“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37).

(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)

To those of us who closely and soberly study and observe human events from the viewpoint of God’s inerrant revelation of future prophecy, the world is indeed following the pattern of behavior that He has indicated that it would, so it is not surprising when we see these events unfolding.

Some of the more well-known examples of this can be found in these passages:

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:28-32).

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

(The reality of the world here in 2023)

There are other passages that serve to describe these conditions, but the above ones convey the message effectively.

Speaking for myself, it often seems that the level of depravity and viciousness is far more startling when observed in execution than is indicated in the prophetic text.

The reality of it is all too real.

Sometimes it takes your breath away. Sometimes it makes you groan out loud.

Even the level of evil in institutions presenting themselves as “the church” is a signpost along the prophetic highway that God has blessed us to be aware of:

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber” (2 Peter 2:1-3). Emphasis added by me.

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3).

In my view, altering one scintilla of the clear reality of Jesus Christ and Who He is, is the same as denying Him altogether.

“But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:27).

This prophetic warning by Jesus should strike terror into the hearts of false teachers.

Instead, these imposters grow by leaps and bounds, even among those who have been raised in the light of the Gospel and then go out into the world and deny the Lord.

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).

It should be clear to them that denying, altering, or changing any part of the Word of God will result in severe judgment, yet they continue to do so.

“They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed” (Titus 1:16).

“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1).

Is it fair to conclude that denying that the Holy Spirit has delivered the Word of God accurately qualifies one as a “worker of iniquity”?

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6).

What do I mean, and what do I not mean by the term “relief valve”?

What I DO NOT mean is that there is any sort of doubt in the veracity of God’s prophetic Word on the part of those of us who study it, or that there is some sort of relief in seeing its accurate fulfillment as though God must prove any part of His word.

What I DO mean is that the sorrow and sadness we feel as we watch these things unfold and the understanding of the judgments that God must bring about on the unbelieving world will be so horrific and terrible that we can’t help weeping over them.

Sometimes it is almost overwhelming, especially since it is likely that we all have family members who just don’t have any spiritual discernment.

It is much like trying to warn a speeding driver that there is a bridge out ahead, and they just ignore us and continue toward disaster.

It also is a blessing to us that we have this same compassion for total strangers when we are reminded that:

“He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

Take a moment to imagine living in this present time and imagine also that God had not provided us with His plan for us through His prophetic revelation.

Had God only provided this one passage (Genesis 6:3) without the full revelation of His prophetic reality, what hope would there be?

“And the LORD said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years” (Genesis 6:3).

There would be a great deal of uncertainty and anxiety, but Jesus said to “be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6).

And that includes the future.

So, where does the “relief valve” part come in?

The relief valve is in the sure and certain knowledge that He HAS provided us with His plans for us and that ALL prophecy will be fulfilled.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

And that His judgments are righteous and true.

And that our Lord and Savior knows our sorrow and understands our weeping.

“Jesus wept” (John 11:35).

And that, at the end of this age, there will be joy in place of sadness and sorrow, and the end of all evil will be brought about by God as He has promised.

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful'” (Revelation 21:5). Emphasis added by me.

The evil we see all around us at the present time is actual confirmation of the Truth of God’s Word.

The sadness and sorrow that threatens to overwhelm us will not be successful.

The gates of hell, which are certainly having a level of success at this point by God’s permission and for His purposes, will not prevail.

A pressure relief valve in hydraulics is designed to open when excess pressures threaten harm to the infrastructure of that to which it is attached.

In this case, the infrastructure is our mind and heart, and prophecy is the relief valve.

We must keep in the front of our mind and heart that it is not just the necessity of the “distressing” prophecies which must be fulfilled, but the joyful prophecies as well.

They have equal weight, and they offer the “Blessed Hope” we all watch for.

“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:19-21). Emphasis added by me with all hope and assurance.

Hang in there, my sisters and brothers. Don’t give in to despair.

Keep trying to spread the Gospel and pray without ceasing.

The special message I promised you:

For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life.

You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.

It requires that you come before God on His terms.

And, what are His terms according to His Word?

• Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
• Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
• That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
• To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
• Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross.
• To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.

God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.

• No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
• No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
• Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.

If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.

“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).

There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.

The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Pro Salvator Vigilans

To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com

In 1920, Warren G. Harding ran for president with the campaign slogan of “The return to normalcy.” Despite harsh criticism for his use of such an obscure word at the time, the idea of returning to “normalcy” swept him into the Oval Office.

His motto had great appeal to Americans in 1920 as they longed for normal lives after the turmoil of World War I and the deadly Spanish Flu pandemic. Sound familiar?

In the financial world, a bubble refers to something that acquires an unrealistic and highly inflated value. When it bursts, it causes economic havoc.

Typically, a bubble is created by a surge in asset prices that is driven by exuberant market behavior. During a bubble, assets typically trade at a price, or within a price range, that greatly exceeds the asset’s intrinsic value (the price does not align with the fundamentals of the asset).[i]

Many today live in a “bubble of normalcy” where they feel secure because of exaggerated and unrealistic hopes of either a return to normalcy or of it continuing indefinitely into the future. Even a great number of believers reside in a world of highly inflated expectations regarding what lies ahead for them.

Many in the world are waking up and rallying against the threats posed by globalists, but sadly, this has yet it to stir many people in the U.S. Why is that?

The Normalcy Bias

Because of America’s long history of peace and security, its citizens live with what’s called a “normalcy bias.” As a result, critics label those of us who warn of the dangers inherent in a world speeding toward the Tribulation period as “conspiracy theorists.” “No one can really be that wicked or deceitful so as to cause such widespread suffering and death,” they tell us. Such is the outlook inside the bubble.

Terry James and Pete Garcia, in their book New World Order, describe the “normalcy bias” in the following way:

Another aspect of this illusion of modernity is the “normalcy bias” that creates an artificial barrier between people and the unrelenting nature of this fallen planet…. Our natural state of mind is on normalcy bias cruise control until some event momentarily shakes us from our slumber. Even then, most believe the latest advancements can save us from whatever calamity nature throws at us… until it can’t. These brief lapses into reality brought on by sudden catastrophes fade in memory just as quickly, and we go back to a normal state of mind by forgetting the past.[ii]

Unfortunately, this “normalcy bias” also characterizes many in Bible-believing churches. Many saints see the dangers but fail to recognize that they signal the end of human history as we know it. In order to cope with the threats, they often lapse back into the rhythm of life as though the perils don’t really exist or will somehow go away. Because they have no prophetic context into which they can place the chaos of our day, they hope that normalcy will somehow prevail.

In their effort to make this life work, they miss all the “pins” that threaten to burst the bubble of normalcy in which they seek refuge.

The Pins That Threaten the Normalcy Bubble

For those outside of Christ, the pin that will forever burst the bubble of normalcy will be the Rapture. It’s the wildcard; it could happen today, next week, this year, or even later.

We just don’t know how much more of the world’s ills will touch us before Jesus’ appearing. Many saints around the world already suffer intense persecution or the scars of war.

Another pin that’s sure to burst the bubble of normalcy is that of God’s judgment on America. It’s already started but will grow to catastrophic proportions shortly after Jesus takes His church out of this world.

When one considers the previously unimaginable vileness that’s rampant in America and the looting of stores that’s driving a considerable number of them out of business, it’s difficult to conceive of any sense of normalcy returning to my country. The growing lawlessness, wickedness, and deception that’s rampant in the U.S. will negatively impact an increasing number of believers between now and the Rapture.

As the draconian policies of the globalists impact more people, it’s sure to explode many normalcy bubbles in the U.S.

Why Does It Matter?

I realize that the majority of my readers recognize the signs of the times and live well outside the normalcy bubble that affects those both inside and outside the faith.

Even so, it’s vital that we don’t lose our focus on future things and resist the lure of the normalcy bias that continually competes for our allegiance.

First of all, a great number of our fellow believers are hurting today because of cancer, the loss of loved ones, financial woes, and a host of other afflictions. They, like us, need frequent reminders that this world is not their home as they traverse through this vale of tears we call life.

As I wrote in The Importance of Our Heavenly Citizenship, there’s unspeakable joy and comfort inherent in the implications of our heavenly citizenship. Since it’s a message that so few hear in churches today, we need to be ready to comfort fellow saints with the specifics of our glorious hope.

Secondly, a firm grasp of biblical prophecy enables us to look realistically at the chaotic and lawless world around us and share the “blessed hope” of Titus 2:11-14 with those outside of Christ. Such a two-world perspective provides us with a solid foundation from which to give others a “reason for the hope” that we possess (1 Peter 3:15). We not only recognize what’s happening around us, but we also know why.

Third, the practice of eagerly watching for Jesus’ appearing has a purifying effect on us. That’s the message of 1 John 3:2-3:

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

This upward focus motivates us to live in a way that’s pleasing to Him. The realization that today could be the day we stand in the presence of our Savior impacts the decisions we make.

Fourth, most of the unsaved men with whom I have had conversations during the past few years recognized the dangers inherent in our world. My wife and I had the opportunity to talk with one of them about Jesus’ return, and he was pleased to hear about it, but he didn’t respond to the Gospel as we had hoped. We still pray for him.

Contrary to what many believe, churches that boldly proclaim the truths of the Rapture and apply biblical prophecy to the perils of our day experience significant growth in terms of people coming to faith in Jesus. Many of those outside of Christ recognize that the world is rapidly heading toward the seven-year Tribulation, but they lack the scriptural context into which they can put the dangers, lawlessness, and rampant deception of our day.

Fifth, remaining grounded in biblical prophecy matters because it shields believers from false teachings. The most popular view of the end times in Christendom today asserts that because the church is God’s kingdom on the earth, it will prevail over all the evils and reign over the nations before Jesus returns. (That’s totally a “bubble of normalcy” mindset and far away from what the Bible teaches.)

Kari Jobe’s song, “Simple Gospel,” exemplifies this errant teaching as it proclaims that the church will rise victoriously in the future. Sadly, it gives a false sense of security to believers, locking them into a bogus expectation of what lies ahead. The song communicates that we must trust the church rather than Jesus for our deliverance.

Why would we want unbelievers to hear such a message?

Storm Clouds

And as we watch the storm clouds of the coming Tribulation period gather on the horizon, is it not far better for our soul to be able to put them in the context of Bible prophecy? Does it not bring a sense of relief to know that, yes, the threats to our livelihood and even our lives are indeed real, but we can walk in hope of Jesus’ appearing and our homegoing to the place He’s preparing for us?

We have the most wonderful and exciting news imaginable to not only share with the unbelieving world but also to the saints dozing in the bubble of normalcy.

***

Please know that my purposes in writing The Triumph of the Redeemed-An Eternal Perspective that Calms Our Fears in Perilous Times were first to glorify Jesus, encourage fellow saints, and enable them to comfort others with the hope of Jesus’ appearing. My heart grieves for my fellow saints who never hear the glorious specifics of our “blessed hope.”

My newest book is Cancel This! What Today’s Church Can Learn from the Bad Guys of the Bible. In it, I explore what we can learn from less than stellar biblical characters that help us live in today’s cancel culture.

Note: Please consider signing up for my newsletter on the home page of my website at https://www.jonathanbrentner.com. Thanks!

[i] Will Kenton, “What Is an Economic Bubble and How Does It Work, With Examples,” updated April 3, 2022 on the Investopedia Website at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bubble.asp

[ii] Terry James & Pete Garcia, New World Order (Crane, MO: Defender, 2023), p. 87/