Is Anybody Listening?

There are early warning signs of the end. IS ANYBODY LISTENING?

Jesus' first warning is of a time of great deception: “Watch out that you are not deceived”  He said. We are now living in that time of deceit. Our enemy, Satan, has individuals in place who have gained control of all types of positions of influence in politics, media, and education, and they are promoting values and deception that brings society to a new level of degradation. Just look around.  The enemy is out to corrupt and control minds. This bent toward evil has been with us since the Fall of Man, and we are in a spiritual battle until the time that Christ returns. Believers in Christ should be those who hold to the truth of Scripture and give no credence to the manipulation devices of the enemy, the media, television, and the Internet. It is not that all we see on TV is harmful, but we should regard with a healthy dose of skepticism anything on the airwaves. We should measure everything against the truth of God's word especially testing what we hear from the media! "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1). If deception is one of the early signs of the coming of Jesus, what things have you seen today that lead people away from a knowledge of God and His Word? Do you feel that the idea of truth is attacked today? How?  THINK. 

Jesus then went on to warn us about those who will come proclaiming they are the Christ (Matthew 24:5)). This warning is undoubtedly a characteristic of the age in which we live. Many have already come proclaiming themselves as savior and thinking they alone have the answers to the world’s problems. I am convinced that more is ahead. There will be one who will claim that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) and will look to be worshiped as God. Along with him, there will be a figure, a man doing signs and proclaiming himself a lamb, but inwardly he has the nature of a dragon. He will demand that the world leader, the Antichrist, should be worshiped. I think I know who each of these is. Revelation 13: 11 "Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given the power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 13:11-14). Even though this man, commonly called the False Prophet in scripture, will perform great and miraculous signs, also causing a fire to come down from heaven to earth, we must ignore such signs and hold to what is taught in the Word of God. We must not be deceived! Even though there will be those seeking to trick us into following them, Jesus tells us that this is still an early sign. These things must happen first, but the end is not far away.

 

Deception, false leaders, wars, and revolutions are all early warning signs. Jesus warned us that nation would rise against nation (literally on earth) and kingdom against kingdom (or the kingdom of darkness against the kingdom of light) Matthew 24:7. AS IN HEAVEN SO IN EARTH. There is a type of revolution in our streets right now. Revolution: A fixed or settled condition, the establishing or settling of something. Commotion, tumult, unruliness, disruption, disorder. It is used of political or social revolution, insurrection, sedition; riot, uprising, and disturbance. Look at Antifa. We are now facing times of revolution against the accepted political order of all nations. The world is and will be in turmoil, and is all part and parcel of our enemy's plan to bring chaos, fear, civil disturbance, and political revolution. In such a climate, control over the population of the earth will be easier for one man to rule over a one-world government over the whole earth. Luke tell us that Jesus spoke about earthquakes, famines, and pestilences happening to the human race along with fearful events and great signs from heaven: There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11).

 

 

Revelation 6:5-8 says that among other signs of Christ’s soon-coming there will be many who die due to famines and plagues. Is Covid-19 an end time pestilence? There are many thousands dead due to COVID 19 and now they are warning of a second wave. Luke writes of famines and pestilences that cause fear, as well as fearful events and great signs from heaven. We don’t know if the COVID 19 is the pestilence mentioned by Luke, but it could be a sign from God to wake us up to the reality that this world is not all there is, and that we are to prepare ourselves for the coming of our King. Can anybody hear me? IS ANYBODY LISTENING?? The word pestilence comes from the Greek word “loymos” which means plague, a fatal epidemic disease. Could it be that COVID 19 is allowed by God to shake us and to get our attention? Matthew adds a few words more about the signs that should wake us out of spiritual slumber. He speaks about the signs mentioned being the beginning of birth contractions: “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:7-8). So ... What do you think Jesus is referring to by using the analogy of a woman in birth pains? When a pregnant woman begins the birthing process, the pain is not severe, and the birth contractions are several minutes apart. The closer she gets to the birth of the child, however, the more frequent the contractions are, with the level of pain much more significant. In using this analogy, Jesus is saying that the closer the world gets to the end of the age, the more frequent will be the wars, revolutions, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, strife, division, etc. I see it building now! Just as the contractions of a woman get more painful, so will the amount of pain, anguish, sickness, and death of many on planet Earth. The wars and revolutions will be very severe, with much loss of life. Matthew tells us that:

 

If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened (Matthew 24:22). It will be cut short by the appearance of our Lord Jesus. He will come for those who are His (rapture). What does all this mean for you and me? It is time to make sure that we belong to Christ so that, when He comes, we will not be ashamed at His coming. IS ANYBODY LISTENING? Those who belong to Christ have a personal relationship with the Lord. This relationship is vitally important in being saved. Simply wearing a crucifix around your neck, attending Sunday services, or being benevolent doesn't make you a Christian. Standing in a garage does NOT make you an automobile! Likewise, simply going to a church doesn’t make you a Christian, I don't care if you have a perfect attendance record! Many people "say" they love God, or say they believe in Jesus. Jesus said, "If you love me you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15) -- a little stronger: "By this, we know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;" (1 John 2: 3-4) IS ANYBODY LISTENING?  There is no use going to meetings of Christians, going to church, getting baptized, giving money, etc. if you have not repented and forsaken your old life of sin! If you say you are a believer, you had better obey the One who bought you with His blood. "You are not your own...you are bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6: 19-20). I personally know people who claim to be Christians but are "in bed" outside the marital bond. There are people calling themselves believers who are "marrying" others of the same sex. CHRISTIANS! This is a warning! Jesus is coming soon. All the signs are ramping up. Get your lives in order! MORTIFY THE DEEDS OF YOUR FLESH- Romans 8:13 is clear, " For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." IS ANYBODY LISTENING? You must cease from purposely, defiantly sinning! Leave your bed of fornication.  Stop being a proponent of abortion, same-sex marriage, adulterous affairs, perversion, and drunkenness. Why do you call Him your Lord and not do the things He has asked?" IS ANYBODY LISTENING? Hello?  He is giving us signs. He's coming soon.

Prayer: Father, as we see the unfolding events of this world, help us not to be troubled but, instead, live each day to the fullest. Help us to take each day as it comes and do our best to follow You. We want to focus on essential things, i.e., those things that have eternal value. We say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” Amen.

Until there is no more time,

-Pat-