Discussion Hard times are ahead .... But I believe it is God's will

FutureAndAHope

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Times change, the book of Ecclesiastes, has a long passage stating, that life goes through seasons some good, and others bad. We should be glad when the times are good, but also accept the times that are not so good. Recently I had some experiences that have led me to believe that soon times will not be as good. Certain circumstances led me to pray to God asking him if we were entering a bad season in life, and I believe that He showed me yes we are about to enter that time. When I asked Him should we be preparing for that time, He told me “yes we should”. I was not 100% convinced, so put a test before God. Similar to what the Old Testament priests would do with the Urim and the Thummim, which were a type of dice for determining God’s will. The early church also used dice to determine God’s will,


Act 1:26 And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.


I pray-fully used a similar random method. The bible has approximately 184600 words, and approximately a 1/184600 chance of landing on a verse that you might pre choose, if you open it and put your finger on a verse. So what I did was ask God “when I open up the bible, and select a verse at random, I want it to land on X verse for ‘yes we need to prepare”, or to land on verse Y for ‘no all is good’.”. I put this test before the LORD and said if it opens to verse X then we are to prepare for the bad time. I used a bible on my computer, an electronic one, I looked away, selected a book, and a verse, and when I looked back it had rested on verse X, the one I asked God to open it to if “we were to prepare for the bad time”. Landing on that verse is a 1/184600 chance. So what was the thing I was asking about? I was asking the LORD if the Antichrist, known as the man of sin, was soon to be revealed to the world.


The bible describes the Antichrist as a man who will oppose the teachings of Christ, this man in opposition will display many miracles, and say that he is in-fact God. This man will show himself to be God. The man will then persecute the church, putting to death believers in Christ. Christ alone holds salvation, and we must persevere, despite the opposition to his name. The man will be revealed in the following way:


Th 2:1-4 Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him; to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand; let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.


The bible says in many places that this man will exult himself as God, performing many miracles.



2Th 2:9 even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,


In the book of Daniel he is described in the following way:


Dan 11:36-37 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all.


Now I will show that scripture says there will be persecution for the church. Then show what Jesus said to do when it happens.

Firstly the persecution is described in the following way, below are just some of the scriptures that describe that time:


Mark 13: 9 But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in synagogues shall ye be beaten; and before governors and kings shall ye stand for my sake, for a testimony unto them. …And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.


Dan 11:33-34 And those who are wise among the people will be the teachers of the mass of the people: but they will come to their downfall by the sword and by the flame, being made prisoners and undergoing loss for a long time. Now at the time of their downfall they will have a little help..


Rev 13:5-8 And there was given to him a mouth to say words of pride against God; and there was given to him authority to go on for forty-two months. And his mouth was open to say evil against God, and against his name and his Tent, even against those who are in heaven. And it was given to him to make war on the saints and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all who are on the earth will give him worship, everyone whose name has not been from the first in the book of life of the Lamb who was put to death.


So what are believers in Jesus to do at the time when they see a man claiming to be God, and showing great works of power. Jesus said.


Mar 13:14-19 But when ye see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not (let him that readeth understand), then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains: and let him that is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house: and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak. But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that it be not in the winter. For those days shall be tribulation, such as there hath not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never shall be.


It is clear for the safety of the church that when the Antichrist is seen we are to flee for our lives. There is no holding onto the good life, at the time that the man of sin shows himself in the temple saying he is God, and performing signs and wonders it is time to go.


The game has changed, to follow Christ onward to salvation will require more than an acknowledgment of words, but a committed heart to the LORD, despite the outward perishing of the body.


Rev 12:11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.
 

Alithis

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Never put God to the test.

Every generation has thought that bad times were on the horizon.
That may because many generations have gone through them ..

He that will live righteously will suffer persecution....
 
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FIRESTORM314

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That's an interesting method of using lots to determine the fulfillment of prophecy.

I've got to admit - I have used something similar myself every now and then. If you have Faith to do that - it does work - that's if you have faith in it. ;)

I'm not sure who does the revealing of who he is - I get the impression his hand is forced the play his cards. He is forced to come out of hiding - that's my feeling.

Will it happen to this generation ?
I think he is among us now
 
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FutureAndAHope

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Will it happen to this generation ?
I think he is among us now

I was always uncertain of when this would happen, although I have been a Christian for many years, I have always thought it was in some distant time (apart from an occasional thought it may be close), but now I would have to agree with you, I feel he is already here, it could be as near as a year off, but it may be longer, but I feel certainly within our generation. For I don't believe God would tell me I needed to prepare myself if nothing was going to happen.
 
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Lost4words

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I was always uncertain of when this would happen, although I have been a Christian for many years, I have always thought it was in some distant time (apart from an occasional thought it may be close), but now I would have to agree with you, I feel he is already here, it could be as near as a year off, but it may be longer, but I feel certainly within our generation. For I don't believe God would tell me I needed to prepare myself if nothing was going to happen.

Ah, but, was it God!
 
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FutureAndAHope

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Ah, but, was it God!

The bible tells me that if I have faith the size of a small seed that I can speak to a mountain and it will obey me. I like to think that when I desire to check if I am hearing from God or not by putting a test before him that he will answer me. Rather than mock my faith you should be on your knees asking God if I am right.
 
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FutureAndAHope

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For any one who is interested in this topic I am in the process of putting up a Website at The Fake God

For those who fear the time I have also written an article designed to encourage faith in the hour.

In times of need have faith
 
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FIRESTORM314

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Never put God to the test.

Every generation has thought that bad times were on the horizon.

I don't think he put God to the test here. I'd say it was more of an enquiry of God.
Maybe you can start a new thread on testing God and what it actually means to test God.

Not all testing is bad BTW - Here's one example....

Malachi 3:10
Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
 
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FIRESTORM314

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I was always uncertain of when this would happen, although I have been a Christian for many years, I have always thought it was in some distant time (apart from an occasional thought it may be close), but now I would have to agree with you, I feel he is already here, it could be as near as a year off, but it may be longer, but I feel certainly within our generation. For I don't believe God would tell me I needed to prepare myself if nothing was going to happen.

Well, we are all told to be prepared. Every generation was given the same "be prepared" message.
So what does it mean to be prepared?
 
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FutureAndAHope

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Well, we are all told to be prepared. Every generation was given the same "be prepared" message.
So what does it mean to be prepared?
I believe that it starts with prayer. God has an individual plan for each of us. Be it physically preparing, or spiritually.

Because I am of the opinion that God may well be speaking to me, I am preparing some camping gear for the family. I am not worrying, but rather just taking precaution. I have also started praying more fervently for the protection, and readiness of other people, and myself. I don't believe even with the natural preparations that that will be enough. God has to be our all in all. We must be so in tune with God and His word, that we can believe Him for miracles, like he provided water for Sampson in the desert, and Moses, or food out of nothing for the widow. But also that if he chooses not to provide, and we go through temporary suffering that we accept that at His hand, be it death etc.
 
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FIRESTORM314

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I believe that it starts with prayer. God has an individual plan for each of us. Be it physically preparing, or spiritually.

Because I am of the opinion that God may well be speaking to me, I am preparing some camping gear for the family. I am not worrying, but rather just taking precaution. I have also started praying more fervently for the protection, and readiness of other people, and myself. I don't believe even with the natural preparations that that will be enough. God has to be our all in all. We must be so in tune with God and His word, that we can believe Him for miracles, like he provided water for Sampson in the desert, and Moses, or food out of nothing for the widow. But also that if he chooses not to provide, and we go through temporary suffering that we accept that at His hand, be it death etc.

Don't you think it's mainly a spiritual preparation that the bible speaks of. Get right with God & do the work he wants us to do before the night comes - when no man can work?

I very much doubt the very end times will happen without any forewarning to the believers. Especially if they are walking with God. Trumpet calls - are loud and clear. We haven't had that yet but just like there was plenty of talk of the Messiah coming in Jesus day there is talk of the Return of Christ soon.

So , to me, preparation is mainly a spiritual thing. I wouldn't be heading off into the desert and leaving my job and life behind UNLESS I actually got told to do it and it would have to be LOUD and CLEAR.
 
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Lost4words

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The bible tells me that if I have faith the size of a small seed that I can speak to a mountain and it will obey me. I like to think that when I desire to check if I am hearing from God or not by putting a test before him that he will answer me. Rather than mock my faith you should be on your knees asking God if I am right.

Mock? How was i mocking?

With the amount of end times experts on these forums that claim to know the truth or are hearing from God i would need to be on my knees 24/7.
 
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