Scripture: John 9 v 3 - 7: " Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing."
There are two ways of looking at this passage, the spiritual and the physical. Jesus often spoke in parables but this was a real event. His parables were to illustrate spiritual truths by comparing them to familiar physical things like fields, corn, or seeds.
The words of Jesus are also prophetic. Here He says the night is coming when no man can work, so we must do what we can while it is day. Jesus says as long as He is in the world there will be light.
Living in South Africa with over ten years of rolling blackouts - this year being the worst ever, working while it is light is a frightening reality. The domino effect is that, although our storage dams are full, the pumped water system has broken down through the on off electricity feed. So many are without water and power, especially the poor.
The Putin war against Ukraine is a crime against humanity. He says he is determined that Ukraine will have no gas or power through the bitter winter months. The night comes when no-one can work. This war is affecting Europe in the same way.
Between the pandemic and this war many businesses have closed and many have lost their jobs. We are heading into the night that is part of end time tribulations. This will affect the whole world which is already reeling from a severe global economic crisis.
There may be patches of better times ahead, but Jesus is urging me daily to keep informing you to take heed of the times we are heading into.
I would love to speak about a great future ahead but this world is on a slippery slope and facing an
unknown quantity of hardships that compound upon each other like the power outages affecting the ability to deliver clean water. Hospitals, homes, businesses, schools are seriously compromised, and no end in sight.
Matriculation pupils are facing their final exams now and the Education Board is pleading with Eskom to keep school electricity running for the duration of these finals. If they do, they will be inundated with similar requests from hospitals and businesses they depend on.
So, dearly beloved saints, pray for Godly wisdom on future plans, expenditure, vacations, and changing jobs. The hope that "this too shall pass" may start to wear thin. Jesus is always with us. He said troubles cannot be avoided but if we call upon Him He will help us. He has not lost the recipe for manna!
The Church is waiting for the Rapture to take us out before things get really tough. This is the belief of the Pre-Trib Rapture. I believe the Church will go through the first half of the Tribulation because that is the perfect time for the world revival. When the darkness comes the saints will know the end is nigh. Then the Holy Spirit will pour out upon us the power and the glory to bring in the converts.
Like Peter's shadow in Acts 5 v 14 - 16: "And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one."
This is something to look forward to! The great revival! Sinners and backsliders will be desperate to get their lives right and people will be healed, delivered of demonic oppression and filled with the Holy Ghost and fire. The Antichrist will be here but still on a charm offensive. Man of Peace, benevolence, wisdom. Beloved of all the world. Following in the ways of former Pres Barack Obama, while he ran for office the whole world adored him. His slogan 'Yes I Can' went viral.
The Rapture will occur just before the second half of the Great Tribulation begins. It is called the Wrath of the Lamb. The first half is called The Beginning of Sorrows. Believers in Jesus will not have to face His Wrath, but those who have rejected Him will see the Lamb become a raging Lion.
The Antichrist will enter the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem and declare himself to be God. The eyes of the Jews will be opened to Jesus, their Messiah, and they will flee to Jordan, where millions of New Testaments hidden in caves, await their arrival.
In Revelation it says the darkness will be absolute, the Sun will stop shining. No doubt this will be because the volcanic calderas will have erupted. These mega volcanoes will have such huge ash clouds that the Sun will be blotted out for years. Crops will fail, famine will be global. Diseases will be out of control along with the weather, the lack of financial stability, while the mania of the Antichrist fights his last losing battle against the King of Kings.
We do not want to be here for this showdown. The menaces to our society like warmongers, paedophiles, drug cartels, sex slavery, dictators, psychopaths, false prophets and hypocrites will have to face their judgment and just punishment. They can still be converted but it will mean instant death from the Antichrist and his One World Church.
We know where we are going when the time comes and that is our comfort in these last days. Our best plan is to stay very close to Jesus and try to bring as many with us as possible. That is the perfect will of God for this planet.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, the only good news is that Jesus is coming soon, and no amount of prayer is going to stop what's coming down the tracks. Help us to be steadfast in our faith, honest in our ministry, full of love and compassion for those around us. In Jesus' name. Amen.