The Most Prominent Sign of the End Times - By Vernon Gray - grayworxx@gmail.com
At the outlet of this study I have to be clear that there are no signs for the coming Rapture of the Bride of Christ. Any signs we do have are for the Second Coming, and it is from these signs that we can be reasonably sure of at least a seven year period of great travail upon the earth.
Volumes have been written about the "Last Days," or the "End Times" etc.
There are many good articles, books and well written papers on the subject by competent scholars and good teachers. There are also, as would be expected, many self proclaimed "Prophets," "Apostles" and "Men of God" out there who do not study the Bible and have no clue about eschatology. Because we truly are in the end of days, they can easily gather a following provided they give the flock what the flock wants to hear.
Likeminded people tend to band together. This is true of the true Body of Christ and of the Laodicean Church that is in deep error and even in apostasy.
One of the reasons that Christians will not hear the truth is because they do not want to be wrong in what they believe. Rarely do you find an apostate Christian that studies the Word of God seriously. The common excuses by Christians for not checking out what they are taught for themselves are...
* "I am comfortable in my knowledge of the Bible and I don't want to read anything that might change my mind!"
* "I don't want to know anything that might change my mind because I know what works for me, so don't confuse me with the facts!"
* "I don't want to discuss anything that might prove I'm wrong!"
If you find yourself agreeing with the above, it might be better you stop reading this and continue maintaining the fragile spiritual bubble you have chosen for yourself.
Signs or mere speculation?
Signs of the Last Days are numerous. Jesus gave many signs in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke chapter 21. We see lately the Blood Moons Phenomenon; earthquakes; war; rumours of war; pestilence; famine and many other signs that we are in a period of history that about 30% of the Bible is written about. Nature itself seems to be in travail as we have massive animal die-offs and more freak weather.
Israel became a nation again according to the Scriptures, and she will be 70 years old on the 14th of May 2018; this too is a significant sign.
In addition to the above, there is also lawlessness; violence; hedonism; materialism; occultism; drug abuse; false churches and an explosion in knowledge.
Ecumenism is heading for a one world religion and we already have the New World Order which is seeking one world governance.
Of all the signs given in the Bible about the last days, that correspond to what is happening right now and which sign in the Bible is given more prominence that any other sign?
In other words which sign is given more prominence in the Bible than any other sign?
Apostasy
The clearest and most prominent sign that we are at the threshold of the Rapture is APOSTASY.
Apostasy is not new, it has been around since Paul's time, but in these perilous times it is being accepted even embraced as necessary in order to be inclusive of ALL churches and religions.
Many well respected "men of God" have in recent times declared their true nature in this regard. Billy Graham for instance, the darling of Christendom has finally revealed that he is not what he pretended to be for so many years.
The litmus test for apostasy is doctrine.
The litmus test for the acidity (Ph value) of a liquid has been around since the 1300's.
Litmus paper which is blue in colour has a certain chemical property that turns it red if a solution is acid and it turns purple if it is alkali.
The litmus test for apostasy is doctrine.
Your doctrine will determine your entire walk with God. It will determine who you believe Him to be. It will determine how you worship Him and what you expect from Him.
Too few Christians actually study their Bibles in order to test themselves to see if they are on the right path or not. Mostly they are too busy to spend time on the things that have eternal consequences. The here and now is far more pressing and too important to neglect.
They would rather believe what men have to say ABOUT the Bible than to read it for themselves.
In doing so they slide into error, then into heresy and eventually into apostasy.
Speaking of the Berean Church Paul said in Act s17:11 "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
How many Christians check out what their Pastors preach? How many question what they are being taught? Is it Scriptural? Is it true?
In Islam a Muslim has to accept what he is taught without question. A Muslim has to believe whatever he is told and accept it as truth.
This is NOT what the Bible teaches. We as Christians are instructed to question and to "test the spirits." We should be willing to take the time to study...
2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
1Thessalonians 5:21 "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
Ok, so what exactly is doctrine?
A doctrine is a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party, or any other group. It can be defined as a creed, belief or teaching.
The term doctrine is not reserved for the Church only.
Hitler had a doctrine which called for the destruction of Jewry.
Barak Obama, Vladimir Putin and every government in the world have their own doctrines which guides the course of their dealings with their own people and with others.
In the Church however doctrine that is Biblical doctrine is based exclusively on the Bible.
The Bible is our guide to everything we think, say and do.
There are many doctrines out there in Christendom that are not Biblical.
They are either extra biblical or manmade.
This is what the Bible calls FALSE DOCTRINE.
How important is doctrine?
Paul tells the Church at Rome to avoid those who do not hold to the doctrine he taught. Romans 16:17 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
1Timothy 4:6 "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained."
1Timothy 4:13 "Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."
1Timothy 4:16 "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."
1Timothy 5:17 "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine."
I have heard many "men of God" saying that "silly doctrine" is divisive and not important to our salvation. If your Pastor tells you that doctrine is not important, I would suggest that you find another Church. If you did move because of false doctrine, you would be obeying the Word of God.
Someone might say, "But in my Church there are miracles and signs and wonders.
Surely this is of God."
Perhaps the story of Simon in the book of Acts is appropriate to quote here.
Act 8: 9 - 24 "But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10) To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11) And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12) But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13) Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14) Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15) Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18) And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19) Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20) But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21) Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22) Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23) For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24) Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me."
At least Simon had the sense to repent of his false doctrine and make right with God.
Much of the Church of Laodicea today will not see the truth; they will not accept that they are in error; they will continue to "worship God" in the manner they feel most comfortable with.
(PS. Worship of God is done in reverence - not in revelry.)
Someone else might say, "We have healings and miracles in our Church."
I am not here to say that these are false, but we need to be careful and not accept everything as being of God especially if the Church you are supporting is in false doctrine.
2 Thessalonians 2: 9 "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,"
Matthew 24:11 "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many."
Jesus did not say this unless He meant it. Be careful!
2 Corinthians 11:3 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
What is false doctrine?
If doctrine is so important, then what is false doctrine?
False doctrine is any belief or teaching that does not line up with the Word of God.
The Word of God is our benchmark relating to every aspect of our lives. The letter and the spirit of the Scriptures governs our thoughts words and deeds. Every intent of our hearts is in submission and obedience to the Bible.
2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
If you have based your belief on misapplied or misunderstood the Scriptures, you will have false doctrine. As a crude example, if you believe that the Virgin Mary is co-redeemer with Jesus Christ as does Roman Catholicism you have false doctrine. This doctrine is not Biblical. It is a combination of the Bible and Tradition.
If you believe like the Jehovah Witness' and the Mormon Church that Jesus is not God, again you have false doctrine.
If you do not believe in the Trinity or the physical resurrection of Jesus on the third day, you have false doctrine. False doctrine will affect how you live and how you die. Living in a bubble of self-denial is dangerous because there will come a time when you will
1Timothy 4:15, 16 "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."
2 Timothy 4: 1 - 4 "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
The Kingdom parables in Matthew speak of the bad things that will happen in the future when the Church is established.
The first is about the sower that sowed seed on different ground. Some ground was good, and some ground was thorny and some stony.
The second is about an enemy that sowed tares into the wheat field, the third is about the mustard seed, and the forth about the mustard seed growing big enough for the birds of the air to roost in it.
Bare with me and read the account in Matthew 13:24 - 32 "Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25) But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26) But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27) So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28) He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29) But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30) Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
31) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32) Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof."
The Parable of the mustard seed is a picture of the Church in the last days.
Many people interpret this parable as the Church getting so big from small humble beginnings and then growing so big that birds can roost in its branches. The interpretation assumes that this is a wonderfully good thing. This is simply not so.
The idiom of birds in the Bible do not get a favourable rapport. Like leaven, birds represent evil and sin. The birds in particular speaks of demons and the powers, principalities of the AIR.
Note what Paul says in 1Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"
The Church is full of false doctrine and apostasy. Many leaders teach the doctrine of demons as opposed to the truth. DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?
It is so because Jesus Himself said that it would be so.
1 John 4: 1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Many times Jesus said to the disciples "Take heed that no man deceive you."
There is little time to repent and make right the things that are wrong in your life.
Zepheniah 1 14 - 18 says "The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
15 ) That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16) A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
17) And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
18) Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land."
Paul too echo's this sentiment in Romans 13: 12 - 14
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13) Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
We began asking "what is the most prominent sign for the Lord's return FOR His Bride and His return WITH His Bride?"
Look around you. Turn on your television and watch the antics on so-called Christian channels. Apostasy is here; it is everywhere. But the question is, are you involved?
Do you support these ministries? Are you part of the great falling away?
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY ALL NEW PROPHECY AND CREATION DESIGN WEBSITES. THERE IS A LOT TO SEE AND DO..........
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