Is Time Running Out?
by Bro. Ken

Something very BIG is about to happen! It may be a part of the Millennium Anxiety, or Satan releasing his storm of fear, or it could be the strong and urgent move of the Holy Spirit. I believe we are seeing all three take place in our day. James tells us, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12. What do I mean when I ask the question, Is Time Running Out? What I feel deep in my spirit is there is a call of God going into all the world to return to Him with all our hearts. I believe it very well could be the last call of God in this the church age. There is a fresh wind of God's Spirit blowing over the church. Have you felt His Spirit?

Have you heard Him speak to you to come out of worldly thinking and put on the "Mind of Christ". Have you received Jesus Christ into your heart by accepting His sacrifice for your sins? Have you confessed to Him and ask His forgiveness? Have you made the decision to turn from your own way, Lord of your life? We are living in the age (time period) we call Grace, but is the time period coming to a close? Is the world about to be thrust into a new period of time referred to in the Old Testament as "the time of Jacob's trouble", "that day", "the day of the Lord", and what the New Testament calls the "tribulation"? Some believe we are in the early stages of those days already. Whatever be the case, we are in times of great change. Let me share with you some Biblical truths that point out that we are truly at the end of this the church age.

These are very clear to those who take the words of Jesus seriously. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him". Matthew 24:42-44. Jesus said that there is something in this parable that we are to understand. If we do understand, then Jesus second coming into our world will not catch us off guard. So we are to watch, but what are we to watch for? There must be certain things, signs, that would alarm us to His soon coming.

First---The prophets foretold the church age would be coming to a close when the time came for the Jews to be restored back into their homeland. Before 1948 many believed this was impossible. How would the Jews who have been scattered throughout the world for almost 2500 years return to the original land of their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Yet, it happened just as the prophets had spoken. (Ezekiel 37) The generation born in 1948 is a marked generation.

Second--The prophets foretold the church age would be coming to a close when the time came where Jerusalem would be the center of controversy of world religions. The Arabs and the Jews have their differences. These differences would continue to boil before the lid blows off. In 1967, Jerusalem became the center of Israel once again. The 1967 six-day war, where Jerusalem was taken by Israel, was fulfilled prophecy. It is an important date for the marked generation born in 1948. (Joel 3, Zechariah 12-14.)

Third---The prophets foretold the church age would be coming to close when the world would see a second exodus of Jews coming out of all the countries of the world back to their home land. The prophets describe this exodus as greater than the one in Egypt under the leadership of Moses. Certainly the generation alive to see such a thing would be a marked generation. We are that generation. It is in its beginning stages, watch what is about to take place. Once again the 1948 generation is a marked generation. (Jeremiah 14:14-15; Jeremiah 31; Isaiah 11:10-16)

Forth---The prophets foretold the church would be coming to a close when knowledge and travel would increase so quickly man could hardly keep up. In fact, this would be a sign pointing to the very last years of the church age. How has traveled changed? Not more than a hundred years ago Adam and Eve's way of travel was ours. How has traveled changed in fifty years? Well we have been to the Moon and back. How about knowledge? The Encyclopedia Britannica tells us that knowledge is doubling every 22 months. The generation of 1948 is the marked generation to see this happen. Daniel 12.

As we enter this time period called the tribulation, let our hope and trust be in the Lord who has called us to Himself. Let us be prepared to help all that will be in need of Christ. Let us heed the words of Jesus, who said "Watch". Let us be prepared to receive all that God has for the church. There is a fresh wind of the Holy Spirit blowing into our lives, Let us breath deep and receive His Holy Breath.