Birth Pangs and Fig Trees, Part 9

A New Year is upon us, and for many that signals the start of something new. On the other hand, God's prophetic clock is still ticking and that which He for-ordained long ago will come to pass at the appointed time. To some, the phrase "appointed time" refers to a person's time of death. A quick look at the obituary section of today's local paper revealed the names of 13 people who had met their appointed times, at ages ranging from 18 to 101. I pray that they were ready, for it is written: "...man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)

Every man or woman will face one of two judgments, and we can choose. We can choose to stand before the Great White Throne and face judgment for our sins, the consequences of which will be terrible and eternal (Revelation 20:11-15) or we can place our trust in Jesus Christ as the Only Begotten Son of God who bore our sins in His body on the cross, and who rose from the dead as our guarantee of eternal life. This is God's love for you (John 3:16) Reject in this life and suffer the Great White Throne consequences in the next. Accept it by faith (true active faith, not just mental assent) and you will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive judgment, not for sin, but for rewards depending on how, as a believer, you lived for Him. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) I pray that you make your choice today, while it is still today.

That said, there is coming also an appointed time when God will judge the earth. This time occurs at the end of a seven-year period known as the "70th Week of Daniel." Daniel prophesied it in Daniel 9:20-27; Jesus referred to this prophetically in Matthew 24:15 and Paul referred to it prophetically in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. We have already discussed briefly several of the signs leading up to this seven year period - signs described parabolically as birth pangs or a budding fig tree. We are to be aware of these signs and prepare accordingly. And the terrifying thought is that many in the church will be caught unprepared having been taught that Christ will snatch them away before any of that bad stuff happens. This teaching has caught on in the western church, probably because it matches up so well with prosperity, ease and comfort.

Next time we will start exploring what the life of a believer might look like entering the 70th Week of Daniel, moving through a time of false peace, the revelation of the Antichrist, and facing the Great Tribulation. Think of this a boot camp in preparation for the battlefield. But to leave you with a note of encouragement. "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)