:38 NASB

And shed innocent blood,

The blood of their sons and their daughters

Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;

And the land was defiled with the blood.

That choice has consequences. The God that knitted us in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13), He will not let it go unpunished. 

Joel 3:21 NASB

And I will avenge their blood which I have not avenged,

For the Lord dwells in Zion.

Yes, even the Israelites sacrificed their children. They had divided hearts. It is a sad state of affairs when women advocate for the right to murder their own children without punishment - and the government allows it.

Marriage

I wrote a paper in college, and called it Adam for Eve, not for Steve - or something along those lines. The assignment was to write a controversial opinion piece. I passed, my professor seemed impressed. 

Gods word is controversial to a world that thinks they are their own god. And for believers, to stand on God's truth, is to be viewed narrow mindedly. But, Jesus said that the only way to the Father is through Him. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). That is pretty narrow and specific. 

And when it comes to marriage, God's word defines it:

Genesis 2:24 NASB

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

Our country has seen a downhill slide in depravity since the sexual revolution of the 1950's and the 1960's. Free love, increase in STD's, generations born of broken families, the destruction of the nuclear family, gay "marriage", pushes to normalize pedophilia, and so much more. I have been reading through "The Book of Signs" by Dr. David Jeremiah. And one point that stuck out to me was this 

"In 1947, sociologist Dr. Carle Zimmerman wrote a text called “Family and Civilization.” He identified eleven ‘symptoms of final decay’ observable in the fall of both the Greek and Roman civilizations. 

See how many characterize our society:

1. No-fault divorce
2. “Birth dearth”; increased disrespect for parenthood and parents
3.  Meaningless marriage rites/ceremonies
4. Defamation of past national heroes
5. Acceptance of alternative marriage forms
6.  Widespread attitudes of feminism, narcissism, hedonism
7.  Propagation of antifamily sentiment 
8. Acceptance of most forms of adultery 
9. Rebellious children 
10. Increased juvenile delinquency 
11. Common acceptance of all forms of sexual perversion."

Israel

Genesis 12:3 NASB

"And I will bless those who bless you,

And the one who curses you I will curse.

And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

God's word sets the precedent for other nations and how they should act towards and with Israel. Pray for Israel, and elect leaders who support Israel.

Church - Essential

Essential - that could be one of the top 10 words of the year 2020. 

es·sen·tial

/əˈsen(t)SHəl/

adjective

absolutely necessary; extremely important

noun

a thing that is absolutely necessary

I never thought I would see the day when churches in America would freely shut their doors. But that happened. Church leaders shut the churches down, because the "leaders" in government said it was essential to flatten the curve and prevent people from getting the virus! (by the way, the government is to represent us, not lead or lord over us - we have a republic if we can keep it!)

I will admit, closing things down for the 2 weeks, at first sounded rational. Logical even. But then, they kept extending the time frame. And it wasn't just churches. But schools and businesses too! And here we are, about 8 months later and many states and cities are still in lockdowns. And many churches are closed, forbidden to open! 

In these days, these last days, people need hope. They need Jesus. They need fellowship. We are not meant to be alone and isolated. God meant for us to be together.

Hebrews 10:25 NASB

not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

If you have followed my blog for any time, but especially in the last 8 months, I have mentioned Pastor J.D. Farag often. I came upon his prophecy updates, and have faithfully listened to his 3 weekly sermons without fail. How he explains Hebrews 10:25 conveys the right visual to what God intended when Paul (more than likely) penned the book.

Many think the meeting together is gathered, but Pastor Farag argues it is assembled. His example is a watch. The pieces can be gathered together, but they don't work until they are assembled. The church can "gather" online, but its not until we are assembled together that we truly can do the work of Christ.

Falling Apart or Falling into Place?

What a year 2020 has been.

Fires, locus, plagues, lockdowns, civil unrest, in the USA it's an election year and now their is a spot to be filled with the SCOTUS with the death of RBG. I saw the following meme yesterday and had to laugh, because, well in 2020 we all need to laugh more.

I keep trying to figure out what this all means, reading scriptures, listening to sermons. I'm not saying I have the answer, but I am saying I believe the return of Jesus Christ to call the church home is imminent. I have come to love that word, imminent. Pastor Farag does too, and he says when he hears the word imminent he thinks "any minute." Oh I believe he is right. The return is imminent, the return is any minute!

Maranatha!!

Right now it feels like we are living on the cusp. But of what? I feel that there is a fork in the road for all of humanity:

1. One direction is the LORD's return, the rapture of the church, and then the Wrath of God poured out on the nations to get the attention of the Jewish people that their Messiah came 2000(ish) years ago.
2. The second, a spiritual revival in the world. The rapture and tribulation are held off, because, "if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB

That is where I see us at. And honestly, I am not sure #2 is truly viable anymore. With all the prophetic events concerning Israel that have occurred, Article: Israel and Prophecy, I strongly believe option 1 is where we are at. "But God..."

• Genesis 8:1 - But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.
• Genesis 31:42 - If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.
• Genesis 31:7 - Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me.
• Genesis 50:20 - You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives... (This is a new favorite verse of mine).

As I have stated before (here, here, and here), I see humanity as it was in the days of Noah. Noah. Such an example for us. Do you know, that prior to the Flood, it had never rained on earth? Everyone thought him crazy because what he was talking about was something none of them had ever heard/experienced. But he believed God was going to do what He said He was going to do, so he built an ark, and gathered two of every kind of animal, and prepared his family.

I believe God is allowing all that has happened in 2020 (fires, locust, plagues, unrest, etc.) because it is setting the stage for the Time of Jacob's Trouble. While we see life falling apart, I believe God is allowing all the events, people, and ideas to fall into place for the Tribulation. And this is what I want to focus on with this post. If you are a Christian, take comfort in the fact that everything that is happening is indicative of the end times, meaning we are so close to the Rapture. 

Call me different, strange, odd...I have been labeled all three and more for how I view humanity and scripture. Having studied the Book of Joel, I have learned that we are to take current world events, and lay the scriptures over them, and if we do, we will see God's hand at work. That is what Joel the prophet did. He read the scriptures, looked at the world around Him and saw God at work and did what God called him to do.

Anyhoo, I do spend time thinking of what will happen at the Rapture, and what the world will be like during the Tribulation. I play the scenarios through my head, and basically merge the movies from Hollywood, and you get what will happen. I came across this video (link) a few days ago, and this jives with what I imagine will happen at the point of the Rapture. Think about our world. 1/2 slumbers while 1/2 is awake, theoretically. In this modern life, it seems like life never sleeps.

• a person(saved) is in surgery, doctor (unsaved) is operating - BLINK - there is no one to operate on
• a plane is flying across the Atlantic/across the country - pilot and 1/4 of the passengers are believers - BLINK - plane take a nose dive, people are freaking out because people are missing, plane is falling - major disaster ensues -if over water, people drown if unable to get out, or stuck in life rafts waiting for rescue unaware that the world is in chaos, and who knows when they will be rescued. If over land, mass destruction, fire, great harm to person and property.
• mom(unsaved) is going about life (at the park pushing a stroller, driving in a car, sitting in the rocking chair) with her newborn - BLINK - baby is gone - mom goes crazy trying to understand where here precious baby has gone, literally right out of her arms.
• woman(unsaved) is 9 months pregnant, in delivery, pushing, doctor and nurse are directing her (both saved) - BLINK - she is alone, stomach flat - No baby. No doctor. No nurse.
• an assistant pastor is at his desk meeting with the head pastor of his church - talking how he questions if he is saved, he isn't sure - BLINK - the pastor, and ministry assistants are gone. The assistant pastor knows what happened, that he was a fraud for years, and he knows what is about to occur.

Folks, the 7 year tribulation is going to horrible. The literal WRATH of God is poured out on the earth. But the seconds, minutes, moments immediately following the Rapture - there is going to be so much anguish, heartache, regret, remorse, pain, chaos, and destruction.

I think of what is currently going on in our country. Elections are looming. Seats are up for grabs. The President is up for re-election, and now President Trump has selected his nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG). His suggested replacement is Amy Coney Barrett. From my stand point, she seems amazing, a champion for life, a defender of faith and family. But those are Christian positives, and many on the extreme left reject all those qualities. So now we get to see the circus show of her confirmation - I pray that it is nothing like Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's hearings. I agree with many political pundits, we cannot have an eight seat court with this election. There must be 9 Justices on the bench before the election on November 3.

But God...He is in control, and if there is not, well while that looks like America falling apart even more, maybe its the set up of something bigger falling into place.

Let's talk about the children. I work in education, at the private school level.

We are in week 8 of our school year, the end of the first quarter is next week. We have taken precautions, there is extra cleaning, plenty of hand sanitizer, people are masked up, and so far, we are doing good. Our school nurses are working double time it seems, evaluating students, making calls to homes. This school year has been unlike any other. I have had conversations with individuals who have worked in education 26 years, 35 years, and they all say the same thing - they have never experienced anything like this. 

Thankfully, only 13% of our students are doing distance/virtual learning. We started out with closer to 20%, and for a small school, that is huge. We are so grateful that we are able to be open, our students can be at school to learn, and while things are different, there is a comfort in the sense of normalcy of coming to school Monday through Friday. But not every student is having this opportunity. Every state, city, county is doing things differently. Many school districts, especially public, are doing only virtual learning. The date to return to in-person is looming for many, but the vibe many public school teachers feel is that their districts are going to push for longer time at home with the virtual learning. 

This is a major disservice to our students. There are school districts that are fighting back and recalling all students back to campus link. So many students are failing, or the ability to do their work at home is restricted (lack of internet, family/home distractions, not enough tech devices). But then I think of Louisiana. Six weeks ago Hurricane Laura struck and brought complete devastation to the state. There is still no power or internet in many parishes. link And in the next 24 hours, Hurricane Delta (yes we went from the standard alphabet to the Greek alphabet in naming our hurricanes) is going to make landfall on a very similar tract as Laura did. We have gotten calls (south of the city of Houston) from families in Louisiana inquiring if we have spots available. Many are saying their students have been out of school since March, never started this school year, and now with the devastation and lack of internet, they have no clue when their kids will be back in school for an education.

Like I said, every state, city, county, district is doing things differently. But the end result is this - kids are suffering. Their education especially, and mental health even (but that is a topic for another conversation on another day). Now let's look at this through the lens of the Rapture and the Tribulation. Saved children and children who have yet to reach the age of accountability will be caught up in the Rapture. So when the Church is called home, for the most part, there will be no children on earth. Maybe pre-teens and for sure teens, and anyone who has the mental mindset to know what sin is will be left. But babies, toddlers, young children - they will be in Glory with all the saints who realized they were sinners in need of a Savior, and that Jesus is that person. This is going to effect two industries in particular, in two different ways, but essentially put both out of business, for a while at least:

• the abortion industry
• early childhood education

I firmly believe that pregnant women, if not saved at the time of the Rapture, will have empty wombs in that twinkling of an eye. And in the chaos that will follow, it is going to be some time before couples get "busy" and pregnancies' happen again. But eventually they will - but in the tween time, Planned Parenthood will be shut down. What a ironical tragedy that it will take the complete removal of children to accomplish this. But know this, they will return during the Tribulation, and will probably go right back to their barbaric practices.

Any unsaved teachers in daycares, preschools, and early child grades will find themselves without employment following the Rapture. All services will be in chaos, but without students they will have no one to teach. Those in early childhood education, who are left behind, will probably never go back to their profession. School districts that are sticking to virtual learning are realizing they need less people, and I think this is giving many public schools (which are leftist indoctrination centers) a trial run for the Tribulation. Not that they know this is what they are getting. Secondary school teachers (JH and HS and collegiate) those will have students to teach. But with the chaos of millions of missing people, the destruction from falling planes, unnamed trains and cars, etc - it will be a while before class time is thought about. But the Anti-Christ is to strengthen a "peace" treaty that will already be known, as the Tribulation does not start the minute the Rapture has happened. There will be a break, but how long is not known. So a sense of "normal" will be brought about, and I can assume schooling will continue - but what it will look like, well I think education in a COVID-19 era gives us an idea. Kids are going to be glued to technology to learn, and with the Church gone, the most extreme curriculums will be used. (some examples link, link, link). But folks, this won't even last all that long - once the seals, trumpets and bowls are poured out, people will be focused on survival. 

I want you to consider John 3:18 (NASB), "18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

 My boss broke this scripture down in our monthly staff meeting and helped us to realize that in this world there truly are 2 types of people - and its not based on gender, sex, race, nationality or any other description you can think of. God qualifies people in these 2 categories only - those who believe, and those who do not.

Believe what you ask? 

Read the last part of verse 18 again, "in the name of the only begotten Son of God" - JESUS! 

And folks, once the Tribulation starts, it will still be those two categories. People will come to faith in Jesus during the Tribulation, but it is going to be hard, in fact it could be even deadly for someone to accept Jesus. Believers in the Tribulation period will be hunted, persecuted, beheaded even. Many will have to go into hiding to try and survive. Many will survive until the Second Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ and they will go into the Millennial Kingdom. But many will die:

Revelation 6:9 NASB

The Fifth Seal—Martyrs

9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;

Revelation 14:13 NASB

13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

Revelation 20:4 NASB

4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of [a]their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

And then their will be the unbelievers:

Revelation 6:12-17 NASB

The Sixth Seal—Terror

12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Revelation 19:17-18 NASB

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”

Revelation 21:8 NASB

8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

That is a lot to process. So though it looks like everything is falling apart right now, maybe consider that everything is falling into place, in God's perfect timing, and in His perfect plan. 

Revelation Timeline

 For two years I studied the Book of Revelation, via Precept.

There were timeline's, cross references, and hours upon hours of study. The class discussions were phenomenal.  At the end of the 2 years of study, I took all the notes and created the following timeline.

Revelation Timeline - Precept

If you print it out, it is numerous pages. But I have included the timeline and scriptures. I hope you find it beneficial.

The Bible and Politics

I am sharing this for believers who will be voting in the upcoming election.

Christians must vote. Remember, you will be held accountable to God for how/who you vote for.

I have found this resource very beneficial.

Political Platforms and What the Bible Says

Bible Prophecy - Happening Now with Amir Tsarfati (September 2020)

Causing the Great Apostasy

Friends, to be honest, I have wrestled with writing this post. I am not wanting to accuse anyone of anything, or not doing anything. I am not wanting to compare churches to each other and point out anything. That is not where my heart is. 

So please know, I am writing this because of what I have observed since the lockdowns began in March of 2020. This is one way of looking at the responses that different churches have taken and the impact on the communities that they serve.

Spring Break 2020...I enjoyed the time immensely with my children, as one of the perks of my job is I have major holidays/school breaks off to be with them. I remember seeing the news of the "virus" picking up. I did attend church that Wednesday night, and my kids participated in children's ministry activities. I do not remember the sermon. I do remember being mad to be honest. That bothers me to this day. Because of the "virus" we moved out of our Chapel to our Main Worship Center, not a big deal, actually that had been a goal when our attendance went up. But they did it because of "social distancing." We were ENCOURAGED to not handshake, hug, or get near each other, in fact we had to skip every other row, and if we could, please wear a mask (this was before the mandates). Signs were up saying hand sanitizer was available, and that extra cleaning measures has been taken.

I was highly irritated through the entire service. But let me be clear, it was not directed at my church or the church leadership. They were doing all that they could to ensure a safe service. And based on what we knew at the time, these measures seemed over the top. Six months later I can still feel that irritation. And minus 2 Sunday mornings in June, I have not attended an in-person service at the church. 

Then Thursday of that week.

School districts in our area started to close for 2 weeks, to "help flatten the curve." Now I work for a private Christian school, and we are not apart of any district. But we do try to follow what 2 local districts do in cases of weather closures, etc. Both closed. So we closed.

Everything closed. Business were shut down. Restaurants. Grocery stores modified shopping hours, experiences, how to enter, etc. And even churches. In the first few weeks after Spring Break my hours at work were wonky because we didn't take an extended Spring Break. We started right away that next Monday with lessons at home. Packet pick ups were scheduled, curriculum lessons utilized at home, etc. And I have 2 kids that are school age. When I was at work I do remember hearing my boss say that he never thought he would see the churches in America closed. Many of us shared the sentiment.

Here we are, six months later. The church my family has attended for years started in-person services again a few weeks ago, childcare through age 3 just 2 weeks ago. When we attended in June (the governor had said churches could open in May), there was no childcare, and it was a hard experience having an 18 month old in service. My husband and I alternated the 2 visits by one of us staying in the commons with him, with the older kids sat in service with the other parent. We didn't try the 3rd week, and then churches were "encouraged" to close if they had opened. It's not that we didn't "attend" any services the rest of the time - we did what almost everyone else did. We did church "online!" But videos can not replace in-person fellowship, worship, and instruction. My older kids are in 2 different departments, so they had different sermon video times, plus I was trying to watch the church services (so many tech issues on my end made it maddening!), and I was eventually apart of a class that met at 11 a.m. every Sunday.

My kids got tired of the videos. There were no crafts or projects, and I stopped pushing them to watch. I am an adult and can watch sermons online with no issue. I enjoy it. But my kids can barely watch a movie all the way through. My husband and I did our best to help our children in their walk during this time. We have a devotion book we have used on/off the past few years, the kids have Story Time Bibles that we would read, and we would have prayer times. 

I remember having some conversations 2 months into "flattening the curve" about how if churches do not reopen, we are going to have a generational gap. For some, the return to church will be an easy thing to do. But for some, the longer times goes, the harder it will be for them to want to get up, get ready and attend church in person. And that is especially true for families with children. 

Folks, its hard getting 3 kids ready for church. Breakfast, clothes, hair, brushing of teeth, gathering of Bibles. It takes work. To make it smoother in our household some of the work is done the night before. "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (NASB). And I know our family is not alone in our stance that we will do whatever it takes to attend service, and to have a firm Biblical foundation. But what about the family that barely had started coming to church? The start to come, are getting into the routine, and then massive closures, going on 6 months. Depending on their convictions, it might not occur to them to come back, to search out when the church will open again. 

The other side of this issue of churches staying closed when they could be open is members of that congregation who are tired of online videos and not seeing other people might search out a new church to attend. And that attending could be temporary, or it could be permanent change.

About a month and a half ago, I saw a friend share a picture on social media that her little family had attended an in-person service, and it felt so good! I recognized the church, it was one my husband and I attended for about 2 years when we dated and were first married. We loved the teaching, I volunteered in the bookstore, and was active in the Women's Ministry. We only left because I was pregnant. We made the decision to go back to the church he grew up in, I was attending when we met because it was close to family and is the founding church of the private school we wanted our kids to attend one day. We wanted to raise our kids in a church with people they would do life with. And we never regretted the decision. My oldest daughter has been saved almost 2 years now. And my middle born has a heart for Jesus and is on the cusp of salvation. The foundation of faith my children have couldn't be any better.

But roughly 6 weeks ago, we as a family went back to the church my husband and I had attended all those years ago. The main consideration was that their children's ministry was open (birth thru 6th grade) on Sunday mornings. And for the first time in months, my husband and I attended service and worship together while children were with kids their own age learning about Jesus.

It was WONDERFUL! We all came home and started a new week with our cups filled. My kids asked daily that week if we could go to church. And every Sunday morning since, without fail, we get up, we get ready and we drive. This church is not right down the road for us like our home church has been all these years. Its a good 30 minute drive. But we all come home a better version of ourselves. My kids love telling us the stories they studied, the songs they sang, and the new friends they have made. My husband and I discuss the sermon points, and continue that through the week. Last week was great for me and the kids. We started attending on Wednesday nights, and last week was the monthly fellowship meal before service - so we got to talk with other church members. And the great part for me - the Lord's Super. I was able to take Holy Communion. 

For the past 8 years, at our home church, we have taken communion quarterly, and always on Easter. We make sure to always attend the Lord Super services, and with my daughter accepting Jesus as her Savior we have her join us for the services too. With the lockdown going in place in March, we were unable to meet at church for any of the Easter services or events that we always partake in, including the Lords Supper. Now, we did partake at home. I found a recipe for unleavened bread, bought some grape juice, and my husband read the scriptures. But in the months since, it didn't cross my mind. So to have a Pastor lead it last week was wonderful.

Additionally, my husband encouraged me to join the Women's Bible Study. It's only 1x a month (plus an additional monthly meeting for prayer), and this Tuesday was the first monthly meeting. Oh how wonderful it was. (Ha, I realize I am using that word a good deal, but I truly feel this way!). Worship, study, group discussion and fellowship. My heart is at peace.

I do not know what the future holds. 2020 has taught all of us many lessons, #1 should be, "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." James 4:14 (NASB) 

None of us, even the most devout to Bible prophecy study, could have predicted what 2020 would bring. Or the changes to our lives. Mask mandates, church closures, distance learning at schools, schools not having in-person instruction. 

The church closures is one point that weighs heavy on me. I came across an article online last week, 1 in 5 churches facing permanent closure within 18 months due to COVID-19 shutdowns, and it saddens me. While a building is not the church, a building can be where believers come together to worship, study, fellowship, and be encouraged.

So, I titled this post "Causing the Great Apostasy" and let me get to that now. I know I laid a good amount of foundation above, but I hope you will see where I am coming from and where I am going. Let us start by defining the word for those who are uncertain:

a·pos·ta·sy      /əˈpästəsē/
noun
the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief.
"the execution of their leader for apostasy brought widespread criticism"

My salvation story is that I was saved at revival at my church after hearing and being taught the Book of Revelation. And the message of the apostasy to occur in the last day was strongly emphasized. So for 20 something years, I have been aware of the fact that in the "Last Days" there will be a falling away of believers.  The verse referring to this event is, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 (NASB)  "Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction."

I want to break 2 Thessalonians down some from my studies. The gathering in this verse is generally considered the Rapture, in the Greek harpazo. In verse 2 Paul is writing to the church at Thessalonica  because a letter came to them, telling them they missed the Rapture. Paul was writing to reassure them that they had not.Verse 3 talks about being deceived - and folks I am afraid that so many are deceived these days as this group of believers back then almost was. Having studied the Bible, I stand firm on the belief that the Rapture is a Pre-Tribulation event. And the rest of verse 3 helps to confirm that. Paul outlines the timeline of events:

• Apostasy
• Rapture
• Man of Lawlessness Revealed

Before the Church can be raptured to heaven, there will be a falling away. For the past several years, many "BIG" names in Kingdom work have "left" the faith.

• Pastor Ryan Bell
• Hillsong United's Marty Sampson
• Joshua Harris

And every time, I have heard the same conversation, "God did say there would be a falling away."

But when I think of falling away - a person here, a person there feels more like a trickle, not a mass exodus. So these situations with these individuals, while disheartening and distributing, I don't think they reach the mark of a true apostasy. 

On the other hand...churches in America closing their doors for 6+ months, having online services only. Now that to me sounds like a falling away.

    

Every church, every denomination has been impacted. I will say, not all churches have stayed shut. I do believe almost all did close for a week or two, because we are a "civilized" society, and we have a sense of patriotism of coming together for the common good. But, it did not sit right with some churches, a with some individuals, the continual closure of life that has transpired. Two weeks has spread to six months. Governors of almost all states mandated church closures for a while, and in Texas that was rescinded in May. But many churches opted to stay closed. That is their decision.

But the churches that chose to open - they have seen growth in this time as families have sought out places of worship (my family included) where all members of the family can actively participate in their faith. 

Some states have gone a bit draconian though, and you can easily see the politics of these issues when you see the party affiliation of the sates where churches are still banned from opening. In the midst of the virus, our country has become more divided. Cities have been destroyed, police departments defunded, and riots with looting have occurred in many major cities. And the perpetrators have not been punished, or even looked for. In fact, many victims to these crimes have had charges brought on themselves, for defending themselves. 

Isaiah 5:20 (NASB)

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;

Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;

Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

And because of this lawlessness, many churches have fought back by opening up. 

• You can Protest (loot/riot) but Not attend Church
• Churches are essential.
• restricting church services but allowing protests
• Pastor John MacArthur, in fact has opened up his church and is facing eviction from a parking structure his church has used since 1975.
• John MacArthur's church to be evicted from land leased for parking lot 
• CNN: Pastor Defies Public Health Ordinances 
• Biblical Duty for churches to be OPEN 
• California Churches Keep Worshipping 
• John MacArthur Opens Church for Services
• And churches in Nevada have attempted to legal action against the state because abortion clinics and casino's have been allowed to open, but not them. 
• Supreme Court: Nevada Churches Closed - Casinos Open  
• Supreme Court Rejects Nevada Church’s Challenge to Shutdown Restrictions  
• it is illegal for churches in Nevada to meet with more than 50 people

I heard one pastor recently say, they chose to open because if people need to find a place to go, let it be the church (not a bar, or somewhere worse). And Pastor J.D. Farag, oh, he brought the word this past Sunday. Sermon Link He will not be closing the doors to his church. Listen to his very words. Impactful!

Each Pastor has to decide for himself how we will act. Will he open or will he be closed. You and I are not to judge. We have to believe that all pastor's have been in prayer over this matter, sought the counsel of the LORD, and acted accordingly. We as parishioners if we do not agree should seek the LORD in a likewise matter. Our household needed, yearned for in-person fellowship and found a warm & welcoming congregation to be apart of. We do not know if we will stay where we are at, or come back to the church that we have called home these last eight years. We are praying over it, my husband and I.

So to each, pray. Pray for our country, pray for our leaders, pray for the pastors, pray for your family. I believe we are in the apostasy right now. So next on the Biblical timeline is the Rapture. Are you ready? Will you hear the trumpet call? Or will you get to know who the Man of Lawlessness is?

Follow Up: Exodus Plagues and Revelation Parallels

A follow up to my post yesterday referencing seeing the plagues as an OT picture of the Tribulation. Pastor J.D. Farag touched on this 12 years ago. I am looking for the sermon video, but here are the notes for anyone interested in reading.

Exodus Plagues and Revelation Parallels

Endure

 2020.

Every year 2019 and before, when someone mentioned 2020, it was in in regards to vision.

• Someone has 2020 vision (present tense)
• Hindsight is 202 (looking back).

But it has always been about bringing clarity. Well, almost 8 months done of 12 in 2020 and clarity is the last thing any of us have. 

• Fires - Australia and California
• COVID-19 - GLOBAL PANDEMIC
• Riots and Looting - Global again, mainly in the USA though
• BLM, ANTIFA - terrorist organizations on American soil
• Election 2020 - Biden vs. Trump
• Mask mandates
• Q, Anon, - Conspiracy theorist or truth?
• Hurricanes - Marco and Laura in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time. Laura was a category 4 hurricane, and got close to being a 5.

If 2020 has taught any of us anything, is that we have absolutely zero control over anything. As a Christian, I know this. But I am human, I have flesh, and this flesh has control issues. So this year has been stressful for me.

But, looking back (see what I did there), the last few years have been rough. Specifically the last three years have been hard, on a personal level. Job changes, hardships in my marriage, a miscarriage, fincial uncertainties. 

In my last post, I shared how we were bracing for Hurricane Laura. By the grace of God, we didn't even get a drop of rain. Louisiana on the other hand, devastated completely. The timing of it all, another God thing. Three years ago we braced for and dealt with Hurricane Harvey.  Seeing the memories on Facebook - it felt like the rain would never end, and it gave me a new and greater appreciation for Noah and his family on the ark. Speaking of timing...a pastor I listen to and study is J.D. Farag out of Hawaii. His mid week sermon yesterday was titled: In His Time (Sermon LINK) It's a great one! I highly encourage you to take an hour and listen, process, and take to heart what Pastor Farag has to say.

It was a great reminder that EVERYTHING is in God's time. To be honest, I am over "it". It being the chaos, the riots, the lectures, the shut downs, the mask mandates, the trying to explain to my children everything that is going. Thankfully, I have my faith. And by reading scriptures, listening to sermons, studying God's word - I am at peace that I do not understand everything. What I do know is this.

Matthew 24:13 (KJV)

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Jesus calls believers to endure to the end. To not give up. And what is the end? Death of the physical body, or rapture. And friends, I strongly believe that I will be raptured before this physical body of mine dies. Scripture tells us that we do not know the day or hour in which the trumpet shall sound (Scripture Link). But He did say there would be signs of the coming of the age (Luke 21:25-26). 

Thinking on everything that has occurred in the last three years, I ponder on all that the Church has gone through. The falling aways, the natural disasters, the financial and economic upheavals, the pure evil witnessed on a global level (beheading, child kidnappings, sexual slavery). And I am reminded about the plagues on Egypt from Exodus 7-12. I don't remember when I "found" this out, but I know I did not always know the following:

• 10 plagues
• The first 3, not only impacted the Egyptians, but also the Israelite's.
• The remaining 7 were on the Egyptians alone.

The first three plagues, were as Anne Graham Lotz said in series on Joel, were nuisance plagues. They made life uncomfortable. I just realized, it was 2015 when I started listening to Anne Graham Lotz when I learned this. And she is right. They got the Israelite's attention. The remaining plagues devastated every part of life for the Egyptians. 

Friends, I see the 10 plagues as an Old Testament picture of the Tribulation. Now, hear me out. 

Yes, the Tribulation is 7 years. And I believe each of the plagues that came upon Egypt represents the 7 years of sorrow on the nations that brings Israel back to their God. What about the first 3 plagues/ 3 years? Well, if 2020 is the year that the church is Raptured (I am not date setting - just thinking things out), then the last three years have been getting the attention of the Church. Pastor Farag here recently said he thinks that God is making everything so uncomfortable here on earth that we LOONG for His return in a way like we have never before. Friends, this is me. I love my family, my husband, my children, the life we have. But the world? The chaos? Uncertainty? The riots? Destruction? I am over it and want FAR AWAY from it. So much, that with each new story coming out, I look to Heaven and ask "when Lord?" 

What if the trumpet does not sound in 2020?

Hold tight friends. That means that things are going to get worse here on earth. That is why Jesus told us to endure to the end. He knew it would be hard, but for those of who do endure? Oh sweet reward! To hear:

Matthew 25:22-24 (NASB)

22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

There is no great reward for a believer in Christ than to hear our Lord and Savior say those words to us. So lets endure. Let's cling tight to our faith, study the Word, share the Gospel, and give what we are able to the brethen.

I want to end my post with sharing how to be saved if by chance anyone reading this post does not know Jesus.

This is from Pastor J.D. Farag's church website, but it explains saving salvation so well. ABC_Salvation

If you are unsure of your salvation, reach out to a Bible Believing and Teaching church, message me, find someone you know who saved. Do not delay. Remember, we do not know the day or hour, but the rapture will occur in the twinkling of an eye.

Prepare: The Storm is Coming

A storm is coming.

Literally, we are preparing for soon Hurricane Laura. Within the next 24 hours we will have possible category 3 or 4 strength winds, and a storm surge. Thankfully Marco did not become an event for us late last week. But let me tell you, 2 storm systems hitting area at one times screams "birth pains" to me - and many other fellow believers.

We have prepped as well as we can. We have supplies, we have brought the plants and toys into the garage. We have boards on the ready to put on the windows if we need to. And we have a plan on where to go if we lose power. 

Thanks to technology we knew the storm could be an issue as far back as August 16th - 9 days ago. That is amazing - we saw it form off the coast of Africa and have been able to keep an eye on it, take steps to be ready, and now here we are. 

In light of current world events and all that is going on I want to draw a parallel to another storm.One that will last 7 years. Friends, the Time of Jacob's trouble is soon. And all people, who have rejected Jesus, or not accepted Him fully will face a time unlike any other. I want us to consider Habakkuk 1:5 (NASB):

“Look among the nations! Observe!

Be astonished! Wonder!

Because I am doing something in your days—

You would not believe if you were told.

I have been blessed to study the Bible via the Precept Upon Precept style for a good 5 years now. Started off in the Book of Revelation, then moved onto the Kings and Prophet Series. That has included 1 & 2 Kings/Chronicles, and many of the minor prophets books. The past few weeks we have study the 3 chapter book of Habakkuk, 56 verses. And wow, what a book. I have enjoyed studying prophecy because many times there was a near application and a future application. Habakkuk is such a book. Habakkuk was disgusted with the wickedness in Judea, and called out to the Lord. These 56 verses are the conversation the prophet had with the LORD, the LORD's response and the warning for us all. What God told Habakkuk was to happen was so astonishing, that even being told, he, Habakkuk would not believe it. God used a pagan nation to bring about judgement on His people, to turn their hearts back to Him. And what a pagan nation it was. The Chaldeans, which were Babylonians. They were their own idol, boasted in their own strength, seemed to have supernatural abilities, 100% deplorable, cannibalism, and pure wickedness towards those who they overtook. 

So back to the storms....Because of modern technology we are not being caught unaware by Hurricane Laura. 120 years ago, the storm of 1900 hit Galveston, TX. 100 people died. It has been described as the worst storm in American History. Back then people didn't know they were in a hurricane until after it hit and destroyed their lives.

Whether you like weathermen or not, they do play an important role in our lives. One that I watch made an observation the other day that was enlightening. 

"For everyone complaining about changes in the forecast for Marco, keep in mind today’s 5-Day forecast is as accurate as a 1-Day forecast in 1980. Let that sink in. We’ve come a long way."

As time has gone on, our warnings have become more accurate, and more timely. We have more time to prepare.

Friends, God's word has done the same. The Bible is filled with the warnings of what will happen on and to the earth before the Tribulation. Jesus gave us a warning in Matthew 24.

Matthew 24

The Beginning of the Birth Pangs

Jesus left the Temple and went away. As he did so, his disciples came and pointed out the Temple buildings to him. 2 ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘and you see all these things? I’m telling you the truth: not one stone will be left standing upon another. All of them will be thrown down.’

3 As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately.

‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that you are going to appear as king, and that the end of the age is upon us?’

4 ‘Watch out,’ replied Jesus. ‘Don’t let anyone deceive you. 5 You see, there will be several who will come along, using my name, telling you “I’m the Messiah!” They will fool lots of people. 6 You’re going to hear about wars, actual wars and rumoured ones; make sure you don’t get alarmed. This has got to happen, but it doesn’t mean the end is coming yet. 7 Nations will rise against one another, and kingdoms against each other. There will be famines and earthquakes here and there. 8 All this is just the start of the birthpangs.

9 ‘Then they will hand you over to be tortured, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then several will find the going too hard, and they will betray each other and hate each other. 11 Many false prophets will arise, and they will deceive plenty of people. 12 And because lawlessness will be on the increase, many will find their love growing cold. 13 But the one who lasts out to the end will be delivered. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom must be announced to the whole world, as a witness to all the nations. Then the end will come.’

The Desolating Sacrilege

15 ‘So when you see “the sacrilege that desolates”, as Daniel the prophet put it, “standing in the holy place” (the reader should understand), 16 then those who are in Judaea should take to their heels and run to the mountains. 17 If you’re up on your roof, don’t go down into the house to get things out. 18 If you’re in the fields, don’t go back to pick up your cloak. 19 It’s going to be terrible for pregnant and nursing women during those days. 20 Pray that it won’t be winter when you have to run away, or for that matter a sabbath. 21 Yes: there’s going to be such great suffering then as has never been since the start of the world until now – no, and won’t ever be again. 22 And if those days had not been shortened, nobody at all would have been rescued. But for the sake of God’s chosen ones those days will be shortened.

23 ‘Then if anyone says to you, “Look! Here is the Messiah!” or “Look! There he is!”, don’t believe them. 24 False messiahs will arise, you see, and false prophets too. They will provide great signs and portents, so as to deceive even God’s chosen ones, if that were possible. 25 Remember, I’m telling you this beforehand!

26 ‘So if someone says to you, “Look! He’s out in the wilderness”, don’t go out. If they say, “Look, he’s in the inner room”, don’t believe them. 27 You see, the royal appearing of the son of man will be like the lightning that comes from the East and flashes across to the West. 28 Where the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.’

The Coming of the Son of Man

29 ‘Straight away,’ Jesus continued, ‘after the suffering that those days will bring,

The sun will turn to darkness,

and the moon won’t give its light;

the stars will fall from heaven,

and the powers of heaven will shake.

30 ‘And then the sign of the son of man will appear in heaven; then all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see “the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven” with power and great glory. 31 He will send off his messengers with a great trumpet-blast, and they will collect his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 ‘Learn the hidden meaning from the fig tree. When its branch begins to sprout, and to push out its leaves, then you know that summer is nearly there. 33 So with you: when you see all these things, you will know that it is near, at the very gates. 34 I’m telling you the truth: this generation won’t be gone before all these things happen. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never, ever disappear.’

The Unexpected Coming

36 ‘Nobody knows what day or time this will happen,’ Jesus went on. ‘The angels in heaven don’t know it, and nor does the son; only the father knows. 37 You see, the royal appearing of the son of man will be like the days of Noah.

38 ‘What does that mean? Well, in those days, before the flood, they were eating and drinking, they were getting married and giving children in marriage, right up to the day when Noah went into the ark. 39 They didn’t know about it until the flood came and swept them all away. That’s what it’ll be like at the royal appearing of the son of man.

40 ‘On that day there will be two people working in the field. One will be taken, the other will be left. 41 There will be two women grinding corn in the mill. One will be taken, the other will be left.

42 ‘So keep alert! You don’t know what day your master will come. 43 But bear this in mind: if the householder had known what time of night the burglar was going to come, he would have stayed awake and wouldn’t have let his house get broken into. 44 So you too must be ready! The son of man is coming at a time you don’t expect.’

The Wise and Wicked Slaves

45 ‘So,’ Jesus went on, ‘who then is the trustworthy and sensible slave, the one the master will set over his household, so that he will give them their meals at the right time? 46 Blessings on the servant whom the master, when he comes, finds doing just that. 47 I’m telling you the truth: he’ll promote him to be over all his belongings. 48 But if the wicked slave says in his heart, “My master’s taking his time”, 49 and starts to beat the other slaves, and to feast and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day he doesn’t expect, and at a time he doesn’t know. 51 He will cut him in two, and put him along with the hypocrites, where people will weep and grind their teeth.’

I will finish by saying, we are running out of time to prepare for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. What are you doing to ensure that as many can will be caught up from the wrath to come? Let the urgency you have prepared your home be mimicked in your kingdom work. As you reached out to the elderly you know to see if they needed supplies, or boards put on their windows - seek them out and ask them if they have a personal relationship with Jesus.

We know, roughly, when the storm will hit us tomorrow. None of know when Jesus will return. We have signs, and we need to be ready. Stay safe friends. Be secure in Jesus.