“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14 KJV). Here today, gone tomorrow. Our existence is fleeting. Look at so many who have died at relatively young ages throughout history. Jesus of Nazareth died on a Cross at the age of 33. Alexander the Great died at age 32. Robert Murray M’Cheyne (age 29): “It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likenesses to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.” Jim Elliot (age 29): “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Imminence is the likelihood of occurring at any time. Though death may not come so early without accident, war, or plagues, would we be considered wise to consider death or departure from this life as imminent and long life as more of a bonus? If we would live our life as fleeting, would we better serve Christ? “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” (Romans 14:8). Though we could depart this life at any moment, we would certainly return with Christ. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him” (1Thessalonians 4:14). As far as our fleeting life is concerned, could we say we believed in a Doctrine of Imminence? “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1Peter 4:7-8 NIV).
Jesus of Nazareth
False Prophet: Beast Out of the Earth (Revelation 13:11)
Appearing with the religious character of a lamb, the False Prophet (Revelation 19:20) speaks like the devil, and he is no different from the Antichrist. “And I beheld another [Greek, allos, another of the same kind] beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon” (Revelation 13:11 KJV). He purposely directs the worship toward the Antichrist (13:12), who the world knows is empowered by the dragon (13:4). How could religion be used so zealously against the righteous? Christianity began with the martyrdom of Jesus at the hands of the unbelieving Jews. Yet, Judaism continues to be the root of the tree. “For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15). Typically, a prophet comes before in order to introduce the one appointed to receive the attention, just as John the Baptist came before Jesus of Nazareth. It should not surprise us to find a religious figure prior to the Tribulation with deep ties to historic anti-christianity, which especially depicts the adulteress character of the Thyatiran Church Age (representative of the center and bulk of Church History), who could answer to the description, the False Prophet (Revelation 16:13). This False Prophet would be active long before the Antichrist ascends to the throne of the World Temple in the middle of the Tribulation Week. Father, Your Son taught us to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Cause us to be those doves, as we advocate for Your Son. Cause the sting of the enemy’s objection to be thwarted by the power of Your Spirit blessing the message, preserving the messenger, but, most of all, justifying You. Return quickly, in Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
We Need A Miracle 