Heaven Bound

This morning when I went to church, I had been asking the Lord to confirm some things that I have had on my mind recently.  I’ve been learning in the last couple of years to listen for his voice; I don’t always get it right; I’m still developing those skills of discernment, but, I can tell you this, when you sincerely seek him, he does answer.

One of the first things the Pastor said when he took the pulpit was “times are changing”. He actually said this in way of announcements as our Sunday Morning services are changing next Sunday Feb  7 from 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.  Interesting, but, not totally unexpected words given the coming change in schedule. BUT, it did provide my first clue in regard to the things God has been showing me in the last few days.

I haven’t written on my blog for a while, lack of inspiration, dedication or just plain laziness perhaps. But, I received an unexpected word of encouragement  that I took to be from the Lord today, when I received an e-mail from someone who I have not heard from since last August asking about my blog.  Strangely enough, it appears that they haven’t even read it yet, but, plan to check it out soon.  Guess if someone is going to check it out, I had better be “doin some writing”.  But, more than that, I believe the Lord was encouraging me to go ahead and write about the subject of this  post.

This is a somewhat new endeavor for me.  The subject I want to write on is new in two ways: 1) It is lengthy,, so I will be doing it over several posts (one each day this week, I hope as I believe the timing is crucial) – 2) What I will be doing is attempting to link Bible prophecy with threads of current events and pop culture.  This is something that I have been watching J Red at Look Up Fellowship, Ultra Guy at New Wineskins, Garden Girl at Running from Babylon,  Sue Bradly at Inklings of Other Worlds and Steve Coerper at Anakypto Forum Blog Talk Radio do for sometime.  They are so good at what they do (with God’s grace and by God’s help; for which, by the way, they always give credit) that over a period of time, they have come to be mentors for me.

With that as background, let me say that from listening to these folks, I have become greatly aware in a way that I never was before, how the nuts and bolts of Biblical prophecy is actually playing itself out in our day to day lives and in the world around us.  Actually, that should come as no surprise, as the Bible tells us not only what has happened in the past, but, what also will happen in the future – the earth and the heavens are the arena this spiritual warfare is being played out in.   The Bible is the infallible word of God, its prophecies true and faithful, as is its writer.   Interpreting these things on the other hand can be a bit trickier, therefore, we who serve as “watchmen on the wall” may or may not get things right  on an individual basis, but, as a body, I believe, we can be given a clear interpretation of what it is God is showing  us. 

To set up this study I want to clarify where I’m coming from, otherwise, what I want to take a look at will not be set in the right frame work.  First of all, as a student of Bible Prophecy, I believe that we are living in the “last days” before the soon return of Jesus.  Most students of Bible prophecy agree the prophetic time clock started ticking in 1948 with the re-birth of the nation of Israel.  With this in mind, the words of Jesus  become very clear, when he says says that “the generation that sees these things will not pass away until all these things have been fulfilled”.  A biblical generation is typically thought to be 70 years, which, when added to 1948 would take us to 2018.  If this is true, with the current year being 2010, that would mean that a whole lot has to happen between now and then.

What I want to focus on in this post and subsequent posts for the next few days has to do with 2 of our largest pop culture icons; football and rock n roll music.  Many of the watchman on the wall, including men like David Wilkerson have been warning and calling out for repentance on the part of Americans.  America is ripe for judgement; infact, over ripe for judgment.  I believe that our  sins have reached heaven and we have been put on notice …. if we do not repent of our sins, judgment will come.  God loves us, he has issued warning after warning ….. giving us time to repent.  I think 911 was one of those warnings (among many others) But, America has not heeded these warnings.  America continues in the sins that rise up as a stench in the face of God.  We have not given up our  sorceries, our magic, our murders, our slaughter of innocents, our lusts and perverted behaviors, our idolataries.   God is merciful, he would forgive, but, America  at this time, remains  unrepentant.   The Bible gives due warning – “be not deceived, what you sow, is what you will you reap.  I believe, the time of America’s judgment may well be imminent.  Its NOT good news, it may well be, in fact, the most chilling news you can imagine.  Because of  God’s in mercy, I believe that he has pulled out all the stops to warn us, even going as far as to reveal these things as they play out in the culture around us; for some, it may be the only meessage they will ever hear.   Listen America!   In 1971 – we were warned, “Bye Bye Miss American Pie” 

Yes, times are changing …. perhaps sooner than we think  …. in spite of bad news, the good news is that Jesus loves us, he gave his life for us.  Whether we live  or die,  if we trust him, we are safely held in His  hands,  …. more tomorrow …. Cindy