From Joel C Rosenberg:
"Rev. Franklin Graham, head of the international Christian aid group Samaritan’s Purse and son of world-renowned preacher Billy Graham, said that given all the 'bad news' about the killing of Christians by Muslims in some countries, and attacks on Christians by the media and the government even in America, he cannot 'help but wonder if we are in the last hours before our Lord Jesus Christ returns,'" reports CNS News.
“As I read the news, I can’t help but wonder if we are in the last hours before our Lord Jesus Christ returns to rescue His church and God pours out His wrath on the world for the rejection of His Son,” said Rev. Graham in a post on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) website.
“I don’t know if we have hours, days, months, or years—but as Christians, God calls us to take the truth of the Gospel to the ends of the earth,” said Graham. “Our job is to warn sinners of the consequences of sin and show them that God is loving and gracious, willing to forgive if we come to Him in repentance and faith.”
I wonder that myself.
Like Franklin, I have no idea if we have a very short time or if we have many more years before the Rapture. I strongly oppose setting dates or speculating on certain days or hours or any of the sensationalistic nonsense that people like Harold Camping and others have peddled over the years.
Rather, I embrace the teachings of Jesus who warned us to be ready because His coming for us could appear at any moment.
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone," the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 24:36-44. "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."
Are you ready?
Here is the full article on Rev. Graham's thoughts. I encourage you to read it and share with others.
"The BGEA was founded in 1950 by Rev. Billy Graham, and Franklin Graham is vice chairman and CEO of the evangelical organization," noted CNS News. "In his remarks, Rev. Graham talked about the spread of Ebola in Africa, noting that just in 2014 'the virus has already claimed the lives of over 1,000, making it the deadliest outbreak in history.' One of the American doctors, Kent Brantly, infected with Ebola in Liberia and flown back to the United States for treatment last month was
working with Samaritan’s Purse."
"As for the religious
persecution in the Middle East and elsewhere, Rev. Graham questioned whether 'the world is coming apart at the seams,' adding, 'There appears to be no end to the bad news. The killing of Christians by Muslims from Indonesia to Bangladesh to Pakistan. China tearing down church buildings. Christians tortured, beheaded, and crucified in Iraq, with villages burned and churches destroyed, and much the same in Syria.'
“American pastor Saeed Abedini is still imprisoned in Iran for his faith,” said Rev. Graham. “Throughout Northern Africa, the Middle East, and many parts of the world, the church of Jesus Christ—and anyone or any group who bears His Name—is under attack.”
“In our own country as well, there is great opposition to the church of Jesus Christ,” he said. “We see this throughout the media, the entertainment industry, government, and politics.”
Rev. Graham continued, “Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 24 when they asked Him about the signs of the end of the age. He said there would be wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, and pestilence. He told them, ‘Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.’”
"Franklin Graham is married, has five children, and lives in Boone, N.C.," noted CNS News. "His father, Rev. Billy Graham, 95, is in poor health and not expected to live much longer. Over the years, Billy Graham preached to more than 215 million people in 185 different countries, and he wrote 31 books. For more than 50 years he has regularly been ranked among one of the most admired people in the world."
There is great opposition in North America to Christians but it is mostly because we have earned it. American Christians are fixated on politics rather than Christ and support Republican candidates who claim to be Christian but don't act anything like Christ.
Christians need to either abandon politics altogether (best solution), or demand much more Christ-like behaviour from their politicians. The problem is, the way politics in America works now runs counter to Christian values.
What the Republicans have defined as Christian values are so often completely off the mark. From the NRA, to big businesses insatiable greed, their ownership of most politicians, their treatment of the poor and immigrants, their need for a war somewhere to keep moving the inventory of death: guns, jets, missiles, napalm, Humvees, Blackhawks, etc, etc. so they can get rich regardless of the cost in young American lives.
These are not Christian values. Neither is the vitriolic criticism of the President of the US. God said it was He who put leaders in place and one only needs to remember Hurricane Sandy and Obama's response so impressed Governor Christie that he had to share that with the country.
It was that event that took Obama from 2nd place in the polls to first just a couple days before the election. It was an act of God that put Obama back in the Whitehouse. Any Christian railing against God's anointed stands in opposition to Christ and ought to be very concerned about that.
I agree with Rev Graham that it seems likely that we are in the end times with limited time left. I disagree with a universal pre-tribulation rapture of the church. I believe Christians, or at least most Christians need to have their faith tested and proven before they are approved worthy of their calling. More on this tomorrow.
"Rev. Franklin Graham, head of the international Christian aid group Samaritan’s Purse and son of world-renowned preacher Billy Graham, said that given all the 'bad news' about the killing of Christians by Muslims in some countries, and attacks on Christians by the media and the government even in America, he cannot 'help but wonder if we are in the last hours before our Lord Jesus Christ returns,'" reports CNS News.
 |
| Rev. Franklin Graham Samaritans Purse |
“I don’t know if we have hours, days, months, or years—but as Christians, God calls us to take the truth of the Gospel to the ends of the earth,” said Graham. “Our job is to warn sinners of the consequences of sin and show them that God is loving and gracious, willing to forgive if we come to Him in repentance and faith.”
I wonder that myself.
Like Franklin, I have no idea if we have a very short time or if we have many more years before the Rapture. I strongly oppose setting dates or speculating on certain days or hours or any of the sensationalistic nonsense that people like Harold Camping and others have peddled over the years.
Rather, I embrace the teachings of Jesus who warned us to be ready because His coming for us could appear at any moment.
 |
| Joel C Rosenberg Joshua Fund |
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone," the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 24:36-44. "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."
Are you ready?
Here is the full article on Rev. Graham's thoughts. I encourage you to read it and share with others.
"The BGEA was founded in 1950 by Rev. Billy Graham, and Franklin Graham is vice chairman and CEO of the evangelical organization," noted CNS News. "In his remarks, Rev. Graham talked about the spread of Ebola in Africa, noting that just in 2014 'the virus has already claimed the lives of over 1,000, making it the deadliest outbreak in history.' One of the American doctors, Kent Brantly, infected with Ebola in Liberia and flown back to the United States for treatment last month was
 |
| Samaritan's Purse Christmas Child |
working with Samaritan’s Purse.""As for the religious
persecution in the Middle East and elsewhere, Rev. Graham questioned whether 'the world is coming apart at the seams,' adding, 'There appears to be no end to the bad news. The killing of Christians by Muslims from Indonesia to Bangladesh to Pakistan. China tearing down church buildings. Christians tortured, beheaded, and crucified in Iraq, with villages burned and churches destroyed, and much the same in Syria.'
“American pastor Saeed Abedini is still imprisoned in Iran for his faith,” said Rev. Graham. “Throughout Northern Africa, the Middle East, and many parts of the world, the church of Jesus Christ—and anyone or any group who bears His Name—is under attack.”
“In our own country as well, there is great opposition to the church of Jesus Christ,” he said. “We see this throughout the media, the entertainment industry, government, and politics.”
Rev. Graham continued, “Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 24 when they asked Him about the signs of the end of the age. He said there would be wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, and pestilence. He told them, ‘Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.’”
"Franklin Graham is married, has five children, and lives in Boone, N.C.," noted CNS News. "His father, Rev. Billy Graham, 95, is in poor health and not expected to live much longer. Over the years, Billy Graham preached to more than 215 million people in 185 different countries, and he wrote 31 books. For more than 50 years he has regularly been ranked among one of the most admired people in the world."
There is great opposition in North America to Christians but it is mostly because we have earned it. American Christians are fixated on politics rather than Christ and support Republican candidates who claim to be Christian but don't act anything like Christ.
Christians need to either abandon politics altogether (best solution), or demand much more Christ-like behaviour from their politicians. The problem is, the way politics in America works now runs counter to Christian values.
 |
| Me - Gary Wm Myers Northwoods Ministries |
What the Republicans have defined as Christian values are so often completely off the mark. From the NRA, to big businesses insatiable greed, their ownership of most politicians, their treatment of the poor and immigrants, their need for a war somewhere to keep moving the inventory of death: guns, jets, missiles, napalm, Humvees, Blackhawks, etc, etc. so they can get rich regardless of the cost in young American lives.
These are not Christian values. Neither is the vitriolic criticism of the President of the US. God said it was He who put leaders in place and one only needs to remember Hurricane Sandy and Obama's response so impressed Governor Christie that he had to share that with the country.
It was that event that took Obama from 2nd place in the polls to first just a couple days before the election. It was an act of God that put Obama back in the Whitehouse. Any Christian railing against God's anointed stands in opposition to Christ and ought to be very concerned about that.
I agree with Rev Graham that it seems likely that we are in the end times with limited time left. I disagree with a universal pre-tribulation rapture of the church. I believe Christians, or at least most Christians need to have their faith tested and proven before they are approved worthy of their calling. More on this tomorrow.
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