In my last blog I explained why I believe we are living in the “End Times” and Jesus will return soon. The logical next question is: SO WHAT? How should that affect my life today? That depends on which of three groups of people you fall into.
If you know for sure that you have repented of your sins and received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then God considers you to be “righteous”. (You may not remember the time or date, but you remember making the decision and commitment.) You can take comfort and hope as you see the world move more into chaos as the Bible says it will. As Jan Markell says: “It looks like the world is falling apart, but actually it is falling into place.” You need to pursue God, His Word, and His purpose for your life in whatever situation He has placed you. Other things that will help you prepare for what is coming include: 1) Be an active member of a church that teaches the whole Bible, including a literal fulfillment of prophecy; 2) Develop sources of uncensored information to stay informed about world events; 3) Respectfully speak up for Biblical truth and values in your arenas of influence; and 4) Be prepared to be criticized and even persecuted for your Christian faith.
You should also have a sense of urgency and boldness about sharing the Gospel with family and friends – because your time to do so is running out. You might send them a copy of my book and leave a copy in plain sight in your home for someone to find after you’re taken in the Rapture. It is not another “Left Behind” book, but rather a “Leave Behind” book. I designed it to be a survival guide for people living during the Tribulation. Be encouraged, there is still hope for those left behind after Christ removes His Church from the earth. Millions will come to Christ during the Tribulation. They will literally experience hell on earth, but they will spend eternity in heaven.
The second group consists of those who believe they are Christians because they attend church regularly, live a moral lifestyle, and help those in need. Sadly, they have been deceived and are heading for eternity in hell. The Bible declares in many passages that the only way to be “righteous” before God is to acknowledge Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for your sins and receive Him as your Savior. If you are in this group, the most important and urgent thing you have to do is accept Christ as your Savior. You can find this discussed in my book in Chapter 11 or ask God to lead you to someone who will share His truth with you, but you don’t have to wait for that. Right now, you can sincerely ask God to forgive you for all your sins, accept Jesus’ death as payment for your sins, and receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord of your life. Having done so, you are now in the first category and should proceed as discussed above. It would be wise to talk to someone you know to be a mature Christian to learn more about your new life in Christ.
The third group consists of those who have rejected God’s offer of salvation through Christ’s death on the cross, or have never heard of it, or decided to consider it at a later time. If you are in this group, just know for certain that you are on a path that leads to spending eternity in torment in the lake of fire. God allows every person to decide whether they will spend eternity in heaven with Him or in hell with Satan. However, we must make our choice before we die. No matter what you have done in your life, God’s offer of forgiveness through Jesus Christ is always available and sufficient. God says that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. His desire is for all to repent and receive eternal life. (Ezekiel 18:23; 2 Peter 3:9) It’s your choice – CHOOSE WISELY.
If you decide to remain in the third group, watch for two prophetic events to occur: 1) Millions of people all over the earth disappear in one moment of time, or 2) A group of nations led by Russia and Iran invade Israel, and God Himself destroys their armies. If either of these events happen, you will know for sure that all of the Biblical prophecies are true and will take place soon. That will be the time to immediately repent and receive Jesus as your Savior. That will ensure that you will spend eternity with Him in heaven, but you may experience hell on earth first.
Next blog: Which prophetic event will likely come next?