Bible Question: Are you ready for Matt.24:15 The abomination of desolation. Hitler was easy compaired to how this guy is going to treat the elect. This isn't God's wrath that believers will be going through, but Satan's, that why we will be longing for Christ return. Tell me how believers are longing for Christ return while riding around on waterskis on a nice 80 degree day after enjoying a nice lunch fixed on a shore fire. Or maybe it will be the one who just saw his best friend get his head cut off because he was telling a lost neighbor about Christ and even then it was on an empty stomach because he couldn't buy food to eat with out a certain mark! That's how it's going to be different. People sure arn't getting this message today and as a result when it happens believers won't be ready. They that endure till the end shall be delivered by the rapture not before. In fact it is going to be so bad that the Lord will shorten those day for the elects sake. Knowing what to look will make it a lot easier. |
Bible Answer: Dear CDBJ, No, none of us will be truly ready in our own strength. But in Him we can do anything! The Spirit will give us what we need at the appropriate time. I don't think that dwelling on end-time prophecy will help much, but honestly looking at church history and the present-day reality is a start. Read "The New Foxe's Book of Martyrs' for a bit of (grisly) history of faith in persecution. This updated version is in readable language and has a section on more recent trials of the faithful all over the world. Indeed, those in 'major power' nations have a hard time understanding what it takes to profess Christ for a good portion of the 'rest of the world.' Preparation for serving Jesus starts 1)in our own home, establishing our ability to show forth the Christ within to those close to us. The next battle is 2)serving our local church. (and I don't mean Sunday attendance or the envelope on the offering plate! Wash someone else's dishes, change the diapers of other's children, bless the person in the next row in the name of Jesus!) When we (finally) get these two down pat, then 3)bring food to the bowery, help at the nursing home, volunteer for prison ministry, give your vacation to a foreign church (out of your own pocket!), and heed the calling of the Holy Spirit if He calls you to a less-comfortable venue. When you have performed 1 and 2, and are working on 3 for a while, you will be ready for any number 4 that Jesus gives you! Blessings in Jesus' name, charis |