The End Times

1st of September

I write this some time before it comes out on the internet. The last happenings will therefore not be mentioned in this article. You might therefore wonder why I have not mentioned some of the things that have happened during the last three-four months. They might confirm the things I write about. I also feel an urge to emphasize that I am not an expert on this subject. I will only make some reflections on the subject, but I can say the same as Paul once said: “I also have a spirit.” I am so dependent on the Holy Spirit and we are all having an access to Him.

Everybody is engaged in what is happening these days, Christians as well as those who are against Christianity or those who are neutral.

The news is full of accidents, catastrophes such as earthquakes and outbreaks from volcanoes, wars and strange happenings. The journalists are asking many questions and they are asking if they come from the devil or from God or from the sins of the people on this earth. My own pastor in Norway got a phone call from a journalist right after the earthquake on Haiti. This was going directly over the radio and he was asked if he thought that there was a connection between the earthquake and the devil worship on the island? This was a secular journalist. My patients are sometimes asking me if I think that some of the happenings are the judgment of God.

Many tragic things were also taking place before, but that was before the wide-spread media world. Before we didn’t know about things before it was history. Now we get it right into our living room while it is still happening. Terrible scenes are landing on our retina. The mere fact that bad things were going on before, do not hinder me in coming with following assertion: We are living in the end-times and it is increasing both in intensity and the extent. During this year, 2010, we have seen more tragedies than ever before. It has been more and more. I have surprised myself by staying calm. I might cry over human tragedies, but I have not become afraid.

I will quote and refer to different portions of the Scripture. The first one is Matt.24. I recommend you to read the entire chapter. The beginning of this chapter describes what will happen in the beginning of the end. Jesus sat together with His disciples on the Mount of Olives when he explained all these things to them. Jesus warns them against false prophets. Many of them will say that they are Christ. He says that there will be wars and rumors of war, nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines, pestilence and earthquakes. Christians will be killed and hated for His name sake. Lawlessness will abound and the love will grow cold. The end will not come before the gospel is preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations. This is to-day possible to do very quickly. We have many Christians TV channels and evangelists and missionaries can travel from one place to another by plane, trains, buses and cars. In the old times one moved from one place to another by foot or by horses. There are not so many non-reached people left, but enough for Jesus to wait. In verse 44 we read that we must be ready since the Son of man is coming at an hour one doesn’t expect. We must therefore be ready. You can go back and read “Are you ready?”

Both the letters to the Thessalonians write about the happenings that must precede the second coming of Jesus. Read especially the fifth chapter of the first letter and the entire second one. The Bible repeats itself, but the different writings are meant for different people.

We read in the fifth chapter that this Day (of His coming) could overtake us a thief, but we should not sleep, but watch and be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. I want to quote some exhortations even if this is a little bit beside the subject. Start with verse 16: Rejoice always and pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophesies. Test all things, hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Paul has told us to be awake and sober right before these exhortations. I really believe that we should follow them. Paul really encourages us to meet our Lord Jesus Christ with a blameless spirit, soul and body.

In the second letter to the Thessalonians God reveals through the apostle Paul a lot of events that have to take place before the return of Jesus. The background was that some people had taught that Jesus would return so soon that there was no need to work. That is the fact even to-day. There are people who hesitate to study, get married and have children since they believe that Jesus might come to-morrow. There are extreme groups that gather at certain places and set the time and the place for His coming. This is unbiblical. We must go back to the second letter to the Thessalonians. Paul says that before His return there will be many who fall away. Anti Christ will appear, but he and his army will be stopped by our Lord. Paul encourages the believers to pray in order to spread the Gospel. He also tells them and us to keep on doing every day work. We must be spiritual prepared, but do the things God tell us to do to-day.

We can read about some of the same things in Mark 13. I want to quote the seventh verse: “But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.” We can read another place in the Bible that we should rejoice when the pains of childbirth begins. When an expectant mother feels the first pains, she rejoices since she knows that a long period of waiting is over. She knows that she has to undergo some pain before she finally will see the baby she is longing for. Are you and I longing for our Lord and Master? I think that we sometimes get so involved in the things on earth that we forget what it is all about, an eternal life with our Lord.

We have been promised persecution, but we can read in the eleventh verse in the same chapter: “ But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” We are left alone as sheep without a shepherd. The Lord is our Shepherd. I cling to the promises more than ever. Psalm 91 is very up to date. I have gone through this psalm under the title: Vaccination. I am totally convinced that the pains of childbirth have started, but I do not know how long it will last. You and I do not have the same perspective of time as God has. He says that one day can be like a thousand years.

When a woman gives birth to a baby, the pains will increase both in intensity and in frequency. I really feel that it is the same situation in the spiritual realm. I think that the frequency and the intensity have increased during this year. I say that I am peaceful, but that does not mean that I am indifferent. No, I have become more spiritual sharpened than ever and want to be sure that I have oil on my lamp when the Bridegroom comes for His Bride.

I am also asking my Lord how I should live and what to say in order to bring more people with me to the final goal, Heaven. I am sometimes pondering over the thought: How would I have lived if this was the last day of my life? I think this is a good “thought experiment”.

When a woman is in labor, she must not forget to breathe. We, Christians, must not forget to breathe in the air of the Holy Spirit. That will give us hope and strength to go through and overcome the next pain.

LIVE THIS DAY AS IT WAS YOUR LAST DAY OF YOUR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mother Else