MOSES WARNS OF THE LATTER DAYS
Moses gave a warning to the children of Israel concerning what would happen to their offspring in the latter days. He warns that there would be tribulation and that evil would befall them because of their actions. Our Father promises if his children will turn back to God, he will not forsake them and will remember His covenant with their ancestors.
Scripture:
When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice, (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. (Deuteronomy 4:30-31)
For I know that after my death (Moses speaking) ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 31:29)
There will be evil times and tribulation for them in the last days, but if they will turn back to God, he will not forsake them.
The first call of warning that Jesus is coming soon is current technology. This is an amazing fulfillment of prophecy which shows that God’s Word is true and that Jesus is coming soon! Revelation 13:16 states, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
This talks of two aspects: 1) That there will be a cashless society. Two thousand years ago when this was written, there could have been no thought given to a time without money being exchanged. I can buy gas, groceries, go out to eat, attend a sports event and never one time have to use cash; and 2) That there will be a mark in the hand or forehead. If you could not buy or sell without this “card,” you would be doomed if you lost it. So instead of a credit card, you will have a mark. This corresponds to a computer chip. This technology is here today. There are chips that can be put into your pet. They are talking about using these chips for newborns.
Note that the King James says “in” their hand or forehead. The logical word would be on, but once again the Bible shows incredible accuracy!
Another incredible fulfillment is found in Revelation 11:9. There will be two preachers who preach righteousness and salvation until they are killed. When they are killed, the world will rejoice that these two troublemakers are dead. They will not even allow their bodies to be buried. “And they of the people and kindreds and tongues, and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.”
Now, how could the world witness these two bodies lying in the street in Jerusalem? Two thousand years ago when this was written no one could have foreseen how this is possible. Now, with television it is very easy to understand how this will take place. The technology is here today and Jesus is coming soon!
A second call of warning that Jesus is coming soon is found in the condition of the world. 2 Timothy 3:17 says, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
My, my, my, but doesn’t this perfectly describe our present-day world. People love themselves. You have to look out for No. 1. We hear blasphemy on a daily basis. Has there ever been a generation more disobedient to parents? People are truly pleasure mad. There are sports and other recreations taking place seven days a week. Women are every bit as lustful as men in these times of birth control and abortion to cover the consequences of their immorality.
Sociologists believe that the world is getting better. The Bible states that it is getting worse. Casual observation once again confirms the Bible. The condition of the world warns us that Jesus is coming soon!
The third call of warning that Jesus is coming soon is the concrete promises of the Lord. Revelation 22:7 says, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:12 says, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:20 says, “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Three times in the last chapter of the Bible is the promise that He is coming quickly. When the Bible says something once it is true. When God says something three times in one chapter, you had better believe that He is emphasizing it!
There are three clear calls of warning in this column today. Are you ready? First of all, ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your life today and be your Savior. He came the first time to die for your sins. Has there been a definite decision to let Him come in? Not are you baptized, or a church member, or a pretty good person, but have you ever been born again through the Spirit of God? Jesus said that you must be born again. Receive Him now before it is too late because hell is awful and eternity is a long time. Secondly, if you have Jesus as your Savior then you better be living for Him now. Time is running out. Two thousand years ago He said that He was coming quickly. How much longer can it be? You have three calls of warning — please act accordingly.
DAY OF THE LORD – A GREAT SHAKING
A thread is found running all the way through the Bible pointing to a climatic time in history when human life and the earth as we know it will be changed. In the book of Zephaniah, verse 2:3, it is signified that some shall be hid from the negative portion of that time. “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.”
What does it take to be hid? Seek the LORD, His fairness, righteousness and humility.
Isaiah makes references to that day. He states that there will be a great shaking in the land and some will be humbled. We find there are additional scriptures that make mention of this great shaking; some in reference to the shaking of the earth and others to the shaking of heaven. Jesus spoke of this great shaking when describing the end times. Whether this is a physical shaking or a great spiritual “shake up” or both is something to consider. One thing we do see is that there is going to be a shaking and we need to ask ourselves if we will be one that will be hid or humbled.
Scriptures describing the shaking:
In Isaiah
And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terrible the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terrible the earth.
(Isaiah 2:17-21)
Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. (Isaiah 13:13)
In Ezekiel
For in my Jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. (Ezekiel 38:19-20)
In Joel
The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:16)
In Haggai
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2:6-7)
In Matthew
(Jesus speaking) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. (Matthew 24:29)
In Mark
(Jesus speaking) And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. (Mark 13:25)
In Luke
(Jesus speaking) Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things, which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luke 21:26)
In Hebrews
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. (Hebrews 12:26)
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
The Bible speaks of a time to come when there will be a great shaking which will cause many to be humbled.
Our Father appreciates the fact that you are trying.
In these few verses Jesus has assured us that our prayer requests will be granted if we do certain things first. The reason that He will do whatever we ask in his name is so that our Father may be glorified. He pledges to grant what is asked to those who abide in him and in his word.
These words are spoken to all of us, not just the disciples, or priests or preachers. It is to those who “bring forth fruit”. Jesus summed it up for us when asked “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:27-29) Belief is considered a work.
Scripture:
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14)
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)