Expectations 2023

Expectations�2023 - By Hal Lindsey - https://www.hallindsey.com/ww-1-1-2023/ At the beginning of a new year, we usually take stock. We look back on the previous year and ahead to the new one. To us, the future is obscure. But to God, everything ispresent tense. He sees future and past as a single, all-encompassing “now.” So, when we wonder about that which lies ahead, we can look to His word. What has He told us? He gave many promises and revealed much about our futures as individuals. He also laid out what’s coming for planet earth. That does not mean we can give the precise geopoliticalconditions of 2023. Bible prophecy is not arranged in 365-day intervals. But the Bible gives a great deal of information about the time just before Christ’s return. And that fits what we now see. By looking at where the world is and where it will be, we canhave a good idea about the road we are on and where it will lead. Here are a few trends that will probably apply to 2023. Some are encouraging, but many are not — at least not in the short term. Widespread mental chaos. As people turn from truth, they are left with lies (Romans 1:18-32). The world seems bent on turning away from God, and toward Satan. Jesus said ofthe devil, “He is a liar, and the father of lies” (John 8:44, NASB). Following a liar sets people adrift on a sea of confusion, darkness, and despair. In talking about the last days, Jesus repeatedly warned that it would be a time of deception — i.e., fakenews, gaslighting, hype, duplicity, and fraud. Confusion. When people lose the ability to discern truth from error, it affects everything. They question basic and obvious concepts, such as the differences between “boysand girls.” Many begin to see their Christian and Jewish neighbors as dangerous, leading to increased antisemitism and persecution of Christians. A darker world. Chaos of the mind leads to anguish which in turn leads to more drug abuse — just as the Bible predicts. Drugs feed into increasing levels of crime and violence.Trying to protect itself from crime and violence, society further restricts human rights. Lawlessness leads to the loss of freedom, and Jesus said the last days would be a time of lawlessness. Opportunities for witness. Drowning people long for buoyancy and stability. The followers of Jesus may be increasingly shunned by society, but they will have increased opportunitiesfor personally sharing the Gospel with others. Dying churches. The real Church will not and cannot die. But there are organizations everywhere that claim Christ, even as they reject His word. These will fall deeper anddeeper into darkness. The real Gospel of Jesus stands in stark contrast to the increasing ugliness of a Satanic world order. 2023 will provide unique opportunities to express God’s love by sharingHis word. For that reason and others, I can still say… Happy New Year! --------------------------------- Discernment and wisdom key to 2023 - Bill Wilson � www.dailyjot.com Banks are issuing recession warnings. The national debt is expanded by Congress and a spendthrift president. Inflation is likely to continue unabated. Interest rates willclimb. Excess deaths are continuing to increase. New variants of COVID are emerging. There are rumors of vaccine passports and possible lockdowns. Russia and Ukraine continue to duke it out in a deadly war. China�s COVID problems continue to escalate. Themore facts that come out on a daily basis indicate that the FBI, IRS and other administrative agency actors are conspiring with big business to censor dissent, even change the outcomes of elections. There is a whole bunch of stupid going around, making discernmentand wisdom key to 2023. These events underscore the need to dive deeper into your personal relationship with Christ. Deeper prayer. Deeper understanding. Deeper spiritual awareness. To coin a phrase:We need to be wise to survive. This means that we all need to study the Word of God for ourselves, let the Holy Spirit guide us in our daily walk, and as 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 says, �prove all things: hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearanceof evil.� This year will be a thorough test of testimony. There will be conspiracy theories. There will be misinformation and disinformation coming from the most unsuspecting places that will make it seem like it should be real. Don�t believe things just because you want to believe them. Check them out, and that advice especially includes what Bible teachers and preachers are saying. If you are facedwith difficult choices, pray, seek wise counsel, and act when it is settled in your heart. Don�t make rash or reactive decisions about what you do or what you say. Your words have power. Your actions have consequences. Be circumspect. As is written in 1 Peter1:13, �Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.� Don�t be led into making emotional decisions. Don�t follow the pack. And don�t put your trust in those whohave unbalanced scales�like the government and the sensational news media. Beware of agendas�both leftist and conservative. Both can be manipulative. Remember who you are as a 2 Corinthians 4:8-13 person: �We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken;struck down, but not destroyed�For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus� sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you. And since we havethe same spirit of faith, according to what is written, �I believed and therefore I spoke,� we also believe and therefore speak�� Let us truly show kindness to one another, speak boldly as we ought to speak, and follow God rather than man as we take on thisnew year in discernment and wisdom. --------------------