“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pangs.” Matthew 24:7-8 (NIV)
There is much speculation today about God’s timetable. Are we living in the last days? Are we in the Great Tribulation period? Is Christ returning soon? Are we on the verge of a civil war, or our nation falling into the abyss of communism? Will there ever be a good day again?
It is so true that we are witnessing a battle against good and evil like nothing we have ever experienced before! Nations are on the verge of war. The kingdom of darkness is clashing with the kingdom of God and the sound is frightening! There are signs in the skies and on earth. There are famines and locust. And we all know, firsthand about the worldwide pandemic called Covid-19. Our recent elections and chaos in DC only illustrates the intensity we live in, the outright corruption and lies that seem perfectly acceptable to some in charge. It’s all pretty scary indeed. But the reality is, we are only in the birth pang phase!
Literally we are on the verge of the greatest revival and awakening the world has ever seen. Yes! The Gospel needs to go to all the nations (Matthew 24:14) before the end can come. The true church isn’t ready for a wedding (Revelation 19), and I believe we are still going to see a people who operate in the “greater works” (John 14:12). As much as I long to be with Jesus, our time here is not over. And it may get darker before it gets light (Isaiah 60:1-2). In fact, it most likely will be against this dark backdrop that God displays His greatest glory ever on this planet! So, instead of anxiously waiting, looking or hoping for Christ to return, the true church is to press into God like never before. We’re here for a reason! In fact, you are right where you are supposed to be, for such a time as this. As you listen to Jesus’ voice, be relentlessly obedient, no matter what He says to do! Ask Him to teach you to pray, like you’ve never prayed before. In this new era, we need new spiritual weaponry. I believe it is already available, we just need Him to show us how to employ it! Cry out for Him to release the Heavenly Army in our city and nation, to do what they have been assigned to do in this hour! And passionately seek to grow in your intimacy with Jesus, asking the Holy Spirit to help you prepare for a wedding!