CHAPTER 7. GREAT DECEPTION.

CHAPTER SEVEN 

GREAT DECEPTION. 

The days we are living in are days that are marked with great deception in the world and even more pointedly so, amongst the corporate body of believers. That is not to say that deception is only prevalent now and never then, but that it is on the increase in greater measure now than before. The closing of this present age is inundated with seduction to deception of the most devious kind and many will there be who will be caught up in it. Why? Because they have not loved the Truth or the love of the Truth is not in them, because they have allowed their hearts to grow cold, because they have not been watching and praying.

“Be careful that no one misleads you – deceiving you and leading you into error. For many will come in my name saying, I am the Messiah and will lead many astray”.  (Matthew 24 verses 4 – 5)

Many have been led astray and many will continue to be so.The nature or essence of deception is like this, the element of light is involved. To be led astray implies that, you have had at some point in time believed some measure of truth and light to which you adhered to. The devil is not shaken in any degree about our feeble attempts to study the scriptures and ‘know the truth’, if we are never arriving at the truth. When we come to know the truth, in truth, we are set free from the snares of the father of lies and he trembles. The devil is the master deceiver, trickery and lies are his ballpark, and he calls the shots when we play his game. The same purity that was in the Lord here on earth needs to be in us.

“I will not talk with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming and he has nothing in Me that belongs to him”.  (John 14 verse 30)

One of the chief reasons we are deceived is because there are hidden areas of rebellion in our hearts that we refuse to let go of and submit them to the Lord. The enemy recognises this and works against our commitment to the Lord with lies and deceit until we have opened wide the door to his activity of destruction in our lives. For this very reason we need to be on our guard, watching, being aware of the onslaughts of the enemy. It cannot be stressed enough, we are living at the time of the end; the culmination of all things is at hand. Satan’s strategic attempts at increased deception are having great effect. Many believers are being duped into his lies. The level of deception will increase and we will see deception like no other time in the history of mankind. Let us look at varying scriptures to aid us with this reality.

“The coming of the lawless one is through the working of satan, being attended by great power with all kinds of deceptive miracles, themselves being deceitful. Those who have no desire for the Truth so as to be saved will be deceived and perish along with the rest. This is so because God sends delusion upon them to believe the false thing, in order that they may all be judged who refused to believe the Truth but instead chose wickedness”.  (2 Thessalonians 2 verses 9 – 12)

This in itself speaks volumes. If we are not seeking Truth as it is found in Christ, then just what are we seeking? Are we to seek Truth and not arrive at it? That is to say, we must walk in it and appropriate it as part of our lives. How do we keep satan from getting the advantage over us? By not being ignorant of his intentions and schemes.  See second Corinthians 2 verse 11.

“Such are counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers masquerading as true apostles of the Messiah. No wonder, satan himself masquerades as an angel of light, so do not be surprised if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, yet their end will be just what they deserve”.  (2 Corinthians 11 verses 13 – 15)

To masquerade is to put on a disguise, to pretend. It has the idea of wearing a mask so as not to be identified. This is precisely what the enemy does and he does so, so very clandestinely, so as not to be uncovered. If we are not watching or we are nonchalant about deception, we can and will be deceived. The stratagems of the deceiver are not casual by any means, he wants to see us hood winked into believing a lie so that our faith is destroyed and we turn our backs on the living God. There is a real spiritual war going on out there between light and darkness and it is getting more intense as we near the end of this age.

In what ways can the devil get us into bondage? If he were to attack us full on without disguise, then we would probably resist his onslaughts. This is not to give undue glory and power to the prince of darkness. He is the father of lies, the seducer and deceiver of the brethren. The truth is, he comes disguised in ‘christian garb’ even using the correct terminology and so ensnares the unsuspecting believer. Even those who are strong in faith can be overcome by deceit. History shows how even strong leaders have been duped into believing a lie and so fall into sin. 

Herein is a call to close fellowship amongst the body of Messiah, holding fast to our Head. We are believers together in one body and not by ourselves. The church needs each other now more so than ever before. How deeply, the body of the Christ needs to grasp this truth. It is far more necessary now than when we first believed. We, as God’s people are in this together; we are not each other’s enemies though we treat each other like that.

“Hear the word of the Lord church, cast aside your pride and arrogance from amongst yourselves, you are all placed into one body by one Spirit, with one Head over all. The enemy comes against you like a flood and will engulf many if you are not holding fast to your Head in truth thinking more highly of others than yourselves. Give up the mistaken tone of distrust amongst yourselves and serve one another in love and humility”.

“Brethren, take heed, that there is not one amongst you with a heart of unbelief that causes any one to turn away from following the living God. Instead, on a daily basis, as long as it is called today, you should encourage one another, so that none of you become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin”.  (Hebrews 3 verses 12 – 13)

On a daily basis, how many of us would or do baulk at that? We struggle when the meeting goes over an hour. If we think that one or maybe two hours of ‘fellowship’ on a Sunday, with a midweek meeting is going to suffice and keep us from the trouble that lies ahead, think again. Amongst other reasons, the early church endured persecution because they were meeting from house to house daily; they were in constant daily fellowship with each other encouraging one another, they were being strengthened in the faith.

Read the book of Acts dear saints, over and over again. It is not there for mere reading pleasure; it is there that we might learn from what is written. We upon whom the end of the age has come. Our relationships with other members of the body of Messiah need to be developed beyond the superficial and casual thing we are so accustomed to. As members of one body we are going to need each other as never before, our suspicions concerning each other must fall by the way side and we must walk with each other as God intended. 

Leaven and pride.

Leaven in the scriptures at times refers to sin Other times it refers to false teaching. In order to deceive, the devil will present a lie as if it were the truth. Believe it saints, the devil is the master deceiver, liar and trickster, that is who he is. 

“A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump (perverts the whole conception of faith, or misleads the whole church)”.  (Galatians 5 verse 9) 

Just how much is a little? I don’t know, but a little is already too much. A slight inclination to error or a few false teachers will permeate through the whole; it will leaven the whole lump. Once the leaven has been mixed with the dough, the whole lump of dough will rise, that is to say; error will have worked its way through the whole church. There is not one facet of the entire church today that is not free from error, either blatant or inherited. God have mercy on us and expose error for what it is, a lie of the devil to side track us from wholehearted devotion to God.

We need to understand the element of truth in deception; our eyes need to be opened to this. Wolves dressed in sheep's clothing have become so prevalent in the church today. Their dressing up is such that, they have pulled the wool over the eyes of many believers. It has been stated by one brother before that, “95% of the church’s activity would continue were the Holy Spirit taken out of the way”. That does not say much about the church’s activity does it? How many false teachers and false prophets are in the church today; what influence do they have? What about the church’s activity; who has inspired it?

“The Holy Spirit clearly says that in the last times, some will desert the faith because they choose to be deceived by deceitful spirits and listen to teachings taught by demons”.  (1 Timothy 4 verse 1)

Does this not astound and cause alarm in any degree to us? This is talking about believers in the Messiah who desert the faith, choosing to listen to deceiving spirits. What is at the heart of this desertion of the faith? What is the root cause of it?  We all too often deal with the fruit, the symptoms of a problem. It is my own conviction to believe that pride is the root cause. The root of pride is deep seated in the heart and all it takes is something to set it off i.e. a lie of the devil and it grows and brings forth its fruit, which is rebellion. This in turn causes that one to act hypocritically. Pride and rebellion are one side and arrogance and hypocrisy are the other side of the same coin.

What causes a ‘christian’ man or woman to commit adultery? This same root of pride and rebellion and arrogance and hypocrisy! It is not something that just happens. The thought was born and entertained in the heart and mind and left there, until it brought forth its fruit. Pride, in any form, is an abomination to God. 

“Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall”.  (Proverbs 16 verse 18)

What is false?

What is a false prophet or false teacher or any false thing for that matter? What constitutes that one to falsehood? Let us look at a dictionary definition. False – not right, true or real. Act wrongly, based on wrong ideas. It means to be deceptive or to lie, not genuine, a sham, artificial, to cheat or betray.

To be a false prophet does not merely mean that you prophesy and it does not come to pass; that element is involved but it is more than that. Can you imagine if the requirements of God upon false prophets were still relevant today? We would have a lot of stoned to death prophets, wouldn’t you say! In the book of Deuteronomy chapter thirteen it records this to be so. Deuteronomy eighteen has a slightly different angle although death is still involved,

“ The prophet who presumes to speak a word in My Name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. And if you say in your heart, how shall we know which words the Lord has not spoken? When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or prove to be true, then that is the word which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him”.  (Deuteronomy 18 verses 20 – 22)

The prophet Jeremiah says similar things.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They teach you vanity and fill you with vain hopes; they speak a vision of their own minds, and not from the mouth of the Lord”. “I did not send these prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied”.  (Jeremiah 23 verses 16 and 21)

The prophet who speaks and continues to speak his own dreams, visions and words as if it were the Lord’s, is well on the way to becoming a false prophet. To be false has the idea of acting or being different to what one really is, to behave contrary to principles believed in. To be a false prophet or false leader or even a false believer would be well defined within those lines. To be false can be two fold. You can be false from the start or you can be true from the start but become false as time goes on. It is this second option that is of greater concern here.

Is there a pattern to look for in becoming false from this viewpoint? It looks something like this. From the very beginning the root of pride is there, deep seated in the heart. As time goes on, thoughts arise due to things we have seen or heard, said and done. If not confessed and repented of, they begin to grow from the seed stage and if still not dealt with even by promptings from the Holy Spirit to confess and turn away from; they bring forth fruit that becomes evident to all. We need to continuously search, scrutinise and examine our own hearts and minds to see if we are abiding in the faith. (See 2 Corinthians 13 verse 5)

The prophet Ezekiel has strong words to say also. See Ezekiel 13. " Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their OWN mind and heart, hear the word of the Lord". ( verse 1) Not only were there false prophets in those days, but, very much so in our day. Perhaps, even more so today. 

The scriptures speak of a great falling away from the faith, known as apostasy. An apostate is one who believed in God but now no longer does and remains in a state of unbelief. Many will desert from the one true faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons that are taught by the instrumentality of humans.in the last days. There will be a great increase in lawlessness and deception that results in the love of many growing cold.

“There were false prophets amongst the people before, even so there will be false teachers amongst you now. They will secretly introduce dangerous heresies and even deny the Lord that bought them; they will bring destruction upon themselves. Even so many will follow after their immoral ways, because of their account the way of truth will be maligned”.

(2 Peter 2 verses 1 – 2)

The Lord Jesus says things as a matter of fact and identifies how we can distinguish those of a false nature. Fruit is the product of a tree that brings forth after the same kind of seed that has been planted. In other words, the root produces the fruit be it good or bad. If the root of your heart is righteous then good fruit will be produced, if the root is wicked so shall be the fruit of your heart. If you plant a seed today, it will require some time for the fruit to be seen. This we need to understand because in the interim of growth, the false one may seem to be real until his fruit is manifested. This is where the discerning of spirits is required. Generally, you have a sense of witness about others who may or may not be fellow saints with you in the corporate body of believers.

“You will know them by their fruits. Can people pick grapes from thorn trees, or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad trees bear bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore you will know them by their fruit”.  (Matthew 7 verses 16 – 20)

In closing this chapter, I present to you the reader, three things the Lord spoke to me at the beginning of 1995 that would come to pass based upon the scriptures.

1.   THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH WILL LEAD INTO ALL TRUTH THOSE WHO DESIRE THE TRUTH. The inference being, where there is no desire for the truth you will be lead into error. Read John 16:13 and Psalm 51:6. 2 Thessalonians 2 verses 10 – 12.

2.   THE ERA OF THOSE WHO CALL LORD, LORD IS NOW INTENSIFIED. NOT ALL WHO CALL LORD, LORD WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT ONLY THEY WHO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. The comment on, 95% of the church’s activity continuing if the Holy Spirit were taken out the way, says a lot towards this. There is coming soon a falling away from the faith, the love of many growing cold because of the great lawlessness that is on the increase. Many will fall away from the faith in great numbers. Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Read Matt.7: 21 and 2 Thess.2: 3.

3.  THE SEED THAT HAS BEEN PLANTED IN THE HEARTS OF MEN IS NOW BEGINNING TO BEAR FRUIT AND IT IS BY THAT FRUIT THAT WE WILL KNOW THOSE WHO ARE BORN OF GOD AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT. All of us have had a seed planted in our hearts. That seed has been growing and the stage is now ready for the fruit to bear, either good or bad. Read Matt.7: 20 and John 15:8.

CHAPTER 5. TRIBULATION OR NOT!!

CHAPTER FIVE 

TRIBULATION OR NOT! 

Whether the church goes through tribulation or not has been an emotive issue to say the least. Much debate has occurred and close relationships have been divided over this matter. After all, is whether we go through tribulation or not, a salvation issue? Probably not, but it is imperative we believe correctly lest we find ourselves unprepared and caught off guard. There are differing opinions on whether the church goes through ‘the tribulation’ or not. Some say no, they are raptured before ‘the tribulation’ starts, others say the church gets raptured in the middle of ‘the tribulation’. Still others say, only the overcomer company does not go through ‘the tribulation’, the rest, being those who did not overcome prior to ‘the tribulation’ have to struggle through to the end. Then there are those who hold to the whole body of God’s people going through ‘the tribulation’.

We have four differing interpretations from one bible, each with an array apparently so, of scripture to back up that particular viewpoint. Just what is ‘the tribulation’? How many times does the Lord come? Do the scriptures speak of a secret coming of the Lord? When does Yeshua actually return? One could continue posing questions of which there is a degree of validity. The answers that are forthcoming are altogether quite different; differing mindsets and interpretations produce their own followings as believers agree or disagree with various interpretations. Are we afforded any choice of the aforementioned viewpoints we choose, surely we can believe what we want, within reason of course. So with this in mind, which view is the correct one, because as far as God is concerned there is only one correct view of which He is the author, any other is speculation and assumption. He will certainly not send His Son according to all four viewpoints to accommodate their theories, His Son will return for a second time only. He has come once and will come a second time, therefore, if that is the case, then can we be certain about what we commonly call the rapture and the timing of it? The answer must be yes.

Scripture needs to interpret scripture for there is no contradiction therein. If the language of scripture is straight forward without allegory or hidden meaning then we need to take at face value what has been said. It has been said, “When the plain sense of scripture makes common sense seek no other sense”. The scriptural principal of everything being established in the mouth of two or three witnesses is settled when we realize that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit bear witness with each other. This applies in this matter of tribulation. Allow the Messiah Himself to speak,

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed her light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and beat their breasts and lament in anguish, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, even from one end of the universe to the other”.   (Matthew 24 verses 24 – 27)

This is not poetry, this is an actual event that will take place at the time the Lord said it would. His coming for the second time is synonymous with our being gathered together to meet Him. There is no secret or invisible coming of the Lord. All the peoples of the earth will see Him descending from the heavens; most will beat their breasts and mourn in anguish.

“But in those days after (the affliction and oppression and distress of) that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. And the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in the clouds. And then He will send out the angels and will gather together His elect from the four corners of the earth”.   (Mark 13 verses 24 – 27)

In the book of Luke it is recorded this way,

“And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress (trouble and anguish) of nations in bewilderment and perplexity (that is, without resources, left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, not knowing which way to turn) at the roaring of the tossing of the sea; men swooning away or expiring with fear and dread and apprehension and expectation of the things that are coming on the world; for the very powers of the heavens will be shaken and caused to totter. And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with great power and glory. Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near”.   (Luke 21 verses 25 – 28)

Yeshua meant what He said and said what He meant; there is no mistaking His words. The idea that these passages apply to the Jews being the elect and those who become believers during ‘the tribulation’ known amongst many circles as ‘tribulation saints’ after the church has been raptured away is nothing but conjecture and inference. All who have believed in the Messiah and the work accomplished by Him here and now are the elect and chosen of God whether Jew or gentile. The whole body of the people of God will be here during tribulation for reasons we will come to. As a point of interest, the article ‘the’ before great tribulation occurs in one instance and that is found in the book of Revelation.

“I replied, sir, you know. And he said to me, these are they who have come out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”.

(Revelation 7 verse 14)

Other references looked at already speak about a time of tribulation not governed by a specific time period i.e. a 7-year period. Tribulation here mentioned is not a single identifiable event but rather a continued period from the time that Messiah said it would start and would continue until He returns the second and final time. Certainly, tribulation will increase and become more intense towards the very end because of unparallelled clashes of light and darkness, because the devil knows he has but a short time left.

“Therefore be glad, O heavens and you that dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in fierce anger, because he knows that he has only a short time left”.  (Revelation 12 verse 12)

This final period of tribulation which is the great one, is 42 months or 1260 days or 31/2 years, will be a time of the devil’s wrath or anger in which he will seek to destroy all that is of God. We who believe will be here during this time of the devil’s wrath. He will seek to put to death those born of God and bear witness to the Lamb of God. It will also be a time of God’s judgements, yet His judgements will not be poured out on His own, as they will be sealed from them. Have you never read how the God of Israel kept His people in the midst of His judgements upon the Egyptians? God’s judgements will be poured out on all those who are rebellious and disobedient. Many saints will perish for their faith, not wanting to deny the Lord and Master who bought them; many will reject their faith not wanting to die for the sake of the Messiah. This will also be a time of not being able to buy or sell unless you receive the mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name. Ponder on that for a moment. Not being able to buy or sell or conduct ones daily affairs or do business. How shall we survive? This time period will not just be ‘we’ against ‘them’, our very lives will be at the risk of death. See Revelation chapter 13 verses 15 – 17.

O, the tragedy of the people of God who have no need to be concerned about that time, for they assume they shall not be here but will be eating pie in the sky after being raptured away to some distant location in heaven away from it all. Neither can you think to receive the mark and still be loyal to the Lord; you will bow your knee to the beast and serve him. This receiving of the mark although physical will have a spiritual impartation also. Those who receive the mark, whatever it may be, set themselves in direct opposition to the Lord. It will require of us, the people of God to trust Him and rely upon Him to provide supernaturally for us during this time. The people of God need to prepare for this time; in fact, we should be already in the state of preparedness. I do not believe for one brief moment that the church of today as it stands, if the Lord were to return right at this moment, would be held guiltless. Never in the history of the church as now have we had teaching after teaching, word after word, prophecy after prophecy and we are still undone. What excuses have we to offer that would bare any degree of weight before the Lord of our wilful lack? We choose to remain obstinate in spite of the fact that God, time and again has called us to seek His face and we make every excuse why we should not obey. The depths of God are calling to our own depths and we need to respond in faith to Him who is calling.

There are various legitimate types in scripture that reveal last day’s events, the life of the prophet Elijah being one. Elijah being pursued by the wicked Jezebel as he was journeying through the wilderness had to be sustained by the Angel of the Lord twice in one place. Elijah was feeling dejected, he was enough, he wanted to roll over and die.

“The Angel of the Lord came the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you”.  (1 Kings 19 verses 4 – 8)

The journey is too great for you, make no mistake, the journey ahead of us is going to be too great for us, unless the Angel of the Lord i.e. the Lord Himself, sustains us. And He will, if we trust Him to. God is well able to prepare a place for us in the wilderness in the presence of our enemies. Read the scriptures saints, for in them are made known events that will take place on this earth. Our very own complacency and the trickery of our enemy have caused a stupor to come upon the church in such a way that we are blind to the events that are unfolding before our very eyes. Listen again, be on your guard, watch and pray, be ready at all times, prepare for the days that lie ahead and don’t make excuses for the fleshly nature that seeks to rise up and take the forefront. We need to be ruthless with all those things that cause us to be complacent and cold toward the Lord God.

“But the end and culmination of all things has now come near; keep sound – minded and self – restrained therefore for the practice of prayer”.  (1 Peter 4 verse 7)

If the end as described by Peter was as near as he said then, how much nearer the end are we now? Every available moment we have afforded us, let us pursue prayer; in fact we need to be in a perpetual state of prayer. We do this by being conscious of God, by being in unbroken fellowship with Him, knowing that we have the freedom of access to abide in His presence and even to remain there. We are living in evil days, hence we need to make the most of the time we have. The fellowship of the saints is an integral part of our being strengthened, even on a daily basis.

“Therefore beware, brethren; take care lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart which refuses to cleave to, trust in and rely on Him – leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God. But instead warn (admonish, urge and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened into settled rebellion by the deceitfulness of sin – that is, by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamour of his sin may play on him”.  (Hebrews 3 verses 12 – 13)

Now is the time to draw near to God as a priority, and then in fellowship with other believers. We need now to be in fellowship as often as possible with one – another and our fellowship needs to be of a qualitative kind, going beyond the merely casual, superficial thing we have been accustomed to. The deceitfulness of sin is here and it will overcome any believer who is nonchalant about his or her relationship with God. The devil does not care for you in the slightest, he will chew you up and spit you out without any thought of your feelings whatsoever, and if he gets you at a point of vulnerability, then be assured he is going to play havoc with your life.

Know this about your arch – enemy, there is not one iota, not one fraction of an ounce of love in him for anything or anybody, save himself, so do not give him an opportunity to get a foothold in your life. We will be here during the time of the devil’s wrath. As it was in the days on Noah, so shall it be in the days when the Son of Man returns. Noah was not raptured away to some remote place away from God’s judgement on the wicked. He was right there in the midst of God’s judgement, however; he and his family were kept safe in the ark. Or we have Lot as a type, in the midst of all the iniquity and perversion right up to the very day when God poured out His judgement on those wicked cities; then He removed Lot and family out of the way, thus they were kept safe from His judgements. Either way, we must remember that God’s judgements are poured out on all the unrighteousness and wickedness of this world, not on those who have the seal of God upon them.

CHAPTER 4. IS THERE HOPE?

CHAPTER FOUR 

IS THERE HOPE? 

In the light of what has been mentioned, one wonders if it is too much of a bother to continue on walking with the Lord. It sounds all so depressing. Is there then any hope for us in this time? The resounding and absolute answer is yes! Our hope rests only in the Lord, there is none other that we can turn to in order to be kept safe from the pressure and tribulation that is and will be. If you have got this far reading, stay with it. We must hear and know what lies ahead so as to be prepared.

The Holy Spirit of God spoke to me in 1984 with an authority that is uniquely His. The sound of the words reverberated in the depths of my inner man, this is what He said, ‘you need to draw closer each and every one in order to be kept safe in the day of trouble’. This drawing closer is obviously to the Lord and in Him is the only place of safety; the you was meant in the plural sense. The day of trouble could be near or remote.

If we are focusing on the circumstances that surround us, we will be distracted from Him who is our refuge. God is our hope. If we are looking to find refuge in our own plans and resources, they and we will fail. God is our hope. If we are looking for security in our professions and pension schemes, they too will fail. God is our only hope. What does the scripture say concerning us?

“So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, the Lord is my helper, I will not be seized with alarm – I will not fear or dread or be terrified. What can man do to me”? (Heb. 13 verse 6)

Again in Romans we read,

“What then shall we say to all this? If God be for us, who can be against us? – Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?  (Romans 8 verse 6)

What this all boils down to is, do we believe that God is able to sustain us and keep us from the evil one who is against us. If we have trouble believing that, then we are in a sad state of affairs. God is well able to sustain us, He is the God of covenant and all of His heart is purposed to do good for us. What if He chooses to remain quiet and seemingly do nothing even in the face of adversity? Will He still be our hope?

“For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace, and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome”.  (Jeremiah 29 verse 11)

God has covenanted with us through the shed blood of His Son.  If we walk in His ways and do His will, then He will keep us and sustain us in His bountiful grace. If we refuse to obey Him and are rebellious then we expose ourselves to the exploitations of the enemy who is unmerciful. Know this and know it well, the devil is a hard taskmaster and an unmerciful dictator; he has no concern for you or me in the slightest. He is totally contrary to our Father who is in heaven. Do we suppose that God is like some revengeful puppeteer who wants to see pain and suffering inflicted upon His creation because He has nothing better to do? No, no, no. The heart of God is as a deep well that is immeasurable, full of love and compassion with unfailing mercy and grace toward us. Did He not show us His great love in that while we were still sinners, He gave His Son for us? In Him is our hope.

It might be the case that He disciplines us with the rod of His chastisement, that is to say, He chooses the instrumentation by which He will deal with our heart and soul attitudes. He corrects us for our own sakes. Discipline and chastisement are all part of our walk with the Lord, He allows times and seasons of testing and trials to come our way to mature our otherwise shaky faith. When we are first born from above, we have to undergo growth experiences that mature our faith, that bring us to a place of quiet trust and settled peace in the Lord. Testing and trials are there not to weaken us but to make us strong in order that we can endure when hardships of a persecutory kind come our way and they will come if they have not already. The peaceable fruit of righteousness is the result of having been trained by the discipline of the Lord and certainly the process is painful but we need to learn to be submitted to Him in these times.

“And have you completely forgotten the divine word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as sons? My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him; For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes. You must submit to and endure correction for discipline. God is dealing with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not thus train and correct and discipline? Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all of God’s children share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons at all. Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we yielded to them for training us. Shall we not much more cheerfully submit to the Father of spirits and so truly live? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them, but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness. For the time being no discipline brings joy but seems grievous and painful, but afterwards it yields peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands, and strengthen your feeble and palsied knees, and cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet – so that the lame and halting limbs may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured”. (Hebrews 12 verses 5 – 13)

If we fix our whole modus vivendi, our whole way of living, upon Him so that we live and move and have our being in Him then we have hope. The Lord God is our sure foundation, refuge and strength in Him and in unbroken fellowship with Him there is safety. You can be in the most volatile region on the face of this earth and be untouched if you are dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. An open reading of Psalm 91 declares the sure word of God, the state of being of one who is in covenant with the Most High God. If God is not in control of the events of these last days or at any time past, present or future then He cannot be God. If God for a brief moment lost control of the entire universe in the most miniscule way then He would at that point no longer be the all-powerful creator of heaven and earth to whom all things submit. Then our faith would be in vain. The fact is, and we can derive assurance from this, that God is who He says He is. Our hearts and minds need to be settled in this. He yearns over us with a love that transcends anything we have or ever will imagine. He is and always will be our hope unmovable and steadfast.

CHAPTER 3. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?

CHAPTER THREE 

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? 

This writing in relation to the end times, is not about the seven seals or the seven trumpets or the seven vials of God’s wrath from the books of Revelation and Daniel. Although, they may be referred to from time to time. The normal treatises that we read on the end times are plenty and so I choose to stay away from that vein. My intention here (and I trust that of the Holy Spirit) is, to awaken believers to the realities that will soon come upon the earth. This is not playtime nor is it a time to be casual about our relationship with the Lord. Phrases that will be repeated over and over again in this writing will be, be ready, be alert, awake and watch. Certain scriptures may even be repeated as we go on. If you have ears to hear, then listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to His people.

Can you honestly sit down and ponder how things have changed over the years to their current status, without being overwhelmed? One thing we have lacked, and a great deal at that, is foresight. To be prophetic is to have foresight. To be a prophetic people, is to be a people who are pre – pared. For many of us, we have been caught off guard and the circumstances we are faced with today are pressing in and almost squeezing the life out of us. We have been too casual about our sojourn here on this earth let alone the end times. The book of Proverbs has this to say.

“A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished (with suffering)”.  (Proverbs 27 verse 12)

Prudence sacrifices the present to be prepared for the future. To be prudent in the biblical sense, does not intimate that one looks into the future via a crystal ball or any other dubious means. It has to do with being in and maintaining a right relationship with the Lord. From that basis, one perceives by the Spirit of God times of trouble, or peace for that matter. Promptings or perceptions from the Holy Spirit of the kind I am referring to are not hocus pocus, occultic machinations from demonic sources; they are based upon sound scriptural understanding. The Lord Himself calls us to be in a state of watchfulness and preparation.

“Therefore watch – give strict attention, be cautious and alert – for you do not know when the Master of the house is coming, in the evening, or at the midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning. Watch, I say lest He come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to everybody; (Give strict attention, be cautious, active, alert and) watch”!

(Mark 13 verses 35 – 37)

What are we as individuals, and corporately as believers to expect in these last days that we are living in? Certainly unbelievers are scoffing and mocking, particularly at the second coming of the Messiah.

“To begin with, you (the believer) must know and understand this that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last days with scoffing; people who walk after their own fleshly desires and saying, where is the promise of His coming? For since the forefathers fell asleep, all things have continued exactly as they did from the beginning of creation”.  (2 Peter 3 verses 3 – 4)

We know that there are mockers, those who scoff at the Lord’s return. They are described as people who walk after their own fleshly desires, that is to say, they do what they want, how they want and when they want. But, are you familiar with believers who do the same, they scoff and mock at the return of the Messiah too. How do they do that? Some do so verbally, but most all of us do so by the way we live. Our conduct belies our confession. What we say we believe is not really what we believe, unless we are living it. Our lives tell the real story of what we believe.

“Since all these things are thus in the process of being dissolved, what kind of person ought each of you (us) to be in the meanwhile, in consecrated and holy behaviour and devout and godly qualities? Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things before hand, you should be on your guard lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked persons and fall from your own present firm condition – your own steadfastness of mind”.  (2 Peter 3 verses 11 – 17)

Because we are living in the time of the end, there is a greater sense of urgency to be prepared and ready. The days that have gone past us have been evil days. However, as we rush headlong to the culmination of the end, the intensity of evil is growing in magnitude. Our faith is going to be tested and stretched not merely in areas of tribulation, but very much so in the area of lawlessness and deception. The requirement of faith and patience to endure to the end is greater upon us now than in the past. If nation rising up against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines, earthquakes, false prophets and false messiahs are but the beginning of birth pangs, what will the actual end be like? Is it any wonder then that Yeshua says?

“And then many will be offended and repelled and begin to distrust and desert Him whom they ought to trust and obey and will stumble and fall away, and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. And the love of the great body of people will grow cold, because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity. But he who endures to the end will be saved”.  (Matthew 24 verses 10 – 37)

The love of many will grow cold, because of lawlessness abounding throughout the earth. It is the nature of the case now and will continue on until the Lord returns. The advantage that we have is, we have been forewarned well in advance. If we are not on our guard and watching, then we will be overtaken by the events of the day. There is a lackadaisical attitude that resides in the hearts of many because we feel it won’t happen to us or we have all the time in the world. We need to continue in a state of preparation and watchfulness, knowing that as time goes by, we draw ever closer to the return of our Lord.

I do not subscribe whatsoever to a  pre – tribulation rapture, it was and still is the teaching of the Lord Jesus and the apostles, that He returns at the end of the tribulation of those days. It is my firm belief that, the church will be here during the tribulation period until at the end of tribulation when the Messiah returns, then, we will be caught up to meet Him in the air and so shall we be with Him forever more. It has long been a lie of the devil that the church will be conveniently raptured away before the tribulation starts and only those unfortunate enough to escape will be left behind. There still are many things the church needs to walk in and accomplish before the Messiah returns. Can we honestly say that the church has been the demonstration we are required to be as revealed in scripture by the Holy Spirit of God? Someone has said quite correctly, “we are not yet ready for the second coming of Lord because we have not yet fully appropriated the meaning of His first coming”. What a statement! The Messiah came to accomplish all things appointed of Him by His Father and there are things that still need to be walked in by the people of God this side of His second coming.

We must expect confrontation between light and darkness, which is a fact established in scripture. We must expect to be hated by the world, which is a fact established in scripture. We must expect tribulation and suffering in this world because that which is born of the Spirit is spirit and that which is born of the flesh is flesh and the two are opposed to each other, which is a fact established in scripture. We must expect that all those who would live godly lives in the Messiah, will suffer persecution that is a fact established in scripture. We can expect many adversities and we can also expect the grace of God to sustain us in these times. The theories of men, good and noble they may be, if they are not substantiated in the scriptures, then they are to be rejected as false and deceptive. When we are ignorant of what is revealed in the scriptures as to what things take place, then we wander blindly, walking not knowing where we are going and we become susceptible to the onslaughts of the enemy. Once again, ignorance is not bliss we need to wise up. In Hosea, the Lord contends with His people.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge….”  (Hosea 4 verse 6)

The Hebrew word used for destroyed is ‘damah’ and means to be dumb or silent, hence to fail. You know what it means to be dumb founded or dumb struck, you get this blank look on your face and you kind of like just stare into thin air, you know what I mean, well that is what is going on here. When we are devoid of knowledge, and by knowledge I mean the ability to ascertain or to see by the Spirit of God and interpret correctly the times, then we grope like the blind leading the blind with the result that we are dumb founded or taken by surprise. The Lord’s own rebuke to the crowds and to His disciples still stands today.

“He also said to the crowds of people, when you see a cloud rising in the west, at once you say, it is going to rain! And so it does. And when you see that a south wind is blowing, you say, there will be a severe heat! And it occurs. You hypocrites! You know how to discern the looks of the earth and sky, but how is it you do not know how to discern the present time”.  (Luke 12 verses 54 – 56)

How many of us glibly and casually use or hear the phrase ‘it’s a sign of the times’? How often do we take to heart what has been said or heard? Don’t be fooled, we are living at the time of the end, very soon, and all things will be fulfilled, the Messiah will return and His millennial rule will take place. I am persuaded to believe that there is about to come an outpouring of the Spirit of God upon all the nations of the earth. It will be a time of great revival and refreshing as a priority upon the people of God in the nations. It will also be a time of repentance for many unbelievers who will come into the kingdom of God. It will be in this outpouring of the Spirit of God that God, will effect those desired changes from his own heart in the life of the corporate people of God. He will set in order the things He has so desired, the things that are lacking. I believe true apostolic and prophetic authority will come into play. It will be a supernatural, sovereign working of God of which no man is going to lay His dirty fingers on as in past times. How long this time period will continue I am not certain but it will be absolutely necessary for the strengthening of His people for what will follow. Don’t think that during this outpouring of the Spirit of God everything will be perfect, it won’t. His own arm is going to bring Him salvation; He will show Himself strong on behalf of His people. After this period of blessing and even overlapping it, we will enter that final period of the end of this age when the mark of the beast etc will come into effect. The intensity of the time requires us to be vigilant and sober minded.

When John the baptizer came, he came in the spirit and power of Elijah and there was no mistaking his call to repentance, it was loud and clear. He came announcing the coming of the Messiah and was the messenger who would prepare the way for the Lord. (See Matthew 3 verses 1 – 3, Luke 1 verses 16 – 17.) Even so, at this time of the end once again, the Lord has raised a voice of one, a corporate messenger, who will call to repentance His people and to prepare the way for the Lord’s return. It will be unmistaken, loud and clear and those who have ears to hear will hear the clarion call to be prepared. If the ones giving the call to preparation are not themselves prepared then how those who are listening ever shall be ready? Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian believers was such,

“And if the trumpeter who sounds the alarm does so indistinctly, how shall anyone prepare themselves for battle”?  (1 Corinthians 14 verse 8)

The trumpet call in this sense is the call of God’s prophets to sound the alarm to God’s people to prepare themselves for the days we are entering. If they sound the call unclearly then we will be overtaken by the times. The watchmen on the wall have a responsibility to look and see and warn the people of impending trouble and when they see it come, must blow the trumpet with all their might and warn the people of the coming danger. There is a prophetic voice that has been raised up for these end times in all the nations and it behoves the people of God to listen and take head to them. For those who are called to sound the trumpet, don’t be afraid of those who would seek to play down the seriousness of the hour by their so-called knowledge of the scriptures. Be faithful to the call of God and trust yourself to Him. Know this and know it well, many will come and seek to corrupt the truth of God because they themselves are foreign to it. If the watchmen on the wall are fast asleep, then so are the people in the house.

Restoration of the nations!

What about nations that are in turmoil, political and economic collapse? Can we expect their complete restoration before the Messiah returns? What would you like to hear? Is there anything in scripture that says we can expect this? Restoration is most certainly scriptural and we can and do look forward to a time of restoration of all things, a time when all things will be restored to their pristine glory beyond our imagination.

“Repent and return to God so that your sins may be washed away, so that times of refreshing and revival can come from the Lord’s very presence. And so that God may send to you the Messiah, Yeshua, who has been appointed by God. Heaven will retain Him there until the time that has been appointed to restore all things spoken by God through the agency of His holy prophets long time ago”.  (Acts 3 verses 19 – 21)

We need to understand the difference between the complete restoration of all things and times of refreshing or revival, because there is an essential difference from God’s viewpoint that is. To restore is to reconstitute, to reconstruct, and to make it as it was before it lapsed into degradation. To refresh is to revive or to cool off so as to recover from the effects of heat, yet not to be brought back to the way it was. To be restored is to be brought back to the pristine glory that once was. To be refreshed is to be enabled to continue on in the task that you have been appointed with. Without times of refreshing, we would all be overcome by the pressures that come our way to mature us. God is the all-wise God who knows when we need those times. Refreshing and restoration may overlap, however complete restoration is reserved for an appointed time and that is when the Messiah returns, not before. The complete restoration of all things is when God establishes His Kingdom in fullness on the earth, then will be true theocracy, then will be the government of God and the heartbeat of God shall be so, that is, “Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven”.

So, before the Messiah of God returns we can expect times of refreshing and revival and these times come from the Lord’s presence when His people repent and turn from their wicked ways. God’s people in any nation are the salt and light of it, but if the light in that nation is dull or as being the salt of it, has become insipid, then great is the decay of that nation. Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a destroyer of any people. As God’s people we have a great responsibility upon us and our nations are part of that responsibility. The condition of the nation does reflect the condition of the church and we as the church in our nations are in desperate need of revival and refreshing and God wants to give it but is waiting for a heart condition from us when we turn from ourselves and are given over to Him. Do we want revival and refreshing in our nations? Then we need to heed the requirement of God for it; and when we have met His conditions, then, He will pour out His Spirit on us His people and righteousness will flow through our lands. When we cry out to God for revival in our nations or cities, He will begin to convict us of things that are displeasing to Him so that we repent with Godly sorrow that will bring deliverance from sin so that salvation may flow.

“If My people who are called by My name shall humble themselves and pray, seeking My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land” . (2 Chronicles 7 verse 14)

Make no bones about it saints of God, there is coming that time of great distress and tribulation all over the world, which shall never be again, it is a reality that we are to expect. No amount of fussing and unbelief is going to change that and we can also expect God to sustain and keep us in this time if we trust Him to.

CHAPTER 2. IS GOD REALLY THERE?

CHAPTER TWO 

IS GOD REALLY THERE? 

Often we question God why we are going through a particular trial. We may even doubt God’s love for us because we don’t understand His reasons. Is God being unfair, almost as though He should be allowing someone else to go through the trial? Why me, what have I done to deserve this, as we accuse God? Do we suppose that the Sovereign Lord of all creation is totally oblivious to our plight and that He has no idea how we are feeling in our times of despair?

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a fellow feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liabilities to the assaults of temptation, but One who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning”. (Heb. 4 verse 15)

We do have a high priest who understands all our pains and sufferings and identifies with us in them. We need to guard our hearts against complaining and murmuring when we are faced with various trials and tests, remember they come to test our quality and to perfect us. We may be able to put on a front before our brethren, but when we encounter trials, they reveal exactly what is in our hearts. What we reveal in our tribulations is what we really are inside and that is what God is after, for God looks at the inner being of a man. 

“Guard and keep your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life”.  (Proverbs 4 verse 23)

Is God really there in our difficult times, when everything seems to be going wrong and we can’t seem to take anymore? Absolutely so, know for certain in your own heart and mind with a settled peace, that He is not like us mere mortals, who may forsake each other at the drop of a hat. I pray that God may grant to us out of His deep love for us, a revelation of the depth of that love which transcends anything imaginable.

In our walk with God, we do encounter difficult times. Hardships are part and parcel of our sojourn here on this earth. There is an enemy that seeks to destroy us and tries to gain our allegiance with devious means. There are times when you want to throw your arms up in defeat and cry out to God because in frustration and despondency you feel as though God has forsaken you or He is simply just not there. There are processes that we go through, not all at once lest we be consumed, but little by little until we know how to respond in humility instead of react in anger. God’s dealings with us are as an all wise Father who knows how to train up His children in the right way.

We are so accustomed to living in a fantasy world, that in the real world we are taken off guard by the goings on of a world system that is steeped in rebellion, sin and, that is antagonistic of God. Don’t be deceived, the system of this world will no sooner chew you up and spit you out than make you feel all comfortable and at home. When all is said and done and the lines are drawn, there is a stark contrast between light and darkness. They are worlds apart and they have as their life, two totally different sources. If the world is embracing the church and the church the world then we have missed it and something is grievously wrong. Our life comes from another source, other than the spirit of this world, we are from heaven, our birthright is from heaven, that is to say from God whose way is opposed to this world system.

At the end of these times there are going to be clashes of light and darkness and there are going to be casualties. Just how intimate our relationship with the Author of Life is, will determine the outcome of our future. Our future is secure only insofar as we continue to trust Him for our very life. If you have never considered intimacy with God something to be sought after jealously and vigilantly, then think again. Now is the time to get your act together and draw near to Him with all your heart and soul. If there is anything you glean from this writing then let it be this, God must be your supreme pursuit and desire because only in Him there is safety. Anything else will not suffice. All other sources of strength are but temporal and fleeting away and so when all things will be shaken and they will, only that which is built upon the solid foundation, namely the Messiah will endure.

The stark reality facing all of us is this, thirty years ago we could dream about our future and get married, settle down have children watch them grow up and probably see our grandchildren, now we haven’t the vaguest idea where we are going to be tomorrow. That is because we are living at the time of the end and nothing is as it ‘used to be’. Does all this sound so unfair? It depends upon where our heart is. If our affections and mode of life, even as believers, centre on worldly premise then, we are most miserable and to be pitied. However, if God is the centre of our life and our firm foundation then we cannot be moved by the dictates of the world system.

“For those who are according to the flesh and controlled by its unholy desires, set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh. But those who are according to the Spirit and (controlled by the desires) of the Spirit, set their minds on and seek those things, which gratify the Spirit. Now the mind of the flesh (which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit) is death – death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter. But the mind of the (Holy) Spirit is life and soul- peace (both now and forever). That is because the mind of the flesh – with its carnal thoughts and purposes – is hostile to God; for it does not submit itself to God’s law, indeed it cannot. So then those who are living the life of the flesh – catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature – cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him”.(Romans 8 verses 5 – 8)

This has everything to do with our conduct now, in these end times in particular, knowing that the end is near, what manner of persons ought we to be? There is a danger of us being drawn into coldness of heart because of increased lawlessness, the more we focus on the pleasure and gratification of the carnal nature, the more we become entrenched in the mind of the flesh which is enmity with God.

“I mean, brethren, the appointed time has been winding up and it has grown very short. From now on, let even those who have wives be as if they had none, And those who weep and mourn as though they were not weeping and mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not possess anything, and those who deal with this world – over using the enjoyments of this life – let them live as though they were not absorbed by it, and as if they had no dealings with it. For the outward form of this world – the present world order is passing away”.  (1 Corinthians 7 verses 29 – 31)

If you have ears to hear, then listen. If you have drifted away from following after the Lord, perhaps because of the pleasures of sin or if you have stumbled along the way, then repent and return with all your heart to the Lord. If you are growing cold because things are not going your way and it seems that God is no longer with you, then repent and cry out to God with all your heart and return to Him, who will embrace you in the depths of His love; come to your senses and return to the Lord before you are ensnared any further. Don’t believe the lies of satan any more, he is the deceiver of the brethren. He wants us to throw a pity party and stay in it. He wants us to feel sorry for ourselves and woe is me with all the sorrowful rest. Know this, there are other brethren around the world who are suffering greater turmoil than we are, believers who laying down their lives for the sake of the gospel and counting it a joy to do so. We have to look beyond ourselves; this whole end time event is not just about you or me, it involves the entire body of the Messiah. Being members of one body, we need to develop relationships that go beyond anything superficial, casual and temporary. Believers are going to be thrust together in these end times like no other time before. For some it will be a matter of choice because they see the times that we are living in and for others it will be forced upon them because they have been wilfully ignorant. This present world order is passing away and that very quickly. Are we ready for that which lies ahead?

CHAPTER 1. WAKE UP THE END IS NEAR..

I would like to post a chapter by chapter booklet entitled End Time Warning I wrote just over 15 years ago. I have left out the introduction as I have shared some of that in previous posts.If you are stirred or challenged in anyway by the writings, please feel free to share with whom ever you would like. Grace be with you all.

CHAPTER ONE 

WAKE UP THE END IS NEAR!       

The end times, have always been a topic that have stirred emotions in believers. Perhaps, for reasons we may not want known. Mostly, it is due to the fact, that we equate tribulation and suffering to these times. We don’t like the idea that we might be here during the tribulation spoken of, in the book of Revelation in particular. Other Old testament prophets speak of those times. 

Yeshua, the Messiah, has forewarned us of coming catastrophic events that will take place on this earth before He returns. It has been a tragedy that certain teachings that have arisen in the church, are a cause of a lack of sobriety amongst believers. Thus, we refrain from considering the reality of the end times. It certainly is not pleasing to God that we walk in darkness as to the times and seasons we are living in. To act like we are ignorant, (ignorance is not bliss), is to do ourselves a disservice and open us to deception. To turn a blind eye, is to add to our ignorance, which can be very costly. We are at times, our own worst enemies. We are called to walk as children of the Light.

“For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of the light – lead the lives of those native - born to the light”. (Ephesians. 5 verse 8)

Let us look at another scripture,

“But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to take you by surprise like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day, we do not belong either to the night or to the darkness. Accordingly then, let us not sleep, as the rest do, but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious and on our guard) and let us be sober (calm, collected and circumspect). For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But we belong to the day, therefore let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation”. (1 Thessalonians 5 verses 4 – 8)

These scriptures reveal to us, with an authority that comes from heaven, what type of mindset we are to display in our sojourn here on this earth. It definitely is a call to sobriety, as these days can overtake us, if we are not watching and waiting as we ought. We cannot afford to be casual in our walk with God, in particular, these last days. The stratagems of the enemy have increased a hundredfold to deceive us. It is most imperative that we wake up out of any stupor that we find ourselves in, as the end is nearer than when we first believed.

“Watch therefore – give strict attention, be cautious and active – for you do not know in what kind of a day (whether a near or remote one) your Lord is coming. But understand this: that had the householder known in what part of the night or in the morning watch the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be undermined and broken through. You also must be ready therefore; for the Son of man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him”. (Matthew 24: 42 – 44)

Watching and being alert, being attentive, being prepared, are all the same descriptions of a frame of heart and mind we are required to be in during this time. Why? So that we are not taken unawares or caught being asleep, as this will be the state of many. One thing is absolutely certain, we have no excuse if, we are taken unawares as to the unfolding events of these last days. Many believers would rather not hear about these last days events. Perhaps, it is because in their own hearts, they realise their own lack of preparation or, they are confused by the so many diverse interpretations that exist. There most certainly needs to be an awakening to the reality of these end times, by the whole body of Christ. It is not a grievous thing to repeat again, the Lord God has no pleasure in our walking in darkness, we are children of the Light, and we must walk as such.

The Jews of Jesus day did not recognise Him as the Messiah of God. They were not aware of the unfolding prophetic events before their very eyes. Very God chose at an appropriate and opportune time in the history of mankind to come and visit this planet, in the Person of His Son to bring salvation to them. Because of their ignorance, they rejected Him. Read in Luke 19 verse 44 and in John 1 verse 10 and 11.

We, that have the scriptures available and taking the time to read and study them, will see events that have been foretold, which are unfolding  before our very eyes. The Spirit of God will grant understanding to those who are wise and they shall understand.

“But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. Then many shall run to and fro and search anxiously (through the Book), and knowledge of God’s purposes as revealed by His prophets shall be increased and become great”. (Daniel 12 verse 4.)

The prophet Daniel being encountered by two men, (angels), was told to go his way; for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end. See chapter 12 and verse 9. We are living in the time of the end where, the words that were sealed up will be revealed. What those words are, will be made known and I am sure they will pertain to these end times. Are we aware of the brevity these times hold? 

The days of putting our feet up in front of the television set, drinking coke and eating whatever is available to us, are soon to be over. There is coming upon all who dwell on the entire face of the earth, a time of trouble, not yet experienced and never will be again. It will be a time of devastation and destruction, of intolerable anguish and unprecedented trouble. If those days were not shortened, no flesh would be saved.

“And there shall be a time of trouble, straitening and distress; such as never was since there was a nation till that time”.   (Daniel 12 verse 1)

The Lord Jesus alludes to this time Himself.

“For then there will be great tribulation – affliction, distress and oppression – such as not been from the beginning of the world until now; no, and never will be again. And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would endure and survive; but for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened”. (Matt. 24 verses 21 – 22)

This does not apply to the land of Israel only, although much of the goings on will be centred around Jerusalem. This will be worldwide, no nation exempt. The influence of the antichrist will be global.  

The period that is given will be for 42 months or 3.5 years. Just how intense that time will be God only knows, but one thing is for certain it is going to require faith and patience to endure to the end. Most people will be given over to the ruling system of the day and come under its authority being subject to its spirit. This spirit, is none other than satan himself. God has been and still is speaking to His people. If we have ears to hear, then we must hear what the Spirit is saying.

“And then many will be offended and repelled and begin to distrust and desert (Him whom they ought to trust and obey) and will stumble and fall away, and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. And the love of the great body of people will grow cold, because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity. But he who endures to the end will be saved”.  (Matt. 24 verses 10 – 13)

Have you noticed recently, how cold, even lukewarm many believers are becoming? Why? Because of multiplied lawlessness and iniquity that is on the increase. This condition of lawlessness has primarily to do with the forsaking of God’s laws, His instructions, His Kingdom ways. This in turn, affects the outward laws of the land and people become lawless throughout. When this condition arises, that is lawlessness increases, people become desperate, throwing off restraint and begin to think and eventually act wickedly. The same spirit of lawlessness pervades all aspects of society, even the church. We have been given an injunction directly from the Lord Himself, to watch and be ready, to be on our guard.

“But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed – weighed down - with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self indulgence, drunkenness and worldly worries and cares pertaining to (the business of) this life and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose; for it will come upon all who live upon the face of the entire earth. Keep awake then and watch at all times (that is, be discreet, attentive and ready); praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things (taken together) that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of man”.

(Luke 21 verses 34 – 36)

To ‘escape all these things’ does not mean to be raptured away from them, but to flee away from them so as not to be caught up by them. Make no mistake, many are being caught up by the pressures that are coming upon the whole world and are giving in to them. God’s purpose for us in tribulation and pressure, is not to make us weak and destroy us. Rather, it is to refine, purge and cleanse us, to make us strong in His strength. The testing of our faith is so that we might learn endurance and unless we have endured to the end, we have not endured.

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort, or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be (people) perfectly and fully developed (with no defects), lacking in nothing”.  (James 1 verses 2 – 4)

What manner these trials come, is the divine will and purpose of God. Take note, God does not tempt His people. He does allow us to be tested, yet, He will not allow us to be tested beyond our ability to endure. It may seem that way at times. The measurement of the trials vary according to the degree we pass the test, until we are fully developed.

Many tests will come again and again, until we have submitted to His Lordship and Headship. God is not some vindictive creator wanting to create havoc in our lives merely because He has nothing better to do. Nor is He a puppet master, that manipulates His creatures into submission.  He loves us with a love beyond the depths of our understanding. He knows exactly how to prepare us for times of trouble and difficulty. 

So saints, be prepared, tribulation will come and we will enter into it as part of God’s design to perfect us, thus bringing us individually and corporately to full maturity. Rather be prepared and it does not happen than not prepared and it does happen.