8-23-23 Persevering in a Dangerous World

Persevering in a Dangerous World – Jonathan Brentner - https://www.jonathanbrentner.com/https/jonathan-brentner-g8fgsquarespacecom/config/2022/10/31/persevering-in-a-dangerous-world We live in a time like no other. We live in biblical times. The voices warning of dire food shortages for 2023, skyrocketing energy costs for the coming winter, economic disaster, and threats of World War III come from a wide variety of sources, but few are paying attention. Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy, military generals in the U.S., and NATO leaders frequently talk of nuclear war and dirty bombs. But again, most people ignore the threats and plan for a future in which nothing will change the status quo or hamper their aspirations. Globalists such as Joe Biden are far more interested in fervently promoting abortion up to the moment of birth and the monstrous evil of transgenderism for children than they are in resolving the conflict in Ukraine, which threatens to engulf much of the world in a deadly war. We live in a time like no other because so very few people are paying attention to the deadly crises that loom on our horizon. We live in biblical times because what we see worldwide is precisely what God's Word says the world look like just before the start of the seven-year Tribulation. The similarity with prophecy is uncanny, but few believers recognize that we indeed live in times that are plainly prophesied in Scripture. In spite of the perilous times in which we live, please know that as believers we possess an exceedingly great hope, an over-the-top joyous anticipation of the glory that awaits us at Jesus' appearing. Let’s examine some practical aspects of this hope. PERSEVERING IN THE FAITH What enables us to persevere amid these dangerous times? In Philippians 3:20-21 and in 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, Paul describes the future biblical event that we call the "Rapture." It's the time when Jesus raises the dead in Christ, gives us who are alive imperishable bodies, and takes us up to His Father's house in heaven. In each passage, Paul follows up his discussion of the Rapture with encouragement to persevere, or stand firm in our faith (Philippians 4:1; 1 Corinthians 15:58).There's something about our anticipation of Jesus' appearing that gives us the courage to stand firm in these perilous times. It's our certain expectation of glory that enables us to move forward in serving the Lord regardless of the cost. It's recognizing that the joy that lies before us far outweighs any pain that might lie in our future. Is this not what Paul so eloquently stated in Romans 8:18? For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER WITH OUR HOPE In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, another passage that details the progression of events that we call the “Rapture,” the apostle instructs us to "encourage one another with these words" and then to "encourage one another and build one another up." The source for such mutual encouragement flows from our imminent expectation of meeting Jesus in the air. A biblical practice, or discipline, that's very much needed in our day is that of comforting each other with the hope that we share in Jesus' imminent appearing. It's in this joyous expectation, along with the like-minded encouragement, that we find the strength to persevere in our faith. At times, I very much wish I did not see what I see. But on the other hand, it motivates me to keep writing so that I might encourage those who are awake to the perils of our day. My desire is also to wake up other believers that do not yet recognize how the converging signs tell us the Tribulation is so very close, right on our doorstep. I recently wrote three blog posts with the intent that as whole, they might encourage those of us that are brokenhearted at the wickedness, deception, and lawlessness of our world. Someday, Jesus will answer the cry of our soul and return as a groom to gather His bride, the church, to Himself. WHY ARE WE SO CERTAIN OF OUR HOPE IN JESUS’ APPEARING? The first one deals with our certainty regarding what the Bible reveals to us regarding end time events. In Hebrews 6:18-19, we find these words: “ . . . so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.” Our hope is our anchor, the assurance that we can rely upon what the Bible says about our glorious hope, holds amid the turbulence of our day because of: 1. God’s promises 2. God’s character ISRAEL’S FUTURE RESTORATION VALIDATES OUR HOPE AS NEW TESTAMENT SAINTS After I graduated from Talbot Theological Seminary, I worked a year for the Lockman Foundation in support of their exhaustive concordance for the New American Standard Bible. For one year, I spent forty hours a week immersed in the Hebrew and Aramaic text of the Old Testament. Later, I returned to work in the Greek text of the New Testament for several weeks. As a result: 1. I came away with a deep and lasting love for the words of Scripture. 2. It made me immune to the teachings of those that spiritualize the words of the ancient prophets in order to substantiate their errant claim that the Lord has replaced Israel with the church. The words of Scripture matter. Our security as New Testament saints rests on the words of both the Old and New Testaments. In my book, The Triumph of the Redeemed, I wrote the following: “Consider this: If God can break His covenants with such Old Testament champions of the faith as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David, what does that say about His promises regarding our salvation? If God can renege on His unconditional promises to Israel, ones He repeated many times throughout the writings of the prophets and in the Psalms, what does that say about our security?" ENCOURAGEMENT FOR WEARY HEARTS If you feel overwhelmed by our world and yearn for Jesus to intervene and take you home, know that I wrote this article especially for you. Waiting is never easy, and we don’t know what additional suffering lies ahead for us between now and the Rapture (although it could happen today). The Lord’s wrath hangs over our world, especially America, like a dark cloud just before a violent storm erupts underneath. The Lord promises that we will not experience the wrath of the Day of Lord, but we do not know what might happen before He appears. Our encouragement comes from knowing that our expectation of Jesus' return is rock-solid certain; Jesus will absolutely come for us just He promised, and a myriad of signs tell us we live in the season of His appearing. RESPONSE If you know of other believers that need reminders of their glorious hope, please forward this newsletter to them or share it with them in some other way. If you have never called upon the Lord for the forgiveness of your sins, please do so before it’s too late. In my post, Jesus Is the Only Path to Eternal Life, I explain how you can know for sure that you have eternal life. In a recent blog post, Jesus Is the Only Path to Eternal Life, I explain how you can know that you find forgiveness for your sins in the blood that Jesus shed on the cross when He died for you. John 3:16 tells us that it’s a matter of believing in Jesus: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. In John 14:6, Jesus tells us that He’s the only path to eternal life: I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Please call upon Him today; tomorrow may be too late. In my book, The Triumph of the Redeemed, I go into much greater detail regarding God’s promised future restoration of a kingdom for Israel and why we can certain that Jesus is coming for His church before the start of the seven-year Tribulation.