A Place Called Heaven by Dr. Larry Ollison

Author:Dr. Larry Ollison
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781680314984
Publisher: Harrison House Publishers

Chapter Eight

SIGNS OF THE END TIMES

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.

2 TIMOTHY 3:1

All biblical prophecies agree that the current generation is near the end of days and the return of Jesus the Messiah, who will purify the earth and set up His kingdom. These prophecies reflect the destiny of the Church and the world.

The Church is the group of people who have received Jesus Christ as Lord. The term Church also refers to the Body of Christ, and the Body of Christ is composed of Christians. The Church is also known as the Bride of Christ.

When we refer to the world, we are referring to the system of ungodly government and activities. When the Church is taken away in the rapture, only the world’s system will remain.

In the World, Not of the World

To further clarify this point, the Bible clearly says that Christians are not of this world (John 18:36) and further, they are not to be conformed to the world (Romans 12:2). In other words, we should not imitate what the world does; we should be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1).

Also, the Church is told that the world will hate them (1 John 3:13), but that they should not fear because the Head of the Church, Jesus, has already overcome the world (John 16:33).

At one time Christians were in the world, but when they received Jesus as Lord, He took them out of the world (John 15:19). The Church is told to not love the world or the things in it, because if they do, the love of the Father is not in them (1 John 2:15). Jesus made it very clear that the reason the Church is not of the world is because He is not of the world (John 17:16).

As Christians, our citizenship is not earthly, but heavenly (Philippians 3:20). James, the brother of Jesus, who was the pastor of the church in Jerusalem, wrote to his congregation and told them that if they wanted to be a friend of the world, they would be an enemy of God, and would actually be committing spiritual adultery (James 4:4).

John the Apostle said that we as believers are of God, but that the entire world lies under the control of the evil one (1 John 5:19). Jesus said that no one can serve two masters. He will either hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other (Matthew 6:24). Another time Jesus said that it was no wonder that His followers would be hated because the world hated Him first (John 15:18). But this good prophetic word from the Apostle John should encourage every believer. He said that the world is in the process of passing away along with all its desires; but in his prophecy he continues with this wonderful statement that whoever “does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17).

From the Garden of Eden until today, Satan, the god of this world, has done everything he can to destroy the plan of God for mankind.

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