"Tick......Tick......Tick......"

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"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Matthew 24:32-33. There have been many men who have claimed to have some sort of insight as to when the end is coming. Let me before I get into this little article, make it very clear that I make no such claim. I have absolutely no idea when it will be and the Word of God makes it clear that no other man does, as we read, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away, But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matthew 24:35-36.

I read an article in a magazine a few weeks ago which had to do with a red heifer named Melody. This red heifer as the article stated was the first red heifer to be born in Israel. I don't remember what magazine the article was in and I wish I had kept it. But in the article, they were trying to figure out the meaning of this red heifer and at one point the question was raised, "Could it be a sign from God?". Then the idea was raised that this red heifer could mean an end to all hopes of peace in Israel and even could mean war. What the article was referring to was the rebirth of the temple worship and sacrifices in Israel.

I am not sure what role Melody the red heifer may or may not play in the future of Israel and indeed the whole world, but I do know that as we learn from the parable of the fig tree I mentioned earlier, we can know that the end is definitely very near. And it could very well be nearer than anyone may think. Before that end comes for the world however, there will be what the Word of God refers to as perilous times and the tribulation. In second Timothy we read, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Timothy 3:1-5. These are the perilous times and the tribulation can be found in the Gospels where Jesus explains to us what to expect. We are indeed as I write, in perilous times as described in 2 Timothy. Read that description again and then just think about the condition of the world around us.

I read another article in a magazine concerning the pending doom of all the worlds computers when the clock rolls over into the year 2000. This article was found in the June 2 issue of Newsweek magazine. The title of this article was, "The Day The World Crashes". The sub-title went on to ask, "Can We Fix The 2000 Computer Bug Before It's Too Late?". On over in the article was the headline, "The Day The World Shuts Down." This article went on to try and describe what all to expect when and if that appointment is met. They painted a pretty dismal picture indeed and they showed pictures of people running over each other in desperation. These people described chaos as never before experienced by mankind.

Indeed, if the experts are correct in their estimation concerning the computers of the world, there are some pretty perilous times coming. But friends, as bizzar as the description was of the, "Day The World Crashes", there is coming an event that will make that catastrophe seem mild. The event that I speak of is what has come to be called the rapture of the Church. The reason I say that it has come to be called that is because you won't find the word rapture in the Bible. But the word rapture means a snatching away and that is a good description of what will take place when Jesus Christ comes to take His Church out of this world.

Take a little time to examine this world as it is this day. I believe that you will have to agree that it is indeed a very wicked and violent place. And it is growing more so every day. But as almost unlivable as this world is, when Jesus Christ takes His Church out of this world, there will be no end to the wickedness and violence. Now, I know that to look at most church members, one would find it hard to believe that they are making any kind of difference. And I must agree at that point, but in the first place, a great majority of the church members are not actually members of the Church that Jesus Christ is going to take out of this world. The Church that He is going to take out of this world is His Church. The ones who have truly trusted Him as their personal Lord and Saviour. And it is not so much those people who are making the difference and keeping this world as livable as it is. The One Who is making the difference is God the Holy Spirit Who indwells that group of believers. Once the Church (The real Church) is taken out of this world, all hell is going to break loose.

You will notice that I have entitled this little article, "Tick......Tick......Tick......". I used that as the title, because it was the quite fitting end to the article concerning the day all the computers of the world are supposed to shut down. Though it was quite fitting to end that article in that way, it is more fitting for the beginning of this little article. As I have said, I cannot nor would I attempt to even guess just when it will be when this world ends. But I can say that the rapture that I spoke of and that the Word of God describes, could very well happen at any moment. Indeed, it could happen before this article is finished, therefore to be sure to get the Tick......Tick......Tick...... in there, I would have to put it at the beginning.

The people writing the articles on both Melody the red heifer and the pending world catastrophe when all the computers shut down, as well as the experts on these events, were and should be very serious about these things. Everyone with any way of doing, is doing all that they can to prepare and yet, the event that I told you about is going to be a much more criticle event to the vast majority of this worlds population. Indeed, the tribulation will be beyond imagination, with chaos and violence and wars on every hand. But friend, the rapture of the real Church is coming before all that and it will be the turning point for the direction of this world. Should Jesus Christ come and take His Church away and you should find yourself left behind, it will be most likely eternally too late.

It is never my intention to try and scare anyone and that was and is not the intent of this little article. I only felt it necessary to warn people that indeed, these things are coming and I believe very soon. I cannot end this little article without first presenting the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. First of all, you are a sinner and I am a sinner. The Bible says that, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. We are all sinners, because we were born sinners. And the Bible says that the wages or penalty for those sins is death, found in Romans 6:23. Now, I realize that this doesn't sound much like good news, but the Word of God doesn't stop there as it says, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Also in Romans 6:23. The Good News my friend, is that though we are all sinners, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Though we are all sinners and owe a debt of death, God loves us so much that He came to this earth in the form of His only begotten Son to hang upon a cross and take your sins and mine upon His shoulders and die a most cruel death to pay for our sins. If you my friend, realize that you have not received this great gift, please know that you can never prepare for that great tribulation I spoke of. But you don't have to prepare for it. If you believe that you are a sinner and that Jesus Christ laid down His life for your sins, all you have to do is to call upon Him and He will save you. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9. If you have not done so, please call upon Him now, before it is eternally too late.