Matthew 28:20b – Lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually — regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age. (AMP)

"Have you heard about …?" is a sentence more and more people start conversations with lately, especially after listening to the news of the day. It's like they were all saddled up to ride with the fabled Four Horsemen of Alcoholics Anonymous: Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, and Despair. As such anxiety and fear has become commonplace, I was driven to enroll in an online course at Knox College, advertised in my Sunday bulletin at church, called You, Your Congregation, and the End of the World: Reclaiming Biblical Apocalyptic for the Church.

The course promised to give me a basic understanding of the dispensationalist movement and an explanation of the classical doctrines and modern views about the tribulation, the rapture, and the millennium, based on the biblical teaching of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation. The Lord knows that I wasn't going to get there on my own. Did I mention that I got a D in doctrine in Bible School, 57 years ago? Much of the doomsday speculation of end-times preachers and writers contains a strong fear component.

These days, we who belong to God have an opportunity to demonstrate our faith, not fear, when increasingly the worldwide rumours of war, horrors, and natural disasters come up in conversation. Do not fear the future; God is already there, someone said. If those to whom we are talking do not know our loving God and His way of salvation through Christ's death and resurrection, now is the time for us to bring up the reason that we remain in faith and hope despite the present circumstances. What a wonderful time in the world to be a Christian and share our reason WHY with others!

Revelation 1:1a,3 – This is the revelation of Jesus Christ [His unveiling of the divine mysteries], which God [the Father] gave to Him to show to His bond-servants (believers) the things which must soon take place [in their entirety]. Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and who keep the things which are written in it [heeding them and taking them to heart]; for the time [of fulfillment] is near. (AMP)

Prayer: Dear Father God, we are thankful that though all hell should endeavour to shake our souls, You will never forsake those of us who love You. May we lead others to experience Your saving grace and to find that firm foundation for faith which the rivers of sorrow can never overflow. Thank You for the daily revelations of Your hand on our lives, strengthening us, upholding us, and causing us to stand. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Rose DeShaw <rise370@gmail.com>
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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