God's End Time Purposes

 God views the past, present and future as one event. He knew man's penchant for depravity and our eventual need for Jesus as our Savior. He crafted His end time plan prior to establishing the earth. He dwells in eternity and is not restricted by time as we are. He had a major plan for humanity and it has now almost entirely unfolded.

The anti-Christ's rise to power may be happening as I type. However, God will remove His Saints from the earth before the anti-Christ is ever revealed (1 Thessalonians 5:9). God will judge our works and reward us at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). We will be dressed in our wedding garments, which are made from our righteous works for God, while we are alive on this earth (Revelation 19:8).

Then we will have a wedding feast with Jesus in Heaven (Revelation 19:7-9). At this same time, the torment of the Great Tribulation is taking place on the earth. Jesus opens the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments, which bring devastation and destroys the corrupted earth and the people on it (Matthew 24:4-31; Revelation 6-19).

During the Great Tribulation, the two Jewish witnesses will preach in Jerusalem while 12,000 from each of the Jewish tribes will go out through the earth to win the lost Jews to Christ. God will save those in Israel who choose to believe, and these Saints will give their lives in martyrdom. At the end of the seven-year Great Tribulation, Jesus will return to the earth.

This is called The Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 19:11-21). We, His Bride, are coming with Christ in our immortal, glorified bodies at this same time. The Word of the Lord defeats all the armies of the world assembled by the Anti-Christ at the "Battle of Armageddon" (Revelation 19:11-21). Then He will lock up Satan with all of his demons in the lake of fire. We will rule and reign with Jesus during the Millennium (Revelation 20:3).

Prayer:

Father God, You never send judgment without first sending warning. Noah believed Your counsel about his time's coming Day of Judgment and he built the Ark. He preached Your plan for 120 years. He and his family heeded Your forewarning and were saved from Your wrath (Luke 17:26; Hebrews 11:7), while everyone else perished. As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the end times (Matthew 24:37). Thank You for saving us, and making us part of your eternal plan. Please, draw our loved ones, who do not believe, to come to Your loving heart now, before it is too late.

Thought for the Day:

God has not yet poured out judgment on evil, because He has been storing up the cup of His fury since the sin of Adam and Eve; He will dispense it during the Great Tribulation. - Revelation 14:10

Enjoying Life

Read: John 8:34-37

“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”  - 1 Peter 2:16

The needs of each person’s soul differ, but we all love to play. Fortunately, God abundantly gives us all good things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17). There is a debate, however, between the ideologies of decency and decadence. Some believe there is no freedom in the face of morality. I contend that true freedom only comes within the safe parameters of these ethical boundaries. Otherwise, the mob rules and we all know that leads to chaos. Jesus agreed. He told us that we are slaves to sin, and reminded us that only the Son sets us free (John 8:34-37).

Sin makes us subservient to itself and there is no freedom in slavery. Fleshly indulgences are only enjoyable for a time. The dividends of depravity come in the form of ill health, addictions, unmanageable circumstances, jail terms, broken relationships, poverty and eventually death without peace (Luke 21:34). Paul gives wise counsel on how to live in Eph 5:15-19 NIV, “Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

The world tells us to ignore our conscience and to give in to the secular reasoning that “If it feels good, do it!” Who judges right from wrong if the Bible is not our standard? Society leaves it up to individuals, most of whom have trouble discerning truth in any form. Experience proves that a pursuit of money, immorality, fame, drugs, alcohol, relationships, looks and success only brings us temporary joy. In attaining these “prizes” we face a hollow victory. We immediately grow dissatisfied and want something more. The graveyards are full of people who died unhappily, even though they had one or more of these supposed guarantees to a happy life.

I see no need to fear moral restrictions. There is an unlimited amount of wholesome activities for spiritual people to enjoy, such as: learning something new, reading a book, taking a leisurely nap, canoeing the river, popping corn and watching movies, gathering with friends, sports, enjoying nature and developing new hobbies, to name just a few. We do not need to live a life of sin in order to enjoy life.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I am learning that there is no true happiness apart from You. I only experience completion in my life through my relationship with You. This is more fulfilling than any human relationship I ever enjoyed. Because You live within me, You are closer to me than any other bond. Jesus, thank You for coming to give us abundant life, which is filled to overflowing (John 10:10, Amplified Bible).

Thought for the Day:
How totally pointless the pursuit of self-indulgence appears after we attain it, and what a bitter taste of repulsion it leaves in our empty soul.