It's Time

Since 2017, I’ve functioned as if the world will go on and on, meaning someday I’ll have grandchildren, I’ll be able to withdraw funds from my IRA without tax penalties, and arthritis will set in. You know, old people stuff.

But it’s always been in my mind that this world is about to change in dramatic and horrific (at least for a time) ways. It’s this thought that prevents me from holding on to plans too tightly. This world is not my home.

I’m so tired of this duality.

The things that used to keep me excited, like a pending vacation or a new project just don’t have the same luster that they used to have. It doesn’t escape me that the first four letters of that word are “lust.” Admit it, that’s a little funny. New shiny things have lost their luster because I no longer lust for the things of this world. I can appreciate new and shiny things, but the thrill is just gone. Can you relate?

I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture of the church. If you’re a believer, then you know what I’m referring to. If not, you may have no idea what I’m talking about. But trust me, you will soon.

Bible prophecy is playing out before our eyes.  The signs are everywhere.

There are amazing charts that show symmetrical blood moons and eclipses centered around a specific date, which happens to be this weekend. God uses the sun, moon, and stars to tell a story. They tell us what season we’re in from both a weather perspective as well as an eternal perspective. I’m not talking astrology – I’m talking astronomy. If you don’t believe me, check out the book of Job and see what star cluster is mentioned. Or, take a close look at the names of stars and constellations. Look up the term “Mazzaroth” which is also mentioned in Job. Consider that the wise men followed a star to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.

Israel was declared a nation in 1948 which made them 70 years old in 2018. There’s a little wiggle room if you consider the first Knesset formation in 1949, etc. 

Think about Psalm 90:10.

“The days of our years are threescore years and ten ; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

If you add 70 to 1948 you get 2018. Now add 80 to 1948 and they get to 2028. If one understands that the Tribulation is 7 years long and subtracts that time from 2028, you arrive at 2021 or 2022.

The four horsemen are understood to represent conquest, war, famine, and death. In the east, the possibility of a third world war is brewing. At the same time, farms around the world are suffering from lack of fertilizer, lack of grain, and skyrocketing fuel prices. The US dollar is weakening. Our supply chain was devastated by CV19 and has not recovered. World organizations are warning us that more disease is coming (gasp!).

Everything is lining up for a perfect convergence of catastrophes that could cause widespread death. This isn’t a message of doom and gloom. On the contrary, I have great hope in Bible prophecy and what happens for those of us who are waiting with eager anticipation of our Savior. And I want to be very clear that I don’t believe it’s a man who is currently walking the earth, or who will present himself as the answer to the cry for peace after the coming war.

If you’ve been reading any of my blog posts, you’ll know by now that something amazing has been happening in my life for the last 5+ years. I’ve had dreams like never before, smelled incense in prayer, been healed of physical maladies, had incredible confirmations that I was on the right path. I’ve been protected, cherished, and nurtured by God.

Sure, some rotten things have been happening in my personal life, too, but I am fully convinced that the rotten things came about as a necessary testing of my faith and conviction. Did I walk perfectly? Certainly not. But I DID keep walking in faith, no matter how much I was persecuted by a few malicious individuals. And I keep offering post-attack forgiveness once I’ve managed to calm down again. Because vengeance belongs to God and I have a strong hunch he’s pretty mad right now.

And then there’s the parable of the fig tree. Israel has long been compared to a fig tree. 

Take a look at Matthew 24:32-34:

“Now learn a parable of the fig tree, When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily, I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

What happens when summer is nigh? The harvest begins. When did Israel put forth leaves? 1948-1949. What happens to the generation (70-80 years)? It won’t pass until these things are fulfilled.

Look, readers. I’ve been banging this drum for years. My friends and family are sick of hearing it. I mean, most of them are polite about it all, but I don’t think they’re really listening. 

I can feel it coming. It weighs heavy on me. Besides reading, streaming scripture, and listening to interpretations from pastors and scholars, do you know what takes up my time? Home improvement. Don’t laugh. I’m fully aware that it sounds contradictory to what I’m telling you. But it’s there – an overwhelming drive to get everything fixed and ready. Ready for what?

I have no idea. Maybe it's for you.

Maybe the polite but disinterested family and friends who are left behind will have that light bulb moment where they remember that I’ve been strengthening against potential famine, grid outages, EMPs, home invasion, financial crisis, and more. Maybe they’ll appreciate that the lower portion of the house is getting refreshed paint, updated bedrooms, and that a kitchenette is being installed.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. During a hairy divorce, my ex insisted that our home be sold, leaving the kids, dogs, and I without a place to live. He fought for this, though it was not at all necessary given our assets, to the bitter end. I won this massive battle.

But here’s the funny part. I almost moved into a rental, but while my attorney was making copies just moments after I came to that decision, I prayed and God said, “STAY.”

As my ex increased pressure, I spent hours looking at homes to buy that were smaller and less expensive to maintain. I found one I really loved. Actually, I really loved a number of them, but I’m not picky. I was ready to GO, GO, GO. I prayed and asked God to show me a sign that any of the homes I checked out were meant for us. He never gave me that sign, even when I really wanted to leave. Instead, my mom ended up gravely ill while she was staying with me, which gave the judge pause for forcing the sale of the home like my ex insisted.

I spent hours of back-breaking labor getting the house ready for sale. In the end, that labor paid off as the home appraised for over $100k more than the negotiated price at which we split the equity, which made getting the home financed in my name only a cinch.

What the enemy meant for evil, God used for good. Every. Single. Time. I don’t think keeping this house has ever been about me. I’ve never been able to get rid of it. Believe me, maintaining it is HARD WORK. I believe it will pay off at some point, but the payoff is probably not for me.

If I’m right about what time we’re in, it’s time for you to make a decision. 

Are you in this world and loving it, or are your eyes on God’s kingdom? Do you have a close relationship with Jesus Christ, or are you faking it on Sundays and treating God like he’s a prayer request vending machine? Are you doing your best to live up to His standards, or are you just assuming that you can live however you want?

A watchman sounds the alarm. Get right with God today. Please don’t play games with your salvation.

I’m going to work on some more home improvement projects, but I’ll be looking up the whole time.