The Nearness Of The Hour I have a constant, unremitting sense that we are indeed approaching the very last days of this generation. This comes not only from the convergence of birth pains and the signs around us, but from an intangible sense that may come from the Holy Spirit. It seems very very close now and as a result, I seem to get a sense to wrap things up with the people around me and to say things that normally would go unsaid, whether it is simply expressing love, witnessing to the unsaved, telling people where we are on the prophetic timeline etc. - this list is pretty extensive. I do believe now is the time to shift our focus. Indeed, we need to continue following the pertinent news stories as they relate to prophecy - but it is so late in the hour now - we should spend more time focused on Jesus and His imminent return for His Bride. As stated so many times before - we cant forget the instructions from Jesus (Luke 21:28-31): When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near We lift our heads in order to look towards Jesus. That is all we have now. What a paradox. We are entering the darkest period that has ever been seen on earth (For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now... Matthew 24:21), yet we are to be filled with abundant joy in the midst of watching these things happening around us. How can that be? One word: Jesus. We have the most epic celebration and reunion ever imagined coming up. Jesus awaits this as well with great anticipation. Remember His words at the last supper: I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Fathers kingdom (Matthew 26:29). Why did He say this? What was He referring to? He knew that the Wedding Supper of the Lamb would be coming - when He reunites with His Bride, in Heaven and when He would indeed drink from that cup again (Revelation 19:7-9): Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb! And he added, These are the true words of God. Is the world becoming worse and worse in a general sense? Of course. Is world-wide tyranny and totalitarianism just on the horizon? Absolutely, no doubt. Is warfare and violence worsening? Yes. Is persecution increasing around the world? Indeed. Is the worlds economic system on the verge of collapse? Undoubtedly. Is the world completely upside down, where good is viewed as evil and evil is viewed as good? Every day. Should we be depressed? Scared? Fearful? Uncertain? Absolutely not. We have hope - the hope that can only come from one source - Jesus. Remember His parting words to His apostles, not long before His arrest: (John 14:1-6) Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Fathers house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. I am the way and the truth and the life. Note that Jesus started this passage with these words: Do not let your hearts be troubled Trust in God; trust also in me Those 14 words should be our mantra in these last days, as the darkness descends. We know that He is coming for us, based on the prophetic words given - words that were given to us to give us comfort and hope during these dark days. Jesus is coming - otherwise there would be no hope at this time in history. The apostle Peter clarified (2 Peter 1:19): And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as a light shining in a dark place... What a perfect characterization of the prophetic scriptures. Peter knew it would be dark times as we read these very words. He also knew that clinging to the promises contained within our prophecies should give us hope - as a light shining in a dark place. So, to summarize - we need to be focused on Jesus right now in these last minutes. Focused on the hope and promises that He has given us. Focused on the coming celebration - the coming wedding - the reunion with our loved ones who have gone before us. The discoveries of New Jerusalem. Heaven. No more curse, no more sin. No more pain, no more tears. The light of God illuminating our new world. Those who are controlling the earth right now have no idea of any of this. They really do believe that they are all powerful and in total control, and indeed on this earth they are - they have been granted that for a brief period. But they cannot take away what is coming for us. They cannot take away Jesus and they cannot take away His promises. We have eternity as our focus. We have Jesus as our focus. We have an amazing future as our focus. They cant take any of this away. But more importantly - and over and beyond all of this - we have Jesus awaiting. Soon, we will be in His very presence. Imagine that. Ponder that. Focus on that. Jesus. Can you imagine that moment?
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 21:24:07 +0000
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