Moment in the Word

Matthew 16:2-3 He told them: If the sky is red in the evening, you say the weather will be good. But if the sky is red and gloomy in the morning, you say it is going to rain. You can tell what the weather will be by looking at the sky. But you don't understand what is happening now.

 

Jesus was frustrated by the blindness of the "religious" people of His day who could not recognize the obvious signs that pointed to what was about to happen.

 

Likewise, John the Baptist repeated an Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD,'" to announce the hopelessness of people receiving the good news of God's promised arrival in a wasteland of theological entrenchment. (Isaiah 40:3)

 

Before being sawed in half (Hebrews 11:36-37) by an angry mob who despised the Truth, the very same prophet who John quoted also complained about the people's unwillingness to hear, "Has anyone believed us or seen the mighty power of the LORD in action?" Isaiah 53:1

 

Sadly, individuals steeped in religious tradition are no different today when faced by the truth of God's Word. Consequently, I am presently frightened by the blindness of many Christians concerning stark current events that were previously forecast and now fulfilled in Bible prophecy.

 

But why can't they see?

 

Possibly, besides personal bias, one pitfall is the two-hundred-year-old deception of John Nelson Darby and his "Secret Coming" lie that St. Paul destroyed two millennia ago in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, but that's a discussion for another day.

 

The urgent necessity now is recognizing Antichrist - the White Rider of the Apocalypse who carries a bow (military power) and is "given" a crown (political authority) to go into the world and constantly conquer (Revelation 6:2). He is an evil angel, confined at the "River Euphrates," and subsequently joined by three companions: War, Famine, and Death (all of whom are immediately followed by Hell - Rev. 9:14, Rev. 6:1-8). He is the brutish Beast, the vulgar boaster (Rev. 13:5), the deceiver (2 Thessalonians 2:9, Daniel 8:25), the abuser of women (Daniel 11:37), the "peacemaker" who constantly wages war (Daniel 8:25), the profane imposter who arrogantly claims favored status with God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

 

If the fellow's base character and caustic personality are not sufficiently obvious clues... then, at the very same time, China and Russia are quickly rallying to the defense of their ally Persia (Iran) against the actions of Israel, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 & 39 - the massive war that triggers the seven-year Great Tribulation (Ezekiel 39:9-10) which will end with the final horrific nuclear/biological Battle of Armageddon (Zechariah 14:12)!

 

Cosmic, geologic, pandemic, and climatic catastrophes also loom on the horizon (Isaiah 34:4, Matthew 24:7 & 29, Mark 13:8 & 25, Luke 21:11, Revelation 6:13, Revelation 16:8)

 

But despite all these indicators occurring simultaneously, yet most Western Christians fail to see the combined significance. True to God's Word, the Church is asleep (Matthew 25:5). How long will you lie there doing nothing at all? When are you going to get up and stop sleeping? Sleep a little. Doze a little. Fold your hands and twiddle your thumbs. Suddenly, everything is gone, as though it had been taken by a thief. (Proverbs 6:9-11, Proverbs 23:33-34)

Be warned! Jesus is coming as a thief for those who sleep! (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3) But you should not be in darkness for that day to surprise you like a thief. You are all called to be children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness so that Satan's deception should take us unaware. (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5)

 

Wake up!