April 10, 2009
In the 24th chapter of Matthew, we are told that the Tribulation hour will be preceded by a significant surge of activity in areas such as spiritual, natural, societal, and world political events. Verse 8 describes these events as "The beginning of birth pains."
In my thirty plus years of following Bible prophecy, I've never seen these "birth pains" accelerate at such a rapid pace as they are right now. - I remember back in the 80's and 90's when the spacing of major events was usually several years apart. - But now, these contractions are occurring only weeks and even days apart. -- It's amazing when I look back and compare.
Let's for example explore the recent explosion of societal violence across our land:
• March 14 - The Reverend Fred Winters was gunned down during a church service.
• March 21 - Four Oakland, California police officers and one suspect were shot and killed.
• March 28 - Kirby Revelus, 23, stabbed his seventeen-year old sister to death and also attacked his nine-year old sister. He then decapitated his five-year old sister.
• March 29 - A gunman opened fire inside a nursing home in a small North Carolina town, killing eight people.
• March 29 - An engineer at Yahoo gunned down his family in an apparent murder-suicide that left six people dead.
• April 1 - A Massachusetts woman who believes she was being stalked by a cult has been charged with using a pair of scissors to inflict one hundred wounds on her two-year old daughter.
• April 3 - Vietnamese immigrant Jiverly Wong killed thirteen people and then himself at an immigration services center in New York.
• April 4 - Three police officers in Oakland, California were shot and killed after a routine traffic stop.
• April 7 - A man shot and killed his estranged wife, their teenage daughter and two other relatives in rural Alabama and then killed himself.
• April 8 - A gunman opened fire at a Korean Christian center in California, killing one woman and injuring four others.
• April 8 - A central Florida woman fatally shot her twenty-year old son and then herself at a shooting range.
All of these events have occurred over just the past couple of weeks! - Until just recently, these types of events happened maybe once or twice a year!
The "birth pains" have become so active, they are starting to overlap. Here we are looking at violent crime and at the same time, global leaders are in Europe working on the worldwide financial crisis. As well, North Korea's launch of a long-range missile is another "birth pain" simmering on the back burner -- and that's just this week!!
1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
Also, 1 John 5:19 states, "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the the evil one."
While watching a news show last evening, a sociologist was the guest and the host asked him what could be done about all of this "out-of-control" social violence. -- After several feeble attempts at relevance, his suggestion was that the government should send trained social workers into the communities and hold town hall meetings on how to deal with the stresses of our world. -- I thought to myself, "This guy is serious." -- But then again, what other way is there from a secular position?
Of course, the first thought that would come to the Christian mind would be -- "Instead of town hall meetings, get them all to church. After all, that's where the hope is!" ---Then frustration overcame me. -- Didn't we just talk last week about how poor a job the churches did in the last national crisis? --- Didn't the churches fill up after 9/11 only to fall back to their original numbers just eight short weeks later?
1 John 4:5 says, "They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them."
-- BUT --
1 John 5:4 states, "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."
In the seven-church teachings of Revelation, chapters two and three, Jesus speaks of the remnant of believers that overcome the difficulties of their times. -- They that have an ear listen to the truths of God's word. -- This tells me that we should not, and cannot, give up on Christ's church, even with all its flaws.
While I often rant about our modern-day churches and their leadership, I somehow always knew there were exceptions out there somewhere. -- This past weekend proved this to be right. -- my wife and I, along with her brother and wife, attended church in a different city and we actually heard a clear and uncompromising message. The pastor spoke specifically about how Jesus was and is the only way to salvation and eternal life. In addition, this fellowship was filled with joy. --- What a concept! Clarity and joy! --- It can work!! -- When people left His church that day, I can guarantee you that they will NOT be part of the 57% of "believers" who think that there are many ways to Heaven. 
So here's my challenge to each of you. Read the Bible and learn the truth. If you don't understand something, e-mail me and I will get the answer for you. -- Once you know the truth, hold your church and its leaders accountable. '' Call them -- e-mail them -- meet with them -- challenge them. It is our responsibility to do so. Too many of us are going on our merry ways and are oblivious to what is happening around us. We need to look around -- It's clear to me that we have only a little time left to make a difference to those we care about. -- We need to repent and turn to Jesus Christ, the one who bled on the cross on a Friday we call "Good" -- and then rose from the dead three days later. -- Hallelujah!!!!
The alternative is to continue to be tolerant of what we know is wrong. -- I would like to share a poem with you. It was written by Janet Porter, a member and writer for "Faith2Action".
Where Tolerance Leads
When we disagreed while watching the news,
You chose to ignore my misguided views.
When I fell for the lie "my body, my choice",
Fear of offending me silenced your voice.
When the courts destroyed marriage, you bit your lip,
You were too afraid that you wouldn't look "hip".
I wore a "Christian label", but was it not strange,
When I cast my vote for "hope" and for "change"?
You never mentioned, when we talked till the a.m.
To follow Christ means I have to "obey Him?"
I know that was hard, it seemed so "uncouth",
"Tolerance" was easier than speaking the truth.
You didn't tell me Jesus was the ONLY way,
After all, that's what He had to say.
To forgive us and save us, that's why He was sent,
But I never knew of my need to repent.
My sins were paid for by a God who loved me,
You could have explained it so I could see.
You call it "tolerance", but it was not love,
And now it's too late - Who were you thinking of?
I trusted you and thought you were my friend,
But rather than speak up, 
you chose to stand by and pretend.
And for the first time, I can now tell,
With a warm, pleasant smile, you let me go to Hell.
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As Easter approaches, there's something much more important than all that's happening in the world. -- The most important thing is where we're going to spend eternity.
Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Until next time,
Red