Birth Pangs and Fig Trees, Part 19

THE END-TIMES CHURCH IN REVIVAL is coming, but I doubt seriously that it will be institutionalized. The real revival will occur in the face of increased persecution. Book deals, rock stars and video clips will not be involved, for the church will be driven underground, and the revival will take place among a remnant (a word that occurs 91 times in the Bible - KJV). God is used to dealing with remnants. Sometimes the remnant refers to that portion of Israel which remains faithful and will be saved (Romans 9:27). Sometimes the remnant refers to the true church as compared to the rest of the population, and the word remnant isn't even used. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

Not that it hasn't been going on for centuries, but division between these two roads is becoming blurred, the more that ungodly agendas infiltrate the visible, institutional church. There is no attempt here to judge any particular church or denomination, but observations will be made as clearly as possible. On February 24, 2010 www.lifesitenews.com reported that the U.K. House of Commons passed a sex-ed bill forcing schools to promote sex outside of marriage, homosexuality and abortion. The sub-headline read, "Head of Catholic bishop's conference and the Catholic Education Service thanked for supporting bill." This enabled the provisions of the bill to apply to all schools, secular and faith-based. Parental opt-out provisions will apply only to students age 15 and younger. The article goes on to say that faith-based schools may introduce their theologically based position as "preferred" but all of the other options must be taught as "normal" and students must be given all information pertaining to these, including where and how to obtain an abortion.

The above is cited as only one of many clearly visible examples of the church compromising on biblical standards. Perhaps even more dangerous are instances where the church compromises in the area of false teaching. There is considerable warning in the New Testament against false prophets and false teachers. Two years ago, a questionable revival broke out in Lakeland, Florida under the ministry of Todd Bentley. Suffice it to say here that many strange phenomena accompanied this "revival" and, although I have looked, not one proof was forthcoming concerning the hundreds that were miraculously healed. In the midst of all the publicity, Bentley took up with a female member of his staff and divorced his wife. Rather than reconcile with his wife, within months he was remarried and recently has been proclaimed restored and fit for ministry by the leaders of Morningstar Church. This has produced an outcry from some evangelical leaders which has fallen on deaf ears at Morningstar.

Again, please let me reiterate that these observations are given as examples. No attempt has been made to wring out as many details as an investigative reporter might, but enough investigation has been made to convince this writer that these reports are essentially true. And these examples are just the tip of the iceberg. All the while God is raising up men and women of God who are not afraid to take the Gospel (which includes the standards) of Jesus Christ to the streets. Smaller groups of believers are meeting here and there to be encouraged in the Word and to then to bring it by proclamation and by deed to places like abortion mills, high schools, and mosques. What a stark contrast to wild parties being held on mega-campuses where the music includes lines like: "Let go of your heart; Let go of your head; Just feel it now."

One of the 6 hour seminars which Encouragement for End-Times Endurance brings to the body of Christ is entitled, "A Thessalonian Model for End-Times Living." I don't intend to compress that seminar into one paragraph here, but perhaps you can get a taste of it from these few verses. "We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power on the day He comes to be glorified in His holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you because you believed our testimony to you. With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our god may count you worthy of His calling. and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and in Him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:3-12)

Birth Pangs and Fig Trees, Part 18

APOSTASY AND REVIVAL. Last time we looked at how both of these phenomena can occur at the same time. The fact that they can presents a clear and present danger, calling for discernment on the part of the saints. Let me give you an example from about 27 years ago. My wife was recently saved and I had just returned from several years of wandering in the wilderness. One Saturday afternoon, my wife suffered one of those horribly painful back injuries which are brought on by nothing more traumatic than lifting a newspaper. The only way she could move from the bed to the bathroom was to crawl. We both prayed, but the pain persisted through the night. The next morning, with my wife's approval, I went to church. It was a good church with good people, but denominational through and through. I went to some of the deacons after service (there were no elders) and asked if they would come to the house and anoint my wife with oil and pray in accordance with James 5:14-15. I was told that we didn't do things that way here; that Scripture was for the early church. We now have good doctors, and we should consult one.

Some young people who were part of a travelling drama ministry overheard the conversation and dared to interject their thoughts. They believed the Scriptures were true and applicable today, and that even though they weren't elders (I think the oldest was about 22) there were other Scriptures, such as Mark 16:18 we could stand on. So, they came to the house, laid hands on my wife and prayed - believing that God would honor His word and confirm it. Six hours later my wife and I were at our couples bowling league. I think she bowled a 224 that night. Praise God!

I use that story to illustrate the time of crisis that is about to visit us. I'm told that in the Chinese language the word for crisis consists of two connected symbols, one meaning danger and the other meaning opportunity. Danger lurks around every corner; danger that is common to all men, and danger that is specific for the Christian. If the government takes over the health-care industry (and there are rumors that it will be forced upon us within the week) it poses a certain danger for everyone in the USA. Oh some will see it as an opportunity to gain something they never had, but in the long run, health care will deteriorate, become more expensive, and will be mired in the muck of bureaucracy. For the Christian, the immediate crisis may be caused by the inclusion of tax-payer funded abortion coverage in the government plan. What should a Christ-follower do? There is a danger if one cannot reconcile such a plan with their faith. I know I couldn't, and Scripture says: "...everything that does not come from faith is sin." (Romans 14:23) Opinions will be divided in the church, both among individuals and denominations, just as it is now concerning the matters of abortion, gay rights, etc.

Where's the opportunity in all of this? It is simply to stand on God's Word as Plan A, with no Plan B in sight. Pressure to fold and compromise will come from every quarter. Your own church and your own church friends may not support your decision. Your child may be running a fever of 103 and answers to prayer may be delayed. Now is the time to begin seeing yourself facing the pressure of the enemy and not folding. Now is the time to begin being vocal and demonstrative in your faith, and as such begin aligning yourself with others of like precious faith. It will be hard when support will not be forthcoming from the deacons, but God will send the young Christian actor, or some other such "weak and foolish" vessel to bring about your deliverance. And the church will begin to look more and more like the church of Acts 2:42-47 and beyond.

"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." (Acts 4:29-30)

Birth Pangs and Fig Trees, Part 17

In the last installment, we ended by looking at some words in 2nd Peter. Today I want to begin by looking more closely to a Q & A which Peter developed. "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming." (2 Peter 3:11-12) Some years ago, theologian Francis Schaeffer put together an outstanding video series base on the similar question, "How Should We then Live?" That is the topic we will cover in this, and perhaps one or two additional installments, as we bring this series to a close. And just in case I have failed to make a compelling case for the church entering the 70th week of Daniel, and having to face times of unprecedented testing, I will just come out and state it plainly: I BELIEVE THAT THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS, DANIEL, PETER, PAUL AND JOHN ALL HARMONIZE AND MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE CHURCH WILL ENTER THE 70TH WEEK OF DANIEL (AKA "THE TRIBULATION") AND FACE PERSECUTION AND TESTING UNLIKE ANYTHING BEFORE IN HUMAN HISTORY. IN THIS THE CHURCH WILL BE PURIFIED AS SHE AWAITS THE RAPTURE (THE BLESSED HOPE) WHICH WILL OCCUR WHEN CHRIST APPEARS A SECOND TIME, NOT TO DEAL WITH SIN BUT TO SAVE THOSE WHO WAIT IN EXPECTANT PERSEVERANCE, AND JUDGMENT UPON ALL THE REST. (TITUS 2:12-13; HEBREWS 9:28)

So now to the question: "How should we then live?" I think the short answer to that question is found right here: "They devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42-47) If you continue reading in Acts, this activity was still going on in Acts 6, where the distribution of the goods held in common for those who had need was becoming a logistical problem. But what had happened in the interim?

The new church was growing by leaps and bounds (120 [Acts 1:15] to 3,120 [Acts 2:41] to 5,000 men [Acts 4:4]). Miracles in the public arena were drawing people's attention (Acts 3:1-4:21). Persecution was beginning (Acts 4:3) and then increased (Acts 5:17 - 40). The preaching was becoming bold and to the point (Acts 3:11-26; 4:8-12, 19-20; 5:29 - 32). It became absolutely clear that people who just wanted to play church were not welcome (Acts 4:32 - 5:13). When I read these passages from Acts in light of biblical truth concerning the Second Coming of Christ, I see a clear picture of the church that is being perfected, with every spot and wrinkle being removed (Ephesians 5:27), all taking place under the pressure that comes from the earth groaning, the organized church drifting towards apostasy, lawlessness increasing (1 Peter 1:6-9). It becomes clear how apostasy and revival can happen at the same time.

Please allow me to give you an example of this as we bring this installment to a close. Suppose that world-wide there are 1.5 billion people who call themselves "Christian." Then a revival of righteousness and holiness begins to occur at the same time which persecution against Christians is increasing and concurrently a huge portion of the 1.5 billion in the visible church begin to embrace all sorts of ungodly mixture so as to get along, enjoying both governmental favor and protection from persecution. (For an historical example, look at the church in Germany between 1930 and 1940). In such a scenario, some will be drawn to the true Gospel and be saved. Some of the carnal Christians in the church will become truly converted. The number of true Christians will increase. At the same time, many will fall from the faith, accepting a government-sanctioned form of eccumenicalism.

That's enough for today. To leave you with some words of encouragement: "...brothers (and sisters), since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:19-23)

Birth Pangs and Fig Trees, Part 16

After fifteen installments in this series, some may find the messages anything, ranging from informative to interesting to boring to nonsense. To the extent that I have been able to keep them true to the Word of God, I believe they have the potential to transform, especially when we get to the place where the Word intersects our daily lives. Last time I pointed out that the Rapture (when believers are changed in the twinkling of an eye, receiving glorified bodies and are snatched away to be with the Lord forever, with the short-term benefit of being removed from the earth and its unbelieving inhabitants who are about to experience the judgment and wrath of Almighty God) will take people out of the ordinary activities of life. The illustration was one of two men standing in a field, one taken and the other left.

Most of the books and movies about the subject in the last 3-4 decades have been based on a pre-tribulation Rapture theory, where the Rapture could take place any moment, even NOW! This theory can be a good incentive to live in holiness, watching, praying and waiting. However, it paints a picture of somehow being ready at every moment without knowing what that means. Beyond that, we have been given a picture of those "left behind" becoming "the tribulation saints" where the Rapture gets them off the fence and propels them to true faith in Christ. In this scenario the Rapture serves to encourage them to live a life described in Revelation 12:11, "They overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Many of the authors and theologians who espouse this theory also label the 144,000 sealed Jews in Revelation 7:1-8 as evangelists. Books and videos have been produced for believers to leave behind for their unsaved loved ones to help them to faith in Christ.

I believe I have shown in the previous fifteen installments why this theory does not line up with Scripture. It's a nice theory, which allows believers (especially westerners who have a tendency to equate health and prosperity with the Gospel and who eschew suffering for the Gospel) to enjoy all of their stuff until things get tough on planet Earth. If, somehow, we have been a little too carnal, we'll know that when we miss the Rapture and we'll no doubt get it right from that point forward. But the Bible strongly indicates that the church (true believers and not so true believers, the wheat and tares of Matthew 13:24-30) will enter Daniel's 70th week, often called the 7-year tribulation. The church will still be here when the Antichrist is revealed and begins his undaunted persecution against Jews and Christians. The church will have her faith tested like never before (at least in terms of scale) and life and death choices will have to be made. Living as described above in Revelation 12:11 will be a choice made by faith in God's Word. The Rapture will not have happened yet, but will remain the "blessed hope" of the believer.

However, because of the Great Tribulation now occurring on the earth, the love of many will grow cold. Many "believers" will opt for the ecumenical world-wide church which will have as part of its liturgy "tolerance and diversity" rather than "righteousness and holiness." We can see the stage being set for that even now. "The wrath of God is being revealed even now against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness." The courts and the legislatures in the land are being used as instruments for people, "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they do not only continue to do these very things, but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:18, 32) Political correctness demands that nobody be offended, except those who stand on the unchanging truth of God's Word.

So we are standing at a place in history when Peter's inspired words are more relevant than ever. The Rapture, which will immediately followed by the Day of the Lord will happen, after there have been several signs (birth pangs and buds on the fig tree) but they will be of such severity that they will try the faith of many, and under such trials, many will abandon the faith. At that time, "the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming." (2 Peter 3:10-12)

From this same passage of Scripture, there are words of encouragement, which I think we could all use at this point. "Therefore dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen." (2 Peter 3:17-18)

Birth Pangs and Fig Trees, Part 15

"A Thief in the Night." It's a phrase that many people are acquainted with, although they know not from whence it comes. We closed last time by pointing out the two places where that phrase appears in the New Testament (Matthew 24:43 and 1 Thessalonians 5:2) I promised to talk about that in some more detail, so here goes. First, I would ask you to notice that this phrase is consistent with Jesus' use of "birth pangs" and "fig trees." He points out that there will be several signs leading up to His Second Coming. The very last sign which He points to as preceding His Second Coming could be described as "cosmic disturbances." These disturbances include, among other things, unnatural darkness (or night).

I draw your attention to two parallel passages of Scripture. You may remember that early on in this series I pointed out how Jesus' teaching in Matthew 24 parallels John's vision as seen in Revelation 6. I hope you can now see a parallel between Matthew 24:29-31 and Revelation 6:12-14.

"Immediately after the distress of those days, 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' [from Isaiah 13:10; 34:4] At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." (Matthew 24:29-31)

"I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sack-cloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place." (Revelation 6:12-14)



And what happens after these cosmic disturbances? Revelation doesn't give us any hint of the Rapture, but when Revelation is compared with Matthew 24, it takes place sometime between Revelation 6:15 and Revelation 7:9. It happens before the Day of the Lord or the Day of God's Wrath, mentioned in Revelation 6:16-17. Before that actually commences with the blowing of the 7 trumpets, there is an interlude where 144,000 Jews are sealed for protection in the midst of what is about to happen. Back in Matthew, immediately following the cosmic disturbances there is a very vivid description of the Rapture.


"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left." (Matthew 24:36-41)


Please note that Jesus makes it obvious that the one who was watching and prepared was engaged in the same task of making a living as the one who was left behind. This paints a pretty clear picture that the faith that will bring us safely home, while it may be nurtured and fed in meetings at the church house, is a faith that is lively and active in the home, the market place, the work place and the social place. Many religious activities are about "hearing" the Word, true religion is about "doing" the Word. (James 1:22-27, Luke 6:46-49)


"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built." (Luke 6:46-48) Build wisely!