I believe the Church is having trouble with trouble. For example, consider all the debate surrounding the sequence of events of the rapture. (Daniel 12:1-3, Matthew 24:15-44, Luke 21:29-36, John 6:39-40, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, 1 Peter 1:3-5, Revelation 7:13-15, Revelation 20:4-6)
For some Christians, it’s become an obsession, even causing them to draw a line in the sand dividing themselves against other Christians based on how they interpret it, as if it’s somehow more important than anything else. I believe that kind of division is way out of whack and the symptom of a much bigger problem because it shows we’re having big trouble with the scriptural warnings of a time of great trouble coming upon the earth. We’ve allowed our own natural interest in self-preservation to cause us to yield to the fear of what might happen to us, resulting in a fixation on the rapture as the escape route, but self-preservation contradicts the very idea of the rapture, which is all about supernatural preservation.
Self-preservation always puts us at odds with the path God wants us to follow because He requires denial of ourselves to follow the way of the cross. Yes, the rapture gives us hope and encouragement, but self-preservation exalts it as an idol, as if it was our only hope. (Titus 2:13) Too much emphasis on it, like singing songs about flying away in the sweet bye and bye, can cause us to lose sight of the great victory that already belongs to us today.
Like it or not, we’re going to have to deal with trouble in this life. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
We don’t have to look very far to find lots of evidence of it all around us, but we don’t have to be troubled by it because He has overcome the world, so if we remain faithful to Him, we can live in victory. (Romans 8:35-37, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57) So, why not just believe and receive the victory He already won for us and stop looking for the exit?
How can we help anyone else when we’re so pre-occupied with saving our own life? The only way we’re going to be effective in helping others is by laying down our life, having no regard for what happens to us. Self-preservation causes us to shrink back in fear, so it prevents us from pressing forward into doing whatever God puts in our heart to do.
And if we’re already struggling to deal with the trouble around us today, how will we stand in faith when greater trouble comes. It’s going to get much more intense, even causing men’s hearts to fail from fear of what’s coming upon the earth. (Luke 21:26) Jesus warned a time of unprecedented trouble is coming, but even before those days arrive, He warned all sorts of trouble would come, including wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, which He described as the beginning of sorrows. Yet He instructed us, “See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (Matthew 24:6-8 and 24:21)
Like all Bible prophecies, their fulfillment must come to pass and cannot be avoided, but even though trouble is coming, we don’t have to be troubled by it. To that end, the scriptures are our best friend because they give us the wisdom and understanding we need, but this goes way beyond us.
Most all of us have loved ones who are away from God, including sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, parents, nephews and nieces. When these times of trouble come, they will be seeking answers more than ever before, setting aside their distractions, so we will finally have their undivided attention, which will be a great opportunity for us to explain the scriptures in ways they can understand. But for that to happen, we must first understand it ourselves. Our own lack of knowledge not only puts our lives in danger, but also theirs. As Hosea prophetically warned, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)
Author: James Bailey
James Bailey is a blogger, business owner, husband and father of two grown children. In 1982, he surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. In 2012, he founded Z3news.com to broadcast the message of salvation by reporting end time news before it happens.
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This is so true. It has really bothered me about the trouble. I’ve pulled back and prayed about it. I had a dream where I was behind the finish line watching what looked like a walking stick roughly carved out of wood coming at me. The end of it was tearing up the dirt in the ground as it came toward the finish line so fast. About a quarter inch before it got to the checkered mark on the ground before me, it abruptly stopped. I heard ‘not yet’. I knew we have to finish the race before us but the end is not yet.
So true James…. proud debating arguing & division ( issues of the heart).are not of the Father. Father resists the proud & gives grace to the humble.. @ the end of time we were warned in the scriptures great trouble would come & satan appears as an angel of light to deceive the elect if it were [possible.
Well said James, I am an Australian Christian and run Australian Christian bible study and end times phenomena on facebook. We constantly write and warn believers around the world to prepare for the coming future events. Preparing hearts and minds for perrilous times may not be a popular teaching but it is a neccessary one. Unfortunately much of the Christian body has fallen into what I call ‘Christianese’ and will not be prepared. This is the last church age and its luke warm and consumed with consumerism, pride, status and individualism and definitiley not a worthy bride as yet of our beloved Saviour. Interestingly, I am seeing believers from around the world whose countries are suffering reaching out for knowledge and understanding and comfort. Keep ministering the word of God, believers are listening.
Hi Ros, what’s your Facebook page called? Can anyone get notifications?
Brilliant article. I can’t decide on the Rapture or not. It’s not the min thing. The main thing is to seek to share the gospel.
Amen to that. We have today and we should live our life as such. Tomorrow has enough trouble of its own and we might on be here to be concerned if we are going to even be here for the rapture so live for Christ today. God will take care of the rest. He is in control.
You hit it on the nail James. I realize my desire for self preservation is the reason I have not been able to clearly understand those hard places in the book of Revelation. But now that the birth pangs seem to have begun, I am amazed at how our psyches have been able to adapt. Yes, HE is providing us abundant grace for these times of trouble. I am both surprised and grateful at not being afraid.
Agreed, good to hear the truth keep up the good work brother