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by Donald Mehl
1/06/2011 / Prophecy

"Wake up! Wake up! It's very late. It's time to wake up...now! The alarms are deafening. They are sounding everywhere. Why aren't you hearing them?"

Except for the few who are awake and alert, the rest of the world is fast asleep. Many of the latter don't have a clue as to what is about to happen. Some have chosen to either ignore or reject the warnings, while others simply find them laughable. Many of those who are asleep don't want to know of the "wake up" pleas desperately shouted from the rooftops. Also, a great number of people are scared to death to hear anything about Biblical end-time prophecies.

"Oh...won't you please wake up today? There may be no tomorrow for you. This could be the last warning you ever hear!"

An event known as the rapture will happen very soon. In fact, it could happen at any moment. When the rapture takes place, all living and dead repentant, redeemed, Bible believers...all children below their age of accountability...and all adults who had never had a mental capacity for understanding, will be instantly removed from the earth. At the rapture Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout, calling His own up to meet Him in the clouds. All who have, by faith alone, received Him as their Savior, their Lord, and Master of their life, will simply vanish.

John 14:23 KJV
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

For those left behind...oh, how heartbreaking it will be to discover that many loved ones and close friends are missing, and are nowhere to be found. They will be gone because they had placed their complete faith and trust in Him - believing all of His promises.

In the twinkling of an eye, their corruptible bodies will be changed to incorruptible and taken up into heaven, where they will be protected from the seven years of horrible tribulation judgments about to fall on mankind and the earth.

1 Corinthians 15:5253 KJV
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Isaiah 26:2021a KJV
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity:

If you still choose to slumber in unbelieving complacency after the rapture, then, so be it, but you must know that an awakening of unimaginable proportions will be in store for you during the tribulation also known as Daniel's Seventieth Week. As recorded in Matthew 24:21, Jesus explained that it will be a time of world-wide distress and devastation never before seen. It will be very difficult to survive those seven years, but if you do, your very soul will be shaken to the core. As an unbeliever, that week of years will be a time of awakening you will never forget.

If you do manage to survive that time, a day will come very near the end of the tribulation that will cause your disastrous circumstances to pale by comparison and be quickly forgotten. It will be the day pre-planned from eternity past when Messiah...the Lord Jesus Christ...the King of all creation...will return to earth to rule and reign forever. Without a doubt, that will be the greatest day in human history.

The ultimate eye-opening event will take place at the moment of His return. The skies will suddenly split wide open from east to west with Jesus appearing in an awesome display of great power and glory. At that time the heavens will shake and the earth will tremble as never before witnessed, nor even imagined by mankind. Overcast skies will not stop Him, wind or rain will not slow His arrival, nor will the heat of day or the dark of night be of any affect - for all of creation will humbly submit to His presence.

Bringing His raptured Bride along with Him from heaven, Jesus will return to earth riding a milk white stallion, ready to declare His righteous judgment on an unbelieving world. His eyes will be as blazing fire. Written on His blood stained robe and thigh will be the Name: KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Revelation 19:11-18 KJV
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

On that day all who had rejected Him, or ignored Him, or had only offered lip service to Him, will witness His awesome majesty - and realize too late that He is God. The Bible promises that every eye will see Him...every knee will bow before Him...and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. That event will strike indescribable fear in the hearts of the many who have cast Him aside. There will be no escape - for the time of God's judgment for unbelief will be upon them.

However, believers will rejoice with praises to Him on that day, for at long last they will gaze upon the face of Jesus their Savior, their Lord, and the Master of their life. They will bow on bended knee before Him who gave His life on the cross in their stead. Tears will flow as they see the scars in His nail pierced hands and feet, but His warm smile will cause the tears to quickly vanish as He welcomes His own into His arms.

The Messiah...the Lord Jesus Christ...the King of all creation...will return to earth just as the Scriptures promise that He will. Believers long for His return above all else, and are commanded to watch expectantly and be ready for that day. If they are paying attention to the many signs the Bible teaches signaling His soon return, then, they will not be surprised when it happens.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 KJV
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

As recorded in Matthew 24, Jesus told His disciples about the many signs believers must watch for that will precede His return. Other end-time signs are given throughout Scripture as well. It is the believer's responsibility to know them, and to sound the warning to others that the time is near.

Ezekiel 33:6-7 NIV
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone's life, that person's life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood. Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.

Believers as watchmen are keenly aware that all of the signs observed today indicate His return will happen very soon. The signs given in Scripture are for the time leading up to the second coming...they are unfolding rapidly...and are almost complete. As stated earlier, the rapture must take place first, and since there are no signs to warn of that event, the rapture is imminent.

With heartfelt compassion and urgency, today's watchmen are shouting the warning to all who are snoozing with the world...not paying attention...and perhaps not ready to meet their Creator face to face. Will you be ready when the moment arrives?

Those who continue to yawn while ignoring or rejecting the warnings are in effect saying, "Yeah, right! Do you really expect me to believe all those outrageous things? Welleven if they were going to happen, none of them will take place for at least a hundred years, and probably not for a thousand."

If this is simply a "ho-hum" message to you, and one in which you place no importance regarding its timing, then, you need to understand that all Scripture is inspired by God. Hundreds of prophecies fulfilled after hundreds and even thousands of years with 100% accuracy are detailed in God's Word. Prophecy is being fulfilled today right before our eyes, and, like it or not, it will affect you and me. Most of the things we see happening today were foretold in the Scriptures - all according to God's master plan for mankind. Do not allow anyone to deceive you, for all Biblical prophecy will be fulfilled as written.

Prophecies concerning the rapture, the seven tribulation years, and the second coming of Christ to earth will be the next major prophetic events scheduled to happen on God's end-time calendar. Skeptics might ask, "How could you possibly know that?"

The answer can be found in prophecies recently fulfilled, and in the words of Jesus. Over 2,500 years ago it was prophesied that the Jewish people would be restored to live again in their own land (Amos 9:11-15; Ezekiel 37:1-14). Also, Isaiah 66:8 foretold that Israel would be re-born as a nation in one day. That happened on May 14, 1948. We must remember that Israel is the key player in end-time prophecy.

Then, as recorded in Matthew 24:32-34, Jesus said that the generation living when those prophecies were fulfilled would be alive to see His return. Some would argue as to what was meant by "generation", but I believe it must be taken literally.

"Whoa! Are you listening? It is likely that we are living in that generation! Is that another wake-up call, or what?"

If you are still not awake, please know that it is not too late. You, too, can have an absolute assurance that you belong to Him, but you must first realize you are eternally lost in sin and need the Savior in your life. You must be ready to humbly submit yourself to Him and repent of your sin-filled life, then, verbally confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Romans 10:9-10 NIV
If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

If you truly have the sincere desire to have a changed life in Him, and have been convicted by the Holy Spirit of your need for the Savior, then you might pray something like this:

"Oh God, help me! I need You in my life. I'm so sorry for the things I've done. I'm sorry I had turned my back on You for so long. I can't go on without You. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died for me, in my place, for all my sin. I believe that He rose from the dead and is in heaven today preparing a place for me. Oh God, forgive all my sins. By faith alone I now accept Jesus Christ as my Savior, and confess that He is Lord over all. Come into my heart and life now, today, and help me to live a life that's pleasing and honoring to You. Thank You in Jesus' Name - Amen!"

The Lord is waiting to hear your response to His call. Reach out to Him...trust Him...believe all of His promises...give Him your life and soul...and if you pray a prayer like that from the depths of your heart, He will hear you. Then, as He has promised, you instantly become a child of the most-high God, and an heir to His kingdom forever.

"Jesus is coming very soon to receive His children. The sounds of Messiah's approaching footsteps are now clearly heard. Oh...please wake up...now!"

During retirement, my prayer is that I might serve the Lord by sharing the Gospel through my writing. As the Lord leads, my work will inform, challenge and encourage. I also enjoy Biblical theme woodcarving, Bible studies and Christian music. Watch, pray and keep looking up!

Donald Mehl

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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