When Will He Let Go?

When Will He Let Go? - Ron & Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com

 

"Thou, even thou, art LORD, alone; thou has made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee." Nehemiah 9:6. God created everything and He preserves everything; there is nothing that He is not holding together. God controls, preserves, and performs great and miraculous things and when we see such greatness it's easy to believe that God truly does control everything. When we are touched by the evil around us or listen to the news, sometimes it's hard to believe that God truly is in control. He is. Prophecy tells us about the times in which we live, and we're wrong to ignore the study of prophecy. God is not constrained by time, but exists outside of time. This enables Him to see what will happen and tell us about it. You can believe what He says, and there is coming a time in the very near future when He will let go of His constraint and His judgment will be harsh.

 

 Secular scientists have their own explanation as to how life began and what holds everything together, but they're wrong. They are blind to the fact that God created everything and He holds everything together. Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, tells us that Jesus holds the universe together. "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Colossians 1:16-17. The Bible is clear that today God holds all things together. The question is, when will He let go?

 

 The entire world is ripe for God's judgment. As secular humanism becomes stronger, more people turn away from God's truth. When He is rejected, morality is ignored. God won't always hold back His wrath. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness" Romans 1:18. When God's truth is changed into a lie the result is all out sin. "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, vackbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Romans 1:26-32. That's a long list of sins that arise because people reject God. You need to go through that list carefully to be sure you don't participate in any of them. There is a worldwide rejection of God and the sins listed here are everywhere. Homosexuality is becoming accepted as normal and all kinds of pagan perversion is replacing God's truth. Be careful; even if you don't participate in any of the above list, but you "... have pleasure in them that do them" you are worthy of the same judgment of God that will come against those who participate in the sin. If you are a Christian be sure you honor God in all you do.

 

Sodom and Gomorrah are an example for us. The sin there was great, and God sent His judgment on them. Perversion was rampant there, and we can be sure that disease was being spread. Judgment fell not only on Sodom and Gomorrah but also on the surrounding cities of the plains. "And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:" Deuteronomy 29:23. Could this be a picture type of what's happening in the world today? The sins being practiced in those cities were very much like the sin being embraced today. AIDs and many other sexually transmitted diseases are rapidly being spread by ungodly and immoral living. Take another look at Romans 1:26-32 then take a look at your lifestyle. God's judgment is coming and He will soon let go of His wrath.

 

When God's wrath is unleashed, it will be similar to the wrath poured out on Sodom and Gomorrah. "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah , and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Jude 1:7. The immorality and acceptance of ungodly lifestyles is the same as Sodom and Gomorrah in a broader scope. We can be assured that God will soon let go. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10. That should frighten anyone who doesn't know Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, or anyone who professes to know Him but doesn't follow Him.

 

Christians should be aware of the signs of the times because they reveal that we are nearing the Rapture and we must never stop honoring God with our life. If you are drawn to participate in any of the sins listed in Romans 1:26-32, then stop right now and turn away from such ungodly ways. Turn your whole self over to God and honor Him in all you do. Share the Gospel with others and live your life so others can see Christ living in you. God doesn't want us to be ignorant of the times we live in and if we study prophecy there should be nothing that surprises us about our current time in history. Bible prophecy is clear and unfolding every day. It's becoming more and more obvious that something very different and exciting is going on and there is a feeling of urgency in the air. The end times are here and prophecy is being fulfilled. Soon, He will let go of His hold and judgment will come.

 

One day the disciples had asked Jesus when the end of the age would come and His reply is recorded in Matthew. "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you." Matthew 24:4. The following verses describe events leading up to God's final judgment on earth. From that we know that it won't be long until God lets go. Wars, rumors of wars, famine, earthquakes, and disease are happening everywhere and all of these have grown stronger in the last few years. They'll continue to grow stronger as time goes on. The disciples hadn't asked Jesus when the Rapture would happen, but when the end of time would come about. Jesus listed things that would happen throughout time, but they would increase as the end draws near. One of the clearest indications that God will soon let go and unleash His wrath is the fact that the Jewish people are returning to Israel and they want to rebuild the Temple. "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains" Matthew 24:15-16. The abomination of desolation can only stand in the holy place if the Temple is rebuilt, and it's ready to be rebuilt now. Go to http://www.templeinstitute.org and read the articles there. You will see that miraculous things are happening in Jerusalem.  That's exciting!

 

Some may think this commentary is about "doom and gloom". It isn't. It's written as a warning to those who have rejected Christ and as encouragement to those who have accepted Him. There are two big events on the near horizon. One is the Rapture and the other is the second coming of Christ. The Rapture will take place at least seven years prior to the return of Jesus. If you have truly accepted Christ and He is Lord of your life then you will be taken to be with Jesus prior to God's wrath. Some Christian's don't understand the Rapture and claim that we will go through God's judgments. These people just don't study God's word. From Enoch being Raptured prior to the judgment of Noah's Flood to John's description of what he saw in the Revelation we can be assured that Christians will not face the wrath of God. The first three chapters of Revelation lay out a description of the ekklÄ“sia (the body of Christ) through history. "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me: which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." Revelation 4:1. That describes the Rapture and after that we are given a description of the throne room of God, and the ekklÄ“sia is there. After that a description of the events of the 70th week of Daniel and the Great Tribulation are described in detail. That is when God will let go and the final judgments are unleashed. He has warned us through Scripture and has given us the only solution to our separation from Him caused by our sin. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and eternal life. That faith is the only way to be protected when God lets go and judgment falls upon everyone left here after the Rapture. 

 

You have a choice as to where you will be during the final seven years of this age when God's wrath is poured out. "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. God's "longsuffering" will soon come to an end. He wants you to come to repentance so that you will not go through His wrath and perish. He loves you enough to have shed His own blood on Calvary to purchase your redemption. Go back and read Romans 1:26-32. The time is now to repent and ask Jesus into your life. God still holds us in His mighty hands, but how much longer before He lets go? It's not too late but there is precious little time left. Jesus is still in control and upholding all things by the power of His word. If you're reading this commentary and you're not born again, then there is a reason you're reading it. The Holy Spirit is convicting you and pleading with you to repent and place Jesus at the forefront of your life. Listen to Him and obey. He doesn't want you to perish.

 

Lastly my dear brethren, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10. That was true in Old Testament times and it is true today. One day He will let go. I hope you are ready for that day.

 

God bless you all,

 

Ron & Nathele Graham