In Matthew 24:6-13, Jesus warns us that: “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled. For all these things must happen, but the end is not yet.”
China vs. Taiwan. China vs. the United States. Venezuela vs. the U.S. North Korea vs. Japan. North Korea vs. the U.S. Russia vs. the U.S. Russia vs. Israel. Iran vs. Israel. Iran vs. Saudi Arabia. Turkey vs. Syria.
Jack Hibbs, senior pastor at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Chino Hills, California says all of these conflicts have either begun to manifest or there are “rumors of these wars” and a physical battle is just heating up.
Want biblical proof? First John 2:18 reads: “Little children, it is the last hour. As you have heard that the antichrist will come, even now there are many antichrists. By this we know it is the last hour.”
First John 2:22 says, “Who is a liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? Whoever denies the Father and the Son is the antichrist.”
Many are denying the Father and Son these days. The spirit of antichrist indeed has engulfed the globe.
Second John 7 reads: “For many deceivers, who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Each one is a deceiver and an antichrist.”
Does this sound familiar?
The Bible, Hibbs says, is very clear that these things will take place. Believers in Jesus Christ, however, can rejoice in what is coming, and we must apply these countermeasures to the impending evil that will engulf the culture worldwide:
1. We must have the right attitude about what’s going on. “If you’re going to follow Jesus, it’s going to be tough, Hibbs says. “We have to fight and get our minds and attitudes right and in line with Scripture. We are so opinionated with our emotions. We must watch out.
2. Keep yourself ready. “Watch out for things that would cause you to get sloppy, spiritually speaking,” Hibbs says.
3. Avoid compromising situations. “This should speak for itself.”
4. Keep yourself ready. “Resist complacency and spiritual laziness. This is dangerous for all of us,” Hibbs warns.
5. Exercise extreme discernment regarding information. “Simply put, don’t believe it,” Hibbs says. “Don’t believe it even if I’m saying it. You are supposed to do an Acts 17 on people, to test everything against Scripture. Judge it through the Bible.”
6. Galvanize yourself with the Bible. “Why do you galvanize something?” Hibbs asks .”To keep it from rusting. It means it has been treated in such a way that it’s impervious to the environment around it. As Christians, we must be galvanized, and you do that through God’s Word. Know the Word and be safe.”
“I believe God is preparing His church,” Hibbs says. “Live your life, but keep your head up; you are spiritually looking for Him. All the while, you’re doing the hardest thing of all in that you’re discipling your life to stay the course. You have to be ready to meet Him today, planning for the next 100 years.
“Jude 1:20 reads, ‘But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith. Pray in the Holy Spirit.’ Keep yourselves in the love of God. That’s a great marching order.”
Listen to Jack Hibbs’ podcast at jackhibbs.com. {eoa}
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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.
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