Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…I am totally excited about my upcoming blogs! As I’ve confessed many times before – because I have never considered myself to be anything even close to a writer – I’ve learned to count on the Holy Spirit to prompt me with a particular direction, then to lead me through each presentation. Sometimes when I read what I’ve just written, I can only smile, shake my head, and say, “Thank you Holy Spirit for your faithfulness! No doubt, “He must become greater, and I must become less.” (John 3:30) Then I say, “Thank you, Danie”, my earthly angel who has taken on the arduous task of being my proof-reader, because she keeps me presentable. As you can plainly see, it takes a village to keep me rolling 😊, but now, I have come to love this forum.
Without a doubt, I have a particular message to carry, which is the truth of the Gospel of Grace, and I try not to deviate to far from that endeavor. But I also enjoy current events and politics, so when I feel I can combine the two, I have always enjoyed doing that. I am mentioning this because I have a small Bible study group that has committed to joining me on a trip through the Book of Revelation. We agreed at the outset to commit six to nine months to thoroughly examine every Scriptural reference, and to research multiple commentaries on each chapter. So far, we’re four and a half months into it, and we’re half way through the chapter.
But even at the half way point, the message is clear. This chapter is nothing but hope and confirmation for Christ-followers, but it should scare the living hell out of non-believers. Not because God is a mean God or a vengeful God, but because He is a just God. Sin (living a self-centered rather than God-centered life) produces unwanted consequences because its contamination “spreads, kills and destroys” (John 10:10). Remember, this world was Paradise at the outset. But does it look like Paradise now? Absolutely not! “Why?” you ask. Because Sin entered the world. All of the hatred, anger, fear, jealousy, guilt, shame, remorse, lying, cheating, stealing, murder, depression, stress, finger-pointing, name-calling, poverty, oppression, addictions, sickness and even death are the result of Man choosing to live separated from God’s will. None of this was part of God’s plan for the world. In fact, when He created the world and Man, He proclaimed both to be “good”. And “good” in God’s jargon means perfect!
When I was walking the dogs early this morning, I felt strongly that I was being directed to tackle this particular subject for my next few blogs. I believe that the only way to combat the bondage that enslaves our culture today is by presenting God’s Truth. As Jesus told His disciples in John 8:32: “If you follow my teachings, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Is that true? The only way to know is to go to the source of Truth, the Holy Bible, and challenge it.
The Holy Bible makes a formidable claim. It claims to be the inspired Word of God. Is that true? Well, that claim has been challenged from its inception by some of the greatest minds in history: scientists, physicists, mathematicians, philosophers, scholars, academics, atheists, agnostics, all with the intent of proving it wrong. As far as I know, that has never happened. I mean, just imagine what would happen today if the Holy Bible could be proven wrong. Every news station, every headline, every ticker-tape would stop and reset; signs would be made and people would proclaim, “The Bible is a fraud! We always knew it was a fraud!” If that happened, I believe we would certainly know it. But I think this is a more likely scenario: People have read the Bible, then put it down and have said , “I don’t accept this” or “I don’t want to live like this.” That is their right. God gave us free-will, and we all make our own choices. But with every choice comes a consequence, and therein is the rub.
For instance, when the Israelites experienced freedom after four-hundred years of bondage to Egypt, utter chaos ensued among the people in the wilderness. Therefore, God gave them Ten Commandments as civil law. His promise was, “Do these ten things, and you can live in peace and harmony.” This was God’s light given to them in their time of darkness. But true to their sin-nature (human nature),”they loved their darkness more than the light, because their actions were evil.” (John 3:19. I used this verse here because I think it’s truth is applicable here as well.) But because of the Israelites continued disregard for God’s Commandments (civil law), they wandered around in the wilderness for forty years, not reaching the Promised Land until the whole older generation died off.
Not only is the Bible a book of history, but it also has no equal as a book of prophecy. God spoke through prophets throughout the Bible foretelling of coming events with pin point accuracy. No doubt hundreds of Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament were fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ, but some of the Old Testament prophecies, especially in the Book of Daniel and Zechariah, and the New Testament prophecies have been very explicit about what is to be expected as we enter into “the time of the end.” (This term was first used six hundred years before the birth of Christ in the Book of Daniel, Chapter 12. Daniel was told by an Angel (most likely Gabriel) that in his vision he saw “a time of anguish, horror, and wickedness greater than any since the nations first came into existence. But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the “time of the end.”)
Truth be told, what is happening with our fallen culture and in the world right now should not come as a shock to anyone. In fact, it’s been predicted with pin-point accuracy for thousands of years. But Bible reading and study has certainly fallen out of favor with today’s liberal progressive agenda. That is most unfortunate because most people run the risk of being caught off guard. We are called to watch and listen, and if you know what to watch and listen for, it’s not hard to see the signs lining up. We are told the end will come as in the days of Noah. Matthew 24:37-39 gives us this glimpse. “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the Flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties, and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen to them until the Flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man returns.”
My plan is to use the next few blogs to talk more about the Tribulation, signs, and the Great Tribulation. Then a repeat of the Gospel of Grace and why that is the only choice for a would-be survivor.
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May God Bless Ya…
Dan Presgrave, (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)
“But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because you redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28 NASB This verse is referring to previous verses of Christ warning of the signs of the end times. We must not only recognize them for ourselves but be committed to sharing the Gospel with others and in turn sharing the signs of the end times with them as well. All the more reason to hide His Word in our hearts. I love reading your blogs each week, Dan.
Thank you, Susan. I am just now seeing your reply to blog dated 5-7-2018. No doubt you are right on!