I really don't think that I'm alone in this. Too many Christians to even guess at an approximation have for decades....many decades....known that Jesus was literally at the door. We were able to see an America that was every year increasing in its rebellion to God. ...and a church that was losing its light. We knew.....because God's Word is so very clear....that this could not go on forever. It wasn't difficult to bring these things up....because we were talking about events....whatever they might turn out to be....that were yet ahead of us....but now that so many of those possibilities are literally in motion....a soberness comes upon us....(to me anyway but surely I speak for others)....that we hadn't experienced before....in spite of all the rhetoric.
My personal Bible reading moves all around the sixty-six books....but quite often I return to Paul's two letters to the Thessalonians. I do this because I want to stay fresh on his words to a church under persecution....for if Jesus is truly near....which I believe that He is....then we will need these words of encouragement....and also those of Peter....and also the warning that when the world says...."peace and safety"....which it will surely do when this pandemic subsides....sudden destruction may follow. Should we not at least question ourselves in that if the believers that all of these letters were written to were encouraged to hopefully and expectantly look to the return of Jesus....why don't we today?
So many today believe in a rapture that precedes the Tribulation. Have at it....I don't see that in Scripture....and I think that we can see in this present distress that that might be a good thing.....for even a pandemic doesn't seem to stir us up to want to testify...."For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God"....or even to..."comfort one another with these words."
We are in need of a winnowing....if for no other reason than to know who each other is. Tonight I Googled one nationally known minister after another simply to see if any were calling America to repentance. I found none in those ministries that came to my mind. We must see ourselves as too sophisticated to speak of the nearness of Christ's Second Coming.
Where is that one man of stature....whether he be an acclaimed minister or government leader....that will call us as a nation to repentance? Is there no one willing to risk ridicule in order to warn us? Can no one even fit into their sermon that we are not to..."sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober"....or that an apostasy is coming? Is there no one willing even to remind us....as Peter felt it necessary...."As long as I am in this earthly dwelling"....to stir us up to...."be all the more diligent to confirm (our) calling and election"?
My personal Bible reading moves all around the sixty-six books....but quite often I return to Paul's two letters to the Thessalonians. I do this because I want to stay fresh on his words to a church under persecution....for if Jesus is truly near....which I believe that He is....then we will need these words of encouragement....and also those of Peter....and also the warning that when the world says...."peace and safety"....which it will surely do when this pandemic subsides....sudden destruction may follow. Should we not at least question ourselves in that if the believers that all of these letters were written to were encouraged to hopefully and expectantly look to the return of Jesus....why don't we today?
So many today believe in a rapture that precedes the Tribulation. Have at it....I don't see that in Scripture....and I think that we can see in this present distress that that might be a good thing.....for even a pandemic doesn't seem to stir us up to want to testify...."For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God"....or even to..."comfort one another with these words."
We are in need of a winnowing....if for no other reason than to know who each other is. Tonight I Googled one nationally known minister after another simply to see if any were calling America to repentance. I found none in those ministries that came to my mind. We must see ourselves as too sophisticated to speak of the nearness of Christ's Second Coming.
Where is that one man of stature....whether he be an acclaimed minister or government leader....that will call us as a nation to repentance? Is there no one willing to risk ridicule in order to warn us? Can no one even fit into their sermon that we are not to..."sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober"....or that an apostasy is coming? Is there no one willing even to remind us....as Peter felt it necessary...."As long as I am in this earthly dwelling"....to stir us up to...."be all the more diligent to confirm (our) calling and election"?
