As the earth is seized and stricken by innumerable events, we must resist the temptation to fear.  We know from Scripture that these days would come (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). And, they are here.

Along with the birth “pangs” come His End-Time plans: “Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and evil go forth?” (Lamentations 3:37).

While we might feel uncertain, God is clear: “Do not learn the way of the nations [unbelievers], and do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens although the nations are terrified by them” (Jeremiah 10:2).

As God brings His Hand to earth, we want to remain courageous and faithful, steady and sure. Now is the time to find great encouragement in the Scriptures. We can read in Isaiah 33:13 exactly how God wants us to view His End Times- activity across our planet. ”You who are far away [unbelievers], hear what I have done; and you who are near [My people], acknowledge My might.” God is showing His strength to His own. 

While we trust that we are saved from the “wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10), when we scour His Word, we find a theme:

God plans to destroy the pride of man. “Thus I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity; I also put an end to the arrogance of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless” (Isaiah 13:11). Might it be that He is showcasing a foretaste of His ultimate wrath on a God-rejecting world during the Tribulation, now?

“So the land quakes and writhes, for the purposes of the Lord against Babylon [a picture of the world] stand, to make the land a desolation…. The mighty men have ceased fighting, they stay in strongholds; Their strength is exhausted. They are becoming like women…” (Jeremiah 51:29-30).  

What are His plans during these “pangs”? At the same time He is destroying pride, He is preparing His Bride. “Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your abominations” (Ezekiel 14:6). And, “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes…” (Psalm 101:3). I cannot help but see television sets or devices whenever I read this portion of Scriptures! (See also I John 5:12 and 21 and Jude 1:24-25.)

We know our role at this moment. While our unbelieving neighbors and family members fulfill Scripture’s prophecy (Joel 2:6) by their trembling, their hands going limp and their faces growing pale, we are called to be faithful. Imagine that we are on a roller coaster with the world, but the difference is that we understand our Father made this “wild ride,” so we just tuck down deeper into the safety of His lap because we know we are being held in His encircling arms of providence and protection.

Let’s look to His Word to determine how we respond to these “drops and turns” (pangs). He tells us how to withstand these days:

“Seek righteousness and seek humility. Perhaps, you will be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger” (Zephaniah 2:3b).

“He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, he who rejects unjust gain and shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; he who stops his ears form hearing about bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; he will dwell on the heights, his refuge will be the impregnable rock; his bread will be given him, his water will be sure” (Isaiah 33: 15-16).

 

Paul’s description of last days attitudes and negativity in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 bears reviewing. “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid Such People.” (ESV – all emphasis is mine)

The fact is that being hated for being a Christian is not a new concept. In John 15:18, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” The issue is that the degree of hate is getting worse almost on a daily basis. Anyone who has truly received and accepted Jesus as Savior is actually subject to martyrdom in some areas of the world, and during the seven-year tribulation/wrath, it will be worldwide.

When Jesus was on this earth nearly 2,000 years ago, He had no illusions of who would be accepted more: Him or the desires of the world. Matthew 7:13-14; “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by are many. For the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Humans have a tendency of trying to take the easiest path available. Today, that happens to be any path except the ones leading to Jesus. To paraphrase, “Go Along To Get Along.”

Anyone who truly has become a part of our Savior’s flock becomes an imposition on all who have accepted Satan’s temptations. In 1 Corinthians 1:18, we read, “For the word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”

All through our “growing years,” we are told that if we’re to have anything in this world that is worthwhile, we must apply ourselves and work hard to earn a living. The idea of receiving an eternal reward just for having faith and believing in a Heavenly being seems far-fetched to many people.

However, Ephesians 2:8-9 specifically addresses just that. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

While this applies to our eternal destiny, our current human life does require some form of employment activity to be able to earn our living here. Depending on our degree of skills and/or education, this will dictate what type of lifestyle we have here. This was brought on the human race because of the fall from grace in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned, God no longer provided everything without some form of effort.

When our lives end on this earth, there will be two paths available: eternal life or eternal punishment. There are no other options, and which one we receive is our choice.

We have a Heavenly Father who loves each and every one of us and does not want anyone to fail. He would love for everyone to reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9). However, He will force no one to accept or reject His Son.

Looking at the negative side first, at the end of the seven-year tribulation, the antichrist and his false prophet will be the first that will be thrown into the Lake of Fire forever (Revelation 19:20). A thousand years later, Satan himself will be thrown into it as well as his demons, or fallen angels (Revelation 20:10).

Then there will be the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15. All who were out of the will of God from the beginning of this earth’s existence, and up to Our Savior’s sacrifice at Calvary, and all from Calvary to the end of this earth’s time who did not receive and accept Jesus as their Savior, will be thrown into the Lake of Fire forever.

On the positive side, all who were in the will of God prior to Calvary will be in a place of peace described as “Abraham’s side” in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31.

All who will have died from Calvary up to just before the start of the tribulation that were in Christ will be Raptured up to meet the Savior in the air to be kept from the wrath. As souls are reunited with their earthly bodies, or whatever is left of them, they will be converted into an immortal and forever body. Then those who are still alive at the Rapture will be converted into their immortal forever bodies as they are taken up to meet Jesus in the air. It’s stated in 1 Corinthians 15:52 that this will all take place “in the twinkling of an eye.”

For all who are left behind, after the antichrist comes out, it will still be possible to call out to Jesus to be their Savior, but the cost will most likely be martyrdom. No one who takes the mark of the beast during the 7-year tribulation will be able to enter into Heaven, as this will be an unforgivable sin (Revelation 14:10). The mark is a pledge of allegiance to the antichrist, and ultimately acceptance of Satan.

The one prophecy that remains to be fulfilled and is keeping the antichrist from appearing is the removal of the “Restrainer,” which is the Holy Spirit. When He is taken out of the way, all who He indwells must be removed from this earth to fulfill God’s promise in 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, and Revelation 3:10 to keep all believers from entering that horrible seven years. The removal is the Rapture, as described in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.

With this in mind, for all who may have considered receiving and accepting Jesus as their Savior but have put off doing so, now would be a great time to make the most important call of your life. Tomorrow is not promised, and once the Rapture starts, it will be over in less than one second. This does not leave time to confess being a sinner, acknowledge that Jesus is truly the Son of God who gave Himself willingly as the ultimate sacrifice to cover all our sins, and call out for Him to be your Savior.

No one can say whether or not Jesus will come for us by tomorrow, but He could. If you are already a part of His precious flock, it will save a lot of anxiety. Romans 10:9-13 gives the simple steps to Salvation, and He will turn no one away who truly calls out to Him to be their Savior.

Hope to see you there when we are taken into the presence of our Savior to be with Him forever.

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

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