How should we prepare for the end?

[R.W.]

Hey all. I feel the need to bring up something that for one reason or another never seems be brought up: If we are truly living in the end times, should we be living any differently in light of that fact? Should we be preparing for it at all, or simply living our lives as we normally would regardless of whether we are in the end times or not? Either answer brings up a lot of questions in my mind.

For example, I'm 22 years old and single. Should I bother trying to find a wife and having kids? Wouldn't it be irresponsible to bring children into the world if we truly believe we live in a world where the tribulation is imminent? (This brings up all kind of questions about whether children are raptured, whether a 5 year-old will be expected to stand against the anti-christ, and whether we will even have a pre, mid, or post tribulation rapture. Bear with me, I'm kind of new to this.)

Surely God doesn't want us to change the way we live our life based on the belief that the end is near. Look at the followers of Harold Camping who ruined their lives because of that. And yet, if we ARE in the end times, which seems quite probable, how can a young guy like me possibly go on living normally? It seems impossible.

 

[smitty]

R W
we do not know when Jesus is coming back. it could be tonight, it could be a hundreds years from now. my point is this, live as if he coming tomorrow, but don;t stop living. if you find someone who you truely love and want to marry, do it. plan for your future, do not go and sit in your living room for Jesus to come back, live, and work for the kingdom, enjoy the blessing of God in your life, stay prepared for his coming, remain as spotless of the things of the world as you can be.

 

[David777]

Dear RW.

Paul's advice was to get married, work, and live a quite life in Godliness. The return of Christ is immanent, therefore wait and watch.
This is the instruction within the New Testament.

 

[james g]

by preaching the Gospel.

 

[R.W.]

Thanks guys, I know you're right.

I always had a feeling we COULD be in the end times, but it never actually caused me distress until quite recently. What really started it all was a prophecy I found by a man named Dumitru Duduman, who maybe should have been who I made this topic about...

I'll leave it up to anyone who wants to look him up to do so, but basically his vision was that America would be destroyed, starting with an angel telling him that portions of California, New York and Florida were like Sodom and Gomorrah, and "would burn." (Probably via nuclear attacks) This man risked life and limb distributing bibles in Romania, where many miraculous things happened to him and he was even tortured to the point of near death for the cause of distributing these bibles. I've seen a lot of bogus prophets in my day but I believe this guy is sincere.

I've never really been the same since then, in some good ways and in some bad. But I'm struggling to have the same joy about life as I used to. Even though I know God will ultimately make everything right, all the world's current problems are suddenly a lot more real to me, and I don't want to see things get worse... I want to see things get better.

I just wish I could be carefree again.

 

[jari]

Hi RW
Im sorry to hear u have trouples and that u have lost your joy...
Jesus did say however that we should not worry about tomorrow:

Matthew 6:34 (New King James Version)

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

what ever you do in life i think only thing that really matters is that you keep God first.

Im sure God does not want us to be unease in mind.

This is what bible says in many places. But like i said we should keep God first, read bible every day and pray.

 

[R.W.]

Thanks jari.

I feel better today. I realize now that there's no way I can know what's going to happen in the future, and that I should worry about how I can make things better here and now. I also believe God gave us free will and that every choice we make matters, even in ways we don't even realize.

 

[j_sp]

How To Prepare

The best way to prepare for Jesus' showing...we are doing exactly what He's asking us to do. In other words, we should know how to hear by the Spirit of God and be able to obey Him in all areas of our lives, whatever He may ask us to do. So, if and when Jesus does show up, we are doing exactly what we should be doing according to His leading by the Spirit (His will) - at that particular time. God is a detailed Creator. It's best to be detailed in our lives now, regarding His ways of how we should be living for His glory. The best way to do that...by and through the Holy Spirit's leading. We cannot look to others and the way they live or be motivated by fear of things going on around us, we must look to the Lord and seek His ways on how we should live to His glory (this then will remove the carnal fear). If He tells us to, "go wash the car today," and we do, when He says...that gives Him the glory because we're not living for what we want but for what He wants. This is true worship "in spirit and in truth." He speaks, we listen, we obey (because we love Him and worship Him as our Lord).

This is preparation.
John 10:27; Prov. 3:5-6; John 14:15; 1 John 5:3; Matt. 24:44-46; John 6:37-40; John 5:30-40

j_sp

 

[R.W.]

That's another thing. What do you mean by "when he shows up"? Isn't he always with us? Doesn't he already know all our thoughts and actions... always? Or are you speaking of some kind of rapture or second coming?

I've read the whole bible and countless different interpretations of countless different passages. Everyone's is different and yet everyone believes only they are right. I drive myself crazy trying to understand what's true. After all, if we are talking eternal salvation, can I really afford to get it wrong? Yet all this "information" isn't bringing me closer to God. It's just making me weary, confused, and afraid. Afraid because... what if I'm missing something important? This just causes me to search more. Every question leads to more questions and every concern leads to more concerns.

I do my best, but lately I feel I don't understand anything about God. How can I? I'm just a person and he's so far above me. I don't "hear" his spirit speaking to me in any tangible sense. I certainly don't know what's going to happen in the future. I can only hope God cares more about what's in our hearts than what we believe, because if its the latter, it's a gamble of the soul and I'm not liking the odds.

 

[j_sp]

RW,

I totally understand the confusion and frustrations you're going through. I have been there myself, when it all didn't make sense. But the more I spent reading the Scriptures and grew in understanding how to hear His voice (His Holy Spirit); the more things became clear to me. The best thing is is to keep it simple because there are many things out there that sound helpful, but may not be as we think (if we're trying to reason things without the Holy Spirit's help working with us, it can make it difficult to comprehend). God is a Spirit and speaks spiritual things to our own spirit and to our hearts, but we must learn to discern properly when it's Him and when it's not. This is where the Scriptures come in, to help you recall things when you're unsure whether it is Him speaking.

Yes, you're right He is always with us, but currently that's His Holy Spirit - but Jesus will return someday again to the earth. So, right now the importance is to become acquainted more through His Holy Spirit's leading, so that when He does return, you are in right standing with Him. It's not so important with knowing what's going to happen in the future (unless He's put it on your heart to understand some things)...as that's only part of prophecy. Prophecy is really the ability to see as God sees things (as led by His Spirit - sometimes you will get future events/warnings, sometimes words of knowledge, revelatory understanding of the Scriptures, dreams/visions from Him, etc.) but it's important to be able to discern that it is Him, and when you do discern it is...you seek Him for understanding...what He may want you to do with the things He's shown you. He may show you things in order to help with healing, or with wisdom on how to handle something, or prayer (to name a few). But this is why the seeking is good to do. This guy you heard about...the Lord could have used it to get you started on seeking Him to see as He sees.

Don't get frustrated about how much you know...just get to the simplicity of it...it's Who you know...HIM. You go about this by understanding the Holy Spirit. A few books I can recommend on the Holy Spirit: "The Holy Spirit In You, " by Derek Prince or "Experiencing the Holy Spirit," by Andrew Murray or "The 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice," by Mark Virkler - to name a few that would help you better in where the Lord's taking you (no need to read them all, pray about it & see if the Lord shows you a specific one). Talking to the Lord is important but listening is even more important, and the more you spend time in allowing Him to lead you...the more that confusion you're expriencing, will get cleared up. The Lord can sometimes make us uncomfortable when He's about to make a change in us. It's often because we've gotten too comfortable with the world, and not with His ways and He's changing our outlook on how we perceive things. This may be what He's changing in you...you're starting to 'see' more of what's really going on...now all you need to do is allow the Holy Spirit to lead you through it all and make sense of it, for His purposes and your benefit in the end.

Don't give up. Keep pressing on.

j_sp

 

[SpiritLedEd]

R W
we do not know when Jesus is coming back. it could be tonight, it could be a hundreds years from now. my point is this, live as if he coming tomorrow, but don;t stop living. if you find someone who you truely love and want to marry, do it. plan for your future, do not go and sit in your living room for Jesus to come back, live, and work for the kingdom, enjoy the blessing of God in your life, stay prepared for his coming, remain as spotless of the things of the world as you can be.

God doesn't measure the passage of time, we do. As Scripture says (2 Pet 3:8) with Him "a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day." I recommit my life to the Lord often so I won't miss the boat when He returns.

SLE

 

[happyharold4]

I just thought this up--Hope it's not silly.

Imagine a big circle with the cross in the center and brilliant light all around it---So I hang as close to that source as possible---Then some passerby says, hey you don't need to cling to the center so tightly, there is tons of light out here and many liberties you can enjoy in this light---So I thank him and move out away from the center and he is right, I still feel completely in His presence---Then another passerby says look you can still go much further and still be assured---So I thank him and move out further and he is right, I can still see by the light around me and am enjoying so many more liberties----Another passerby says, you can still go much further but just keep an eye in the direction of the source of the light---He is right also as I see beams of light here and there and am able to find my way about and having more fun than I thought possible for a Christian---Finally another passerby says, you've gotten this far, if you go a little further all you have to do is remember the direction back---So being intoxicated by all this i take his advice and step out where there is no light at all----Enjoying myself immensely but my heart begins to be very uncomfortable----Then all of a sudden a chilling, jeering voice says, "GOTCHA"---As I tremble with fear I find myself doing the only thing I know to do----I scream out Jesus help me!---And in a moments time, as if I were translated, I find myself in His brilliant light once more, in the center near to the cross---A passerby says to me, you don't need to be so near to the center----My response is , " Get thee behind me Satan"

Happy

 

[R.W.]

RW,

I totally understand the confusion and frustrations you're going through. I have been there myself, when it all didn't make sense. But the more I spent reading the Scriptures and grew in understanding how to hear His voice (His Holy Spirit); the more things became clear to me. The best thing is is to keep it simple because there are many things out there that sound helpful, but may not be as we think (if we're trying to reason things without the Holy Spirit's help working with us, it can make it difficult to comprehend). God is a Spirit and speaks spiritual things to our own spirit and to our hearts, but we must learn to discern properly when it's Him and when it's not. This is where the Scriptures come in, to help you recall things when you're unsure whether it is Him speaking.

Yes, you're right He is always with us, but currently that's His Holy Spirit - but Jesus will return someday again to the earth. So, right now the importance is to become acquainted more through His Holy Spirit's leading, so that when He does return, you are in right standing with Him. It's not so important with knowing what's going to happen in the future (unless He's put it on your heart to understand some things)...as that's only part of prophecy. Prophecy is really the ability to see as God sees things (as led by His Spirit - sometimes you will get future events/warnings, sometimes words of knowledge, revelatory understanding of the Scriptures, dreams/visions from Him, etc.) but it's important to be able to discern that it is Him, and when you do discern it is...you seek Him for understanding...what He may want you to do with the things He's shown you. He may show you things in order to help with healing, or with wisdom on how to handle something, or prayer (to name a few). But this is why the seeking is good to do. This guy you heard about...the Lord could have used it to get you started on seeking Him to see as He sees.

Don't get frustrated about how much you know...just get to the simplicity of it...it's Who you know...HIM. You go about this by understanding the Holy Spirit. A few books I can recommend on the Holy Spirit: "The Holy Spirit In You, " by Derek Prince or "Experiencing the Holy Spirit," by Andrew Murray or "The 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice," by Mark Virkler - to name a few that would help you better in where the Lord's taking you (no need to read them all, pray about it & see if the Lord shows you a specific one). Talking to the Lord is important but listening is even more important, and the more you spend time in allowing Him to lead you...the more that confusion you're expriencing, will get cleared up. The Lord can sometimes make us uncomfortable when He's about to make a change in us. It's often because we've gotten too comfortable with the world, and not with His ways and He's changing our outlook on how we perceive things. This may be what He's changing in you...you're starting to 'see' more of what's really going on...now all you need to do is allow the Holy Spirit to lead you through it all and make sense of it, for His purposes and your benefit in the end.

Don't give up. Keep pressing on.

j_sp

Yes, getting back to the simplicity of it is what I need. I knew what that was at one point... but lately I somehow forgot. I think God trying to make a change in me, and I'm just going through some growing pains.

I just happened across Eccelsiastes 12:12 recently... "Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body" Instead I should be focusing on what's really important... and that's cultivating the kind love and joy within myself that is unaffected by hardship and prosperity... by following Jesus Christ.

I just thought this up--Hope it's not silly.

Imagine a big circle with the cross in the center and brilliant light all around it---So I hang as close to that source as possible---Then some passerby says, hey you don't need to cling to the center so tightly, there is tons of light out here and many liberties you can enjoy in this light---So I thank him and move out away from the center and he is right, I still feel completely in His presence---Then another passerby says look you can still go much further and still be assured---So I thank him and move out further and he is right, I can still see by the light around me and am enjoying so many more liberties----Another passerby says, you can still go much further but just keep an eye in the direction of the source of the light---He is right also as I see beams of light here and there and am able to find my way about and having more fun than I thought possible for a Christian---Finally another passerby says, you've gotten this far, if you go a little further all you have to do is remember the direction back---So being intoxicated by all this i take his advice and step out where there is no light at all----Enjoying myself immensely but my heart begins to be very uncomfortable----Then all of a sudden a chilling, jeering voice says, "GOTCHA"---As I tremble with fear I find myself doing the only thing I know to do----I scream out Jesus help me!---And in a moments time, as if I were translated, I find myself in His brilliant light once more, in the center near to the cross---A passerby says to me, you don't need to be so near to the center----My response is , " Get thee behind me Satan"

Happy

I don't think it's silly... I like it. :]

 

[just-a-servant]

That's another thing. What do you mean by "when he shows up"? Isn't he always with us? Doesn't he already know all our thoughts and actions... always? Or are you speaking of some kind of rapture or second coming?

I've read the whole bible and countless different interpretations of countless different passages. Everyone's is different and yet everyone believes only they are right. I drive myself crazy trying to understand what's true. After all, if we are talking eternal salvation, can I really afford to get it wrong? Yet all this "information" isn't bringing me closer to God. It's just making me weary, confused, and afraid. Afraid because... what if I'm missing something important? This just causes me to search more. Every question leads to more questions and every concern leads to more concerns.

I do my best, but lately I feel I don't understand anything about God. How can I? I'm just a person and he's so far above me. I don't "hear" his spirit speaking to me in any tangible sense. I certainly don't know what's going to happen in the future. I can only hope God cares more about what's in our hearts than what we believe, because if its the latter, it's a gamble of the soul and I'm not liking the odds.

R.W.,

Ecclesiastes 1:9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

Your problem is ages old. Moses brought the Law to the Israelites; it was simple - only ten commandments. Then, there were regulations, then exceptions, then interpretations, etc., etc., etc. Eventually the Law became so complicated that if you got out of bed in the morning, you were a lawbreaker (over simplified of course). The pharisee's regulated and enforced every small item in the expanded Law bringing oppression to the people.

Jesus entered the scene in person. He came to fulfill the Law but also to simplify it; to bring common sense back to it. Read His words, they are simple and straightforward, not full of legal jargon. His basic tenet is to love each other and treat each other as we would like to be treated.

As you go through your life and listen to Him, keep it simple. Follow His example. You'll do okay if you do that.

As far as prophets? Remember Jesus' words (Matt 24:23-25):
23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23982"></sup> For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

Keep your eye on Jesus alone. You will NEVER go wrong doing that.

IMHO,
just-a-servant

 

[SpiritLedEd]

That's another thing. What do you mean by "when he shows up"? Isn't he always with us? Doesn't he already know all our thoughts and actions... always? Or are you speaking of some kind of rapture or second coming?

J_sp was indeed referring to the second coming of Christ (1 Thess 4:16-17). Jesus' first coming was as a baby; His second coming will be as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

Spirit Led Ed (SLE)