Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Just Before Jesus Returns

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians 6:12
(KJV)

In my last post I alluded to an article Mom used to refer to often.  It was printed in China many years ago, and it gave a description of how things would be right before Jesus comes back.  I found the words as sobering as they used to be when Mom would read them to me or speak of them through the years.  After I published the post, a commenter asked that I post the full article, and I am just finding the time to grant her request.  

As I said, I did not write this, nor do I know who wrote it.  Since it was printed in China, I am assuming it must have been written by someone in China, or perhaps a missionary to China?  I am almost certain this weathered, tattered paper copy belonged to my Papaw, who was one of the most stalwart prayer warriors I have ever known.  When he passed away, I believe this article was passed down to Mom, and now it is mine.  I wish I knew who to credit for having written it.  All I know is it was published as a prophecy in China many years ago, and anyone with spiritual discernment can see that you and I are watching this prophecy unfold in fulfillment in front of our very eyes.  It could not be more on target in describing the exact conditions of our day, and it truly brings a solemnity over my spirit.  I hope it stirs yours, also, as you read.

(I have taken the liberty of making a few spelling, punctuation, and grammatical corrections.)

Just Before Jesus Returns

"Paul wrote to the Thessalonians that before the coming of our Lord, there would come a falling away first.  (2 Thessalonians 2:3)  To Timothy, he stated that evil men and impostors would wax worse and worse and there should be perilous times in the LAST days.  (2 Timothy 2:1-13)  It will be noticed in the Scriptures that the apostasy is not concerning education or fine churches or able ministers or large congregations or the progress of intellectual or material prosperity, but the breaking down that is foretold of the visible church is on faith and the denial of the power of landslide in the visible church toward higher criticism which is lower infidelity, and a denial of the supernatural working of God in regeneration, definite answers to prayer, and the revelation of the apostles and their successors.  

We then are to expect great deceptions and delusions deceiving if it were possible the very elect.  We may also expect great advances in a "form" of godliness in the LAST days.  Faith will not only become low thru worldliness and the denial of the Scriptures, but through the "remakable initiative faiths" which will work on in their deceptive power.  A pastor says those movements will become an unseen influence in the air around us, an atmosphere of people with evil spirits and heavy with the depression of HELL.  These evil spirits will do their utmost to injure, mislead, confuse, and depress the children of the Lord.  Our bodies will be afflicted, it will press in our minds and becloud our souls.  All kinds of strange feelings and peculiar trials will come to us.  A surprising lack of desire and energy Godward, a spiritual deadness, a mental heaviness, lethargy of soul, an alarming desire for forbidden things, and a peculiar delight and fascination in any of the world's pleasures.  In liberty and power it will be difficult to give attention to the WORD when it is preached.  It will be very difficult to get in real earnest and continued prayer.  This is the atmosphere in which we must battle as the LAST days darken around us.  Oh, let us be strong in the Lord!  Satan will no doubt bring a mysterious power to bear on our minds and wills, which will make it exceedingly difficult to walk closely with God and very easy to live in the flesh.  We will be amazed at the power he can use against us.  It will become very hard to serve God faithfully and to pray earnestly, and it will seem as if everything without us and almost everything within us has conspired to keep us from following Christ all the way and to influence us to compromise.  We will be surrounded by a worldly atmosphere that will draw us away from God, that will render prayer half-hearted, that will deaden our spiritual senses to the reality of Heavenly things, and that is out of communion with God and harder than ever to keep communication open between our souls and Heaven.

Already we feel the beginning of the influence of the in-rush of those things upon us as worldliness in various forms weaves the ever-expanding power over many congregations.  Things are not only allowed, but are unblushingly organized now which would not have been possible a generation ago, since the craze of the drama and the exciting round of pleasure is catered to in connection with many places of worship, to the destroying of deep spirituality and bringing to an end of revivals and the furtherance of the spirit of compromise, with doubtful things and associations.  There is a terrible decline of faith and true religion all over the world at this moment.  We do not deny that there may be, here and there, a few exceptions, but looking at the Christendom as a whole, it presents a sad picture.  Reviewing these matters, do they not constitute a loud call to the servants of Christ to arise and seek during the intervening short period to make the most of this, the day of opportunity, before their Lord and Master comes to summon them to give an account of their labors at the Judgment seat of Christ?"

PRINTED IN CHINA

God bless the dear soul who wrote this.  It was not by accident that I came across it recently.  It is a timely warning to those of us who are fighting the good fight of faith in these last days and doing our utmost to "dwell in the secret place of the Most High, under the shadow of the Almighty."  (Psalm 91:10)  May we pick up our weapons of prayer and our shields of faith and war against all that seeks to draw us away from living a life in close proximity to Jesus.

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."  Hebrews 12:1,2 

28 comments:

  1. Very interesting! Thank you for posting it here.

    A few years ago I was hearing a lot of people talking about storing up food and becoming self-reliant in an attempt to be safe during the End Times. I thought...ugh...how do you do that really? And I felt the Lord was telling me it was spiritual hunger that would be a problem, not physical. Store up now, fill up now, it means seek the Lord now.

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    1. You are so welcome! I am thankful you suggested it, as it is very timely and needful. We need to wake up. I hear a lot about preppers, too, and I agree with you that the most important thing we need to do is focus on our souls and making sure we have on hand what we need to face God, as I believe Jesus is coming very soon. None of this other stuff will matter then, and the one and only thing we will be thinking about is whether or not we are ready to meet Him. Seek the Lord now - the best advice anyone could ever give.

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  2. Oh my! As I read these words I think of the world around me. Around us. The enemy is on full offensive mode and I'm seeing prominent christians and personal friends fall to the evil one.
    May we hold strong in the faith so as to be an example to our children. No matter what flaming arrows Satan and his minions hurl at us.
    Thank you for this reminder today Cheryl. I feel so under attack some days as two of our three children have succumbed to their surroundings and friends and have left the Faith. Only our daughter is remaining strong in the Lord. I pray for our boys constantly to turn back to Christ.
    I'm also remembering your sweet family daily.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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    1. Full offensive mode, indeed! It hurts me to the core to see the great falling away. It is a painful thing to watch, and it just stirs me to strive with all my heart to NOT be in that number. God, help me, please, dear Lord, to remain faithful and steadfast in my daily walk with You! Oh, Betsy! I hated hearing that two of your three children have left the Faith! May God keep your dear daughter strong in the Lord and may He continually woo your sons back to His side. Oh, that must be such a great hurt and burden upon your heart! You will never know how much we appreciate your continued prayers for us. God is SO faithful and near. Many blessings and much love to you today!

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  3. An eye-opening piece to be sure, Cheryl. May we stay vigilant in prayer, donning the full armor of God in what could be the last days.
    Blessings, my friend, and hold tightly to Jesus!

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    1. Such wonderful advice, Martha - hold tightly to Jesus! That is what I am striving to do. It is like you can feel the ground all around you crumbling and all you can do is to reach up and keep clinging with all your might to His nail-scarred hand. The ones that we thought would never fall away are now questioning their faith and turning away from the One who is our only hope. May He keep all of us in that place of earnestly contending for the Faith that was once delivered to the saints!

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  4. WOW! That is powerful and I see this happening today! Thank you for sharing dear friend. I am printing this out. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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    1. It surely is powerful, my friend, and if you look around, it is so evident. Right in the churches, people are honoring God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him. Oh, for revival! The ONLY thing that will bring revival is full-strength truth preached from God's Word with no sugar-coating and no watering-down, and people don't want to hear that anymore. They have "itching ears" as the Bible says, and they do not want their toes stepped on or to be challenged to a closer walk with Jesus. I am SO thankful for your vision, my friend, and grateful you are printing it out to share with others. May God help us all to wake up and STAY spiritually awake and diligent in this falling away time. Many hugs and blessings back to you!

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  5. My Sunday School class is having morning of discussions this next Sunday. May I share this post with them?
    I will need to print it fir this purpose as many do not have or use a computer.

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    1. YES!! PLEASE share it with them and whomever you possibly can. We need to wake up and stir those around us to see that this is reality. The signs of the times are everywhere we look, but satan is rocking us all to sleep and blinding our eyes to the truth. Thank you for printing it out and distributing it to any and all who will listen. God bless you, sweet sister, for spreading the word.

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  6. Thank you for sharing this Cheryl. I too am printing this off.
    blessings to you and yours,
    Diana

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    1. Thank you, Diana. I am so thankful you are printing it off and sharing the word! Many blessings to you and yours, also!

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  7. Yes, it is coming to pass, Cheryl, and we must fight with our “weapons of prayer” and “ shields of faith”, as you say. It’s our defense against this war on Satan.
    Praying for you, dear one.

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    1. Yes, praise God, for the defensive weapons He has placed within our possession to use in these dark, troubling times. We are more than conquerors through Him that loves us, greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world, and there are more with us than be with them. I am praying for you too, dear friend, and SO appreciate your faithful prayers for us!

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  8. Cheryl, what an interesting read and so true of what is happening all around. I was astounded to read of a “bar church” in a nearby city. They meet regularly in a bar for drinks and to see God in art, dance, music, and occasionally scripture. Thank you for sharing this article written many years ago, but resounding of today!

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    1. Oh, dear Lord. It broke my heart to read your words, and it just brings tears to my eyes to think what people are doing and allowing and condoning in the name of Christianity. This is NOT what our dear, blessed Lord bled and died for. He died that we could have life and have it more abundantly, to transform us from the inside out, to provide grace for us to live a pure, clean life, and to cleanse us from all sin. What do people think they are saved "from" if they continue to go on living in the deadness of trespasses and sins? It stirs up a righteous indignation to hear such things as you have told me today, and the ones who are perpetuating such abominations will surely be shocked on Judgment Day to find out God will NOT be mocked. They can put His name on things to "try to take away their reproach" like the Bible says, but the blatancy of their sin will never be hidden in His sight. If Jesus turned over the tables in the temple because of the moneychangers being in there violating and defiling the sacredness of the house of worship, what would HE do if He walked into such a place as you have described? As I said, it makes me cry, and it intensifies the burden upon my heart. We must cry aloud and spare not and continue to lift up a standard of holiness, even in this wicked age. We will be glad we did when we stand before Him with clean hands and a pure heart! Sending much love to you today, sweet friend.

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  9. Dear Cheryl,This runs chills all over Me..It is so true..My own Husband was once saved and now tells Me there is no God,Heaven,Devil or Hell..My heart cries out so often to God to hold Me close to His heart..As a child I remember the first time I stood up for Jesus.We were in a prayer meeting in a home and they had a picture of The Good Shepherd the sheep all around Jesus but the little one He held in His arms caught my eye..I stood up and I said I want to be the lamb in His arms cause that would put Me closer to His heart..And sit down and others began to cry..And I still feel the same way today..I was just a little girl then but my message is the same to be the lamb in His arms..What the Bible says will be..And yes it is so evil..Another sign is that Men's minds would be on evil always..And the most of humans never give God a thought..I have talked to some that said oh yea we heard all our lives that Jesus is coming and where is He..God help Us all to be watchful and careful each day of lives..My love and prayers will be there with you all and PLEASE do not forget Me..Yesterday was a real hard day and I wept a lot as it was the day 3 years ago Mother went home..May Jesus hug you all real close today and send many blessings your way..Love Loads,Elaine

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    1. I know what you mean. It sends chills all over me, too. It does every time I read it. I am amazed at the accuracy of the vision of the one who wrote this. I feel sure they probably died and went on to glory years ago, but their words are resounding from their grave and hitting the mark as we see them fulfilled before our very eyes. I cannot believe he says those awful things after being saved, at one time. Unbelievable. Your husband, along with all other unbelievers and scoffers will find out one day that there IS a God, and He WILL be reckoned with when we leave this life. I have heard all my life that Jesus is coming, too, but just because HE has not yet returned certainly does not mean He won't. He WILL, just as He said He will. Just as the Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled to the tee with 100% accuracy, so will the New Testament prophecies be fulfilled, and He WILL come back. They will all find out when it is too late, and praise God, you and I will be in glory rejoicing with the One we have tried all our lives to serve and please. Oh, dear friend, I could never forget you. You are precious to my heart, and I am praying for you and trusting God to see you through such vile things as what you have to endure on a daily basis. I know that day must have been so hard to face. I miss my dear Mom and Daddy so much, I can hardly stand it some days. No one will ever be able to take their place, and as I see the meanness and hypocrisy and two-facedness in others, it just makes me long for my own dear parents even more. But, the Godly heritage they instilled in me is the strength of my life, and having the approval of my dear Jesus is ALL that matters. He is SO faithful! You will be with your dear, sweet Mom in Heaven one day, and then all of these trials and tribulations will be far behind you, and you will rejoice and worship Him together through all eternity. You just stay strong and keep pressing on and keep fighting the good fight of faith. One day, you will lay hold of eternal life. Love you so much!

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  10. Hi Cheryl, Thank you very much for sharing this very sobering article. Indeed, we can see these things very much now. My husband was just talking about this during Sunday school this morning. The modern church looks more like the world and doesn't hold to absolute Truth.

    I just said to my daughter last week, I feel like Jesus' return is getting more imminent.

    You are always so faithful to stand firm in the Faith. I appreciate you so very much!

    Sending you much love and gratitude,

    Karen

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    1. Oh, how true, dear friend! It absolutely looks more like the world, and it is such a burden on my heart to think how far we have drifted. Surely God's Word is forever settled in Heaven and will never change. How do we think we will get by with less than what was required of that great cloud of witnesses? I love and appreciate you dearly and praise God for your friendship and encouragement.

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  11. Incredible words penned from China, thank you for sharing this sobering reminder that the call of the world will be our greatest enemy in these last days. May we never forget the sacrifice paid at Calvary, and never forget the redemption purchased for us to be free from the holds of sin and its lusts. I was blessed, encouraged, and sobered today reading this post, and thank you for your heart that loves and desires truth so deeply, and will continue to pray that the Lord continue to bless your writings, and all that you do for the advancement of HIS kingdom! Much love to you sweet friend!

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    1. Thank you so much for your sweet visit and kind words, my friend! It sobers me, too, because it is SO being fulfilled before our very eyes. Yes, I do so love and long for the truth and cling to Jesus with all my might in these troubled times. I am thinking of you often and send much love back to you today!

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  12. Cheryl, this is simply amazing. In studying Ecclesiastes, this really reiterates . . . there really IS nothing new under the sun. How stunning it is that this article was written so long ago and yet, could have been written yesterday. We were just talking in our small group on Sunday how the church is being so conformed to the world and we need to continue to persevere and yes, fight the good fight. Thank you for sharing!

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    1. You are so right, my friend. I have never seen things like they are now. YES! The church is being so conformed to the world, and only when we are willing to get back to the cross and seek God with our whole hearts will we see the revival we all crave. I am so thankful for your visit. May the dear Lord bless you as you press on for Him and fight the good fight!

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  13. Hello Cheryl,I have been gone along while and prayed my way back to your blog to find one I have already wrote to you on..I have missed being here and hope and pray you get this little note.Mother had 2 phone numbers on her old phone for you and I tried them but none worked..I felt I had lost all contact with you..I wept..Then this site came back on my computer and here I am thank God..Hope all of you are a o.k..Life has battled Me a lot..Pray for my Brother..He had a heart attack but doing fair right now..But he still NEEDS God so bad..Hope all will be well with all of you..If I lose this site again and if you have Mom's old phone no. Please call it because that is my number now..I just feel all alone when I lose contact with you all.God bless and keep you always..Love Loads,Elaine

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    1. I am so sorry to hear of your brother's illness, and I do trust Jesus will draw him to His side through this time of affliction. I remember hearing you and/or your Mom speak of him. I am sorry you have had trouble finding this site, and I do trust you are able to keep in touch. I don't have your Mom's phone number, and every time I try to email you, I have such a difficult time. For some reason, my emails to you bounce back. I can't figure it out, but it could be our computer or internet connection. Please don't feel alone, my friend! God is with you, and we love you dearly. I am praying for you and trusting God to keep you safe, well, and encouraged in Him. I am sending you big hugs, and I hope you know how much you are loved. Keep looking up! Heaven will surely be worth all we go through in this life.

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