Probably a strange question to most readers. But not in any way an unrealistic question.
For years now we have marched down the path to the end of the last days
before the return of Jesus. Most people
don’t even know they are part of the march.
We have seen the fulfillment of dozens of Biblical prophecies of events
to happen before his return: the
reestablishment of the nation of Israel, the takeover of Jerusalem by the Jews,
the ingathering of the Jews into Israel, the return of ancient Hebrew as the
language of Israel, the great agricultural production of Israel, the great
growth in frequency and intensity of all sorts of physical storms and
earthquakes, the rise in mayhem and violence, the widespread and intense wars
and rumors of wars, and so much more.
Details are in our May newsletter.
We have seen the steadily increasing spread of what Jesus warned about
– deception. “Watch that you are not
deceived.” The government of the United
States and its political world lives and operates in deception. The media does likewise. So too do many in our everyday lives. You know that if you are awake.
We have also seen the great and rapid falling away from God that Paul
prophesied. It is everywhere, in the
social behavior of people and the actions of the president and the supreme court. Astounding.
Has it not been amazing how silent and quiet most Americans have been
as their country has moved rapidly away from its moral fundamentals, as the
very essence that is America has been taken away from them? Have you not been amazed at the meekness of
so many? More importantly and
dramatically, have you not been shocked by the blindness of so many?
I would say that a sizeable number of Americans still go forward
believing all is well with the nation.
Amazing.
Believers who remember history know how the US was founded, how even
when the initial settlers landed, the nation was dedicated to God. They know that a majority of the writers of
the initial documents in Philadelphia were in fact preachers as well as having
other professions. And they know that
the American experiment is the greatest experiment in government that has ever
been in respect of the individual human being and his rights under God. They
also know that the Constitution in fact was based in large part on the Bible.
But they also know that in the past the congress was filled with people
who boldly and actively represented their states and people and who debated and
fought for the best results. Congress
wrote the laws. And the supreme court
reviewed any instance brought forward where it was thought the laws overstepped
the Constitution or the actions of the government did so. The court ruled along those lines, comparing
the laws and actions with the Constitution.
It was a check on congress and on the president and his administration. The president led the nation and administered
the government under the laws of the land.
Today congress has really ceased to exist as a meaningful member of the
national government. What do you ever
see meaningful coming from Congress?
Nothing. Occasionally there is a
speech from a member. Most are invisible
and just seem to occupy seats. Legally
they still have the authority to take bold steps, but they do not. The supreme court long ago stepped beyond
reviewing situations to see if they complied with the Constitution and the laws
of the land. Now the court itself, by as
little as a vote of five members, takes steps and in effect makes laws,
generally in support of the president.
And the president? In the past
several years, he has astoundingly stepped out to in effect write the laws he
wants by issuing edicts and directives.
Congress remains silent on all this and the court just backs him
up.
[Just as an aside, the term supreme court is a gross misnomer, is it
not? The real Supreme Court is the one
Daniel saw in Daniel chapter 7, when he saw God and all those around him
holding court. This US court is hardly
supreme.]
The recent candidate for president Ben Carson just a few days ago on
national television said the level of corruption in politics is
overwhelming. The current uproar in the
recent primary campaigns indicates that at least some American people may be
finally coming to recognize that. Let’s
hope so.
There is of course the great scripture that the god of this world (the
devil) has blinded the minds of nonbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4).
There is the cold hard fact that only those born anew and filled with
and baptized with the Holy Spirit are guided by the Spirit and have the great
gifts of the Spirit, one of which is discernment. It is that guidance and those gifts that
enable such believers to see through the false words of so many and to realize
what is happening. And it is that ability
and sight that makes life truly sad for these believers as they live amidst a
majority of blind and lost human beings.
But we believers do know Jesus and we know what is happening and what
is coming! So we still rejoice amidst
all this darkness.
Paul warns that the Day of the Lord will not come until there is a
great falling away and the anti-christ – or man of lawlessness - is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Well, the falling away has happened and is happening. And the revealing of the anti-christ? Soon.
Paul then goes on to say this:
The coming of
the lawless one will be in accordance with how satan works. He will use all sorts of displays
of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, all the ways that
wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love
the truth and so be saved. For this reason
God sends them a
powerful delusion so
that they will believe the lie so
that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted
in wickedness. – (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Notice the words
lie and deceives and not believed. The evil one, satan, the devil, operates in
lies and deception. God even gives all
the blind, deceived people – the non-believers, all those without the Holy
Spirit – a delusion so they will believe the lie. He lets them be deluded. Are we not there now? Have you seen and listened to many of the
statements of the national leaders and media and entertainers and such? Have
you seen the interviews of people on the street who know nothing of their
country or government or what is going on?
So will we in
fact have a meaningful national election in the US this fall? Will it be a real and fair one? Let’s pray so. I would like to see the US go through these
last days fighting against the evil, struggling to stand up against all the
falsehood and wickedness that pervades society today.
When Jesus comes,
wouldn’t you like him to see his believers out there in the fray, standing up
for the truth, still working to help God lead more to Jesus?
What should you
be doing? All that the Holy Spirit leads
you to do. All the Lord has said to you,
whether directly or in scripture. Ask
God for whatever specific guidance he has for you. Jeremiah 33:3 says for you to call out to him
and he will answer and will show you great and mighty things you do not
know. Well, do so.
One last
comment. Is your church teaching at all
about the return of Jesus and the last days?
Is the pastor ever commenting and warning about all the actions in
society and government that fly in the face of God and his word? If not, ask why not. You do not need to be involved in a frozen,
politically correct but spiritually blind and asleep church. Your future and that of your family may very
much depend on your not being in such a place.
Strange and
bizarre times we are living in. Really
strange. The Bible never said these
times would be easy or enjoyable. But
the coming of the Lord to collect his believers will surely be wonderful and
enjoyable for those he collects!
In all things,
at all times, in all that you do,
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!
(July,
2016)
Copyright © 2016 by John
Newlin
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