2015 Prophecy/News Update - Getting Ready!

     This morning I am beginning the arduous work of putting together the 2015 Prophecy News Update.  This may be a difficult task, yet it is one that I actually enjoy as I look over what is to come in 2015.  Just a reminder to all those who will hear this update.  I do not intend to update what God has prophesied - as that is not something anyone can do.  We need to be reminded of this because there are those who unfortunately think that their own statements can prophesy the future.

     There are those who think that the current gift of prophecy can foretell the future in ways that are contrary to what is already given in Scripture.  This is a false understanding of Scripture, as well as a dangerous one. Any choice that God may make concerning revealing the future to us through a prophetic utterance - is completely under the authority of what we currently have in the Scriptures.  Anyone who contradicts what is given in the Word of God is a false prophet - as is anyone whose previous supposed prophetic statements have not come 100% true.  Oh how we need to remember those two important things when dealing with any kind of statement concerning prophecy.

     What I endeavor to do each year is to take a look at what is happening in our world today, and then see how that fits into the prophetic events that God says will happen in the last days.  This is difficult to do because there are differing views on how those events will unfold. That is why anyone who attempts this needs to be careful how specific they are concerning what is going to happen.  Ultimately, the one thing we are certain of is that Jesus Christ will return again to judge the world. That is one thing we all can agree on concerning end times. Beyond that one pivotal truth, we need to be gracious with one another.  

     This year's Prophecy/News Update will have the usual information about major events concerning Israel as well as the other players that Scripture indicates will be a part of the end times scenario.  But this year's message will have more to do with what is happening in our own nation and how it will affect the church.  This is an area that we need to be awakened to because it it going to radically affect the church in the months and years to come.  The ongoing moral revolution in our nation when it comes to sexuality and now, even gender confusion, is about to have a radical affect on the church and how it operates.  There are also rumblings of racial tensions as well as the battlefronts that multiculturalism will bring to the advance of the gospel in our culture.  There is much that is happening news-wise that will truly change how the church will operate in our culture.  There is much that will determine if the church will remain above ground in our culture as well.  

     One last thing I want to comment upon before I close this article is the way that I desire for you to receive this year's Prophecy/News Update.  Because of the nature of this information, some react in fear to what is said. Please understand that I do not mean to try to scare anyone with what is presented.  The health/wealth and prosperity movement has mislead us concerning what the Bible has to say about this world and its future.  

     The influence of the health/wealth and prosperity teaching has led many to believe that truly every day is supposed to be Friday for us.  Forget that Jesus said that in this world we would have tribulation.  Forget that Paul told us that if we desire to live godly in Christ Jesus we will suffer persecution.  Forget that He told us that if He was rejected, we would be rejected as well.  Forget all that the Scriptures tell us about a world that grows steadily worse in its wickedness and will one day be destroyed with fire.  We have false teachers who promise that only good things are coming in our future.  This has given rise to an entire generation of those in the church who reject the biblical teaching of the last days.  They reject it because it is not positive enough for them.  They reject it because it speaks of suffering - and even martyrdom for those who remain faithful to Christ in the last days.  This has led to a very serious rejection of anything negative by those who hold to these heretical teachings.  It has also led to a general rejection of the last days biblical narrative.  The current teaching by those who teach these heresies is that because of our wonderful influence as Christians, the world will get better and better until Jesus comes back and takes over a world that we've redeemed by our corporate wonderfulness. Those who hold to this kind of teaching will embrace two things as our world moves toward its ultimate conclusion. First, they will have to utterly delude themselves as things grow steadily worse.  Second, they will embrace compromise with the world as the world embraces an ever-worsening moral revolution against true biblical sexuality and morality.  Unfortunately we are already seeing this as more and more abandon any biblically informed sexuality - and embrace the sexual and gender confusion of our day.

     Dear saints of God . . . we have the honor and the priviledge of standing and shining like stars in the midst of the morass of darkness and rebellion against God and His Word and ways.  As we hold fast the Word of truth and the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ - we will be as lights and beacons of hope to those who watch the world crumbling under the weight of its rebellion against God. This is not a time to fear - a time to be timid - or a time to be frightened by the things the world fears.  We are to fear God and hold forth the message of His salvation to a world that more desperately needs it than ever before. May God help us to be that people - that city set on a hill - that light, not under a basket, but on the lampstand giving light to all who see it.  May our hearts be given fully to knowing and loving Jesus Christ.  And may our testimony be to the grace that saved us - and that can save all those who come to Him in repentance and faith!                                                                                            PJ