It is near, even at the doors

I have been studying prophecy for five years. That is not a hugely long time, but with not working during much of that period, and with not having children or family obligations, I've studied it night and day, intensively, like a person at a retreat or in seminary. The supernatural understanding the Spirit has given me of the bible and of prophecy itself in such a short time is a testament to His work in me. In other words, He brought me along fast.

I believe He has used me in this way, intensively and constantly and immediately, because time is short. I've always had a burden for the imminence of His soon coming since my conversion in December 3, 2003. My mission is to the fellow Christian through the accurate word of His prophecy. My job has been to put the sandwichboard over my shoulders that says "the end is near!" and ring the bell to apathetic Christians. That's my mission: watchman, bell ringer, warner-exhorter.


There are some people who say that we should not say it is near, and they cite Mark 13:32, where it says 'no one knows the day nor hour'. Or they cite 1 Thessalonians 5:1 where Paul said the day of the Lord will be as a thief in the night, a surprise. Or they cite Acts 1:7, where we are told we will not know the times or dates God has set by His own authority.

They are right.

If you meet up with anyone who knows the time, hour, or day, run, for they are false. However, we are told we will know the season. In 1 Thess 5:4; Luke 21:28; Matthew 24:33 we are told that we will know when it is near. In  Luke 12:56 Jesus chastises those who failed to interpret the times the first time around, and didn't know it was the time of the First Coming. He said they were good at interpreting the weather but not that it was the time of the Messiah standing in front of them.

In Luke 12 beginning in verse 35 there is a section called "Watchfulness". Jesus says, "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning," and later in vs. 37 He says, "It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes."

So when you try to relate the imminence of the times don't let anyone brush you off with the old chestnut, "we do not know the day nor hour" (Unless you have just told them a day or an hour.)

I feel the time is very, very close. I see the geo-political platform of the pieces coming together and I want to scream WAKE UP!" "BE READY!" Last night I watched Pastor JD Farag's prophecy update and what he said in it, I could relate to in a big way.

He said he wants to scream, too. To those of us He is using in this watchman ministry, we see so clearly what the times are and the nearness of the end of the Church Age, and the beginning of terrible times for the left-behind population.

Pastor JD said that he has been studying prophecy for 20 years and walking with the Lord for 30, and never has he seen events line up like this. He remarked that 12 years ago he was traveling with another highly respected prophecy preacher and that preacher said given the global - political landscape at that time it likely would not be sooner than 10 years before the Lord came back. Pastor JD said that back then he agreed.

Though the Lord can come back any time, could have come back in the past and could come in the far future, he did give us signs. He not only gave signs but urged us to watch for those signs. So for prophecy students, it is not like we believe the end is near without reason. Ten years ago the signs were not there, though the biggest sign of all had been fulfilled: Israel was back in the land. But the rest? Not so much. We all knew that.

When I began my own studies five years ago I felt like the Lord would not come back for five more years. In other words five years ago it felt like the beginning of the season. Now five years later  it feels like the end of the season. I could see the prophetic pieces at the end of my field of biblical vision but they were not close. Now they are. They're excruciatingly close.

While the Lord may choose to defuse the situation and all go back to something akin to normal, that is His prerogative in His timing, would He?

Pastor JD said of the signs, the pregnant imminence, about heavy feeling, that though God could certainly pull everything back from the brink, it is not probable. Why? Think about this: Would Jesus taunt us with the rapture? Would he tantalize His bride with the nearness? Would he dangle the carrot in front of us, only to say, Nah, not now?

Pastor JD related the anecdote of when he asked his then-girlfriend to marry him. He said that after she’d said yes, he was counting the days until they would be man and wife. He loved her soooo much that the notion of being united under God was all he could think about. How much MORE, then, would Jesus feel about His bride? How much more anxious and eager would He be to take us to Himself and install us in the place He has been preparing for us? I agree with what Pastor Farag said. I think the matter is much too serious to play brinksmanship. I believe that there is only forward motion at this time, fast-forward.

Someone mentioned in another essay I’d read this week that “time is short. The spiritual electricity is in the air and we dedicated followers of Christ can feel it crackling all around us every day.” I agree!! Another prophecy preacher wrote, “The Rapture is at the door and Satan is fighting with a fury.” So true, the evilness is almost too much to bear. An anonymous commenter said on another post, “I have an incredible sense of urgency and "inner-knowing" that our time here on earth will be drawing to a close very soon.” Amen.

What this adds up to is the final decision. A person must decide if they will acknowledge their sins against Jesus and ask Him to forgive them, or not. Not doing so means they will be left behind when He comes very soon for us. He wants you! There is no sin you have committed in your life that Jesus will not forgive! The only unforgivable sin is refusing His pardon for your sins. He loves you and wants to take care of you and bless you and treasure you. Yes, YOU!

Though Jesus could settle the world and wait another 10 years, I truly think He will not. I really think this is it. Repent, for the kingdom of Jesus is at hand.