Nathele Graham
It seems that everyone is upset today. No matter where you turn you hear political mumbo-jumbo, pandemic scares, anger in the streets, evil inflicted upon babies, ungodly lifestyles, and much more. Sin is rampant. That’s all we hear…sin, hate, chaos.All of this evil can begin to wear away at people and fear can cause many sleepless nights. What’s wrong with that picture? The fear that is generated by the news media should have no effect upon Christians. The media can talk all they want, but none of their doom and gloom should shatter our hope and faith in Jesus Christ.
The news media jabbers on 24/7 and we listen. There’s a frenzy of misinformation. In trying to be the first to break news to the world, they throw out “facts” as fast as the speed of the internet. Then, when the “facts” change, they retract their first fable and throw out other “facts”, which will change before the day is over. It’s all liberal lies. It all creates confusion, which leads to fear. On the other hand, if we listen to Christians standing upon God’s word, our fear is quelled. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33. Who do you listen to? If you only hear the chaotic voice of Satan then your fear will rise. Hearing God’s voice will calm your fears and build your faith.
Paul wrote his letters to the Thessalonians in order to calm their fears. False teaching had trickled in and these teachings caused confusion and fear. The believers in Thessalonica had been the first to hear about the Rapture, which gave them a sense of peace and hope. Paul had only been with them for three weeks, but in that short time he shared the Gospel, established a congregation, and taught deep spiritual truths. Unfortunately, many pastors today don’t preach the Gospel, let alone mention the Rapture. From reading Paul’s letters to these Christians, we can see that their faith was true and they served the Lord.
The congregation in Thessalonica was worried and fearful. Instead of faith giving them peace, false teaching was making them afraid. Paul wrote to reassure them and calm their fears. “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2. The Christians in Thessalonica listened to things that caused them fear, and their faith was shaken. They didn’t have MSNBC to feed them lies, but the same spirit of evil existed then as exists now.
Paul encouraged them and reiterated the sequence of events leading to the Great Tribulation. The Rapture would happen first. “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.First, there will be a falling away. There’s some discussion as to whether Paul meant a departure, as in Christians departing in the Rapture, or a falling away from faith, as in worldly Christians that care more about secular pleasures than God’s truth. Other Scriptures make it clear that both are true. Today we see many people turning away from Christianity and mocking God, even when sitting in a pew, standing behind a pulpit, or calling yourself the pope. These are people described in Revelation chapter 3 as the Laodicean congregation. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20. When the Rapture happens, if you individually haven’t opened the door to Christ, you will be left to face horrors of the Great Tribulation
Every believer needs to study prophecy. That means studying both the Old Testament and the New. Understanding the times in which we live can take the fear out of what’s happening around us. God gave us prophecy for a reason. Studying prophecy won’t make the future in this life rosier, but it will give you a road map of what’s to come. Just like when traveling down the highway and your gas gauge is almost to empty, you can find hope and peace in seeing signs that a gas station lies ahead. We are rapidly moving towards the final seven years of earth’s history. That will be a time filled with horrors unlike anything seen before. Prophecy makes that very clear. Jesus said that there will be many frightening things that lead up to the Great Tribulation, and we are seeing those things happening quickly. That means the Rapture is very near Every generation thinks they are the final one, but no generation until now has seen so many prophetic signs fulfilled. Israel being back in their God-given land is a major milestone in prophecy. Peter encouraged the study of prophecy. He had seen many wonderous sights as he walked the Holy Land with Jesus, but it’s prophecy he says to pay attention to.
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in 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 by the Holy Ghost.”
2 Peter 1:19-21. Fear of the dark is dispelled by a light…Satanic darkness is dispelled by the Light of God. As we move through the dark times in which we live, the light of God’s word will calm our fears. Only Biblical prophecy will give us light and help us to see that our Lord will call us Home soon. Have faith…don’t fear.
You have the choice between living in fear or living by faith. Choose faith.
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com
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