Said Jesus, "Fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven." Let us examine the weight of the Saviour's words in light of the day in which we live.

     The civilization of men cannot continue on their chosen heading, giving allowance for sin's advance in government, business, education and law. The betrayal of life is swelling to a level matching the days when Noah walked the Earth. Even the church is called to repent of its many sins and will bear the greater judgment as it is written, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God." "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required." The LORD'S call to "Repent" seems to carry little weight these days. While it is not a sin to have fun or to rejoice in the works you accomplish in life (Eccl.3:22), the day is coming when everything will be put on hold while the world plays out the closing scenes ushering the 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ. And every fiber of your being will be put to the stretch to see this last test of GOD through to the end.

     As it was in the days of faithful Noah, so it is today: "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence." "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." Jesus bridged the grand lesson of those days with our day: "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." And yet, sinful men both in and out of the church presume their course will continue indefinitely: "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow." "Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment."

     For the Bible believing Christian, the times in which we live are most solemn because sin is about to reach its apex of authority over men, and Christ's faithful church is called to steer clear of this pretense of benefit. GOD has to allow sin to play out its hand that all can see its destination of global ruin as "the LORD" spoke through His prophet: "For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children [habitual drunkards], and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly [like waves of the sea]. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger. For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end. For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it." Jer.4:22-28.

     Leading up to this desolation, man's desperation to survive will take hold, just as Satan knows full well: "All that a man hath will he give for his life." Job 2:4. Extremes in ungodly measures will be enacted to preserve a fundamentally immoral society. Christ's words must then be given authority in the believer's life: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." Mk.8:35. GOD'S children are called to endure what our faithful father Noah endured: the fall of a world before their eyes: "Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked." "Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him." This is because, "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." No more, no less is the judgment of GOD against sin. But to the faithful steward of Jesus Christ the promise is given, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. ...Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." Ps.91.

     Jesus comes at the moment the earth can no longer support life; as each of "the seven plagues" of Revelation 16 forecast the total collapse of this present world. His coming is the supreme Cavalry to the Rescue! "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Rev.1:7; I Thess.4:16,17. Jesus sweeps His bride off her feet and carries her home to His Father's house in heaven, as He promised, “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you [in heaven]. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again [at the 2nd Advent], and receive you unto myself [“in the clouds”]; that where I am [with GOD the Father], there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight…but now is my kingdom not from hence.” Jn. 14:2-4; 18:36. And yet, Catholics, Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Muslims and Atheists keeping building the kingdom of this world when Christ said He would have no part of it! Therefore, their kingdom is of this world, not the kingdom of heaven. Let us be sober minded over these issues, praying to GOD to know what is to come in our unique circumstances and beseeching His care to guide us and prepare us and those we love, that in the end we can stand together in that Great Day of His Gathering, "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."