There can be no doubt that our nation is headed into very troubling times. Many economists are warning that our nation is on the verge of a financial meltdown; we see immorality becoming the American way of life; and a growing number of Americans are turning their back on God and His Word, choosing their own individual path to spirituality.
Globally, Satan is moving his chess pieces in place for an attack on Israel that might result in World War Three—the war prophesied in the Book of Ezekiel–a war that might kill billions of people. Combined with the fact that a global depression might be just around the corner, the stage will be set for the final anti-christ to emerge.
These things are inevitable, because they are foretold in the prophesies of the Bible. We cannot stop them, but we can as a church prepare for them. Prepare for a great harvest that will await us as people see their world crashing down around them and look for hope when they see none. But are we ready?
The sad truth is much of Christianity is so concerned with relating with the world that we are not preparing to be the source of hope when all hell breaks loose. With each passing day much of institutionalized Christianity looks increasingly like the world—instead of sticking out like a sore thumb. When the world around us comes crashing down we will unfortunately look like part of the problem instead of the solution.
It’s time we take the Parable Jesus taught about the Ten Virgins seriously! Will we be caught asleep when these things happen? Or will we be diligent with our lamps filled with oil, watching and waiting for the opportunity that will be presented to us? An opportunity to draw people to their only real hope—Jesus Christ? Or will we look so much like the world that we will hardly be noticed?
The time is now for the Church in America to prepare for what is ahead of us—what is inevitable. Will we be seen as the solution? Or just another part of the problem?
Those who truly place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ are secure in our future—eternal life with Him. But are we willing to endure to the end, reaching out to lost and confused people when their world collapses around them? Or are we selfish Christians with an attitude of “Hey, I’m safe so fend for yourself”? If that is our attitude, how can we claim to truly love Jesus—the Jesus that gave His very life for us?
These will indeed be the times that try men’s souls—and God is calling out for a faithful remnant that will endure and draw lost men on to Him. Are we ready? Or deep down, are we really no better than the lost around us?
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Deb, This Kevin Barrett guy is a classic wolf in sheep’s clothing. As with all good liars, most of what he says sounds good, but is far removed from Biblical truth. Why this site would link to him and his off-the-wall nonsense is unknown, but hopefully it would be to show the errors too many people fall for these days. Kevin’s biggest error is the denial of the Rapture of the Church, the Bride of Christ. Next would be “prophesy” he claims to have received as a special revelation from God where Scripture may or may not agree with him (too bad for Scripture if it doesn’t line up with the “new revelation” received from G(g)od). Both of these are bad enough by themselves, but it’s an even more deceptive ploy of the wicked one when they are combined.
The rapture of the church will take place at it’s appointed time. Special revelation has ceased some nineteen hundred years ago (Heb. 1:1-4). It is only the self-important fear-mongers that would try to deceive the elect.
We are not told who wrote this post, nonetheless, using the parable of the ten virgins as an evangelistic tool is not correct. It is about the rapture!. Five were wise (saved) and five were foolish (lost). The five foolish are pretend, fake, false believers. The key to this is found in verse 12 where Jesus tells the foolish ones “I do not know you” (compare Matt. 7:21-23).
The next to last paragraph disturbs me as well. The true Christian WILL endure to the end. If the attitude of one’s heart is “Hey, I’m safe fend for yourself” then I would strongly suggest to that person to examine themself to see if they are in the faith (truly born again 2 Cor. 13:5).
It is without doubt that true believers in the US and world wide face increasing persecution, but to hint that the church must endure the Great Tribulation is just plain wrong and no where to be found in Scripture. To repeat the John 3:16 over and over and then procede to declare that Jesus does not love His Bride enough to remove Her before the Tribulation begins is pure insanity, not to mention unbiblical. Such a person has no concept of the meaning of “forgiveness” or what it means to be washed in the Blood of Christ. Did not Jesus pays for all of the sins of His elect? Of course He did, so why would He punish Her (us) with the rest of unrepentant, unsaved men? So we who are here during the Tribulation will be punished for our sins at that time along with rest of the lost world who hate God? Say what????? If that is so, then please explain to me the fate those saved people from Pentecost until now who have died in the Lord, will they escape the trib. or somehow be brought back to suffer along with their brothers and sisters who have yet to physically die??? Neither option is to be found in Scripture. What makes those who are alive at the time of the GT so unspecial in the eyes of those who would have us believe there is to be no rapture can only be explained by a convoluted view of Scripture and worse, a convoluted concept of the Triune God. Insanity! Pure insanity!!!!!!!!!
How is it that you say his prophecies are unbiblical? Have you even read them? They are pretty much just quoting scripture in a prophetic word from the Lord.
And because you still believe in the pre-trib rapture lie, you say that this makes him a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Those that believe in the pre-trib rapture really don’t understand the coming of Christ in us, the hope of Glory. So they attack all those that speak out against their pet doctrine of a pre-trib rapture.
Even this website has a clear picture of a prophet by Leonard Ravenhill and it fits this Kevin Barrett perfectly.
He has only prophesied truth and yet you accuse him of making up “special revelation” that he will claim that is against scripture. Wow, how can you feel so confident in attacking God’s trumpet sent to us?
Well I guess that I can understand because the religious also attacked Jesus because he didn’t fit their description of the Messiah.
Just something to think about.
Note: Website under construction.
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Google: Church Culture: Foolish Virgins (Cindy Hartline) BLog
Christians in the US will face God’s judgement for turning our backs on Israel. Persecution is evident. Whether this persecution is Pre-trib or Mid-trib I do not know for sure…but I do know that all professing Christians need to be ready. Wrote about the Ten Virgins on my recent blog. Check it out. Comment.
FROM:The Parable of the Ten Virgins Mt. 25:1-13
THE FOOLISH VIRGINS had oil, but the oil burned out and the flame diminished. They wanted to borrow the Wise Virgin’s oil, but they were told to go and buy for themselves. While they went to buy their oil, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut! The foolish Virgins came saying; “Lord, Lord, open to us,” But He answered and said; “Verily I say unto you. I know you not!”
According to the Ancient Hebrew Wedding, if the lamp was not lit in the window when the Groom arrived, it was a sign that the Bride-to-be had changed her mind! It was evident that she wasn’t longing for him. In other words she wasn’t a love-sick bride anticipating His return! God forbid if our lights are out when our Lord returns!
Typically, what does the oil represent in this parable? The oil portrays the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. How can we run low on oil? Our oil is obtained by spending intimate time with the Lord while desiring to be led by the Holy Spirit according to His Written Word. Profession is on-going…though we make a profession of believing in Jesus Christ, we can quench the Holy Spirit, by; living a sinful and unholy lifestyle; compromising our faith; being lukewarm about the Lord’s Word and His truth; and living carnally(worldly, by our own opinion) and not by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Apparently these Foolish Virgins were “religious”, they believed in Jesus, waited for his return but were not fit for marriage in the end. Their lights went out, they had no oil left in their lamps! Note: The lamps reservoir is small and needs continual replenishing. Especially during the night(perilous times)when they need to be lit continuously. Though they were among the professed, they weren’t baptized in, or empowered by the Holy Spirit when he returned.
What could have been the cause, and how does this message apply to believers today? A foolish virgin may profess his/her belief in Him but doesn’t abide in the Lord or His Written Word, in other words, not much time is spent with Him intimately, who is in fact the Anointed One and the oil provider! The very oil that their Groom paid for with His blood is bought by having a devout relationship with Him. Foolish Virgins quench the Holy Spirit so much that they are not even aware that their oil is running out. They may religiously attend church and get involved in ministry however they are not filled daily with the Holy Spirit. They don’t have a reverential fear for their Lord nor the things of God because they lack power; wisdom, knowledge; counsel, and understanding in the Holy Spirit. They have no conviction or confirmation concerning His Word or His return. Or perhaps they were never Born Again of the Spirit. The Foolish Virgins could also be compared to having the mindset of the Laodicean Church. They were a Church of the “peoples rights” and “peoples opinions”, much like the American Church Today…Many have a tendency to Carnally follow the Rich and Famous, the successful Pastors, and personalities that they admire over Jesus who is suppose to be their “first Love”. They even choose their beloved books and narratives by their renown personalities over the Living Word of God, which “is” the Lord Jesus Christ. Many are vexed in spirit by prevalent Movements that focus on “carnal” gain, that in essence says we can buy our oil for ourselves from “our Pastors”. We can be anointed like them if we tithe to their ministries and benefit financially. This system of belief can indeed be compared to the mind-set and character of The Laodicean Church written in Rev. 3:15-18.
Keep in mind that according to the Hebrew Wedding, the Groom would return during the evening hours around midnight, because the “Common folk” couldn’t afford fans for the heat of the day. Returning during the late evening hours assured the groom that his bride longed for him so much that in her excitement and anticipation she couldn’t stay asleep.
Who are named among the Laodiceans? Many are neither cold nor hot, and say; “ I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing”, however, the Lord says; “you know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”, and counsels them to buy from him, gold tried in the fire, that they may be rich; and have white raiment, that they may be clothed, and that the shame of their nakedness would not appear; and that their eyes would be anointed with eye-salve, to “see”. In order to “see” we must abide in Christ, live with Him daily. Going to church once a week or even three times a week, is not going to keep oil in our lamps. The Holy Spirit was given to the New Testament Church to lead and guide us into all truth and understanding. We are a Spiritual Church seeking Holy Spirit guidance according to the Written Word. We are not of this world but under a different Government, with Jesus Christ being our King. Acts 17:28 says; “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being”.
So, what is the meaning of gold tried by fire? Learning to die to selfish carnal desires, like worldly gain, often comes with firey trials in our Christian life, “if “ we choose to pursue the Lord and His ways by taking up our cross and following Him. In Phil 3:10. The Apostle Paul says; “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;…” The word “know” in this scripture is taken from the Greek word ginōskō… Meaning to know intimately as husband and wife.
What will we choose?
We can lay down our cross and pursue the things of the world and forsake obtaining the oil for our lamps, or take up our cross and pursue heavenly things, having our lamps filled with oil, keeping our lights lit, while waiting for our Groom to return and take us home with Him. In essence, the wise are concerned about their future with their Lord, the foolish live for themselves today.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2Cr 4:6,7
By Cindy Hartline
Founder w Richard Hartline
Seed Of Hope Ministries
CLA-Network, Christian Leaders Association Network
Excellent and very profound Cindy. Sadly many who think they are “saved” because of a weak, shallow sinner’s prayer will hear “I never knew you” when Yeshua returns. Their lamps (passion) will have died out as they turn to passions of this world, not waiting expectantly for His return. I often wonder just how close we are to our King’s return…Granted every generation thought His return was imminent, but so much in this world points to biblical prophecy about to be fulfilled. World War 3 pending in the Middle East; men rejecting the truth for a lie; lovers of self, and on and on. Do we wake up every morning and live this day as if He might return for us today?
Amen Cindy,
Darrel, you said (If the attitude of one’s heart is “Hey, I’m safe fend for yourself” then I would strongly suggest to that person to examine themself to see if they are in the faith (truly born again 2 Cor. 13:5). Isn’t this attitude of all those that believe in the pre-trib rapture?????????
Also, I don’t see this attitude in Him. If he was only concerned with himself being safe, he would not at all be warning anyone else to prepare. WOW, I think you really need to take a long time of just getting alone with the Lord and ask him to examine your heart. You seem to be accusing others of what you, yourself really are…..
May God have mercy on you,