One of my favorite cartoon strips shows a puppy at a Humane Society sitting at his cage door with a smile on his face (and yes, dogs do smile). Four of the five frames have the same scene with the caption “Maybe Today” under each one. Then, the fifth frame shows the puppy on the front seat of an automobile with a paper beside him with the heading, “Adopted.” The caption of that frame is, “Yes, Today!” and the puppy is totally ecstatic with anticipation of going to a new home. No matter what, all true believers should be comforted that one day we will be taken from this sin-filled world to be in our forever home that will be prepared by Jesus Himself (John 14:1-3). [Scripture ESV; all emphasis mine]

Being an impatient person myself, that puppy is an inspiration as to just how I should behave right now. Having studied the Father’s word over the years that He has provided for us, even a novice such as myself can see that we are the generation that will hear our Savior call out for His flock to meet Him in the air. There have always been some signs that tell us God has not forgotten about us. But when signs of the end of this age are described by Jesus, Paul and others, every one of them is here and at the same time right now.

As a reminder of what Jesus said we should be doing today, Luke 21:28, “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” We don’t know the Father’s timing, as it is totally up to Him, but when it’s written in His word that we are getting close, then we are at the very door.

Think of Noah building an Ark for an event that had never before taken place on this earth, and that was rain. Genesis 6-8 tells what took place and why God took the action that He did. Genesis 5 tells us Noah was 500 years old when his sons were born, and he was 600 when the flood came all over the earth. After the flood, Noah lived to be 950.

Initially, humans were created to live forever in the Garden of Eden, but because of sin (Genesis 3), death entered the world. With all the wickedness that took place before the flood, Genesis 6:3 states, “Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not abide in man forever for he is flesh; his days shall be 120 years.'” After the flood, the humans that populated the earth had shorter and shorter life spans as time passed.

A prayer of Moses in Psalm 90:10 states, “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone and we fly away.” (Note, some translations state three score and ten, which is the same as 70.)

In 2 Peter 3, we can get a feel for why we are seeing all the evil changes that are taking place. One thing to remember over everything else, God is not surprised by anything that is happening. 2 Peter 3:3-4, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.'”

This message is impressed on people’s minds by Satan as one of his best lies. He would have us think we have all the time in the world to live any way we want. Other lies are, “Did God really say?”; There are many ways to Heaven, as all religions worship the same god”; “If you feel you need Jesus in your life, call on Him later; meanwhile, enjoy life any way you please.” The only problem with these lies is that we aren’t guaranteed another hour, much less all the time we want. Also, to die without Jesus as our Savior is an automatic reservation at the Great White Throne without any recourse whatsoever.

Continue with 2 Peter 3:8-9; “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise, as some count slowness; but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” The “perish” here is not earthly death but is “eternal death” in the lake of fire. It could be that the Father is allowing a bit more time for more souls to be able to call on Jesus and be saved (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13), but eventually, He will send Jesus for us, and the wrath will begin.

The false prophets today are filling people’s minds with feel-good, ear-tickling messages that are not biblical. What God called abominations are still not acceptable to Him, no matter what some so-called evangelical preachers are saying.

Jesus knew, even when He was on this earth, that more would turn to the worldly ways than would accept Him. Matthew 7:13-14 gives us what He said about the narrow and broad pathways and where they would lead. He knew that anyone who called out to have Him as their Savior would be persecuted, but in John 16:33, He tells us to have faith because He has overcome the world.

John 10 is a wonderful chapter that tells us how much Jesus loves all of His flock and that He would willingly sacrifice Himself so that we could be with Him forever. John 10:16 states that there will be “one flock; One Shepherd.” It’s a promise for all, not just God’s chosen, that everyone can be saved if they will receive and accept Jesus as their Savior. By the way, Christianity has not stopped any of God’s covenants with the Jewish people. His covenants with them stand forever, yet even they have to accept Jesus to be given an eternal home in Heaven.

God’s will since Calvary is that all would receive and accept the free Gift Jesus paid for so dearly on that cruel cross. We must confess and admit we are all sinners (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23) in need of a Savior. Believe and have faith that Jesus is the only one that qualifies as our true Savior (John 14:6) and is the only way to the Father. All who truly call on Jesus will be saved (Romans 10:13).

Think of the puppy. “Maybe Today” Jesus will call for us; but even so, “Yes, Today,” we need to have Him in our hearts. Then, it won’t matter when He calls because our eternity will have already started as a precious member of His flock.

To miss the Harpazo, Rapture, or taking up to meet Jesus in the air would be a tragic mistake. One may very well survive for a while under the rule of the antichrist, but it’s very unlikely it will be for the full 7 years.

God will be working with His chosen ones, and some will be protected in a place specified by Him, which many believe will be at Petra in Jordan. However, as given in Zechariah 13:8, only about one-third of the total Jewish population will be left alive.

We’re told in Romans 11:25-27 that Israel will go through a “partial hardening” until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. Not all Jewish people will have this hardening, as a small percentage (1%-2%) of them are Messianic, who have accepted Jesus as their true Messiah. They will go up in the Rapture with all the other true believers in the world; they will not enter the tribulation.

The ones that are left behind will be under the direct discipline of the Father, and by the end of the 7-year period, all will be Messianic. As Romans 11:26a states, “And in this way, all Israel will be saved….”

It’s getting very real as we see all the events that are taking place in the whole world today. It’s as if we’re seeing end-time Bible prophecy being fulfilled at a faster and faster pace.

We should be like the puppy and looking forward to seeing Jesus. The term “fear not” is in the Bible 365 times, so this is something the Father definitely wants for us. It’s very possible we could take our last breath before the Rapture call, but at that instant, we will be in His presence. No matter what, we are His, and John 10 states that we cannot be taken from His hands.

So, Rejoice – Maybe Today!

huebshman46@gmail.com

(Ecclesiastes 4-6; 2 Corinthians 10)

Concern is growing among many, myself included, as to where the actions of our government – which has clearly aligned itself against a certain segment of the population – lead in these times ahead. The Biden Regime has staked out a position that labels conservatives and Christians as the enemy. This is not hyperbole on my part. State actors have defined us as potential Domestic Violent Extremists (DVEs). For them to do so is them projecting their intentions. The Left almost always says what they plan to do well in advance of their doing it. We ignore their rhetoric at our peril.

Our nation and the world are being set up. The ultimate setter-upper, if you will, is Satan. He and his minions are the power behind the throne, i.e., the spiritual guides who direct their willing accomplices toward their designed end. Of course, God is actually in control. He is allowing all these things to occur because His meta-narrative – His grand purpose – is the one that will prevail. He is shaping it all. In our humanity, none of us see the spiritual manipulations taking place; however, those of us who know God’s Word are aware and not taken by surprise. Regardless, what we see developing is dire, and we have to acknowledge it and prepare as best we can.

Our weather has become, in many places, a bludgeon upon the earth. The natural disasters occurring around the world have increased in intensity. Physical calamity in this realm includes drought, wildfires, floods, extreme winds, earthquakes, volcanos, and more. There are some who suspect a number of these events are caused through manmade means. HARP – the High Altitude Research Project – has been named as the possible reason for the potency of these disasters. That may very well be. However, I believe that God’s hand of judgment is behind these events, whether He enables evil people to manipulate climatic catastrophes or if He alone is causing them.

Some of these woes are causing trickle-down effects. For instance, drought in America’s West is impacting crop production and significantly impairing yield. This will inevitably lead to famine conditions and great societal unrest.

Another disturbing trend is the seeming absence of laborers. Millions of jobs are going unfilled. As a result of the plandemic, the government encouraged this through a variety of payments and handouts. People did the math. They realized they could stay home, not work, and bring into their households almost as much as if they went every day to a job. In the grand scheme of things, who wouldn’t do that? It was entirely a rational response.

Now that the national and state governments have largely curtailed most of these supplemental payments, one would think those workers would show up seeking employment. That doesn’t appear to be happening.

On top of this, we have the impact of COVID and vaccine deaths. COVID deaths were greatly exaggerated. Everything under the sun, from motorcycle deaths to the common flu, were attributed to COVID, so that isn’t necessarily – at least from the beginning of the plandemic until now – a contributor to the issue of worker scarcity. What is rising in concern is the number of vaccine deaths. We know for a fact that the CDC reporting database for vaccine injury – VAERS – significantly undercounts adverse effects by anywhere from 1% – 10%. The current death count of almost 15,000 deaths as of this date (September 18, 2021) could be as high as 1.5 million.

But, there’s another factor. VAERS essentially records – for those doctors and individuals willing to make the effort to navigate the difficulties of the system to report vaccine incidents – only those deaths that people see as being directly associated with having taken the COVID shots. We have learned that the genetic manipulation that occurs from these so-called vaccines has intermediate and long-term impacts, as well as those immediate developments that we hear of primarily through social media. Thus, a stroke or heart attack three months after the shot, or a year, or three years, that results from a victim’s blood microclotting or causing larger clots in the lungs, heart, or brain are not being attributed – and will not be – to the vaccines.

It’s what’s known as plausible deniability. All the instigators of this evil have to say is, “Prove it,” and no one necessarily can. Yet, these vaccines will have been the precipitating factor in the deaths.

It has been better than nine months since the shots began to be administered. The concern was if in the three-to-six-month period following injection, whether deaths would result and how many. The question that has been raised lately is if there have been significant numbers of people dying, but nobody is aware because it’s not reported anywhere. Call me a conspiracy theorist if you will, but these days, conspiracy concepts have become facts. Could it be that perhaps some number of millions of people have perished in this period through vaccine injury?

To repeat what I mentioned earlier: Jobs are going unfilled. Why? As Michael Snyder pointed out recently (http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/where-did-all-the-people-go/), there is an incredible shortage of workers. Are they all continuing to stay home even after their government benefits have been curtailed? Or is there another reason? Have they gone into the grave leading to this dearth of ready employees?

Wickedness and lawlessness are rising incredibly quickly in this world. The Apostle Paul knew who was the true enemy when he said in 2 Corinthians 10:3:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.”

The invisible enemy is our real foe. That being the case, how do we combat what he intends to accomplish?

Paul continued on in this passage in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 to specifically tell us:

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

The battle in which we find ourselves is not ours alone. That’s a good thing because, in our flesh, we could not hope to overcome the spiritual forces of darkness. The secular world – and seemingly even many in the church today – believe that our human efforts will bring victory. Prophetically, that’s not what Scripture says. It tells us that everything continues to go downhill until the world reaches the point of entering the Tribulation, then it gets even worse. Before then, those of us who have a true relationship with Jesus Christ will be removed from the earth. In the meantime, we must realize who we are in Christ. It is through Him that we can resist the power of the enemy and even attack his strongholds. However, too many Christians take the I – I – I approach. I can do this because I’m in Christ. I strike down the enemy. I command that Satan falls.

If you consider the language many believers use, perhaps you’ll see the problem. The effort in rejecting Satan’s advances or even attacking his fortresses is on the Christian. It is his work that accomplishes the desired outcome. I believe this is incorrect. We have power and authority in Christ Jesus because of who He is. Despite that, who is really doing against the enemy what needs to be done? Jesus, of course. Might it then be a better approach for us to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, asking the Lord to accomplish these things? We are victorious in Christ, but it is He who is the victor. Should we not ask Him to engage in this battle for us? We have to take the step of faith in believing that He will do what we ask. Shouldn’t we then trust that He will respond in His way? Shouldn’t we then move aside to allow Him room to work?

I know what I’ve stated is contrary to how many have been taught to engage in spiritual warfare. Again, much of what we see and hear through songs and language puts the onus on us. I think that once we’ve asked God for these things that the responsibility is His. Yes, we have to step out in faith, but it is the hand of Jesus reaching to us that keeps us from sinking.

Where does this all lead? It takes us to a place we’ve never before been. It means we may actually have to truly trust God like we never have before. Perhaps, though, that’s a good thing. It may be that through the increase of faith we exhibit by relying on Him more that He will do amazing things over and above what we expect.

[Author Note: Briefly, I want to set the stage for you as to the nature of most of my articles in this season. Each year, I read the Bible through completely at least once – that has been my practice since I came to the Lord in 2005. I remain astounded at what God has done in my life because of that discipline! Each day I read from both the Old and New Testaments. I choose a verse from one of those passages and write my commentary and reflection based on that. In the title of my article, you’ll see the verse I chose. In addition, you’ll see the reading for that day if you’d like to follow along with greater context.]

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Gary W. Ritter is a lay pastor, Bible teacher, and prolific author. His Whirlwind Series comprises three books: Sow the Wind, Reap the Whirlwind, and There Is A Time. These books are contained in the collected volume of the Whirlwind Omnibus. Gary has been given the Christian Redemptive Fiction award for three novels: The Tattooed Cat, Alien Revelation, and for his collaboration with Terry James in writing The Minion Protocols, the third book in James’ Second Coming Chronicles. Earlier this year, Gary released a four-volume set of Awaken Bible Study Notes that comment verse-by-verse through Scripture from a Biblical prophetic lens. He is currently editing a sequel to Alien Revelation called Alien Zombie Plague, which he plans to release later in the fall of 2021.

Recently, Gary wrote a novella for the new Kindle Vella platform. That story is called Tribulation Rising: Seal Judgments – The Coming Apocalypse. This seven-part short work can be found at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B099Z462WD. Each day this year, Gary has been writing commentary and reflections based on his reading through the Bible in a year. The intent in all his writings is to bring a strong Christian witness to what people read. You can see all his books and blog articles and reach him at his website:www.GaryRitter.com or his Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/gritter3390.

You can also see his older video Bible teachings on his Gary Ritter YouTube channel – look for the fish symbol, and more recently on Rumble on his Awaken Bible Prophecy channel: https://rumble.com/c/c-783217.