I'm afraid - please don't remove this post

[Scythian]

I am a Christian but I am still afraid, especially for my young children. I know that it is difficult to find the US in biblical prophecy, especially in the end times. Could it be that we simply don't exist? I fear that is the answer.

Maybe the beast that rises out of the sea in revelation is not the UN but Terrorism, different from the others beasts is it not? There is no way the US can protect itself from biological, chemical or nuclear weapons, we haven't the will to fight political correctness and evict our enemies.

As terrible as this sounds, I'm afraid, I mean really afraid, it's effecting my ability to concentrate and work. Forgive me for posting this.

[invoman]

Name for me ONE person on this earth, who is a Christian who KNEW this was coming? There aren't any. God chose to keep it a secret from us. And it's not just a subtle sideline, it's IMPORTANT.

What do you think God needs....a single person to reveal this to us? He didn't. Or let me rephrase...if He DID, why aren't we HEARING about it? (Because no warning was necessary, according to God.) God is GOD. He doesn't need to EXPLAIN every action he takes or allows.

Did JOB know what was going to happen to him? Well DID HE? And how, exactly, did his friends respond? (Think Mr. Falwell and Mr. Robertson....)

God knew EXACTLY how His servants would respond...and they are doing exactly that.

[Cogadh na Sith]

I didn't follow any of that...

[invoman]

Sir,

With all due respect, I recognize your pastorship and your authority given on this earth, by God. But may I ask you to reconsider your request for us to prepare? How can you defend this biblically? Did you prepare for the Y2K scare? Were you CORRECT in preparing for it? If you didn't, why prepare NOW? Did scripture change?

Against EVERY desire I had, I did NOTHING to prepare for Y2K. And I did it because it was required of me biblically... I repeat: I did nothing, even though EVERY natural instinct told me TO prepare. I was right. I followed what Jesus said.

I am not saying this to uplift myself, on the contrary: scripture was clear on how I should respond, and that AGAINST my natural reaction.

I HAD FEAR: I responded Biblically as requested. I was vindicated.

May I ask what you did? I'm not trying to discredit you, but I want to know what you told your congregation to do? You do understand the 'stricter condemnation', don't you?

[invoman]

You said

it grieves me that Christianity is becoming a namby-pamby religion of fear and forgiveness for the unrepentant

God knows EXACTLY how His true servants will respond, and they respond EXACTLY as HE expects. Perhaps you are not witnessing His true servants? Perhaps you are? Please consider the Book of Job.

THat being said: A close look at scripture and weighed against the actions of 'christians', should provide a proficient(sp?) division.

1st John 4:6

We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

[invoman]

And how, exactly, is America, guilty of being 'drunk with the blood of the saints'? Rearrange the words all you want. Grab several different languages, that's biblical you know (NOT).......it's not the USA.

We are NOT drunk with the blood of the saints. This is important.

What religion/race/nation/ etc. IS drunk with the blood of the saints? HMMM? What religion considers Christians worthy of DEATH? HMMMM? What nation has BLESSED ISRAEL more than ALL others and thus is NOT cursed...(hint...it is isn't Islam!)

[ODDITHER]

Being a Christian is not a passive thing. If you think that you can have both free will and not take an active part in your survival then I think it is you that is not being biblical. Do you think Jesus is going to raise the spoon to your mouth if you pray hard enough? Being prepared is part of Christianity, otherwise you are dependent on someone else.

[invoman]

Hebrews 11:35

Faith is not something we 'prepare for'. We don't go about and build a nuclear shelter, and have it save us and say "GOD saved us". Faith in action, (not passive), is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Daniel didn't take 'lion-fighting' lessons. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abediggo(sp?), din't take a fire extinguisher into the fire. Moses didn't offer life preservers to those crossing the REd Sea. Joshua didn't hand out wrecking balls to his folks.(JUst in case those walls didn't come tumbling down.)

Faith is being obedient, when you are presented with a situation that contradicts evidence to the Bible. It's the EVIDENCE of things NOT seen. It's NOT faith to prepare for what you, and ANY normal human, SEES ahead of you. Nay- contrary to that- faith is the EVIDENCE of things NOT seen. It's NOT faith to prepare a fallout shelter under the threat of nuclear war. It's FEAR that does that. (whether I live or die...I am Christ's)

Now GRANTED, God told Noah to build an ark, He actually gave him dimensions, etc. Do you have the dimensions of your yearly supply of food? DIRECTLY from God? Down to the last nugget? Did God TELL YOU what EXACTLY to prepare FOR?

Hebrews 11:35 preaches the allowing of us either to escape or not, desiring a better resurrection. Some, as Steven, have been GIVEN that kind of faith.

What WITNESS is there in 'preparing' for an UNKNOWN catastophic event? (Not a 'known'-as in: God told you- but an unknown.)

What a waste of a witness if you are proved wrong. You get a gas mask and man poisons the water. You gather food and man blows up your city. But YOU, on FAITH were prepared? WHAT is YOUR preparation? WHAT is the ONE thing HE is telling you to do?

Clearly, throughout the Bible, GOD warns HIS people of coming disaster by telling them EXACTLY what to do to avoid it.

Please do not fear what MAN will do/ has done. Fear the LAST day. Fear what GOD will do. (I'm not hearing many people crying out for the mountains to fall on them...so GOD has NOT released HIS wrath, yet.)

[2sheep]

I'm afraid.

Your name is familiar.  We have discussed this before.

[Rocko]

Chin up.

[Boondocks of Bama]

A pilgrim met the plague on the road to Rome. He asked, "where are you going?" The plague answered, "to kill 5000 people."

A few weeks later, the pilgrim ran into the plague again. He asked,"You said you were going to kill 5000 but you killed 20,000. Why?" The plague answered, "No, I killed 5000. The rest died of fright."

[greggy]

I can tell you the following about our future- America will return to its roots, where Americans come back to depend upon God for their survival, and rise up strong again.

I can also tell you that God has said that the devil wanted to turn America into a goat nation as a slap in the face of God, but God has told the church to pray that we would remain a sheep nation, and we will.

As for fear, that is of the devil. You should not worry or fear at all.

As for our future, Jesus is coming soon. Sooner than you think. Much sooner.

[BearPaw1]

There's a song that comforted me when I was going through some medical problems and
it goes like this:
There's within my heart a melody,
Jesus whispers sweet and low,
FEAR NOT I AM WITH THEE, PEACE BE STILL,
in all life's ebb and flow.
I just kept singing and thinking of those words and it helped me get through it all.
I hope it helps you.

[Sueann]

The way you attack fear is you speak your faith. You do this by finding a scripture which answers your problems and you speak that scripture all the time.

A good scripture to use is Isaiah 41:10 NRSV - God is speaking, and He said: "Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

You will note God is only using ONE hand! That means He has the other hand free to pummel our enemies.

If you want that scripture to increase your faith, speak it this way:

I will not fear, for you, Father God, are with me.
I will not be afraid, for you, Father God, are MY God.
You will strengthen me, You will help me.
You will uphold me with your victorious right hand.

Write this scripture out and put it all over your house. Whenever you see it, just say it outloud. You will be surprised, but in just a few days, your fear will be gone. You can Freepmail me if you have any questions.

[NixNatAVanG InDaBurgh]

"And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority." (Revelation 13:2)

Clinton is like the leopard in that he never changed his spots. The bear is The Soviet Union, where Clinton spent some of the Viet Nam War. The lion is Israel, which Clinton mesmerized, stole their election, and almost forced to suicide. The dragon is China whose blood money kept Clinton in power and allowed him to corrupt the earth, starting here first.

"And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast"; (Revelation 13:3b)

Which we watched in amazement ourselves, and yet we are still being treated to this monster in doses which will not allow us to heal.

"and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?'" (Revelation 13:4)

We watched him decimate and nearly destroy everything in life we have ever held dear. He corrupted our children. he slaughtered innocents. He murdered his enemies and never had a friend he wouldn't murder.

"And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him" (Revelation 13:6-7).

He and his wh0re are the epitome of abomination of desolation. Remember that he was *ministering* to Monica. Remember when Bill was receiving spiritual aid from Jesse the Jack? Remember that he stared past the Pope at naked women on the frescoes in the Vatican and took Communion in Africa even though he is not a Catholic? The Pope said Clinton never looked him in the eye. Cardinal O'Conner refused him entry to St. Patrick's. Hildabeast substitued Satan in place of GW Bush from the pulpit of a black church. They have both been intertwined and steeped in evil all their lowly lives. May the Lord have mercy on us all.

[mathurine]

If born to hang, you won't drown, if born to drown you won't hang. If born to kick middle eastern butt, well, just do it?

[OKSooner]

Be comforted by your faith and rest assured that all things work out to the benefit of those who love God. And ignore the critics, some of whom have posted in this thread, who would tell you otherwise.

[joathome]

"I, too, am afraid. But I try to keeps it in God's perspective. He is in control. Nothing happens that is outside his plan for mankind."

Agreed. I have to admit that I'm "a bit" frightened. Why? I have four children, two of whom are in college. It's a bit frightening, as a parent, to think that I can't protect my children against this evil if the terrorists should ever attack around here.

That said, I know my trust is in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and when my "flesh" worries, I try to remember that.

[invoman]

If YOU, being frightened for your children, are worried and concerned, HOW MUCH MORE is God's concern for YOU? (If indeed we are His children...)

[thathamiltonwoman]

Be not afraid. I'm no biblical scholar. In fact, I usually avoid these discussions becuase I'm not about to start playing dueling bible verses with anybody but I believe trying to interpret prophecy is folly. When the End Times start we'll know it. When they end we'll all know that too.