beside still waters

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Swirling about us are signs of the last days. The attitude of norm today is reminding me of the very sobering story of a band playing "Nearer My God To Thee" as the well-known unsinkable ship was sinking. Such a sense of casualness! At least the band knew they were going down. I think much of Christendom is on a lark, feet planted firmly on this old earth. I dare say that it is a small segment of people who could list five of the signs foretold in Scripture that will precede the coming of Christ.

I am stricken speechless at times as the news pops up on my screen. Oh my goodness! I say. Oh my goodness! This week: Israel at war, earthquakes all over the place, trusted government officials being found out, 134,000 children dying each day from starvation!

As long ago as the New Testament days people believed that the return of Christ was just around the corner. And I remember well that my wonderful prophecy-minded pastor from my youth believed that things were really pointing to the sound of the trumpet any day. His proofs were amazing and as he taught from Ezekiel and Daniel and Revelation and had us moving back and forth in our Bibles, so did we!

Television was just coming in back then and Pastor thought it was so cool that, even though God does not need modern technology, TV would make it possible for all to see what God said the whole world would see during the end-times saga. What a plan! I am amazed at how smart God is! (I think that all the time about communion...what a way to keep our Lord Jesus in mind in this crazy world and with the schedules we keep.) Our great God devised such a plan to keep Christians through the ages hopeful and working and faithful, while He, being longsuffering, is calling for people all around the globe to be saved.

So here we are today. And believe it or not, I hear Christians saying that we've always had earthquakes and famine; we just didn't have news coverage like we have today. You know, that intrigued me and I set out to disprove such an idea but in a sense, they were right. I checked eathquake history; it is pretty steady as she goes. Famines...always.

Yet here is the corker. If you go down the long list of signs, you'll find we've always had them, except for one in particular. Israel. Israel compassed about with armies. Even there you could say that since 1948 when they became a nation, they've been attacked again and again.

But today, every nation around them is poised to "wipe them off the map." Today, weapons unlike anything ever before are in place. If you hold up your hand and look at the your pinky fingernail and then look at the rest of your hand, that is about how Israel looks in relation to the Arab countries about them. Humanly speaking, it is ridiculously hopeless.

Jesus scolded the Pharisees for being able to tell the weather by the color of the sky but unable to recognize the signs from Scripture that explained who He was and what He was doing there. I want to share, as a layperson, what I know about prophecy and what I will still learn as a result of this blog with anyone who is interested.

I've changed the purpose of my blog. I'm concerned. Christians don't know about prophecy and that has a direct impact on how they live. Unsaved people don't know and that has a direct impact upon their eternity.

God speaks in certainty about Israel in the last days; but that does not in any way diminish the import of all the other signs. Over the next weeks I will tell you all I know about the following partial list:

• Israel
• Earthquakes
• Famine
• Pestilence
• Signs in the heavens
• As it was in the days of Sodom and Gommorah so shall it be in the last days.
• As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be in the last days.
• People shall be lovers of their own selves
• People shall be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God
• People shall be covetous
• People shall be proud
• People shall be blasphemers
• Children shall be disobedient to parents
• People shall be traitors
• People shall be heady
• People shall be highminded
• People shall be unthankful
• Evil men shall become worse and worse
• The old Roman Empire shall be restored (EU)
• Perilous times
• Coldness plus doctrinal failure in the church
• Wars and rumors of wars
• Kingdom against kingdom
• Nation again nation

There is more. I must talk of these things because I believe all is lost for those who are not ready. And for my fellow believers, I am stricken deeply with the verse that reads: And now children, abide in Him that we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. I literally shudder at the thought. It has driven me to mend my ways, reconcile with people, purify my thoughts and to watch for Him.

One more thing...none of the above has to happen before Christ comes for the believers...and we meet Him in the air! These are all signs of the times and signs of what will happen after we go home. Are you ready? Oh my goodness! Time to get serious while at the same time living joyfully. If you are not sure where you will spend eternity, please write a comment and tell me so. It is crucial!

Till next time.

Sharon Heldma
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