WHY AUSTRALIA IS UNDER GOD’S JUDGEMENT

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In Australia, the prevailing narrative grounded in mechanistic thinking has abandoned God and the ethical code embodied in a Christian worldview. We have embraced a new morality that is subjective and coloured by the totalitarianism of the homosexual agenda. All dissent to this agenda is now criminalised in Australia

new morality

The new morality is also more and more aggressively enforced both by the government and by the population itself. Support for free speech, freedom of the press, artistic freedom, and basic self-determination is decreasing at an alarming rate. 

Professor Mattias Desmet, professor of clinical psychology at the University of Ghent, Belgium, who published The Psychology of Totalitarianism in 2022, sees the new morality not as a mark of progress, but as a mask for conformity. The results are a loss of freedom on many levels and a gagging of genuine dialogue. I see it as a denial of a person’s individual human rights to free choice, free speech, freedom of religion and freedom of association. Surely this should concern all lovers of a free democracy and Christians who hold to beliefs contrary to the new morality.

The new morality which rises out of a mechanistic worldview holds to relativism, and either ignores or rejects the Christian worldview that God is and has revealed His will for humankind.

A Christian response to the new morality will affirm without apology that ultimate reality is found in the personal God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. Humankind is made in the image of God, and its ultimate purpose is to have a relationship with God. Morality is God-given and is absolute.

The church today will need to discover the attitude that was displayed by Dietrich Bonhoeffer as he faced the rising totalitarianism of Nazism.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), a German pastor and theologian, resisted the Nazi regime and was eventually involved in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. He was arrested, imprisoned, and executed in the concentration camp at Flossenburg on 9 April 1945, one of four members of his immediate family to die at the hands of the Nazi regime for their participation in the small Protestant resistance movement.

Bonhoeffer stands as an example of one who stood against a tyrannical regime and promoted the idea of civil disobedience for Christians. Now, I am aware that the regime Bonhoeffer opposed was a personification of evil – a true example of the beast in operation. Some may think that it is inappropriate to use him as an example for a justification of civil disobedience, resistance to the new morality, in contemporary Australia. I think that we can discern some principles for our resistance from his example, and that is what I propose to offer here.

It seems that a watershed in Bonhoeffer’s resistance to the Nazi Regime was in 1934 at the Fanø conference. Fanø is a small island in the North Sea off the coast of Denmark. A diverse group gathered there, and it was here that Bonhoeffer spoke of his support for civil disobedience in the face of Nazi totalitarianism. Later, he would move from civil disobedience to the extreme position of supporting the assassination of Adolf Hitler.

The principles coming out of this conference that we need to note in our current contemporary situation are enshrined in the following words of the resolution from the conference:

The Council declares its conviction that autocratic Church rule, especially when imposed upon the conscience in solemn oath, the use of force, and the suppression of free discussion, are incompatible with the true nature of the Christian Church, and asks in the name of the Gospel for its fellow Christians in the German Church:

“Freedom to preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to live according to His teaching;

“Freedom of the printed word and of Assembly in the service of the Christian Community;

“Freedom of the Church to instruct its youth in the principles of Christianity and immunity from the compulsory imposition of life antagonistic to the Christian religion.”

It is freedom that is the keyword for us now. Our freedom to choose and freedom of conscience are seriously restricted because of the mandatory regulations in relation to “gay conversion”. With the “anti-Gay Conversion Therapy Laws” now legislated in Australian States, our freedom to uphold biblical morality is now restricted.

The powerful legacy of Bonhoeffer was his Christocentric theology and its application to life, so brilliantly expounded in his Cost of Discipleship. The challenge is to live under the Lordship of Christ over all of life. Our obedience is to Him. He demands, and is worthy of, our total obedience. Freedom is found in Him and following Him.

Bonhoeffer’s example inspires us today as we contend for the right of freedom of choice, freedom of conscience and freedom of religion. These are violated by the new morality and laws supporting it.

Taken from an article A Christian Response to the New Morality Dr Barry Manuel 7th November 2025.

THE FURY OF GOD’S COMING WRATH

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Biblical end-times prophecy reveals the fury of God’s wrath as revealed in the coming Trumpet and Bowl judgements. For brevity’s sake, I will reveal just the first trumpet judgment and the first bowl judgment. It should be sufficient to show you the magnitude of God’s wrath.

“Now, the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.” Revelation. 8:6-7

“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshipped its image.” Revelation 16:1-2

We do not like to think about God’s wrath, but we only need to look back at the times God poured out His wrath upon the nation He established for His purposes, Israel, to realise the wisdom of the Scripture: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 9:10

“Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will vent my fury upon them and satisfy myself. And they shall know that I am the Lord—that I have spoken in my jealousy—when I spend my fury upon them. Moreover, I will make you a desolation and an object of reproach among the nations all around you and in the sight of all who pass by… I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will rob you of your children. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword upon you. I am the Lord; I have spoken.” Ezekiel 5:13,17

God has given us more than enough signs to show us that we are fast approaching the time of Jesus’ second coming, first to remove the Saints before God pours out His wrath with the Trumpet and Bowl judgments. We can use this information to warn our unbelieving family and friends of God’s coming judgment. Do they really want to face God’s judgment? At least give them the following Scripture.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 3:16-21

AUSTRALIAN INSOLVENCIES ROAR TO WORST SEPTEMBER QTR. ON RECORD

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11,000 businesses went into insolvency in the 2023/2024 period. Corporate insolvencies are at fresh highs after the worst start to any financial year on record as a deterioration in the economy ­coupled with a crackdown on unpaid tax by the Australian Taxation Office forces the closure of more businesses.

Recent months have seen a tripling in debt recovery action undertaken by the ATO as it pursues unprofitable small businesses given reprieve during the pandemic years and are now unable to pay tax bills. Industry watchers say there is grave concern for the ­hospitality sector, which is ground zero for fallout from the cost-of-living crisis.

Figures from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission show there were 3631 insolvency appointments in the September quarter, a 45.5 percent increase from the same period in 2023.

This September quarter had the highest rate of external ­administration and controller ­appointments since ASIC records began in the late 1990s, surpassing the previous high in 2012 when 2961 businesses went under following the global financial crisis.

Rex was the biggest casualty after the airline entered voluntary administration in July, owing $500m, and subsequently culled its Boeing 737 fleet. Administrator EY has yet to find a buyer.

EY strategy and transaction partner Morgan Kelly said businesses were squeezed by softening revenue as a result of the cost of living, higher input costs, and ­increasing interest rates lifting debt repayments.

Accommodation and food services insolvency appointments grew at a faster rate of 109 percent from 339 to 709 in the quarter. This included The ­Beston Global Food Company, which was placed into voluntary administration last month.

Extracted from an article by Matt Bell, October 21, 2024, The Australian Business Network.

Australia like most Western nations has ejected God out of all aspects of life so it will continue to come under God’s judgement. What is unfolding in the world fits with Biblical end-times prophecies so we should not be surprised but rejoice that Satan’s time of deception is drawing to a close. Nevertheless, we need to take Jesus’ warning seriously about endurance and allow the Holy Spirit to direct our every step.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:9-14

KNOW YOUR ENEMY: SATAN PERVERTS WHAT GOD HAS ORDAINED

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The devil takes whatever God has ordained and perverts it so that it is totally corrupted from what was first intended. He perverts

  • Marriage—corrupting this from the true marriage of one man and woman to two men or two women or other perversions.
  • Sexuality—corrupting the created rightful place for sex within marriage for one man and one woman to whatever is right in one’s own eyes.
  • Gender—corrupting this from the created two genders, male and female, to however one wants to define gender.
  • Dominion—corrupting man’s created dominion over the creation to the creation having dominion over man, as seen in the modern climate-change religion.
  • Rainbow—corrupting this from the meaning of the rainbow given by God after the flood to instead be associated with the anti-biblical LGBTQ worldview and other perversions. The ultimate perversion is in the USA where June is celebrated as PRIDE month.
  • Church – churches and church leaders have adopted the devil’s perversion of the rainbow and support the sinful lifestyles of those who reject true marriage as God-created (one man and one woman) and reject God’s created genders for humans (only two: male and female). 

Jesus told us in the Olivet Discourse what the end times will be like before He returns to restore righteousness. His laws and commandments will be rejected, and lawlessness will abound. The USA now celebrates that they are proud of their sin. They are already under God’s judgement and it will only escalate.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away, betray and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:9-12

NO REASONABLE PERSON DISPUTES THAT JESUS HEALED HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

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During His earthly ministry, “Great crowds came to Jesus, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the dumb and many others, and laid them at His feet; and He healed them. The people were amazed when they saw people raised from the dead, dumb speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel” Matthew 15:30-31

Earlier in the previous century, even the New Testament skeptical scholar Rudolf Bultmann acknowledged that there could be no doubt that Jesus healed sick individuals and expelled demons. More recently, Jarl Fossum notes: “That Jesus was a miracle worker is central to the Christology of the New Testament Gospels and Acts.” Perhaps surprisingly, prominent Jesus Seminar member Marcus Borg attested quite strongly, “Despite the difficulty which miracles pose for the modern mind, on historical grounds it is virtually indisputable that Jesus was a healer and exorcist.” Further, Jesus’s healing cases cannot all be accounted for simply as “faith healings” alone, for we do not know how far Jesus’s powers actually extended. Prominent historical Jesus researcher John Meier states, “In sum, the statement that Jesus acted as and was viewed as an exorcist and healer during his public ministry has as much historical corroboration as almost any other statement we can make about the Jesus of history.”

Even Jesus’ opponents did not contest the proclamations that He did healings and exorcisms, but “they claimed that his powers came from the lord of the evil spirits,” thereby admitting the existence of the events themselves by their very criticism. In this way, Jesus’s disciples, the crowds of people who heard and saw Jesus, and even His adversaries all agreed to what happened and that at least these healings and exorcisms were due to Jesus’s skills and power.

What about you? Do you praise the Lord because of the mighty miracles Jesus performed? Or do you ignore Jesus and live life as your own god? It is easy to ignore the Lord while loving the world and loving your sin. None of us would ever turn to God apart from the power of the Holy Spirit who produces repentance and faith in a man’s heart.

So, are you resisting the Holy Spirit even as you read these words? Or are you open to the idea that you need Jesus and the forgiveness only He can give you? Do you realize why Jesus endured the agony of the cross? He did it to pay for your sins so that you do not suffer the consequences of your sins. You will face Jesus at the White Throne judgment and you will be thrown into the Lake of Fire for punishment and a second death.

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 Also, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 20:6, and Revelation 20:14

Did you ignore the cross once again this Easter? When will you finally get serious about your sin and your need for the Savior?

Like everyone, a day will come when you experience tremendous storms in your life. Perhaps you are going through a terrible storm right now. Jesus has the power and authority to calm storms, just like He did when His disciples encountered a “furious squall” one day while out in a boat (see Mark 4:35-41. Jesus rebuked the wind, and it became completely calm, His disciples were “terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!’”  

Who will you turn to during the personal storms ahead of you? The longer you ignore the Messiah, the harder your heart will become toward the Savior. On the other hand, the miracle-working Messiah will save your soul the moment you come to Christ in faith. The Apostle John explained it beautifully:

“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life (eternal life) in His name.” John 20:30-31

One day “the Jews demanded of Jesus, ‘What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days’” (John 2:19). The miracle of miracles was the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The Messiah who had raised Lazarus (see John 11:38-44) and others from the dead (see Matthew 9:23-25; Luke 7:11-17) would Himself come back to life after His crucifixion.

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to many of His followers, including “more than 500 of the brothers at the same time” (1 Corinthians 15:6). Why else would the apostles have laid down their lives for the Gospel? If they had not seen and touched the risen Christ, Christianity would never have gotten off the ground (see John 20:24-31). Christ’s enemies couldn’t track down His body because Jesus did in fact rise from the dead.

So, are you spiritually dead, or spiritually alive? Have you risen from your tomb of unbelief? You can either ignore the miracle-working Messiah or trust Him to forgive your sins and perform the miracle of the new birth within your soul (see John 3:1-8; 1 Peter 1:3-5). You will never know what you have been missing until you give your life to Christ and become one of His followers. Whatever you do, please don’t ignore this soul-saving invitation: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Adapted from an article in Christian Post “Why Multitudes Ignore the miracle-working Messiah” by Dan Delzell and excerpts from On the Resurrection, Volume 1: Evidences by Gary R. Habermas (B&H Academic, 2024).

GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT

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How do you line up with Paul’s assessment of people living in his day? Has God given you up “in the lusts of your heart to impurity” If you continue to deny Him and His goodness He will. Look around you at the beauty of the world He created. You do not take your next breath without Him making it possible. How can you deny His existence? Moreover, your Creator God sent His son, Jesus to become a man to not only reveal the truth about God but also pay the price for the original man and woman’s rebellion (SIN) against God. If this does not reveal His goodness to you nothing will.

“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, and malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Romans 1:21-32

A WORLD RIPE FOR JUDGEMENT

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EUTHANASIA FOR 14-YEAR-OLDS?

One of Australia’s most senior Catholics has warned that a proposal being considered by the ACT Labor-Greens government to allow teenagers as young as 14 to access voluntary assisted dying could see assisted suicide become available to “anyone that wants it”. Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said that every jurisdiction that had introduced assisted suicide had relaxed restrictions over time, cautioning that by setting such a low bar the ACT would see standards “end up in the gutter with no protections at all”. ACT Human Rights Minister Tara Cheyne said that the government was considering allowing children as young as 14 to access voluntary assisted dying, unveiling a community consultation report to help shape legislation to be introduced by the end of the year. “The fact is, every jurisdiction in the world that has gone down the euthanasia path has then gradually stripped away its protections,” Archbishop Fisher said.

“So, if we start as the ACT’s proposing to start, with the bar already very low, well they’re just going to end up in the gutter with no protections at all.” Archbishop Fisher branded the ACT government led by Chief Minister Andrew Barr, a “radical government” that he didn’t trust to enforce safeguards around assisted suicide. He also questioned why 14-year-olds were considered too young to drive and vote but mature enough to “make a life-and-death decision”. “Victoria has only had euthanasia for a year or two, and they’re already talking about removing most of the protections,” he said. “Well, if the ACT starts with almost none, where are they going to be two or three years on? “My guess is it will be euthanasia on demand for anyone that wants it, and that’s exactly, for some of the proponents of this, their ultimate goal.”

Ms Cheyne rejected as arbitrary the requirement in other Australian jurisdictions for assisted suicide to be accessed only by people with a life expectancy of between six and 12 months, and left the door open for dementia patients to access the scheme. NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania have legalised assisted suicide for people over 18 years old who have a terminal illness and are given less than six to 12 months to live. Health Minister Mark Butler and opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said they would not comment on territory issues. Five MPs representing the ACT independent senator David Pocock, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, and Labor members Andrew Leigh Alicia Payne and David Smith also declined to comment. Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce questioned the suggestion that 14-year-olds were mature enough to make an “informed cogent decision about the most precious thing they have, which is their life”.

“It’s what happens when you have a Greens left-wing Labor government and the idea the state reigns supreme over the individual; it’s the removal of all forms of religion to be replaced with the ethos of the state,” Barnaby said. The architect of the world’s first right-to-die laws and former Northern Territory chief minister Marshall Perron said it was “very hard to put a finger” on when a teenager developed the decision-making capacity to be eligible for assisted suicide. “You’ll get a different opinion from different people … 16 and 17 would be an easier step to go,” he said. “However, there is an argument to go beyond that. If we’re talking about terminally ill individuals who are going to die and are suffering horrifically, I mean, anyone who’s a parent would have to have some sympathy for the child.”

What we are seeing is just a prelude to the coming of the man of lawlessness, the Antichrist, but the good news is; the return of Jesus to restore righteousness and rule and reign with the resurrected Saints during Jesus’ transitional Millennial Kingdom is not too far off.

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him… Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1,3-4

GOD’S PROTECTION – WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

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“The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121:7-8
Sometimes Christians ask, ‘Given the Bible’s promises about God’s protection, why do Christians still experience hurtful, even evil, events?’ Psalm 121:7-8, quoted above is a good example of such promises.

This psalm has four stanzas—the first states that our help comes from God; the last three make illustrative promises about how God helps us (verses 3-4, 5-6, 7-8). These promises, taken literally, suggest that nothing bad will ever happen to God’s people. But that’s not the psalmist’s point. Rather, he says that God will watch over His people wherever they go and whatever they do; God will not ‘slumber nor sleep’ (verse 4). David expressed God’s watchfulness in detail in Psalm 139:1-12. And Paul summarized God’s care in Romans 8:39: Nothing ‘shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord‘.

God is with you today—right now—watching over you and your whole life. Nothing passes through the filter of His will and awareness, ‘even forevermore.’ Nevertheless, we need to be like David and say:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalm 139:23-24

Look what God says to His end times church. The church that He raptures to heaven so they will not experience the wrath of God poured out with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements. They have come through the prophesied tribulation, even great tribulation for six years of the last seven years prior to Jesus’ return to set up His Millennial Kingdom. Look also at what He says to the church that is left behind to face the wrath of God.

Each seal of the seven seals that Jesus opens represents what transpires during each year of the last seven years and the first six match the six signs that Jesus gives us in the Olivet Discourse. It is at the sixth seal that John sees the celestial signs that precede the Rapture and the Wrath of God poured out with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements.

THE SIXTH SEAL

“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:12-17

Each of the seven churches represents the state of the church in each of the seven years. It is the sixth church, the Church of Philadelphia that is raptured and it is the Laodicean church that is left behind to face the wrath of God but God still calls them to be zealous and repent.

THE SIXTH CHURCH – CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA (Philadelphos – love for a brother. What remains of the faithful church will be bound by brotherly love)

“‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name... Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” Revelation 3:8, 10-11

THE SEVENTH CHURCH – CHURCH OF LAODICEA (Laodicea is a combination of two Greek words (LAO, meaning “God’s people”; and DIKE, meaning “justice or judgment”) Judgement of God’s people

“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.“ Revelation 3:15-19

“God watches and weeds us, and continues His labour upon us, till he brings us to the end of his promise.“
Richard Sibbes

HOW TO BE A LAST DAYS OVERCOMER

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Let’s look at how Christians are reacting in real-time to Great Tribulation-like persecution. The primary responses we see in Arab Spring countries, some of which Jesus endorsed, include:

1. Running from the persecutors.

2. Remaining on-site and taking up arms.

3. Remaining on-site and insisting on legal protection. ​

4. Yielding to persecutors while actively ministering to them

Option 1: This has occurred in several Middle Eastern countries over the past decade and threatens the extinction of Christianity in that region of the world. Even prominent government leaders are beginning to acknowledge this fact.
Option 2: Sadly, this option has gained a little headway, due to calls like Greek Orthodox Bishop Lukas al-Khoury in Syria to have Christians take up arms “to protect Syria, churches, and convents.” Some believers undoubtedly have, but the loudest voices have decried this exhortation, saying that it violates the spirit of Christianity. Syrian Catholic Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo responded to the call to arms in this way: “As men of the Church, we cannot incite Christians to take up arms and to take part in the conflict. We cannot say these things; it is insane. It goes against the gospel and Christian doctrine.” I have not come across any reports that indicate Syrian Christians are standing and being resistant militarily to Islamist attacks.

Jesus certainly didn’t condone option 2 as He spoke in Matthew 24. He recommended option 1, in this specific circumstance: “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.” Matthew 24:16-20

But in other passages involving persecution, He argued for option 4. Christ never encourages a running towards martyrdom. Paul, too, never seemed to advocate seeking to be killed for Christ’s sake. Rather, he fled several times when he knew that his life was threatened, twice within the space of a few verses in Acts 9 (Acts 9:25, 30; 14:6, 17:10)! We know of Paul purposefully leaving at least four towns because of threats to his life. If you count other places where he left soon after starting an uproar, that number could climb to nearly ten. Don’t let anyone tell you that Paul never ran. He did! Self-preservation, the most basic human instinct, seems to be compatible with sold-out Christian living. I think we can make a very strong biblical case for running in the midst of persecution. In a similar way, I do not see convincing biblical evidence for having a death wish and actively seeking martyrdom, something Muslims do to “guarantee” a place in paradise. God does not call us to be cowardly, but Christ Himself advocated flight, and Paul lived out that commandment many times in his ministry. Remember these truths when the heat turns up and someone near you is insisting that God wants everyone to stand and fight, be outgunned, and go down in a blaze of glory. Once you are gone from this earth, you are gone, and you won’t be able to win anyone else to Christ. You also might leave your family heartbroken and in great need. We need to be careful that we don’t adopt a martyr complex, as Muslims have heartily done around the world.

Reverend Khalil Fawzi, the pastor of the largest evangelical congregation in the Middle East, Kasr El Dobara Evangelical Church, said recently that Muslim Brotherhood supporters in Egypt want to begin a civil war and would be helped in their quest by Christians turning violent. “They hoped the Christians will retaliate by killing and a civil war would start. I praise Christians for their patriotic attitude.”

Turkey’s defense of its mass killing of Armenians in the early twentieth century is a prime example. So if we do stand and fight, Muslims will have an easy out for killing men, women, and children who would otherwise be innocent bystanders.

Options 3 & 4: We can learn much from our brothers and sisters in the Middle East who have selected options 3 and 4. Here are the primary lessons I see from where Christians are being persecuted by Muslims: ​1.  ​They understand once and for all that the church is not a building. Two days after the famed Archangel Michael Church was destroyed in Cairo, Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II reminded his flock of what Jesus preached: “If the hands of evil kill, destroy and torch, then God’s hands are greater and they build. Christ’s commandments to us are to love your enemy, bless those who curse you, and do good to those who abuse you.”
The reaction to this charge, and other similar exhortations, has been Christians calmly meeting for worship in the areas of their churches that have not been completely burned to the ground, as seen in the 60 Minutes segment on Coptic Christians. The moving sight of Christians sitting in a room with one wall missing and the smell of burned wood still lingering, worshipping Jesus in a simple service, speaks volumes about understanding that the church is not a building. I think many Americans have come to realize this truth, as small groups have gained popularity over the past twenty years or so. That is a good realization to hold onto because we could very well come to a time when we are not allowed to meet in buildings.

Ralph Stice, author of Arab Spring, Christian Winter recounts this story: “I was struck by this possibility as I toured a literal underground church in Turkey’s Cappadocia region, mentioned in Acts 2:9 and 1 Peter 1:1. Our Muslim tour guide took us down a hole through which the four members of my family could barely squeeze. We walked among intricate hallways carved from stone and were told where meals were prepared and where people slept. It was an incredible experience to imagine living under the earth with brothers“.

In these last days as persecution intensifies we need to heed the warnings of Jesus in Matthew 24 and 25. Be watchful. Be ready. Be found faithful. Be on His mission, to spread the Good News.

Remember, Biblical prophecy tells us that Jesus is coming back and we are already seeing many of the prophecies playing out in our time. You can use these prophecies in your evangelism efforts to show unbelievers that God’s Word is true. We know the end of the story and for believers it is wonderful but for unbelievers, they will undergo the terrible wrath of God; the Trumpet Judgements outlined in Revelation 8 and the Bowl Judgements outlined in Revelation 16.

ONLY EIGHT PEOPLE SURVIVED GOD’S FIRST JUDGEMENT HOW MANY WILL SURVIVE HIS COMING JUDGEMENT?

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The vast majority of Americans, 96%, do not hold to a biblical worldview following the COVID-19 lockdowns, according to a new survey. Calling it a “significant change” in Americans’ worldview, the Cultural Research Centre of Arizona Christian University led by researcher George Barna found in its survey that the lockdowns impacted the already-dwindling number of people who claim to hold a biblical worldview.

A biblical worldview is one in which the entirety of a person’s “ideas about all dimensions of life and eternity are based on biblical principles and commands.” The data, which was part of a survey that began in 2020 known as the American Worldview Inventory (AWVI), which evaluates the worldview of the U.S. adult population, also found the pandemic fuelled a decline in biblical worldview even among those who identify as born-again Christians, from 19% pre-pandemic to 13% post-pandemic.

We should not be surprised at this great falling away from God and His commands, Jesus told us that this would be the state of the world prior to His second coming.

“What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? And Jesus answered them: ‘See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.‘” Matthew 24:3-12

The Biblical prophesied end times signs are being manifested in our day. But, it is only those that hold a Biblical worldview (4% in the USA) that will know the truth that we are in end times and that the judgement of God is imminent for those that reject Him and His Word.

Only eight people survived the first time God poured out His wrath upon an unbelieving lawless world (Worldwide flood of Noah’s day) and sadly we know many will be destroyed during the Biblical prophesied wrath to come.

SEVEN TRUMPET JUDGEMENTS (Revelation 9)

“Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet… So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind… The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshipping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.“ Revelation 9:13,15, 20-21

SEVEN BOWL JUDGEMENTS (Revelation 16)

“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” Revelation 16:1

“The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.” Revelation 16:17-21