People Get Ready

I have watched with interest the events unfolding around the world such as the explosion of wars in the Arab nations that surround Israel and the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown in Japan, persecution of Christians in Africa, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, China, and elsewhere around the world. I wonder if we are experiencing those birth pangs that Jesus told us about concerning the end times in Matt. 24:8 “All these are the beginning of birth pains”.

The disciples had asked Jesus concerning these times and specifically when the end would take place? Christ gave them no answer to that question; but they had also asked what the signs of the times would be.

This question He answered fully; it would be the beginning of great sorrows. The prophecy addressed those events that were close at hand namely the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, the end of the Jewish church and state, the calling of the Gentiles, and the setting up of Christ’s kingdom in the world.

Some of this prophecy has already been fulfilled. After the crucifixion the temple was destroyed and the Jews were taken into captivity and scattered throughout the world, and the times of the gentiles were ushered in and we got invited to the party. In 1948, as predicted, the Jews returned to the Holy Land and without even having a formal army achieved a miraculous six day victory over Egypt, Syria, and Jordan and thus returned to the holy Land.

The second part of Jesus’ answer deals with general judgment and how to know that we are near the end. What Christ said to his disciples here was intended more to make us understand that these would be dangerous times and that we must exercise great caution than to satisfy curiosity; it was given more to prepare us for the events that should happen, than to give a distinct idea of the events.

Jesus warned his disciples (and us) to stand on guard against false teachers. And he foretells wars and great commotions among nations. “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. He also warned: There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.” (Mark 13:8) “But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.” (Luke 21:12). The LORD Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire. (Isaiah 29:6)

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”(2 Tim. 3:1)

Yikes! Sounds like some of this is happening eh? Oops I left something out: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14

The Internet is going all over the world spreading the word of God right alongside the filth. It is powerful. While I have been traveling around in my pickup truck speaking to small groups of folks about the Lord, last night AOL posted an article about my testimony that I was told would get 200,000 hits by this morning; http://smallbusiness.aol.com/2011/03/14/my-first-million-bob-williamson-horizon-software-international/

We have also setup Facebook pages for Miracle on Luckie Street and I’m told if it were to go viral that it could get millions of hits within a day. The same with the video I will post on You Tube in a few weeks. I can see how the gospel “shall be preached in the entire world”.

Hmmm… Didn’t that verse say “and then the end shall come”?

There is a song by Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions that was popular when I was a young man, (it really tells my age, but hey I don’t care), I love it!

Its lyrics:
People get ready, there’s a train a comin’
You don’t need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin’
Don’t need no ticket, you just thank the Lord

People get ready for the train to Jordan
It’s picking up passengers from coast to coast
Faith is the key, open the doors and board ’em
There’s hope for all among those loved the most.

There ain’t no room for the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
For there’s no hiding place against the Kingdom’s throne

So people get ready, there’s a train a comin’
You don’t need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin’
Don’t need no ticket, you just thank the Lord

Rev. 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.