This is what I read in my Bible:
Acts 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
Romans 5:3-4
New King James Version (NKJV)
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
2 Corinthians 6:3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
James 1:2-4
[ Profiting from Trials ] My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
[ Profiting from Trials ] My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
1 Peter 1:6-7
New King James Version (NKJV)
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Trials develop our faith and trust in God. Trials are absolutely necessary in the Christian walk.
Trials develop our faith and trust in God. Trials are absolutely necessary in the Christian walk.
Let's see what Jesus says:
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
More on the subject:
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Two points: We are supposed to have trials in life. I haven't even gotten into the end times material; where we are assured things will get WORSE with every passing day. Sound familiar? Things getting worse every day?
We are in the end times. Some asked for proof, here I go:
Ezekiel 38:8
After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely.
Israel became a nation again in 1948. Jesus said: Matthew 24:34
Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
Meaning, the generation that sees Israel become a nation will not die off before the rapture occurs. Here is the entirety of Matthew 24. A few other things mentioned in that chapter:
Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all[a] these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences,[b] and earthquakes... (verse 12) 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
So, here are my points. We are in the end times. Still don't believe me? Take a look at this:
2 Timothy Chapter 3
[I think it reads like my Facebook, or the news.]
2 Timothy 3
New King James Version (NKJV)
Perilous Times and Perilous Men
3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
So, we are in the end times. So why do people, Christians who do believe in the end times, get so upset over various current events?
Anything related to "welfare" for instance, can bring out some ultimate ugly. I beg and plead for them to consider Jesus, and their witness to the unreached, but get shouted down.
Or people, some who are dear to me, get very upset over tyrannical government/loss of freedom issues. Where does it say we will have the Constitution at the time of the rapture? The way I read it, we won't. Every Bible handout is a gift from God, and could very well be my last.
Why get so worked up over prophesied events? If God tells me I will get up tomorrow and go to work, and it happens, why am I shocked? He told me it would happen.
Or, they get obsessed about government conspiracies to round them up and put them in camps. I love you, but I don't think dehydrated food and "the ultimate water filter" can really save you if they break down your door.
Which brings me to another point, God told us specifically not to worry. He told us He will be with us. He is greater than the forces against us. He has already overcome.
So, 3 points:
1. It is supposed to get bad.
2. Trials develop our faith, which is precious to God.
3. God is with us through any trial. Look at this beautiful promise. It's right there in your Bible!
Matthew 28:20
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
2 comments:
I like your three final points. I have some comments, however, about your interpretation of Mt. 24. If "this generation" (in 24:34) means the generation that saw Israel become a nation in 1948, then that means most of those will still be alive when the end comes. So if someone was born in 1946 and "saw" Israel become a nation (when they were two years old), they are now 67. And if the average age at death now (for people all over the world) is around the late 60s, that means the end should come in the next few years.
But I think Jesus was not trying to help us date his final coming, since in 24:36 he says (soon after 24:34) that of that day and hour no one knows (the hour when the son of man comes again, as in 24:44).
So if the generation that saw 1948 mostly dies away in the new few years, maybe a different interpretation of 24:34 is called for. I think "this generation" in 24:34 was Jesus' current fellow Jews, and the "fig tree" he referred to in 24:32 was Israel then, and "all these things" refer to "these things" in 24:33 about the fig tree. The fig tree represents Israel, and what Jesus' disciples will see before they die is the destruction of Jerusalem. This relates back to 24:1-2, where Jesus said his disciples see all these (beautiful buildings of the temple), but that it will be destroyed. And it was in AD 70, during their generation.
I believe the rapture is imminent. My husband and I were talking about an issue that may arise in 6 months. He made a comment and then said "If we're here".
That is one reason I am very dedicated to handing out Bibles whenever possible.
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