Remember What He Told Us

Are We Living In The End Times?

If we are honest with ourselves, we can't even say "each year that passes" it seems the world becomes a darker place, or "each month that passes" something else tragic happens somewhere else around the world, or "each week that passes" there seems to be another natural disaster such as an earthquake where lives are lost, or flood, or tornado, or fire or new "biological disaster" (disease) that surfaces, somewhere in the world.  No, if we are completely honest, we are at a point now where we can barely get through one single day without hearing some form of disastrous, heart-breaking news.  In fact, there's so much of it, I can barely keep up with it and as much as I hate to admit this, within a few days, I am so overwhelmed by the "new news", I find myself forgetting what happened just a few days earlier.  If this is not "the end times", I can't bring myself to imagine what this world would be like in the "actual end times".  

The Good News, Jesus Told Us What Signs To Look For:

We need to remember, always, that Jesus told His disciples (and us) what "condition" the world would be in just prior to His return.  He gave specific things for us to watch for and He also told us that we would see these "things" begin to happen and then increase in intensity (and continue to increase), the closer we were to the time of His return.....He likened this to a woman in labor (at first the labor pains or contractions are spaced out and then become more and more frequent and more intense, right up until the child is birthed).  

So, what did He tell us the signs would be?  Beginning in Matthew, chapter 24 and verse 5:

1. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
2. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye not be troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
3. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
4. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
5. And many false prophets shall rise, and deceive many.
6. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

The very first thing Jesus said, just before telling us what these signs would be is: "Take heed that no man deceive you."

We are living in an extremely deceptive time.  I dare say there is deception in every single aspect of our lives.  He was not casually suggesting that we not let anyone deceive us.....this was a commandment, that all followers must take seriously.....it's THAT important.  

False/Deceptive "Prophets":

Jesus forewarned His followers that there would be false prophets (people claiming to "hear from the Lord") that would deceive many.  We know from the prophet Joel, (Joel 2:28):

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."

Of course we can (and should) trust in, believe in and feel confident in the words spoken by the prophet Joel who was truly inspired by the Holy Spirit when he wrote those words.  Unfortunately, there are too many people today, who may even have good intentions, but who misuse this prophetic scripture.  For example, there are youtube channels that exist that are completely dedicated to dreams.  I do not doubt that Christians today are having dreams that are from the Lord and are prophetic, in one way or another, but I am referring to those that without fail, will post a video each and every day, and explain it's prophetic meaning.  This is just my opinion, of course, but I do not believe the Lord, or the Holy Spirit, is working in this way.  I have also found that the people who claim to have "prophetic / warning" dreams, each and every night, never share anything but that.  We, as the body of Christ, are called to spread the Gospel, first and foremost.  One of these "dream channels" on youtube, actually admits that they "don't really know scripture all that well"!  I would classify this as a snare....a snare to all Christians who get caught up in believing they are "hearing from the Lord" through these other people's dreams and even worse, a snare to younger or new Christians, who aren't yet "mature in their faith/walk".  It's very tempting and easy to get caught up "in all the hype".  When it comes to listening to other people share a dream and or vision that they claim to have received from the Lord, I always rely on the discernment of the Holy Spirit.  You can always count on the Holy Spirit to let you know (if you're listening to the Spirit).  I will usually get a bad feeling or a "flag" will go up or a warning signal in my mind, letting me know that something just isn't right.  I then pray about it and somehow, someway, the Lord will let me know who is genuine and who is not.  

Wars and Rumours of Wars:

I was flipping through the channels on TV, looking for something on the news a week or so ago and couldn't believe my eyes.....the following is a screenshot of an actual broadcast on RT News:

Well, I think we can definitely put a checkmark next to #2 above!  All joking aside, I thought to myself, "how much easier/obvious could the Lord make this one for us to recognize!"  Even without a news headline staring us in the face like this, it's safe to say that we are definitely "hearing" of war and rumours of war ALL the time.  If it's not the South China Sea "issue" and the international hostilities surrounding the disputed islands there, there's always North Korea threatening to Nuke someone, most recently the US and South Korea.  Just a few days ago Turkey invaded Syria....to fight....well, honestly, I still can't figure out who's fighting who over there and for what (speaking of DECEPTION).  Then we've got the Russian president warning the US citizens of how close we "really" are to all out war and that our media is lying to us and hiding what is really going on (which I don't doubt).  I could go on (and on).  And these are just the 'war headlines' from this past week!!  

Nation against Nation, Kingdom against Kingdom:

Isa 19:2  "And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom."

Photo taken during Arab Spring in Egypt

Another scene of the violence in Egypt during Arab Spring

Hag 2:22  "And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother."

The death of Saddam Hussein ended up transforming the country 

of Iraq into an unstable land plagued by sectarian violence.

 Libya is now a lawless wasteland.

Unfortunately, Egypt hasn't seen it's worst days yet.

Zec 14:13  "And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour."

Last, but certainly not least....... I chose to include the following for several reasons I feel are significant.  Something I have yet to share on this blog is my own, personal testimony.  That is actually next on my list.  For now, in short, my life took a 180 degree turn....or you could say....I WOKE UP, real fast, the moment I saw the image of James Foley, in that orange jumpsuit, kneeling in the desert, plastered on the evening news.  I remember it was late (summer) 2014.  That's when I was first made aware of the unbelievable nightmare....unimaginable nightmare, unfolding in the middle east (and elsewhere around the world).  

I am fully aware of all the controversy surrounding those first few videos put out, with the men in the orange jumpsuits (and Jihadi John) and how they were supposedly "fake", etc. etc.  I, personally had to know the truth....and I went searching for the truth.  I had to know what was really going on "over there" (if I can put it that way)....if it was real....how bad it really was.  What I found "online" was way more, way worse than I could have imagined.  I immediately knew that the world that I grew up in was gone....life as I had known it was never going to be the same again, and I ran....I RAN as fast as I could....straight to God.   I was terrified and I knew that God Almighty was the ONLY protection from any of the nightmare that was coming on this world.  I was not yet born again, that came roughly six months later, but I am sharing the following for these three specific reasons:

1. This is prophetic.  Although we know that many Christians have been targeted and persecuted, I believe most of the "ISIS slaughter" or Muslim killing in general (Shi'ite vs. Sunni) is just that, Muslim killing fellow Muslim, or brother against brother.
2. If this had such a personal and absolutely life changing effect on my own life, the knowledge and awareness of what is really going on may have the same effect on someone else.  I honestly don't know where I'd be today if this "ISIS nightmare" didn't happen (as much as I hate to admit that)....I just praise God.
3. The main stream media covers this up like the plague and it's wrong!  It does not matter any longer who created this demonic group of killers.....the bottom line is that they exist.  Yet, we never, ever hear about these atrocities on the news!  Every person, in every country needs to be aware of what is happening.....this should not be swept under the rug any longer.

ISIS killing an Iraqi in Anbar Province, Iraq

Note: IS Muslim terrorists killing Muslims (Arabs), Syria

ISIS crucifixion of children

There were many, many (too many) other photos available online, to pick from, that would illustrate a "nation at war with itself"....in fact, for those of us living in the United States, it's beginning to be (almost) a regular thing to see riots and cities burning and criminals running rampant in the streets shooting guns as if they were toys.  No, this isn't the world I grew up in and the only hope I have is hope in the soon return of our Lord and Savoir, Jesus Christ.

To be continued.....