“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one DECEIVE YOU by any means…” (2 Thess. 2:1-3) Look what George Barna says, One-Third Fewer Americans Attends Church Weekly Now Than in 1993, the number of practicing Christians has nearly dropped in half since 2000, now less than 25%. Many in our day have been deceived and DO NOT BELIEVE as they once did.
Remember what Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are MANY WHO GO IN BY IT. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are FEW WHO FIND IT.” (Matt. 7:13-14) Then Jesus gave the alarming parable of the 10 virgins, “Then the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN shall be likened to TEN VIRGINS who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took NO OIL with them, but the wise TOOK OIL IN THEIR VESSELS with their lamps.” (Matt. 25:1-4) The Holy Spirit is the OIL IN OUR LAMPS, enlightening us in the way. When their lamps went dark they went to find more oil, “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But Jesus answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I DO NOT KNOW YOU.’” (Matt. 25:11-12)
According to this parable one–half of the church will be left behind!!! So, what must we do? Paul says to Timothy “…know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5)
Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who KEEPS THE WORDS of the prophecy of this book.” (Rev. 22:7)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham