“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD. [Amos 8:11 NKJV].
In a recent survey of seminary students of many denominations in the USA by a well-known magazine, the results not only were startling, they were quite alarming for some. Of the students asked about their beliefs over 50% did not believe in the Virgin Birth and the Deity of Jesus or a literal Heaven or Hell, but they also did not believe in the Rapture or the second coming of Christ. Most did not think the book of Revelation relevant or necessary to study. The informant on this study did not say how many students believed the Bible is literal and the inspired word of God, but going by the answers above, I would think not many.
It is therefore not surprising, that Prophecy and sermons about the last days are so rare in the Church worldwide that many have a garbled view of what the Bible teaches. Not only is it not taught in the churches but Pastors say it is too controversial regarding the return of Christ, and everyone thinks differently. Prophecy when not studied in depth can yield confusion but if the Bible is taken literally as the literal given Word of God and inspired by the Holy Spirit the confusion is lifted and the message is plain. There are those in the Ministry who have studied it and know what God has planned for our future, and in the essentials all think the same. However some Pastors do not want to know or seek to find out from those who do know or have them speak to their church members. Although there is a reticence by church leaders to teach the subject, there conversely comes a desire to know about where the world is headed by the un-churched public. In time past I have found that if you go into the streets and speak to people or acquaintances, they are frightened by a future that seems to be looming over them. If we study the Scriptures regarding the last days, a terrifying future presents itself where the events now happening in the Middle East are only the tip of the ice-burg to the events of a future world. There is a way of rescue and God has provided it for those who follow Him and seek His forgiveness. Jesus said: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. [John 14:1-6 NKJV].
On a completely different subject; The Greek debt crises has once again re-opened the financial situation the world is really in. Greece owes something like €300 billion to the European Bank. If Greece is made bankrupt, and they leave the Euro and revive their own currency, they still owe €300 billion to repay to the European Central Bank. If Greece goes bankrupt, Europe and its bank will have serious trouble and there is a danger that Spain, Portugal, Italy and even France will also collapse. The thousands of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa descending on Italy, Greece and Turkey are aggravating the problem. In recent months the Greek import-export gap amounted to a deficit of -€1.98 billion. Even with the most lenient of repayment options, the likelihood of ever getting themselves out of trouble with the Central European Bank is remote. The “man that plays the fiddle calls the tune” and we all probably know how relentless banks owed money can be. With a GDP of only about US$237 billion a month it will be almost impossible to keep up any repayments without the harshest economic measures. The problem is that the rest of the world is not much better off financially. Even in China one factory I know of that is usually very busy, is building boats “on spec” to see if they can sell them to someone just to keep the factory going. Another engineering company complained that the oil industry has never been as quiet as now.
The world is waiting for a genius, a brilliant man to come and sort out the terrible financial state the world is in. The last time this happened, Hitler arrived on the scene, a man of the Devil who followed the occult and tried to destroy the Jewish people. He sorted out the German economy and then tried to take over the world. Satan has a similar man waiting in the wings and as things progress towards the fulfilment of Scriptural prophecy, the Church will be evacuated by our Lord to meet Him in the clouds and so to be for ever be with the Lord. While the world will become prosperous for a short time, the Antichrist, this financial wizard, will come to his end as the Lord defeats him, and restores The Lords earthly people, the Jews. The Lord will return and establish Himself in Jerusalem as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
When we compare the state of the world to Biblical prophecy of the last days, we cannot help wonder when indeed the Lord will return for the Church and the Antichrist or Beast of Revelation will be revealed [2 Thess 2:1-12]. We are told mankind will be in perplexity not only at the financial situation of the world but by the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world [Luke 21:25-26]. Many say all that is happening in the world today, has happened before, but let us realise that it has not happened all at once like it is at this present time. Exceptional storms, increase in earthquakes and illness. An ignorance of Gods law and a general decline into immorality and sin, gives every indication of the time in history we are experiencing. In fact; the last days as prophesied in the Holy Scriptures. [2 Tim 3:1-5]. On a day we think not the Son of Man will return for you and me, are you ready?