Is Doomsday Approaching?

People are on edge with the war in Ukraine, extended droughts, destructive floods, and increasingly violent storms in 2022. The sense of security in what is "normal" has been shaken. Thousands, maybe millions, suffer from anxiety and mental health issues. And most leaders growl and argue, blaming one another rather than helping those that suffer.

 Is Doomsday approaching? Now, those somewhat familiar with the Bible ask, "Does this mean the end of the world is coming? Is Jesus coming soon?"

 Some are excited that Jesus is coming; others are afraid. Others scoff, saying, "People have talked for years about Jesus' return, yet I haven't seen even a whisker of His face."

 These mockers don't realize that they are fulfilling prophecy. [Check out 2 Peter 3:3-7].

 Almost everything that Jesus said would occur before He returned seems to be happening now [Luke 21]. Jesus is coming soon, and His return is getting closer by the day. But if you ask me if He is coming tomorrow, I have to say, "I don't know." If you press the issue, I'd say, "Probably not, but I don't know. I don't control His returning."

 Why would I say I don't expect Him to return tomorrow [today being 1/12/23]? Because I am expecting an unprecedented move of the Holy Spirit with God's ekklesia arising to move in signs, miracles, and wonders. I am expecting millions upon millions of new believers to be born. 

 This move of the Spirit has been birthed and is manifesting in other parts of the world. So, while I have experienced "drops" of the Spirit, I fully expect to experience a deluge—and want to.

 Folks, we are entering a new chapter in humanity's history. I believe this is a unique season. What we see occurring—in both the natural and supernatural realms around us testifies to the uniqueness of this season.

 Now Jesus spoke about knowing what season we are in.

 ³² "Now learn the parable from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the door. ³⁴ Amen, I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. [Matthew 24:32-25, TLV]

 But is His return tomorrow? I cannot say. Jesus hasn't told me. Jesus hasn't told anyone. While Jesus gave clues to the timing and the season for His return, Jesus also said that of the exact day and time of His return, nobody knows—except the Father [Mt. 26:36-4].

 Why hasn't the Father told anyone?

 First, it is the glory of God to conceal a matter [Proverbs 25:2]. Hey, He IS God; He does what He wants.

 Second, God has a "now" for every person to be saved [or delivered] from their sins. It is presumptuous to think we could go our own way, fulfilling our desires, and then turn to God at our pleasure and convenience.

 And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says,

"At the acceptable time I listened to you,

And on the day of salvation I helped you."

Behold, now is "the acceptable time," behold, now is "the day of salvation"— 3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

 ⁴ Then He also was saying to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, instantly you say, 'A rainstorm is coming'—and so it is. ⁵⁵ And when a south wind is blowing, you say, 'It will be a scorcher'—and so it is. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites! The surface of the earth and sky you know how to interpret yet you don't know how to interpret this present time?[Luke 12:54-56].

 Third, Jesus' return is not about us; His return is not about pleasing us. Jesus will return to rule and reign as an absolute king to please the Father, and we need to focus on pleasing God, not ourselves.  Remember the proud, rich man and be warned.

 ⁶ And Yeshua told them a parable, saying, "The land of a certain rich man produced good crops. ¹⁷ And he began thinking to himself, saying, 'What shall I do? I don't have a place to store my harvest!' ¹⁸ And he said, 'Here's what I'll do! I'll tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there, I'll store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹ And I'll say to myself,' O my soul, you have plenty of goods saved up for many years! So take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry."' ²⁰ But God said to him, 'You fool! Tonight your soul is being demanded back from you! And what you have prepared, whose will that be?' ²¹ So it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich in God." [Luke 12:16-20, TLV]

This year will be one of fear, trembling, and horror for those who trust in themselves. They will grasp at power and security, but these things will disintegrate in their hands. But to those who yield to the Holy Spirit, who call upon the Name of the Lord and trust in Him, this will be a season of miracles, signs, and blessings too great and numerous to imagine.  

 Trust and obedience are key. Remember, remember Jesus' parable recorded in Luke 12. God wants us to be about His business of sharing the Gospel and manifesting His kingdom. If we knew the day and hour of His return, we would be tempted "to goof off" and then try to cram all that needed to be done into the week before His return.

⁴¹ Then Peter said, "Master, are You telling this parable for us, or for everyone?"

⁴² And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their food portion at the proper time? ⁴³ Blessed is that servant whose master finds him so doing when he comes. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, his master will put him in charge of all his possessions.

⁴⁵ "But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is taking a long time to come,' and he begins to beat the young slave boys and girls and to eat and drink and get drunk, ⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. And he will cut him in two and assign him a place with the unfaithful. [Luke 12:41-47].

 We are to build and proclaim God's truth until Jesus comes, whether He comes tomorrow or a century from now.

 Remember these words and repent of all fear and doubt:

 ²⁵ "And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ²⁶ So if you cannot do even something very little, why do you worry about other things? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. ²⁸ But if God so clothes the grass in the field—which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow—then how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? [Luke 12:25-28, TLV] 

 ¹² Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil heart of unbelief that falls away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another day by day—as long as it is called "Today"—so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin [Hebrews 3:12-13, TLV]

Listen to what the Lord says!

 So be about the Father's business. 

Oh, if you don't know the Lord, the door of salvation is still open--for now.  Contact me at [email protected], and I will show you the way.