February 20, 2009 ~ Hi everyone… we are one day closer to our Blessed Hope! Every day that goes by puts us one day closer to it!
I admit I practically had to go into a “cave” and live for a while. Not depressed necessarily ~ just overwhelmed by the world quickly spiraling out of control and much deeper into sin [I’ve been feeling like “Lot”!!] I’ve had to take a “news fast” to KEEP FROM getting totally depressed.
I cannot take the news any more, not even local — much less global news. I can’t take the way the world slobbers all over themselves over this new Pres. ~ one who got into office very illegally [he is not even an American-born citizen] but I agree with the guy who writes for Canada Free Press – that the reason none of the judges shut him down was because they are afraid of his supporters and to overturn his presidency would literally turn American cities into war zones! IMO, it could easily be worse than “THEE” orig. civil war. It would no longer be a matter of living in the North or the South, but you wouldn’t know who your friends or enemies were -- even if they lived next door.
And for that matter, right now I’m going thru’ a phase where I must delete -on the spot- most all emails that come my way regarding “O” or regarding the stimulus package, etc. It’s one thing to try to keep others informed; it’s another thing all together to push them over a cliff with “one more bad thing”….the proverbial straw on the camel’s back!
I know I’ve sent out my share as well (mostly PRE-election) but am trying to restrain myself now. I just hope my email buds will understand. I can't read a lot of articles or watch news about it either. I don't understand half of it anyway. But you know how easy it is to get all worked up about it. Personally, I'd much, much, much rather focus on the big picture…on all the signs that are pointing to the soon return of Jesus. And no, I don’t need “numbers”, or “clues”, or another “let’s guess the rapture date”…. that comes & goes & comes & goes. Where in the Bible are we instructed to do that? I just KNOW in my heart of hearts that Jesus IS coming soon! Meanwhile, I carry on with life and pray for His direction, His protection, and His blessings —according to His will.
Certainly it’s not my intention of offending any brother or sister in the Lord, but who has time for a flood of (primarily negative) email & videos? We are in the LAST of the LAST DAYS here, and our war is against powers & principalities – not against each other! ~ though many Christians would think that’s what we should be doing in this late hour …slamming each other around… for instance, don’t agree with someone? Call him a name & settle the score! Honestly though, if you or someone you know is acting like that, that is the world’s way of doing things. Our way of doing things comes from the Word. 1 Peter 3:9 Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God--that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].
While I’m certainly not asking for more time down here (it is a far BETTER THING to depart & go to be with the Lord!), yet it is very important to me that I redeem the hours, minutes, and days of what IS left down here. I’m asking the Lord to help me do that. I’ve been working on some projects that I should have been working on for the past 10 years; I may not have time to complete them, but at least I am forging ahead & giving it the ol’ high school try. And other than bombarding heaven with constant intercession for others (mainly for salvation – what else even matters once one leaves this life??) NOTHING else matters then...
But I also take time to “stop & smell the roses” and remember to THANK the LORD for all the good things He created!
I planted some pansies the other day – first time. The beauty of them actually helps me REMEMBER to thank Him! :)
The whole global economy is way too much for us to Band-Aid any more anyway – it’s too big for anybody & everybody. God alone is holding it together & I believe soon after the rapture, it will totally collapse. Once the rapture happens, and the economy DOES crash, I can easily visualize people getting $ put into their “virtual accounts” when they line up to take the mark…. And *sigh* we know how people will line up by the droves thinking it’s no big deal!
Yet, we are thankful — God allows each person to CHOOSE. Again, and again, God’s Word says to NOT take that mark!!!!! Whether it’s a tattoo, an invisible tattoo, or an implanted chip – if there is worldwide call to do this as a way of “falling in step” with what you are told to do (“conforming”) ~ DO NOT TAKE IT!!!!!
Taking the mark will guarantee you a one-way trip to the Lake of Fire, to be tortured day AND night .... Getting no rest, no weekends off!!.... Not my word, ~ but the Bible’s WORD!!
Though I think the pope will have a role, I no longer think the pope has to be the FP [pope is far more concerned with Catholicism ONLY ~ whereas the FP will promote ALL religions are equal] Don’t think “O” would be up to it? How about: http://www.understandthetimes.org/inthenews/75_owr3.shtml
Such nicety-nice words, huh? Of course, it’s a given that we are to love the brethren – it is the 2nd holiest commandment next to loving the Lord, our God, with all our strength, mind, heart & soul. However, the Word is to be taken over & above & before some world leader tossing out pleasantries and mixing the world in with it!! This is why we MUST be in The Word!! ~ this is the only way we can exercise our discernment muscles.
I’ve mentioned for years that I think the #1 lie during the Trib will be: “all paths lead to heaven” (just pick one!.... I mean it’s ALREADY that way NOW!!!) ~ and with all the nicety-nice things mixed in — so the devil will MAKE IT APPEAR that this “can’t we just all get along” LOVE FEST **IS** the best way to live & will get you to heaven as well as any other way.
And those who kill the new Christian [Jesus is the only way to heaven] converts during that time will be hailed as heros & they’ll even think they’re doing the work of the Lord!! …….**Rubbish**!!
So anyway, my AC & FP contender choices could be wrong ~ but so could yours. No one knows for sure THIS SIDE of the rapture. But I’ve always highly doubted (still do) that the AntiChrist will be someone who’s totally UNKNOWN to the world till after the rapture. I personally just do not see that happening. The world will be in too much of a stew to accept a total stranger telling them what to do, IMO.
There’s this: Sarkozy has done an about-face & is now, once again, supporting TB to become EU’s first permanent President. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1138757/President-Blair-Former-PM-set-EU-chief-Sarkozy-battles-win-post.html and Tony is bound & determined to have his “Blair Force One” plane – even if he has to rent it:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1138789/Now-Tony-Blairs-finally-got-private-jet-hes-wanted-rented.html
Lots & lots & lots of other links I’ve been hoarding up to share with you which I’ll have to do some other time, – but alas, they’re all mostly negative, but “if you’re just not up to it”…Hahah! Read some wholesome books instead, plant a pot of pansies, be in constant contact with the Lord, bless someone today & you will be eternally rewarded for it. Know that if you’re under spiritual attacks & duress, you are not alone. Many Christians are FEELING this spiritual ANXIETY right now ~ the powers & principalities are alive & at work! Got your armor on? Are you reading the Bible daily — even when you don’t “feel like it”? [that’s the time one needs to be in it the most!]
And just take the Word’s word for it – we are living in perilous times, the world is running amuck & circling the drain which takes them into the bowels of the Tribulation, and now for the good news: soon the Lord will be gathering us unto Himself! May that day be upon us!!
I’m going to end with one of the best articles Todd Strandberg has ever written – it seems to ooze of URGENCY!! {I can’t agree, Todd, that it will be considered a “luxury” to be martyred for the faith! (though they will receive a martyr’s crown in heaven ~ so hmm… maybe it will be a luxury?? ~ But for those new Christian converts during the Tribulation era will have to STAND STRONG & steadfast in the faith! ~ be made of iron & steel!} But I do heartily agree that this world is NOT in for a revival – but the rapture is the next event on God’s time clock & that we are to redeem the time in the meantime. Work, work, work! ~ for night is coming in which no man can work – but also take time to plant pansies in a flower pot & remember to THANK THE LORD for His goodness!! We’ll be there so soon now. One minute you’ll be digging in the dirt down here, and the very next, you’ll be awestruck! ~ staring at the Lord face to Face, as He escorts us into heaven & we’re standing there witnessing the royal rose garden of heaven! :) Hang on to your Blessed Hope! Reva
The following was written by Todd Strandberg, Feb. 16, 2009:
Revival or Rapture
It is becoming very clear that the world is facing a time of economic peril that has not been seen in two generations. In all my years of watching current events, I've never seen headlines warning about the possibility of the whole financial system disintegrating into chaos. These dire reports are not from a supermarket tabloid. They are from some of the most respected news organizations in the land.
I firmly believe that God is in control of all events. Governments around the world have pledged $2 trillion dollars to try to stabilize the global economic meltdown, and still it continues to slide. The stakes have become so desperately grim, I see only two possible outcomes from the viewpoint of a believer: God is either using the economic crisis to bring about a great revival, or He is soon going to rapture the Church home and begin the tribulation countdown.
It is my view that we are headed for the second option. I would love to see revival break out, but I don't believe it is possible at this stage. Some of my friends hold to the view that the Lord is going to pour out a “latter rain” revival. Some other folks believe the Church is going to take over this world for Christ. I just don't see the Bible pointing to such a positive outcome.
The first thing that makes revival hard to grasp as a possibility now is the Word of God's repeated mention of spiritual darkness as the hallmark of the last days. Several prophetic passages describe the last days as a time of great apostasy. Here are two examples:
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition " (2 Thess. 2:3).
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matt. 24:24).
Another potential obstacle to a revival is the fact we are in the Laodicean Age. Dr. David Reagan recently gave a good outline of how the seven churches described in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, present a prophetic view of Church history: “The last of the churches mentioned, the one that represents the Church of the end times, is the church at Laodicea. It is pictured as a church that is neither hot (healing) nor cold (refreshing), but rather is lukewarm or tepid (Rev. 3:15-16). In short, it is a church that is apathetic. Jesus also pictures it as a worldly church enamored with its wealth (Rev. 3:17). The Lord is so dissatisfied with this church that He declares, 'Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth'" (Rev. 3:16).
I think the greatest case against revival is man's growing immunity to repentance. You can look at the above list of historic revivals and see how they diminish in number and scale over the years. A key problem is that [people think] revival today means “getting something” from God.
The people who flocked to the so-called revivals at the Toronto Airport Vineyard Christian Fellowship and Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola were mostly looking for an emotional or physical blessing. A decade later, it's hard to argue with the simple fact that these events have been marked as questionable practices, and have had nearly zero impact on society.
In the revivals of the past, saints were given their marching orders to reach the lost for Christ. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church , was very direct about how to win souls: "You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go always, not only to those that want you, but to those that want you most. Observe: It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society; but to save as many souls as you can; to bring them to repentance, and with all your power to build them up in holiness without which they cannot see the Lord."
The world will see revival. In fact, the Bible predicts a future revival that will put all others to shame. Once millions of people realize they were not rapture ready, they will find true faith. {during the Tribulation hour} The sink-or-swim condition of the tribulation will cause many to quickly reach a level of dedication where they are willing to sacrifice their lives for the Gospel.
We Christians on this side of the rapture need to be doing everything we can to advance the Kingdom of God. Because we won't have the luxury of being able to tell the Lord we were willing suffer martyrdom for our faith, we need to take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way.
P.S. (from me again) Stay tuned…. You just never know from one day to the next what big prophetic news item is going to pop wide open!
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