WBVN has always expressed its purpose as a ministry of encouragement. For us, encouragement is a given characteristic of Faith. We can actually be in the middle of trouble, perhaps in very discouraging things, but not be moved off of how encouraging the Gospel is regardless of those things. What we’re seeing around the world today, as negative as it is, also significantly hints at the truth of prophecy. Jesus Christ is still the answer, the Light of the world, the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Savior, the Lord, the Comforter, Messiah Deliverer, and much more in spite of the things we hear and see each day. By simply believing, we don’t make Him any of those things; they are facts, that’s exactly Who He is. It’s encouraging to know that. Apparently, some of the future is going to be ugly, but then eventually glorious. While the ugly may get to our brains, we should not let it get to our hearts. No one knows the exact timeline of God’s moves, but this moment seems like a crossroads moment of whether the Gospel message will even continue.
I don’t believe you can find God’s Peace if you can’t find the cause of all this trouble. Forty years ago I remember a biblical teacher expressing days similar to these in our future. He characterized them as a time of ‘separation for clarification.’ We are by all accounts being forced, by the cultures we live in, to choose sides about so many events. Today, much of what we’re confronted with daily is simply man establishing his/her own morality and ethic. In doing so, they’re pushing out the Creator’s morality and ethic. Division causes two things- it creates havoc, and it creates a clear picture of which side of the fence you’re standing on; the separation is a marker to help us make easy choices. It’s our choice whether to be in the Light or stay, even proceed, into darkness. Darkness by default is the absence of The Light. That absence is the only thing that gives darkness its power. Darkness prevails only without the presence of Jesus- The Light.
I like to remember: God is not mocked; what man sows, he will also reap. (Gal. 6:7) In Acts 2, Pentecost was the beginning of God’s warfare into reclaiming all the nations, Gentile and Jew. That continues today. God is consistent and patient. He alone has a ‘cosmic watch’ and knows exactly what time it is. His is a big picture project. God’s purpose for creation from the beginning was simple: relationship with the creature He made in His image. First attempt ended with the failure of Adam and Eve. Second attempt ended with the rescue of Noah and his family. Third attempt Abraham. Next time, the nation of Israel is chosen. Each ended and didn’t produce the family response cherished in the Father’s heart. Finally Jesus came, and he acknowledged ‘It is finished”; he did it! And, he’s the only one that did finish it. By being in Christ we enter into the Father, Son and Spirit’s relationship through Jesus. Now, a new creation is set in place, one that began with the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. In spite of what it looks like today, Jesus has a kingdom and it’s in place. You’re invited to be a citizen. In Isaiah 61:1-11 we find the purpose and the heart of God for Jew and Gentile. (…preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to the bound; …)
Historically: 1Cor 2:7-8, lets us in on a mystery, a secret, something hidden from the foundation of the world. There we learn that, had evil known the whole story, it would not have crucified Jesus. If they had been aware of what was happening, no way would they have killed Jesus. In Scripture what’s revealed is Jesus ‘duped’ them into killing Messiah, he manipulated them. Their murder of Jesus created ‘Savior of the world.’ When Jesus went to Jerusalem he was setting the trap, a trap that actually had the spirit of anti-Christ, purposed to do evil, that miraculously made Salvation possible! That mystery was hidden knowledge not even the 12 disciples knew.
Peter put on a pretty good show of how the disciples felt. He raised Cain when confronted with Jesus’ announcement that he was going to die. The disciples had planned on an earthly rule. They were part of the Old Testament vision of Messiah; the idea that a Jewish savior would throw out Roman rule and abolish all religious corruption. The New Testament vision in the heart of God was different. The OT people understood Messiah- descendent of King David, yet they had no idea Messiah- Savior of the world. The disciples opposed Jesus dying. It was not in their plans for their future king. However in God’s plan, the spirit of anti-Christ would kill Jesus and, in effect, they would create the future kingdom of God for all mankind, all nations. I wouldn’t be shocked that the spirit of anti-Christ is in the middle of creating Jesus’ return right now. Those opposed to Him might not see that, but it looks true; the very folks that hate the thought of a second coming may very well be ushering it in; Jesus again duping anti-Christ into preparing the way for a New Heaven and a New Earth.
Today we’re left scratching our heads, how can so much spirit of anti-Christ be seemingly everywhere and in everything? How can there be so much unity against Life as the father would have it for us. It seems to be that everyday a new and more anti-Christ world emerges. The simple answer is that, as the spirit of anti-Christ becomes bolder, more aggressive, its resistance to ‘Life as the Father would have it for you’ swells. That’s the head scratching part.
Rebellion against the Love of God is so huge and organized we can’t explain it with logic. That spirit of anti-Christ wants us fighting only in our flesh not the spiritual. God encourages us not struggle simply in the physical but also to fight on our knees and by listening and following Him. Paul reminds us we’re not required to confront principalities and powers directly with just our own strength. (Eph 6:12) I have a pastor friend that says, ‘Don’t hear what I’m not saying.’ So I’ll say it like this: that doesn’t mean we don’t do everything we can to share this Gospel and to oppose the destruction of the Gospel message and our culture. We should certainly be active in doing so. I’m not saying don’t resist, just saying have confidence that we have a Helper, a Counselor with us.
In the future, I personally expect a repeat performance similar to what evil did to Jesus’ physical life in his first coming. This time, the end will be trying to destroy Christ’s spiritual life right in front of our eyes. Today, and I think especially today, much of the world is yelling ‘crucify him.’ The One who teaches Peace, crucify Him. The One who said love you neighbor, crucify Him. The One who created them male and female, crucify Him. The One who offers Peace, Hope and Joy, crucify Him. More than any time in my lifetime it appears more people and cultures than ever are opposed to God’s will on earth. His will for man. Today’s rejection of Jesus is similar to the days of Calvary. My confidence is that he personally will win this battle when it’s won. Just as Israel will know (Armageddon) what preserves them in the final battle, I think Christians will recognize the same hand of God exposed at the end of this age.
God created angels but He didn’t create them to be evil. However in Scripture, we can see that some did just that; angels rebelled. I don’t think they were predestined to do so but they chose to oppose God’s Love. Angels, and we, have God-given free will. I think it’s possible for God to know something will happen without causing it to happen. (Isa. 14, 2Peter 2:4-6, Rev. 12: 7-12) Our knowledge of an ‘angelic anti-Christ spiritual coup’ overlays our interpretation of what is happening in our daily lives. Years ago I came to realize we’re the invading army here. Fallen angels had been dumped here and with that, the original earth became void. (Gen. 1:2, Ez. 28-12, Luke 10:18) Then God created man and gave him dominion of Eden, and that resulted in the current conflict and struggle we’re experiencing today. We invaded a hornets’ nest.
As part of that rebellion, (the spirit of anti-Christ stopping Life as the Father would have it for us), Jesus was offered all the worldly kingdoms (Math 4:8), everything as far as the eye could see. That sounds exactly like today’s siren call to mankind. Just do this, get rid of that God guy and trust in our thing and you will have it all. Anti-Christ says you will be moral when you accept our morality and reject that God stuff. Jesus had a secret, a mystery, a hidden plan. Back then, and now, what God wanted was not anything more than family, a relationship with His creation. Look at the descriptions used so frequently in Paul’s writing about God’s purpose, words like sons, children, bride, bridegroom, heirs, and adoption, i.e. family. Revelation 21:4 is where we are headed in our future, what Jesus has prepared for us. (‘…and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.’)
We should not get discouraged or overwhelmed with what we see and hear each day. It didn’t look good at Calvary and it doesn’t look good now. But that’s not the measure of what is going on or what the results will be. The Bible expresses the true results. We can get on board with that or cave to the stress and pressure not to believe. The things we are seeing played out in front of us are bigger than economics or politics. We are observing spiritual warfare. Who wins? I believe the same One that won on a dark, discouraging, bloody day at Calvary. They thought they had Him then, and the anti-Christ spirit thinks it has Him now!