“[The god] of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…”                                                                                                                            (2 Corinthians 4:4)

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”                                                                                                                                        (John 3)

“[God] hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.                                                                                                                                                  (John 12)

 

We have had a very similar conversation with many different believers these days.  This conversation centers around the surprise that no one can understand, or how so many others cannot see what is going on in our times, and how so many are ignorant of the signs of the times. If any one watches the news or reads current events they should be able to see what is plain, and what is plain, is prophesy coming to pass like never before in world history.

Some persons do see what is coming to pass so very quicky and they are excited and in awe because the Word of God is being validated and given veracity daily.  Others say, the church has been saying this for thousands of years and we are no closer to the end of times as we know it and Christ is no closer to returning as He was a thousand (1000) years ago.

Some of those we have spoken with, are believers but ignorant to the signs of the times and want to believe and are fascinated by the possibility of Christ’s return. Yet, others are familiar with the signs and see them coming to pass, however they hope Christ will not come too quickly as there remains to many things they want to experience on earth. The last two (2) I cannot understand and I find to be a bad sign concerning the individuals that espouse them.

The above reveals the thoughts of saved persons hoping in Christ’s return, lost persons, and saved (?) people that are not what they should be; their salvation could be doubted.

Why are there so many different reactions to this doctrine of the Christ-ian faith?  The first (1st) reaction is simple. Those who are familiar with the doctrine of Christ’s return and are excited by this doctrine and live in preparation of His return believe.  They have a sound and Scriptural understanding of this return and it effects them in a proper manner. Their excitement speaks to their faith and hope in Christ.

The second group responds out of unbelief and a lack of faith. They respond because they believe not and love not Christ. Their response proves their lack of submission to Christ as Lord and Saviour. It speaks to their faithlessness in Scripture.  The last group speaks to those that have a knowledge concerning Scripture and it’s teachings. But their understanding of Scripture does not effect them in a way that it should and this knowledge will stand as a witness against them. There is a large number of the last two (2) groups in the Church.

Have you ever wondered why some persons believe in Christ and the Scripture and others do not? There are three (3) ways to answer this question. One (1) is a Godward answer and there is a human answer working in unison. The third (3rd) way is a divine and a human answer working in unison. The first (1st) is God chooses those who will be benifitted by the free choice of God and a rejection of those who will believe not.  Second (2) Those who are saved, have repented and believed in the Word of God and Christ.

The third (3rd) is a combination of both one (1) and three (3).  In our first (1st) text above we read that (s)atan hath blinded the minds of those that believe not.  This tells us that there are persons that believe not and this is due to a work of (s)atan.  In our third (3rd) text we read that God has blinded the eyes and minds so that individuals will not believe and be converted.  When these two (2) are put together, we see that God uses (s)atan to blind these individuals!!!  The above Scriptural truths may not be taught by the majority of churches and preachers but it is taught in Scriptural.

In the second (2nd) text we see very plainly that a person cannot believe lest they be born again. This Scripture flies in the face of much of the teaching put forth by most of the church.  The incorrect but accepted teaching of the church states that a person will see the kingdom of God after believing, however the Word of God teaches that one will believe after seeing the Kindom of God. In other words one must first be shown the Kingdom of God and this revelation allows them or rather causes them to believe.  This is the divine side of salvation.

Therefore a person believes after God and only after God reveals the Kingdom of God to them. The person that believes not is because God uses (s)atan to bring about His will that others are blinded and kept from believing and being saved.

The above theology demonstrates why different persons react differently to the revealed doctrine concerning Christ’s return and the blatant signs of the times.

What are some of the signs of the times that are coming to pass so quickly?
*The sinful condition of the world’s population. It is true the world’s population has been sinful since the beginning. However, the sinfulness of mankind has never been to manifest and undeniable than ever before.  In Genesis, God said the imagination of man is only evil continually. In our world today, the sinfulness of mankind is not hidden in the imagination but is demonstrable like never before in actions.
*The hatred for each other and especially for God cannot be denied.
*The movements of the nations of the world are clearly that of century’s old prophecy. China, Russia, Iran, Israel, and other nations are moving as if they are following a script.
*The state of the Church is also moving according to a Script because it is. We are seeing unsound doctrine being accpted. We see many church leaders falling into sin and being put out of the church.
*The very fact that Scriptural prophecy is coming to pass like never before and so many are blind to this. An example of this:  The Jehovah’s witness is in no way a Christ-ian Church but is a damnable cult with damnable teaching and doctrines. However it’s growth is a proof of Christ-ian and Scriptural prophecy, as is the growth of other cults.  Having said that there is an example in the J.W. cult that makes clear my point.  In Scripture prophecy Christ says, when they say Christ has come and He is in the secret chamber, believe them not. The J.W. cult said years ago that Christ had returned and met with their elders in a secret chamber and this is a main teaching of the J.W. cult!!!
*Another sign is the population worshiping the creation rather than the Creator.  This is global warming or climate change or whatever they choose to call it.

Reader, when it comes to prophecy, it is God that must convince. The most logical of arguments will not persuade lest God chooses to use that argument.  The obvious coming to pass or fulfilment of prophecy will not convince an unbeliever, lest God grants the blind to gain sight. To those that have seen the signs of the times and have understood them, give praise and thanks to God for this ability and sight. This writer, in the past, was not a “prophecy guy.”

I would hear others speaking about prophecy and I simply did not get excited. What this said about me, I know not. However, over the last couple years, I have been given a greater understanding of prophecy as God has opened my eyes as He has opened the eyes, mind, and understanding of many others. It seems God has used these plain to see prophecies to bring some to saving faith in Christ.  I know one that has said, that everything now makes sense to him and this is what God used to bring him unto saving faith in Christ!!! God can use what He wills to bring about what He wills.

I am very careful not to become a sensationalist in the matters of prophecy. We do not seek to put a date to Christ’s return, we do not allow prophecy matters to overtake my focus and preaching of the Gospel of Christ. We understand that the purpose of prophecy is to cause the Christ-ian to live a holy life as one awaits prophetic fulfilment in Christ’s return.

One (1) of the last saying of Christ when He was hanging upon our Cross and just before He gave up the [G]host, He said, “It is finished.” While it is absolutely true that Christ and His work upon the Cross has fulfilled His work upon the Cross, this is not what Christ was saying as His resurrection was still to come.  What then did, “It is finished” refer to?  These blessed words spoke to the completion of all of the prophecies that spoke to Christ has come to pass and has been fulfilled. I say that to say this, while Christ spoke upon propetical matters, they did not hold all of the attention of Christ and was not the only focus of His teachings. I say all of that to say this, while prophecy should be a consideration of the Christ-ian it must not consume the Christ-ian’s focus.

If someone is soley focused upon prophetical matters to the exclusion of Christ’s Person, Works, Ways, and Words.  If Prophecy is not causing a person to live a more holy life and causing one to oppose the old nature, the old man, the carnal nature, and the flesh, their focus on prophecy is doing them great harm and their focus on prophecy will stand as a witness against them when they stand before Christ.  All of prophecy points to one (1) thing and that one (1) thing is Christ is coming. The fact that Christ is coming should cause us all to strive for holiness and the mortification of sin and sins in our lives.

An analogy:  Let us say that the parents have been a vacation and the kids have been left home. The kids know full and well that Mom and Dad are due home tomorrow. The kids have had a party or two (2) over the week.  They have not kept the house staightened up but have allowed it to be messy. However as the arrival of the parents grows nearer and nearer, the kids begin to straighten up and clean the dishes, the bathroom, they being vacuuming, cleaning the windows, cut the grass, etc.  Why do they now begin to straighten up?  Because the parents are coming soon.
This is the purpose of prophecy, Christ is coming soon and it is time to straighten up…not the house or the yard, but the spirit and the life. This is not to say that it is acceptable to live in sin and then confess it and seek forgiveness, etc. as Christ’s return grows ever closer and closer.

One should always seek to live lives of holiness and righteousness. One should always seek to walk with Christ, but it is true that sometimes the “holiest” of believers may let some things slide a bit over time for a short time.  With sliding back being likely, it is time to stop letting somethings slip. It is time to review one’s spiritual condition.  It is high time we begin to examine our faith.  It is high time to make our calling and election sure[footed]. It is time to remedy one’s backslidden state regardless of how slight or great it may be. It is high time we be what we know he wants us to be and what we know we should be.

How to know if one is backslidden?
*Joy is lacking.
*Excitement is lacking.
*Worship is lacking if worship exists at all in your daily life.
*Prayer is a drudgery and is “used” only when something is needed or wanted.
*Your Christ-ian witness has suffered, or is non-existent. You know not the last time you shared Christ and care not.
*You have never shared Christ in certain settings such as a job, school, or with family or friends. When was the last time you even left a track behind or given one to someone?  When was the last time this even mattered? or even bothers you right now, after reading this.
*When was the last time you attended a service with anykind of excitement.
*When was the last time you even thought about listening to Christ-ian music.
*When was the last time you, on your own accord, read the Bible?
*When was the last time you saw someone who is walking with God and is entralled with God and you were envious?

We have made this next statement before and if you have read this before and if you still remain distant and careless of the things of Christ, you are most certainly backslidden or lost. “The backslider is an atheist in practice and the only difference between the backslider and the moral atheist is the love of God for the backslider.”  Did you get that reader? The only difference between you, if you are backslidden and a moral atheist, is God loves you.

Backslider, Enough is enough. Your condition is your fault alone and you alone are responsible.  God has nothing to do with it and you have nothing to do with God.  Get Right, Right now.

Godspeed.