In Matthew 24, Jesus tells HIS disciples:
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24: 4-8 NKJV) {emphasis added}
The month of February began with the declaration we have been looking forward to hearing that the pandemic is over (or at least it will be officially over on May 11, 2023) as declared by the White House on January 30, 2023! Even though it was nice to hear this news, it was a harsh reminder of all who have lost their lives throughout the pandemic along with the realization that COVID will still be with us in some form throughout the months ahead.
A few days after that announcement, we received news that the first of a series of earthquakes had struck Turkey and Syria. Throughout the month, we have come to learn that as a result of all of these earthquakes, sadly over 40,000 people lost their lives.
In February, we also saw a further decline in the financial markets, with the S&P 500 down 2.61%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 4.19% and the S&P MidCap 400 down 1.95% for the month. Also during the month, the price of GOLD dropped from ~$1,953 per ounce down to ~$1,825 per ounce, an almost 6.5% drop.
February also saw continued food shortages, most notably was the highlight of the egg shortage! That coupled with higher fuel prices and an inflation rate for February expected to exceed 7% makes me think that pretty much every area of our lives is being “SHAKEN”. Think about it, pretty much every area of our lives is being “SHAKEN” right before our very eyes! There is certainly a “whole lot of shaking going on” (to quote a famous song). Just in the month of February 2023 alone, the daily news has told us about “Famines, Pestilences and Earthquakes in various places”! The good news is that none of this should surprise us, because JESUS told us that these things would occur!
People are once again asking “is this the end?”, “are we in the tribulation?”, "is this the end of the world?". The short answer is a resounding, NO….NOT YET, but it is getting closer by the moment!
The convergence of all the these events occurring so closely together let’s us know that the time of HIS return is getting closer! The verse above from Matthew 24 uses the phrase, “the beginning of sorrows” in verse 8, however another translation (NASB) states it as, “but all these are merely the beginning of the birth pangs”. Much like the frequency of contractions which occur with a greater strength and frequency as the time for the birth of a baby comes to be, so we should expect these signs to occur with greater frequency and greater strength as we approach the time of HIS return!
The scary thing is that what we saw during the last few weeks is nothing compared to what will occur during the Tribulation. The book of Revelation describes 21 judgements which include multiple famines, pestilences and severe earthquakes which are all so severe that billions of people will lose their lives.
Over the coming weeks, I expect that we will hear more about “wars and rumors of wars”, we will see a further “intensifying of the birth bangs” and we will also see a "great falling away". Why? Because that is what Jesus told us would happen in Scripture!
Today I want to remind you that none of this should drive us to fear, this should drive us to take action! Are you sure that you are saved? If not, get yourself right with GOD today!! If you are sure that you are saved, then who else in your sphere of influence needs to be saved? Now is the time for us as Christians to prepare ourselves, to pray for our loved ones and to stand firm for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Be encouraged friends, the time of HIS return is very near!
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24: 4-8 NKJV) {emphasis added}
The month of February began with the declaration we have been looking forward to hearing that the pandemic is over (or at least it will be officially over on May 11, 2023) as declared by the White House on January 30, 2023! Even though it was nice to hear this news, it was a harsh reminder of all who have lost their lives throughout the pandemic along with the realization that COVID will still be with us in some form throughout the months ahead.
A few days after that announcement, we received news that the first of a series of earthquakes had struck Turkey and Syria. Throughout the month, we have come to learn that as a result of all of these earthquakes, sadly over 40,000 people lost their lives.
In February, we also saw a further decline in the financial markets, with the S&P 500 down 2.61%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 4.19% and the S&P MidCap 400 down 1.95% for the month. Also during the month, the price of GOLD dropped from ~$1,953 per ounce down to ~$1,825 per ounce, an almost 6.5% drop.
February also saw continued food shortages, most notably was the highlight of the egg shortage! That coupled with higher fuel prices and an inflation rate for February expected to exceed 7% makes me think that pretty much every area of our lives is being “SHAKEN”. Think about it, pretty much every area of our lives is being “SHAKEN” right before our very eyes! There is certainly a “whole lot of shaking going on” (to quote a famous song). Just in the month of February 2023 alone, the daily news has told us about “Famines, Pestilences and Earthquakes in various places”! The good news is that none of this should surprise us, because JESUS told us that these things would occur!
People are once again asking “is this the end?”, “are we in the tribulation?”, "is this the end of the world?". The short answer is a resounding, NO….NOT YET, but it is getting closer by the moment!
The convergence of all the these events occurring so closely together let’s us know that the time of HIS return is getting closer! The verse above from Matthew 24 uses the phrase, “the beginning of sorrows” in verse 8, however another translation (NASB) states it as, “but all these are merely the beginning of the birth pangs”. Much like the frequency of contractions which occur with a greater strength and frequency as the time for the birth of a baby comes to be, so we should expect these signs to occur with greater frequency and greater strength as we approach the time of HIS return!
The scary thing is that what we saw during the last few weeks is nothing compared to what will occur during the Tribulation. The book of Revelation describes 21 judgements which include multiple famines, pestilences and severe earthquakes which are all so severe that billions of people will lose their lives.
Over the coming weeks, I expect that we will hear more about “wars and rumors of wars”, we will see a further “intensifying of the birth bangs” and we will also see a "great falling away". Why? Because that is what Jesus told us would happen in Scripture!
Today I want to remind you that none of this should drive us to fear, this should drive us to take action! Are you sure that you are saved? If not, get yourself right with GOD today!! If you are sure that you are saved, then who else in your sphere of influence needs to be saved? Now is the time for us as Christians to prepare ourselves, to pray for our loved ones and to stand firm for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Be encouraged friends, the time of HIS return is very near!
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