I often feel as though I have ventured into an episode of The Twilight Zone. Rod Serling began his television series in 1959, and those familiar with the show remember Serling’s sense of dystopian fiction that stretched the limits of our imaginations. Who can forget the iconic scenes, plot twists, and bizarre endings?

Life today seems like something that even goes beyond what Rod Serling envisioned for his broadcasts. There’s a vast disconnect between reality and the popular truth that confronts us daily on the mainstream news and social media (via the fact-checkers). It makes my head spin!

It’s dystopian fiction at its best, but this time it’s not a TV show depicting a make-believe world. The media spins its lies as reality and mainstream media addicts readily believe them.

Janet Yellen, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, recently bragged about the health of America’s economy. This is gaslighting at its best. Soaring food, fuel, and natural gas prices have stretched many people, especially those on fixed incomes, well beyond their breaking point. And the current crisis in America is just the beginning of the turmoil that many predict will grow steadily worse.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recently warned about a coming “economic hurricane” for later this year. He is just one of many voices warning of the coming severe economic storm that will hit America as it has already in many other nations.

I could cite many other examples of where today’s messages on the mainstream and social media do not line up with reality. Some call it “gaslighting,” and it’s surely all that. I like the term “dystopian fiction” as a description of the wide gulf between the “popular line” and reality that’s become the fog of living in this Twilight Zone.

The Fog of the Twilight Zone Invades the Church

Walking into many churches today is also like entering a Twilight Zone. There we hear a message that life is all good and we can experience our “best life now.” Five-year plans are made without even a fleeting thought of Jesus’ imminent appearing or the dark threatening clouds on our horizon.

It’s like a church shrouded in fog so that it’s unaware of the outside world and the many prophetic signs telling us that we live in the last days.

I am reminded again of Kari Jobe’s song: Amen (Simple Gospel). It begins with wonderful words affirming the Gospel but ends with a false message of hope, which exemplifies the disconnect with reality that we find in far too many churches today.

The words below come from the last stanza of her song:

The church will arise
With power and love
Our cities will know
The glory of God
The future is bright
There’s nothing to fear
Revival is now
The Kingdom is here

Such sentiment sounds great, but it’s not what the Bible teaches.

First, the song makes the church the object of our hope rather than Jesus. Many today believe that the church will so change the world that it, not Jesus, will initiate the millennium. The Lord thus returns afterward rather than before this time of peace.

Even pastors that reject such teaching communicate a message exalting the church as our refuge during perilous times.

Second, the words quoted above from the song do not agree with what the Bible says about the day in which we live. Biblical prophecy pictures the last days as being awash in lawlessness, deception, extreme wickedness, corruption, and violence. This is today, and it’s all leading to the rule of the antichrist.

The words to the song tell us that “the future is bright.” However, I live in a country that’s screaming for God’s judgment. A nation led by fanatical advocates of abortion up to birth and all that the LBGTQ stands for surely invites a stern response from God. Adding fuel to the fire, Biden recently advocated the dividing of Jerusalem and a radical two-state solution for Israel with pre-1967 boundaries that will leave the nation defenseless against its foes.

So far, the Lord has been remarkably patient with the U.S.

Jesus’ Imminent Appearing is the Reason for Our Bright Future

Our future is glorious and bright, however, solely because of Jesus’ imminent appearing.

The myriad of signs pointing to the approaching seven-year Tribulation tell us that Jesus is coming for us soon. We live on the cusp of the Lord fulfilling His promises to us in passages such as John 14:1-3, Philippians 3:20-21, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

The Rapture signifies a bright future for us; it marks the beginning of an eternal and amazing adventure for us.

Sadly, many saints today never hear any mention of the over-the-top joy and excitement ahead for them. It’s a truly glorious message!

A sound biblical outlook on what lies ahead yields unexplainable and wonderful peace within us. I cannot imagine getting up each morning to face this world without the eternal perspective we see throughout Scripture. The world is a scary place, but an understanding of biblical prophecy yields the fruit of peace deep within us.

We live in the season of Jesus’ appearing to take us home to heaven. It’s not about date-setting but about understanding the multitude of signs God gave us in His Word that reveal the nearness of the Rapture.

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees who did not recognize the signs that their Messiah stood in their presence (Matthew 16:1-4). Would not the Lord have a similar reprimand for church leaders today who remain oblivious to all the indications that the Tribulation period is rapidly approaching?

We will certainly not endure the wrath of God that the apostle John describes for us in Revelation 6-18. However, because of the day in which we live, we must be ready for perilous times ahead before Jesus whisks us up to the place that He’s preparing for us.

Or then again, the Lord could come for us today!

Maranatha!!

If you have not yet ordered and read The Triumph of the Redeemed — An Eternal Perspective that Calms Our Fears in Perilous Times, please consider doing so. Like the title says, it provides calming reassurance for the troubling times in which we live and explains why we can face our troubled world with an unshakeable peace within us. Thanks!!

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Jonathan C. Brentner

Website: Our Journey Home

 

Luke 21:9-12; “And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once. Then He said to them, nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places, famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from Heaven. But before all this, they will lay their hands on you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for My name’s sake.”

Luke 21: 25-26; “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth, distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves; people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the power of the heavens will be shaken” (ESV, any emphasis is mine.)

There are people today who are trying to say that we are at this point right now. While I agree that the times are more evil and difficult than we’ve seen in our past, everything above is describing the tribulation period this earth will go through for seven years. For anyone who may say that today’s events will get better, they are wrong.

We are seeing the lead-in to the introduction of the “one-world everything” – one-world currency, one-world government, and a one-world ruler. When he appears, this would be the “lawless one” of 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; and then it can be said that the tribulation or wrath has officially arrived.

Once this takes place, the events of today will seem like a picnic compared to what lies ahead. All who will bow down to that evil leader and who will accept his mark, indicating they worship him, will be able to buy and sell and live a fairly decent life. All who reject his mark will be the ones who will be hunted down and most likely be martyred. Sadly, all who take his mark will have committed an unforgivable sin, and they will enter the lake of fire after appearing at the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15.

For God’s chosen people, the Jews, He will protect a remnant of them at a location that the antichrist will not be able to get to. However, there again will be a great cost involved, as given in Zechariah 13:8; “In the whole land, declares the Lord, two thirds shall be cut off and perish; and one third shall be left alive.” All who don’t go to this ‘sanctuary’ will be part of the two-thirds. It will be absolutely horrible for them.

What has been described so far, and even then, not a complete description of the horrible extremes that will take place, is for all who will be here when Satan’s evil one appears with his false prophet. However, there is a way that exists right now that can prevent anyone from going into that awful time.

Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, and John tells us in Revelation 3:10 that those who belong to the Savior will not enter the wrath. John 3:36 states, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Jesus Himself spoke of the narrow path that leads to Him as being hard, and few would be on it. The part that is hard is to believe that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead to conquer our sins forever. Romans 10:9-13 plainly gives the simple but straightforward path to eternal Salvation. Verse 13 sums it up with, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

It will still be possible to be saved during the wrath, but the question is, why would anyone want to be there to begin with? The changing times of this sin-filled world are practically screaming that the end of this age is very near. We can’t even begin to imagine just how close we are to the Savior calling His “flock” up to meet Him in the air, to be kept from the wrath as the Father has promised. And just a note here: God never makes a promise that He won’t keep.

Please read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and then 1 Corinthians 15:51-53. Paul describes the event we call the Rapture. Everything about those who will be involved is open to being accepted right now. Please note that the lawless one cannot appear until “He who now restrains him (the Bible says “it”) is out of the way.” That’s 2 Thessalonians 2:7.

When a person receives and accepts Jesus as Savior, He sends the Holy Spirit to indwell us until we leave this earth. John 16:7-15 describes this. Other verses that speak of the Holy Spirit being with us are 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Ezekiel 36:27; 2 Timothy 1:14; Romans 8:11; Galatians 4:6; and 1 John 2:27, just to name a few.

So, are there actually better times ahead? Yes, for all who are in Christ Jesus. Also, it’s our choice to make, as all who truly call on Him will be saved. Choose Jesus and have eternal life; refuse Jesus and have eternal condemnation. There are no other options, no matter what any false prophet may try to tell you. Also, Jesus is the only way to Heaven (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

As one who called out to the Savior to forgive me about 35 years ago, I want to share Him with as many souls as possible. Therefore, “I Love to Tell The Story” about My Jesus. This just happens to be a hymn by Kate Hankey from 1866. Please consider the words of her song.

1.) I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love. I love to tell the story because I know it’s true. It satisfies my longing, as nothing else can do.

Ref) I love to tell the story; ’twill be my theme in glory to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His Love.

2.) I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams. I love to tell the story; it did so much for me. And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee. (ref)

3.) I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat. What seems each time I tell it, more wonderful and sweet. I love to tell the story, for some have never heard the message of Salvation from God’s own Holy Word. (ref)

4.) I love to tell the story; for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest. And when in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, ’twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long. (ref)

We do not know exactly when the Trumpet of God will sound, and there is a shout from the archangel. We can see all the signs that have begun, and in Luke 21:28, Jesus said that when they begin to take place, His return is very near. Those signs began several years ago.

Taking a chance that this is not true could put you in a most terrible time that will make the events of today seem like a Sunday picnic. Call out today, right now, and you can rest assured you will not be a part of the tribulation. It’s totally up to each person to choose, and it’s a free-will choice as the Father will force no one to accept His Son. Please read John 3:16-18 and then 2 Peter 3:9. God wants no one to fail because He loves us so much. No man-made deity can make this claim. He has provided everything we need to be saved, and He will turn no one away.

One final comment: you have not sinned so greatly that the blood of Jesus won’t cover you. The unforgivable sin right now is to not have Jesus as your Savior when you take your last breath here. Jesus died for all of us. Call out for His forgiveness, and live whatever time you have left for Him.

Come, Lord Jesus! (Maranatha!)

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