There is a prevailing attitude today that if we follow certain instructions our lives will be able to go back to ‘normal’. I suspect there is nothing further from the truth. What the world has considered ‘normal’ is no longer on the agenda for those powers that be who wish to usher in their ‘new normal’. It is likely these same people and organizations will just keep moving the goal posts to include more and more requirements and restrictions. These things are precursors for the coming Tribulation. A way of training the masses to follow the leader that will appear one day. We must do something they have mandated in order to be able to do commerce etc. It should sound familiar if you have read the book of Revelation.
Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching. And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.
He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.~Revelation 13:11-18
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you need to know that the days we are living in are those that Apostle Paul warned us about in his letters to Timothy.
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.~2 Timothy 3:1-9
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.~2 Timothy 4:3-5
Jesus Himself warned us of these days.
Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.~Matthew 24:4-8
Does any of this sound familiar? We don’t have to look to far to see just how close we are to the time of His appearance! He is soon going to appear to His church! That is us! Those who love Him and follow Him and are excitedly awaiting His appearance.
We tell you this as it came from the Lord. Those of us who are alive when the Lord comes again will not go ahead of those who have died. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a loud call. The head angel will speak with a loud voice. God’s horn will give its sounds. First, those who belong to Christ will come out of their graves to meet the Lord. Then, those of us who are still living here on earth will be gathered together with them in the clouds. We will meet the Lord in the sky and be with Him forever. Because of this, comfort each other with these words.~1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.~Titus 2:11-15
So for those of us awaiting His appearance, we don’t need to rely on our leaders for our life to return to ‘normal’. Our ‘new normal’ has nothing to do with the patterns of this world. Our ‘new normal’ will be spending time in eternity with our beautiful Savior and King, Jesus Christ! It is so important we remember this world is NOT our home. We are to occupy and fulfill the purposes He has for our lives while we are here, but we cannot emotionally or spiritually set up permanent camp here. So please don’t hold on too tight to those things that can easily be taken from you. Hold on to the eternal! Guard your relationship with Christ. Pray for your family and those in your community to come to know Him as Lord and Savior. Serve others and keep looking up.
Blessings!
bible.com/bible/116/1th.5.1-6.NLT
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