What Lies Ahead
I would like for each of you to close your eyes. Now imagine for a moment if you will the best time that you have ever had in your life and how you felt at that moment. Keeping your eyes closed, please imagine the worse time of your life and how you felt at that moment. The way you felt in your best time doesn’t compare with the peace, love, and joy you feel once you have come into the full glory of Jesus Christ. The way you felt in the worse time doesn’t compare with what lies ahead in our Christian walk of faith.
The fact is that very few professing Christians study their bible. Oh, we may read maintenance manuals, flower/garden magazines, playboy, or whatever, but not the bible. It sits on the shelf gathering dust. Be assured the bible paves the map for our road to salvation and beyond. We read all sorts of material but we do not study for ourselves the Word of God. We leave our spirit welfare to the Pastor. However, you are the only one responsible for your own salvation. We must test everything and hold onto what is good.
One religious survey conducted by the Los Angeles Times concluded that 2/3 of Americans do not read the bible regularly and can’t name the four gospels. More then half of Americans can not name 5 of the Ten Commandments. And many say the bible is irrelevant. Many believe that Jesus’ last name was “Christ”. What a shame!
Most people have just accepted their religion passed down by their families. Most have just “gone along” beliefs and traditions taught to them as children. Brothers and sisters, one better get into the bible, study, and show ones self approved.
We live in a prideful and sinful world. It’s full of greed, hate, segregation, racism, demonic forces, and so much evil. The church (body of Christ) has dissension with-in the church. Walls have been built between different denominations because of by-laws (man-made rules). There is so many sinners’ indulging in every imaginable aspect of sin. It’s time for sinners, lukewarm Christians, and those that have turned their backs on God to change. It’s time for revival in the Church and awakening of “God consciousness” in our nation!….
*God is holy and righteous (Rom. 1:17)
*Man is sinful and his heart is evil (Gen. 6:5; 13:13; Jer. 17:9).
*All people know that God exists (Rom. 1:21)
*All people have sinned (Rom. 3:23a)
*All people are guilty before God (Rom. 1:18-3:8)
*Judgment is self-induced (Rom. 1:18-23)
*Sin dishonors God and contradicts His Holy character (Rom. 1:17)
*God will judge every person, Jew and Gentile (Rom. 2:5; 2:12-16)
*God never forgives any sin without full payment of the penalty for that sin (Rom. 3:25)
*Propitiation is the only saving solution to the fact of God’s wrath against sin. Propitiation is the appeasement of divine wrath by a sacrificial offering. Sending Christ to die for our sins was God’s amazing solution to the problem of how He could remain just (punish all sin) and still justify us (declare us perfectly righteous in His sight) (Is. 53:4, 5, 10, 11; Rom. 3:25)
*The gospel of salvation is a free gift that cannot be earned (Rom. 1:16, 17; 3:20, 23, 24, 28, 30; 4:5: 6:23)
*Saving faith can only come through hearing and believing the Bible’s message about Christ (Rom. 1:16; 10:14-17)
*Justified means to be declared righteous in God’s sight (Rom. 3:24)
*God imputes (imparts) righteousness to those who believe (Rom. 4:3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24)
*Believers, who have been freely forgiven of sins because of Christ’s work, will be given degrees of reward in heaven. This is according to their actions in this life; heaven is the eternal home of born-again believers (Rom. 3:21-26; Mth. 16:27; 25:31-46; John 5:29; Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10; Rev. 7:15-17)
*Those who reject Christ will be judged for their sins. The consequences of willful disobedience are horrible indeed. The Bible speaks of an endless, conscious torment in hell (Rom. 2:6; Rev. 20:10, 15)
The truth is clear. Modern “Christianity” has become vastly different then “Christianity” of Jesus’ day. That is why we have over 400 denominations, all proclaiming to be Christians. Which Church is right? Which denomination is right? The right church and denomination is the one preaching and teaching Gods Word. It is the body of Christ, spirit filled, Holy Ghost led, a loving congregation, and a Pastor that is not afraid to step on toes in a loving manner.
We are living in a very troubled world. Although the Bible explains in Daniel and Revelation what is going to happen, and therefore we should not be surprised, there is still fear and apprehension about the future.
First, God loved us so much that we were created in his image. We were given a free will and a free choice. He even gave the angels free will and choice. That choice is what made Lucifer (the devil) and a third of the angels decide to rebel against God. God does not to force us to love him. He wants us to love him because he first loved us.
Not only did God create us in his image, He stated that we would have dominion over all the earth. But, since the beginning, man has ruined God’s perfect world and let sin come into world at the Garden of Eden. Now God could not destroy Satan because of evil. If God had destroyed Satan, man would have died because we are sinful creatures. All sin would have been destroyed had He destroyed Satan. So God came up with another plan. He would offer the purest of lambs to wash away sin. So he gave his only begotten son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us.
On one hand, science and technology promises a world of great prosperity. Yet, on the other hand, nuclear war and biological and chemical warfare threaten the very existence of our world. Since the United States is morally, socially, and financially bankrupt, along with the terrorists attacks, has made our great country a pawn. We are no longer the worlds superpower nation. We are now number 3. Those in power are North Korea and the European countries. Let’s not forget China with over 2,000,000 soldiers. This is the largest army in the world.
So according to scripture, what lies ahead for the United States.
A great charismatic leader in Europe will arise, responding to the world’s crisis. He will enter into an alliance of church and state that will offer peace, security and prosperity to a desperate world. The world will be in total confusion and darkness. The world will not see the light because it has closed its eyes, hardened its heart, and closed deft ears. Further, the world has turned its back on the true God completely and worships the Anti-Christ.
This leader, using lies, deceit, and intrigue, will induce ten European leaders, representing the end time successors to both the eastern and western parts of the Roman Empire, to unite temporarily and give their power to him.
A period of world peace and prosperity will follow. Worldwide trading will seem to offer incredible profits to cartels. Later, responding to crisis involving both the Middle East and the English speaking nations, he will move with lightening speed and determination. He will nullify the treaty made with the Jewish State and attack Jerusalem. Half of the city will be in exile and the women will be raped (Zechariah 14-2). An overwhelming army will attack the United States, Britain, Canada, and other English speaking countries.
The intensifying problems of global fracturing will be countered by a scheme designed to impose both political and religious unity on a worldwide scale. Though important developments will occur in the political world, it is the area of religion that we will see events like never seen before. This is when one world religion will begin.
By this time, millions across the world will be caught up in Political/Religious frenzy fed by a charismatic leader working great signs and wonders. These individuals are more into feeling good then following true doctrines of the Holy Bible. They will respond to this leader and turn from God. Many will say he is God!
Modern technology will be used to create a police state that Hitler and Stalin could only dream about. A powerful war-making apparatus will be brought in by the European superpower and it will be classified as the cornerstone to world peace and security. People will accept this as the price of getting rid of terrorism and violent crime.
At first, this system will improve world economy and world trading (Ezekiel 27 and Revelation 18). However, the Arab World will be displeased by attempts to force them into Religious unity with Europe, which will be a false religion. A powerful ruler (Daniel 11), called “king of the south” will arise. He will bring temporary unity of much of the Islamic World. Provoked by this leader, Europe will launch an attack resulting in European occupation of much of the Arab World (Daniel 11:40-43).
This European occupation will deepen suspicion among the eastern nations. European nations will attack the eastern nations to force them into submission. The resulting warfare will cause the nuclear destruction of much of Europe, including Rome itself (Rev 18:10, 17)(Rev 9:13-18)
Horrifying weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons as well as biological and chemical weapons (Rev 9:5-6, 18) will be unleashed. With millions dead and the world turned upside down, and when it appears that humanity will destroy itself, the living glorified Christ will return from heaven (Matt: 24:22).
In the after math of all this destruction, Jesus Christ will stand on the Mount of Olives. God will establish a kingdom that shall never be removed (Dan 2:44). The law will go forth from Jerusalem and all nations will be brought under the government of God (Isaiah 2:2-3).
The bible records two cities, Babylon and Jerusalem. One will be destroyed forever. The other will be created anew as the new Jerusalem
Which will come down from heaven after the 1,000-year reign of the Messiah. This will be the dwelling place for the Father, for Christ, and for the first fruits for all eternity (Rev 21)
As we watch the world unravel around us, do not be discouraged. Jesus Christ exhorts his true followers.
What I have told you is not a fantasy. It is going to happen within the lifetime of many sitting here. Scripture states that once Israel becomes a nation, that generation will not pass away without seeing the coming of the Lord. Israel became a nation in December 1948.
Christians will be forced to gather in-groups of 2 or 4. Many will be killed like the days of old by Saul who later became Paul. Stand fast – hold onto your faith. For those who stand fast now will receive great blessings and eternal life.
Like Deacon says. You better be prayed up and fed up with the Holy Spirit.
In closing, the advent of Christ and the Anti-Christ will be as follows:
1. Satan will appear as a man in the person of the Anti-Christ because he seeks to reign as king over mankind and desires to focus the worship of God upon himself.
2. The Anti-Christ will come from the Middle East and he will be a Jew. He will set himself a throne in Jerusalem in the rebuilt Temple of Solomon. He will be the “ abomination of desolation” spoken of by Jesus and David.
3. The Anti-Christ is the “little horn” of the forth beast mentioned in Daniel 7. He will slay three of the 10 kings (3 horns) and reign as the eighth with the remaining seven.
4. He will achieve his objectives in the middle of the final seven-year period of this age. He will be accepted as king of the Jews and reign from his seat as God.
5. He will deceive most of the world that he is God. He will persecute those that refuse to worship him. Although thousands of thousands will be slaughtered, the world will close its eyes.
6. Jesus Christ will return to earth at the end of the 3 ½ year reign of the Anti-Christ, destroying Satan’s kingdom.
Satan will use any means he can to bring us down as well as the world. He is bringing down the United States of America. There are basically 5 areas in which Satan is attacking America.
1. Destroy the moral Fabric of America: doing a masterful job of confusing the Pastors, intellectual leaders, and educators.
2. Undermine the Family: Most realize that strong families are the basis of every decent society that has ever existed.
3. Destroy the Economy: destroy honesty and hard work.
4. Denigrate Patriotism and a National Sense of Purpose: Done away with things like Pledge of Allegiance and Star Spangled Banner.
5. Control the Media to Promote All of the Above: The media is being used to undermine the concepts of patriotism, true Christianity, the family, and almost every aspect of a decent life.
Where do you stand? Are you a sinner and you feel something tugging at your heart? That’s God my friend! Are you a lukewarm Christian? If so, God will spew you out. Spew meaning vomit. Are you not totally sure of your salvation? Are you standing where you want to be with God? If you fall into one of these areas, please don’t wait. Come to the altar. Come to the altar now.
