We live in very interesting times. There’s no doubt we are living in the very last days. In fact, we may not see tomorrow. The prophecies spoken of by the prophets of God all seem to be being fulfilled quickly. Israel has very few friends among the nations, Russia is making friends with Israel’s enemies, the Third Temple is ready to be built, AI is an evil that is just getting started (could that stand for anti-iesous?), and much more.
Another sign of the times is apostasy. There are many people who profess to be Christians who have the most screwball beliefs imaginable. Mormons believe that if they’re good enough, when they die, they will become gods of their own planet; Catholics believe that what the pope says is sacred even if it contradicts Scripture; some so-called Christians think the church has replaced Israel, and the list goes on. Scripture contradicts all of these beliefs.
“I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).
Jesus had just told a parable about a judge who was corrupt. He didn’t have any fear of God and could care less about people. A widow was having a problem and needed legal help, so she went to the judge and asked for his help. The judge didn’t care about her problems, but he also didn’t want her to keep coming to him for help. He decided to help her. This parable doesn’t condone corrupt judges, but it does encourage persistent prayer and faith. Our prayers should be only to God, and we should be in prayer always.
Although Jesus questioned if He would find faith when He returns at the second coming, I wonder how much faith He would find today. We should take heed today to be faithful and pray. We see earnest prayer being answered throughout Scripture. One of my favorite examples of earnest faith and prayer being answered is found in 1 Samuel. A man named Elkanah had 2 wives. One, Peninnah, was not a very kind or loving woman. She was able to bear children, which made her feel superior. The other wife, Hannah, wasn’t able to have children, but Elkanah loved her dearly. Peninnah treated her poorly.
“And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb” (1 Samuel 1:6).
Have you ever had people mock you and torment you unfairly? How did you handle it? Hannah is a very good example. She didn’t whine to her husband nor did she seek revenge on Peninnah. She did pray.
“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD and wept sore” (1 Samuel 1:10).
Hannah was a sweet woman who loved God and knew that only He could help her. She didn’t pray for vengeance upon Peninnah for being mean, but her prayer was centered upon her request and how she would serve God if her prayer was answered.
“And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou will indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but will give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head” (1 Samuel 1:11).
How many mothers dedicate their children to God, then forget to teach them about God? Hannah would follow through on her promise. Hannah’s prayer was between her and God, and she poured out her heart to Him. She didn’t speak out loud, but her lips moved. Eli was the priest, and, being only human, he misinterpreted what he saw. He thought she was drunk. Hannah set him straight.
“And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord. I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:15).
God answered Hannah’s prayer, and she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, and he became a very important judge and prophet of Israel. His life was dedicated to serving God. Hannah was a woman of strong faith.
Another example of faith is found in Esther. She was a young Jewish girl growing up in Shushan, which was the winter palace of Persian kings. The Babylonian captivity was over, but many Jewish families chose to remain where they had lived for so many years. Esther was raised by her cousin, Mordecai, because her parents had died, and Mordecai was a very kind man. The king, Ahasuerus, was not a very kind man. When he had a party for a group of men, he wanted his wife, Vashti, to parade herself in front of them. Vashti refused and was sent away. That left the king without a queen.
Following his nature, he told his servants to gather all the fair young virgins and bring them to him so he could choose the one who pleased him the most. Yes, he was a jerk. Esther was one of the captured young virgins. Esther had a strong character and didn’t feel sorry for herself but cooperated. Mordecai never stopped his concern for Esther and advised her not to reveal that she was Jewish, and he checked on her daily.
After a year, it was Esther’s time to go in and be with the king. She was very pleasing to the king, and he made her his queen. We have to live every day by faith, and Esther couldn’t have imagined what God knew about her future but stayed faithful to Him. He had allowed Esther to be queen for a very special reason.
As time went on, it became known to Mordecai that an evil man named Haman plotted to have all the Jewish people in the kingdom killed. Haman had convinced the king to issue a decree that on the 13th day of Adar, the people were to kill all Jewish people. Because Esther was queen, she was in a position to stop the atrocity. The problem was the king didn’t know she was Jewish, and even so, if she approached him without being summoned, she could be killed. Mordecai had encouraged her to approach the king, but she told him of the very real possibility she would be killed.
“Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews” (Esther 4:13).
In other words, she would die anyway simply because she was Jewish. Mordecai told her that she might be in the king’s house for this exact reason. God does work in mysterious ways, and He was working through Esther. So, Esther came up with a plan. It started with prayer and fasting.
“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
What if Christians would have the faith to earnestly pray for each other and our governments? I’m sure our faith would make a difference. As it turned out, Esther was able to stop Haman from further evil. She had thrown a banquet where only the king and Haman were guests, and then a second banquet. As the evening progressed, Esther revealed to the king that she was Jewish and that she and her people were about to be slaughtered because of Haman.
King Ahasuerus was not one to wait for trial, and he had Haman hanged. The king reversed his decree, and there was no slaughter, but he did honor Mordecai and Esther. There was much celebrating, and this is now a Jewish celebration called Purim. Esther couldn’t have imagined what great things she would accomplish for God when she was abducted. Her dreams of becoming a Jewish wife of a Jewish man were forever changed, but her people were saved. She had great faith in God and acted upon that faith. But first, she asked for prayer and fasting. What if she hadn’t prayed? What if she had no faith?
Scripture is filled with many great accounts of faith and the rewards from God for faithfulness. Enoch was a man of great faith at a time much like today; evil was everywhere. He kept himself away from the evil and was able to instill in his children the same faith.
“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had the testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:5-6).
Enoch pleased God by his faith. He lived his life by God’s rules and not by participating in the demonic happenings around him. That’s what God expects from Christians today. Our faith should cause us to seek God and live according to His word. Enoch pleased God by faith, and he was taken prior to God’s judgment of the Flood. He stands as a picture of Christians being Raptured prior to Daniel’s 70th week, the final seven years of Earth’s history.
Today, there is much apostasy among those claiming to be Christians, which makes me wonder how much true faith is left. There is a remnant who follow Scripture, but we are getting fewer each day. Instead of God’s word being respected, we allow our children to be taught evolution. Instead of godly marriage being honored, people live together until they find someone new, then move on. Marriage has been perverted to include same-sex marriages, and people even think they can choose their gender… or even their species. Purpose-driven teachings undermine Biblical truth. Name it and claim it preachers make millions of dollars spewing their lies while Scripture goes unread. This is all happening now, prior to the Rapture, and true faith is becoming hard to find.
What will happen during the seven final years after the Rapture? Will Christ find faith when He returns? It will be near to impossible to be faithful to Christ during those final days. The man of sin will rule the world and require everyone to take a mark.
“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:16-17).
The world is being primed today to bow to the beast and take his mark. After the Rapture, nobody can be saved who has taken the mark. There will be some who come to faith during the Tribulation, but it will be harder than it is today to stay faithful.
The best plan of action is to give your life to Christ today. You cannot be saved by being a good person. Salvation is by faith.
“For by grace are ye saved by faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
If you claim to be a Christian, then start living like Christ. Repent and turn away from your sin. Remember, God defines sin, not you.
Will He find faith when He returns? You need to answer that question and figure out where your faith lies.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
Recommended prophecy sites:
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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