We are now living in an era of extremes, in which all the systems of earth are being stretched to their limits, with no resolution in sight, and thus, with the widespread rejection of Jesus, and His salvation in many circles, and with the many manifestations of evil and ungodliness now being witnessed on a daily basis, it becomes quite evident that we have only a few remaining moments of time to get our houses in order, so that we may not be swept off our feet as the scheduled shaking begins to exponentially intensify.
Starting with the weather systems, we see that the winter of 2014-2015 was the warmest on record, since records began to be kept in the 18th century. As was stated before, the violation of God’s moral law naturally results in the interference of natural and physical law, for God is the Author of both. Sea level rise is now taking place at an alarming extent, and officials in Miami Dade and Broward counties are now being forced to address, and reckon with the ominous prospect of land reclamation through unprecedented sea level rise, which according to the Bible and science, will threaten all the coastal cities of America, this as iniquity across the land deepens. Let’s read:
By Mike Clary and Brian Ballou, Contact Reporters Sun Sentinel. Sept. 28 2015.
Early Monday, the National Weather Service in Miami issued a coastal flood advisory for Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. Receding water in the morning left puddles and debris on many streets in the Las Olas Isles, Riviera Isles and Idlewyld neighborhoods. Mud and leaves covered many sections of Coconut Isle Drive.
"It's the highest I've seen it," Angelini said. "But I'm not too worried because there's no storm." In Delray Beach, some roads looked more like lakes. Residents said it's common for the high tides to rise over the seawalls into the streets.
The winter of 2014-15 was the warmest on record worldwide, according to the state of the climate report released by the (NOAA)National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration on Wednesday. This tops the previous warmest winter of 2007 by 0.05 degrees Fahrenheit. Global temperature records are available for the period 1880-2015.
The American West Dries Up!
ALAN TAYLOR APR 2, 2015 21 PHOTOS IN FOCUS
Yesterday, California Governor Jerry Brown stood on a dry, bare hillside in the Sierra Nevada mountains, which would normally be deep under snow at this time of year, and announced an executive order aimed at dramatically reducing water usage statewide. The severity of the drought, now entering its fourth year, has already reached record levels in many places in California and across the West. Lake Powell, a reservoir on the Utah-Arizona border, is currently at 45 percent of capacity and is at risk of reaching the lowest level on record by September. California's snowpack, which generally provides about a third of the state's water, is already at its lowest level on record.
And then we have the dramatic rise of extremism in the Middle-East, across Europe, and right here in the continental United states. In days and centuries gone by, we often read of horrific crimes committed against humanity by the likes of such criminals as Hitler and the Roman emperors Nero, Domitian and Caligula. But these rulers all had one basic thing in common, in that they always sought to preserve their own lives, whilst doing great harm to others. But the violent brand of extremism in our day is one in which the perpetrators look forward to dying, which presents quite a unique and unprecedented type of challenge, for how are our soldiers, our law enforcement, and prosecutors alike, to combat a mindset that eagerly looks forward to death?
And then there’s extremes in the political arena also, for every person you ask will attest to the fact that there has never ever been an election cycle quite like the one we are now witnessing, with cursing, and beatings, and fist fights, and punches occurring so often. And never in our nation’s history has the left gone so far to the left, and never before have the right gone so far to the right, so that there seems to be no middle ground for rational beings to take sides anymore. We are indeed living in an era of terrible extremes!
And as if that were not enough, it seems as if the same extreme mindset has been permeating our churches, for anywhere you go, you can now find extremely liberal churches, where liberty is viewed as license, and where the highest moral standard is that of one’s feelings, emotions, or the ever variable standards of righteousness which can change from person to person. Then on the other extreme end of the spiritual spectrum, we’re now faced with ultra conservative churches, where the service of God has become lifeless and formatted, with no joy or gladness, and where a cold formalism has replaced the life-giving currents of faith, hope, and love. It is indeed evident, that we are currently living in an era of extremes!
But while we are not to vouch for conservatives or liberals, we must give the trumpet a certain sound, for in the not too distant future, the churches of Christendom, including the remnant church will be subjected to a terrible shaking that will result in a mass exodus from the truth, and therefore it is imperative that we give warning before it happens so that all who so desire, may position themselves intelligently and securely in Christ, The only One who can keep us from falling.
In years gone by, Bible studies have been conducted in such a manner as to identify problems as well as workable solutions. But the very daunting challenge about that which is headed our way, is that we are now faced with the prospect that there may be no answers or resolutions, to the two extremes which will be developed. In commenting upon this very terrible ordeal the servant of the Lord, as well as the Bible prophets give a clear and distinct warning. Let’s read:
Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children”…
17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
Selected Messages 2:114 (1896). If Satan sees that the Lord is blessing His people and preparing them to discern his delusions, he will work with his master power to bring in fanaticism on the one hand and cold formalism on the other, that he may gather in a harvest of souls.
[Last Day Events pp. 172>174] Divisions will come in the church. Two parties will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the harvest. When the law of God is made void the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Even in our day there have been and will continue to be entire families who have once rejoiced in the truth, but who will lose faith because of calumnies and falsehoods brought to them in regard to those whom they have loved and with whom they have had sweet counsel”… The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out, the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place.
The Title of our Bible study for this afternoon is “How to survive in an era of extremes”, and in harmony with that solemn theme the Bible gives us a few pertinent instructions, which if we are diligent to follow by the grace of God, will go a long way in enabling us to emerge unscathed at the other end of the tunnel.
[1] We must keep our eyes on Christ, never forgetting The one who bled and died to save us from sin. It is satan’s relentless effort to cause us to let go the hands of Christ for any and every reason. It is therefore imperative that during these trying times, that we focus on Christ, not on the variables nor the crucibles which may threaten our faith and our sanity from time to time. Let us then be aware that the heat of the furnace will soon be turned up several notches, and it will only be those who cling unflinchingly to Christ who will survive. Let’s read:
Romans 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses”… “let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
[2] We must study the word of God for ourselves, so that we be convinced of the truth individually. This point cannot be stressed enough, for there are too many who depend on others to explain the word of God to themselves. This is not to say that there’s no room for the teaching ministry, but The Lord will have us to understand that the onus is on us to dig deep for ourselves, just like the Bereans did. Let’s read:
Acts 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
2nd Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
[Last Day Events pp. 70] When the time of trial shall come there are men now preaching to others who will find, upon examining the positions they hold, that there are many things for which they can give no satisfactory reason. Until thus tested they knew not their great ignorance. And there are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand what they believe, but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness. When separated from those of like faith and compelled to stand singly and alone to explain their belief, they will be surprised to see how confused are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth.
[3] We must ask God to clothe us with the armor of Christ’s righteousness from the crown of our heads to the soles of our feet. This last, but very important requirement is absolutely essential to us not being swept off our feet. The various pieces of the armor are to be found in the following passages, and it will be worth the while for us to put the entire chapter to memory, for we will need it in short order. Let’s read:
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
[Early Writings pp. 269>270] I saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God. Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in their countenances; large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads. Now and then their faces would light up with the marks of God's approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest, anxious look would settle upon them.
Evil angels crowded around, pressing darkness upon them to shut out Jesus from their view, that their eyes might be drawn to the darkness that surrounded them, and thus they be led to distrust God and murmur against Him. Their only safety was in keeping their eyes directed upward. Angels of God had charge over His people, and as the poisonous atmosphere of evil angels was pressed around these anxious ones, the heavenly angels were continually wafting their wings over them to scatter the thick darkness.
As the praying ones continued their earnest cries, at times a ray of light from Jesus came to them, to encourage their hearts and light up their countenances. Said the angel, “Look ye!” My attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were mightily shaken. I was shown those whom I had before seen weeping and praying in agony of spirit. The company of guardian angels around them had been doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from their head to their feet. They moved in exact order, like a company of soldiers. Their countenances expressed the severe conflict which they had endured, the agonizing struggle they had passed through. Yet their features, marked with severe internal anguish, now shone with the light and glory of heaven. They had obtained the victory, and it called forth from them the deepest gratitude and holy, sacred joy.
Now brethren, it is with a solemn appeal that we will end our study for today. Now is not the time to play church, nor is it expedient for us to be having a superficial relationship with The Lord, centering our hope of salvation on formalism and ritual, when the essential elements of practical godliness are lacking. Hence the reason why we close with the following passage, and it is the will of God that as many who desire to be saved from the coming terrible ordeal, may take heed whilst there is still opportunity to do so. Let’s read:
Revelation22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word.
God bless!