Showing posts with label end times. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

The Great Falling Away - Steve Martin

The Great Falling Away - Steve Martin

“Adonai said to Gid‘on, “I will use the three hundred men who lapped the water to save you; I will hand Midyan over to you. Let all these others go back home.” (Judges 7:7-8 Complete Jewish Bible)

There is a great falling away coming from among those who once walked with the Lord. In fact, it has already started. For decades, it was “popular” to be a Christian. Not so anymore, especially when one considers the numbers who attend a weekly church service. Looking around any given Sunday morning gathering, and in most churches you will see mostly grey hairs; and they are dying off. Sure, there are those churches that are doing well among the youth, but that is an exception. We give thanks for them.

After a major crisis occurs in a nation, the pews do fill back up. But within a few months, or even weeks, the “Crisis Christians” no longer come around. It is back to normal as usual. (We may still have the “C & E” group – Christmas and Easter, but even those numbers are dwindling fast.)

The apostle Paul said that in the end of days there would be a great falling away. We are living in those times.

"Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you 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.

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, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 NASU)

Lest you become fearful, and wonder what is going to happen when so many are gone, let me share a little insight with you. It will inspire you in faith, I believe.

The Lord seems to allow for the reduction of numbers when He has a job that needs to get done. Unlike humans, more is not always better. As my good wife Laurie likes to remind me on certain occasions, “Less is more.” My accounting mind doesn’t always see it that way, but it is true.

Let’s look at a few instances in the Word of God, and see how the Lord chooses to accomplish His purpose, and achieve the final victory.

Take what happened when the Lord decided to flood the earth. He saved a remnant, Noah’s family of eight (Noah, his wife, three sons and their wives) and repopulated the earth with those alone. Looks like that worked.

And what about Gideon’s army, when it came time to defeat the Mideonites? Gideon took as many warriors as he had available, starting with 32,000. By the time the Lord had set up a few tests, the number was finalized at 300. With those remaining, the job got done. Victory was won.

Yeshua (Jesus) chose only 12 who would walk with Him for a little more than three years. Then He released them (even knowing one would be replaced by another) into the world. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, those twelve apostles changed the world.

Jesus also fed the multitudes, with very little. “All we have with us,” they said, “is five loaves of bread and two fish.” He said, “Bring them here to me.” After instructing the crowds to sit down on the grass, he took the five loaves and the two fish and, looking up toward heaven, made a b’rakhah (Hebrew – i.e. gave thanks). Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the talmidim (Hebrew – i.e. disciples), who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they took up twelve baskets full of the pieces left over. Those eating numbered about five thousand men, plus women and children.” (Matthew 14:17-21, Complete Jewish Bible)

The Creator of the Universe can get the job done with very few.

What about the 144,000 in Revelation of Jesus (Revelation 7:4)? That sure is something to consider.

“I heard the count of those who were sealed: 144,000! They were sealed out of every Tribe of Israel: 12,000 sealed from Judah, 12,000 from Reuben, 12,000 from Gad, 12,000 from Asher, 12,000 from Naphtali, 12,000 from Manasseh, 12,000 from Simeon, 12,000 from Levi, 12,000 from Issachar, 12,000 from Zebulun, 12,000 from Joseph, 12,000 sealed from Benjamin." (Revelations 7:4-8 THE MESSAGE)

There is a great falling away that is coming through the Christian ranks. It will remove the lukewarm as the Lord Himself is going to weed them out. I believe He will then emblaze the remnant with His Holy Ghost fire, and show the world Who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. In the process, millions during that time, yet to be saved for all of eternity, will come into His kingdom, gathered from all the nations.

Are you going to be one of the few? As the Marine’s would say in their motto, I pray you are.

By His grace you will keep committed and stay faithful to the end. It is going to be a battle, but He wins. Stay on His side.

Steve Martin, Founder

Love For His People Ministries 12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, NC 28134

loveforhispeople@gmail.com loveforhispeople.blogspot.com

Friday, August 2, 2019

3 Scriptural Warnings for the Biblically Illiterate in These End Times - GARY CURTIS CHARISMA NEWS

3 Scriptural Warnings for the Biblically Illiterate in These End Times

6:00AM EDT 8/2/2019 GARY CURTIS CHARISMA NEWS

I've been intrigued recently at the number of times the New Testament epistles speak of people being "ignorant."

The apostles' intent was not malicious nor mean spirited. The Greek word used is agnoeo' and simply means "not knowing." One might say that these people were "uninformed," "unlearned," or "uninitiated." In each reference, they were "biblically illiterate" of the subject or issue.

Biblical illiteracy is a critical problem in our "post-Christian" era. Our modern world has produced a biblically "ignorant" generation, which does not know God nor His prophetic plans for the end of this age.

As such, they are culturally ignorant of His call to repentance and holiness. We must inform, enlighten and seek to save or rescue these ignorant ones, "snatching them from the fire" of hell itself (Jude 1:23, NIV). This is our mission "while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work" (John 9:4, MEV).

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Scriptural instruction from the New Testament regarding the biblically "ignorant" can be divided into three areas.

1. Biblical illiteracy has produced a current generation which does not know God.

In Romans 10:3, Paul taught that some were "ignorant of God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to the righteousness of God."
When he taught the Romans regarding the grafting in of the Gentile church and the future restoration of Israel, Paul said, "For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, lest you be wise in your own estimation, for a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in" (11:25).
In teaching the Corinthians about spiritual gifts, Paul said: "I do not want you to be ignorant ... you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus be cursed!' And no one can say, 'Jesus is the Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:1-3).
Our natural, sinful inclinations find expression no matter how good we may think we are. Paul told young Timothy that he, previously, as a religious zealot, was "a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and an insolent man. But I was shown mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief" (1 Tim. 1:13).
The writer to the Hebrews spoke of Jesus as our Great High Priest, who "is able to have compassion on the ignorant and on those who are wayward, for he himself is also subject to weakness" (Heb. 5:2).

America was built on the biblical principles held by its founders, and the Bible's precepts were inculcated into our children by songs sung and Scriptures taught. Over the decades and generations, these "God and Country" foundations were reinforced in American schoolhouses and practiced in America's homes.

From this historic heritage, the nation, as a whole, had a strong biblical literacy and respect for biblical principles for most of its nearly 250 years. The God of the Bible was referenced in public documents, carved into declarations on our public buildings/monuments, embraced as our national motto and incorporated on our coins and currency.

Now, however, liberal biases, political correctness and liberal-leaning judicial decisions have dulled our Judeo-Christian values and patriotic expressions. We are left with a generation which does not know nor attempt to serve our great God.

2. Biblical illiteracy has produced a generation which does not know God's plan for the last days.

The apostle Paul praised the believers in Thessalonica, who had "turned to God from idols" and now waited for "His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come" (1 Thess. 1:9, 10). It was a glorious promise of eternal life. But, what if some of them died before the Lord's return?

Paul realized they were somewhat ignorant of God's plan for the last days. He gave them clearer revelation in Chapter four: "I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep," [a euphemism for having died], "that you may not grieve as others who have no hope" (1 Thess. 4:13).

Death, dying and grief can consume a lot of man's emotions and resources. Being ignorant of the hope of Christ's return for His own (1 Thess. 4:13-18) continues to leave many with profoundly messed-up lives. They find no comfort. They have no "blessed hope" to sustain them.

Having no hope themselves, unbelievers tend to scoff and scorn those who do. Peter explains that they "willingly ignore" (2 Pet. 3:5b) the fact that:

God once destroyed the world that then existed with a flood and all, except righteous Noah and his family, perished (v. 6).
The heaven and earth that now exist are being reserved for destruction by fire in the "Day of Judgment," which will also destroy the ungodly inhabitants (v. 7).
One day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (v. 8). Those who think the Bible's prophecies of mass destruction and eternal damnation are never going to be fulfilled are "ignorant" and watching the wrong timepiece.
The Lord is not slow but patient! He does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (v. 9).

3. Biblical illiteracy has produced a current generation that does not know God's critical call to repentance and holy living.

Continuing to consider Peter's instruction for these last days, we note that he not only speaks of our Lord wanting souls to come to repentance but also warns of future judgment, when the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, in the "day of the Lord," and the elements of this earth will be destroyed with intense heat (2 Pet. 3:10-12).

Accordingly, Peter questions "what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness" (v. 11b).
He reminds us that according to God's promise, "we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells" (v. 13).
Finally, Peter urges us to "be diligent that you may be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless" (v. 14b). Holy living now (by the empowerment of the abiding Holy Spirit) prepares us for living before a holy God, "where righteousness dwells" (v. 13b).
Peter even described the end-times teachings of the apostle Paul as being "hard to understand" (v. 16) but warned that "unlearned and unstable" (v. 16) people distort this "wisdom given to him" (v. 15) "to their own destruction" (v. 16).

Biblical illiteracy about these last days' truths needs to be individually owned and observed! We are all vulnerable, in these wicked times, lest we "also fall from your own firm footing, being led away by the deception of the wicked" (v. 17).

Deception can keep us from practicing continual confession, true repentance and holy living. The solution is Peter's final verse: "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (v. 18). Saturating ourselves in the Word of God is critical to biblical literacy, spiritual growth and victorious Christian living in these last days!

Ordained to the ministry in 1969, Gary Curtis is a graduate of LIFE Bible College at Los Angeles (soon to become Life Pacific University at San Dimas, California). He has taken graduate courses at Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois and Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California. Gary served as part of the pastoral staff of The Church on The Way, the First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys, California, for 27 years (1988-2015), the last 13 years as the vice president of Life on The Way Communications Inc., the church's not-for-profit media outreach. Now retired, Gary and his wife have been married for 50 years and live in Southern California. They have two married daughters and five grandchildren.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Great Resources to help you excel in 2019! #1 John Eckhardt's "Prayers That..." 6-Book Bundle. Prayer helps you overcome anything life throws at you. Get a FREE Bonus with this bundle. #2 Learn to walk in the fullness of your purpose and destiny by living each day with Holy Spirit. Buy a set of Life in the Spirit, get a second set FREE.

Friday, October 5, 2018

Signs of the Times (Part 4): Wars, Earthquakes, Famines, and Plagues - Dr. Peter Wyns, Antioch International Church

Signs of the Times (Part 4): Wars, Earthquakes, Famines,

and Plagues

Dr. Peter Wyns, Antioch International Church

Antioch International Church Live

Published on Oct 4, 2018

Part 4 in the Series "Signs of the Times", Dr. Peter Wyns exponds on how Jesus, the Gospels, the book of Revelation and the Old Testament prophets all line up together in explaining the "End Times" in chronological order.

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

'A Billion-Soul Harvest': The End Times Ushering in History's Greatest Revival? - PAUL STRAND/CBN NEWS

Men and women participate in a "fire tunnel" at the 2017 Catch the Fire Toronto event. (Christ For All Nations USA/Facebook)

'A Billion-Soul Harvest': The End Times Ushering in History's Greatest Revival?

Join us on our podcast each weekday for an interesting story, well told, from Charisma News. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

Christian ministries have been called streams of God. A number of them are coming together because they believe their unity could help set off history's greatest revival.

It's a gathering of some of the most powerful streams of ministry that have been used in revival across the past three decades—much like the Toronto Blessing that started in 1994 and touched millions around the world.

Lighting a Fire and Forming a River

Now these streams have gathered where that revival began because all believe God wants to light the fire again and hit the world with possibly the greatest awakening and harvest of all time.

Daniel Kolenda is the successor of Reinhard Bonnke, whose Christ for all Nationsministry says it has seen more than 72 million salvations. Kolenda insists it's because they focus on the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

"It actually makes our jobs quite easy," Kolenda told CBN News. "We just present Jesus to people, and the Holy Spirit comes in and does the rest."

A Mass Beholding

Lou Engle, co-founder of The Call mass gatherings, has been leading intercessors crying out for this for more than 30 years.

"'Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world," Engle said, quoting John the Baptist. "I'm believing for a mass beholding of the Lamb of God. So many people getting saved. And, secondly, that He shall baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire."

John Kilpatrick's Florida church was the headquarters for the Brownsville Revival that began in 1995. He told CBN News he was assured by God Himself this much larger revival is coming the day al Qaeda brought down the Twin Towers in New York City.

A Sign of the End Times?

"I watched the towers come down," Kilpatrick recalled. "And I said to the Lord, 'Lord, does this mean that revival is over?' And the Lord responded to me immediately. He said, 'Oh no. Revival's not over. I'm going to pour out my Spirit again. But it'll be in conjunction with end-time events."

Rick Joyner of MorningStar Ministries believes it's crucial that all of these various streams of ministry find ways to work in unison.

"Because there's a multiplication of authority and spiritual authority when you come together," he explained. "One can put a thousand to flight, but two can put 10,000 to flight."

Unity Is a Witness

Joyner believes that kind of unity among Christians is the best kind of witness to a fragmenting world.

"They're starting to love each other, come together, have unity, have peace, have joy—all of these things that the world is becoming increasingly devoid of," he said.

American pastor Randy Clark had come to visit and guest-preach at this Canadian church when the Toronto Blessing burst out in 1994. The surprised preacher had a front-row seat for one of the most powerful revivals of the 20th century. Now he's expecting something much greater in the 21st century.

A Billion-Soul Harvest

"I do believe in a billion-soul harvest that has been prophesied about," the Global Awakening founder said.

Clark points out some have prophesied this will be a faceless, nameless revival because God wants to use every willing disciple in the entire Church, not just evangelical superstars.

"It didn't mean that there weren't leaders, but that the leaders understood their role was to release the others, the laity," Clark explained.

From the stage, Engle called the crowd in Toronto to become those disciples rising up from the church pews. He asked them to take off their shoes and shout, "Lord, send me."

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News," he declared, saying of the unsaved, "How shall they hear unless there's a preacher?"

Kolenda explained what God's after when it comes to harvesters of souls.

"He's just looking for people who are hungry and open and who will say, 'God, whatever You want to do, here am I," he said.

And that's what these leaders from past revivals, plus more than 3,000 Christians who've come to the Light the Fire Again Conference, are all declaring: "God, whatever You want to do, here am I."

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Exactly What Genesis Tells Us About the End Times - JESSILYN JUSTICE CHARISMA NEWS

Exactly What Genesis Tells Us About the End Times

To understand how the world will end, you must first understand it's beginning, says Del Tackett.

Christians often throw around biblical books like Daniel, Revelation and Ezekiel as holding the secrets to the end times, but Tackett says it is Genesis that can truly open up a believer's eyes. In Is Genesis History, re-releasing in theaters for one night on Feb. 22, host Tackett, the former president of the Focus on the Family Institute, explores the details of the foundations of the earth and how Satan has twisted truth to deceive generations.

"[Peter tells us] there will come a time where there will be scoffers, where the promise of His coming escapes their notice," Tackett says. "But this takes us back to creation and the created world. [God] formed the world and destroyed the world, and people willfully unnoticed this. The Greek word here implies they were capable of noticing but it willfully escaped their notice. And God will one day again destroy it all with fire, which lays out a very high view of the metanarrative of God, creation, the fall of man, the judgment and flood, and the way to restore all things. He will destroy all things and then restore all things, and when we lose that understanding, we find ourselves in a position of scoffing historically at what God said He did."

When Is Genesis History? first released last year, theaters sold out showings across the country, and Fathom events ranked it as the No. 1 inspirational film for 2017. For 2018, Fathom decided to re-release the documentary and increase the 750 theaters showing it to 850.

The film returns to the big screen at a time when even Christian circles are turning away from biblical accounts of creation and embracing a theistic evolution.

"As a culture, society and people begin to openly declare that there is no God, then we have to by necessity reject the record of God's account, we have to reject the notion He has spoken to us, and in that kind of context, man is then left to determine his own right and wrong, and what always ends up happening is might makes right," Tackett says.

Understanding Genesis is critical to understanding how the world should work in both basic morals and overarching societal guidance.

"This has been seen in nation-states in the past that [might makes right] will always lead to oppression, lead to atrocities, eventually lead to destruction of that culture. When a people turn away from God, people will weep eventually, and that extends to our understanding of social order," Tackett says. "When that happens we have no basis, have no divine understanding of God's design for the state, of God's design for marriage, family, business, and how it's supposed to be carried out, no design for community. What happens, then, to male and female? We are racing rapidly towards a total cluelessness when it comes to the notion of male and female."

Tackett's personal history influences his role as film host. He created Focus on the Family's The Truth Project, a nationwide project to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ. He served more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and was appointed by President George H.W. Bush as the director of technical planning for the National Security Council.

His secular accreditation provide proof to unbelievers that the film's claims are accurate. The sought-after speaker stands on truth when he argues the first book of the Bible gives the answers to questions humans have asked for millennia and can be verified through science.

"If you look at the history of the people who have taken the accounts in the Bible and at some point made the declaration that it was historically inaccurate," Tackett says. "In many cases, all of these accusations were found to be faulty. For a long time, for example, there was the position that there was never a King David, nor were there Jews in Egypt, nor did they migrate from Egypt into modern the Palestinian era. Archaeological evidence later uncovered that the Bible got this correct. Want to look at historical record associated with Jesus, His miracles, death, resurrection? The historical account was attacked, held to be a nonvalid/mystical analogy. There has been a tendency for people to try to take the historical record and turn it into something else, either inaccurate history or genre analogy or myth or poetry. The history of those attempts has in almost all cases that I know of—especially archaeological—the Bible gets history correct, and it gets history right on origins, as well.

"The most important things to understand is who we are," Tackett says. "It's very easy to get caught up in scientific paradigm that attempts to tell us about our origins, that our origins are through a mindless random process of evolution that has produced us by chance. This creates a fundamental platform for who we are as human beings, telling us we're no different than any other element in the universe around us. A dog is a pig is a rat is a boy. There is nothing about the human race that has meaning or purpose beyond existing. It drives humanity toward a narcissistic kind of life where we basically are after pleasure, comfort, 'all about me.' It's a very self-centered thing. ... That critical understanding of who we are, the Genesis account tells us we are a special creation by God. In the context of our existence on earth, it provides an understanding of right, wrong, good evil, hope in midst of fallen world. These are extremely critical aspects of understanding our origins, or we fall."

Is Genesis History? will be in 850 theaters nationwide on Thursday, Feb. 22. Click here for more information.

Jessilyn Justice @jessilynjustice is the director of online news for Charisma.

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Why We Can't Ignore History - Dr. William Forstchen on The Jim Bakker Show

Watch here: Why We Can't Ignore History - Dr. William Forstchen on The Jim Bakker Show

Doctor William Forstchen
Jim Bakker Show 2018 | Show# 3398 | Aired on January 11, 2018

American History, Elite, EMP attack, End Times, Government, History, Last Days, The Church, United States
A Morningside Studios Production

Pastor Jim and Lori Bakker welcome historian and author of over 40 books Doctor William Forstchen as they discuss the importance of preserving and protecting our history.

Quotes

There’s going to be personal and great betrayals in the church and in the world. -Pastor Jim Bakker

The folks at the top have their escape hatches while the rest of us are caught in the middle. -Doctor William Forstchen

EMP, it’s not the actual EMP that kills you. It’s everything else.-Doctor William Forstchen

Scriptures

Matthew 27:24 MEV When Pilate saw that he could not prevail, but rather that unrest was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous Man. See to it yourselves.”

Matthew 27:21-22 MEV The governor answered, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”

Revelation 6:7-8 KJV And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 KJV 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.

Proverbs 22:3 NCV The wise see danger ahead and avoid it, but fools keep going and get into trouble.

2 Timothy 3:1 MEV Know this: In the last days perilous times will come.

Hebrews 11:7 KJV By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Genesis 6:9 MEV These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a just man and blameless among his contemporaries. Noah walked with God.

Matthew 24:12 KJV And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Headlines

North Korea EMP attack could ‘shut down US power grid and kill 90% of Americans’ -Independent

Why Did DoD Just Defund The Congressional EMP Commission? -Above Top Secret

Missouri Health Department advising caution during extreme weather -Missouri Net

Half of Puerto Rico still doesn’t have power—104 days after Hurricane Maria -Quartz Media

Over 200,000 Puerto Ricans have arrived in Florida since Hurricane Maria -NBC News

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

New Dangers That Are Facing America - Dr. William Forstchen on The Jim Bakker Show

Watch here: New Dangers That Are Facing America - Dr. William Forstchen on The Jim Bakker Show

Doctor William Forstchen
Jim Bakker Show 2018 | Show# 3397 | Aired on January 10, 2018

America, Danger, EMP attack, End Times, History, Last Days, North Korea, Security Threat, United States
A Morningside Studios Production

Pastor Jim and Lori Bakker welcome historian and author of over 40 books Doctor William Forstchen as they discuss the most recent dangers that the United States is currently facing.