Filling the Cup of Wrath :: By Terry James

 

When looking upon the cultural and societal horizon, it’s hard to avoid the questions: How did things get this way so quickly? Where is it all taking us? When will we reach that destination?

My thoughts include the query: How very confusing and troubling—even terrifying—must it be to those who don’t have Bible prophecy as a basis for pondering all of these things? But then comes the reality of the human condition. It is obvious that the great majority of humanity moves through life without paying much attention to matters engulfing them, except and until their lives collide with calamitous circumstances. I’m referring to such circumstances as the so-called pandemic and its many variations. Humanity, at such time, accepts wholeheartedly, even clamors for, such things as unproven, experimental vaccines.

Christians join the majority of humanity who doesn’t give a thought to what all this demand by the powers that be means—demands that everyone on the planet take the jab.

This is not to rail against the vaccines themselves. And I write other than to criticize Christians and non-Christians for jumping on the globalist vaccination train, although I believe there are biblical reasons for addressing the egregious error wrapped up in the matters involved. But we will reserve such reasoning for subsequent commentaries.

What I do wish to address is the ease with which most all of humanity—including those who claim Christianity as their belief system—move along in herd-like lockstep toward a destination of which all are oblivious. They are pushed and prodded along by the elite and evil powers and principalities of Ephesians 6:12, as I’ve pointed out many times.

Some finally come out of their trance-like states to suddenly realize things have changed desperately. Their world—their circumstance—has seemingly suddenly altered, and they no longer recognize it. And now the wickedness that surrounds them engulfs them and seems to have no remedy. The only result of their movement, unrealized while they were in transit, is lockdown by draconian would-be masters.

It is at such times that God’s cup of wrath is full nearly to the brim. This is a horrifying place for any generation to occupy.

We remember the people of Noah’s day in antediluvian times when God regretted that He had made mankind. We recall Sodom and Gomorrah when every sort of wickedness had come into play. We were given the story of Nineveh and its people the Lord spared from His certain wrath to come if repentance wasn’t forthcoming.

We look at the terrible, sexually depraved city of Pompeii and suppose with good reasons that the Lord’s cup of wrath had overflowed as surely as did Vesuvius on that fateful day.

In each of these judgments, the people had, through full-bore compliance or through acquiescence, become willing participants in the rebellion against the Creator God of Heaven. The results were catastrophic—even for Nineveh at a time when that city’s evil once more filled God’s cup of wrath and brought about His wrath.

Again, looking upon the cultural and societal horizon of our times, we might wonder how quickly things got this messed up. They got this way the same way all other societies and cultures reached their tipping points—their world steeped in such evil that it filled God’s cup of wrath, bringing catastrophic judgment.

A recent news item gives but one insult to the Creator. The insult, of course, is compounded exponentially by too many instances to list.

A new law, put in place on Saturday in Canada, is causing concern that it may criminalize the dissemination of the Bible.

The concern is that Bill C-4, the Act to amend the Criminal Code-conversion therapy, defines conversion therapy in overly broad terms. The definition set out in the bill read as follows:

“A practice, treatment or service designed to change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual, to change a person’s gender identity or gender expression to cisgender or to repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour or non-cisgender gender expression.”

The new law expressly forbids practices, treatments, or services designed to change or repress a person’s gender expression to align with their biological sex….

Rev. Dr. Aaron Rock, pastor of Harvest Bible Church in Windsor, Ontario, notes: “In Canada, the teachings of both basic biology and the Bible are now ‘myths,’ according to the preamble to Bill C-4 (conversion therapy bill)…. This isn’t about protecting people from harm; it’s about the state playing the role of God. And, not a single MP objected to it, including several that claim to be Christian.” (“Canadian Christians Fear New Law Will Criminalize Bible,” Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, Biblical News, 1/9/22)

As I say, the anti-God actions by government and humanity as a whole would fill volumes. Meantime, those who believe there is a God but who don’t know Him say He is a “God of love” and would never bring judgment and wrath.

If those who say this could talk to the people of Samuel’s day, well, let the scriptural account speak for itself.

“Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass” (1 Samuel 15:1-3).

How horrendous it will be when God must pour His righteous judgment from that full-to-the-brim cup of wrath. And this generation of lost individuals who occupy planet Earth is facing the Lord’s fury. Jesus said it will be a time worse than has ever been or will ever again be (Matthew 24:21).

Thankfully, God’s wrath is still filling into that terrible cup. We must alert our fellow Christians who don’t have a clue but who are mixed within that herd being pushed and prodded along by the minions of Ephesians 6:12.

Those believers will be spared, but those who surround them who don’t know Jesus Christ for salvation will feel the full force of God’s holy wrath. Everyone who reads these posts should be personal evangelists. Forewarn those around you of the wrath to come if repentance and acceptance of God’s way of escape aren’t forthcoming.

Again, here is that way of escape:

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

Where Do I Belong? :: By Dennis Huebshman

 

Even though I have been on this earth for 75 years, I consider it a “temporary” training ground for learning patience, tolerance, and how to faithfully be a servant. While some of this applies to here, learning to be a ‘servant’ came directly from our Lord and Savior. After all, He is an important part of the Holy Trinity, creator of the heavens and the earth, and could totally dictate to us every aspect of our lowly human existence, if He so desired. (ESV – any emphasis is mine)

Philippians 2:4-11; “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped; but emptied Himself, by taking on the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name; so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in Heaven, and on earth, and under the earth; and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God.”

First, Patience. That’s a concept that has always been difficult for me. It seems that if something seems right for me, I should have it and have it now rather than later. There are a number of illustrations I could give; however, there is one that totally stands out right now. Also, I have found out lately that this issue is not just mine but is shared by a number of others asking for the same thing.

Before that, a bit of history. Up until I was about 40, I believed I was in good standing with God. After all, I believed He was real; Jesus was real; and the Holy Spirit was real. In the church that I grew up in and was water baptized in, I was led to believe I needed to do good works, attend services regularly, and hope that when I died that I had been “good enough” to go to Heaven. It just seemed to be something we could not ever know for sure.

Then came several years in the military, and my church attendance changed. I would occasionally go to services but not necessarily in the same type of church that I grew up in. I found there were sincere and good people in just about every denomination, but their beliefs were different. This led to some confusion on my part. Rather than study the word of God for myself, I would just go now and then to a service and hope it was good enough to please God. Whatever the preacher said seemed all right with me, and I’d give an “Amen” along with everyone else. Then I would feel good that I “gave” some of my precious time to the Lord.

Today, I thank the Father often that He did not require my soul back then as He did the rich man who was going to tear down his old barns, build new ones, and “live high on the hog” from then on (Luke 12:16-20). Everything he had on this earth that day was given to others to enjoy.

My firm belief is that everything that I have as far as worldly possessions has been given to me by the Father to use and is nowhere near as important as my Relationship with Jesus. When I am gone from here, either by death or by Rapture, I am not concerned where anything I have will end up or who it will end up with. The Father has supplied my “needs” for all these years and has even allowed me some “greed’s.” But to worship possessions is totally wrong, and it would be something that would come between Jesus and me. Have I always felt this way? No, but after following Romans 10:9-13 and calling on My Jesus to save me about 35 years ago, possessions just aren’t important.

The most important thing right now is to be ready in case My Jesus calls today. We are witnessing so many changes right now that it’s hard to keep up with them all. Most are not for our good. However, nothing is happening that was not prophesied by the prophets, Jesus, and others who were describing the end of this age, and God is not surprised by any of it. The next biggest event on the prophetic calendar is for all true believers to be called up to meet our Savior in the air to be kept from the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 4:13-19; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

And here is where my patience and the patience of numerous others is being taxed. Once a person has a true relationship with Jesus, the longing to go “Home” gets stronger and stronger. We long for a place we’ve never seen, yet the Holy Spirit within us tells us it won’t be long now. Every day, and several times a day, I thank the Father for my “rescue” and let Him know it isn’t too early for our call to be with our Precious Shepherd. I know through some correspondence from others that this feeling is shared among Believers.

My belief is that the Father knows the exact day, hour, minute, and even second when He will send Jesus for us. I have no doubt that He knew this when He created this earth. All the signs are appearing to show that the prophecies are trustworthy and true, and I believe 2 Peter 3:9 describes how God is using “patience” to draw more souls to the Savior. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Jesus Himself realizes more will accept this earth’s so-called treasures over His pure, holy, and freely given gift of eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14). We know that we don’t belong here and are just waiting for the trumpet and shout.

Gloria Gaither wrote the words, and Buddy Greene provided the musical arraignment in a 1990 song, “I Don’t Belong.” It pretty well sums up what many are feeling right now and why we’re so ready to leave here.

1) It’s not home, where men sell their souls and the taste of power is sweet. Where wrong is right and neighbors fight, while the hungry are dying in the streets. Where kids are abused, and women are used, and the weak are crushed by the strong. Nations gone mad, Jesus is sad, and I don’t belong.

Ref.) I don’t belong, and I’m going someday, Home to my own native land. I don’t belong, and it seems like I hear the sound of a “welcome Home band.” I don’t belong; I’m a foreigner here, just singing a sojourner’s song. I’ve always known, this place ain’t Home, and I don’t belong.

2.) I don’t belong, but while I’m here, I’ll be living like I’ve nothing to lose. And while I breathe, I’ll just believe, My Lord is gonna see me through. I’ll not be deceived by earth’s make-believe; no, I’ll close my eyes to her siren song. By Praising His name, and I’m not ashamed, cause I don’t belong. (ref)

3.) And I belong to a kingdom of power, where only love is the law. Where children lead and captives are freed, and God becomes a baby on the straw. Where dead men live, and rich men give their kingdoms to buy back a song. Where sinners like me become royalty, and we’ll all belong.

4.) Yes, I belong, and I’m going someday, Home to my own native land. Where I’ll belong, and it seems like I hear the sound of a “welcome Home band.” Yes, I’ll belong, no foreigner there, singin’ a sojourner’s song. I’ve always known I’m goin’ Home, where I belong. Yes, I’ve always known, this place ain’t Home, and I don’t belong.

If you have not received and accepted Jesus yet, you could very well be at a critical stage of this old world. Everything is pointing to a major conflict that is about to take place in Israel; and the United States, with our current atmosphere, will not help them (Ezekiel 38-39 war). The beginnings of the new world order have already begun, and the stage is being set for the ultimate evil one to appear. Once the antichrist is introduced on the scene, it will be too late to be taken up in the Rapture, as it will have already happened.

In 2 Thessalonians 2, it states that “He who now restrains it (man of lawlessness), will do so until He is taken out of the way” (Verse 7). The restrainer would be the Holy Spirit, and if He is taken out of the way, all those who are indwelt by Him will have to be removed, and thus the purpose of the Rapture. Many are saying this is a fairy tale, and skeptics are abounding, saying nothing is going to change (2 Peter 3:3-4). The verse that states “in the twinkling of an eye” comes to mind, which tells us that the whole taking-up event will be over before anyone is aware of it (1 Corinthians 15:52).

Please review Romans 10:9-13; John 14:6; Acts 2:21 and Romans 8:1. Hopefully, these verses can help you make the best decision you will ever make on this earth. Tomorrow, you could just be in the worst condition this world has ever seen by not being a part of the Savior’s flock. All who will have received and accepted our Savior’s generous gift, which He paid for in full, will have no issues because we will be taken to “Where We Belong”!

Hope to see you at the feet of our Savior!

Shalom! Maranatha! – (Peace and Come, Lord Jesus!huebshman46@gmail.com