IN WHAT TIME ARE WE IN?
Part I
New Year and a New series!
Today I wanted to draw your attention to a critical issue to which 2021 will cause Christians to confront. This critical issue can be illustrated in one question.
“In what time are we in?”
This is a surprisingly difficult question to answer if you do not have a solid foundation in the Bible. Without such a foundation, you might be tempted to believe what some so called pastors are saying, or even what the media is saying. If you listened to the world, you would be led astray from what the Word of God has to say. This is why we need to be like the Christians in Berea, “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examine the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11. 2020 shocked the Christian world by revealing how few in the Church are actually studying the Word of God. Many Bible scholars claimed the church had entered into the seven years of Tribulation. Others claimed the seal judgements had been opened early. Many of these scholars are the same ones who have claimed that the Kingdom needed to come prior to Jesus Christ coming back. They drift like leaves in the wind with their theories and personal agenda’s. Some prophesied that Christ gave them revelation, which ironically matched up with the headlines from the day prior and as the news changed, so did what God “told” them. Needless to say, 2020 was the year the Church was shown to not be Spiritually ready for what is coming. It was one reason why Mill House Ministries was started. We wanted to help believers as in Titus 2:11-15.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds. 15 These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. No one is to disregard you.”
As we see 2021 beginning, I believe it will bring about more speculation that we are in the Tribulation and dread by those who are not solid in their Biblical knowledge. Let me be crystal clear, I am not saying that we are not close. The Rapture (which we will be discussing) is imminent, but the signs of the Tribulation are right at our door. Yet, as we start into a new year I find the all too familiar sense we need to understand the time we are in vs the time we are not in. This will drastically change our decision making process by knowing where we are in human history and where we stand with Jesus Christ. Our study is founded in two different passages which I will ask you to read over the next few weeks. Our first part will be 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and Revelation chapter 1. I believe I am being called to go even deeper with those who are willing, and thus will be assigning reading material in preparation for what we will be discussing in the coming weeks.
As we go through our passages, take time and see what God might be attempting to teach you. I wanted to keep this week shorter because of the depth we are going into next. Nevertheless, I do not want to leave you empty handed. If there was anything I could tell you immediately about 2021 it is from the words of Peter in 1 Peter 5:6-9, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world.”
Remember, no matter where you are in the world, no matter the current issues or struggles, we have a God who is ever-present and able to help us. He is present, but so is the enemy, wishing to attack and make us stumble. So as we move into 2021, keep what Peter says in mind, humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, allow Him to exalt us in His timing, and cast all anxiety onto Him who can handle it. We do this BECAUSE GOD CARES FOR US! So let us get the dust off of our Bibles and get ready for one exciting year.
If you haven’t yet done so, feel free to subscribe to Mill House Ministries. It is not only free, but unlocks a whole bunch of extra content to help you stay connected and get more out of what we are trying to do here with the Ministry. I will end on this, during this next week while you are reading 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and Revelation chapter 1, I would encourage you to also pray that the Lord will show you what you need to see and I would ask you to pray for us here at Mill House Ministries.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,
JL