Time is Running Out

 Time is Running Out - Nathele Graham - twotug@embarqmail.com What is time? We are all subject to it, but nobody can see it or touch it. We see the effect that time has on everything…seasons change from Spring to Summer, over time babiesmature into adults, and we see events of Biblical prophecy being fulfilled. Scripture contains many prophecies that have been fulfilled, but many are in the process of being fulfilled, and some will be fulfilled in the near future. How can God be so accuratewhen speaking to the prophets of old? As humans, we see the past, live in the present, and look forward to the future, but God is outside of time. He clearly sees the future because from His vantage point, thefuture has happened. Think of a movie that you’ve seen. You might watch it more than once and know every plot twist and character involved. If you watch it with someone who hasn’t seen it, you can tell them everything that will happen. Unlike the movie, Goddoesn’t have a scripted storyline to follow, but since He knows the end from the beginning, He’s able to trust men with some hints about our future. We call that prophecy. “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are notyet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” Isaiah 46:10. Prophecy is a very neglected study by most Christians. When it is studied, it’s often twisted in order to be understood by human minds. God tells us future things, so it canbe difficult to interpret Biblical prophecy with our limited human knowledge. It’s hard for someone who only knows a bow and arrow as the most advanced weapon, to understand how Damascus can be destroyed in a day. “The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascusis taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” Isaiah 17:1. As time passes, it becomes clearer. We can be certain that God’s prophecies will always come about just as He says. The most amazing prophecies center upon Jesus. God gave many prophecies to Israel regarding their Messiah, and it’s hard to understand how they missed Him. Micah was one ofthe prophets of God who spoke of the Messiah. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2. This ruler in Israel was Jesus. He was born in the small town of Bethlehem, near Jerusalem, and will reign eternally when other prophecies are fulfilled regarding the endtimes. When the Magi went to see Herod before they visited Jesus, they asked where He had been born. Matthew records this visit. Herod called a meeting of the chief priests and scribes. “And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the peopletogether, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall comea Governor, that shall rule my people Isael.” Matthew 2:4-6. Matthew showed many ways in which Jesus had fulfilled prophecy. Matthew made the connection between Isaiah 7:14 and Jesus’ birth. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give youa sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14. Matthew records the struggle that Joseph had when he realized his betrothed, Mary, was pregnant. He knew that he hadn’t had relations with her, but she was going to have ababy. An angel reassured him that she hadn’t been unfaithful. “But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceivedin her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying, Behold, a virginshall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:20-23. There are many, many more prophecies regarding the life of Jesus, but there are just too many to cite them all here. Study prophecy and you’ll be amazed at how God wants usto know the future. Prophecy is a great witnessing tool. Study it and see that time is running out. The news today is filled with stories about wars and earthquakes and unrest within nations.Jesus said these would be signs of the times. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus’ disciples wanted to know about the end times. “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And whatshall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end o the world?” Matthew 24:3. The King James translation translates the Greek word “aion”, as “world” and most modern translations translate it “age”. They weren’t asking about the Rapture. Jesus wentinto detail about signs to look for, but each “sign” He gave was a sign of time moving towards the end. He said not to be deceived. There would be people who pose as Christ, but who aren’t, and there would be much unrest in the world. “And ye shall hear ofwars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Matthew 24:6. This is certainly being fulfilled. Israel’s just experienced the most heinous attack by Hamas, which was nothing less than Satan inspired evil. Babies were beheaded, elderlypeople were kidnapped, and many innocent lives were taken by a very brutal and inhumane group. This attack caused Israel to fight back, and many prophecy teachers believe that Psalm 83 may be fulfilled by this war, and some are watching to see if Isaiah 17(the destruction of Damascus) will be fulfilled. God said these things will happen, so you can be sure that it will all be fulfilled. For the student of Bible prophecy, this is a very good witnessing tool. Peter understood the importance of prophecy. He told us about the attitude of many people. “Knowingthis first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4. There are many scoffers today. People don’t hold God’s truth as authority and pastors are okay with that. Evolution has replaced the truth that God created all things. Toomany people scoff at the truth that God created male and female, and gender is not your choice. God clearly told us that there is coming a time of tribulation such as never seen before. The horrors of what took place in Jerusalem on October 7, 2023, are justa shadow of what the Great Tribulation will be like. Peter was an eyewitness to many miracles of Jesus, but he felt prophecy was more certain. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shinethin a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as theywere moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21. Study prophecy and see what God tells us about the future. Prophecy is being fulfilled rapidly. Will the Rapture occur tomorrow, or will it happen a few years from now? We cannot be sure as to the timing, but we can see that the piecesof the end times puzzle are falling into place. Christians won’t be here for the final seven years of world history. Jesus will call us Home prior to the end of the age. There is only one way you can avoid the time of Jacob’s trouble, and that is for you togive your life to Jesus. Recognize that you are a sinner. We all are. Jesus Christ entered His creation in order to offer all of us the only way for our sin to be forgiven. Only faith in His death, burial, and resurrection will bring forgiveness of your sins. Remember that God knows the difference between someone who just repeats words and someone with a changed heart. If you were baptized as a baby, you didn’t make the choice.Make that choice today, and turn away from your sins. Nothing is more important than drawing closer to God. Your relationship with Him will affect your eternity. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart thatGod hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9. He never changes, and He loves His creation. He came into this world in order bring salvation to a dead and dying population. Prophecy is a good witnessing tool, but if you don’t study Scripture, you won’t be able to use it to talk to people and calm their fears, and your own. Use it to bring a lostsoul to the saving grace found only through faith in Jesus. The Rapture is drawing near and time is running out. When Jesus was arrested and crucified, Israel was blind and didn’t recognize their Messiah. The Apostle Paul tells us that there will come a timewhen the blindness will be lifted from that wonderful nation. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentilesbe come in.” Romans 11:25. Share your faith with others and open the eyes of the lost. The decision to follow Jesus has to be made individually; nobody can make that choice for you. Time is running out so give your life to Jesus now. God bless you all, Nathele Graham twotug@embarqmail.com Recommended prophecy sites: www.raptureready.com www.prophecyupdate.com www.raptureforums.com All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed. If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries just drop me an email and let me know.