Is it the end?

In the early morning hours of February 23, 2022 (4 AM) I found myself face to face with either Christ or an angel of the Lord. In this dream the heavenly being was to get my attention and was frantically trying to do so. He looked directly at me and said: The forces of darkness are raging all around us and you (church) will be constantly under assault where ever you go throughout the earth. There will be no save place. With that he turned and pointed to a tree which was directly to my right and his left. It was stunningly beautiful like no other tree I have ever seen, magnificent and full of splendor. Suddenly, out of its hiding place in the tree, a mammoth snake emerged and swooped down towards me with its mouth wide open towards me with intent to devour me; its mouth even enlarging as it came closer. I knew its objective and just as it was about to strike I awoke and thrashed out violently against it smashing all things that was beside me on the end table beside the bed. I was shaking and knew that the Lord was warning not only me but everyone who would receive this word that a python spirit of great magnitude had been released on the earth and its intent was total destruction. Obviously a warning that the end of the age was commencing but yet many more things must take place before the final assault. The church will not fail in this battle because the Lord is at work fashioning the future in spite of current worldly events. With this in mind I submit the following for consideration.

But relative to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and our gathering together to [meet]Him, we beg you, brethren, Not to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed, whether it be by some [pretended] revelation of [the] Spirit or by word or by letter [alleged to be] from us to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] arrived and is here. Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom(of perdition), Who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 Amp). There is coming a day called the day of the Lord. It is going to be upon us rapidly, and we do not need to be ignorant of what the Lord is doing. I declare it over you: you will not be ignorant to what the Lord is doing! “But relative to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ( the Messiah) and our gathering together to [meet] Him, we beg you brethren...”

When Paul, through the unction of the Holy Spirit, uses that terminology, we beg you -- beg is not a small word: it is a big word. Have you ever begged someone for something? It’s quite a bit stronger than just saying, “Please.” Any time the word, beg is used in scripture, it means that we need to pay attention. I delight in these types of words because sometimes we hear, but we don't hear. (Statistics say that only 25% of what is heard is retained.) Jesus says, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Not everyone in that day was walking around earless. There is a reality in that many times we hear things, but we really don’t hear. In one of my roles with the RCMP, I would interview people for jobs. I would interview people for transfers, and many times I would get the story back to me that a certain person was being transferred or promoted, or something great was happening, but in reality, what really happened was that they came very close to getting fired. People like to hear what they want to hear. Someone may say, “You have nice hair today,” and you think they’re as happy as can be -- on cloud nine, when really they were just fired from a job.

Many times we hear what our paradigms are telling us to hear. What is a paradigm? It is a way of thinking; the way we look at life and see things. Our way of thinking is often not based on the word of God but is a result of many other influences. We need to have that understanding. Many times we hear what we want to hear. Have you been there? At my work, I would sit in front of someone eye to eye and say, “Have you heard what I just said?” Sometimes it has to be that plain, because people like to read into things. Paul would sometimes say, “I beg you to listen.”

“We beg you, brethren, Not to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed.” Have you ever had an unsettled mind? We have all been disturbed because there is a force at work that comes against our minds.

One of my priorities in life is to be at rest. It may not be understood, but when I feel that I am not at rest, my priority is to get back into rest: that is number one over everything else. It is a priority to get out of that disturbed thinking. I say that because I don’t believe that you can hear the voice of the Lord accurately when you are disturbed. Have you ever made a decision that you have come to regret because you made that decision in the midst of some emotional turmoil? This happens all the time. We need the understanding of the Lord. I’m no exception from anyone else, but my priority is getting back into the rest of the Lord.

So, rest needs to be a priority in our lives. Then Paul begs us to not be quickly unsettled or disturbed because that mindset is not God. Please make that a priority in your life. Things will try to hit you, and you will get easily unsettled, but you need to say, “No, I am going to the Lord and coming into His rest.”

“Whether it be by some [pretended] revelation of [the] Spirit or by word or by letter [alleged to be] from us to the effect that the word of the Lord has [already] arrived and is here. Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first. ” What was going on in this time period? Why was there a need for this to be spoken? It was needed because people were already saying that the Lord had arrived on the scene, and that the second coming had already taken place. Paul was advising people not to be unsettled over these things, but to stay steadfast with the Lord, There will be indicators that say we are getting close.

“[Unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come] ...” There will be a falling away. We even read that love is going to grow cold in Christian circles. Love may grow cold in some Christian circles, but not the one I’m a part of! That is an indicator that something is taking place. When love isn’t at the centre, it is an indicator that something is taking place. I am telling you this because we need to guard our hearts, and we need to know that as soon as love starts to leave, then something is going on. It can be very subtle. We can still play church, but it is an indicator of the apostasy that is coming when love starts to leave.

“And the man of lawlessness, (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition), Who opposes and exalts himself proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually]taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God. ” There is a real Antichrist that is coming on the scene: some believe that he is already alive today. There will be a falling away that will take place, and love is going to grow cold in the universal church.

These things are going to happen, and there are going to be a few things that will happen even before this: love will grow cold and lawlessness will abound; rebellion will be on the earth; there will be a taking away of love, and there will be rebellion. Do you know that you can be in a place where you’re not in rebellion, but you still have a rebellion in your mind? I will say it like this -- let's say I’m in church, and I was to ask the people in the third row to stand to their feet: they may all stand,but they may have an attitude in their heart that says, “I’m standing up now, but in my heart, I’m sitting down.”That’s rebellion.

Why is there so much rebellion in the world? When I was on the streets in uniform, I had many people, who didn’t even know me, swear at me. Why? Because there was a rebellion against authority: it is a spiritual force. Why does it say to honour your father and mother? You need to do it because something spiritual is released: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12 NKJ).

There will be a release of the beast and rebellion. What really is rebellion? These definitions are from the Webster’s dictionary: 1: opposition to one in authority or dominance 2 a: open, armed, and usually unsuccessful defiance of or resistance to an established government b: an instance of such defiance or resistance We could also say that when people break their word, they’re in rebellion, as in the case where I ask you to stand, and you stand, but in the attitude of your heart, you have broken your words. That type of spirit is going to be released, and there will be Christians who will be deceived because this type of thing is playing on their mind. Remember, rebellion is a spiritual force. Those who will be deceived will be those who are in rebellion. It may not be an outward rebellion, but it may be an inward rebellion in their heart. Do you know what I am talking about? You will probably run into this in some circles: it is a tell-tale sign that something is going on. We just need to have an understanding that every issue of life flows out of our heart.

Has anyone in authority ever asked you to do something and you have done the opposite? Have you ever driven down the highway at 120 where the speed limit is marked 110? For some, when the speed limit is 110, it’s an automatic indicator to go 120. In the Christian community, love is going to grow cold, and there will be rebellion against authority. Those will be the two keys. Those are the things that will lead to deception. Watch for rebellion and lack of love, as they will lead to deception.

Here is some good news: you’ve been warned in advance. I am not ignorant of the enemy devices (2 Cor 2:11). Is this applicable to everyone? Yes, nobody is exempt from this. There is this potential in everybody.

The day of the Lord is not coming without a lot of change. I don’t know if you have noticed it in the world, but there has been a lot of change lately. Territories are changing hands. There is war ready to break out between light and darkness and in many respect underway now with the attack of Russia into the Ukraine. . We need to understand the times and the seasons. And Many Will Be Offended “And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity, But he who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come to the end ”(Matthew 24:10-14 Amp).

When we read: “And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey]”; who is this scripture talking about? It is not talking about a man, it is talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. Many will be offended and they will start to desert who? Jesus. That is what really grieves my heart. When people leave the church I pastored and they don’t go someplace else, I’m grieved. If they want to leave, we will bless them; but if they don’t go to another church, I get grieved in my heart. Why? Because I know that they are actually deserting the Lord. Can the Lord bring them back?

We need to understand that this deserting is going to happen. “And then many will be offended and repelled.” I’ve asked people,“Are you offended?” They say, “No.” I ask them if they are going to church and they say, “No.” It’s a good tell-tale sign that they are offended if they are not going to church. After these ones desert Jesus, the Word says that this is what happens: they “will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity, But he who endures to the end will be saved.”

He who endures to the end will be saved. There will be lawlessness and iniquity; some of which will be in the church. Sadly, some of it is in the church even now. These things will be there. “And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come to the end.”

We are going to the nations. It is all about souls in the nations, but we are called to be those that affect nations. I want to affect the nation of Canada: I want to affect every nation the Lord has called us to. I’m not going to back down from anything the Lord has given us. There is one other way to know if you are falling away, and that is if you have given up hope in your life. The Bible says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ” (Hebrews 11:1 NKJ). So, if the devil gets your hope, your faith won’t work. The devil goes after your hope. Have you ever said, “It is hopeless?” There is not one situation that is hopeless with God. Many people give up hope, and the second they do, their faith won’t work. “These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. My son, keep your father's[God-given] commandment and forsake not the law of [God] your mother [taught you]” (Proverbs 6:16-20 Amp). You know that there are not that many things that are an abomination to God; but there are seven. One thing that God hates is pride: haughty eyes – when we overestimate ourselves and underestimate others. Have you ever said, “They have got nothing”? Don’t let familiarity ruin your relationship with others. Everyone has something: There is a gift in everyone. Don’t let familiarity or offence destroy what the Lord wants to do. You may notice that there are people you will let speak into your life, and there are people that you won’t let speak into your life. That is an attitude. Remember the rebellious heart? We can do the same thing with people: we can shut them out of our lives.

I remember holding my Granddaughter, Ali one time after the family had gone through a very difficult time. She was asking us questions through her eyes. We can so easily miss and dismiss what comes from unexpected sources: we need to learn to pay attention and be willing to receive from whoever, and whatever circumstance that God would use to speak into our lives. As a parent, have you ever had your children speak words of life over you, even at a young age? We cannot dismiss them because they are younger, or because they are in our family: you cannot dismiss how the Lord will speak to you.“ Some other things that God hates are: “a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who sows discord in a family” (v17-20 NLT).

Have you ever heard of a critical spirit? There is not one good thing a person can find when they are always looking to be a critic. Critical spirits attract one another, and it becomes like a feeding frenzy. Even right now, all over the Internet there is stuff out there, (and some of it is probably true), but that is not God – it does not represent His heart. If you have the mindset to be critical all the time, just set those things aside. Sow mercy. How many perfect people do we have in our lives? We need to be armed. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 NKJ).

It is easy to be a critic, but we need to walk in the love of the Lord. When you see people ripping one another apart, the day of the Lord is rapidly upon us. If you have a tendency to be critical, please keep your focus on the Lord Jesus Christ: He is a gracious and merciful Lord. In your own life, be sure to guard against rebellion, and lack of love, as they will lead to deception and lawlessness. It is only by the grace of God that we can walk pure in this evil world, and be the salt and light for those who are in darkness (Matthew 5:13).

Lawlessness will abound, but remember that where lawlessness abounds, the grace of God abounds in a greater way. “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more ” (Rom 5:20 NKJ). “And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity, But he who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom(the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end” (Matthew 24:12-14 AMP). We will be those who endure to the end and preach the Gospel of the kingdom to the whole world!

So there it is, yes the end of the age is near but somehow not yet. Great fear will cover the people and many will fall away but not just quite yet. Conditions for the end of the age are being set in place as I write this. Refuse to be swayed by the circumstances of your life and the current circumstances of the world. Resist FEAR and walk in that realm of faith that says in spite of what I see wilI not be moved. The remanent will shine with great authority through love. Do not be decieved because the Lord will have HIS way. Be aware of the times and seasons and become excited because HIS plans are being fulfilled in spite of anarchy all around us. The Lord does HIS greatest work when chaos abounds. (Genesis 1:2). Much love.