Isaiah was shown great favor by the Lord and was given the gift of prophecy. He was able to tell of the coming Messiah about 700 years before the birth of Jesus, and described crucifixion about 200 years before the Assyrians began to use it. (Wikipedia – all emphasis mine)
In Isaiah 6:8, Isaiah says, “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send; and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I Am! Send Me!’”
Our Heavenly Father and Creator knows us better than we could ever know ourselves. It’s no wonder that He knows just who to call on, who He knows will do as He asks. Noah, to build an ark for an event (rain) that had not taken place before; Moses, at an older age to lead the Israelites out of Egypt; David, to provide an heir (Solomon) to build a magnificent temple; and so on and so forth.
There’s an old saying, “I may only be one; but I am one.” I can’t do what many others do, but what ability the Father has given me does not need to go to waste. I have been blessed to become an ordained minister; however, I have found that posting messages on two Rapture sites appears to be what He would rather have me do than stand in a pulpit on Sundays. I have an almost every day ministry by having His messages prepared to send all over the world. All praise and glory goes to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who provides me the words to be published, and not just for an hour or two a week. I could never give the messages without His total input.
For me, I am absolutely certain the Lord gives me every word to write. Before putting pen to paper, I ask Him to use me to record whatever message He wants posted. I have tried to put out messages without waiting for Him, but they have all ultimately ended up in the trash can. (Please note: any typos are totally on me, as I am not perfect.)
In this day and age, and as our precious time draws closer to the end of this age, there is greater urgency in getting the word of the Lord circulated. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gave the great commission. This is to continue to be in effect as long as we are on this earth, and right up to the moment He calls His true believers up to meet Him in the air. When He rules for the thousand years from Jerusalem, it will continue right up to the end.
Prophecy experts that I follow are showing a more pronounced urgency in their messages. I am but a prophecy novice, but they are more well-versed than I. It’s obvious they believe we are at the time Jesus told us to be looking up; He’s about to return to call His Church (true believers, not an organized religion) Home to avoid the coming wrath (Luke 21:28; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
False prophets are twisting the Father’s words to give unbiblical, yet ear-tickling and entertaining messages and services. This is for their own greedy purposes, and they will definitely answer for this in the end. Satan is present and out in the open through his followers and demons (fallen angels) as never before. He understands Bible prophecy better than humans ever could, and knows his time is drawing short.
After a 7-year tribulation where his ultimate evil antichrist and false prophet create total havoc on this earth, Satan will be bound for one thousand years before being allowed one more short time to deceive the people. Even so, he will convince many to follow him to try and conquer Jesus at Jerusalem (Revelation 20). All who follow him at that time will be destroyed by fire, and Satan will join his antichrist and false prophet in the Lake of Fire.
After this, there will be the Great White Throne Judgment for all unbelievers from the time of earth’s creation to the end of the millennial reign of Jesus. No one at this judgment will be saved; all are condemned to Hell forever. Each will receive their own degree of eternal punishment (Revelation 20:11-15).
For all true believers in this world today, we have the absolute wonderful knowledge that we will not be put through the tribulation/wrath period. We will be with Jesus after being taken up to meet Him in the air in the Rapture, as stated earlier.
We will go through the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) to receive our eternal sentence. However, this is not a “punishment” type of judgment, but rather a rewards event. No one here will be condemned, but will receive or lose rewards according to how they lived as a believer. This does not imply someone can earn their Salvation, or in any way buy it. Whatever we do to honor the Lord while here will be recognized and taken into account.
What’s hard to imagine is there will be some who will have attended “church services” all their lives here, but never really accepted Jesus as their Savior, or the gift He freely gave for us. They will be in the Great White Throne Judgment. Then, there will be others who rarely, if ever, attended church services, but through studying the Bible or other types of media came to know Jesus and called out for Him to save them. They will be at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Remember, Judas was with the Savior day and night for about 3 years, yet he never really accepted Jesus. There were others that Jesus only met one time, such as the thief on the cross, yet they understood He was the only way for them to be saved.
I have referenced Romans 10:9-13 numerous times, and it would be worth the time to read it again and again. The basics are all there; confess Jesus is Lord, and by confession believe we are all sinners (Romans 3:23); believe God raised Him from the dead; have the faith that there is no partiality with God as ALL who call on Jesus will be saved. (Also Acts 2:21)
Consider the words of this marvelous Hymn by Dan Schutt (1981):
“I The Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My people cry; all who dwell in darkest sin, My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright; who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord; is it I, Lord; I have heard You calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if You lead me; I will hold Your people in my heart.
I the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame; I will set a feast for them; My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide, till their hearts be satisfied; I will give My life to them. Whom shall I send? (refrain)”
God wants no one to fail, but hopes everyone would repent and be saved. (2 Peter 3:9) However, He knows who will call out, and who will not call out – those who are totally committed to Satan and his lies. You may get a strong feeling that the Lord is trying to get your attention. As Samuel did in 1 Samuel 3, and Isaiah did in Isaiah 6:8, just say, “Here I am Lord.” He will not force anyone to call out to Him, but will accept everyone who does. Your social status does not impress Him, and rich or poor, we all are His children. Jesus is ready to prepare your place if you will but call out to Him (John 14:1-3).
Shalom!