It's a Great Time to Be Alive

It's a Great Time to Be Alive - By Grant Phillips - http://raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips308.html

   

 In pointing out the darkness of the hour, it is impossible at times not to be negative in what we have to say. I do it. You do it. Any Christian who is alert to end times prophecy simply cannot close their eyes and ignore the strides Satan has gained upon our society. 

 

 Science says there is no God.

 

 The educators say we are a primordial spore that crawled from some slime that was deposited from alien beings. 

 

 Hollywood entices our eyes with greater and greater degradation. 

 

 The music industry feels our ears with words and sensations that lull us into feelings that are demon induced. 

 

 Our political leaders lie to our face, grinning like a Cheshire cat, while they take our liberties one by one. 

 

 The religionists have ripped page after page from God's Word, and pasted in words of their own convenience in order to cover the sins they have pulled from their own closets. 

 

 While the field of medicine has grown in knowledge and success, it, at the same time, has declared that the lives of the innocents are actually not human, and therefore can be sacrificed on the altar of convenience. 

 

 Men without God are becoming more and more crude and brutish, while women are lowering themselves to the same standards of men.

 

 Children are turning into what they see in their parents.

 

 It is clear by government action and societal reaction that our creator God is not wanted in our lives, our schools, our homes, or our government. Of course, when things go badly, we're all told to have a moment of 'silence," whatever that means.

 

 Wow! That is dark isn't it, and all who know God know that it is actually much worse than what I have stated. 

 

 Think about the title above though. It actually is a great time to be alive. Of course it's sad to see a world that is absolutely unrecognizable from what we remember in our youth, especially if you're in your 40s and above. Also, the older you are, the sadder you will become. But think about where we are on God's calendar.

 

 Many end time prophecies are staring us in the face, and you know what that means. Jesus return for His Church is getting closer and closer. It 'could' be in our lifetime. What if it isn't? So what! We'll be returning with Him for His Church and to get our new heavenly bodies. 

 

 In my opinion the two most important prophecies for our time are (1) the return of Israel to their land, and (2) the convergence of all the end time prophecies that we are witnessing. 

 

 Yes, this is a great time to be alive! Those who love the Lord have the best news there is. We still have the wonderful news of eternal salvation in Jesus Christ, and on top of that, we know we are in the season of His return. Yes, I really believe that we are in that season. Do we know the actual time (day, month, year or hour) of His return? We do not. But only a fool would say we're not in the season of His return.

 

 Jesus lashed out at those of His first Advent because they didn't recognize the signs of their time. The signs at that time were clearly evident, but they did not have eyes to see or ears to hear. They expected Him to come as a king and free them from Roman rule, but He came as a lamb to free them from Satan's rule. They rejected it. 

 

 Today, we (society) picture Him as a lamb who condones all we do and some day in the sweet by and by, He'll return and pet us on the head and say well done. Most don't believe He's coming back at all, since they don't believe in God in the first place. However, He is real. He is God, and He is returning. In actuality, this time, He will return as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He came the first time to save. He is coming back this time to judge. 

 

 But you say, "They won't listen." It isn't up to us to make them listen. It is up to us to tell them of the Good News of salvation via Jesus Christ, and His soon return. If they don't want to listen, that's between them and God. We do not have the power or authority to do any more than that. 

 

 Those of us who know Jesus as our Savior are like the woman who waited a long, long time for her love to return from the fields of war. Messages are now being sent ahead that he will soon be home. In the analogy, the messages are prophecies that are all around us being readied and some fulfilled for the time of Tribulation. 

 

 However, before the Tribulation can begin He must remove His bride, the Church, from harm's way. The time of Tribulation is for Israel and His wrath upon a fallen world. His wrath could never be upon His own bride, since He took our punishment upon the cross and counted all righteous who come to the Father through Him by faith. 

 

 Jesus is coming soon, and before He deals with a fallen world, He is coming for us to snatch us out of the way of those seven years of hell on earth, we commonly call the Tribulation. He is snatching us from this world and taking us home. We will be changed, in the twinkling of an eye, to be with Him forever.

 

 Yes, the world is dark. However, the future is bright. The book of Revelation is now open for understanding for all who will come to Jesus and listen. Understanding this book has been hidden for many years, because the time had not come. 

 

 "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." (Daniel 12:4)

 

 Daniel's book is no longer closed and the seal has been removed. The end is at hand. Those who have ears that hear will know our Lord's return is near. The handwriting is on the wall. The message is clear. He is coming soon.

 

 "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." (Revelation 1:3)

 

 Grant Phillips