Has anyone noticed?! - Are any of you seeing what I'm seeing?! -- If you just stop for a moment from your crazy, racing pace of life and just look, you can't miss it!
There's an oppressive weight bearing down on almost every part of our lives -- world conditions such as war, famine, disease, natural disasters -- depression, suicide, families killing each other -- friends and relatives suffering from various forms of pain and illness -- even in our personal lives we live each day, we are watching the things we've grown accustomed to like job security and savings -- even the very institutions we've long trusted, evaporating before our very eyes.
So what on earth is going on? Why, all of a sudden, is everything accelerating at such a rapid pace?
In Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, Jesus Himself tells us that all these things must take place before He returns. Specifically in Matthew 24:6, He says, "Such things must happen."
Certainly we do not know the exact time, but He tells us that we will know the season. Matthew 24:33 says, "Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door."
Having established that the end is near, what does scripture say of Satan? What will be his response? Revelation 12:12 states, "The devil is coming down unto you, having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath a short time."
Know this that war is raging in the heavenlies. God's angels are in full battle with the evil hordes of the devil, and as in all wars, there will be casualties. -- Rest assured, Satan's mission is to destroy every Holy Spirit-directed ministry he can find and he will not stop until our Lord's triumphant return. -- 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."
In my work as a student and teacher of prophecy, I am continually reviewing today's world events and how they relate to scripture. - But unlike most people, I'm not depressed by them because I see it as putting us one step closer to our Lord's return.
2 Peter 1:19 says, "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."
There you have it! This is the reason for teaching prophetic truth! -- People are depressed and easily deceived in today's world because they have lost hope -- but prophecy reveals to us what and why all this is taking place. Once people begin to understand this, then hope returns and more victories are realized.
The Apostle Paul asked this question in Romans 8:35 -- "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"
Then he answered with this, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)
Remember time is extremely short and the enemy is making every effort to deceive us. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in Heaven."
So here's your challenge. First, check your "personal light" and make sure its not under that bowl. - Second, take that light and let it shine wherever you go. - Then finally, when someone asks why you are so ridiculously happy and upbeat in this perilous world, tell them about Jesus. --- Then -- just maybe -- you'll shatter the bowl that covers their light and help make the world a bit brighter.
Until next time,
Red