Weary Remnant Watchmen

The Sons of Issachar were men who understood the times (I Chronicles 12:32). Today, very few people have an interest. The following e-mail represents hundreds that I get:

“ Jan, I am viewed as crazy just by mentioning how excited I am for the Lord to return and about the times we are in. It makes me nervous to even mention world news and events, or end-time prophecies, with anyone who claims to be a Christian. The reactions I get are so very negative. I haven’t found even one person at my church, work, or extended family who would be willing to discuss any of these issues.”

We are in the most biblically relevant times in history with the least amount of interest in them. We are in a season of exploding “signs of the times” with the most amount of scoffing (all predicted).

Everything is now accelerated. Everything is on overdrive— except the interest in all of these things. And as a result, the watchmen are growing weary!

Way too many people are in love with this world. They cling to it and derive tremendous pleasure from it. And b-u-s-y has become the new four letter word

Coupled with this are the preachers who are telling people they can have their best life now. And that is their all-consuming goal.

Reality has become terrifying. Some are saying our life will never return to normal, whatever that was as recently as six months ago. And those voices just might be right. Life may have turned a dark corner in 2020.

Satan is the distractor! He is in a hyper-active mode keeping people from paying attention to how late the hour is. If they aren’t watching the times, he can lull them into complacency and keep people from even sharing the gospel. His goal is to keep people majoring in the minors.

Detaching from reality is a coping mechanism. Some can’t keep hearing, listening, and watching natural disasters, pandemics, riots and looting, persecution, and suffering. These things crush their spirit.

Many churches and Christians today represent Laodicea. This church was lukewarm and indifferent. It very likely was totally focused on self and self-gratification. If you are consumed with looking within, you cannot pay attention to what is happening on the outside.

Many church pulpits remain silent. If the pastor is not talking about the times, the sheeple feel they need not pay attention to the times! Too many pastors want to avoid anything controversial or cutting-edge. They will not address some of the stunning events taking place daily, even if the events have biblical significance.

God has turned some people over to a mindset that does not allow them to understand the times. He may have given some people you care about over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1). Four of the most terrifying words in the Bible are “God gave them over.”

The obsession with social justice has replaced the good news that the King is coming. It has also replaced the Great Commission and the gospel of salvation. Many would rather save the planet than save souls or talk about the Lord's return.

Many Christians know they are not right with God and they avoid reality. If the signs of the times that we watch remind them their time is running out, they choose to tune out.

This recent email says a lot: “Jan, I am looked at like I am an alien just because I track with what is happening and relate it to the Bible. A few of you online teachers help me celebrate my alien status. I feel like a lonely gold fish in a bowl. So much of what the Bible predicted is coming true every day! Keep sounding the alarm.”

So what must Noah have felt like? He preached for 120 years and was totally ignored! And he didn’t have Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. He didn't have a microphone or a pulpit. Finally the Ark door closed on a scoffing society.

It’s going to close again, but this time it will come by way of the Rapture of the Church. And millions will miss it because they didn’t listen to the watchmen . But some will, so don't be silent.

Let's seize this moment in history. Even the secular world is noticing that we are in unprecedented times.

Good post - thanks RWC. Hang in there brothers and sisters - Satan (who is the God of this world - 1 John 5:19 - is definitely on the move, but so is God - and Satan cannot do anything above the will of God.

You have probably seen this picture, painted by someone:

I never much cared for it, because of this: it shows Satan as the equal to Christ. Satan is a created creature. He isn't equal to our God, and he doesn't sit at the same table of our God. Yes, Satan tempted Christ in the desert when our Lord was weak and hungry, but Christ not only allowed that - He is now the resurrected Christ who sits at the right hand of the Father.

Our God is infinitely powerful - Satan is not.

Satan even needed God's permission to afflict Job.

Satan asked for God's permission to afflict Peter (Luke 22:31–32) and Christ interceded.

I listen to Jan Markell regularly, and I hear what she is saying - there are few pastors who wish to acknowledge the signs of the times. I almost feel that that many of them had their chance, and blew it.

We used to attend a church here in the local area. It built a new building, which was good. But then it built a mega-building, and we became a mega-church, with a massive 60' screen on stage, fog machines, laser lights, gourmet coffee bars, a restaurant, and vast square footage. The worship team morphed from a few good souls playing music to worship the Lord into a series of worship teams (led by a new full time worship team pastor) into celebrating themselves. You needed a hook to get them off stage. One closing song at the end of service was not enough - they needed three (or maybe even four). Worship song selection changed too - they were of the "Jesus is My Boyfriend" variety.

The lead pastor did one series on the Book of Revelation, and that was the extent of his preaching on prophecy in the 15 years we attended.

So, a couple of years ago, we left. We found a much, much smaller church. It was a good move - we had vastly improved fellowship and worship. Even there, however, any preaching of prophecy or current events was off limits. The pastor didn't want to appear "political" by mentioning current events.

And now? The church has resumed in-person services, but because of the small size of the building, there are only a handful in attendance, and everyone has to wear masks. With the two recent Supreme Court rulings (thanks Roberts!) that will force churches to comply with unconstitutional attendance directives, I am not sure if churches will EVER be allowed to be full again. Instead of listening to my pastor's sermons, I am listening to others on Sunday (like Greg Laurie, the late Ravi Zacharias, Amir Tsarfati, J.D. Farag, or Skip Heitzig).

We need encouragement and nourishment in these perilous times, and we go to the source that provides that. I think that many pastors "had their day." They may not get another opportunity to share as they did before. God may have given that opportunity to others who are not afraid of His Word and His warnings.

Most of America's mega-church buildings are half empty or nearly empty, with fat mortgages that church staff are struggling to pay.

Yes, we don't know the day or the hour. We almost have to repeat that phrase constantly, less we be accused of blasphemy.

But few Christians want to hear 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 or this - 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5:

But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

I believe He is coming for us soon. My gripe on this world is being loosened daily. Hang on! He is coming.

Harvesting involves just that. Just like shepherding involves separating the sheep and the goats.

If God’s word is true (and it is), we are in for things such as this. Tribulation is going to occur (the Lord said, “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”). It is the “be of good cheer” part that is the challenge for us. I confess that when I see the things going on all around us I become unnerved, worried, angry (all sins). Reading His word, praying and, yes, meeting (physically with His people - “and so much more as you see the day approaching”) are all vital to the believer at times such as these (”Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”). He uses our gathering together to cheer our hearts together as we meet and talk with and listen to Him.

That is exactly why the enemy is using all these events to try to eliminate fellowship. We cannot succumb to this any more. In several other threads we were talking about John MacArthur’s letter where he states his biblical view on why the church (the Bride of Christ) must no longer acquiesce to the wishes, wants and mandates of the government when it comes to how we are to worship. They have been granted no such authority by God to do so. God has granted for Christ to be Head of the church and He is the one who commands us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves. We must obey our Lord...come what may.

Maybe this is God’s way of purifying His church from the mega church prosperity gospel garbage that has infected it. He may be doing a lot of wheat and tare sorting.

I agree.

Some people have asked us why we stayed at our church for a couple of years after it went "Mega." I actually volunteered some of my time to help sheet-rock and plaster when the church realized it was way over budget.

It wasn't until after we all moved into the mega-building that we could actually sense the change (and it wasn't for the better). Moreover, while our kids were younger and in high school, there was a youth pastor and his wife who were outstanding. They are still great friends of ours, and they were wonderful to our kids and many others.

But after the church realized the mortgage, insurance, and utility bills were killing them, they "cut" staff, and that beautiful couple were "let go." Soon after, the pastor's wife's best friend took over the youth ministry.

I think the American church is now on a path away from brick and mortar, and more on path like China and their home churches. And as the persecution grows in America, we will also become more like China and other places were we go "underground."

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