Sometimes I feel like Jeremiah.
The Jewish prophet ministered to Judah and surrounding Jewish cities prior to and during the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem over 2600 years ago. God had decided enough was enough and carried out His threats of judgement on disobedient and unrepentant Israel. Jeremiah continuously warned the people of this impending doom that was soon to befall them, but they refused to heed his message delivered directly from God. He was scorned, vilified, and physically restrained during his time in Judah, due to his unpleasant message. He told them that if they did not repent or follow God’s instruction to go with the enemy to Babylon, they would not live through His judgement. You know the rest of the story. Jerusalem was totally destroyed and the Jews that did go to Babylon remained there for 70 years in exile. Their response to Jeremiah was always that God would deliver Jerusalem from its attackers as He had done so many times in the past. In other words, you’re wrong, Jeremiah, nothing to worry about, quit prophesying doom.
Well, if you are a follower of this blog, you know that I’ve been focused on warning Christians that we are quickly approaching the time of God’s judgement on the earth, and we need to prepare. He’s about to do this during a seven-year period called the tribulation or Daniel’s 70th week. And for this world, it’s going to be horrific. He’s about to release the four horsemen of the apocalypse, allow Satan and his antichrist a measure of authority for a time, and pour out His wrath on all this worlds evil. God’s Word is clear and unapologetic in warning His people to prepare for unprecedented turmoil coming on this earth. Yet, just as during Jeremiah’s day, many are those in His church who say that even if this might actually be coming soon, God will protect us by whisking us away to somewhere in the spirit realm where we will be completely protected during this time of trouble. Unfortunately, this is widely taught in evangelical circles, giving Christians a false sense of security. While there may well be places of safety from His wrath, they are here on this earth, and we will need to seek His direction to take advantage of these. “He (the antichrist) shall persecute the saints of the Most High and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. (3 1/2 years) (Daniel 7:25). “He shall destroy fearfully and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.” (Daniel 8:24) “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.” (Revelation 13:5, 7). Just like Jeremiah warned Judah of coming judgement, the Holy Spirit is warning Christians of God’s impending judgement on this earth. And, saints, it begins in the church.
I certainly do not consider myself a prophet like Jeremiah, but the warnings for God’s people are similar, so I must be obedient. Thankfully, I’m not being threatened physically as the prophet was, though I do get some negative reactions from those who should know better. I simply read and study God’s word and with the help of the Holy Spirit try to understand what’s just ahead of us. You must do the same. Don’t rely on anyone but God’s Holy Spirit and His book for direction in these last days. God’s people didn’t listen to Jeremiah, and they suffered the consequences. They poo-pooed His direct warnings and were unprepared. The Scriptures give us an end time road map that we need to follow. Study them and do what they say.
The apostle John tells us something remarkable in his first letter. “The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed at His coming.” (1 John 2:27-28). In other words, John is telling us that as Christians, He abides in us through the anointing (Holy Spirit). That gives us an upper hand when studying last days events. We should not be in need of teachers but actually teaching others. As John said, we must abide in Him to become confident and unashamed when He comes.
Christians, we have a huge responsibility to alert everyone we love and come in contact with about the times in which we live. Your warnings may fall on deaf ears or be scoffed at or even offensive to some, but that should not deter your resolve. Like me, consider Jeremiah.
Maranatha, Jim