During my time in the Word today something came to light that I had never connected with the End Times before.
Many of the prophesy teacher generally relate the following to the world political scene rather than to the group of people that call themselves by the name of Christ, even though they look, speak or act nothing like Jesus, nor produce good fruit, as coming from the vine, Jesus Christ.
Paul writes the following;
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-8
The words “peace and safety” kind of jumped out at me. What do they mean in the Strong’s Greek Dictionary? Peace means “peace (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity”. Safety means “security”.
What have many pastors been preaching for years? I do not know your experiences, but I have heard about God’s love and that if you give you get prosperity. In regard to security, the message is that we are forgiven; past, present, and future. There is nothing that can separate us from this love of God. Faith gives people total eternal security.
Then, we have Jesus who spoke of those whose light is really darkness and how dark is that darkness.
Jesus also told the parable of the ten virgins who all fell asleep. Only the five wise awoke with sufficient oil (a type of the Holy Spirit) to provide light until the groom came. The five foolish virgins did not make it into the wedding. The groom said that He did not know them.
I encourage all who may read this to check it out. What does the Spirit of the Word reveal to you? Is the doctrine of 'Eternal Security' a sign of the end times?