George Carlin (1937-2008) was a comedian with a very unique sense of humor. However, sometimes his observations hit home. For example, “We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life, but not life to years.” Another saying is a hope that I have for everyone, “May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house.” (all emphasis mine)
I would be the first to give everyone caution that Carlin’s humor was not all “family-oriented.” He used very crude language in many of his skits, and some of his descriptive terms were straight from the dark side. However, what seemed ridiculous at the time is happening in this world today.
When Ezekiel named the main members of a coalition that would someday attack Israel as modern-day Russia, Turkey and Iran, it was thought to be far-fetched. These nations had never before been friendly toward each other until about a decade ago. Now, all three have financial issues, and there sits tiny Israel with enough wealth that would solve all three’s problems. At least that’s what they believe.
As Ezekiel 38:4 states, God Himself will bring them out and “put hooks” into their jaws to convince them that Israel would be easy to defeat. And to be perfectly honest, without the Lord God Jehovah, Israel would not be able to withstand such an attack and would not even be here today because of the massive attack against them on May 14, 1948, without the Father. When the time comes, God will be the One who actually defeats the coalition, and in a way that will be obvious to Israel as to whom their “Champion” is.
Speaking of May 14, 1948, for anyone who may be skeptical about the future prophecy, how about the attack against Israel that took place right after they announced they were a sovereign nation again after being absent for about 2,000 years? To be able to withstand such an attack from all their surrounding nations and to successfully drive them back was absolutely miraculous.
How about the June 5-10, 1967 conflict called the “6-day war”? Once again, outside forces thought they could conquer that small nation yet were soundly defeated. Since then, there have been other skirmishes, but today, Israel is a small but mighty force to reckon with. Amos 9:15 is not taken seriously by the world; “I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them, says the Lord your God.”
There is coming a time when Israel will be “disciplined” for not accepting God’s Son as their true Messiah. Today, it’s reported that only about 1% – 2% of the current 15.2 million Jews worldwide are Messianic and accept Jesus as their Savior. The main “religion” of the Jewish people is Judaism, which is from the Torah, or first 5 books of the Bible. Jesus is not included in that document.
As Romans 11:25 states, “Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers; a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
That “fullness” will happen when Jesus calls all His true believers up from this earth to meet Him in the air to be kept from the Tribulation period. This will include every person on this earth who has received and accepted the gift of forgiveness and eternal Salvation that our Savior paid for with His precious blood. Though we would like to believe that this would be a large percentage of today’s world population, it will actually be between 12% – 15% worldwide. The Messianic Jews of today will be included with all those who are raptured.
God will allow the remaining population to go through “discipline,” and by the end of the tribulation, 2/3 of the population will perish. Ultimately, Philippians 2:10-11 will happen; “So that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth; and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”
Today, we are seeing end-time prophecy being fulfilled with 100% accuracy. Jesus said His followers would be hated by the world, but not to worry as “He overcame the world” (John 16:33).
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul spoke of attitudes that will be here “in the last days.” We have seen every one of them develop and thrive within the past decade. Not only are they all here at once, but they are also gaining in intensity. Our “Freedom of Religion” is being challenged by a large number of people who are demanding “Freedom from Religion.” Their excuse is that all Christians are “haters.”
Going through Paul’s list, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self; lovers of money; proud; arrogant; abusive; disobedient to their parents; ungrateful; unholy; heartless; unappeasable; slanderous; without self-control; brutal; not loving good; treacherous; reckless; swollen with conceit; lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.”
Prior to this past decade, who would have ever thought that so-called pastors would stand in evangelical pulpits and declare that God’s abominations no longer apply? How about, All religions are basically the same, and we all worship the same God. False prophets are proclaiming the “good news” as ear-tickling messages without any mention of the consequences of sin. Through Satan’s influence, they are leading multitudes away from the Gospel – the real “good news” – and into man’s own definition of how we can live.
Sadly, we are seeing a distinctive division between those on the straight and narrow path leading to eternal life and those on the broad path leading to eternal damnation (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus Himself stated that more would choose this earth and its so-called pleasures than would choose Him and gain eternal Heavenly life. Satan knows what buttons to push, and he and his followers are pulling multiple souls away from the Christ.
No person or deity other than Jesus the Christ ever provided a way of salvation that our one and only Creator, the Lord God Jehovah, Our Heavenly Father, could accept as complete payment for us. Unlike man-made religions, we do not have any mysterious ceremonies, numerous and continuous works, and special “fees” to be paid in order to go into paradise. Also, no one in them ever knows if they’ve done enough works to actually qualify them for their paradise.
God purposely gave us a single pathway, which “religious leaders” refuse to accept. The Pharisees, Sadducees and other major religious leaders of Jesus’ day made up more and more “regulations and requirements” as time passed for people to try and follow. The biggest problem then as today is that they used their own words rather than God’s true word. What God actually gave as the “Law” or 10 Commandments was changed so much by the time Jesus was here that it was almost unrecognizable.
We have reached the Luke 12:26 prophecy, “people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the Powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Everything has gone downhill just over the past few years, and Luke 21:28 was started in that time frame. “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Every day is a testimony in itself that all believers are but a breath away from going Home. Rather than be filled with fear, as those with no hope are, we should be anticipating our Shepherd’s call. To become a member of His flock, it’s as plain as ABC.
A – Admit we’re sinners, as everyone on earth is. Confess this to the Savior, and ask to be forgiven.
B – Believe Jesus is the true Son of God and that the only way that we can reach the Father is through Him. That He died for our sins and was raised from the dead to conquer sin and death once and for all. Our eternal Salvation is a gift that cannot be bought or gained by works.
C – Call on the name of the Lord, and you will be saved.
Scriptures that cover this are John 3:16-18; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9-13; and 1 John 5:10-12. For the forgiveness passages, 1 John 1:8-10. Another very important verse is Romans 8:1, which plainly states, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Time is drawing near to the next major event on the prophecy calendar – The Rapture. God promised that all who call on the name of His Son will be saved. To take your last breath here without Jesus is an automatic reservation at the Great White Throne of Revelation 20:11-15.
If you wish to gamble, get a lottery ticket or go to a casino. Your soul is too valuable to take lightly and to gamble that God’s word is not absolutely true.
Call on the Savior today. Make sure you’re ready for the trip up to meet Him in the air when He calls.
Ahava B’Shem Yeshua! (Love in the name of the Lord)