WARNING TO THOSE WHO ARE OF THIS WORLD

 - By Geri Ungurean -

 If you are reading this article, then you may be wondering why I am warning those "of" this world. You see, I am not of this world - I belong to Jesus Christ. I am in the world, but not of it. From gotquestions.org 

Question: "How can believers be in the world, but not of the world?"

 Answer: When we read of the "world" in the New Testament, we are reading the Greek word cosmos. Cosmos most often refers to the inhabited earth and the people who live on the earth, which functions apart from God. Satan is the ruler of this "cosmos" (John 12:31; 16:11; 1 John 5:19). By the simple definition that the word world refers to a world system ruled by Satan, we can more readily appreciate Christ's claims that believers are no longer of the world-we are no longer ruled by sin, nor are we bound by the principles of the world. In addition, we are being changed into the image of Christ, causing our interest in the things of the world to become less and less as we mature in Christ. Believers in Jesus Christ are simply in the world-physically present-but not of it, not part of its values (John 17:14-15). As believers, we should be set apart from the world. This is the meaning of being holy and living a holy, righteous life-to be set apart. We are not to engage in the sinful activities the world promotes, nor are we to retain the insipid, corrupt mind that the world creates. Rather, we are to conform ourselves, and our minds, to that of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1-2). 

This is a daily activity and commitment. We must also understand that being in the world, but not of it, is necessary if we are to be a light to those who are in spiritual darkness. We are to live in such a way that those outside the faith see our good deeds and our manner and know that there is something "different" about us. Christians who make every effort to live, think and act like those who do not know Christ do Him a great disservice. Even the heathen knows that "by their fruits you shall know them," and as Christians, we should exhibit the fruit of the Spirit within us. Being "in" the world also means we can enjoy the things of the world, such as the beautiful creation God has given us, but we are not to immerse ourselves in what the world values, nor are we to chase after worldly pleasures. Pleasure is no longer our calling in life, as it once was, but rather the worship of God.

In 1983, I realized that I was a lost sinner. I also realized that, if I had died a moment before I realized that I was a sinner, I would go to hell. I wanted to go to heaven when I died. Some Christians I had met told me all about Jesus and how He died for me. That night was the most amazing night of my entire life. God loved me! He wanted to forgive me so that I could be in His family. How glorious is that? He forgave me of all of my sins. I realized that Jesus' death on the Cross was payment for my sin - for all sin - for whosoever would believe on Him and place their trust in Him. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:16-17). 

Back to my warning to you if you are of the world: If you have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you can never say that again. You are reading it now. God does love you so much. He wants you to be in His family. Up till now, you have rejected Him. Only you know why you have not wanted to be part of God's family. Perhaps you think that you will lose friends and even family. I lost family. You see, I was brought up in a Jewish home. Most of my family has rejected me. The Lord allowed me the privilege of leading my father to Him. He is waiting for me in heaven. But the rest of my family has rejected me. Here is what Jesus says about that: "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law" (Luke 12:51-53). 

Time is short. The Bible has hundreds of prophecies - many of which have already been fulfilled. But the prophecies in Revelation, Daniel and other places in the Word have yet to be fulfilled. There is a time coming called the Tribulation. The Bible says that the horrific events which will happen in the world during the Tribulation have never happened before, and will never happen again. The Church (of which I am a part) will be taken to heaven by Jesus Himself, and then the 'Tribulation' will begin. 

What is the Tribulation?

 From gotquestions.org  "What is the Tribulation? How do we know the Tribulation will last seven years?" Answer: The tribulation is a future seven-year period of time when God will finish His discipline of Israel and finalize His judgment of the unbelieving world. The church, made up of all who have trusted in the person and work of the Lord Jesus to save them from being punished for sin, will not be present during the tribulation. The church will be removed from the earth in an event known as the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). The church is saved from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Throughout Scripture, the tribulation is referred to by other names such as the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6-9; Joel 1:15; 2:1-31; 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2); trouble or tribulation (Deuteronomy 4:30; Zephaniah 1:1); the great tribulation, which refers to the more intense second half of the seven-year period (Matthew 24:21); time or day of trouble (Daniel 12:1; Zephaniah 1:15); time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). 

An understanding of Daniel 9:24-27 is necessary in order to understand the purpose and time of the tribulation. This passage speaks of 70 weeks that have been declared against "your people." Daniel's people are the Jews, the nation of Israel, and Daniel 9:24 speaks of a period of time that God has given "to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy." God declares that "seventy sevens" will fulfill all these things. This is 70 sevens of years, or 490 years. (Some translations refer to 70 weeks of years.) This is confirmed by another part of this passage in Daniel. In verses 25 and 26, Daniel is told that the Messiah will be cut off after "seven sevens and sixty-two sevens" (69 total), beginning with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. In other words, 69 sevens of years (483 years) after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, the Messiah will be cut off. 

Biblical historians confirm that 483 years passed from the time of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the time when Jesus was crucified. Most Christian scholars, regardless of their view of eschatology (future things/events), have the above understanding of Daniel's 70 sevens. With 483 years having passed from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the cutting off of the Messiah, this leaves one seven-year period to be fulfilled in terms of Daniel 9:24: 

"to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy."

 This final seven-year period is known as the tribulation period-it is a time when God finishes judging Israel for its sin. Daniel 9:27 gives a few highlights of the seven-year tribulation period: "He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." The person of whom this verse speaks is the person Jesus calls the "abomination that causes desolation" (Matthew 24:15) and is called "the beast" in Revelation 13. Daniel 9:27 says that the beast will make a covenant for seven years, but in the middle of this week (3 1/2 years into the tribulation), he will break the covenant, putting a stop to sacrifice. Revelation 13 explains that the beast will place an image of himself in the temple and require the world to worship him. Revelation 13:5 says that this will go on for 42 months, which is 3 1/2 years. 

Since Daniel 9:27 says that this will happen in the middle of the week, and Revelation 13:5 says that the beast will do this for a period of 42 months, it is easy to see that the total length of time is 84 months or seven years. Also see Daniel 7:25, where the "time, times, and half a time" (time=1 year; times=2 years; half a time=1/2 year; total of 3 1/2 years) also refers to "great tribulation," the last half of the seven-year tribulation period when the beast will be in power. For further references about the tribulation, see Revelation 11:2-3, which speaks of 1260 days and 42 months, and Daniel 12:11-12, which speaks of 1290 days and 1335 days. These days have a reference to the midpoint of the tribulation. The additional days in Daniel 12 may include the time at the end for the judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31-46) and time for the setting up of Christ's millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6). In summary, the Tribulation is the 7-year time period in the end times in which humanity's decadence and depravity will reach its fullness, with God judging accordingly.

The Flood and the Rapture of God's Children

 In the Bible, it is recorded that God destroyed the earth except for Noah and his family by a great flood. The account of this is in the Old Testament. God said that the thoughts of men and women were only evil continually, and that He was sorry that he had created them. The human race had rejected their maker - the Lord. God is not responsible for all of the horrific things that happen on this earth. The Garden of Eden was perfection. There was no sin there. Adam and Eve walked with God and talked with Him. Everything was just as God wanted it to be. God created Adam and Eve in His image but He also gave them free volition of will to choose good or evil. Eve was deceived by Satan, and Adam sinned willfully. Since that time, this earth has been in utter chaos. Tribulation is when God's wrath will be poured out on all flesh for their sin and disobedience. 

Jesus is the Ark of Safety for All Those Who Place Their Trust in Him

 The Bible says: "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matthew 24:37-39). 

The Coming of the Man of SIN

 A man the Bible calls "Antichrist" will fool the world, and many will worship him. They will receive his "mark" which shows that their allegiance will be to the Beast (Antichrist). The people who take the "mark" of the beast will be condemned to hell when they die. The Church will be gone (to heaven) as will children who have not reached the age of accountability. If you are left behind, you will suffer great affliction. The Bible says that people will wish to die but will not be able to. 

Antichrist will be Indwelled by Satan himself

 After the tribulation begins, some will realize that they missed the truth - that Jesus Christ is truly God, and that He is the Savior of the world. Those people will give their hearts to Christ. They will be hunted down and slaughtered by Antichrist for not worshiping him. After they are martyred, Jesus will receive them into His Kingdom. This period of time will be the worst time ever seen on the earth. Time is so short. The headlines which you read each day regarding the Middle East are simply God's prophetic Word being fulfilled. No one knows the hour of the coming of Jesus Christ to rapture His Church! No one is guaranteed another day, or even another minute in this life. Are you willing to enter eternity without Christ and be condemned to hell? 

The Decision is yours

 Do you want to be here during this time? You do not have to be here. You can stop right now - wherever you are, and confess that you agree that you are a sinner to God, and repent of those sins. You can tell Jesus that you need Him to be your Savior and that you trust Him for your Salvation. But know this: God will not be mocked. He will know if your profession of faith in Him is sincere. Nothing is hidden from our Lord. 

How to be Saved

 Do NOT believe that there are many ways to God. There is ONE way: "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). There is no reincarnation. That is a lie from the devil. There is no such thing as Chrislam. That is also from the evil one. The God of the Bible and Allah are NOT the same! Allah is a false god.

 "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). 

I hope and pray that many who are of this world will take to heart the things I have said in this piece. Where you spend eternity will depend on whether you accept Jesus into your heart or reject Him. His love for you knows no boundaries, and He is waiting for you with open arms. No matter what you have done in this life, He is waiting to forgive you, make you into a new person and take you into His family. I pray that you will open your heart to Him. How Can I Be Saved? Blessings in Jesus,
MARANATHA (Come O Lord!)