Word of the Week - Be Prepared

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage one another with these words” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Biblical Perspective on End Times  – No one knows the day or hour of the events highlighted in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 noted above, but scripture does give us the signs of the times “Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven” Luke 21:10-11.  Just like in the days of Noah people were going about their day to day lives as normal when the end came.  There is much confusion about end times prophesy both inside and outside the church and thus I wanted to share a few scriptures and thoughts around this very important topic especially given the signs of our times.Max Lucado, a well-respected Christian author and pastor https://maxlucado.com/about, recently recorded a short video on this topic.  I highly suggest you take 10 minutes to watch this video for insight and context https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhx9wNblwLo . The following are a few key insights about end times from the video:Believers Escape:  As noted in last week’s “Word of the Week” the good news is that as followers of Christ we are “caught up together” (raptured).  God has not destined us His sons and daughters in Christ to suffer His wrath and thus His plan is to rescue us by removing us from earth in an instant prior to the great tribulation.  “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him”.  1 Thessalonians 5:9-10.Unbelievers will suffer terribly:  The really concerning reality about the end times is that all of those who are not followers of Christ (non-Christians) will be left to endure a time of tribulation that is characterized in the bible by unprecedented pain and suffering.  The book of revelation outlines a period of 7 years after the believers are raptured where God removes His church and the covering of the Holy Spirit from the earth and allows the satan to have his way on earth.  This is a nightmarish scenario for all the lost who are left behind to bare the wrath and consequences of the sin of mankind.  “Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.  They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!  For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” Revelation 6:15-17Let’s be prepared and share the Good News with the lost:  There are millions and millions of people who are lost spiritually and don’t know Jesus and thus according to scripture they are at risk.  These include those closest to us such as friends, family and neighbors along with those who we many not know so well.  Jesus came to earth for the purpose of saving all 1 Timothy 2:4 and one of the last things he did before He left earth and ascended to heaven was instruct His disciples (us) to spread the gospel to all the ends of the earth Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  As followers of Christ one of our primary missions and objectives should be to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus with others so they can be saved.  To share the love of God and also the impending wrath of God for those who are not in Christ.  Also the risk for the lost who are alive on earth during the end times to have to suffer through the free reign of satan during the time of tribulation.  This should motivate us to remain in Christ John 15:5, and stay intent on sharing our faith with others who are lost.Listen, I tell you a mystery;  We will not all sleep, but we will be changed in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable (Christ), and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true;  “Death has been swallowed up in victory”. Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  1 Corinthians 15: 51-58If you are a follower of Christ think about someone you can share your faith with this week and encourage them God’s word to step into faithStay encouraged and ready in Christ,-Duane