It is the End-Times
This post isn’t trying prove we’re headed towards the end-times, but tell us how to live in light of it.
Jesus said the Church will look like…
…ten virgins who took thier lamps and went out to met the bridegroom. Five were wise and five were foolish…The wise took oil in thier lamps…and those who were ready went in with Jesus (to partner in what He’s doing on the Earth)…Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is comming.
Abraham Lincoln said “I think the neccessity of being ready increases. Look to it.”
Sweet mercy. How then shall we live?
We need to pray
We are living in the greatest hours of human history. We are living in the generation talked about more than any other generation in the Bible. We are in the most unique generation ever.
When the time comes we will either have something of substance or we won’t. That’s it. No second chances. We’re either wise or fools. No such thing as innocent bystanders.
Who’s Pat Robertson?
Pat’s word about terrorism and possible nuclear exhange doesn’t scare me.
I’m more concerned about Jesus’s predictions. He said that the days ahead are going to be so horrible that if it lasts for too long nobody on the planet would survive. That’s what I call really bad.
Terrorism isn’t our biggest problem: God is.
God is serious about righteousness: So what are we going to do about it?
Just look at Ted Haggard. God exposed Ted’s sin because God wanted Ted to repent. He cares more about Ted’s heart than his ministry. There is something really big going on and it’s called judgment against sin.
We need to pray
Call a fast. Get a guitar and some friends. Suck some rug and pray for revival. Pray for mercy…
…not because Pat says the indians are coming, but because God says He is comming.
Ruth said:
when reading that particular verse in my bible yesterday it suddenly struck me that Jesus again said (like many times) “Watch therefore”. Now, if He said it many times, then He must be really serious about it. And He knows why. Those virgins said they couldn’t give away some of their oil… Can you imagine not being ready when Jesus is coming? That’s scary as well. yikes!
So Jesus’ answer is…. “watch!”
Posted on January 6, 2007 at 3:24 am
Zack Hensley said:
woo!! this is my wholehearted agreement with this post! I love that, the greatest problem we have is God…. kiss the sun least he be angry… Son of David have mercy on us all
Posted on January 6, 2007 at 3:40 am
Nathan said:
Finally! The only other neutral Pat post! Congrats!
Posted on January 6, 2007 at 9:14 am
Ben Hailstone said:
This is an awesome post….it stired something in my heart when i read it..
Posted on January 6, 2007 at 9:44 am
Shawn said:
@ Ruth - you said “Can you imagine not being ready when Jesus is coming?” - That’s what Luke 18:8 means: “When the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth.” It’s a literal question.
@ Nathan & Ben - Thanks guys. I think there is a bigger issue than what Pat has to say.
Posted on January 6, 2007 at 10:53 am
jeff said:
Shawn,
Great post. I grew up in a faith tradition that espoused a pre-trib Rapture so heavily that few are those who realize it’s only one interpretation. As a collegian, and especially after seminary and study, I try not to be too dogmatic about end-time positions; however, at the very least, wouldn’t it be spiritually responsible to give believers a little “Tribulation Training?” I’d love to be raptured out of trouble, but personally, I think the church will be refined as through fire.
Thanks for your post and freshness.
Posted on January 6, 2007 at 11:59 am
The other Andy said:
Amen, this should win the blog post of the year contest next year.
Posted on January 6, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Give me oil in my lamp « Keeping that flame alive said:
[…] Shawn Blanc wrote an excellent post on this. It confirmed so much on what God was speaking to me. So I encourage you to read it. God is coming faster than we think. Are we truly ready. […]
Posted on January 6, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Rob said:
the safest place anyone can possibly be in when this time comes is in the midst of God’s fire, the fire lit on the lamps we hold.. and when the wise virgins said they couldn’t give the foolish ones their oil, it just shows that we can’t depend on other people’s annointing and faithfulness as we face Jesus. we cant go and point out how our spiritual fathers did this and that for Christ.. this one is betweein us and Jesus, no one else.. wow.. its both exciting and terrifying at the same time..
Posted on January 7, 2007 at 9:09 am
Shawn said:
@Rob: That makes me think of Matthew 16 when Jesus askes His deciples “who do YOU say that I am?”
Our reality in God is not what others have said and we recite.
Posted on January 7, 2007 at 1:21 pm
ChriS said:
Yes, I am much more concerned with the hard sayings of Jesus, than what Pat has to say or what the world thinks of Pat. I have to know this Man Jesus completely.
Posted on January 10, 2007 at 12:38 pm