Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Even though we are told in several passages of the Bible that there would be a time of trouble such as never was, it is not God’s will that we be consumed with the prophetic utterances, to the point where we become frozen with fear, and thereby fail to do that which God has ordained that we should do.
Yes, it is true that Christ is coming soon, and yes, the nations of earth are scheduled to become more and more embroiled in wars and rumors of wars, and it is true that Covid and other pestilences aren’t done with us yet. However, in the meantime your electric bill, and your water bill, and your rent, or mortgage has to be paid.
The Christian in our day, who sincerely believes in the 2nd coming of Christ, can go ahead and take out a mortgage, if you can afford it, especially with the Feds set to begin cutting interest rates soon. There is nothing written anywhere in the Bible that says you should not.
When the mark of the beast comes upon the face of the earth, you will have to leave it all behind, even if you are renting, because the issue of enforcement of false worship, together with the restrictions and removal of your economic privileges would affect home owners, and renters alike.
In other words, you will not get a pass just because you are a renter. In fact, us having houses and lands, does not affect the spirituality of the true believer. It is when folks become obsessed, and consumed with the temporal concerns of life, that they can become a problem.
But if one is a believer in Christ, you can be enabled to manage a portfolio of both spiritual and temporal interests with the balance that is found in the Bible. It all has to do with where your heart is. Let’s read:
Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
A shining example of managing a balanced portfolio of both spiritual and temporal concerns, is found in the life of Abraham, the father of the faithful, who was exceedingly rich, and yet his heart and treasure were found in heaven.
In other words, Abraham would not allow material things to stop him from preaching, and if ever there was a conflict between the two, preaching would take the priority, hence the reason why God could add these things unto him, for they would not pose an existential threat to his eternal destiny. Let’s read:
Genesis 13: 14 And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward.
15 For all the land which you see, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.
17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
In other words, God is going to load him up with a bunch of material, and temporal things and thus, we must observe how Abraham would now manage his portfolio in ways that would be pleasing to God. We are just wondering what is the very first thing he’ll do. Let’s read:
Genesis 13: 18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.
Note well, Abraham didn’t build a house for himself first, instead he built an altar, a place of worship, for there is where his heart and his treasure was.
Here he goes again, with the same order of priority, even as his flocks, and herds, his Bitcoin, and Crypto are scheduled to multiply exceedingly. He just does not lose his focus. Let’s read:
Genesis 26: 24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.
25 And he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants dug a well.
Genesis 12:7 And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, unto thy seed will I give this land: and there he built an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.
8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he built an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.
Building an altar unto The Lord translates into two main things: [1] Abraham first acknowledges God as the giver of all that he has received. But he does not stop there, for if one only acknowledges God as The Giver, then the ministry of the gospel, by which one is to get actively involved in can suffer on a personal level.
Many Christians in our day stop at this first point, for they do acknowledge God as the Giver, by their return of tithes and offerings, but after that, the rest of the mission often sinks into oblivion, as many do not actively engage in the great commission given to us by Christ.
This leads us to the second meaning of “Building an altar: [2] After he acknowledges God as The Giver, Abraham goes on to get involved in active ministry, preaching wherever he went, and having as his main goal in life, to win as many souls to God’s kingdom as he possibly can, by God’s grace.
All the while he is preaching, he has men servants shearing sheep, taking care of his flocks, paying his mortgage, getting his Masters, and Doctorate, and advancing the cause of God’s kingdom wherever he can.
This is how Abraham was able to manage his dual portfolio, keeping the mission of God in first place, and managing the temporal aspects of life. By the way, all of the patriarchs, and prophets, including Abraham and Job, all had the blessed hope in their minds, bubbling up with joy and expectation.
Every one of them, without exception, were looking for the coming of Christ, not only in His incarnation, but also at His second coming, just like the you and me in the here and now, for there is no difference between them, and ourselves, as far as the blessed hope is concerned. This fact is certified in the Bible. Let’s read:
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Hebrews 11: 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Job 19: 25 For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Many of them also knew that there would be a time of trouble preceding Christ’s return, yet they were careful not to dwell on doom and gloom, but like a faithful steward, they made the very best of those opportunities to good, and advance God’s kingdom wherever they could.
For instance, here is Job getting a heads up of some of the dire prophecies pertaining to the last days of earth’s history. Yet, he does not go into a full-blown panic mode, nor does he restrict the activities that have so far characterized his life.
Job 38: 22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
Instead, of limiting his activities, Job goes to work, preaching, praying, and multiplying sheep and oxen by the thousands as The Lord blesses him. The grim prophecy to him was not interpreted as a doom and gloom mandate. Instead, it was the best incentive to do all he could, whilst he could. Let’s read:
Job 42: 12 So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
The prophecies given in the Bible pertaining to the last days were never intended to bring to a halt, or to slow and restrict, good, uplifting activities. They were meant to encourage the Christian to ramp up the preaching of the gospel, together with all of the other advancements in life that God’s blessings may afford. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 141] Abraham's household comprised more than a thousand souls. Those who were led by his teachings to worship the one God, found a home in his encampment; and here, as in a school, they received such instruction as would prepare them to be representatives of the true faith.
Thus, a great responsibility rested upon him. He was training heads of families, and his methods of government would be carried out in the households over which they should preside.
In fact, if the Christian can hold the interests of life in their proper order of priority, then the sky is the limit. Most of the patriarchs and prophets we read of in the Bible maintained a balanced portfolio, and according to sacred history, they never lost sight of the blessed hope in the process.
They kept Christ and heaven always in view, and as such, they were able by the grace of God to enlarge their borders, and in this God was well pleased. It is His will that His people should be constantly on the move, advancing, overcoming new challenges, and hurdles, and shooting for the stars in everything we put our minds to do.
This is just as much a part of the Christian’s duty, as are the other aspects of life in Christ, for we are told to occupy till Jesus comes. And even though it is the work of soul-saving that is to take priority, we must not be so heavenly minded, and no earthly good, so as to render ourselves irrelevant, and not useful in the here and now.
Until such time as God sees fit to shut down all the temporal concerns of life His people are to be found busy and not idle. Higher education should never be put on hold just because Jesus is coming soon, and husbands, and wives are not to refrain from having kids, just because they see the signs being fulfilled.
The signs which pertain to the last days of earth’s history have been fulfilling for almost two centuries now and if our parents and grandparents decided to not have children, because of the prophecies, none of us here today would have been born. Thus, the end time prophecies given in the Bible were never meant to scare God’s people.
Instead, they are given so that persons may position themselves intelligently, as God leads and directs. In every instance, where Christ had called His disciples to the ministry, they were working men. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, and even Judas, were all working men.
The same is true of our day, for God does not want His people to wait in idleness, but like Paul, we are to adopt the two-pronged approach, wherever it is possible, so that we may preach and work, work and preach, just like the faithful did in former years.
The history of the children of Israel leaving Egypt is meant to furnish in-depth instruction for those who are preparing to enter the heavenly Canaan, and if we were to study sacred history closely, we would see that many children and little kids were present as the plagues unfolded across the land. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 10: 11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
In fact, according to the sacred record they actually were producing more kids, right up until the time of their appointed departure, and as a result, families with numerous little ones, made their escape.
When the scriptural numbers are tallied correctly, we will discover that there were many more women and children than men. There is nothing written in the Bible cautioning folks not to have children, until the time, and the sign specified by Jesus. Let’s read:
Matthew 24: 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house.
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
[Patriarchs and Prophets pp 291] The varied experience of the Hebrews was a school of preparation for their promised home in Canaan. God would have His people in these days review with a humble heart and teachable spirit the trials through which ancient Israel passed, that they may be instructed in their preparation for the heavenly Canaan.
Thus, even though the signs are multiplying upon the earth at a rate, we are not to cultivate a doom and gloom perspective, especially as it pertains to having kids. God actually opened up the wombs of the Israelite women, just prior to them making their exit from Egyptian bondage. Let’s read:
Exodus 1:11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered before the midwives come in unto them.
20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
Exodus 10:8 And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the Lord your God: but who are they that shall go?
9 And Moses said, we will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord.
37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
Throughout sacred and secular history, there has always been more women and children than men, especially since men have long been an endangered species. Therefore, when we read of the six hundred thousand men, we are actually looking at more than two million people in total. Let’s read:
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 333] When the time came for Israel's deliverance, Satan set himself to resist the purposes of God. It was his determination that that great people numbering more than two million souls should be held in ignorance and superstition.
The tendency to focus on doom, and gloom causes some believers to greatly restrict their potential and God is not pleased, nor is He honored by this course of action. On the contrary, the very fact that Jesus is coming soon, should motivate the Christian to do all he or she can, whilst the opportunities still linger.
While focusing on preaching the Gospel to everyone we come in contact with, you could still buy a house and make investments as the Lord leads. This does not necessarily detract from the Gospel mission, if it is held in a balanced format with the mission taking priority at all times.
The doom and gloom mentality is what had gripped the mind of the unfaithful steward who, because of his outlook, hunkered down in his basement, with the talent God gave him, and there he sat, cowering in fear, as if expecting some tornado.
As the parable goes, the other two stewards were each given five and two talents respectively, and in their cases, the knowledge that their Lord was going to return, goaded them to do all they could with the talents entrusted to them. Let’s read:
Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
It is worthy of note that there are similarities, and differences between the three stewards. All three of them knew the master was going to return and they were all given talents, according to their abilities, to be multiplied.
The difference between them was the perspectives they harbored. The two faithful stewards, harbored a positive outlook, even as they harbored the same blessed hope like the faithful in ages past.
But the unfaithful steward harbored a perspective of doom and gloom, which caused him to be fearful of just about everything. We do not know exactly what caused him to be fearful.
Maybe he was reading the daily news, or maybe he was listening to some politician who was painting a bleak picture of the country where he lived with the only solution being to elect this, or that one.
We do not know, but the bottom line is that the 3rd steward cherished an outlook of doom and gloom, which ultimately caused him put the brakes on any and everything that would have doubled the talent entrusted to him. Let’s read:
Matthew 25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoned with them.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed.
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
It’s worthy of note that in the next passages, of all those who will be lost for eternity, the fearful top the list. Not adulterers, not liars, of whom we have a million and one now in the public square, not even murderers. It’s the fearful who are mentioned first. Let’s read:
Revelation 21: 7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
One of the reasons why some Christians, especially among the remnant may be hesitant to have kids at this time is because of the state of our world and a fear that the kids would be put to sleep before Jesus comes.
Guess what? Whether you are a child, or an adult, just before the mark of the beast reaches its peak, many folks will be laid to rest. This fact is certified not only by the servant of The Lord, it is also written in the Scriptures, so that the saints of God will know what to expect when crunch time comes around.
To put it plainly, God, in mercy, will lay many of His people to rest, if He knows they will not be able to survive Revelation chapters 13 and 14. In order to ensure that they are saved, He is scheduled to take this preemptive measure, just before prime time begins. Let’s read:
Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them.
This should not be a cause for doom and gloom, it should be a cause for great hope, since this would guarantee the salvation of all who truly believe at that time, because, in all that God does, He always keeps the best interest of His people in mind.
Therefore, let us look for a brighter tomorrow, let us make the most of present opportunities to do good and to preach, and let all who are willing, ready and able, get busy doing The Lord’s work, for the night is far spent, and the day is at hand.
In harmony with this truth, we will end our study with a passage which should lay to rest all fears, as we look for the blessed hope to be realized, sooner rather than later, and as we work towards that end. Let’s read:
Romans 14: 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
God Bless!