April 28, 2015
Jesus told us in Matthew 24:9 ... "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me." ...   The world is exploding all around us. ... For those of us who study the prophecies of the Bible, we knew it was coming. ... Well people, it is here! ... Jesus Himself warns us that as we draw nearer to His triumphant return, many calamities would fall upon mankind, one being the persecution of those who choose to follow Him. ... Every day we wake up, we are seeing and hearing more and more horror stories of Christ's followers in many places around the world being beheaded, burned alive, imprisoned, or exiled from their homes and families. ... It is simply amazing to witness Christ's words come to life right before our eyes!   Christian persecution certainly has been with us since the first century, ebbing and flowing with each passing century. ... Then about 239 years ago, America was born and, at the outset up until just recently, it has been a fairly safe haven for Christians to worship openly. .... But sadly, even this 'safe haven' is rapidly vanishing right before our very eyes! ...   For any of us who have a basic understanding of the history of this nation, we saw the 'beginning of the end' starting to take place in the 1960s' & 70s' ... the moral standards that had helped guide this nation to prominence began to collapse. ... The death of nearly 60 million babies along with the onslaught of the 'Gay' movement certainly proves this point. ... And now, it is not only escalating, but the presumed rights of some doesn't seem to apply to others! ... Again, it is simply amazing to watch how 'tolerance' is expected, that is unless you disagree with these movements. ...   Let's for a moment look at just a few of the comments from the past few days ...   *James Dobson: - "Christians soon to be the 'hated minority' "   *Washington Post - " 'Killing Jews is Worship' posters will soon appear on NYC subways and buses"   *Fox News - "Navy Chaplain censored: 'Don't pray in the name of Jesus' "   *World Net Daily - (Comments from Rush Limbaugh) ... "The liberals view Christianity as an evil majority. They hate Christianity in and of itself. They hate what it stands for ... judgmentalism, the suredness of it, the faith aspect of it. They hate that Christianity provides a repository for faith & confidence in something other than government, which is where they want all power localized."   *Franklin Graham - "We're in real danger if something isn't done to put a stop to this kind of deliberate targeting and malicious treatment of Christians." ... He went on to use the owners of 'Sweet Cakes by Melissa,' a company in Oregon who was just ordered by a judge to pay $135,000 to a lesbian couple for emotional suffering after the company refused to make them a wedding cake. ... These owners have already lost their home and now the government wants to throw them out on the street. ... Another classic example of 'one-way' rights .....   *Canada Free Press - (Judi McLeod, editor) ... "It seems that each passing day is getting worse in America and western society in general, where night is now falling. .. Perversions of every kind now infiltrates the pop culture; the kind of perversion that is increasingly difficult to protect children against. .. Lies masquerade as truth. .. The dragon of worry and anxiety is keeping us awake nights and many are feeling so alone."   .... and just one more ...   *Christian Post - "Dear Churches in America: Prepare to be Treated like 1st Century Christians in Rome" .... (The following are comments from Wallace Henley) ..... "The United States Supreme Court may soon liberate the biblically conservative church from old 'prejudices' that should have long ago been 'jettisoned,' forcing it into 'rightly bowing to the enlightenments of modernity,' in the words of a recent writer in the New York Times. ..   "Homosexuality must be removed from the 'sin list' and, according to an MSNBC commentator, traditional marriage proponents must be forced 'to do things they don't want to do.' ... Sadly, this crusade will be like the Marxist 'liberation' movements that promised to 'free' people, but really were about control and suppression. ...   "The culmination may come as the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on same-sex marriage cases beginning April 28th. .. By July 1st the Court possibly will issue an official ruling regarding the constitutional right to homosexual marriage. ... The Court's decision may impact the form of biblically based churches dramatically. .. Churches that hold to a strict and conservative interpretation of the Bible's teaching about gender and marriage may find themselves 'Romanized.' "   Ya think?!!! ... Most everyone who follows this stuff believes the Supreme Court's approval of same-sex marriage is a done deal. ... It is already legal in 36 states as well as The District of Columbia. .. So once this becomes the official legal position of this land, what do you suppose will happen next? .. You guessed it ... a rapidly increasing pressure on any and every Christian organization that does its best to follow the Holy Scriptures from a literal position ... Churches, schools, businesses ... you name it. ...   Sadly, many church organizations today are 'giving in' to the ways of modern society. ... Many feel that the 'old ways' are outdated and it's time to 'join society' as we become more highly educated and 'enlightened.' .... This, too, was prophesied by Christ as being another sign of His soon return. ... He told us that deception would only increase as we draw ever closer. ... (see Matthew 24, Mark 13 & Luke 21 for Christ's prophecies concerning these times) ... You can also look to 2 Timothy 4:3-4 where the 'itching ear' theology of the last days is mentioned. .. Men will 'adjust' the scriptures to fit their own desires. .. This is proving to be true, and more so with each passing day.   Because the subject of homosexuality seems to be the 'hot topic' of the day, let me share just one passage of the Bible that addresses it clearly .... 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says this ... "Do you not know that the wicked will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10) nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God."   ...Certainly there is a whole list of no-no's, and it is crystal clear that the 'Gay Movement' in America is part of it.   So here's the bottom line ... if you choose to follow the Bible according to EVERYTHING it teaches, no matter what society says, you are going to be persecuted! .... Personally, I believe the 'true' Church of Jesus Christ will be forced underground within the next few months. ... These fanatics that espouse equal rights & tolerance are going to do everything in their power to shut you down, and this includes the few churches that stick to their convictions. ....   So what can we do? ... Be Joyful!!! ... I know .. you think I've totally lost my mind ... but seriously, think about it. ... This is just another of the last-days prophecies coming to pass ... just more conclusive proof that Jesus is coming to fix this mess we have created! ... Hallelujah!!! Yes ... the true Church may have to go into hiding for a time, but it will be brief. ... and when things seem to get really difficult, remember these words the Book of James ... "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." (1:12) ... So ....... Be of good cheer, knowing that if you refuse to succumb to the lies of this world, you will receive the "crown of life" that is promised, and spend eternity in eternal bliss & joy! ... Hallelujah!!!   Until next time,   Red