Esther 4:14

Part II

 Well, to be sure, we are certainly one year closer to the Rapture. And that’s the best news-the good news to our ears for the start of the new year, right? But, sadly, the beginning of 2024 greeted us with a lot of bad news: wars and rumors of war, earthquakes, more terrorist attacks, political turmoil, and college students protesting against Israel! Jesus warned these things would come, but the end is not yet.

 And what of the church in this century? Church history reveals there has always been “apostasy” (abandonment, renunciation, or defection from the faith) throughout Christendom. Some say there will first be a “falling away” before the man of sin (the Antichrist) will be revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). Others maintain we are in the ‘last days’ of the Church Age (the Age of Grace) of the apostate Laodicean church of Revelation, chapter 3. It’s all confusing in this age of confusion for sure. Yet we know where all this comes from, don’t we? ”For God is not a God of disorder (confusion) but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). 

 We have seen, and are seeing more and more false teachers who lead many astray, hypocrites, and perverters of the Bible than ever before! Since the beginning we have always had evil in the world. We are living in a world of lawlessness, deception, and wickedness in high places! Perverseness abounds in all forms and disguises and parades right into our homes and schools! Marriage has been expanded to include same sex. Dare I mention ‘gender confusion’? The family unit is under attack, and children are rebellious! Murder of the unborn seems business as usual to a great number of Christians in America! Shootings in our cities and schools has become the norm to many. The Israel-Hamas war rages on in Gaza as Israel aims to destroy all Hamas! The Russian-Ukraine war is at a stalemate with thousands of civilians killed in cities and towns in indiscriminate missile attacks by Russia! 

 The Bible speaks of these things that are happening now and are yet to come as “mysteries.” They must happen, but so must love, and joy, and faith increase, too, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the standard of teaching that cannot fail! Because in Christ, we are “overcomes” of the world, the flesh, and the Devil! We are more than conquerors, because in Christ Jesus we have the victory in all things, even death! 

 Things are going to get worse before they get better. Everything is moving toward the future time of the Great Tribulation when evil and wickedness will reign such as the world has never seen! It will be the time of the Antichrist, the son of Satan, who will oppose God, and set himself up as God as the world ruler! Thankfully it will last only seven years before Christ, the KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS returns to reign in His Kingdom for a thousand years.

 And, so, in a day and age as Isaiah rightly foretold (Isaiah 45:7) when people call “evil good, and good, evil; that put light for darkness, and darkness for light; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter,” this too shall pass away! Yet we are here to stay! We shall hold the line and not be moved! In all this, we have love and hope and know our destiny. We are watching and waiting in eager expectation for the sure promise of our Lord Jesus coming one day to take us, His believing church up with Him to Heaven to the Father (the Rapture). Yes, He will rescue us from this evil and wicked world! It will be a one time only event as the living and dead in Christ shall instantly in glory be “caught up” (Raptured) to meet the Lord Jesus, “in the air,” above the clouds. ”And so shall we ever be with the Lord.” -1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

 So note carefully what our Lord Jesus said to His disciples (and us) in the Upper Rom on the night in which He was betrayed and would go to His death on the cross of crucifixion:

John 14:1-6

“Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas said unto him, Lord, we know not where you go, and how can we know the way?

Jesus said unto him, I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.

Take note of the footsteps of the Messiah! God is calling Jews and Gentiles to His Son today. Believe in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Your sins will be forgiven and you will have eternal life with GOD forever! Jesus is the only way to God, the Father Almighty! The only way!

Amen