The wave of animal deaths was taking out some of everything, birds, fish, mammals you name it. Combine the animal deaths with what is going on with the economy, with the ongoing nuclear pollution of the world at fukushima, volcanoes, earthquakes, weird weather worldwide, satellites falling from space one after another, the US cancelling the space program, and last but certainly not least the world's spiritual condition, you have enough evidence to say with some objectivity "all is not business as usual with the world today". Disaster is coming on a scale unimaginable.
The book of Revelation tells us clearly what this disaster is going to look like. When world events start to mirror what we know the tribulation/time of Jacob's trouble is going to look like we should certainly up our watchfulness and preparedness to meet our Lord Jesus Christ.
What is going to happen we already know. When these things are going to happen is the real question. This writer expected the Lord to arrive years ago and the tribulation to start, yet the world has continued in its "days before the flood" state.
Luke 1726“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
28“It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
There is a day coming when we will be like Noah and Lot. We will "enter the ark" and "leave Sodom" and on that very same day, the flood will come and destroy those who remain on the face of the earth. The Restrainer will be removed and all hell will break loose. We were told that there is an escape coming and we should pray that we are counted worthy of it (Luke 21:36). We were told that the coming of the Son of man will be exactly like it was in the days of Noah and Lot. Not kind of like the days of Noah and Lot, exactly like the days of Noah and Lot. Our Lord does not use words haphazardly. Each and every Word of the Lord was used purposefully and with infinite intelligence so we should not take them lightly.
This world is in a death spiral, which is a natural result of its sin. Sin results in what? Death. Simple right? As we watch this world edge closer and closer to the day the tribulation starts, we should be watching and ready. We should also be very patient. I already told you things have gone on much longer than I suspected they would. Whats the lesson there? Its the lesson of Rev 3:10 and Matt 25. Those who keep the "Word of the Lord's patience" will be kept from the hour of trial. The parable of the virgins in Matt 25 tells us that the virgins prepared to wait (they brought extra oil in their lamps just in case it took awhile) were allowed into the wedding.
What is the Lord saying to us today? Be watching and ready and patient. Be ready to leave immediately and be ready to stay indefinitely. A very tough job which is why many wont make it (I pray that I am wrong-but read Matt 7:13-28).
Something to be aware of that the Lord has reminded me of in recent days. Whatever it is you are doing for the Lord, that is, employing your talent etc as a good slave/servant, it does not take the place of personal time with Him. Our "alone time" with the Lord where its one on one with Him is first. You can be "doing" all kinds of great things for the Lord but if you are not maintaining the relationship with time spent alone with Him, you (and I) are falling way short of the mark set for us.
What is this life on earth about? Why are we here? Relationship with God Almighty. This life is about preparing to spend eternity with the Lord our God. If we are not developing the relationship, why not?
Be patient, be watching and be ready. Probability tells us that days like today will go on indefinitely into the future. Probability tells us that "pre-flood" days will go on forever. The Word tells us that probability will be confounded some day in the future and most people will not be ready for it. Lets not be part of that many. When the Lord arrives, let us be able to say "Welcome Master, we've been expecting you!"
Keep the faith, grace and peace
