I really do want to thank you for taking the time. This puts more than one point in place for me..it's like puzzle pieces finding the correct place. I actually needed this teaching and I really wanted you to know..I thank you..
It's not my word. I mean it's not as if I came up with it all by myself. The Holy Spirit.
But you're welcome.
People too often look forward to the end days, as if it will somehow be an answer to problems, be a saving etc...When you keep in mind that you would be looking forward to a lot of things, let me put in context what it would mean and why our efforts to spread the gospel are needed, rather than arguing over end days.
What the end of last days are:
Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass,
that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
The Word calls it not only great, but terrible
adding....
Zephaniah 1:14 The great day of the LORD
is near,
it is near, and hasteth greatly,
even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
Zephaniah 1:15 That day
is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
also reiterating...
Amos 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end
is it for you? the day of the LORD
is darkness, and not light.
Scary as it may be, most of those who call upon him on that day, he will not hear, for they chose not to fear him nor listen to him any other day.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Scenario of people calling Jesus!!! and he says I never knew you...
The will of the Father isn't for people to look forward to Him raining his wrath and destruction on evildoers and sinners and utterly destroying the world and sending people to hell for all eternity.
Do you think God actually looks forward to that either? No. He loves every one of us. But he is a holy and righteous God. And it will come. That is why it is essential to put Him first. Out of love, not obligation.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
There is a difference between believing Jesus existed as a theology, as some book as some doctrine.
And trusting the Bible as the actual word of God himself, trusting that it's true and trusting and relying on Jesus as your Savior.
Real belief is the second. It's a personal relationship. It coincides with that indwelling Spirit which guides you into all truth. Unless you really believe in Him like that, you never really see the Father.
And if you struggle with spreading the word or saving souls or whatnot, keep in mind, sometimes all we are meant to do is plant the seed. Other times we are the ones watering. So don't lose hope that your small efforts are enough because they are just the right amount that God meant for that person to have. After all, if you feed a plant too much water, give it too little, etc... there is a lot at play you don't realize.
And never be afraid to spread the word of Jesus Christ. To this end, we are given a spirit of power, not a spirit of fear. The spirit of fear is not from God. Be bold.