Tribulation to Come?

[FutureAndAHope]

Hi,

I normally don't do this, most times when I get something from God I just try to work it out with Him through prayer. I will be praying about this myself, but I thought I would get some of your opinions and prayers.

Now I read the bible as a whole, i.e. whole chapters, books etc. But often when I am short on time or need a revelation from Jesus as applies to my daily walk I will open the bible at random asking God to potentially, or hopefully revel some thing to me.

Over the last few weeks the bible has been consistently opening to the following when I pray to, it has happened may be four times:

1 Thessalonians 3:2 - no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

I don't know, but maybe God is saying I am about to suffer something for His sake. But I don't know what. In the bible Agabas the prophet was able to tell Paul that he was about to suffer. I am just wondering if there is any one out there with a Spiritual gift that may be able to help me further decern this.

Also when you reply (if your reply is overly spiritual) I want you to tell me your credentials, your history in moving in God's gifting. Who you are. Also I am not interested in hearing your opinion if you are currently in any way sinning. Don't bother answering if you are in sin.

 

[HjartaoHamast]

There, Paul is talking about the afflictions he suffers that hinder him from coming to see the Thessalonians. Perhaps you see the affliction that the church suffers, and you expect any day for afflictions to come to you. But don't be shaken by the world around you. There will be tribulation. But later on Paul states that we are not children of darkness that we would be surprised by this. We are of the day and of the light.

You quoted verse 3 instead of verse 2, which says that Timothy will help. You could consider that the ministering spirit.

I don't know what you might be about to suffer. But the Thessalonians suffered an affliction from their kinsfolk in a similar way to what the Christians suffered from Jews in Judea. You could consider the community you're in. But seeking God's protection does not include worrying about the future. He will ultimately keep you!

You may want to be careful about how you approach people for advice. Balaam rejected God's direct advice and God made him listen to a donkey! You can find profound wisdom in the way God gives you advice. It's good to seek advice from a humble, wise and godly individual. But don't try to set the parameters that only God can make. It's good that you are daily in scripture and seeking God's direction. But you don't need to proclaim your own goodness either. Let others do that for you, because I'm sure that you are a wise person.

 

[AGTG]

We shouldn't treat the Bible as an omen. It's God's plain word which should train, equip, and reprove us in our thoughts and actions.

http://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-an-omen.html

 

[FutureAndAHope]

There, Paul is talking about the afflictions he suffers that hinder him from coming to see the Thessalonians. Perhaps you see the affliction that the church suffers, and you expect any day for afflictions to come to you. But don't be shaken by the world around you. There will be tribulation. But later on Paul states that we are not children of darkness that we would be surprised by this. We are of the day and of the light.

You quoted verse 3 instead of verse 2, which says that Timothy will help. You could consider that the ministering spirit.

I don't know what you might be about to suffer. But the Thessalonians suffered an affliction from their kinsfolk in a similar way to what the Christians suffered from Jews in Judea. You could consider the community you're in. But seeking God's protection does not include worrying about the future. He will ultimately keep you!

Thanks for your advise.

You may want to be careful about how you approach people for advice. Balaam rejected God's direct advice and God made him listen to a donkey! You can find profound wisdom in the way God gives you advice. It's good to seek advice from a humble, wise and godly individual. But don't try to set the parameters that only God can make. It's good that you are daily in scripture and seeking God's direction. But you don't need to proclaim your own goodness either. Let others do that for you, because I'm sure that you are a wise person.

And genuine thanks for this part of your reply. I do get a bit proud of my spiritual achievements, it is a weakness.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

We shouldn't treat the Bible as an omen. It's God's plain word which should train, equip, and reprove us in our thoughts and actions.

http://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-an-omen.html

Hi hope you don't mind me disagreeing with you, but I like to respond to my critics. A fault I know, but here goes.

God talks to every believer in ways they can understand. The whole random bible thing has been a way God has revealed His divine will many times to me.

Once I though about suing taking to court an organisation. I randomly opened the bible for advise, and it opened to the verse, "it is wrong for you to go before the legal courts". I then knew I should not do it.

At another time, I needed to make a decision about buying a house. I said to God, if I should buy the house open the bible to verse X, if not verse Y. I prayed then opened the bible and it opened to verse Y. So I knew God did not want me to buy the house.

Another time I asked for the .... any way you get the idea ... it works for me.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Perhaps you see the affliction that the church suffers, and you expect any day for afflictions to come to you. But don't be shaken by the world around you. There will be tribulation.

I was just thinking about this. It is probably a true statement. I do see the afflictions in the world (like christians harmed in Iraq), and often wonder how they can be stopped. I have told God I am willing to share in their afflictions if it will help to change the circumstance.

So I do fear it will come to me. I am confident in life, happy, joyful, relaxed. But I hate to think I may need to suffer as our brethren do. Yet I am trying to prepare my heart in the case that God may require it of me.

The reason this thinking started was I saw a vision of my tongue being cut out, physically, not metaphorically. This started my thinking about suffering. I don't know if the vision was Godly or demonic.

Then as I came to seeing others suffering, I offered to have my tongue cut out (if it led to salvation for others) or it might seem weird, but I offered to give God my body in war against ISIS, if it could solve the problem. i.e. I be damaged physically so I could relate to those who suffer in war. So I was not just mouthing off words, but genuinely committed to see change.



Then I started to open up to the verse about suffering (as I mentioned in the first post). So I wonder if I will in future times need to actually carry a cross of physical suffering.

The only other idea I have is it may relate to the way society is pushing out God, that it may result in some form of general increase in suffering for the church.

 

[HjartaoHamast]

The reason this thinking started was I saw a vision of my tongue being cut out, physically, not metaphorically. This started my thinking about suffering. I don't know if the vision was Godly or demonic.

Then as I came to seeing others suffering, I offered to have my tongue cut out (if it led to salvation for others) or it might seem weird, but I offered to give God my body in war against ISIS, if it could solve the problem. i.e. I be damaged physically so I could relate to those who suffer in war. So I was not just mouthing off words, but genuinely committed to see change.

I've heard that having your tongue cut out means that you will let something out of your mouth that you needed to say. I don't know that it means you will actually have it cut off. But knowing what you know, you will release some word that God intended for you to say for some time. I don't know what that is. It could be a confession or witness. It could represent your witness to someone who is godless or has the spirit of the antichrist.