What is motivating the Muslims around the world and particularly in Iran and Iraq to cause violence, death, and destruction?A simple five-word explanation: The return of the Mahdi.He is the Muslim messiah who is supposed to return to earth possibly as soon as this March.Iran's Ahmadinejad is obsessed with the Mahdi. Iraq's cleric al-Sadr, having fled to Iran to avoid the surge, says, "America's primary purpose for the war is preventing the return of the Mahdi."
This is no small offense!It doesn't matter that the non-Muslim world thinks this is nonsense. It only matters that parts of the Islamic world will go to any length to hasten it.Thus, on earth we have a war of biblical proportions with Islamofascism.
Some Muslims I sense are anticipating the return of this fake messiah more than some Christians long for the return of the true Messiah.What is wrong with this picture?
Over a year ago Christianity Today ran a story I will never forget. It was titled, "Come, Lord Jesus, but Not Too Soon."You can read between the lines of the story. Some were saying, "I want to enjoy life here a bit longer"; I want to see my kids and grandkids grow up and get married"; "I'm just not ready to say 'good-bye' to this life quite yet"; or the classic, "People have been predicting the Lord's return for centuries, yet it has never happened," which is just another way of saying, "Those goofy date-setters spoiled it for me." I have always said, shame on the date-setters.
If Muslims can be revved up by their Mahdi's soon return, why are some Christians too earthly minded to care one whit about Jesus' return?He is the "blessed hope" of Titus 2:13. Or maybe they care, but earthly business for now comes first.
I am not painting with a broad brush. I am encouraged by the e-mails I get from people waiting, longing, and praying for His return!There is a special crown for all those who long for His appearing (2 Tim. 4:8).Many of you will have it but I would like to see all Christians get that crown.Yet, the majority remains apathetic and lukewarm, and Jesus does not say good things in Revelation about those who are lukewarm about anything, and most of all, His return.
Just watch some sports fans today.They are about out of their minds with enthusiasm. So are the Muslims about the Mahdi. But many Christians are out of their minds with earthly pleasures and even suggest that Jesus delay His return.
So the enemy is having a field day with Muslims getting them to believe a lie, and he is scoring big points with Christians to make them apathetic about the truth.
Don't be totally discouraged.The "last days" are compared to "the days of Noah."Nobody wanted to hear Noah's warnings either.They laughed and scoffed and ignored the thunder in the distance. Thus, such an atmosphere leading up to His return should be expected.In the Bible, the "signs of the times" are usually negative but that does NOT mean that we need to be!
For an out-of-this-world description of Heaven, listen to Dr. Randy Alcorn, one of last weekend's radio guests at this link http://www.olivetreeviews.org/radio/mp3/His new book is titled just that, "Heaven." What precedes that? The Millennium, which Dr. J. Randall Price explains in the hour preceding Alcorn.
Please save the dates of October 19-20 for "Understanding the Times 2007" in Minneapolis. Our guests include author Joel Rosenberg, prophecy scholar David Reagan, and cult/false teaching expert Dr. Ron Carlson.The basics in information are here http://www.olivetreeviews.org/conferences.shtmlWe will provide further details in the near future. This year we have rented the largest facility available, Grace Church, Eden Prairie, MN, a southwest suburb of Minneapolis.
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When it comes to the Blessed Hope, sadly, many Christians are like Lot's wife...almost reluctantly accepting the imminent return of Christ...with a deep longing for their earthly world.
Personally, I get excited about the Blessed Hope every time Islam mentions the Mahdi because I know that with a false messiah...whether the actual anti-christ or not...Christ's return is all the closer.
Come, Lord Jesus, come...Today is not soon enough! Click here to reply to this post
Re: Come, Lord Jesus, but Not Too Soon
Posted On: 02/22/07 12:07:30 PM
Age 52, NY
Jan,
I am never comfortable comparing those selfishly motivated to do evil with those being led by God's Spirit. A Christian sows & reaps, cults conquer & pillage. We receive quiet assurance from God as our reward, they take away an "ego-payoff" (forgive the psycho-babble please, but I do not know how else to say this) from seeing results from their wicked works. It is true that we have apostates naming the name of Christ, but they are not saved and MUST be confronted by the Gospel, not for their inaction. God wants their repentance not their activity.
To Age 62 NE: God chooses us, we simply surrender. Since God saves, we are on His time-clock, so our sense of urgency is tempered by our sense of His sovereignty. He will get the job done! Meanwhile we are graced to be "workers together with Him." (II Corinthians 6:1 & 2). It is a paradox but we can say "now is the time of salvation" without panic. Our job is to sow the Word, He brings the results!
To Age 25 WI: There is no conflcit with longing for Christ's immediate return and living today (see Titus 2: 11-14). The results of this perspective, however, is not "The Rapture" but holy living. This is the evidence that we are desiring to be with Him. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Come, Lord Jesus, but Not Too Soon
Posted On: 02/22/07 11:13:55 AM
Age 62, NE
"COME, LORD JESUS,...BUT NOT JUST YET."
This is my position on the matter. But not because There is anything in this world I am holding onto. I long for the time when all things will be made new. I long for His love filled kingdom. The reason I would say "not just yet" is because I have loved ones that don't know Jesus. My blissful joy in heaven would be in direct contrast with their freightful experience. I know that we all get to choose our own eternal destiny. I am praying that they will come to know Christ. Does anyone have any helpful or correcting thoughts on this matter? Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: Come, Lord Jesus, but Not Too Soon
Posted On: 02/22/07 05:03:39 PM
Age 53, NJ
I would like you to know that I too share your heart felt prayers for loved ones to be saved. But God does have a perfect plan for all of us. Be of good cheer and do not be afraid to rejoice in the Second Coming, it will be at just the right time. Don't let the enemy rob you of this. God knows all of man's hearts and He knows all of your family members and friends that you are concerned with. Just continue to pray for their salvation and leave your prayer requests and concerns at the feet of Jesus and continue to Rejoice in Seeing Him when He comes to take us. Surrender the burden of worrying-God hears your prayers. God Bless You for your diligence in praying for others. Come Quickly Lord Jesus~Maranatha Click here to reply to this post
Re: Come, Lord Jesus, but Not Too Soon
Posted On: 02/22/07 09:50:09 AM
Age 25, WI
I do want to disagree, at a minimum supplement, the interpretation of 'end times' here. I would be a young, evangelical, Christian who is straying from the end times camp. Christians often use verses like they use facts. They wield them, pull them out, and believe that those facts should be effective. But other people wield their own facts, and other Christians throw out their own verses. From my developing perspective, it seems like many evangelical Christians have 'rapturitis'. I compare it to the mentality that seniors, even most Christians, get when in high school. Senior year comes and students get what is called 'senioritis'. They're ready to 'get out of here' and move on with life. I've heard this mentality from older evangelical Christians. The significant amount of attention given to end times speak, including published products like the end times series, help promote end times speak. But I've also heard from a different crowd, that talks about the love of God for people. People are God's pride and joy. A verse: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth." Another: "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord...Happy, blessed is the man whose quiver if filled with them!" It seems the glory of God is people. How about New Testament? Jesus says "Do not hinder the little ones from coming to me." So, there seems a potential conflict here. How do you long for Christ's return, even pray to bring it to pass when at the same time hear that Christ's pride and joy, His glory, are those children who are born and come to admire His name and follow His voice? Attempting to think God's thoughts on this issue, the earth, after thousands of years, finally got its population up to where it is today, high enough to get humanists all in a flurry about population control, and now Christ is supposed to return. How about applying "Do not hinder the little children from coming to Me" here? There is an opportunity, in the next few generations, to populate Heaven, that has never existed before in the history of God's planet. I don't know how I can deny that that is God's perspective on it. Thousands, millions, of those He loves can get saved daily. From His perspective, I can sense excitement from Him, a thrilling feeling to know the amount of energy that is being poured out now. But I could always apply the analogy that nobody's going to hear His voice, like in the days of Noah. I don't know, seems different than Noah's day. We're on this end of Christ's work. The Holy Spirit is powerful and active. We've got the complete revelation, more powerful than any two-edged sword, etc., etc., etc. Seems like God is Love, and, like Paul, while longing to be with Christ, it's benefitial to stay here for a while to see others, unborn millions and billions get to hear the good news of Jesus Christ from me and my quiver. And whatever the Muslims do, fine, let them do it. They're just looking for what we call the Antichrist, or the spirit of antichrist anyway. Let's go start a church in the middle of Tehran, then.
Mike
PS I think we all believe that telling Jesus to wait so I can play Play Station 3 would be slightly idolatrous. I don't think agreeing with Jesus to wait for His return because 2 billion will be born in the next 20 years, and at current coversion rates tens of millions will go to Heaven if Jesus waits that long is materialistic. I actually think praying for His return right now, just when things are getting really exciting may be a little selfish. It's good for me, but bad for posterity. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: Come, Lord Jesus, but Not Too Soon
Posted On: 02/22/07 04:55:32 PM
Age 53, NJ
Response to Wisconsin Age 25 Posted 2/22/07
Excuse me for disagreeing with you, but you are using scripture in a disjointed fashion. Yes, children are a blessing, and no we should never prevent a child coming to Jesus, but at the same time we should be looking, anticipating His return with much joy. I have been saved since my early 20's and even then I longed for the Second Coming, so it has no bearing on the fact that I am now 53 (as you mention that it seems only the older Christians feel this way). I was once at work and heard a loud trumpt sound from outside our building and immediately stood up to be that much closer to be taken in the air. We should live with this wonderful expectation. The other point I'd like to mention is that it seems that you are doing God's planning of the population. God has a Divine Plan, (read some of the prophecies to get a climps-pick up where Israel becomes a nation in 1948 and go from there.) And no matter how many people are born now and need to get saved has no bearing on God's plan. If anything it sounds like you have a little bit of Morman doctrine in your thought pattern. Population is not the key, but your longing for an eternity dwelling with God in Heaven, giving Him the glory He deserves. I think you need to study the scriptures further and also learn to keep them in context, you will be richly blessed and come to pray Maranatha!! God bless you as you grow in the Lord. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: Come, Lord Jesus, but Not Too Soon
Posted On: 02/22/07 04:24:45 PM
Age 20, PA
I really like your reply and agree with it.
All I hear around me is "end times talk" and its made me quite paranoid. I believe that making people aware of things to come is very acceptable since Jesus said to be on the look out so you won't be left behind but i think that people are taking it to the extreme. It seems like everytime i click on a Christian news site or pick up a Christian news paper, thats all i hear. Jesus, God's son, said He Himself didn't even know when the end was coming but all these people are acting like they know.
I would love to see Christian sites promoting what you just said. This "is" the most perfect time to spread the gospel of Jesus since we have so many means to do it.
I'll admit that i've thought "Come, Lord Jesus, but Not Too Soon" as recently as this morning. I want time to have a chance to spread the Gospel and i will selfishly admit i do want a chance to get married, but i'm human. But i just remember that as its said in the Lord's prayer "They kingdom come, Thy "will" be done" that its God's world and His choice and who am I to say please don't do this, its not an great time for me. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: Re: Come, Lord Jesus, but Not Too Soon
Posted On: 02/24/07 02:36:31 AM
Age 61, TX
I'm glad you mentioned "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done." There are two points to be made of it: 1) Jesus was teaching all following generations to pray for the coming of the kingdom as our most important request 2) While God is sovereign, and will work all to the end He desires, (Thy will be done) presently He is allowing the freedom of the "prince of the world" namely, Satan, to run rampant. The reason all you hear from so many Christians is "end times talk" is because they realize where we are in Scripture, and the bible is "caught up"---there are no prophesies left to be fulfilled before the Rapture takes place. Mt. 24:32-34 says "Now, learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, YOU KNOW that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, YOU KNOW that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened." No one knows the hour or the date, but we have the promise of Jesus that WE WILL KNOW THE SEASON of His return---if we look for the signs. How could you know they were signs if you hadn't studied what the Bible has to say about it? Incidentally, in that passage the last season Jesus mentions is summer. Fall (harvest) comes next, but He didn't discuss that with us, His followers! If we were left behind, and we saw the confirming of a covenant (for peace), we would know that the Second Coming would occur in EXACTLY 7 years. That is only one Scriptural reason out of dozens that the Rapture happens first. Anyone left behind won't realize the 7 year schedule that covenant will start...Dan. 9:27. God has always had His called out chosen remnant. The families of Noah and Lot are examples. Those who are caught up to meet Him IN THE AIR will be the next chosen remnant. They will be meeting the loving BRIDEGROOM. After the tribulation at the Second Coming, Jesus will be coming back ON THE EARTH as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and JUDGE. Read Rev. chapter 19, and notice a select group who is wearing linen, clean and white. They're mentioned twice. If you are made paranoid by this, please stay in the Word with a more open mind to the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and pray for increased faith. I realize that especially younger people are less receptive to the pre-tribulation Rapture because they want to have a full life, kids, etc. And, we'd all like to plant more seed that allows the Holy Spirit to save more souls. And while we continue to evangelize, we're told to continually be looking for His return, and know that God has already predetermined when this will all unfold! Read Rom. 11:25. I don't mean you, but I'm weary of hearing that God is a God of love, and having the statement end there. Absolutely, God is a God of love, but to balance that in His perfection, God is also a God of JUDGMENT!!! I'm not someone who has just recently been caught up in end time position. I'm no more passionate about it now than I was 40 years ago, and I'm still on fire. If you have any questions, or I can help you in any way, please respond to this post. God bless you. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: Re: Re: Come, Lord Jesus, but Not Too Soon
Posted On: 03/02/07 10:34:21 AM
Age 54, PA
Yes and amen. I too have been looking and longing for the Lord's return for nearly a half century. I remember watching the sky and wondering if today were the day. I'm still waiting, but unlike many, I am still as sure and excited about His turn as ever.
Someone else mentioned hearing a trumpet and standing. I saw the northern lights (an awesome sight not seen in my neck of the woods very frequently). I got butterflies. Then, I sighed when the reality hit me. It lasted longer then a twinkling of an eye.
I also remember the desire to have a family. When a became a mother, I taught my daughters to watch, wait, and pray. Now, I am busily teaching my grandsons the same. Look up He may come today. We often say our farewells with the phrase, "I'll see you in a twinkling." just to encourage one another.
It is our hope, our assurance, and our strengthen. Yes, we need to continue in the work without ceasing. But the work is tideous without the certainty of His return. Paul says we are to comfort one another with these words (I Thess. 4:18). Read the entire fourth chapter of I Thess.
The person who gave the explanation of the second coming did a good job. We are but workers in the feild. We have no say in when the work is complete. I think the author of the article was trying to encourage us not become complacent as many have, but to be on fire with the knowledge that He is on His way and to work deligently until He tells us to rest. That gives us plenty of time to continue in the work. We need not worry so as to when, but trust that it will happen according God's plan. God bless and come Lord Jesus come.
See you in a twinling! Click here to reply to this post
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