Romans 13:11-14
11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
My heart is broken for those around me who have lost everything, some including their life. As the tornados ripped through Alabama Wednesday evening my family was spared. I know God had his hand of protection on us. The days following, I look around & I see chaos. It's as if the world has ended. People rushing to get gas & food as if it's the last bit of food the earth will see. I can't help but think of the day that is coming that will make this past week seem like nothing. What will the chaos be when millions of people vanish off the earth? Yes, I'm talking about the rapture.That event that will happen in the moment, in the blink of an eye & it's over. That moment when Jesus steps out on the clouds to call all those who believe and are faithful followers of him. Those who have decided to die daily to their flesh & strive for holiness. Are you one of those who will be raptured out of here? Will you hear that trumpet sound? Or will you be left here to look around and see that so many of your friends and family have vanished without a trace? The chaos we experience now is nothing compared to what it will be then. Cars crashing because their drivers have disappeared. Airplanes crashing because the pilot has vanished or those in the air traffic control room aren't there to direct the planes...no they won't be sleeping on the job this time, friend; they will be gone! I can't wait for that day because I know without even a shadow of a doubt that my heart is ready for eternity. My soul cries for the day when I will be at my savior's feet in worship for at least the first 10,000 years; completely unaware of the events taking place on earth. Believe me, friend, you want to go with me. You don't wanna stick around for the next few years on this earth. Make your heart ready! If you don't know Jesus as the Lord of your life and your personal savior, please ask him to become that for you. If you have known the Lord, but decided to live your life however you want, come back to the Lord. Renew your love for Christ and live everyday as if it were the day Jesus was coming back. Time is running out! Jesus could come back today! Even if you've heard this all your life, please...I beg you please, believe me it's true & time is running out. Jesus is standing at the edge of heaven waiting for the Father to tell him to come get his church & bride. Do everything you have to do to make sure you are ready to go.
Matthew 24:4-44
4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.
15 “The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!) 16 “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. 17 A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. 18 A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. 19 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. 20 And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. 22 In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.
23 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 25 See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.
26 “So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! 27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. 28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.
29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days,
the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
32 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
Don't be left behind!
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