« Grizzly Attack TPExtra for March 16, 2008 TPE | Home | For Writers »
You Think Things Are Bad Today …
By Ken Horn | March 14, 2008
In recent days the news has carried the following stories:
Hair stylist shoots client in the back because she complained about her haircut.
Son shoots dad to death because he restricted his MySpace time.
Daughter, with help from lover and friends, murders her family (dad critically injured but lives) because parents disapproved of her boyfriend. (Looks like they were right.)
Two women bludgeon roommate to death because she “annoyed” them.
Two prominent coeds gunned down on major college campuses.
Gunman opens fire in lecture hall, killing and wounding many before turning the gun on himself.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Nearly every day there is at least one horrendous story that hits the news. I could easily provide a huge list of recent stories. But these are sufficient to make my point.
There are incredibly evil things happening today. And reports of them are on the rise.
There are some people who know the truth of the Gospel, but figure they’ll wait till the last possible opportunity. Death may certainly come suddenly and not leave them time for a quick prayer of repentance. And even if they have time, would it be sincere?
But here’s another consideration. When the Rapture takes place this will be an entirely different world. Every believer will be gone when the world goes through a seven-year Tribulation, which will be the most horrifying seven years in world history.
Yes, that has been prophesied in the Bible. But consider why these conditions will be so bad.
It is commonly held evangelical belief that the Holy Spirit will not remain on earth after the Rapture in the same sense that He is here now during the Church Age. This is based upon 2 Thessalonians 2:7: “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way” (NIV). The Holy Spirit, as the one who restrains evil on the earth (a concept known as common grace), seems to be the one referred to in this verse.
The Rapture removes the true Church, all the people who as true believers are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. As God He continues to be omnipresent, but there will be no Spirit-filled believers to stand against evil.
Satan will be unchecked and the tragedies we hear of today will be multiplied exponentially.
If you think things are bad today … make sure you’re not here during the Tribulation. If you don’t know Jesus, turn to him now.
Topics: theology, Holy Spirit, salvation, Uncategorized |
