The Only Generation - By Daymond Duck - https://www.raptureready.com/2023/02/04/the-only-generation-by-daymond-duck/   On Jan. 23, 2023, Hal Lindsey started off his weekly article like this:   “The price of eggs…. A Mall of America security guard threatening the wearer of a ‘Jesus saves’ t-shirt…. Attacks on the U.S. power grid…. A worldwide obsession with pornography…. Another wave of nuclear threats coming out of Russia…. A universal weakening of democratic institutions…. A global reshuffling of leaders…. Threats of ‘civil war’ in Israel…. Corruption in the highest levels of government across the world…. Weaponized Artificial Intelligence…. Deep fake audio and video enabling previously unimagined levels of deception.… Global economic chaos…, and on and on.   “What do these and hundreds of other things like them have in common? They are signs of the soon coming of Jesus. Planet Earth is in the throes of the birth of a new world. It’s difficult — even excruciating — but it is also thrilling. We are entering the days foreseen by the prophets.”   Wow, just the kind of thing one would expect from the foremost prophecy teacher in our lifetime.   Hal mentioned that there are hundreds of other signs, and I will add the following to his list:   The rebirth of Israel. The restoration of Jerusalem with Israel in control. Preparations to rebuild the Temple and resume the animal sacrifices. The technology to control all buying and selling. The technology for the whole world to see the resurrection of the Two Witnesses and the Second Coming of Jesus. The developing world government (New World Order; Great Reset; Build Back Better, etc.). The developing world religion (calling good evil and evil good; increasing rejection of Jehovah, Jesus, and the Bible; increasing promotion of abortion, LGBTQ agenda, etc.). The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, famine, pestilences, poverty, etc.   We are the only generation to see the convergence of all the prophecies that the Bible said will be fulfilled at the end of the age.   Here are recent events that seem to indicate that the end of the age is looming.   One, concerning the persecution of Christians: on Jan. 24, 2023, it was reported that Open Doors has been monitoring the persecution of Christians since 1993 (for 30 years), and it is increasing all over the world.   According to the group, globally, more than 360 million Christians are experiencing “very high or extreme levels of persecution for their faith.”   Two, concerning persecution: on Jan. 29, 2023, Paul Craig Roberts (Institute for Political Economy) noted that political activism is normalizing sexual perversion (homosexuality, pedophilia, etc.) and making criticizing it a criminal violation of civil rights and hate speech laws.   I agree with Roberts, but I want to add my opinion on something here.   While there has always been persecution over some issues, I don’t believe society has ever had the normalization of sexual perversion on a global scale or the criminalization of speaking out against it on a global scale, but that is where the world is headed now.   The United Nations, World Health Organization, World Economic Forum, United States, and other despisers of the truth are promoting global laws that will criminalize Bible truth all over the world (II Tim. 3:1-7).   Sexual perversion is just part of it; other things that are going to be outlawed include spreading the truth, worshipping Jesus instead of the Antichrist, some things people want to spend their money on, etc.   Society is witnessing the birth of unparalleled global tribulation- period persecution of believers that matches Bible prophecy: censorship of truth; prosecution of believers for praying silently in front of an abortion clinic, for refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex wedding, etc.   Persecution of people who become believers during the Tribulation Period will be terrible.   Three, concerning the WEF: on Jan. 16, 2023, highly respected writer Leo Hohman wrote, “They intend to digitally enslave the world in a total surveillance state based on a global digital I.D. (likely disguised as vaccine passports) and a global digital currency to replace cash.”   Four, concerning world government: on Jan. 24, 2023, it was reported that Canadian Member of Parliament, Dr. Leslyn Lewis, continues to speak out against Canada’s involvement in the World Economic Forum (WEF).   In 2022, Lewis said, “The WEF threatens Canadian Democracy.” On Jan. 23, 2023, Lewis said, “The unelected WEF is not our government. Canadians did not sign up for the WEF’s plan to create agile rule-making in a post-pandemic world & the 4th Industrial Revolution (something that Prime Min. Trudeau did in 2020).   As I understand it, Dr. Lewis said it is wrong for Trudeau to be signing international agreements that impose global laws on Canadian citizens that they haven’t voted for and their Parliament hasn’t approved.   This is also happening in the U.S., and citizens could lose many of their rights at the World Health Organization Assembly meeting in May.   (More: Concerning that meeting: on Jan. 27, 2023, prophecy teacher Jonathan Brentner wrote, “If it (the Pandemic Treaty) is approved by member nations during their May 2023 meeting, it would give the WHO and its head absolute control over member nations in regard to what they deem as health emergencies. In other words, in the event they declare such a crisis, the WHO could prescribe a course of action for everyone. It wouldn’t matter if the president of a nation disagreed – the dictates of the WHO would become law in his or her country. Should a U.S. governor say “No!” to the WHO mandates, that also wouldn’t matter. The WHO would have the power to militarily enforce compliance with its health dictates.”)   Five, concerning the recent WEF meeting and world government: on Jan. 26, 2023, Canada Free Press posted an article by writer, commentator, and Radio Host Douglas V. Gibbs.   Gibbs has been on “Hannity” and “Fox and Friends.   Gibbs’ nickname is “Mr. Constitution,” and he said, “Unelected elitists who believe their job is to rule the world recently gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, meeting to discuss the fate of all of humanity and the road we must take based on their visions in order to ‘save the world.’ Except, they don’t mean to save the world; they mean to control humanity and break the spirit of anyone who dares stand against them.”   Gibbs continued, “These tyrants drive and lobby policies in the United States through a well-placed, deeply embedded deep state, and they do the same throughout the world. The dark spirit of tyranny we fought wars (including two World Wars and a Cold War) against has now become the mainstream leadership on this planet, and they aim to make sure that this time they are not knocked off the top of the mountain.”   Here is a link to the article.   https://canadafreepress.com/article/world-economic-forum-davos-globalism-woke-progressivism-temper-tantrums-and-tyrants   (My opinion: The prophesied world government is shaping up, and it will be seven years of hell on earth. The only people that are not going to be impacted are those that die before then and those that are truly trusting in Jesus when the Rapture occurs.)   Six, concerning famine and hyperinflation (food shortages, extreme food, and energy prices, etc.) during the Tribulation Period: on Jan. 27, 2021, shortly after he became Pres. of the U.S., Biden signed an Executive Order that committed the U.S. to conserving at least 30% of America’s land and water by 2030.   Unless this is reversed, it will block mining, farming, and drilling for oil on 30% of America’s lands and water by 2030.   Blocking mining, farming, fishing, and drilling for oil on 30% of the world’s land and water will have a great impact on everyone’s life.   At the U.N. Biodiversity Conference that was held on Dec. 7-19, 2022, under the guise of saving “Mother Earth” from natural disasters (rising sea levels, floods, droughts, wildfires, etc.) supposedly created by man’s pollution and excessive consumption, the group agreed to a plan called the 30-by-30 (or 30 X 30) Initiative.   One of the 30-by-30 Initiative goals is to protect 30% of the world’s land, water, and marine areas (not allow 30% of these areas to be used) by 2030.   Critics say the real goal is to transform the world according to the agenda, morals, etc., of the “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”   Anyway, on Jan. 26, 2023, the Biden administration announced a 20-year ban on mining on 225,504 acres of land in Minnesota.   Another group of U.S. workers will be losing their jobs, and Biden has already signed an agreement to make funds available to increase mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (sounds like putting U.S. workers drilling for oil off the coast of Florida out of work and asking Saudi Arabia to increase production).   He seems determined to weaken America.   Seven, concerning hyperinflation and a global economic collapse: on Jan. 25, 2023, the head of the Bank of Canada warned that Canada’s economy has stalled, growth will be close to zero for the remainder of this year, and Canada’s citizens are not going to feel good.   Critics blame Prime Min. Trudeau for running up Canada’s debt with excessive spending on Covid and unnecessary liberal programs.   Payday has arrived in Canada, but most of the world is facing the same problem.   Eight, concerning the Millennium in Israel: God said, “The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose…. For in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water” (Isa. 35:1, 7).   In recent years, Israel has built several desalination plants to draw water from the Mediterranean Sea and make it suitable for drinking.   On Jan. 30, 2030, it was reported that Israel has received very little rain this winter, but Israel’s system of desalination plants has filled the Sea of Galilee, and Israel will soon double the amount of water it sells to Jordan.   Nine, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog: on Jan. 29, 2023, Israeli drones struck an Iranian weapons production facility inside Iran.   There are contradictory reports about what Iran was producing (drones, ballistic missiles, etc.), but the next day, Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement that said, “We strongly condemn any provocative actions potentially capable of provoking an uncontrolled escalation of tension in an already far from calm region. Such destructive actions may have unpredictable consequences for peace and stability in the Middle East.”   Two things stand out about this event:   One, Israel apparently struck a target inside Iran. Two, some analysts called Russia’s statement a veiled threat to Israel.   Finally, are you Rapture Ready?   If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.   duck_daymond@yahoo.com

Nearing Midnight and the Doomsday Clock – Terry James - https://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/   Jesus set Heaven’s end times clock, foretelling when the second hand of eternity will reach near the midnight hour for the inhabitants of planet Earth. He did so by giving God’s heavenly family the assurance that we will be snatched up before that time; we will be rescued from this planet of rebels doomed to suffer His righteous wrath and judgment.   “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).   The phrase “these things” refers to the issues and events of prophetic significance that have long since begun to “come to pass.”   Todd Strandberg, founder of Raptureready.com, and I have for decades written our commentaries on “these things” for the “Nearing Midnight” section of this website. We have tried, in effect, to show the progress toward that midnight hour. We’ve presented what we believe is not a “doomsday clock” but a heavenly horizon marquee announcing the great event that all who believe in Jesus Christ for salvation are swiftly approaching.   It is more than intriguing that, while we look at all the wickedness being done by the evil men and seducers who are growing worse and worse, secular watchers of mankind’s nearness to the same midnight hour perceive that time is almost up.   Such came starkly into view with the most recent setting by the “Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist Doomsday Clock” watchdogs:   A panel of international scientists has warned that humanity’s continued existence is at greater risk than ever before, largely as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.   The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set its Doomsday Clock at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest to midnight the clock has been since it was established in 1947 to illustrate global existential threats at the dawn of the nuclear weapons age.   Rachel Bronson, the president and CEO of the Bulletin, said the clock had been moved forward from 100 seconds to midnight, where it had been for the previous three years, “largely, though not exclusively, because of the mounting dangers in the war in Ukraine.”   “We are living in a time of unprecedented danger, and the Doomsday Clock time reflects that reality. Ninety seconds to midnight is the closest the clock has ever been set to midnight, and it’s a decision our experts do not take lightly.” (“Doomsday Clock at record 90 seconds to midnight amid Ukraine crisis” | World news | The Guardian)   The secular doomsday clock watchers hope that, by posting the warnings of impending nuclear war and other catastrophes, they can somehow avert reaching that midnight hour they so fear. This is what, for example, those who believe they can institute the so-called Great Reset believe they, in their god-like confidence in their own ability, can accomplish.   But there is one thing and one thing only that can help mankind avoid the coming judgment and wrath of that midnight hour. That is repentance and turning to the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to die as a sacrifice for the sin into which humankind has been born since the fall in Eden’s garden.   God has set the doomsday clock, and His second hand hasn’t stopped moving toward that midnight moment. My own belief, along with many of God’s watchers on the wall of Bible prophecy, is that clock’s second hand is much closer to the 12 than the 90 seconds away the authorities of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists recently placed their second hand.   The people of earth are on the cusp of being thrust into that midnight hour. You don’t want to be one who is left behind to suffer that time of horror Jesus Himself said will be the worst of all human history (Mathew 24:21).   Here is how to avoid that fate and instead go to be kept within the safe harbor of Jesus Christ when He calls all believers to Himself.   “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

This Is The Real Significance Of The “Chinese Spy Balloon” Saga… - by Michael Snyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/this-is-the-real-significance-of-the-chinese-spy-balloon-saga/   It took a balloon for millions of Americans to finally realize that we really are on the brink of war with China. When a four-star general recently warned that we would be fighting a war with China in 2025, that didn’t create too much of a stir. And when U.S. Representative Michael McCaul stated that odds of a war between the United States and China over Taiwan are “very high”, that barely made a blip in the news cycle. But the giant “spy balloon” that just floated across our country really got people fired up. Despite the fact that China has been relentlessly spying on us in countless other ways for years, many of our leaders are suddenly acting as if some huge change just happened. They are issuing all sorts of very angry statements and they are demanding action from the Biden administration. Meanwhile, the Chinese are pissed that we just shot down their “civilian airship” and they are warning that they have “the right to respond further”.   What this means is that we are now closer to war with China than we have been in decades.   And that is the real significance of this entire saga.   Long before it was fashionable to do so, I repeatedly warned my readers that war with China was coming. Back then, a number of my critics thought I had gone off the deep end. They argued that China was our friend and that we would never go to war with one of our most important trading partners.   But now suddenly vast hordes of Americans are waking up and realizing that the warmongers in Washington really do have us on the verge of an unthinkable conflict with the Chinese.   If you are one of those people, I have a message for you.   Welcome to the party.   What took you so long?   Needless to say, most Americans don’t want to have a war with China.   But we are going to have one anyway.   This whole episode with the mysterious Chinese balloon has brought tensions that have been simmering for months to a boiling point. On Saturday afternoon, the U.S. military finally shot it down “off the South Carolina coast”…   A U.S. warplane shot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon off the South Carolina coast Saturday afternoon, sending its surveillance gear into relatively shallow water where recovery efforts began immediately, Pentagon officials announced.   The balloon was downed after it passed into U.S. territorial waters, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.The balloon, which carried a large payload of spy gear according to U.S. officials, had soared over several strategic sites, including nuclear missile silos, and became the latest flashpoint in tensions between Washington and Beijing.   If this really was a “spy balloon”, why didn’t we shoot it down before it had a chance to collect so much information?   According to Joe Biden, he was concerned “about debris killing people on the ground”.   Seriously?   There was plenty of wide open space where it could have been shot down safely.   Now that it has been shot down over the ocean, it is going to be more difficult to retrieve the remains.   In any event, the Chinese continue to insist that this was not a “spy balloon” at all…   China claims that its balloon was a “civilian airship” and not the spy device the US claimed it to be, and said that the US’s decision to destroy its property “seriously violates international convention,” according to a statement obtained by The New York Times.   “In these circumstances, for the United States to insist on using armed force is clearly an excessive reaction that seriously violates international convention,” the statement said. “China will resolutely defend the legitimate rights and interests of the enterprise involved, and retains the right to respond further.”   Maybe the Chinese are correct.   Maybe this really wasn’t a spy balloon.   But then why did it fly over so many of our key military installations?   Gateway Pundit has made a list of all the military bases that this spy balloon flew near…   ** Malstrom Air Force Base – Montana – home of 341st Military Wing ** Ellsworth Air Force Base – South Dakota – home of 28th bomb wing ** Joe Foss Field ANG – South Dakota – home of 114th fighter wing ** Sioux City ANG – Iowa – national gard base ** Offutt Air Force Base -Nebraska – headquarters US strategic command ** Camp Ashland – Nebraska – ** Lincoln ANG – Nebraska ** Whiteman Air Force Base – Missouri – home of B52 bombers ** Fort Leonard Wood – Missouri – Army training installation ** St. Louis Army Human Resources – St. Louis, MO ** Scott Air Force Base – Illinois – home of the Air Mobility Command ** Fort Campbell – Tennessee – home fo Screaming eagles, the 101st Airborne ** Nashville ANG – Tennessee ** Smyrna ANG – Tennessee ** Houston Barracks – Tennessee ** McGhee Tyson ANG – Tennessee ** Pope Air Force Base – North Carolina – Air mobility command ** Fort Bragg – North Carolina – one of the largest military installations in the world ** MCAS New River – North Carolina ** Camp Lejeune – North Carolina – military training facility ** US Coast Guard Station Fort Macon   And apparently now there are two more Chinese “spy balloons” that have been identified…   A third Chinese spy balloon could be lingering near US interests, but officials won’t say where it is.   An anonymous source told the Washington Post a third balloon is likely operating near the US after the first balloon was discovered hovering over Montana on Thursday and another was found above Latin America on Friday.   Of course it is quite true that the Chinese do not exactly need giant balloons to spy on us.   The Chinese can see pretty much whatever they want using their spy satellites, and their stealth drones are highly sophisticated.   As U.S. Senator Marco Rubio has pointed out, the Chinese have already been spying on us in many different ways…   On Friday’s “Mike Gallagher Show,” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) stated that the Chinese spy balloon over the United States is “not the first time” and “We’ve seen these before.” He also stated that China can get the information it gets from the balloon from satellites, Huawei equipment that is installed in the United States, and “a million” different ways and China does so and the balloon is “just one more method that they use to collect intelligence on us.”   And most Americans don’t realize that the Chinese literally have an army of spies on the ground here in the United States.   If you don’t want to believe me, perhaps you will believe what Donald Trump just said…   Former President Donald Trump warned on Friday that China has “many thousands of spies working in the United States” in various industries amid a revelation that a Chinese spy balloon is flying over the continental United States.   “It’s rarely even mentioned that China has many thousands of spies working in the United States in business, finance, academia, technology, media and likely, even government, very sadly,” Trump declared.   A current member of Congress even slept with a known Chinese spy, but he has not been removed from Congress.   So with everything else that has already been going on, it amazes me that everyone is suddenly so upset about a giant balloon.   Whether or not this was actually a “spy balloon” or not, the truth is that the Chinese are going to continue to spy on us in countless different ways.   And whether or not the Chinese sent this “spy balloon” toward us on purpose or not, the truth is that they are going to continue to prepare for the coming war.   According to author Gordon Chang, the Chinese are currently “engaged in the fastest military buildup since the Second World War”…   “We know what the Chinese are doing,” Chang explained. “They’re engaged in the fastest military buildup since the Second World War. They’re trying to sanctions proof their regime and most ominously they’re preparing China’s civilians for war.”   Chang pointed to a recent move from Chinese President Xi Jinping shortly after he was appointed to his precedent breaking third term as General Secretary at the National Congress in October, when he appointed what is being referred to as the “war cabinet.”   And we also know that the Chinese have been busy making economic moves that would make sense if they believe that a war with the U.S. is approaching…   While we focus on the obvious, it’s important to also understand that from a monetary and financial perspective, it looks like China is preparing for war.   Notably, China is continuing to stockpile gold while selling U.S. Treasuries, an obvious step that a country readying either for war or to challenge the U.S. dollar on a global stage (or both) would be taking.   As Zero Hedge noted last month, China has now bought 100 tons of gold in days.   Once again, I want to make it very clear that I don’t want to see a war between the United States and China.   Because such a war would be absolutely horrific.   Unfortunately, anti-China sentiment is reaching a fever pitch in Washington, and anti-American sentiment is reaching  Unfortunately, anti-China sentiment is reaching a fever pitch in Washington, and anti-American sentiment is reaching a fever pitch in Beijing.   We really are on the brink of the unthinkable, and once the missiles start flying there will be no going back. The Battle Is The Lord’s - By Hal Lindsey - https://www.hallindsey.com/ww-2-5-2023/   A boy walks across a valley. An army stands on the hillside behind him, and another army stands on the hillside before him. Fear and terror seem to have weakened the army behind him to the point of uselessness. The army in front of him has also been weakened, but it doesn’t understand. It has been made weak by pride and hubris.   The boy walks between them with confidence and humility. He can have both because he understands Whose battle he is about to fight. Young David bends down and gathers stones from a shallow brook. One of them will become the missile that changes history.   Out from the prideful army walks an even more prideful man — a giant trained in warfare from his youth up. Goliath looks on his opponent with disdain. “Am I a dog,” he asks, “that you come to me with sticks?” [1 Samuel 17:43, NASB] To the boy he says, “I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.” [1 Samuel 17:44, NASB]   David answers, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” [1 Samuel 17:45-47 NASB]   How can young David maintain both humility and supreme confidence? It comes from his understanding that “the battle is the Lord’s.”   David was too young, without proper training, ill-equipped, and without backup… or was he? He was definitely young — easily as young as 13, almost certainly no older than 16. Goliath’s contempt came because of David’s youth, his nonexistent armor, his lack of weaponry, and even his good looks. 1 Samuel 17:42 says Goliath “disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance.” The word here translated “handsome” means “beautiful.” He was a pretty boy and the giant disdained him for it.   When Satan tries to dissuade and discourage us from serving God, he tries to make even our strengths seem like liabilities. He makes us feel too young, or too old; too good looking or too ugly; a person with a dark past or a goody-two-shoes — too fat, too skinny, underqualified, or overqualified.   David was young, but he knew the Lord, and knew Him personally. His battle experience was not against men, but he had faced the lion and God gave him victory. He protected his sheep from the bear, and God gave him victory. The army shivering with fear behind David might not have had his back. But David stood in that valley — the living God within him and the armies of heaven on all sides. Goliath’s size, experience, equipment, and power were as nothing before God. And David made sure that everyone understood Who Goliath opposed that day in the valley. The giant could easily defeat David alone, but he didn’t stand a chance against God.   Maybe you feel alone in the valley — ill-equipped and ill-trained. The Christian army behind you may seem weak, ineffective, compromised, fearful, or uninterested. That which stands against you may seem confident, powerful, and committed. Even in such a dire circumstance, you can say with Paul in Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself.”   It's not about you, your strengths, or your weaknesses. In Christ, you can face any enemy, defeat any giant because… the battle is the Lord’s!  Daily Jot: Red balloons go by - Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com   The controversy over the Chinese spy balloons has reduced itself to a Democrat mob pointing fingers at former president Trump, saying the spy balloons were over the US when he was president. Trump denies it and said that if there were any Chinese spy balloons flying over, he would have shot them down immediately—not waiting days upon days of a potential national security threat looming over the American public like Joe Biden did. Interesting that the idea that Chinese spy balloons floated over the US during Trump first came from an unnamed source in the Biden Defense Department. This has sparked a “he said, they said” debate in the news media. But this is just a smokescreen for the larger issue.   An unnamed Biden Administration defense official “confirmed” to Fox News that Chinese spy balloons floated over the US at least three times during the Trump administration, but knowledge of the balloons remained undetected until after Trump left office. This is a wildly irresponsible job of reporting. Of course, a deep state Biden Administration official is going to say that. The idea is to further degrade Trump while deflecting any ineptitude by Biden. And the media goes right along with it. Notwithstanding credible named sources in the Trump Administration—Defense Secretary Mark Esper, National Security Advisor John Bolton, White House National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, and Director of National Intelligence Jon Ratcliffe—all denied Chinese spy balloons flew over the US during the Trump Administration.   Yet, the media has made a story out of one guy in the Biden Administration that won’t put his name to his claim. That this is a story is a tremendous disservice to the American people. The real story is that the Chinese have gotten away with violating the US airspace and could have caused incredible death tolls if that balloon was carrying a biological, chemical or electronic weapon. And the inept Biden Administration allowed it to travel across the country for several days without taking action. Biden himself ordered the balloon shot down on February 1, but a defense official told him not to shoot it down because of safety concerns for people on the ground. So they let it continue on its mission another three days. Isn’t the president supposed to be commander in chief?   White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Friday, “The president will always put the safety and security of the American people first.” The “president” exposed the nation to great security risk. Biden is weak on China and he is weak on national security as indicated by his actions to undermine the military and to not provide boarder security. The national defense is at stake. This not about whether Trump let China get away with spy balloons, it’s about Biden allowing China to float spy balloons over the country. 2 Timothy 3:13 says, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Do not be deceived. This Chinese threat is real, and Biden is compromised. His army of deceivers are covering for him. Daily Devotion: The Need for Personal Repentance - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org   If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear. —Psalm 66:18   https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-need-for-personal-repentance/ - Listen   I wonder whether people even know what shame is anymore. The things that once embarrassed us are being proclaimed as virtues today. Everything is upside down. Wrong has become right. Right has become wrong. And we’ve forgotten how to blush.   This is what Daniel was describing when he prayed, “O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You” (Daniel 9:8 NKJV). And Daniel personally repented.   Throughout the Book of Daniel, we don’t read of Daniel sinning. That doesn’t mean he lived a sin-free life, because he was human like the rest of us. But Daniel lived a godly life. And this man of God thought it was necessary to personally repent because he didn’t want unconfessed sin to get in the way of his relationship with God.   This reminds us that the closer we get to God, the greater the sense of our own sinfulness will be. Just about the time you think you’re reaching spiritual maturity, God will show you a little more of your heart, and you will realize how far you have to go.   The more you know of the Lord, the more you will see that you still need to change. There isn’t some spiritual plateau where we finally will be above it all. It isn’t going to happen in this life.   The more you grow, the more you will realize that you need to grow more. The more you learn, the more you will realize that you need to learn more. But it’s a great pursuit.   Is there any sin that you need to repent of? Is there any area of your life that is displeasing to the Lord? Don’t allow it to get in the way of your relationship with God. Get rid of it. Let it go.

THE END OF THIS AGE

 

by Pastor Mike Taylor

 “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what {will be} the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" NASB. (Matthew 24:3)

Jesus has just come from the temple mount and prophesied that the temple would be torn down, “not leaving one stone upon another.” This disturbed the disciples, as the temple was the center of their world, the world of the nation of Israel. The KJV has the last part of the above verse as “the end of the world.” We know that it is more proper in context to use the “end of the age” as when Jesus comes back to rule for 1000 years, it will be on this very earth we now populate, but with major revisions to return the earth to it's former glory when Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden. It will be the end of the world, as we know it. But let us take a look at the signs that would precede the coming of the Son of Man in power and great glory.

I will do a line by line bible study of this chapter that must be followed up with the next chapter of Matthew 25 in a follow up sermon, as all are connected, but let's take the first sign of the end of this age.  Continuing in Matthew:

24:4  And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you.
24:5  "For many will come in My name, saying, `I am the Christ,' and will mislead many.


Folks have taken this to mean that many will come as claiming to be the Messiah. True, there have been many false messiahs that have claimed to be Him, but what was Jesus talking about? I don't believe He was talking about what many believe.  It's pointing to false religions, false doctrines, and deception that will fill the churches in that day. Men claiming to be followers of Jesus Christ will use His name to appease the masses they wish to delude. These frauds and double agents would come in His name, that is, appearing to bear His authority. In particular, the name of "Christ" would be exploited as cover for their nefarious trickery, and by this ruse, great numbers of people would be deluded. The phrase, "saying, I am the Christ," should not be understood, as the New King James Version has punctuated it, to mean that many would come claiming to be the Messiah. No, they would come claiming that Jesus is the Messiah—a truth—and thereby gain people's trust. From that point forward, deception through doctrinal change, both major and minor, provides the means of deception. As the anonymous maxim puts it, "The nearer a lie is to truth the more deceitful it is."

NEW AGE AND THE EMERGENT CHURCH

Folks, look around you. Have there ever been a time when there is false doctrine permeating our churches? They promote a feel good gospel. They promote false healing, miracles, and signs used to deceive. All the while they have agents in the background who are setting up this charade to influence the masses to what end? Money! They are religious entertainers in our churches that use smoke and mirrors to fool the people looking for truth. I have never seen so much imagery and modern technology that gets the juices of these adherents to a feel good gospel all whooped up in a frenzy and elevate the man preaching a feel good sermon, instead of Jesus Christ. Jesus warned us of these “wolves in sheep clothing” that would come into to devour the sheep. They have continued unabated in these New Emergent Churches and promote universal tolerant view that there are many roads to God. They preach that all religions will find the way to Heaven, meaning Gnostics, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews right along with true believers in Jesus Christ will all receive the same salvation and eternal life. “”All roads lead to God and all religions are the same”” God is love and no one will go to any “hell”. This flies in the face of Acts 4:10-12, in which Peter asserts that only by the name of Jesus Christ is salvation possible. I call this Emergent theology, the “First Church of Blasphemy”. They make a mockery of the saving Grace of our Lord and Savior. They preach that all will receive “Universal Reconciliation” and no one will end up in hell, nobody. This is not found in scripture anywhere as Jesus spoke of hell more than He did heaven.

WAR AND RUMORS OF WARS

Jesus continues in Matthew:
24:6 “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows.”(Matthew 24:6-8)


Men have been fighting each other for 2000 years since Jesus made this statement, but the last century of modern times has been the bloodiest of all the centuries past. More people died in this last 100 years of 2 world wars, and the various conflicts that have killed more people in them than the preceding 1900 years combined. Various wars and conflicts by count of the dead totals 262,000,000 people....that's millions, folks. And this was the “beginning of sorrows”. That's a large portion of every man, woman and child that resides in this country we called the United States of America as a population count.

24:9 “ Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
24:10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

You look at other third world countries, the Middle East and other dictatorships say of Russia, or China, and it's not safe to be a Christian even in our modern times. It hasn't come to America YET, but Christians are becoming viewed increasingly with suspicion by the powers that be, even in our country, the USA.  People are being slain for the name of Jesus Christ right now, even as you read this. Jesus said it would be so, and it is becoming more and more common place. As it was in Jesus day, being persecuted by the Romans and even the “Holy Roman Empire” (sic), ie. the Catholic Church has now come full circle to engulf our world with the same genocide of whole races and people who profess Jesus Christ and Him crucified. But stay tuned, as you haven't seen anything yet!! Look at verse 12 of the above passage. Here in the home of the brave and the free, we have become a nation that is filled with iniquity in all shapes and forms and it has grown exponentially in the last 50 years. No one would have believed when I was growing up that men and women of this nation and for that matter, the world, would grow emotionally cold and not value human life. That is even where we have slaughtered over 60 million of the unborn in the name of sexual freedom and love for our off-spring has nearly died in many parts of our society. Not to mention crime growing worse every day and terrorist attacks coming even to our shores.

THE GOSPEL PREACHED WORLDWIDE

24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)”24:14-15)

No other time in history has there been so many ways to transmit the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The technology has advanced at such a rapid pace, that an email sent across the world is delivered within seconds. The Gospel News has covered the entire earth. So what prevents the end of the age? I believe nothing, except the timing held by God the Father who knows when the last person will accept His offer of Grace.

JESUS REFERED TO  PROPHECY in DANIEL 9 v. 27

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” (Daniel 9:27)

Jesus speaks of the Abomination of Desolation that Daniel spoke of, and says when you see this man standing in the temple of God, claiming to be God, then RUN or “get out of Dodge” so to speak.

24:16 “Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
24:17  Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
24:18  Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
24:19  And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
24:20  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
24:21  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
24:22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.”(Matthew 24:16-22)



Notice the people Jesus speaks of? He doesn't refer to the Gentiles, or the rest of the world, but those who live in Judea. Jesus takes dead aim at only one group of people. He was talking about Israel. Observant Jews cannot travel more than a days walk from their home on the Sabbath, and to travel with child is difficult. Pray it's not snowing, as it sometimes does in Israel and it's cold making travel a problem. But Jesus warns them to get out, head for the hills....hide yourself. Don't take anything with you. Why? Because Israel will reject this “man” claiming to be a god and in his rage will attempt to destroy the nation of Israel because of their rejection of him as a liar and know they have made a deal with the devil.

The Holocaust of the Nazi's will pale in the attempt of this man to destroy all remnant of the house of  Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I've spoken of it many times in sermons past. Israel will be refined as silver is in the fire. They will be persecuted and hunted down because they reject this “false messiah” and his “false prophet”. Malachi chapter 3,

3:2  But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3:3  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
3:4  Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.” (Malachi 3:2-4)


How do you refine silver? You heat it red hot, but not too hot, or the silver is destroyed, but hot enough to remove the slag that floats to the top, to reveal the pure silver beneath.

That is what will be Israel's purification. Until our Lord and Savior can see His image in them, He will continue to allow the heat of persecution to turn them to their Messiah that they had rejected 2000 years earlier. Only when they realize this and proclaim, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Luke 13:35b.) , then swiftly, the Lord God will come to do battle for His people Israel and save them out of tribulation and set them as a crowning jewel of His city Jerusalem on a mountain lifted high. He will save them all for the promise He made to their father's and because of His glorious Name. So much for Replacement Theology.

JESUS WARNS OF THE ANTICHRIST AND FALSE PROPHET

24:23 “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24:24  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.
24:25  Behold, I have told you before.
24:26  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.”(Matthew 24:23-26)

Not only has there been false prophets and false messiahs leading up to this time, but I believe Jesus is talking of  THE false messiah, and THE false prophet that all of the Gentile nations will follow who have pleasure in unrighteousness. He speaks to the Nation of Israel to believe it not, as the Gentiles who have rejected Jesus Christ and will follow whole hog after this charlatan who claims divinity. I submit that all nations will be fooled, as there is nothing to give them discernment of this false hood, as they believe in themselves, and reject God. They follow a god on earth, that leads them in their wickedness. Paul warns of this in 2nd Thessalonians:

 2:8, “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved.
2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2^nd Thessalonians 2:8-12)

Notice the next few verses? Jesus, I believe is giving an almost chronological order of the time leading up to His glorious appearing and the events that happen right after that.



24:27 “ For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
24:28  For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.” (Matthew 24:27-28)

Some misinterpret this to mean the sun shining from the east to the west and all will see Him....I believe this is reference to the sudden appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, suddenly, when they think not. As lightning flashes suddenly from the eastern part of the sky and flashes to the west, this will be sudden and without warning. All will know something has happened, as the signs are all around them. People missing, people screaming for loved ones that have vanished and the realization that an unexplained calamity has befallen their world.  Untold havoc will rule the day.

But what of that next verse, verse 28? In the days Jesus lived in and we see it somewhat in our world here in the USA, carrion birds smell death. This verse is better translated as vultures, as eagles kill live prey, not dead ones. Vultures circle a carcass and many gather for this putrid feast. Jesus was making a comparison that Jerusalem was dead in spirit, and by extension of end time prophecy, saying that those who miss the greatest happening of our lifetime, will be devoured, as so much dead bodies as they are spiritually dead. Note that Revelation says that 2/3 of all mankind will be destroyed, by divine judgment, including natural disasters, and to a lesser degree, man-made persecution. I calculate upwards of 5 billion+ people will die in 7 short years. Notice in the opening lines of this sermon, 262 million people have died in the last 100 years by war....during the tribulation, this will be 15-20 times that amount, not millions, but billions of people who will die in 7 short years, with the majority in the last half. Woe to the person who reads this and puts off what I preach of the nearness of our Lord's return, and not accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, by grace through faith. Then they will see just what I am referring to in all its horror, which is beyond anything I could describe.

24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
24:31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”(Matthew 24:29-31)

Notice the progression of events as Jesus explains them? Jesus came prior as a flash of lightning, quickly and without warning. People are then dying by the millions into the billions called the tribulation and then the Great Tribulation, where judgment from God gets kicked into high gear. Then immediately, a sign of impending doom covers the earth. Here we have people dying all around, so could things get any worse? Yes, much worse. Seven angels pour out 7 vials of the wrath of God in it's full strength. The sun fails to shine, the moon quits reflecting the sun during night hours, stars are falling, and the powers of heaven and earth are shaken....what could shaken mean? Untold destruction, signs of impending doom and everyone knows. I mean everyone knows that something is about to happen and the dread grips them, until their hearts and circulatory systems collapse or maybe they go mad and crazy with fear. One can only speculate. People will mourn. It says that all the tribes of the earth will mourn. You will not mourn for something that gives you joy as we will at His appearing, but mourn because of spirit filled dread and loathing, so the church of God is not included in this analogy, as we prayed for His appearing, and it  brought great joy 7 years earlier.

When Jesus comes to reign and rule and destroy all rebellion, will this time be sudden, without warning, without anyone noticing a difference in their environment? Would you notice? If you are witness to it, and I pray you are not, then you would definitely notice some type of world shaking event that is about to happen.  Will men repent of their rebellion, what with all the disasters and environmental changes, not to mention inescapable displays of divine wrath that can only come from a Higher Power? They must know that it's the God of Heaven doing this to them and to this world. Will they repent? God says they will not as found in the verses of Revelation.  We see angels flying in the air proclaiming the Gospel to the nations left.

Why are Angels proclaiming the Gospel at this time? Was that not the Church’s job to preach unto the highways and the byways? Yes, but since the Church is NOT here, the job is left to an Angel to proclaim one last time that Gospel of Jesus Christ, as we are not on this earth...another sign of the rapture of the church. God gives them every possible chance to repent, but alas, they will not.


Then verse 31, He shall send His angels to gather all of the elect who have died for the witness of Jesus Christ. Who are these elect? During this time of Great Tribulation, there will be 144,000 evangelist from the 12 tribes of Israel. You will have two witnesses who are preaching nonstop for 3.5 years at the temple of God. Who will believe their message? The Nation of Israel will be their focus. People of the rest of the world have been fed a strong delusion, and they believe a lie. They have taken a mark of loyalty to the Beast Power and are spiritually doomed. The angels are gathering saints, fallen saints during this tribulation. They have died believing in their Messiah and have not denied Him, to the death. They are Israel and a minority of Gentiles, as God has purified them all as silver is refined in the fire....He has washed them as with fuller soap....clean, white, and pure because of the blood of their Savior, our Savior.

Now Jesus backs up in time continuum and speaks a parable of a fig tree:

24:32 “ Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:32-36)

Earlier in Luke, Jesus blasted the Pharisees for not perceiving signs that were given them:

12:54 “ And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
12:55  And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
12:56  Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?” (Luke 12:54-56)

In their blindness, they had the prophecy of Jesus appearing, as He was right in front of them. They did not perceive or understand. Today we have the prophecy right in front of us, as they did. They did not perceive His coming to them as their Messiah. Will we understand and perceive His glorious appearing and gathering His church, in the twinkling of an eye?

51 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” (1^st Corinthians 15:51-53)

A SURPRISE FOR THOSE IN DARKNESS


As I just mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, the time of His coming to rule and reign to put down all rebellion on earth, will not come as a surprise. All will know that impending doom is coming. It will be an unprecedented time and not a day like all others. Jesus speaks of an earlier time, when a fig tree is about to blossom and putting forth new leaves. When did that fig tree appear? Correct, in May 1948, when Israel was made a nation again after almost 2000 years. Unprecedented and amazing, not suppose to happen, but it did....divinely so. He says when these events start to happen, then know He is near...right at the door!

A generation will not pass till all things be fulfilled. What is a generation? The bible says in Psalm 90 that a man has 70 years to live his life and 80 years by strength to live on this earth. Now I warn others, we can't make predictions about dates, or times, noting v. 36, but we can know the season....add 1948 plus 70-80 years....see what I mean, are we on the cusp of the fulfillment of this scripture? Note that the lower age of 7o years was fulfilled three years ago. How much longer, Lord?

24:37 “ But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”(Matthew 24:37-39)



Jesus speaks of a day, that's like any other day. People are merrily going about their business. They continue their wickedness, not knowing anything is amiss, much like the people of Noah's day. UNTIL, the warning ends, and the event takes place. Life will change for everyone who misses the warning and continues in their wickedness. Much like Noah's Ark.  This ship (Jesus Christ and Him crucified) of the Church of the Living God will leave port and bound for glory, and the world will wander around as blind people wondering what happened.

24:40 “ Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
24:41  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”(Matthew 24:40-42)

Notice the suddenness of the event, as described here which is synonymous with the parable about Noah and warning people of the Antediluvian period. Some take this as a bad sign for the one removed, but I take it as to mean the elect being removed by force, without warning. Why do I say that? Because of the next few verses:

24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:43-44)

Jesus comes suddenly, without warning, much as a thief would break into your home. Another emphasis on the unforeseen. Did you know he was coming? No, that's why he's appears as a thief. Jesus is not a thief, but the analogy fits as it describes the unforeseen, so you take precautions and that you are prepared for the suddenness of His coming. How do you prepare? By accepting Jesus as your Savior.

 24:45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?(preaching the Word in the time we have left) emphasis mine.
24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
24:47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
24:48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
24:49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
24:50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
24:51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:45-51)

Then comes this last part. Ministers that read this, take note. Who is Jesus speaking of here? Is it the everyday Joe that the Lord has given him ruler-ship over His household? What is His house? The church and the  people who make up that church. Sadly, there are many so called “ministers” that take the office of shepherd lightly and abuse the office of their calling. That is many in the main stream denominations today. I believe Jesus is making special mention of men and women  who have been called to teach, to preach the Gospel, to counsel, and to minister to the children of God who make up His body. To neglect that duty and wander into sins of the flesh, be it stealing, lying, adultery, or any other sin that abuses the folks, then woe to that servant.

Sadly, these wolves in sheep clothing, or ministers that abuse their office, have the flock looking to them for leadership. They look for spiritual meat for life, as found in the Word of God. If a minister falls, and fails in his calling, is it only him that it takes down? No, it takes many people who looked to him for spiritual leadership and they fall away from following God. They sadly, put their stock in a man, as their example and failed to realize, that there is only One example, and that is the man/God, Jesus Christ. Is this minister responsible for the spiritual condition of His flock? To a point, yes he is. But in the same breath, each of us are responsible for our own salvation. It's just sad that this minister, or false prophet, since he failed, abused this office and the reward is severe. How severe? God is the judge, not me.

YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH

The signs of the end of the age are all around us. Jesus gave us the prophecy 2000 years ago, and it is being played out with pin point accuracy, in His day and in ours. Jesus is God and He knew when He spoke of these words to His disciples the path that this age we live in would take. The question is: Are you taking Him seriously? Do you read these words and scoff, or take warning? Have you been playing church, or wandering around in the dark and know not my Savior? You say you believe in Jesus Christ, but do you live like you know Him? People, the time is growing short. History is winding down to the end of the  Church age, or the Age of Grace. Suddenly, the Words of Jesus will be all too  real for anyone that turns a deaf ear to the warning. Will you survive what is coming? Will you even want to? Will you make your home with the angels or with the demons of hell? Will you dwell with God Almighty for all eternity, or be banished to outer darkness where this is weeping and gnashing of teeth?

Many places within the Bible speaks of prophecy, as it is full of signs and wonders for the close of human existence on this planet. Will  you be found in Him, by accepting His blood sacrifice on a cruel cross for your sins, and mine? Will you enjoy eternal bliss and glory in a world that no man can imagine? Or will you worship yourself and pay the penalty with everlasting punishment apart from God? I beseech you, that you present yourself as a living sacrifice to  God and believe on the only name, that is above every name, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, as the signs speak of the end of the age closing fast.

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)

The above verses are the whole point of the Bible, as it's all about Jesus and what He did for mankind nearly 2000 years ago on a cruel Roman cross bleeding and dying for your sins, and for mine. You see, the salvation message is so simple that even a small child can understand their need for a Savior..I've seen children as young as 6 years old proclaim Jesus as Messiah, their Redeemer and their need for His sacrifice applied to their lives. As Jesus said,

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3)

We may not fully understand everything about the Gospel message, but we understand God's Grace through our faith confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives.

8 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13)

Stayed tuned as I will continue in chapter 25 next time that the time of the Lord's visitation to this earth for the Bride of Christ, His Church is close, even at the door. Won't you join us, those who have put their faith and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the only Way back to God?

This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying God's salvation in your life today. If there is anything I can counsel you on, pray with you about, or just listen with a sympathetic ear, email me at pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com, or visit me online at www.pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com, God bless you all,

till we meet at Jesus feet.