Perilous Times

Rev. Sudha Mehta©

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2 Timothy 3: 1 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!(NKJV)

The culture around the Globe has taken a dive for the worse in recent decades. One would have to be blind and deaf to not note this as fact. Up is now Down, Good is now Bad, Right is now Wrong. Self is worshiped instead of God, the Standard-bearers of “right” behavior today are the Deviants of yesterday. As a counselor, I have seen definitions change in the DSM which is the Manual used to diagnose Mental Illness. What was mentally ill before and in need of help, today is not only wonderful, acceptable and to be lauded, but if I disagree, the World would tell me I am the mentally ill one. I thank God I am now retired!😃

If it feels good, do it! No more need for what was at one time a healthy sense of shame, a desire to do right by God or fellow man. Self-control is no longer an admirable quality.  Blasphemy is perfectly acceptable in any circle. The name of God once revered is now a curse word for young and old. The culture promoted today kills families, destroys life and community. When a person is devastated mentally or emotionally it is kind of a soul-death, but when the person’s spirit is destroyed leading the person to hell, it is a death from which there is no return. This is the death I see our culture promoting today. 

What makes it worse is that this Cultural shift is taking place in the Church as well. Many Pastors are becoming gutless wimps carried by the winds of change, fearing the loss of their 501c3 and the displeasure of the congregation more than the judgment of God. They are more concerned about their own popularity than the accuracy of the message, so they unashamedly propagate a gospel of self pleasure and self worship. These love the adoration of the masses forgetting that adoration and worship belongs only to Him who occupies the throne in Heaven, and last I checked, that was still our Triune God. Of these pastors, leaders and elders of the church Jude says:

Jude 1:  12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.(ESV)

In the Old Testament God spoke this to Ezekiel.

watchman from homilytools.org

Ezekiel 33: 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.

7 “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. (ESV)

In the next chapter, God spoke this to the shepherds of His people:

shepherd with sheep from shutterstock.com

Ezekiel 34: Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. . . 

10 Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.(ESV)

God was angry when the rulers and leaders of Israel including the priests and prophets disregarded the call of God, ignored their assigned duties handed down by God and turned to selfishly filling their own stomachs and pockets rather than tending the flock. Instead of following the Torah, they turned to satisfying self desires and fulfilling their own lusts. They became corrupt and led the nation astray. God removed His protection and sent them all into captivity.  This prophecy reveals the unchanging human nature and hence the prophecy repeats itself over time.

captivity from lifehopeandtruth.com

In the New Testament, every pastor, leader, teacher, evangelist is called to be a watchman on the wall. They are to be alert and sound the alarm at the first sight of danger to the body of Christ assigned to their care, but today, many pastors have abrogated their responsibility and ignore the danger signs to the flock. Even worse, many choose to invite danger in and welcome it to stay among them.

Many so-called-shepherds of today have chosen to corrupt the message of God. They no longer cling to the purity of doctrine, the sure and steadfast Word of God. It is easier to tickle the ears of the flock (2 Timothy 4:3) so they propagate false doctrine and cause the flock to go astray.  Instead of feeding and nurturing the sheep on the Word of God, they feed themselves on the unsuspecting sheep. 

Jesus tells about false teachers from youtube.com.jpg

I could give you a list a mile long and more of watchmen and shepherds that are holding fast to the Word of God. These are determined to stand before God with a clean hands and heart. I myself learn from their teachings everyday. Here is one of my teachers: 

Jan Markell: https://olivetreeviews.org

However, there are many more that have capitulated to the seduction of mammon which is more than money, it is the World’s system. They have tainted the Word, polluting it so that it no longer is life giving. Their gospel is one of conformity and worldliness. They present a God who is a “buddy,” who winks at sin, loves the sinner and requires no change. A God who requires no repentence, no alteration of lifestyle and no transformation of spirit and soul. In doing so, these shepherds are inviting the judgment of God upon themselves as well as their sheep. The God they present is in fact not the God of the Bible. 

No, dear friend, the God of the Bible is constant. He does not change. Culture has no power over Him. Holiness is not a thing of the past. While the love of God is constant and His mercy is great, His requirement for holiness has not changed. He will not ever give a wink and a nod to sin of any kind. This is abhorrant to God!

Many righteous Christians are finding small Bible Studies at home to be more growth promoting than the large churches where the Word is no longer honored.

In the Book of Revelation in chapters 2 and 3 are seven letters that Jesus Himself dictated to John the apostle when he was on the isle of Patmos. The letters are to seven churches that were at that time located in Asia Minor. Today this is in Turkey.

These letters were circulated among the churches for the blessings, promises and warnings given were to be a lesson for all, and applicable through the ages. These letters in the order dictated by Jesus foretold the next two thousand years of Church history in advance. According to this pattern, the Church age is now about to close.

What I have shared about watchmen and shepherds applies today as the Lord closes out the Church age.

In the letters to the Churches, the Lord Jesus commends them for what they are doing right and encourages them to build on that. He also points out that which they are doing wrong, and tells them to correct it by repenting and changing their way. Jesus includes a warning of what will happen if they don’t make the correction, while promising a reward for those continuing on the right path. He expresses displeasure with two of the churches so strongly that it becomes clear that these will not be leaving in the rapture unless they make the changes.

In my upcoming post I will write more about the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3.

The Bible tells me the Church comprised of righteous Christians is what is holding back the Tidal Wave of  Judgments. Remember, God has no desire for His righteous to suffer His Wrath, but once the Church is removed, which it will be, you will see things get a lot worse . . . Globally.

2 Thesslonians 2: 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.(ESV)

The He in this verse is the Holy Spirit indwelling Christians in the World. So, when the Christians are removed the Holy Spirit will restrain His power and no longer hold back the judgments.

Point to note: Many erroneously teach that the Holy Spirit is Himself no longer present on Earth once the Church is removed. This is incorrect! The Holy Spirit is God and hence Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient. For Him to be absent from anywhere is impossible (Psalm 139:7-12). He can restrain Himself from interfering, but He is always present. Understand that even during the Tribulation period, many people will come to their senses due to the suffering, and no one, no one ever has been saved without the Holy Spirit. He will indeed be there.

That said, please note that following Christ will come at heavy cost. During this period of travail upon the Earth, Christianity will be outlawed and true believers will be sought out for death. There is much to say on this in my upcoming posts. No person will make this decision lightly during the Tribulaion period. The Bible calls it Tribulation, and Great Tribulaion! It shall be so!

If you think this is bad, it will get much worse!

What should you do?

Better to make the choice now than regret later . . . don’t you think??

Rapture left behind from nowthenendbgins.

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