What is Next on God’s Calendar?
The question I have always wondered, has to do with how many of the Biblical Prophecies have been fulfilled? Some have estimated that 80% have been fulfilled, and if true, then we are closer than we think for the remaining Predictions to take place. It is also a concern of mine to ask another question … how well are we prepared for the remaining 20% the Biblical Prophecies to take place? As I have stated before, most pastors are afraid to deal with the future because the future, according to the Bible, will not be a nice experience … especially for those outside of Christ. There are so many expressions of Theology that try to figure out how the Bible interprets the Last Days … with all the various interpretations, it gets confusing for most people.
Yet there are no good reasons for the Church to ignore Biblical Prophecies. Regardless of where our pastor’s Theology may land when it comes to Prophecy, controversary is not a good reason not to prepare the congregations for the future. Yet, there is a small problem most pastors face, “I don’t want the future to affect my present success.” The now, rather than tomorrow, is more important for the success of the current trend of Church growth … because the future scares people.
I know a pastor who was doing a series on Biblical Prophecy, and he spent a lot of time in his opening sermons to defend the comfort of Prophecy rather than the scary scenario it usually presents. There is some truth to the comfort of Prophecy because Jesus gave us some Warning Markers as to what will happen before He returns. Yet, these Markers are not being preached in a way to help people prepare for the things Jesus Predicted would happen. Now, being prepared is not like being a prepper who stores food and water for a catastrophic event … it is more like being ready spiritually for how evil will influence our world. How do we store in our hearts the necessary preparation to stand against what is coming? Again, some Theologies believe that we will be spared the End Time disasters, but if we are not, how will we survive? The system that is coming is a world dictator who will control the buying and selling of goods, and without the Mark of 666, you will not be able to participate in the commerce of the world. Even if we are spared the End Times by being raptured by Jesus, are we even being prepared for the snatching away of the Church? Many Churches don’t teach about the removal of the Church prior to the Wrath of God being unleased on the earth. They don’t believe it will happen … so it is ignored. How do you keep your life on track in the face of an imminent Rapture if you’re not even aware that it is real?
Many of us may even believe in a literal Rapture, but it hasn’t made a difference in the way we live. Remember, Jesus said that He will come like a thief in the night, unannounced, and swift. Are we being prepared for such a reality? Do we think it could happen today, or tonight, or next week? We often are not too aware of Bible Prophecy until someone brings it to our attention.
The Signs
The signs of His coming are all around us today, and yet it doesn’t seem to matter in how we live so casually with our faith. I wonder how you would be affected if you read Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 for a month straight? Taking notes and digesting the Words of our Lord on what to expect in the future, and asking yourself how should you prepare in light of your reading? You may ask God to prepare you by being more conscientious about prayer, fasting, and developing a sense of discernment about the times in which we live. How about developing a hunger for His Word, a hunger for the Holy Spirit to use His Gifts through you to minister to others. What about the hunger and thirst you could develop for His Righteousness, and follow a pattern of Biblical Holiness? Casual Christians will not survive the times that are coming. Casual Christians are depicted in the Scriptures by the Parable Jesus told of the 10 Virgins. Casual Christians are the Five Foolish Virgins who never bothered to have enough oil for the journey.
Final Thoughts
Today is the day to prepare. Jesus said that the night is coming when there will be no preparing or working the Ministry of the Gospel. Christian … take this as a warning, get serious about God, make your paths straight in following Him, and find your friendship again with the Holy Spirit. He is the greatest asset you have. He is the Author of the Scriptures, and the Power behind them. Some of you will not find Salvation in your Church … it is not there, it never has been, it is only obtained in Jesus, and in Him alone. Churches must be ignited again, not with programs and events that keep people busy … they need the power of the resurrected Christ living in them by the Holy Spirit. This is how we will survive the Last Days. In the meantime, we talk about Rapture and assurance that when the Last Days come upon us, it may be like Daniel’s Lion Den, but we will survive because God is faithful. Prepare now … is our battle cry.
Challenging the Culture with Truth … Larry Kutzler