August 2023
Nougat 28
It’s said that it never rains, but it pours. And when we look at all that is happening round about us, we might be inclined to agree with the saying. Well, today’s Holy Nougat
“But all these things are just the beginning of the sufferings associated with the end. They will arrest you, abuse you, and they will kill you. All nations will hate you on account of my name. At that time many will fall away. They will betray each other and hate each other.” Matthew 24:8-10 CEB
It never rains … but it Will Pour
When we started this series, we were looking at current weather and other events and we (I) wondered about their connection to The End Times. Thus far, we have ticked off several signs occurring either simultaneously or in close enough proximity for us to sense that the timing is right. Some of us have probably even begun to honestly pray, ’Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus’.
(The challenge is, if we are among those praying desperately for Jesus’ coming (and we most certainly ought to), we know that that request is also an invitation for God’s judgement on the church – Jesus’s Spotless Bride. Are we ready for this?)
I believe that Jesus’ return is imminent and that we are at the beginning of the final season. Our Nougat suggests a quadfecta or a quatrain of events that will impact believers; confirming that the Suffering associated with the End is at hand. And for me, it being a quadfecta rather than a trifecta is an outpouring of sorrow rather than a drizzle.
Siblings, when believers all over the world are faced with Arrest, Abuse, Murder and Hatred we will have no need to wonder if we are facing the End Times; it will be clear. Don’t misunderstand me, there are currently cases of Christian persecution in various parts of the world. And we saw persecution also occurring from as far back as the post-Pentecost church.
Yet, inasmuch as Emperor Constantine legitimized Christianity in 313 AD/CE with the Edict of Milan, I wouldn’t be surprised if some ‘emperor’ was to revoke the edict with their actions. Moreover, we should recognize that Christendom doesn’t exist as it once did. And with the absence of a unified somewhat universal way of being, well … it is likely that some things will change. The question is, will it ‘truly’ be for the better.
So, we can expect national persecution, to be put on trial, to be bullied and harmed without compunction, because we are hated. I suspect it will boil down to what we believe, or rather in Whom we believe. Staying steadfast in our faith in Jesus will, at that time be detrimental to our life and livelihood. Hmmn. Ask the folks who already are in hiding because of their faith. It may not be about being liked, but what we confess.
Truly, this doesn’t seem like a nice and fluffy picture. And many of us didn’t sign up for this regardless of our confession of faith in Jesus Christ. We may have read Matthew 5:1-12, but we did not think it applied to us. Wasn’t that in Jesus’ day?
Jesus has no delusions about that. He was clear – many who sign up for ‘Prosperity’ and signs will walk away. So will others who legitimately came in because of our love for Christ. It is understandable. If we think about the crisis of faith we endure after a traumatic experience, we realize that Jesus is not a pessimist. And, while He is prophetic (as a human being), we see it as a result of the times.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed. So whether it pours out like this in our time or not, we have been forewarned. Our task then is to know what we know and Who we know, so if it happens like this, neither betrayal nor the quadfecta will cause us distress. That comes through the power of God’s Spirit.
So Spirit of God, we ask that You not only rest upon us but that You live in us richly, transforming our lives in total reliance on You. Teach us to trust, to watch and pray, so when the time comes, You will find a remnant in us. Bless and sustain us we pray, through the good and bad, for Your glory, in Jesus names amen 
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May all we seek be found in Christ