The Beginning Is Near – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Can you imagine awaking to a beautiful sunrise, a warm breeze at just the perfect temperture? The aroma of flowers fill the air. Everything is just right. And then you really wake up! Good morning. In today’s passage from 2Timothy, Paul talks about the end times. If you look in the news paper, the news feed on your phone, or Fox News on TV, you will see this passage tells you what is happening today.

2 Timothy 3:1-13 KJV

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. [6] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, [7] Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. [8] Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. [9] But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men , as theirs also was. [10] But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, [11] Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. [12] Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. [13] But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

This may be the end times for some, but for the Christian it is a new beginning: a chance to leave all this world has to offer behind, including the flesh. Before God declares war on this world, He will call back His ambassadors. David proclaimed…

Psalm 49:15 KJV

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

Paul told the Thesselonians…

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

We have the testimony of Enoch, as to what happened when he pleased God…

Genesis 5:21-24 KJV

And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: [22] And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: [23] And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: [24] And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

We have a future, bright and beautiful, that is approaching: closer and closer every hour, every minute. Isn’t it comforting to know the last few words of the 1Thesselonians 4:17: “…and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

The beginning is near.

Peace! (1Corinthians 15:50-57)