Posted on 11/14/2012 7:50:26 AM PST by crosshairs
2 Peter 3:3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
I sincerely think there are thousands upon thousands of us that are drunk on the Kool-Aid that this is a normal time in our lives. Despite the many dark an ominous signs to the contrary, there is something in us that wants to cling to a hope that this world is going to get better despite what God has so graciously and lovingly warned us ...”In the last days perilous times will come”
I understand that desire. I’m a carnal man living in a world that is all I’ve ever known. I have an awesome wife, three kids, a home, a career, ...”the American dream”
Tim, just keep your head in the sand and enjoy the “here and now” besides....
“People have been preaching Jesus is coming back for 2,000 years” man if there was ever a broken record in the church ..it is “Jesus is Coming”
Then there is the divide amongst believers, seriously who is right, Pre-Tribulation, Pre Wrath, Post Tribulation, you might say ...ahhh that is so confusing, “I’m just a Pan Tribulation” ....I’ll just leave that to God and believe “it will all pan out”
But there is a kicker to all that, Jesus would call you a hypocrite.
Luke 12:54 Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?
Sobering words if you think about it. Jesus saying people who aren’t paying attention are hypocrites...why? Because if you say you are hanging out with Him You would be hearing what is on His Heart and Jesus is heavy hearted for the “times we live in”
It’s very much on the Heart of Our God that His People would know His voice and what is on His Heart. Noah is a picture of someone being able to discern the time and be prepared, as is Lot and family. Its imperative that we know the times we are facing!! Now before you pass that off as just cliché, they are both warnings or pictures of a people we are told to emulate “as it was in the days of Noah” “as it was in the days of Lot”
There is a work of preparation that needs to be taking place in every believer.
And one of the things that needs to be happening is a major sobering up from being drunk on this life! I’m sorry if this sounds like bad news but if you will hang on ..there is some great news coming.
Now I can hear the skepticism from 2 Peter screaming at me “all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” Ok well I’m all about keeping it real, keeping it simple. Number One Jesus told us that when the fig tree blossomed in the desert that THAT generation would not pass away! Before 1948 there was a time that Israel ceased to exist as a nation.... up until that time I can understand how there were those who believed that The Church had “replaced” Israel but once the Rebirth of Israel took place in 1948 I have got to believe that anyone who had a Bible and studied would have considered that a monumental wake up call! “Oh snap, Israel’s a nation again!!!” Holy Moly, Jesus said that would happen and that would be a major signal that the end of “the age” (church age) was at hand and that “the time of the gentiles” was being fulfilled! Daniel had said of this same time in history that things would change majorly in relation to how people traveled and a dramatic increase in knowledge. For thousands of years travel was horses,donkey and camels but then boom in the same century of Israel’s rebirth we see the crazy change in travel. You can literally ship packages around the world in 3 days and can talk instantly globally through text, tweet or chat. Knowledge increasing? Satellite TV’s in SUVS with GPS talking to you while you listen to a song just downloaded seconds ago via ITunes in the UK...need I say more?
When I attended Bible School and listened to my professor talk about “the last days” I would say “please please just cut to the chase” Patience is not my strongest suit. I remember being blessed to get to sit in a one on one session with Eschatological Scholar Dr. George Westlake Jr. in Kansas City and ask....”Pastor Westlake, in lay mans terms how will we know?” I remember hearing “we are not to look for the Anti Christ, but we will see His stage” “He will solve two major global problems and because of it the world will worship him. The two issues will be a global economic crisis and major volatility in the middle east that is wrecking havoc on the whole world.”
I use to sit and listen to Pastor Westlake expound on Eschatology and be so in awe and yet perplexed and question God, “Dear God, why oh why are you having me sit under this man and study this topic and yet you gave me no gift to teach?”
A few years ago, during a very stormy night...Our local weatherman rudely interrupted our TV show to give an urgent warning “People in Lawrence County take shelter”
Like a ton of bricks that moment screamed in my hearing, not just of the impending warning but froze me in my tracks as I heard “Tim, you see that young man warning of the coming storm? He studied meteorology but he’s not teaching it, he is just warning of the moment at hand and that is why I had you study what you studied not to teach but to “just warn”
I sit here typing this current message trembling and tears are streaming down my face because I sense an urgent stirring in my Spirit ...to sound an alarm to all who have ears to hear....
I so wish I could just share a “feel good” message that we could all cheer and have a gazillion likes on Facebook or in general because my carnal side wants to be liked, but that is not the call of this hour....God is raising up many voices in preparing His way with a message of.....
SOBER UP! Please realize that this is not the same ole same ole. Entire nations are on the edge of insolvency, The Federal Reserve is printing money over and over ..NOT to bail us out but to enslave by extending the grasp of debt upon more and more people.
There has been wars and rumors of wars in my life time, was born at the tail end of Vietnam ...saw the first Gulf War, the 2nd...but the one that is even at the door is of Biblical proportions...
The end of “this age” is a time called “Jacob’s Trouble” and it is all about Israel being dealt with by God and it’s rejection of His Son Jesus! They will have no ally but God and they will be scared..you can see it already when they talk of Iran’s nuclear program and having to deal with their super power friend America seemingly leaving them out to dry....when war does break out...this world will never be the same!
Just in one issue of our lives, the gas pump it will become so scary that people will panic....
Retirement plans are crashing, 401 k’s were cool in the 90’s but how is yours looking now? are you seriously trusting in your pension when entire companies are collapsing? You really are looking to government as your back up plan, there is always “unemployment insurance if I lose my job” OH YEA? for how long? America is broke!! There is a reason power brokers are sheltering their money in silver and gold...(not that it will help them)
Romney and Ryan can not fix this.... It will take a man with an evil plan
9-11-2001 came and went and we have forgotten! Madonna sings that America has a “Muslim President” but she obviously doesn’t know what that means...In their book she is an infidel and will convert or die a heinous death! That is their mission and that is their goal and yet we are asleep thinking that will never come to my town?
Gloom and Doom and Agony on Me?
Dude, Tim.....The Gospel is Good News
and I say AMEN!!! It is the ONLY Good News we have to cling too! On a stormy night in Missouri, something becomes vitally important ....The Storm Shelter!
You see, in 2012 in a lot of circles, The Gospel has been compromised to be a means to an end instead of The End! Jesus is our Destiny.... the Good News is that Jesus came and died and rose again and then went “to prepare a place for us, that where I am you may be also” In Following Him, we too were to let go of this place and instead long for the Place Jesus Dwells.
There is a major difference ....one is sin cursed and headed towards a time where “unless God shortened the days no flesh will survive” versus a place who’s builder and maker is The Lord!!
Lot’s wife experienced a time of longing to hang onto what God has said was going to be destroyed...
lets not be like her....instead let us “Sober Up” from our best life now....
Put down the Kool Aid and pay great attention to what ever it is that God is trying to get us to hear, and I’m not talking about this particular message, I’m talking about your own particular assignment....the email you need to type to a friend or neighbor or prodigal child. The making right of a broken relationship due to un-forgiveness.
Getting our priorities of our daily routines in order.... that has included God but given Him your left over time instead of our best time. IF there was ever a time in Your life God was calling You to a dedicated, intentional and purposeful time in your prayer closet ..it is now!
Its time to “turn from wicked ways” to sincerely draw near to God, to “decrease that He might Increase”
There are thousands of blogs and thousands of voices and thousands of conferences...but The ONLY Message God set in place to save the lost soul is Jesus Christ and Him Crucified! When was the last time we heard just the uncompromised and simple message of The Cross! It is The Storm Shelter ..It is Noah’s Ark..it’s the ONLY Hope for the time we are now living in!
Dear Father, I’m scared ..Muslims are holding up signs that they are going to kill me and my kids and rape my wife.... “They are demanding Sharia Law right here in America” ”Do Not fear those who can kill the body but rather fear Him who can destroy body and soul in Hell” “that isn’t very reassuring Lord?” “count the cost” “A servant is not greater than His master, if they hated me that will hate you” “but be of good cheer?” HOW GOD? “I have overcome the world, for whoever believes in Me shall NOT perish but have everlasting Life” “Greater is He that is in You than He that is in this world”
I encourage everyone to really study and cling to Psalms 91 as it is about as reassuring a passage as there is for a time such as now. We definitely need to know God’s promises and hide them in our heart.
Things are becoming more and more polarizing, almost like there is a sifting taking place right before our eyes! On the one hand we have those who are occupying and demanding their rights and looking for salvation from fellow man...very stubborn and determined to get their way almost acting like a goat.
On the other hand, there are those who are realizing that this is a perilous time and asking for wisdom and guidance ...needing a Shepherd
Well here is what that Good Shepherd has said about this time....
John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
I will close with this ....”In the Days of Lot” in a place called Sodom and Gomorrah, a family was surrounded by the vilest of vile and murderous rage filled the streets...it looked hopeless and scary...and at a moment Lot and his family for sure “thought not”....God sent forth his ministering angels and gathered Lots Family to a place of safety ..removing them from a place He was about to pour out His Wrath
Right Now..all around us is a world gone mad, the wicked are springing up like grass and threatening and spewing evil desires......
BLESSED HOPE!
Our God is once again getting ready to remove those who have called upon the Name of His Son Jesus to a place of safety, because He is about ready to pour out His wrath!
so please Sober Up, But LOOK UP.....
Our Redeemer Draws Near In Christ,
Tim Cameron
Actually it's the egotistical belief that there's something uniquely special about the time they happen to be alive that foments Apocalyptikook thinking.
Thanks for posting.
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind... - Romans 1:28
They've decided to ignore or mock God, and He - good to His Word - has made it impossible for them to come to a real understanding of what is happening to them. Their minds are truly depraved which Webster's defines as "marked by corruption or evil". A mind clouded by corruption, no longer functions.
How could something not be our normal times? This is the time we are in...now, not some other time
Jesus meant THAT generation he was talking to, and Titus attack on Judah and the subsequent destruction of the Jewish Temple was exactly what Jesus was referring to.
Quote:
In the year 66 AD the Jews of Judea rebelled against their Roman masters. In response, the Emperor Nero dispatched an army under the generalship of Vespasian to restore order. By the year 68, resistance in the northern part of the province had been eradicated and the Romans turned their full attention to the subjugation of Jerusalem. That same year, the Emperor Nero died by his own hand, creating a power vacuum in Rome. In the resultant chaos, Vespasian was declared Emperor and returned to the Imperial City. It fell to his son, Titus, to lead the remaining army in the assault on Jerusalem.
The Roman legions surrounded the city and began to slowly squeeze the life out of the Jewish stronghold. By the year 70, the attackers had breached Jerusalem's outer walls and began a systematic ransacking of the city. The assault culminated in the burning and destruction of the Temple that served as the center of Judaism.
In victory, the Romans slaughtered thousands. Of those sparred from death: thousands more were enslaved and sent to toil in the mines of Egypt, others were dispersed to arenas throughout the Empire to be butchered for the amusement of the public. The Temple's sacred relics were taken to Rome where they were displayed in celebration of the victory.
The rebellion sputtered on for another three years and was finally extinguished in 73 AD with the fall of the various pockets of resistance including the stronghold at Masada.
Although I do not believe in the “rapture”, as I think God wishes His people to stay and witness against the anti-christ, I enjoyed this post.
Tim Cameron seems to appreciate the fact that he is a watchman.
Nobody knows when a thief may show up in the night, but when they do, some folks will fare a whole lot better than others. You will have some that have prepared for it, and others who have lived as though it could never happen to them.
The sovereign God has given us signs as warnings as well as the Holy Spirit to convict, comfort and warn us. It is egotistical belief that makes mere man think there is something so special about him that he and his nation are immune from God's judgements.
Although I do not believe in the “rapture”, as I think God wishes His people to stay and witness against the anti-christ, I enjoyed this post.
Tim Cameron seems to appreciate the fact that he is a watchman.
Ezekiel 33, Tim...meanwhile, Americans still fill football stadiums, theaters, and refuse to cancel their cable. Your time IS short, folks.
Joseph Smith found the ‘golden plates’ about twenty minutes after he found the ‘golden mushrooms’. That is what I believe.
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