END TIMES REVELATION!

 

Most western Christians are still not used to considering themselves to be currently IN THE END TIMES or living THROUGH the reign of Christ on the earth!   This is because of the lens we use to interpret Bible End Times prophesy.  

The Great Tribulation is NOW!

 

Are we in the "Great Tribulation"?

Many believe in an allotted time which is described as "the great tribulation" towards the time right before Christ returns.   Again, the distinction between tribulation and "the great tribulation". 

 

I try not to debate eschatology too dogmatically because I believe that the theology and the prophetic writings found in end times prophesy needs to be approached differently than the rest of theology.

There indeed is certain theology which will be affected by ones eschatology and vise/versa but among brothers, this needs to be a respected in-house debate, and the only way to do that is through respect and spiritual maturity.  

However, many Christians believe that unless you can say that "Christ can come at any time", you would be drawing a bit too close to arguing against immanency...

To say that The Lord's return is not immanent is to step too close to a worst position of "time setting"...   Most Christians don't want to be accused of time setting the coming of Christ.   No way!

And so, we've now stepped into MY position on the matter of whether there is a distinction between tribulation and "the great tribulation".  

 

If The Lord can come at any time... then God's church is either in tribulation NOW or there's no immanency of Christ's return, and we can say,....."Christ can't come yet"...

Get it?

So Christian, where are you on this matter?

What do you think?

Are we in the great tribulation or not?

My Pre-Trib brothers will say we're not because the bowl and seal judgments in the book of Revelation haven't started.  

  

Unfortunately, by believing this, inevitably, they make themselves "time setters" and can't believe in Christ's imminent return.   (That's how I see it)

As an Amillennialist, I believe that those bowl and seal judgments are as SYMBOLIC as much of what's written in Bible end times prophesy, and therefore, those judgements are happening now!

*Consider that the persecution of Christ's Church has NOT stopped since Christ ascended. 

*Consider that the spirit of antichrist as been at work since the days of Christ.

These are the two distinctions The Apostle Paul revealed to the Church of Thessalonians on the question of, "has Christ already returned" which they were dealing with at that time.

Paul was admonishing them to continue in their faith and hold down their patience as they were experiencing persecution. 

Persecution of the Church and the work of antichrist has ebbed and flowed throughout the last 2000 years and as it is written in 2 Thessalonians 2:6 --- 

"And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed" 

 

It would take a lot to unfold how those seal and trumpet signs as well as the bowl judgements are understood symbolically but that's for a later and longer blog.

But the moral of the story is that we should NOT consider that these prophetic happenings are just things for the future ... I believe they're happening NOW.

I believe the hearts of men (the world system); the globalization and the climactic signs in earthquakes, mudslides, wildfires, tornados, hurricanes, etc.  are ....

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

God's chosen people were expecting the coming of their Messiah 

but they completely missed the signs of the times.... 

Let's not make that same error in our time and receive the same rebuke from The Lord!

On the issue of "natural disasters" we've seen in 2023 so far...

Hurricane Idalia rips through Georgia reportedly killing 1 person..

The Maui wildfires killing approximately 100 people...

Illinois tornados causing much damage and reportedly killing 4 in Texas...and many tornados killing approx. 32 people across 8 US states...

Papua New Guinea hit by a 7.0 Magnitude earthquake...

7.8 Earthquake in Turkey and Syria which left thousands dead..

Deluge in California US which reportedly swept away a 5 year old boy in January... 

 "And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? 4An evil and adulterous generation eagerly seeks for a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away."

Matthew 16:1-4

Uganda: Christian brother murdered by Muslims

 

(curtesy Christian headlines.com)

NAIROBI, Kenya, January 11, 2023 (Morning Star News) – A 37-year-old father of four was killed on Jan. 2 after participating in a Christian-Muslim debate in eastern Uganda at which 13 Muslims put their faith in Christ, sources said.

This brother had been converted from the Muslim faith, and dedicated his life to bringing the truth of Christ to other Muslims.  Over 100 of them have converted to Christianity because of this brother's ministry, so this was the result.  

Consider the Word of God:

   10“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11[“For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]

      12“What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? 13“If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 14“So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish. - Matthew 18: 10-14 

This doesn't just apply to his referring to children as the ones brought to Christ for Him to bless but that the character of those in Heaven would be "such as these" (Matthew 19:14) (accepting, innocent, loving, joyful, peaceful, playful, etc.).  This is then compared to any one of these lost as sheep who Heaven rejoices over the others who are not lost. (another parallel: Luke 15:32 the prodigal son)

This brother, Ahamada Mafabi loved SO MUCH, he risked His life for the gospel of Christ.  He had a wife and four children.  He set out to find God's sheep, and found over 100 of them in a years time.  

Why?  Because there's nothing else but Christ that can bring true joy and peace.  When we feed off of the "Bread of life" and we drink from the "fountain of living water", there's no going back!  

The Apostle Peter said, "Where else can we go, you Lord have the words of eternal life!"  

How often don't we dispute and debate in religious circles in our country, here at home, without risk to our lives ... 

But in so many nations around the world, The Lord is bringing in souls CONSTANTLY to Him, in truth - and it's through people like Ahamada Matabi who The Holy Spirit indwells, and in love of the truth, obediently heralds The Gospel of the Kingdom.

"Repent, The Kingdom of Heaven

Is at hand" 

- Mark 1:15

Let's not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  For it is the power of God unto salvation for every one who believes (Romans 1:16)

Here's the rest of the article on our brother saint now in Heaven and support his family if you can.  

Radical Muslims kill Christian after religion debate

God bless.

Persecution from the Goats!

 

Persecution from the Goats!

You can clearly see the wolves but the goats 

hang out especially close to the sheep, and they're the ones who'll persecute us first.

In the last days, as apostacy continues to grow, the goats will pretend to be sheep, and they'll hate on you secretly, hating the very Word of God, and aligning with the world against you.

But as The Lord said, "No bad tree will bare good fruit".  It doesn't take long because abiding in the True Vine is what they don't do.

Watch and listen to this special persecution VLOG message on this subject.

https://youtu.be/BbfIOips0cQ