A Love of the Truth = Salvation

…And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. –II Thessalonians 2:8-12: bold type and underlining added for emphasis.

Here in the last of the “last days,” lies have been sewn into every fabric of our existence. We spew them out casually, accept them without questioning, and very often we declare them to be good, and even necessary. We are about as far away from God’s point of view on this subject as we can get! We indoctrinate our children into lies when they are very, very young; we tell them about the Tooth Fairy, Easter bunny, and Santa Claus. When a beloved pet dies, we tell them it went to “dog heaven,” or “cat heaven,” when the Bible plainly shows us that this is not the case. There can be no such thing as a good lie- God hates lying!

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. –Proverbs 6:16-19. Bold type was added for emphasis. I think these are pretty strong verses. Out of seven things that are an abomination to the Lord, two involve lies.

As we progress toward the end of scripture, God takes the time to remind us 3x that lies cannot be a part of eternal life with Him. These are God’s words, brethren!

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. –Revelation 21:7, 8.

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. –Revelation 21:23-27.

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. –Revelation 22:14, 15. Again, any bold type or underlining has been added to emphasize.

We have all been desensitized by the sheer volume of lies that permeates our existence. But when lies become a normal practice in a professing Christian life, it is an evil fruit- one which in reality denies Jesus Christ. Just think about all the lies Hollywood promotes, yet we readily accept it for entertainment purposes! How can a believer be entertained by lies?

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. –II Corinthians 13:8.

Jesus Christ our creator, our savior, is the Living Word of God, and Truth.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. –Revelation 19:11-13. All bold type in any of these verses has been added.

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. –John 1:1.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. –John 4:24.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. –John 8:31, 32.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. –John 14:6.

God the Holy Spirit is called the “Spirit of truth” in John 15:26 and 16:13.

In John 17:17 Jesus prayed; Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. –John 17:17.

During His trial before Pilate, Jesus testified; To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. –From John 18:37.

Do you understand how important it is to stand for the TRUTH? This means standing up against evil or injustice, and to stop lying (Ephesians 4:25). Embrace the Word of God as the only source for reliable truth, and this means the King James Bible. For more information on the Bible version issue I gladly refer you to www.chick.com. You may also contact me if you like.

Yet there still might be some that would say, “Doesn’t everybody lie?” It is no doubt true that during a lifetime, it would seem that everyone has probably told a lie (a deliberate falsehood) sometime. But Christians have recognized their sins, and repented of them: this means that they have not only asked for forgiveness, but have also turned away from sinful behavior. To justify lying, and to continue doing it, indicate an unrepentant spirit. We need to clean up this aspect of our lives, before it is too late. The time of the antichrist is nearly upon us: please read this blog’s opening scripture again! Ask God to give you discernment, so that can tell the difference between truth and falsehood. It really is a matter critical to our eternal destination.

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. –Proverbs 30:5, 6.

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. –Luke 21:34-36.

EZEKIEL 38 & 39: EXPOSING THE TRUTH

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. –II Timothy 2:15.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. –II Peter 1:20.

With regard to Biblical prophecy, World War III is found in Revelation 9:13-19, NOT in Ezekiel 38 and 39! Tensions in the Middle East are high right now, and we are headed toward this dreaded war; a war that will engulf the world, killing one-third of mankind. As Christians, we need to keep our eyes on Christ, and our values of a Heavenly nature.

It is commonly taught, however, that the prophecy found in Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 involves present day Israel and Russia, and will soon come to pass. I was also taught to think this, but after becoming far more grounded in the Word, I clearly saw that this wasn’t the case. This misinterpretation of prophecy has been handed down over the last 70 years or so, and is a rather quick and light evaluation of some prophetic “high points,” instead of an accounting for the full Word of God.

The simple evaluation of the Ezekiel prophecy goes something like this; 1) We know that we are in the last days, and that Israel will come back to statehood at that time. 2) Israel has now been a nation again for 70 years, after being non-existent for over 2,000 years; incredible! 3) The geographic area of Gog and Magog is where Russia is now. 4) Russia has been our enemy, and is deemed a “bad” nation. The conclusion is therefore reached that Israel today is the one spoken of in Ezekiel, and that at some point Russia will move against them, and that this will be (or spark) WWIII. As for the real prophecy about this war in Revelation, it is usually as portrayed as something believers won’t encounter- the rapture will take us away before this. In fact, some do not even view the prophecy in Revelation 9:13-19 as a war at all. As believers, we need the entire Word of God, and this commonly reported prophetic “truth” does NOT reflect this! This view is someone’s private understanding, and handed down through several generations. It is understandable how ordinary laymen might come up with this conclusion, but it should not be so for church leadership; those that especially labor in the Word and doctrine (I Timothy 5:17). What follows next is a simple BIBLICAL accounting of what the Ezekiel 38 and 39 prophecy really is, and why the common view is in error. Don’t take this lightly! Satan uses these lies for our destruction: he gets us looking in the wrong direction for the wrong things.

FIRST: God deliberately gives us a 2nd account of the Ezekiel war to solidify the time frame. God knew in advance the error that would be taught. Read on;

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. –Revelation 20:7-9.

You may have to read all of Revelation 19 and 20 to get a better picture, but it goes like this; at the end of the tribulation, God calls the very few remaining Christians home to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Later that day, seemingly within the hour, Jesus leads these armies in the battle of Armageddon, and then sets up His millennial kingdom in the Palestine area. Satan is bound during those years, but afterward he is loosed for a season. He will go forth to deceive the nations, and gather them together to try (one last time) to destroy the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16). Gog and Magog are referred to again. So we are still a long way off from the Ezekiel war.

SECOND: The Bible shows us that in New Testament times, God has shifted His accounting of Israel to the Christian Church; Jews and Gentiles alike that have been saved through Jesus Christ. God has shown this determination throughout the New Testament. It is the rejection of the political, temporal Israel in favor of a spiritual one.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. –John 4:21-24.

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. –John 10:16.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. –Matthew 23:37, 38.

Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. –Romans 9:6-8. I can’t emphasize enough how you need to read all of Romans 9-11 for this topic.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. –Galatians 3:28, 29.

Many more scriptures could be added, but hopefully this will help you to see the truth. Since God has changed, or more accurately, CLARIFIED His view of Israel, then we need to accept that the Old Testament prophecies concerning Israel in the latter days (like Ezekiel 38:8) were referring to the church, the body of Christ, rather than a political entity.

THIRD: Ezekiel 38 and 39 is really part of a larger prophetic reference, found in chapters 34-39 altogether. There are numerous items found within this section that describe the “Israel” being discussed, and that disqualify it from being the Israel in the Middle East today.

38:5: Along with Gog/Magog, other countries in this war are listed, such as Ethiopia and Libya! Why is there so much focus on only Russia? Ethiopia and Libya don’t even border Israel today, but they will in the millennium; Egypt will be a part of Israel then (Isaiah 19:24).

37:1-14: This is a well known prophecy about the valley of dry bones, and God bringing them back to life. This agrees well with the 1st resurrection and rapture, and then returning for the thousand year reign of Christ! Compare these verses;

Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. –Ezekiel 37:12. Now compare that with I Thessalonians 4:16, 17;

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

David will be king: David will literally be raised up and be the king, which makes perfect sense in light of the rapture and 1st resurrection. See Ezekiel 34: 23, 24; 37:24, 25; Hosea 3:5, and;

But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. –Jeremiah 30:9. Tell me- is the real, original David now the king of Israel?

36:25-28: Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

These verses are a description of baptized, born again, spirit-filled Christians, not orthodox Jews that have rejected Jesus as their messiah! The Jews are still looking for their messiah, and so they will embrace the antichrist.

36:33: This next verse sounds like the rapture, and the set-up of the millennium;

Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.

36:35: Israel today isn’t even close to being like the garden of Eden;

And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.

38:8 and 11: Does Israel today dwell safely, without bars and gates? Not at all- they are constantly under threat. Just because they aren’t in Nazi concentration camps doesn’t mean they are safe! And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates. –Verse 11.

FOURTH: It is often said that Jesus’ “parable of the fig tree” is referring to Israel’s return as a nation. NO!!! That is a private interpretation of prophecy, such as we were warned about in II Peter 1:20. Let’s check out this parable in Luke 21:25-32. How is there even a hint that this parable is about Israel’s return? Jesus explains the parable very simply and plainly;

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. How can it be any clearer? Bold type was added to emphasize.

FIFTH: The Israel in the Middle East today was brought about through the ungodly intrigues of the Illuminati and Freemasons. This comes to light through a letter from Albert Pike in 1871. In this letter he details how the world can be brought under one rule through the means of 3 world wars. A key part of World War II is to bring back Israel as a nation! You can look up “Albert Pike and the 3 world wars” on-line. This plan was given to him by his “spirit guide.”

SIXTH (?): In 39:9, 10 we read the following; And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD. Wow! That is a great act of God, and promise. But how can we burn metal instead of wood? We couldn’t do that today, certainly not for an average citizen. Yet at the outset of the millennium, “swords will be beaten into plowshares,” remember? MAYBE at that time, when Satan again deceives the nations into warring against Israel, they will then turn to manufacturing wooden weapons, as in days of old. It’s a MAYBE, not definite.

So that’s what the complete testimony of what God’s Word has to say. Whether or not Russia attacks Israel soon would have no bearing on the fact that Ezekiel 38 and 39 aren’t prophesying about the Israel in the Middle East today. World War III is spoken of in Revelation 9:13-19, and the Lord’s return, both rapture and judgment, happen on the same day at the end of said tribulation period, not before. Such gross mishandling of scripture comes from the devil, and is meant to destroy us.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. –John 17:17.

Facing the End of the World

And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.. –Revelation 10:5-7. Underlining & bold type was added for emphasis.

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. –Revelation 1:3. Indeed, the time is NOW.

People don’t like bad news. This has been true throughout history, but today we are even more resistant to bad news: technology has provided the means for great deception from the devil, and many easy ways to ignore that which is truly unpleasant. “The End of the World” is one such unpleasant topic for most people. As Bible believing Christians, however, we are obliged (and challenged) to accept Every part of God’s Word. This time had to come. There ARE people who will live through this time in history. All that God gives us in His Word is meant so that we can prepare; it is for our well-being. We dare not turn away from God’s counsel.

If you have followed this blog, you’ll know that I’ve been addressing this issue through Get Ready for the End parts I, II, & III. I could pretty much be adding a new part every week, were I to keep up with the many significant events. This posting is not meant to again convince people that we are at the end of time, but rather to stir up individuals out of their complacency: that they would seek the Lord as to what preparations to make, while they still can. Remember that the next big event coming up is World War III.

America is ripe for judgment. We have had a good number of people view this blog from around the world, and I hope it’s been a blessing to you. Please stay with us, if the Lord so leads you to! But most of the things I say are particularly addressed to my fellow countrymen, what I see all around me, and what we will be facing in the near future. I cannot know the day by day timing of events, but it sure seems like America will fall within the next few months at most. Any extra time coming our way is difficult to foresee, but wisdom ought to be telling us to begin making preparations NOW.

Why are so many resistant to accepting the fact that we are at the end of time (as we know it), and that we ought to be preparing? Let’s look at some of the influences;

The Media. This is probably the biggest influence for both professing believers and the unsaved alike. 1) Bible believers are ridiculed. 2) Conspiracy buffs and “preppers” are ridiculed. 3) Most movies have happy endings, as if mankind will overcome any adversity. This also lends to a “wait and see” type attitude, rather than one that will take action. 4) The news media is state controlled: it hides the worst possibilities, and steers us away from preparing.

Innumerable Distractions. We in America are extremely covetous, and fill our lives with “things,” and activities. We are constantly busy, and won’t take the time for anything even remotely unpleasant. This includes the so-called church!

THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. –II Timothy 3:1-5.

Desensitized by False Alarms. This happens a lot! We are warned of dangers that never come to pass, and so we often disregard subsequent warnings. When it comes to our subject topic, there have historically been many “false alarms.”

A Lack of Genuine Biblical Faith. In general, this “church” of the end times doesn’t believe the Bible to really be God’s Word, nor do they know what it actually says, and how to apply it. What interferes? 1) The many Bible versions cast doubts for any real faith grounding. God preserved His Word in the King James Bible, and He preserved it faithfully.

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. –Psalms 12:6, 7.

To have so many Bible versions gives us the distinct impression that the Bible is actually only man’s opinion of God’s Word, but not the Lord’s actual teachings. These versions say many different things, and are often contradictory. How can we please God, when we don’t know what He actually wants? All versions except the King James Bible come from the Bible revision of 1871-1881. These manuscripts are of very poor quality, are much fewer in number than the KJB, and the translation technique is far inferior. But today’s churches steer us away from God’s real Word! 2) Private interpretation of prophecy, handed down through respected church leaders, leads Christians to a lack of readiness. The Scofield Reference Bible leads the way in this deceit. Due to Cyrus Scofield’s expressed views in this work, many believers think that we will have no idea when the end of the world is- and that we will be taken from here in the “rapture” before things get really bad. Those views are private interpretation, not Biblical revelation!

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 holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. –II Peter 1:19-21. Bold emphasis is mine.

And so I see two underlying reasons why Christians tend to dismiss “end times” warnings such as this writing brings forth; the first and greatest reason is WORLDLY LOVE, and the second is that they have been taught that the time is unknowable.

Worldly Love: We can look at Revelation 3:15-19 as descriptive of the last generation church. Jesus refers to this church as the Laodiceans, rather than the “church in Laodicea.” Why does He refer to them that way? It is because this “church” cannot be distinguished from the world around it. And that is what we see today, a church in love with the world & worldliness, one that in no way is ready or willing to leave its life on Earth. We want Christ, but only if it means that we will prosper here on Earth: and that is exactly what the organized churches are representing to their own members, and it is the gospel they preach to the unsaved. Even as I may refer to other excuses the church will use, worldly love is usually at its root.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. –Luke 9:23, 24.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. –I John 2:15, 16.

An Unknowable Time: While it may be true that the exact day and hour of Jesus’ return will not be known in advance (Matthew 24:36), it is in no way true that we won’t know the “season” of the end, the very last generation. Jesus wanted us to know, and so commanded us to watch. Check out the following scriptures, with some commentary from myself thrown in:

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. –Matthew 24:3, 4. In the following verses, 5-31, Jesus proceeds to give a descriptive of conditions at the end of the world- things for us to observe. Then He follows it up in verses 32-34 with;

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. It sure sounds like Jesus wanted us to know! Underlining and bold type is mine.

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. –Luke 17:26-30. These verses tell us that the rapture and God’s judgment at Armageddon happen on the same day, and will not be separated by a seven year tribulation: God’s Word never mentions a seven year tribulation.

For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. –Luke 21:22. Prophecy must be fulfilled, because God doesn’t lie. Many times I have heard pastors trying to tell the body of Christ that we can “turn away” God’s judgment for a season, if we will just pray in faith. NO! Jesus said that this generation would not pass, until all was fulfilled.

BUT of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. –I Thessalonians 5:1-6. Any underlined words are mine, used to emphasize.

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. 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. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. –II Thessalonians 2:1-6.

We must also not neglect the numerous admonitions to watch that Jesus gave us, such as in Matthew 24:42, 43; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 21:36, and Revelation 3:2, 3. Why would Jesus even tell us to watch, if the time is unknowable? He did it to warn us, so we can prepare…

All of this leads us to that great question, what can we do? The subject matter is so great, and so unlike anything we have had to face, that we end up doing nothing, adopting a “wait and see” type attitude- just what Satan wants! We cannot afford this, for we must redeem the time.

Let me remind everyone that this war will be unlike any others we have known. Here in America, we haven’t had an enemy invasion, nor have we been bombed; we are going to experience both of these. We are also accustomed to wars developing slowly, such as seeing the advance of an enemy line over a period of weeks, or months. The climax of this war will be fast. That’s what we can expect with nuclear weapons. We can also expect this attack without much advance notice: we have already seen the war tensions rise, but the “big strike” will come when we aren’t looking for it, and not give us much (if any) time for defense. We have to be ready!

The first preparation we need to make (and the one of unequalled importance) is with God. Let’s be ready to meet Him! Let us do our best to prepare our children, as well as loved ones and neighbors, preaching Jesus Christ and His cross as the only means of salvation. Even under the best circumstances, no one is guaranteed a tomorrow in the flesh. With this taken care of first, then God the Holy Spirit can guide us in preparations. Having a supply of non-perishable food, and water is a reasonable step to take. It may also be well to have some real cash on hand, in case the internet goes down. Follow the wisdom God reveals to you directly.

In a marriage, there will come times to severely test our commitment. The feel-good days of our honeymoon don’t last forever. But we pledged ourselves to a spouse under all possible circumstances; most people really mean it at the time, but there is no way to foresee all that life will throw at us. This time in history is such a time for those of the professing church of Christ. Jesus died horribly on the cross to be the atonement for our sins, and to save us from the Lake of Fire eternally. Those first moments of salvation are so precious! But now, the trial has come. God wanted us to know this time. He wants us to prepare; let’s get ready to go!

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. –Luke 21:36.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. –I Peter 1:3-9.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. –Revelation 12:11.