I appreciate Bro. Marlin’s comment on my previous post. In that post, I mentioned that from a human standpoint the developing conditions in the world frighten me. Perhaps I should have explained more clearly what I meant. Spiritually speaking, I am not pessimistic about the future nor does it frighten me in that respect. That may seem to be a contradiction to what I said before. Let me explain. I am optimistic about my future in Christ. I am not a political scientist. I have difficulty understanding any kind of long-term significance of so-called stimulus plans or political maneuverings. My understanding of the ups and downs of Wall Street can be put in a thimble as evidenced by the fact that the small amount I had invested is now much smaller.

So not being able to comprehend all of the political and economical ramifications of the events unfolding around me, I have to use an old bowling expression to illustrate how I feel. When I bowled a bad game and I reached the seventh frame, my team mates would try to chide me by saying, “better get it together, it’s not looking good and you’re about to run out of paper.” That meant, that I was quickly approaching the tenth, or the last frame, and the game was about to be over. In all my years, I have never seen as many disturbing and inexplicable circumstances happening so quickly. While I respect my preacher bothers who believe otherwise, I hold the pre-tribulation position without apology and without intentions of argument. Simply put, I am not looking for the tribulation, I am looking for the evacuation. I am not looking for the antichrist, I am looking for The Christ Himself. When writing about the Lord’s return and the events surrounding it, Paul said, "Wherefore comfort ye one another with these words."(1Thess. 4:18). I can't say with any confidence that the secular future looks promising. In fact from a human standpoint it looks frightening or at best formidable, but Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled."(John 14:1). That’s what I am doing. I am not a pessimist, I like to think I am a realist.

I am not happy with the situations that are developing in our country and around the world. From a human standpoint, they frighten me. I grew up hearing my parents and grandparents talk about the Great Depression. Over the years, I have listen to our leaders say when speaking of such a national catastrophe, “Never again.” Yet, that does not appear to be the case. Overnight it seemed that millions saw their 401Ks and their IRAs evaporate, the value of their houses plummet and our national economy teeter on the edge of disaster. If that were not enough, the headlines warned that countries like Iran and North Korea were thumbing their noses at the free nations of the world by developing nuclear weapons and then threatening retribution against any nation that tries to interfere with their menacing pursuits. News of the possibility of dangerous solar flares, wayward asteroids and global warming further spread doom and gloom.
New leadership appears to be leading our nation down a slippery slope toward what could become dangerously close to socialism. All this leads Christians to wonder if we are in danger of losing our valued freedom of worship. Truthfully, since I am not a prophet I do not know the answer. I have my opinions, but they could be wrong, too. However, I do know what the Bible says. Paul wrote, “there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Rom. 13:1). Solomon wrote that God said, “By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth” (Pro. 8:15,16). Our country’s situation and the situation of the world has not taken God by surprise. Many times in the Old Testament, God has stated that He is the one who raises up kingdoms, appoints them for His purpose and allows their rulers to come to power. When we become concerned about our government and those who are responsible for national decisions, we should confidently rest in the words of Daniel, “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding” (Dan. 2:21). All in all, I think our present situation should cause us to pray with John, “Even so come quickly, Lord Jesus.”