Every week we seek the Lord for the timely revelation in the Word to be released to you.
This is what the Lord says for this time:
"No one knows the day or the hour of My coming, not even the angels. So, do not worry as you wait for My coming, but keep looking to Me, keep walking in My plans for you, and make full use of your life on earth. Keep holding on to My Word, because My Word will always lead you to all truth. Do not allow yourself to compromise, even when many around you compromise. Let Me continue to sanctify and purify you by My Word, by My Spirit, and by My blood."
We are living in a very exciting time, the end time. But just do not fear, because in Christ you have the final victory. There's a paradox of what is happening right now in the world. In some parts of the world, people are compromising in their faith, and some even fall away. The Bible calls it apostasy. Yet in some other places on earth, at the same time, great outpouring of the Holy Spirit is happening as well. Indeed, the gospel of the kingdom is being preached to all the world like never before! (Matthew 24:14)
At the time of this writing, the Great Tribulation is not yet, and the Antichrist has not yet been revealed. But the time is near. Of course people would ask this question, "How near is near?" You know what, God's answer is this: "Don't worry."
So the message is clear today. Don't be worried and don't be engrossed with when the Great Tribulation will happen, who will be the Antichrist, or when will the Antichrist be revealed. Just continue to walk in God's plans and God's calling in your life faithfully. Continue to make full use of all that God has given to you (His giftings and His talents for you), so that you can continue to be a blessing in this world. You know why? Because even many centuries ago, people have already asked this question: "When is the Great Tribulation?", "Who is the Antichrist?", "When will the Antichrist be revealed?", or "When will the world end?" And even many centuries ago, people have already said, "The end is near!"
But of course remember this: Live your life as if Jesus is returning tonight. It means be ready even if He returns tonight! Cleanse your heart and cleanse your hands. Let the Word and the Spirit continue to wash you and cleanse you. But yet keep walking in God's calling every day and keep planning ahead for your life. Yes, still have savings and still invest wisely. Because you'd never know when the end will actually come. Because Jesus Himself said no one knows the hour or the day. It can be anytime now, but it can also be many years from now. So don't worry when people say, "The end is near!" Your part is just to be prepared, to continue to live a life that is pure before the Lord, and continue to allow the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the Blood of the Lamb to wash you. You know why? Because you gain nothing by being worried or being engrossed with when the Great Tribulation will be, who the Antichrist is, when will the Antichrist be revealed, and how near is near! No one can claim they know exactly. But of course I want to tell you this. The signs are there already, especially since Israel became nation again in 1948. And you know it, if you have lived long enough, many things have accelerated since then. You can see this with your own eyes.
Jesus says in Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." You see, if anyone claims to know the date, they are directly contradicting this verse. And also, God's way of seeing time is very different from our human way or human logic of seeing time and calendar. 2 Peter 3:8 says, 'But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.' In other words, what humans can achieve in one thousand years, God can accomplish it in just one day!
I continue with 2 Peter 3:9, 'The Lord is not slack concerning His promise (i.e. His promise of His coming for you, the Bride of Christ, the church), as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.' And this is the heart of God. He tarries, He hasn't come. Why? Because He wants to see more lives on this earth be saved. His will is that none should perish! Therefore this is a very important time to continue to be the 'light' to the world, to keep preaching the gospel, to share the Word of God to as many people as you can.
2 Peter 3:17-18 then says, 'You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand (you know of this promise of God), beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.'
No matter what happens in the world, no matter how the spirit of deception wreak havoc in this world, as a believer, you have the blessed hope of His coming for you. But Peter has also reminded us to keep our watch, lest we fall from our own steadfastness in the faith.
Paul wrote this in 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 'Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith (and that's the falling away or apostasy), giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.' Here, Paul wrote that in the latter days (i.e. in the end time which we are living in right now), many people's conscience become numb (no more feeling). It's like hot iron touching the skin, and there's no more feeling on the skin. So it is the same with one's spirit. There's no more sense of right and wrong anymore for some people. In other words, wrong becomes right, right becomes wrong. In fact, some people call the Bible outdated or primitive. They only want to hear what they want to hear. They don't want to hear what they don't want to hear, even though that is the word of truth which will bring blessings to them!
But as far as you are concerned, beloved, keep looking to Jesus, keep looking to all that He has done for you on the cross, and keep pointing people to Jesus, till He returns for you, the Bride of Christ, the church!
Keep putting your trust in Him, and as long as you keep walking in the Word and in the Spirit, He will know how to establish you and guard you. And that is the assurance God gives to all of us today. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 says, 'Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you (i.e. the word of the Lord will continue to spread quickly, and people will honor it), and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.'
The word 'establish' here is 'sterizo' in Greek. In this context, it can mean 'the Lord strengthens you', 'the Lord steadies you (i.e. make you 'steady' in a volatile time)', or 'the Lord sets you in the right direction'. When the spirit of the world keeps luring the people (even the people of faith) into the wrong direction (or 'pitfalls'), the Lord will know how to 'set you in the right direction'! That is a great assurance for those who keep looking to Him and keep trusting in Him!
The word 'guard' here is 'phulasso' in Greek. In this context, it can mean 'the Lord keeps you', 'the Lord watches over you', 'the Lord preserves you (till the day of His coming)', 'the Lord saves you', or 'the Lord rescues you'. In other words, the Lord will know how to make a way of escape for you, and the Lord will know how to shield you from the evil one!
And this is wonderful. 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 says, 'Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.' See the words 'always in every way' here? Not sometimes, but always! Not only in some ways, but in every way! Remember Jesus said in John 16:33, "In Me you will have peace, even though in the world you will have tribulation. Therefore, be of good cheer, because I have overcome the world."
The word 'peace' here in Greek is 'eirene'. It can mean 'peace, quietness, rest'. In other words, the Lord gives you peace always in every way, the Lord gives you quietness (even in the midst of the storms or troubles in this world), and the Lord gives you rest (in spite of all that happens in the world). And in this context, 'eirene' can also mean 'being at one with Him'. It means 'you in Him, and He in you' always in every way. Blessed are you!
So no matter what happens in the world, know this: Jesus has already carried your judgement when He died for you on the cross! So now you are blessed! And you have the shalom peace in you. Shalom peace can literally mean 'nothing broken, nothing missing' in your life! So, fear not and worry not! As long as you keep walking in His grace and in His plans (and purposes) for your life, you will have this 'peace always in every way' - till you see the Lord Himself descending from heaven with a shout, with the voice of archangel, and with the sound of His trumpet! And that's when you shall be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air! (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
What a glorious time that will be! This is the blessed hope that we have in Him. So, let's not give up, but keep hanging on to the Word of God, keep hanging on to the promise of God, and comfort one another, knowing that all that God has spoken in His Word, He will bring them to pass! Hallelujah!
