At the Twilights Last Gleaming

John 9:4 "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work."

Any casual observation of world events; be it cultural trends, political upheaval, distress of nations, economic pitfalls (such as "what happens when then Chinese dump all of their greenbacks) or a general unspoken consensus that the status quo will always be, reveals that we are heading into some very turbulant times. This conclusion isn't simply the result of a guy with a non-mentally stimulating job allowing his mind to wander in the wee-hours of the morning. (Wee? I have no idea if that's the proper spelling as I've never in fourty two years had a situation where it was called upon in print) This is a condition that is prophesied of throughout scripture. During the captivity of the children of Israel in Babylon, the prophet Daniel saw these events in a series of visions. He had no idea as to their meaning, but he understood that the final generation would need the information that he was shown. He faithfully recorded everything that the Lord showed him.

Daniel 12:13 "But go thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days."

This final verse in Daniel tells us specifically when the visions would come to pass. The book of Daniel is, in a way, the old testament version of Revelation in that it deals primarily with the end of days; insofar as this dispensation is concerned.

"PEOPLE IN MOTION" I been hearing a news report over the last several days where in Briton, the vast majority youth surveyed, listed celebrities and sports stars as the people that they most "look up to." I don't know what the statistics are here but we cannot be far behind . A trip to your locat supermarket is evidence of this. Almost every supermarket checkout that I've ever gone through has on display the same magazines. This tells me that these things sell. You have "People Magazine," where you can learn about the movie star who is cheating on their spouse and is now carrying the baby of the rock star who is now in therapy for cocaine use. Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can pick up "Weekly world News" (or whatever it's called) and read about the aliens who landed in Washington and have taken over the bodies of all of the democrats and are now plotting to annihilate us all. You NEVER see such magazines as Scientific American, Popular Mechanics, or anything of a really serious topic. Even the so-called "news magazines" are more about entertainment than substance. (Not to mention that their "substance" is only feeding the mindset that will cause folks to accept the man of sin.) You'll find almost nothing that will cause a person to ponder things of significance. You will, however, be able to read about Miss USA and her wild time or whatever. CNN can't drop it. Every time I go into the break room, there it is again. Folks fill their minds with the latest hollywood gossip while the last vestiges of the republic are being swept away. The worlds population is dancing to a satanic orchestra while the "mother of all deceptions" is soon to carry away millions who considered "entertainment news" to be real news. (Seriously; news about celebrities is reported as though the fate of the world rests with Brittany Spears or Michael Jackson.)

A recent example of this mentality took place at work. Last summer, management determined that the monster radios (the ones with their own wheels) that folks were keeping at work as to ensure that they could hear it in every part of their particular department, needed to be removed as the noise level had gotten out of hand. A few weeks later, a shift wide meeting was held in which the state of business (precarious in the automotive industry) was talked about. They talked about the importance of double checking every component that goes out, the general outlook of the indusrty and the build schedules which determine how much work is available or who must take a layoff. In other words, issues that will determine whether or not we can all make our mortgage payments next year. The enthusiasm was mediocre at best. That is, until, during the question and answer time, someone asked about when the monster radios would be allowed back in. Suddenly everyone was awake as this topic dominated the remainder of the meeting. I was surprised that Channel 3 out of Kalamazoo didn't have a camera crew there. "This just in; Monster Radios are staging a comeback at American Axle!" It seems trivial, but it's just another example of the American mindset in the year 2006. (This mindset is actually shared by only a segment of the plants workforce, however, that segment is very vocal. Incidentally, the radios are back and louder than ever. Truly Gods grace is sufficient for any situation; no matter how annoying the situation is)

II Thessalonians 2:7-12 "For the mystery if iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

That sounds harsh! Don't look at me; I didn't write it. If I had written it, you could simply blow it off. But the fact that it appears in scripture means that it's 100% accurate. Anything in biblical prophesy that hasn't yet come to pass you can be certain that it will. There WILL be a one world beast government that will, for a time, make war with the saints and prevail against them. As I was copying the above verse, a thought came to me. When the Restrainer is taken out of the way, the door of grace will close. The saints will have to hold to their faith like never before as the antichrist and false prophet deceive the whole world. This means that if you're waiting for things to get bad before you give your heart to Jesus, you are playing a very dangerous game. When the antichrist appears, the saints who have the Holy Ghost abiding within, will recognize him and have their hearts established. The world will "wonder after him" as he will have all of the common sense solutions to all of the problems facing the world. He will use common sense, coupled with false signs and wonders to "debunk christianity" and set himself up as the savior of mankind. He will seduce the whole earth and everyone will proclaim "Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" He won't have to force people to receive his mark; they'll line up for it in order to buy groceries for their household. The english language doesn't contain adequate words as to describe just how perilous these times are.

Revelation 13:16-18 "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."

This is all coming down faster than you can imagine. The daylight is almost gone. I want to touch on something, even though 98% of the church disagrees with it. These delusions which the antichrist will roll out before the world, will be so strong "insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." A lukewarm christian who was following the Lord Jesus afar off would be hard pressed to suddenly "get right with God and be willing to lay down their life for him. This is another reason as to why I don't subscribe to the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine. It's a smooth thing, but an error that's causing millions to live half-hearted lives. One more passage of scripture (unless something else comes up) and I'll close.

Matthew 24:21-22 "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elects sake those days shall be shortened."

That's not talking about lukewarm christians who were sitting in a bar when the rapture took place. That's talking about those who love God wholeheartedly and have kept the faith of Jesus Christ despite all of the devices of Satan. If these folks were raptured out before the tribulation, why do the days have to be shortened for the elects sake? Just something to think on. Please think on this along with the times that were in and the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of the vast array of topics that cause folks to think, ponder, and tell their friends, this is the one event that really matters. JESUS IS RETURNING AND EVERY EYE SHALL BEHOLD HIM!

Please check these events out in scripture as they are coming to pass. This is merely a list of the most familiar passages of scripture.

Daniel chapters 7-12, Zechariah chapter 14

Matthew chapters 10 and 24, Mark chapter 13, Luke chapters 17 and 21

II Thessalonians chapter 2, I Timothy chapter 6, II timothy chapter 3

Revelation