i don't fault you for caring about people's salvation
or the end times but i do worry about some of the
people out there who get a bit (shall we say)
*excessive*?
you know the type i mean.
they consider the "Red Hat" society to be confirmation
of the end times because the women wear red and purple.
Is this proof that the Harlot of Babylon will be over 50?
If they could find a proof text that said Lillith would appear
wearing an ugly wide brimmed hat and would use the
initials "H.C." ,i think they'd be tickled to pieces.
Quite honestly,i don't give two hoots what Satan has planned.
He ain't about to win.
He can do annoying (like mosquitoes) or he can do tragic
(like AIDS or the Inquisition or the Holocaust).
But he's done his best to trash God's world before.
He may unleash all his arsenal at once this time
and he may have more co operation from us than he
has before but if you are a biblical literalist and you
do believe this is the final chapter then you know
that Satan is supposed to blow the biggest advantage he's had.
His anonymity.
Historically speaking,the idea of a personal force of evil is pretty
recent.
Evil went a long time being an 'it' rather than a 'he'.
But if all hell literally breaks loose then there is no
longer any doubt about Satan-or God.
There's no longer an issue of "I don't believe in
the supernatural","I don't believe in God,"
"I don't believe there's a Hell or Satan."
People will know who and what exists and
all they'll have to do is choose who they want
to side with.
A lot of people who think they're hearing the
last trump might be hearing Satan shooting
himself in the foot.
So,the 'last days' sign that you should focus on
should be a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
A huge revival bigger than anything we've had before.
If we have greater obstacles set in our paths then we
are going to have greater blessings than ever.
If the devil these scaremongers are worried about
does come forth,he'll be planning on spiritual
warfare based on swords and breastplates.
it'll never occur to him that our "full armor"
could have gotten upgraded to Kevlar and
and an M-16.
So I'd suggest you enjoy today just as if you
have the next 90 years or so to experience
the best and worst of typical human existence.
If we do have any pivotal events come up,
then you'll get exactly the amount of grace you need
to do what God needs you to do.
It won't be cripplingly hard or scary because
God will be doing the hard part for us.
I guess that's why our parents and grandparents
became a 'Great Generation'.
They faced troubles they couldn't try to deal
with by themselves or by being divisive.
They had to rely on the person next to them
and quite a few relied on God.
They overcame terrible tragedies then and
their children and grandchildren will do
no less if that is what's required.
The question is: Can we hold onto our
strengths if there is no wolf at the door?
Can we remember the value of responsibility
and stewardship and courage and compassion
when we are safe and prosperous?
Can we still save the world when the dangers
are across town or across the ocean?
I think we still have a few lessons to learn
from mundane living before we get called upon
to be heroes again.
Crises are easy.
Real Life is hard.
Prepare yourself for Real Life.
If you can pull that off,Armageddon will
be a cinch.