Research shows that changes in weather patterns are tied to changes in
barometric pressure and temperature, and in turn, this can be associated with
the onset of mild to severe headaches. That is why some people react with
irritating symptoms before a thunderstorm or with the advance of a low-pressure
system. That is the physical world. There is a build-up before the onset of the
storm or low pressure.
In the emotional and spiritual world, a similar thing can happen. Certain events
affect people emotionally, and we know there are so many heartaches in this
fallen world. It is just incredible how much horror and pain many people have to
endure. It is tragic that this is so. Sin is of Satan and is enhanced by the old
sinful nature every single person possesses. Emotional disturbances are manifest
everywhere, caused by events such as a bad marriage, crime, loss of employment,
family and friendship problems, loss of financial support, sickness and death,
and more recently, being locked away and freedoms curtailed by the Chinese
virus.
Bad as that is, my purpose here is not to dwell on the emotional aspect of
things but to look at the spiritual. There is no doubt we have entered the last
days of the Church age, but how long that might continue, we cannot be sure. I
had someone say to me, “It could be 200 years before the Lord comes.” Well, I
can say also without a doubt that is very wrong. What is the key? It is Israel.
The nation is in place, and those who examine world events know that there is
nothing now that must happen before the Rapture. Everything is set.
Because we are in the last days, there is an increase of wickedness, or if you
like, lawlessness. The wicked one, the lawless one, the son of perdition, will
shortly be revealed, I believe. However, let us be very clear here, he will not
be revealed before the Rapture. Paul says that very precisely – 2Thessalonians
2:1-3: “1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you may not be quickly
shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a
letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no
one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes
first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.”
Let us examine that passage. In verse 1, Paul sets the timing for us, and it is
the Rapture indicated by “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” and by “our
gathering together to Him.”
In verse 2, some people were disturbing the Thessalonians that they had missed
out on the Rapture because they were already in the day of the Lord. Bad
persecution caused some to think they were in the day of the Lord.
Verse 3 is very important. The day of the Lord cannot come unless/before the
apostasy. I want to say most clearly that this word translated as apostasy here
by most versions means the Rapture (not apostatizing the faith as is generally
taught). I have written on that in a posting last year. The word means departure
and is nearly always associated with movement as in “away.” It is ONLY after the
Rapture that the man of lawlessness can be revealed, and NOT before. In fact, he
is probably alive today.
The reason for examining that passage is to focus on the expression “man of
lawlessness, son of destruction.” In our times as we near the Rapture, there is
increased satanic activity, lawlessness, and evil in the world. This is not
going to ease, but it increases in intensity. All that is confirming what Paul
wrote in 2Timothy about “difficult times will come” (KJV – perilous). The word
means times of hardship, hard to endure.
Anyone over the age of 30 reading this will be able to say that in the last 10
years, the world has gone downhill very quickly. We know that. It is far more
than the Chinese virus, which will probably never be overcome. I don’t need to
spell out the reasons. You all know how it has gone downhill.
What am I leading up to?
Think back to the opening of this article. We spoke about the uncomfortable
effects on the body of an approaching storm or low-pressure system. The
approaching manifestation of evil with the revelation of the evil one/world
leader/Antichrist will increase the advance of sin in the world and demonic
activity as Satan gains more and more of governments and corporations and people
through drugs, social media, and their increasing wickedness in accord with
2Timothy 1-5.
How does this influence Christians?
A dear friend of mine wrote to me very recently and said this – “I’m hanging in
there as usual while longing for our Saviour to come get us. I trust you’re
hanging in there as best you can also. I feel awful about what’s going on
everywhere… literally.” That was a very honest comment. The more sensitive a
Christian is to the Bible and to sin and injustice, the more that person will
feel the sin and injustice in the world. His/her heart goes out to the
increasing evil done against Christians in the world.
I don’t want to talk about myself other than saying I feel a growing heaviness
like before that thunderstorm about what is happening. Awful things are
happening. Injustice is everywhere. These are gross, evil days. I find it is
depressing without being clinically depressed. I feel a weight of oppression,
and that is demonic, for evil is growing stronger. Our Lord is the Deliverer and
the One who strengthens us through the Holy Spirit, so we have nothing to fear.
Elijah, in truth, had nothing to fear, but he was cast down as he saw the
demonic influence of Baal in the land and felt he was alone.
Just this evening, I read this – “Taliban fighters shot and killed a woman for
not wearing a burqa in Afghanistan Tuesday – the same day the group pledged to
usher in a new inclusive era in the country that honours “women’s rights.” That
was from News.com.
From Open Doors Missionary Organization – “Honour killings are a common
occurrence in Afghanistan of those who have brought shame into the family.
Believers from a Muslim background can also be sent to a psychiatric hospital
because leaving Islam is considered a sign of insanity. When we saw the Islamic
State sweep through places like Iraq and Syria, believers were often given the
choice of converting to Islam, paying an exorbitant tax, fleeing the country, or
being executed.”
Lastly, this is from Voice of America News – “The Taliban has claimed
responsibility for killing ten people, including foreigners, after the bodies
were found in dense forest in northern Afghanistan. The International Assistance
Mission, a Christian charity providing health services to the Afghan people,
said on its website Saturday that the dead people are “likely” members of its
eye camp team who were returning to Kabul after working in Nuristan.
U.S. officials in Afghanistan say at least two Americans were among the group of
eight foreigners and two Afghans killed. Local officials said six Germans were
among those killed in Badakhshan province. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid
told the French news agency a patrol confronted the “Christian missionaries, and
we killed them all.”
What does it do to you when you read that?
It is depressing, and our fellow believers suffer. We in the western world are
in the lap of luxury. So many who go to church are merely “fellow travellers.”
Where are the committed Christians?
President Biden has a lot to answer for, not only over Afghanistan but on other
matters. I am Australian, so I can speak my mind. I think he is wicked. China
thinks the USA is weak (maybe correct) and has moved military exercises closer
to Taiwan. China will make a full-scale invasion of Taiwan, I think, any time in
the next few years.
Heaviness. Feelings of unease. Feeling oppression. Reacting in sympathy but
feeling physically powerless. These are what genuine Christians are feeling
because they belong to God’s family. And if one member hurts, all members feel
it too.
We get upset about governments because more and more are corrupt and contain
vile people. God warns us that wicked men will grow from bad to worse. What is
bad today will be worse tomorrow.
Does all that cause Christians to be down in the dumps? It causes sorrow and
concern, and we need to be comforted. How can we be comforted? By resorting to
pleasure and self-pleasing, even by fully being occupied with legitimate
concerns? No way! That makes it worse.
Let me give an illustration. The chook family is in a fowl yard. I don’t think
Americans use “chook” –hens and roosters and chickens. The mother hen is sitting
on the ground, and the little chickens are a few yards away doing their own
thing. Then the shadow of a hawk passes over, and the chicks become agitated,
lose their sense of perspective, and start running in circles. The hen cries out
in hen language, “Come to me, you stressed-out chicks.” They all run to the
mother and settle under her wings. Then they are at peace. They are close to the
source of comfort and protection.
I have seen something similar to that happen with so many creatures. The Lord
wants us to stay close. When heartache and terrible times come, and this world’s
oppression presses on us, what is the solution? These verses help answer that:
Psalm 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of the eye. Hide me in the shadow of Thy
wings.”
Psalm 57:1 “Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes
refuge in Thee; and in the shadow of Thy wings I will take refuge until
destruction passes by.”
Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek
refuge. His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.”
We have our heavenly Father who cares for us.
We have our Lord Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, who will never leave us.
We have the Holy Spirit, who is our Comforter.
AND we have the word of God, which is strength and bread from heaven.
WHAT MORE DO WE NEED?