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Joel Rosenberg wrote a very good essay answering this question. He has details and scriptures over at his blog.
Here is an excerpt:
"Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." (Proverbs 29:18).
Knowing that Jesus could return at any moment is exactly a restraint! Prophecy restrains us. It's like an extending leash for your pet. If you take the leash off, the dog runs and runs and sometimes runs into a car. On the leash he has room and yet he is restrained from danger or from wandering off the path.
Or like your teenager, if they have the house to themselves and know that they have hours and hours of unsupervised time, how much trouble will they get into, as opposed to knowing the parents could come back at any moment?
You might enjoy this essay from Pete Garcia, called "The Rapture". Here is an excerpt--
Here is an excerpt:
"Jesus cautioned His followers not to speculate on the exact time of the Rapture or the Second Coming. In Matthew 24:36, He said that “of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” But “day and hour” is a very narrow slice of time. By giving us at least fifteen other specific signs that would be happening in the last days, Jesus clearly wanted us to know when the time of His return was rapidly approaching."
"Why? He gave the answer in Matthew 24:42, when He said, “Therefore, be on the alert.” He reinforced the point in the next verse, when again He urged His followers to be “on the alert.” In Matthew 24:44, He stressed this critical point for a third time. “You also must be ready,” He insisted, “for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”
"Followers of Jesus Christ who study these signs are coming to the conclusion that they are being fulfilled today and that we are, in fact, living in the last days."
They have no idea precisely when Jesus will return, of course. But given how closely world events are tracking with Bible prophecy, they find themselves increasingly motivated to “be ready...”That is what prophecy does for us. It makes us urgently ready. It is so important to study it and honor it. As the Proverbs say,
"Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." (Proverbs 29:18).
Knowing that Jesus could return at any moment is exactly a restraint! Prophecy restrains us. It's like an extending leash for your pet. If you take the leash off, the dog runs and runs and sometimes runs into a car. On the leash he has room and yet he is restrained from danger or from wandering off the path.
Or like your teenager, if they have the house to themselves and know that they have hours and hours of unsupervised time, how much trouble will they get into, as opposed to knowing the parents could come back at any moment?
You might enjoy this essay from Pete Garcia, called "The Rapture". Here is an excerpt--
"For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18We serve a holy and glorious God! Go on your way today praising Jesus for all that He is and all that He is doing. We will soon meet Him, and what a morning that will be!
A Shout: The three times that the New Testament records Jesus shouts in the New Testament, notice what happens:
-One man, Lazarus resurrected (JN 11:43)
-Many tombs opened and dead saints resurrected (MATT 27:46, 52)
-Millions resurrected. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
Christ’s verbal command is powerful enough to raise the dead because Christ, having been resurrected, holds the keys to death and hell and is singularly able to command death to obey His voice."
Comments
For years christians have been warning about the end of days and the time leading up to the return of Jesus Christ but still the word of God goes unheeded,Here we have many throughout the world who are reacting to the mayan domsday predictions again putting fear into people who are perparing in all sorts of ways to survive.The TRUTH is only found in the bible the living word of God as to things that have and are and will happen leading up to the second coming of Christ, No the world is not coming to a end What is coming to an end is the AGE of the rule of man,we are heading into a world goverment ,a world religion and a single currency which will be run by a dictator more evil than any dictator we have ever had in history of mankind the bible says he the antichrist will cause both great and small to receive a mark on there right hand or forehead He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or[a] the name of the beast, or the number of his name.Rev 13:16,17.This beast system has been in the making for a very long time and will soon come to fulfillment should we be worried about what the mayans predicted NO because the scriptures are very clear as to the events that will lead up to the return of our saviour Jesus Christ he has given us plenty of information its called the WORD OF GOD.
ReplyDeleteThe Signs of the Times and the End of the Age
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all[a] these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences,[b] and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
matt 24:3-14
Thanks Elizabeth. Your writing and Joel's article are spot on.
ReplyDeletethanks mark francey~ I agree with you
One thing that concerns me with the maya maddness is that I believe it will desensitize people into a much deeper complacency, boldness and mocking of the word of God Christians and end times.
The scientists can discern the weather but they cannot discern the time of Christ's soon return for his Blood bought Church..
Paul said that we who are in the light this day will not surprise (us) like a thief. It will be all who are living in darkness -life as normal eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage that will be surprised like a thief.
Wonderful and timely post Elizabeth. With the Mayan date coming up people are fearing and preparing. A friend told me that her co-worker's daughter came home from school scared because her teacher informed the class about the end of the world on the 21st and that they should be prepared by buying supplies etc. If that horrible enough, the mother (instead of marching down to the.school to have a talk with administrators) has taken her daughter's teacher's word as truth and is planning on calling out sick that day. Elizabeth I was without words when my friend told me this. Are we so far from the God that we would take the word of another person over his infalliable word? So many people are without knowledge and just downright gullible. I pray for us. It is easy for me to see how so many people will come to believe and follow the Antichrist.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Marrell
Maybe if you started looking outside the bible and church walls youd see that we are being completely obliterated. the 25 and younger crowd have been seeing it for the last 25 years. Look into the music industry...its a spiritual warfafe. and the great falling away of the church is one of the last signs. and that is where the antichrist will hit hardest.
ReplyDelete