It may surprise some of  you, but the reality is that we are already in a war, a spiritual war, right here on Earth.  The kingdom of God is being viciously opposed by the forces of evil.  This war is real with very high stakes – the salvation of men, women, boys and girls all over the world.   As the Church, we are new soldiers in this very old war.

Every day we are moving closer and closer to the time of Jesus’ return.    This is not a time to sit on the sidelines and watch as a spectator.  We are entering a season of acceleration.

You need to understand there is a master plan.  This master plan has been recorded in God’s Holy Word and prophesied in His Word.  The Lord is continually exhorting His people.  In Revelation, throughout the second chapter, the Lord, through John the Revelator, is repeatedly saying:

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” -Revelation 2:29

On Sunday, Nov. 28, the headlines warned “North Korea Deploys Missiles Near Yellow Sea Border” and “Europe Tries to Contain Debt Crisis”.  On Saturday, Nov. 27th,  we read “South Korea Marines Vow Revenge For Attack” and “South Korea, U.S. Gear Up for War Games Amid Tensions”.  On Thursday, Nov. 25th, news headlines said the Pentagon ordered the USS George Washington aircraft carrier strike group to the Yellow Sea for naval exercises with South Korean forces.  The escalation of events in the headlines should not escape the spiritual discernment of  Christians everywhere.   All of this cries out from the scriptures of the end times.  It’s NOW time to comprehend the accelerating events of our world – it’s time to pay attention.

Matthew 24:3

“Now as He [Jesus] sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be?’ And ‘What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the Age’?”

Jesus answered and said to them . . .

Matthew 24:6-7

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation [ethnic group] will rise against nation [ethnic group], and kingdom [country] against kingdom [country] . . .   all these are the beginning of sorrows” [actual translation is ‘birth pangs’;  as with birth pangs they will grow closer].

Almost every day we hear of wars and rumors of wars in the news.  Almost every day we hear of natural disasters in increasing frequencies and intensities.  Almost every day we hear of the increase in weather extremes.  Almost every day we hear of more and more wickedness in man’s brutality and cruelty to man.

Church, we cannot become accustomed to these things.  We cannot be de-sensitized to the signs of His coming!  Each and every one of these things scream from the pages of Revelation that He is Coming Soon!  And this time He is coming as the Lion, not the Lamb.

Awake from your slumber!  Awake and be alert!  It’s not enough just to know about  the signs of His coming!  It’s not enough to just talk about those signs!

It’s the holiday season.  People are busy and life makes demands on people’s time.  But there is nothing more important than HEARING, SEEING AND PREPARING for the things that are coming quickly!

I love you and I want you to be prepared.

One day soon, the events of this world may not even afford us a headline in the news.  One day soon we may be beyond these urgent messages of preparation.  One day soon, we may suddenly not recognize our world as it is today.

It could happen today – It could happen tomorrow or next week.  No one knows the exact time or the exact events that will cause our very fragile world to collapse.  But we do know the signs…. and we have seen many of them in very recent headlines.

Matthew 25

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight  [an unexpected time] a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’

Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, And those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’

But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.