What is going on in the world? This question seems to be on the minds of many people today as we consider world events. Some people face these times of uncertainty with great fear and dread while others engage these times with wonder and expectation. For those of us who are Christians, there is another question on our minds: “Do world events have anything to do with Bible prophecy and the return of Jesus?” While God is clear in His Word that no one knows the time or day when Jesus will return (Matthew 24:36), He also tells us in the same passage to “keep watch.” He gave us specific prophecies in the Bible related to world events telling us these would be indicators that His return was near, and He stated that these anticipated happenings would grow in increasing intensity: “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs” (Matthew 24:8). The miracle of birth begins slowly, maybe even weeks before the actual delivery. Early contractions are so insignificant that many young mothers may not even notice them. As the prophecies of Matthew 24 begin to be fulfilled, they will start small and grow in significance. There is no doubt that we are seeing a growth in intensity of world turmoil, and some of these specific prophecies are becoming more pronounced with every passing day.
If we are living in the last days, what does this mean for the Church? What does it mean for you and your family? It is because of my burden for the Church and my belief that we could be facing very challenging days in the near future, I wrote my new book, Immovable: Standing Firm in the Last Days. I believe that God has given Christians equipment, or armor, to help us endure the evil days leading up to Christ’s return and to bear fruit during a time of unparalleled opportunity. Ephesians 6:13 says, “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” I shared these thoughts about this verse in my book: “While ‘the day of evil’ can refer to a time of intense temptation or spiritual conflict that can come at any point in any Christian’s life, it seems that God may be calling us to think about THE day of evil. Is it possible that this passage is calling Christians approaching the last days to prepare for battle by putting on spiritual armor?” With that question going through my mind, I began studying Bible prophecy about the last days comparing it to the teaching of the spiritual armor of Ephesians 6. The connection was significant, and I believe there are important implications relating the spiritual armor for the last generation before the return of Christ. These implications are not only important for us, but also for our children and grandchildren.
I encourage you to consider our times and the clear teaching of Scripture. Study Bible prophecy with an eye on the evening news and consider how the spiritual armor of Ephesians 6 will help you prepare for what is to come. What do you need to do to put on the spiritual armor of God so you will stand firm in the last days? Being immovable is really not an option for the Church. The world is desperate to see strong, healthy believers standing firm in the last days. When the winds of heresy and deception blow, will you be immovable holding firmly to the truth of God? The only way you or I will stand firm is if we put on the armor of God and allow the immovable Lord Jesus Christ to live victoriously through us.
Dr.
Tim Riordan serves as pastor of SonRise Baptist Church in Newnan, Georgia and
is the author of Songs
from the Heart: Meeting with God in the Psalms and his newest
book Immovable:
Standing Firm in the Last Days. For more information on his books or
ministry, visit his website at www.timriordan.me.
5 comments:
I think he needs to listen to your Daniel and Revelation series.
I agree with the first post here. when my wife and I listened to those studies and compare it to what we had been taught over the years, Those studies had really shown us things we had not considered.
If your readers have not listened to them I would encourage them to do so. They will be blessed!
Thanks
Anonymous and Kevin,
You guys are kind.
I am helping a friend, and as is similar with the staff and members of our church, friendship and fellowship trump theological differences.
We allow people to teach however the Spirit leads - even if they disagree with the pastor! :)
Obviously, that same practice carries over to my blog.
:)
This post exemplifies one of the reasons I like you, Wade. You know what's important to agree on and what isn't - and last days views isn't.
Different Perspective on the Last Days
Joel 2:28-32 is one of the key Old Testament passage that predicted events for Israel's last days. Simply stated, if the events foretold by Joel have already occurred, then the last days foretold by him have already come and gone, and thus, any doctrine built on a yet future fulfilment of Joel is false.
On the great day of Pentecost, Acts 2, the Holy Spirit was poured out in a miraculous manner. The crowd was stunned and amazed, even accusing the apostles upon whom the Spirit fell of being drunk. However, Peter stood up with the 11 and said, "Men of Israel hear my words, these men are not drunken as you suppose, but, this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." He then proceeded to directly quote Joel 2:28-32.
Joel said that in the last days the Spirit would be poured out as a sign of the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.
On the day of Pentecost, the Spirit was poured out, and Peter said, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel!" Peter did not say, "This is something like it will be when Joel is fulfilled" and, Peter did not say, "Joel 2:28-32 is being 'partially fulfilled,'" Peter's divine and inspired declaration that Joel was being fulfilled that day proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Israel's last days were in existence on the day of Pentecost, 2000 years ago! And, if Israel's last days were in existence then, they are not future to us today.
But Peter did not say "this is a foretaste of what it will be like when the last days come," he said, "this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel!" Joel predicted events for Israel's last days, and Peter said this is what Joel predicted. It is simply wrong to take Peter's statement "This is that" and make it mean "This is not that!" Israel's last days had arrived! They are not in the future. The prophetic clock was ticking off the climactic last time of Daniel's 70 weeks, the designated time for the consummation of Israel's hopes!
The New Testament is full of statements such as "The coming of the Lord is at hand" (James 5:8), "the end of all things is at hand" (1 Peter 4:7). Simply stated, if the New Testament writers were affirming and they clearly were-- that the coming of the Lord and the end of the age was near, they were affirming that the last days of Israel were present! These predictions were written 2000 years ago.
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