Friday, January 10, 2020
Last week as we all welcomed the new year of 2020, the celebratory spirit was short-lived when on January 2, 2020 the U.S. military under authority of President Donald Trump assassinated the highest ranking general of Iran’s military along with several other Iran-backed militia officials of Iraq. I will not judge whether or not that was the right thing to do, but the truth is, this event did not surprise the Lord Jesus who said “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18). In fact, this was predestined / foreknown in God’s sovereign foreknowledge, and with that saints must be content and prepare, knowing that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
The near term implication of Iranian General Qassem Soleimanis’s assassination has potential of igniting WWIII with global conflicts continuing until the end of this present age. It’s additionally concerning that both Russia and China are allies of Iran. Worse, many Americans, namely liberal Democrats, both inside and out of the U.S. government, are sympathetic to Iran, regardless of the fact that Iran is the world’s largest state-sponsor of terrorism. The tip of that proverbial iceberg is revealed in that former President Barack Obama literally flew a plane load of $400,000,000, IN CASH, to Iran! This is the same president who said “The sweetest sound I know is the Muslim call to prayer”. And who was and is President Obama’s cheering squad but Democrats – Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Adam Schiff, and Jerrold Nadler, just to name a few of many.
The consequences of General Soleimani’s assassination has already reverberated around the world. While many see this event as needful, it’s also precipitous of things much, much worse to come. It’s already triggered fresh cyber-attacks on numerous domestic infrastructure sites. And it will very likely trigger domestic-based sleeper cell terror attacks for which every American must be prepared. Not to be outdone by foreign-based threats, Gov. Ralph Northam, Democrat, incites a high probability of domestic violence with his gun control and ultimate gun confiscation propositions now being legislated from Richmond, VA.
It is believed by many, including this writer, that Virginia is the beta-test state for the unlawful confiscation of guns, to, slowly at first, but then rapidly escalate disarming the American people on the pretense that if gun control is enacted by the government it will ostensibly eradicate gun violence. If guns are confiscated from law-abiding citizens, and ultimately they will be, it will create an armed resistance. But that’s exactly what globalists want, and need – a reason to use domestic military force, then even, U.N. forces as necessary to achieve their endgame of a defenseless, government-controlled, American people. It’s the New World Order plan.
Multiple geopolitical issues now unfolding globally are aimed at bringing people under control of the New World Order. And the forces of evil will stop at nothing to achieve that end. Keep in mind that Jesus Christ foretold our time, that it would be filled with lawlessness and violence and tribulation. We don’t know when the power will go off, but it will. And we don’t know when the water will stop at our faucet, but it will. And we don’t know when the grocery store shelves will be stripped empty, but they will be. These scenarios could be caused by war, domestic violence, economic collapse, earthquakes, volcanoes or an EMP strike. Even supply truckers see trouble. As Christians, we of all people, should be aware of and be prepared with contingency plans.
Commodities are moved to consumers by long and short haul tractor trailer trucks. If cities become danger zones due to any of the above, drivers that normally provide life-sustaining commodities to those cities will not venture into them fearing for their safety and livelihoods. If trucks stop running for even just a couple days, and at worst a week, essentials will immediately be stripped bare from every grocery and retail store shelf. Given the fact that Jesus Christ warned us of end-time famines, Matt. 24:7, and violence, no Christian can claim ignorance. We’ve entered the time of the end, and things are no longer business as usual.
In light of these perilous end-time issues, I specifically address fathers, husbands, sons and brothers in Christ. It is our obligation to prepare, provide for, and protect our families in these coming crisis. Men, if there was ever a time to be prepared for the coming crush of tribulation, it is now. Preparedness is not a sign of weakness, but of strength. Nor does preparation lack faith – in fact, faith acts upon the truth and motivates us to prepare. Now is the time to be the strong, prepared men of God He’s called us to be, showing our faith by our works, James 2:18.
If Noah had not built the ark, both he and his family would have perished with unbelievers. If Joshua had not marched around the walls of Jericho, Israel would not have taken that city. If Abraham had not left Haran, he would not have become the father of the Christian faith. And when God told Joseph in ancient Egypt a famine was coming, he acted in faith and spared both he and his family. Likewise, God promised us end-time famines are coming and it’s now ours to respond to His Word. Therefore, will we believe God or the traditions of men?
If it’s within your ability to have emergency food, water, medical and other supplies, then do so. Biblical examples of preparedness in faith are proof that God’s will for His children remains the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, for He said “I am the Lord, I do not change” (Mal. 3:6), and “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Be prepared spiritually, mentally and physically to the best of your God-given ability, and trust in the Lord Jesus and His abiding power, love, mercy and grace. Don’t ignore the signs of the times; you will not regret it!
Let’s allow God’s Word and those who ran the race of faith before us to inspire us. “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice…By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death…without faith it is impossible to please God…By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things to come…prepared an ark for the saving of his household…By faith Abraham went out…not knowing where he was going…By faith Abraham…offered up Isaac…By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months…By faith Moses forsook Egypt…By faith the walls of Jericho fell…” (Heb. 11). These all acted upon their faith and we must do no less!
Remember these three things: first, “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6); second, “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17); and thirdly, “if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim. 5:8). Notably, all three passages speak to true faith.
Marlin J. Yoder
Thanks Marlin, for the as if early morning wake-up call to end time preparedness. If anyone has become complacent in their preparation process, this article is a loving slap in the face. In other words, according to Jesus, we are to be ready, watchful, and biblically prepared to not only meet our Maker, Savior, and Lord, but to be prepared to meet the introductory events of the coming Antichrist and his one world order!
The very first Scripture you shared in your article, Matthew 28.18, in the last words of Jesus before His ascension; “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Of course, these words of Jesus were followed by His proclaiming, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” And yet, that is the major shortcoming of the so-called church upon the earth.
For all things Jesus commanded are not being taught and thereby all things Jesus commanded are not being observed by the majority of Christendom. And therefore, the majority of church-goers have been deceived into believing the lie of a pre-tribulation rapture false theory. Therefore, little preparation has been made for facing the tribulation and or the Antichrist and his insidious plan for the mark of the beast.
But, just how many will not be ready? How many will not be prepared even after all of the warnings of Jesus and the written and preserved Word of God? I was reading the parable of the sower and the seed to my wife this morning while she drove us to work. And according to Jesus, only 1/4 or 25% of all who hear the Word of God will receive it. And of that 1/4 or 25% of all human beings still living upon planet earth, how many are being deceived due to the neglecting or outright refusal to teach disciples to observe all things that Jesus has commanded?
Thank you Marlin, for your constant reminder of what lies ahead of this last 21st century end time generation. And we should be reminded often of Romans 8.28 as you mentioned in your article. “And we [true believing Christians observing all things Jesus has commanded] know that all things [including the tribulation] work together for good to those who love God [and keep or obey all of His commands], to those who are called according to His [God’s] purpose [and not our own purpose].”
Even in the midst of Virginia’s run away, bought and paid for by Michael Bloomberg’s state of chaos and gun confiscation agenda; their campaign of misinformation increases! But thank the Lord that greater is He [God] that is in us than he [the Antichrist] who is in the world. As an owner of guns for the protection of my family and our neighboring community, I often wrestle with my flesh as to what I will or will not do when the government of the Antichrist comes to relieve me of my constitutional right as an American to keep and bear arms. And yet, I am more pleased and extremely more blessed to be a truly born again citizen of the soon coming kingdom of God!
Even as many have found some solace in the more than 100 counties, cities, and towns in Virginia who have declared themselves as “Second Amendment Sanctuaries” and have vowed to oppose Governor Ralph Northam’s restriction and confiscation of guns; the moment this governor refuses to send any further financial aid or appropriation funds to the above mentioned counties, cities, and townships, I fear their rebellion style boldness may melt away as ice laid upon I-95 asphalt in July in that same state?
And that is where true redeeming faith must take over. For it is impossible as you mentioned in your article Marlin; it is impossible to please God without faith. Therefore, by true biblical believing faith, we must be found at all times, even in the midst of such tribulation that is coming, we must be found looking unto Jesus and His Word. As we fast approach these end time events and the coming of the Antichrist and his anti-God agenda, we have no other choice than to be found looking unto Jesus and to observe all His commands that He has taught us throughout the gospels and the seven letters of Revelation.
The prophetic teachings of the prophets and of Jesus in Matthew 24 depict exactly how end time events will be played out on the theater stage of planet earth. And in the end we [truly redeemed Christ believing Christians], we win. In the end we will receive the crown of life according to Jesus if we do not faint, and if we prepare to endure to the end. That means that we must cherish our decision to endure unto the end and to endure against all opposition to the point that our lives do not have as much meaning even unto death as our enduring to the end. If not, our flesh may decide to surrender to the mark of the beast and seal our fate as enemies of God. And that simply cannot happen! Be of good cheer, be encouraged, and above all be as prepared as is humanly possible in order to endure to the end!
In Him Always, Brother Mike…