Much of what I am reading in the Bible these days has to do with Jesus speaking about the end times. He speaks about what the general conditions will be that lead up to and then are a part of the end of times as we know them. In the Book of the Revelation, John receives from Jesus Christ the things to write. This book provides an overview of the end times including judgements and eternal changes that will occur.
In a recent blog entitled "Change in Direction", I said-
You may have read or heard this recently from a pastor but here is a thought to ponder. I believe this as this is how I interpret Scripture as to the end times. Some might say this is my dispensational position. You might differ and that is fine but for the sake of this blog today think in this way. If Jesus comes back today for His bride the church, the Great Tribulation begins and it will last 7 years. Then Christ returns and locks Satan away and Jesus establishes a 1,000-year reign. Satan is then released and a final battle seals Satan’s fate.
So again, these are Interesting Times but only as to what God's ultimate plan is for this world and mankind. Living today and observing what has and is occurring in this world certainly can affirm for us about the end of the world.
What is of greater importance for any person to consider is their individual life and how eternity will be experienced. The reason for that is that the decision about eternity has to be made now. I don't mean later today or on Sunday. I mean right now at this very moment.
Very few people think about death and certainly not about eternity. It is like when we were young, thinking that we were invulnerable and lived like we would always have time. As I get older, I know I recognize that unless Jesus comes back I will eventually pass away. It is the natural thing that happens to all of us. I would imagine our kids, their spouses, and our grandkids would prefer not to read or think about this, but regardless, it is a fact of life.
Now there is nothing in this that has anything to do with us. We are fine and as I mentioned previously I have had some tests and even today received a good report from one of my doctors. I am on some new medication, so we wait a couple of months and have another test to compare to the one last month. So our prayer has been that the meds will work and that all will be good. Of course, there is the beginning of the prayer for the Lord to heal, which either way "to God be the glory great things He has done".
Now I would be humbled if you would pray for me and Elaine. It means the world to us to know that those of you who read this blog are praying for me and us. If you can take a minute, would you go to ElbertNasworthy.com and on the home page scroll to the yellow Contact me Today button and send me an email. I look forward to seeing your email soon.
So as I write to you today, there are things that happened and will be happening that make these “Interesting Times” in which we live. In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks very specifically about the end times. It was a subject that the disciples and Jesus followers were asking.
As I noted earlier and have maintained throughout my ministry and writings, I believe that Scripture provides clarity as to a return by Jesus Christ to receive His bride the church. Then a second coming when He establishes His 1,000 year reign here on earth.
History tells the story of man from the Garden of Eden to today. There has been and will be until the 1,000 Reign a battle of good vs evil. It is going on right now. In 2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV Paul tells us-
In their case, the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Genesis 3:1-7 provides for us the events which led to the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,
3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
These events led to Adam abdicating the authority God has given him as to the Garden of Eden and the world. Since that day, man has lived in a fallen state. Only by the Grace of God, that is God’s riches at Christ expense, is man able to have the relationship God desired restored.
I hope you can agree with me that these are Interesting Times and for each of us there are varying ways in which we experience life. There are common issues we all face and are subject to the decisions of others. Yet, in the manner in which God has designed this world regardless of who we are or what we face we are assured that God has got this.
In God’s Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy
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