Tuesday, January 20, 2009

In the Days That Were Before the Flood

Matt 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

It's amazing to see all the hooplah over this inaguration. Ten of, hundreds of millions of people seem to have this idea that Obama will actually change things for their benefit. I cannot think of any more naive thought than that. People are jam packing themselves together in the freezing cold for DAYS for what? To see (maybe) a car zoom by? To see a dot way on the horizon that might be the president? It's easy to see where people's hope is.

We, on the other hand, have an ark of Safety, just like Noah did, just like Lot who was escorted out of harms way BEFORE destruction fell. Jesus Christ is our ark of safety. This world is crumbling down around people's ears and I think its their last chance to get things right before all hell breaks loose. Putting hope in this world is FUTILE. The creation was SUBJECT TO FRUSTRATION by the creator PURPOSEFULLY.

Romans 8:8 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

There is no pleasure for those with the Spirit to see other people suffering, but there is great pleasure in seeing souls turned away from destruction. Our hope today should be fully set on the Lord Jesus and the coming of his kingdom. This place is rotten and getting worse by the day. You'd think that the so called christians in this world with all their "getting involved" would have stemmed the tide of wickedness. It does'nt take alot of light to illuminate an entire room, yet this world teeters on pitch blackness with a few little spots of light flickering throughout the nations. What does that tell you about todays "christians."

Everything written here is to get your attention and redirect it to the one who CAN help you. This world has never seen a time like today in the history of the world. Never before have the forces of darkness moved so far, so fast to blanket the world and implement a truly global satanic reign. It's been an old dream, attempted by many men in the past, but never realized. These days, our days we are SEEING the fulfillment of prophesy written about for thousands of years reserved for OUR DAYS. What will we do about it? Will we believe God?

I have written in the past about preparing for the tribulation. Our preparedness is to be found "in Christ" without spot or blemish, wholly satisfying to him who loves us. Provision will be made BY GOD himself for Israel after the abomination that causes desolation. Provision was made BY GOD for Noah to build an ark, Provision was made BY GOD to escort Lot out of Sodom. Do you beleive for one second that those who are dearly loved "in Christ" will not be provisioned for? What is our provision? ESCAPE...luke 21:36...from ALL thats about to happen.
In Rev 4 we see:

1. behold, a door was opened in heaven
2. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

A door open in heaven? Yea. What are doors for? For people to go in and out of right?

Where do those crowns come from ?

1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive ...
... Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the victor'scrown of glory that will never fade away

So..in order for those elders to be wearing their crowns, the CHIEF SHEPHERD had to appear to them right? Isn't that what 1 Peter5:4 says? In Rev 4 we see REDEEMED men, coincidentally RIGHT AFTER the door opened in heaven? Coincidentally IMMEDIATELY after Jesus spoke DIRECTLY to the churches in Rev 2-3? Too much coincidence there for me. Jesus is speaking to the churches TODAY, next a door opens in heaven and redeemed men are wearing crowns.

Notice that not everyone gets a crown:

2 Timothy 2:5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not
... And if a man takes part in a competition he does not get the crown if he has not kept the rules.

You've got to keep the rules...which means obey. Jesus said "If you love me you will obey my commands." On the day of the escape, what would people pay (if they could) to get out of here and go directly to heaven? There's nothing in this world, the sum of all of it added together that could be remotely close to worth the value of escaping this world and ending up in paradise.

There are many scoffers today who tell us that nobody escapes. These scoffers must know something that Jesus does'nt because it was the Spirit of God who said there is an escape coming from all that's about to happen (luke 21:36). The church HAS BEEN provisioned for, just like Noah, Lot and Israel will be during the coming "time of Jacob's trouble" which is the 70th week of Daniel which is coming for a SPECIFIC PURPOSE. That purpose is NOT to test and try the believing, obedient church.

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

These words are proof that the hour of temptation is NOT for those who keep Jesus' word. Jesus is speaking to THE CHURCH here, a church with little strength who will be kept from the hour of temptation.

Who will "keep" the church from this hour? Jesus said "I WILL" meaning he provides for the escape.

As the tribulation hour rockets down the rails towards us, its time to tidy up and loose ends that may be hanging off of us. We should be prepared in every way to leave this place. We must also be very patient. This is a tough line to walk. Completely prepared to leave, and completely ready to slug it out for however long the Lord sees fit to have us on earth. With our strength this is a tall order, but with the Spirit of God all things are possible. Jesus Christ is our provision on earth and in heaven. Remain IN HIM.

time is short, grace and peace