Brothers I too have been Hasty of my posting. God willing with the help of the Spirit trying to be more reflective before I post.

Actually I think there is a new spirit working to The Forum. True we are having spirited discussions but I think maybe the Spirit is working in His fruit of self-control. At least I pray He is working in ne that fruit.

Brother Blaine

Do we call you brother or sister? Hard to fathom your gender by your name. I would like to address you as brother or sister. But do not know which adjectives to use.

Brother Blaine

Blaine

Common name in Italy for male Italian.

Dear brother Frank,

You asked, "Do you believe that to speak of things to come and the return of Jesus is doom and gloom?"

I have no problem whatsoever with postings of news as to what is happening throughout the world with the brothers and sisters that are in Christ. There are people that I know of that just pray the Lord's will is done when they hear of these things, etc; and they have a part in the Body as well making intercession to the Lord as they are guided by the Spirit. These "prayer warriors" can be blind, deaf, disabled, or whatever... very busy in the home, mothers, small children being homeschooled, etc, that are just as important in the Lord's eyes as to the missionaries on the fields, preachers, pastors, evangelists...We mustnot be ignorant of satan's devices, nor put our heads in the sand when we see others in need and can help, and say "God bless you be warm and well-fed" while others go about in rags and starving with no place to lay their head.

There is one body with many members. The telling of news as to what is happening with the other members is one calling... preparing the Body for times ahead is another. The end of the matter to be doing all things for the glory of God, in love to God and to our neighbor.

My own concern primarily is to awake this sleeping "self-professed" church, and help them to understand the great God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in whom they serve, that only as they abide in the Vine will they bear much fruit as to the glory of God, and they are not their own but bought with the precious Blood of Christ.

Off to Ma's for dinner. God be with you

_________________
Richie

Got it brother.

As one of my intercessors would say who it's from Italy. Chow brother.

Bro Blaine :)

I don't believe that he is wrong about the coming persecution.

I live in the south and there are a great many people who are concerned that the government is going to come and take away our fundamental freedoms and our guns. However, it does not seem like any of those people are the least bit concerned that they send their children to public schools where they spend 8 hours a day learning things from other children that are not fitting and being spoon fed day by day a message of tolerance and unity to make them fit in a post modern world. They are not concerned that their religious liberties (at least what is left of them in this country) are being redefined by the world. It is no bother to them that all the grit and the unction and all the fervency of the advancement of the kingdom of God has been sucked out of their churches and replaced with seeker friendly attractions.

The point is that the enemy has offered up a distraction to us and though we may be willing to defend our guns and land and way of life to our deaths the enemy is slaughtering our families and churches right in front of our eyes and we are tolerating it!

Let me offer up this scenario: Christianity will effectively be marginalized and modernized to fit into our society, it will become a nicey-nice religion, like Buddhism that is well respected and all inclusive. It will focus on social reform while abandoning the reformation of the soul. Effectively, true Christianity in America will be snuffed out like a candle. The last remaining embers-the true believers- will be seen as radicals, condemned by the world and the modernized religious establishment. Laws will be put into place and the preaching of the intolerant Gospel will be considered hate speech. We will be imprisoned and eventually those of us who continue will have our children taken away because of the damaging influence we have on them. Those who resist will be arrested. The world will hate us, and for the sake of peace and progress we will be killed and it will seem like they are doing a service for God because of our incredible intolerance of sin or other religions.

We are ALWAYS hanging on this precipice. We are only one Supreme Court ruling or one executive order or one national disaster away from it. The question is not IF it will come to this, but when.

All those who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Romans 8:35-38
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Ritchie, you write........

" These "prayer warriors" can be blind, deaf, disabled, or whatever... very busy in the home, mothers, small children being homeschooled, etc, that are just as important in the Lord's eyes as to the missionaries on the fields, preachers, pastors, evangelists...We mustnot be ignorant of satan's devices, nor put our heads in the sand when we see others in need and can help, and say "God bless you be warm and well-fed" while others go about in rags and starving with no place to lay their head."

Brother, I genuinely have no idea what that has to do with our subject at hand. Are you saying that there are people you know that when they see other people in need they simply put their heads in the sands? Isn't that a completely different post or thread? Maybe you can tell me the relevance to our conversation about end times and the coming persecution?..........bro Frank

Brother Frank,

In all respect and in the love of God, My final words concerning your questions is this (for I have many tasks at hand to complete) -

I think what i said has everything to do with it in the way where, I see many talking and I see few doing anything about preparing for the wrath to come, nor helping those that are suffering. As the Apostle says, Faith without works is dead

Here's a beauty sermon on the subject as well:
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=9113035122

Getting up in just over 3 hours - must pray, study and sleep still. Good night

_________________
Richie

Havok20x wrote,

"Let me offer up this scenario: Christianity will effectively be marginalized and modernized to fit into our society, it will become a nicey-nice religion, like Buddhism that is well respected and all inclusive. It will focus on social reform while abandoning the reformation of the soul. Effectively, true Christianity in America will be snuffed out like a candle. The last remaining embers-the true believers- will be seen as radicals, condemned by the world and the modernized religious establishment. Laws will be put into place and the preaching of the intolerant Gospel will be considered hate speech. We will be imprisoned and eventually those of us who continue will have our children taken away because of the damaging influence we have on them. Those who resist will be arrested. The world will hate us, and for the sake of peace and progress we will be killed and it will seem like they are doing a service for God because of our incredible intolerance of sin or other religions."

Your scenario is playing out right before our eyes.

Paul Washer is right on the money.


marcmc