Posted on 09/02/2023 6:08:45 AM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal
All of us were heartbroken at the images coming out of Maui in early August. Everyone said it was like the end of the world. It was apocalyptic. The scenes remind us of images from WWII when dozens of cities looked like Lahaina, Maui.
But this wasn’t a wartime ordeal. This was a peaceful day in paradise that was interrupted by the unthinkable. A wildfire of suspicious origin violently ended the lives of hundreds, and potentially thousands, of people whose day started like any other and ended in a hellish ordeal. We see why the Bible says, “Today is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Life can end abruptly and unexpectedly. No one is promised a tomorrow.
The word “apocalyptic” is being used all over the world as the planet groans, awaiting the liberation of Jesus Christ when He will set it free.
Elsewhere in Europe, a month of rain fell on parts of Slovenia in a single day. China experienced devastating floods. Crops throughout the region were completely wiped out, and the property damage that has been done is off the charts. Devastating heat has tormented millions of people around the world. Hail pounded Germany. Fires in Portugal created an “apocalyptic inferno.”
This, and much more, as we are in a run-up to the Rapture—the ultimate apocalyptic event.
And divine judgment must also be considered as we see reprobate activity. “Go Gay Hawaii” welcomes everyone to gay-friendly Maui on a website built for just such promotion.
The website says, “The Maui gay community is substantial and accepting. There are numerous LGBT and gay-friendly businesses on the island, exclusive Maui gay resorts, and plenty to see, do and experience on this magical island. Maui Gay Pride is a staple event taking place each year around the first weekend in October.”
The promotion continues, “In 2011, when Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie signed legislation legalizing gay marriage in Hawaii, he sealed the State’s fate as one of the top gay destinations in the world. We welcome you to plan your Maui gay vacation or wedding today!”
And interestingly enough, about the only structure in Lahaina not destroyed was a church, though it was not a gospel-preaching church.
During the seven-year Tribulation, every city and nation will look like Maui. Can you imagine? I cannot. The city of Lahaina is a preview of things to come. The earth will reel from earthquakes, meteor showers and asteroids, stars falling from heaven, and the moving of mountains. One-third of the trees will burn up.
The sun will go dark, and the moon will turn to blood.
Mankind will hide in caves and rocks and plead, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Rev. 6:12-17).
When things are at their worst, Christ will suddenly appear on planet Earth during His second coming, or “no flesh would be saved.” (Matthew 24:22)
God is warning the unbelieving world about what is coming. Billions perish during that unprecedented time, and modern-day disasters are a pale foretelling of things to come.
If you have Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, none of this is of concern. Believers escape the wrath to come in the Tribulation (Rev. 3:10). But all of us have loved ones who know little about God’s plan of the ages. They have never been told about eternal life. They are unaware that God’s wrath is not destined for true believers—unless you tell them. And, unless you outline the plan of salvation to them.
Do so today.
Now, yes, that being said, some prophecies proclaimed in the Old Testament did occur within the time range given, for instance, the Flood of Noah's day. But for the most part that is not the case.
If you look at the Old Testament prophecies, they were to occur "in the latter days," or "a time afar off," etc. No actual dates were given. I'm of the opinion that many of the warnings given by today's "truly biblical" teachers will indeed occur, just not in the time span we expect to see.
Someone once said that we will have a better understanding of end times prophesy AFTER it occurs, which means we'll arrive at that understanding when we are on the other side of Eternity, not this side. So until then, as the scriptures say, "study to show thyself approved," and be prepared as that day will happen on a day we least expect it.
The long and short of it is that we need to be ready whatever happens because there are no guarantees in this life except that it will end.
Thank you, yes. Eschatology is an important issue, but secondary.
Are YOU born again? After all, as Jesus said, “De cierto, de cierto te digo, que el que no naciere de nuevo, no puede ver el reino de Dios.”
(OK, OK — this morning, I began reading the Bible for the first time — AGAIN! Wahoo!)
Eschatology = secondary to born again, and, since it is future, it is subject to speculation and varied opinions. However, it behooves us to study to educate our speculations and opinions in light of the Word by the Holy Spirit; because eschatology informs a lot about our Christian journeys.
Yes I am born again. August 18, 1963, age 16 (I am now 60 in the Lord); I have never been the same since. I’ve disappointed my Lord; but He’s never disappointed me. Praise Him!
No, they were not really Christian. A lot of people THINK they are, until it gets really tough.
Nobody knows until they are tested. Not many will lose their homes, family, money, ability to eat or live and still remain faithful.
I have a very difficult time believing that somebody who is truly saved can walk out.
Ever see how Noah and Lot ended their days?
Faithless and sinful to death - and absolutely defeated, yet they are called “Righteous” in the New Testament and examples who God thought should serve to us as reminders. Think about that.
Then you have Job and Elijah. Both literally wanted The Lord to kill them, dead right there because of their struggles. We know the end of the story. Then we have Solomon.
IMHO, we underestimate what truly saves a person.
The Paradox of Salvation is something most cannot really understand. You see the arguments here about it on the religious forums and the silly arguments that follow:
*You must belong to this sect
*You must obey this specific commandment
*You must go to this building on this day
*You must...
*You must...
*You must....
Naaman is a great example and one we should truly look at when questioning others. God sees the heart. Humans judge works.
It’s why the 80 year old church lady who bakes brownies for everybody, but believes homosexuality is a “victimless” crime and not a sin is in much more danger of hell than the soon to be executed serial killer who fell on his knees before the Lord in repentance.
Life on this earth will end, and it scares people, even me to an extent.
Although I know a better life awaits on the other side of eternity, all I know only this life, this existence, so far, and I guess it's fear of the unknown that scares me. Even though I know what the Bible says, and I have faith in God to keep His promises, His Word, the flesh always wars with the spirit and those fears have never been completely wiped away.
Does that make sense? Sometimes I wonder if I'm coming across in a coherent manner. :-)
——>It’s why the 80 year old church lady who bakes brownies for everybody, but believes homosexuality is a “victimless” crime and not a sin is in much more danger of hell than the soon to be executed serial killer who fell on his knees before the Lord in repentance.
“is in much more danger of hell”
Not unless she’s a practicing homosexual, which is strictly forbidden by God. But, hey, God doesn’t care if we don’t obey Him, right? His law/commandments are only for the unsaved. (LOL, I just love that one...🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣).
We all have our moments where the enemy and his human minions try to shake our confidence in The Lord.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
It’s probably why we are witnessing the evil manifesting on an exponential basis, so we don’t become comfortable living in this world. Our citizenship is in Heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Like you, I wonder what we will have to endure during these birth pangs before the catching up.
1 Thes 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Yes, it makes sense.
That’s exactly how I feel.
Everything beyond this life is unknown. there’s a natural fear of that.
Birth pangs are never fun are they? Thank the Lord above we have a sure destination awaiting for us.
I need to put a huge poster in my home with that scripture on it so I see it and take comfort in its words.Thanks the encouragement Roman!
Still, discussing the POINT of everything God is doing with, for, through, and around us is rather important!
Since our our life goals must be subsets of our Lord's agenda (Matt. 6:33), discovering that God had NOT decided to take a dive, throw the fight, and let the other team win, made a real-world difference. Gospel optimism radically transformed my attitude, my vocation, my family, my life. The Kingdom of God is a program worth getting with. A blueprint for living well and wisely.
When I was a long-haired, wild-eyed, apocalypse-crazed Jesus Freak, I could not think more than a week or two ahead. Then, in the 1980's, God healed my eschatology. Discovering the point and purpose of life changed everything. At the age of 59, I landed my PhD (Communication Studies) in order to make the best possible use of the next 30-40 years.
Here is the testimony I share with any students who are curious enough to click on a link.
It’s going to be darker than ever before. But God’s light will shine brighter through His servants than ever before.
So, again, no National Repentance and turning away from rampant evil is necessary? You may be true to him as you say, but the nation is not. It left God a long time ago and is running pel mel into evil.
Unless, a national about face and a tuning nationally away from evil. Folks like you and me are headed towards the socialistic communistic style gulags that Alexander solzhenitsyn decried as they round up the useful idiots they don't shoot; getting to be "re-educated" according to the elitists whims.
Think of it like Harry Potter losses and Voldemort wins and we get the pink lady ruling over our lives "daily".
This is the answer.
If the Rapture happens, and I believe it will, then we're in Heaven.
If it doesn't, and we have to undergo persecution, then we best be ready.
If the latter happens I think there will be a thinning of the herd so to speak. There will be many who will deny Christ....they were never believers to begin with.
If a person isn't relying upon Christ...and only Christ for their salvation, now would be an excellent time to start.
We might be all lining up to see how our “social credit” scores match up with whatever funds our “betters” are willing to give us.
Maranatha!
Come what may....
If that is what The Lord wants I guess you and I will start prayer circles in prison soon before we get executed by the Satanic NWO.
No reason to fear or be anxious of it.
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