(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)
In these times of worldwide fear and turmoil, there is a tendency for many who would not otherwise do so to turn to the Bible for answers. Often, they will focus on the prophecies contained within the Book of Revelation that occur after the opening of the Seven-Sealed Scroll detailed in Chapter 6:1-17 and Chapter 8:1-5.
This can lead to a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding of the meanings and purpose of the prophecies, as well as their timing. And that, in turn, can result in skepticism and create mistrust when events do not meet their misplaced expectations. It is indeed a good time to be aware of what the Word of God has to say about these future events, but as is often said (and it certainly applies here), “Timing is everything.”
Most often discussed or even speculated on (or even decried) are the first four Seals which introduce the four riders on the different colored horses and the descriptions that are associated with them.
Numerous people in articles and discussions on the various internet blogs and websites have declared that they believe the “4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse” (as they are frequently referred to) are riding forth even now.
While it is clear that the different descriptions of the four horsemen associated with this particular prophecy are evident in a limited way in the world today, the opening of the Seven-Sealed Scroll has not yet occurred, and their ride into the world will not commence until the most profound and (literally) earth-shaking event occurs: the removal of all true Christ-worshipping persons from the surface of this earth in the “twinkling of an eye” by a God who is fully able to do it.
This is popularly referred to as the “Rapture” of the True, Christ-worshipping and honoring Church. It is a very real prophecy, and God will execute it at His appointed time. I believe that this specific event is very close.
Having made all this clear in this limited space, this commentary focuses on a much less discussed but very important and indeed tragic prophecy voiced by the Lord Jesus Himself in three different Gospel accounts, as cited below. It was an early warning to all who would see with their eyes and hear with their ears.
This prophecy is indeed being actively fulfilled today and is, in fact, expanding and growing like a terrible, out-of-control and all-consuming fire.
“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 24:7-8; Luke 21:10-11; Mark 13:8) Emphasis added by me.
Jesus clarified in the preceding verse, “the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6).
The emphasis above, placed on “nation rising against nation,” is possibly the saddest and most grievous of all sinful and unnecessary human conditions that we see everywhere today.
It is a scourge on mankind, and it is self-inflicted. God is not the least bit responsible.
“Nation” is defined as “ethnos,” or ethnic group. A more common word for this is “race,” and its current manifestation in the form of rampant “racism” is a plague on mankind.
The mention of this debilitating human condition by Jesus almost passes below the radar when reading this very often quoted passage of Scripture, but it is profoundly sad, and it is a harbinger of much needless suffering to come.
The term “racist” is now utilized as a bludgeon to try to shame truth into silence, or as is done so often today, it is applied to inanimate objects in order to further political agendas. It is also frequently used as a pejorative directed at another individual who holds a different viewpoint when the user is incapable of having a rational conversation or defending an undefendable position. In other words, it is a hate-filled smokescreen.
When this becomes part of the “new normal,” which it obviously has, I believe the corner to insanity has been turned, and it could be incurable for those who practice it.
The implication of this prophecy is that racial conflict, which has ALWAYS been inherent in fallen humanity in ALL races and in varying degrees, will explode in the last days of human history, and it will result in so much suffering and misery that it was specifically called out by the Lord as part of the “beginnings of sorrows.”
“Sorrows” is, without a doubt, the appropriate descriptor for the human condition today.
I have studied the Word of God diligently over the past 30 or so years, and while “nation rising against nation” is part of the human record throughout history, the Word of God NEVER condones it, and there is no instance of any person throughout the scriptures being condemned or judged based on what their racial makeup is or was.
Racism is a purely human construct, and it is one of the most effective weapons that evil (Satan and the fallen angels) uses to divide and conquer the human race.
And this tactic is working like nothing else ever has because it is a personalized weapon directed at individuals instead of groups of individuals, no matter what those groups may be comprised of. When people band together and engage in this kind of conduct, they may enjoy a false sense of anonymity, but they will still be held individually accountable to a Holy and Righteous God, as He has made abundantly clear.
In all my years of studying God’s Word, I have not been able to find even the slightest trace of prejudice directed by the Lord at anyone on any basis. People are condemned according to their own willful and unrepentant sin. It is willful sin and only willful sin that condemns ANYONE who rejects the Saving Grace of Jesus’ sacrificial death in their place.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).
I have added emphasis to the above Bible verses in order to make it clear that God does not exclude or preclude ANYONE and, as He makes clear below, you should not make the error of assuming that God’s Word and Salvation are only for the Jews:
“He says: ‘It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth’” (Isaiah 49:6).
A “light for the nations.” Not specific Gentiles (non-Jews), not some Gentiles, but the Gentiles; that means everyone in addition to the Jews.
According to the Word of God, we are ALL descended from the same two people.
In the description of either Adam or Eve in Genesis, you will not find any mention of skin color, eye color, hair color, or any other reference to what could be construed as “race or ethnicity.” In fact, you will not find any references to appearance at all.
In almost every single “news” report that we are now exposed to, there is an implied or even purposeful racial overtone. Often, the actual story is masked by manufactured “racial” implication(s), and the true goal of the story becomes clear: Incite racial conflict.
It is the true pestilence that is killing the human spirit and ruining countless lives, and those who purposely engage in it damn themselves.
I cannot find one single positive that can be found in propagating this evil. It is all negatives: Divide and conquer, destroy and pervert, willfully serve evil.
Sadly, the Word of God does not indicate that nation rising against nation will abate in this fallen world until Jesus returns to execute Judgement.
This evil has invaded virtually every aspect of human conduct in the present day, but, as individuals, we don’t have to be enslaved by it.
“They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for ‘people are slaves to whatever has mastered them'” (2 Peter 2:19).
Perhaps you have asked yourself recently, “What is wrong with people?” If so, then maybe it is not yet too late for you to turn away from the evils of racism and godless humanism if you are participating in it. If you are, and you keep drinking that caustic acid and accept it blindly, it will eat a hole in your soul that can’t be reversed.
I would ask you to consider something that is profound in the natural order of God’s design and in the simplicity of His unchanging truth.
Next time you sustain an injury, small or large, that causes you to bleed, take a moment to take a close look at that blood. It is the same color blood that every other person bleeds regardless of who they are, what color they are, what they look like, or where they come from.
God declares in His Word: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11).
When Jesus Christ allowed 9″ spikes to be driven through His hands and His feet, He bled the same exact color blood that every other person on this planet bleeds, and He did it in order to set us free from the prison of prejudicial hatred and the evil it feeds on.
People, ALL people, are who Jesus died for, and that includes you, me, and every single other person you see in this life. Jesus loves that person that you blindly hate if you live under that curse just as much as He loves you, and He does love you.
Just before Jesus was crucified, He told His disciples and, therefore, all of us through His Word in the Gospel of John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
And then He went out and paid our debt with His own innocent blood.
Jesus bled red, just like all of us.
The special message I promised you:
For anyone who may read this article that has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life:
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.
It requires that you come before God on His terms.
And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
- No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
- No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
- Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).
There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.
The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com