When a train pulls into the station, or an airplane lands at the airport, very few people if any are surprised by its arrival, it is expected. It may be a little late or early, but the trains departure and arrival times were set long before the passengers boarded. The flight times are set upon the announcement boards, and people prepare accordingly before that plane even leaves the ground or returns to it. It is expected and people plan their lives accordingly.
“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” (Matt. 24:6) Matthew 24 and Luke 21 are some of the announcements for those who will be leaving before the Tribulation period starts, they are in a sense warnings, but they should be viewed as simply the same as all of the Word of God is in this area, the truth.
Isaiah spoke of the days of Jeremiah almost a hundred years before they occurred. “And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” (Gen. 6:13) Almost 120 years before the flood. “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2)
The Lord God always makes sure to put the times of His actions in these regards upon the placard, not only so that His servants of whatever day we are speaking of will be prepared, but so those who deny Him will be without excuse.
We are not to be packing our bags, making sure everything in our lives is in order only though, in fact if you have been saved by grace through faith then that should all have been accomplished by you long ago, we are to give the message that the train is arriving soon.
These was the words of the prophets, these were the words of Christ Himself, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 4:17) If you are indeed an heir to the Kingdom of God, then you have very little self-introspective to consider here, you are assured to stand in your lot at the last day, you will be welcomed into heaven, for you are indeed a child of the Most High God. You know that slow train is approaching, most do not, for our age, the age that means the completion of the time of the Gentiles, (Luke 21:24) we have a responsibility, we must speak to those who are not even at the station waiting, those who have no idea whatsoever that the plane is about to leave.
I will be no false prophet, I will not stand and pronounce the date and time, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matt. 24:36) The best that I and others can and will do is point to that announcement board and say, “Soon.”
The majority of those that will rebuke us will in a thousand different ways repeat 2 Peter 3:4, “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation,” for 1 Corinthians 1:18 stands as truth, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” But you must consider this diligently, by warning them, are you hoping that they will not face the tribulations of the days of Jacob’s Troubles, or are you warning them about the fires of hell?
We are to attempt to reach them for the glory of God, for the salvation of their souls, those who will die in their sins who also will see those terrible days will wish for their return as they sit in the torment of the Lake of Fire. Those who held their newborn child above their heads as the waters continued to rise in the days of Noah wished they would have listened. Death and suffering beyond all comprehension is coming upon this planet, if you can see the announcement board, and you love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31) then you know full well where your responsibility lies.
