(By Rex Mitchell) Beloved, we’re facing the most troublous time in human history, so we all need to be prepared. And if the events Jesus prophesied—that would immediately precede his second coming—doesn’t “try” your faith, nothing will.
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the FIERY TRIAL which is to TRY YOU, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14If ye be REPROACHED for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:12-14
Christ’s Matthew 24 prophecy
In Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, Jesus warned us about the days that lie just ahead of us. So let us read these passages thoughtfully.
“For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Matthew 24:21
Some of these signs in Matthew 24 have been fulfilled, others are being fulfilled, while others still are just ahead of us. And brethren, we WILL have to endure the Great Tribulation, we will NOT be raptured out of here beforehand, as the false prophets have been telling us for decades.
“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in WHITE ROBES? and whence came they? 14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which CAME OUT of GREAT TRIBULATION, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” Revelation 7:13-15
False Christ’s abound
“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man DECEIVE you. 5For MANY shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:5-6
At least 35 men in history have claimed to be Jesus reincarnated: and 30 of them in the past 200 years. One of the latest being Alan John Miller from Queensland, Australia. He professes to be Jesus returned, and has gathered thousands of deceived followers. Obviously, Miller and his followers haven’t read, or believed, what Jesus said in Matthew 24: 27-31. Particularly, this verse;
“For as the LIGHTNING cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the COMING of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:27
Now I haven’t seen this worldwide “lightning” sign, have you? Nor have I seen the whole world incinerated, which is prophesied to occur at the Day of the Lord—Christ’s return.
“For, behold, the DAY cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall BURN THEM UP, saith the LORD of hosts…they shall be ASHES under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 4:1-3
So, if these prophesied events are yet to happen, Jesus hasn’t returned. Don’t believe the lies of the deceivers.
Wars and rumours of wars
“And ye shall hear of WARS and RUMOURS OF WARS: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:” Matthew 24:6-7
Humanity has been at war for the past 6,000 years, killing millions of souls. However, the war that is to come—World War Three—will kill one third of humanity: that’s in excess of 2.7 billion souls.
“And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the THIRD part of men.” Revelation 9:15
Famines, pestilences and earthquakes
“And there shall be FAMINES, and PESTILENCES [fatal pandemics, epidemic diseases], and EARTHQUAKES, in divers places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew 24:7-8
In the past 50 years, as immorality increases, and the world wanders further away from God, we’ve seen a rapid increase in famines, pestilences, pandemics and earthquakes. In the last 10 years, the number of earthquakes worldwide, have skyrocketed, as has their severity. That’s exactly what Jesus said would precede his return.
Persecution of Christians
“Then shall they deliver you up to be AFFLICTED, and shall KILL you: and ye shall be HATED of all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” Matthew 24:9-10
With the soon coming appearance of the Antichrist, and his One World Government, persecution of Christians will begin in earnest.
False prophets abound
“And many FALSE PROPHETS shall rise, and shall DECEIVE MANY. 12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13But he that shall ENDURE unto the END, the same shall be SAVED. ” Matthew 11-13
Today, Christian churches, and so-called Christian TV, are saturated with false prophets and false teachers; just as Jesus warned us about. The END of all things is upon us brethren.
The gospel preached to the world
“And this GOSPEL of the KINGDOM shall be preached in ALL THE WORLD for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the END come.” Matthew 24:14
We’re living in the only age in history when this prophecy could be fulfilled. Before the invention of mobile phones, digital devices and the Internet, God’s two witnesses could NOT preach instantaneously from Jerusalem to the whole world. But now they can! And I believe the two witnesses are alive today, awaiting the Lord’s command to commence their three-and-a-half years of prophesying (Revelation 11:3-13).
Christ’s fiery return is upon us
“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28For wheresoever the carcase [corpse] is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29Immediately AFTER the TRIBULATION of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:27-31
Mankind has always TRIED or PURIFIED gold in fires. This process removes dross from the metal, and the gold that remains is perfect and spotless. Likewise, God “tries,” purifies and proves his elect.
“That the TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9Receiving the end of your faith, even the SALVATION of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:7-9