You Can't Stop the Labor

 

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”  1 Thessalonians 5:1-3  NKJV

Over the years I have enjoyed listening to different teachers talk about Jesus’ decision to refer to the end of the age by comparing it to a woman in labor.  My thoughts on that have evolved over time, especially considering how often I have had the opportunity to be involved in labor with three daughters and seven grandchildren.  While each journey has been unique and different, I have observed one constant with all which I believe might well be one of the biggest reasons Jesus chose to use a woman in labor as an illustration.  Simply put, once labor starts, there is no stopping it.

The following article I want to share with you today contains an important message that I feel many, if not most, are hesitant to share in these times we find the Church experiencing right now.  In my opinion, I believe not only are these words appropriate, but accurate as well and it is my strong feeling that the Church as a whole should take note of them.

 

Revival or Rapture?

By Jonathan Brentner

 

Is this it? Are we at the end of human history as know it? Is the Rapture next on God’s prophetic calendar? Or are we about to see a worldwide revival that will halt the world’s seemingly unstoppable path to the kingdom of the antichrist?

A song written and sung by Kari Jobe, Amen (Simple Gospel), affirms the later reality. The song contains these lyrics that point to the church as our hope in this current age:

“The church will arise / With power and love / Our cities will know / The glory of God / The future is bright / There's nothing to fear / Revival is now / The Kingdom is here”

The words to Jobe’s song sound wonderful, but does the Bible teach that the church will triumph over the current forces of darkness actively at work everywhere we look? No, it does not. Nor does it tell us that the future will be “bright” for planet earth apart from the return of Jesus. I am not sure what Kari Jobe believes about the future, but her words in this instance do not match what God’s Word says about what lies ahead.

I believe the world has passed the point of no return; the coming day of the Lord will soon sweep over the earth and forever change life on the planet. Scripture teaches that God’s wrath is on its way to a Christ-rejecting world.

As believers, we have cause for much optimism, but such an expectation lies exclusively in Jesus’ imminent return for His church. Our hope rests in our departure from this world, which may happen very soon.

Yes, many have turned to Jesus as a result of the media-driven fear that resulted from the COVID-19 virus. We hear about pockets of revival in many places. Millions of Muslims have turned to Christ in past two decades.

However, because of the following considerations, I believe the Rapture of the church represents the only real hope in our day.

The Converging of a Multitude of Signs

The main characteristic of today that sets it apart from any other time is the convergence of a multitude of prophetic signs found in the Bible.

Yes, the world wars of the past century were terrible and the death toll from the communist regimes exceeded one hundred million. However, back then the stage was not set for the antichrist as it is today.

Consider how the following conditions make today much different:

1. Israel is flourishing as a nation.
2. Israel is far along in its planning and preparation for the construction of the third temple.
3. The technology that makes the mark of the beast possible has only emerged during the past five years.
4. The globalists control many of the world governments.
5. Lawlessness and widespread deception, marks of the coming Tribulation period, are already widespread across the earth and growing at an alarming rate.
6. The world rests on the edge of all the conditions described in Revelation 6:1-8.

I could list several more as I did in a recent post, A Dozen Prophetic Signs that Tell Us We Live on the Edge of Eternity. Today is qualitatively different than any other period of history; the current prophetic signs of the Bible reveal the closeness of the seven-year tribulation.

The Globalists Already Control Many Nations

Klaus Schwab, the founder and head of the World Economic Forum, is one of many leaders who have been pushing for a one world government during the past several decades. His efforts have come to the forefront since the COVID-19 virus swept over the earth.

The Great Reset championed by the WEF is nothing less than a worldwide Marxist government that will enslave the people of the world. The virus and mRNA injections have become the backdrop for many nations imposing harsh restrictions on the populace. Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and many other countries have already imposed draconian restrictions on people that have all the earmarks of the coming Tribulation as described in the book of Revelation.

In America, Marxist governors and mayors are already seeking to restrict all public functions to the vaccinated.

The globalists already control much of the free world today and they will only intensify their stranglehold on all those under their control. For more on this, please see my previous post, Transhumanism and the Nearness of the Tribulation.

It’s not a denial of God’s redeeming power that leads me to believe we live in the last days of human history; no, it’s a belief in what God’s Word says about the last days that drives me to that conclusion.

The Resistance Will Fail

Like many of you, I have seen the tens of thousands marching in the streets across the world in protest of the “vaccine” mandates. In the United States, the resistance to the COVID-19 injections grows steadily as more and more evidence points to their ineffectiveness and severely harmful affect on those injected with them.

However, because of the time in which we live and the control that the globalists already have, I believe that the worldwide opposition to the mandates will eventually fail.

Initially, the news that the U.S. Supreme Court had blocked Biden’s vaccine mandate for large businesses encouraged me. However, the fact that they did not extend the same protection to healthcare personnel troubles me. Does that not suggest that they made their initial ruling on something other than individual freedom? Why should one group be exempt from these draconian measures while others suffer great harm from them?

Leo Hohmann, in his blog post Brace yourself for Impact: Luciferian elite launch ‘Great Collapse’ of Western civilization, wrote the following:

“It’s all designed to happen by very powerful entities that operate at a level above our elected political leaders. The decisions that are leading to the collapse are being made by those buying into Klaus Schwab’s vision as put forth by the World Economic Forum and allied entities such as the United Nations, the Gates, Rockefeller, Soros and Ford foundations, and the corporate power elites on the interlocking boards of directors at Blackrock, Vanguard, State Street and Fidelity. Those four financial investment houses own a controlling share of almost every one of the world’s largest corporations, including the largest banks.”[i]

The multitude of prophetic signs combined with the stranglehold that the globalists already have on the governments and world commerce tell me that the resistance we see will fail. To date, the protests have made no impact whatsoever in changing the policies of the nations where they have occurred.

It’s Too Late for America

Noticeably missing from pages of biblical prophecy is any mention of the United States. Something must happen to remove America from its current position of power and influence in the world, and indeed it’s already happening.

Please know that I love my country and cherish the freedoms and protections it has afforded me during my life. However, the powers that control the U.S. are leading us down a dark path from which there will be no return. We are divided as never before from a self-inflicted wound that’s incurable.

I believe God’s judgment is already here and will only get worse in the coming months. Even if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade later this year, it will be far too late to make a lasting impact. The wicked scourge of abortion will continue unabated in many places.

Unless we put an immediate, total, and abrupt end to barbaric practice of abortion and the resulting infanticide, we will remain on the path of God’s judgment. I believe the destruction of the U.S. will happen soon after the Rapture, but the signs of America’s demise will continue to worsen until then.

Kari Jobe’s song, Amen (Simple Gospel), represents a false optimism that’s not found in Scripture nor does exist anywhere in our current world.

The church will not arise victorious and make the glory of God known in our cities. How can anyone expect such a result with the church in its current divided and apostate condition? Most churches today preach a diluted or false Gospel that renders them powerless to affect lifegiving changes in their cities. Many of them advocate the very sins tearing apart the fabric of our society. How can they be a light in the darkness?

I know of many pastors and teachers that advocate the church as our hope. I have heard this over and over from those with a wide variety of beliefs, even from those who say they believe the Bible.

However, the future only holds joy and wonder because of Christ. He’s coming soon to take us up to heaven. We have a glorious future because of Jesus.

It’s not just a matter of revival versus the Rapture; it’s that of trusting the only One with power to change the world in which we live.

Jesus is the One that will bring about the glorious time we know as the Millennium. Those that believe the church will bring about such a restoration either do not know, believe, or understand Scripture.

 

 

[i] Leo Hohmann, Brace yourself for Impact: Luciferian elite launch ‘Great Collapse’ of Western civilization, at: https://leohohmann.com/2022/01/15/brace-yourself-for-impact-luciferian-elite-launch-great-collapse-of-western-civilization/#more-8723

 

https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/https/jonathan-brentner-g8fgsquarespacecom/config/2022/1/17/revival-or-rapture

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What God Wants

 

“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. “It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest  coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”  Mark 13:33-37  NKJV

If many of you are like me, you scour the internet looking for sites that are biblically grounded and provide information, teaching, and lately most of all, encouragement for living in the times we find ourselves in.  While most of us attempt to put on a brave front, the reality is many of us, myself included, are more than a little apprehensive about what the future holds.  Although our government has attempted to sell us on the idea that their desire is to bring us all together, it has become painfully obvious that we are more divided as a country than we have ever been.

The truth is, what we see happening in the world today should come as no surprise to those familiar with Jesus’ teaching about what to expect before He returns.  This is, I believe, the whole point of the passage from Mark.  If we as a body obey our Lord’s command to watch, His return for us and the end of the Church age should by all accounts be as plain as day.  While we may not know exactly what hour of the day He will appear, it certainly seems that Jesus tells us that if we watch for the signs, not only will we recognize the times, but we will see Him coming as well.

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”  Matthew 24:44  NKJV

My personal feelings about these passages and the subject of watching, is colored not only by what Jesus says He wants from us, but also what He doesn’t want.  What He doesn’t want is to catch us sleeping rather than watching and waiting in expectation of His appearing. In the context of the rapture, I feel rather confident that those who the Lord describes as sleeping are those who choose to ignore the events occurring right now and somehow believe that things are somehow going to return to some sense of normal rather than continuing down the path we have been on the past couple of years.

“knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”  2 Peter 3:3-4  NKJV

One of my favorite subjects, and lately one which I find myself discussing more often than ever, is the fact of just how delusional people will get as Jesus’ return draws near.  Now at first that might sound a little harsh but I ask you, with all the signs and changes to our world Jesus’ tells us will occur before He returns, how could anybody possibly believe everything is “continuing” as normal? Yet here we find ourselves at a time when that is exactly what we see.  The key might be found if you consider replacing the word “lusts” with “desires”.  In that regard, people will be consumed with a desire to return to normal rather than looking forward to our Lord’s return.

When that thought first crossed my mind, and all too often since, I find it so incredibly hard to believe that there are those who would rather return to normal that leave this world for the everlasting joy we are promised awaits us in the next.  On the other hand, I feel so blessed to witness a massive shift in the collective thinking within the body of Christ as believers come to the realization of just how close we are to going home.  I can’t help but wonder what Jesus feels about this as well considering all he has told us about watching for His return.  To see so many begin to focus on “watching” as He instructed us to do must bring Him joy knowing we are anticipating the time when He calls us home.

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.”  Matthew 24:45-46  NKJV

What is the “food” wise and faithful servants are supposed to be serving?  There is no doubt in my mind we are to be encouraging others with the knowledge of just how close we are to the rapture of the Church.  The phrase “due season” in the Greek is the word “kairos” which is translated to mean; “a fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for”.  Now is it just me or does that not sound like the perfect description of the times we find ourselves in today? By all accounts, the world has arrived at a tipping point by the current “crisis” and the stage seems set for someone to come on the scene and seek to establish himself as the savior of the world.

With all this said, the question I believe we as believers should be asking ourselves is just exactly does God want from us?  All I can do today is share with you what I believe God is telling me from these passages from scripture.

One. Watch for His return.  Watching is an active pursuit where one is looking diligently in anticipation of our Lord’s arrival.  It is not enough to simply be “aware” the time might be near, but to be consumed with watching for that first glimpse of His coming and our departure.

Two. Be awake.  Have you ever dozed off and been suddenly awakened by someone standing next to you?  It is most often startling and not a little unsettling.  Jesus makes the point that when He returns, some will in fact be sleeping and taken unaware.  God wants us awake and watching when He returns to take us home.

Three. God wants us to be feeding His sheep.  If I have noticed anything in the past couple of years it’s the fact that now more than ever it would appear that the majority of the body recognizes our time is near.  We are in the “season” of Christ’s return and we who are aware should be telling those around us of what we see.  God’s desire is for us all to be found as wise and faithful servants when He returns.

The most important decision we need to make, however, is to accept the gift of God to us which is salvation through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.  If you have never made the decision to accept that free gift I encourage you to do so today.  Simply ask God to forgive you of your sin based on your belief that Jesus died to pay the price for your sin, and turn over control of your life to Him.  You can do that right now by praying a prayer just like this one;

 

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen."

 

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Finding Comfort

"For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing."   1Thessalonians 5:9-11  NKJV

Have you ever needed a good hug?  Although not a hugger by nature, as a result of having a wife and three daughters I can assure you I have been converted.  The comfort and reassurance we feel as a result of knowing someone cares about whatever we might be experiencing is something we not only want, but often search for in our time of need.  Although in this life there are many reasons we might need comfort, I think it is becoming more and more obvious as we see what direction this world is heading that many of us need the reassurance that we will be spared the judgment we know is coming.

It would seem from reading Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonica that the believers there were in need of comfort and reassurance just as many of us might be today.  This church was young, having been founded by Paul after his release from prison in Philippi, and like many churches, was beginning to suffer persecution by unbelievers.  Along with that came pressure to conform to the pagan sexual beliefs that were prevalent in the city. The new believers in Thessalonica stood out from the majority because of their decision to life a life of purity according to God’s Word.  Yet from the tone of the letter, it would appear that Paul was concerned that they needed some comfort and reassurance to remain faithful to what they had been taught.

"For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory."       1Thessalonians 2:9-12  NKJV

The first thing Paul does is remind the believers at Thessalonica of how he comforted them while he was there much like a father comforting his own children.  Just as a child naturally runs to his parents for comfort, we too as believers will find our comfort from our heavenly Father.  Yet what is important about what Paul is trying to say can be found in verse eleven where he tells us that it is our responsibility to comfort others just as we are comforted by our Father.  So often we are only concerned with our own comfort while not realizing that many believers around us are suffering from the same anxiety as a result of the times we are living in and are in need of comfort as well.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."   2Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV

Obviously what Paul makes clear is that the source of our comfort comes from God the Father, and we are responsible to pass that comfort along to others around us who are also in need.  Yet now that we know the source of our comfort, and the responsibility which comes with it, what do we know about the nature of that comfort?  As believers, is there a certain type of reassurance which we can use which we find is more effective than the sort of comfort the world might have to offer?  Again Paul comes to our rescue by telling the Thessalonians, and us as well, exactly what we need to hear to find comfort in the difficult times we find ourselves living in today.

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."    1Thessalonians 4:16-18 NKJV

Does the knowledge that you will spend eternity with God the Father in Heaven give you comfort?  Have you ever considered that the key to finding comfort in this world is to focus on the destination rather than the journey? I recall taking a trip with my daughters one time where we flew to Southern California to visit my family, along with plans to take in all of the attractions we could in one week’s time.  Unfortunately the flight itself was an adventure by virtue of turbulence which none of them found exciting to say the least.  As they looked to me for comfort, I tried my best to deal with their anxiety by focusing on what we were going to do when we got there, and the fun we were going to have spending all of Dad’s money.  Guess what?  It worked!

Are you looking forward to the rapture of the Church?  Have you given thought to what life with Jesus will be like?  Do you see the signs all around us and believe it is near?  Are you watching for His return and giving comfort to others by sharing the news of His coming for us?  God understands our need for comfort, so He has given us signs to watch for so we will know the time is near.  He has given us His Word, with the promise of our deliverance from our present troubles as well as a description of what we can look forward to when we get to our final destination. To me, this is the comforting hug I so often need from my Heavenly Father.

This is where I find my comfort in these distressing times, and I hope by sharing these words with you that you will also find comfort.  If you have never made the decision to accept the salvation offered by the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I suggest you do that today so you too can experience the comfort that comes from knowing you will spend eternity with our Father in Heaven.  Then pass along to others the comfort which comes from knowing He is coming soon to take us home.

"This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life."           Psalms 119:50 NKJV

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Why Are We Still Here?

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— "lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. "And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"       Mark 13:32-37 NKJV  

From the many e-mails I have received concerning the timing of the rapture, and the expectation that it would occur this past year, it follows that many are now experiencing some level of disappointment that we as a body of believers are still here on earth. While I certainly can understand that, and share the desire to be with my Father in Heaven, my level of disappointment might not be as great as some. Why is that? Simply because I think my interpretation of “watching” for the Lord's return may differ from that of others.  

Many have asked me for my thoughts and opinions on those who attempt to predict a date for the rapture based on their particular brand of scholarship, and their interpretation of certain scriptures. Understand that I have no objection to anyone doing what they feel they are being led by the Lord to do, yet most of those whose work I am familiar with share one thing in common and that is quoting God's commandment to “watch” as one of their reasons for attempting to set a date for His return.

In this passage we find two distinct words for watch. The first is agrypneō, a verb meaning, 1) to be sleepless, keep awake, watch, 2) to be circumspect, attentive, ready. The second is grēgoreō, also a verb meaning, 1) to watch, 2) metaph. give strict attention to, be cautious, active; a) to take heed lest through remission and indolence some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one.

It may seem to be an obvious conclusion that here we simply find we are being told to not “sleep” but be awake and watching so we are not taken by surprise when our Lord returns for us. This is, of course, a totally different thing than trying to predict when we think He might appear. Although many might feel trying to figure out when the rapture might occur is a “way” of watching, I would respectfully suggest it is not.

The question then arises, what are we supposed to do while we wait? Again I believe the answer to that is obvious. A passage in scripture often used in relation to the timing of the rapture is this;

"For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in."
Romans 11:25 NKJV

Now if in fact God has a certain number of believers He is waiting for to become members of the Body before He calls for the rapture of the Church, would it then follow that our time would be better spent in trying to share the Gospel with an unbelieving world rather than trying to figure out dates? Again, I have no quarrel with those who choose to pursue that path, but I would caution those same brothers and sisters not to make it their priority, but to make evangelism the main focus of their efforts.

It is no wonder we find it difficult to wait upon the Lord considering the vast amount of signs we see occurring around us on a daily basis. The events we have witnessed in the past two years have certainly caused many in the body to take note. Yet that is exactly what is expected of us as believers, so I think it important that we should be looking for some of the reasons God asks this of us. I would like to share just three ideas I have about why we as believers find ourselves in this situation right now.

One: We are being prepared to fully appreciate eternity with our Lord.

"For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,"   2 Corinthians 4:17 NASB

The more we must endure down here increases the joy we will find when we finally experience the glory of life with God in the place He has prepared for us. The longer the wait, the stronger the anticipation and the greater the appreciation.

Two: We are being strengthened with power from above which allows us to complete the tasks He has set for us here.

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint."   Isaiah 40:31 KJV

We know what is expected of us here on this earth, and it should come as no surprise that the opportunities to share our faith will increase dramatically as the end draws near. In a way, you could say this is our time to shine, and God has promised to give us the strength necessary to succeed.

Three: We are to be living examples of His faithfulness.

"For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations."   Psalms 100:5 KJV

I have three daughters who are grown and living on their own now, and one of the lessons about life that I often have an opportunity to share with them is God's faithfulness. Of course I have to explain to them it's easier for me because I am a little older than they are, but having experienced more examples of God's faithfulness makes it easier to accept whatever situation I find myself in. I simply remind them of the situations in their past when they were in agony about waiting for something, yet God always came through. In these situations God demonstrates His faithfulness to us, and also through us so others can see.

At times, waiting can be agony. I won't deny that and neither will you. I am so ready for Jesus to return, but He isn't here yet and we are being asked to wait a little longer. How long? I have no idea, but it certainly doesn't look like it will be much longer until the labor pains will be over and we will be delivered to glory with Him, and the world to tribulation. There are reasons to making us wait. Look to God for strength, and be busy making the most of the opportunities we have in the short time we have left.

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