Spiritual Checklist for the End Times

by Barbara Latta

Last week we talked about readiness for natural and man-made disasters. We looked at

The day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night.

ways to be prepared ahead of time to prevent being caught without the necessary supplies to sustain life and health.

A more important preparation is one we should look at as our world becomes more evil and anti-Christian.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4).

These verses portray the headlines in our news media today. Never before have we seen the violence and attitudes displayed by people in the world as we do in the last few decades. While scoffers will always exist, the truth unfolds in the scriptures.

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6).

The world is becoming more evil.

There are many theories about the rapture of the church. Some believe Christians will be join the Lord in the clouds before the Great Tribulation, others think it will happen at the middle of this terrible time, and another group says the rapture will be at the end. No matter which way you lean, the important thing is this: if you know the Lord you will be going to meet Him no matter when the trumpet sounds.

This is the first step to being ready for the end times or ready for death. Knowing the Lord and submitting our lives to Him prepares us for eternity and gives us strength for whatever we may face. The Lord told His disciples that if the world hated Him, it would hate them also. The spirit of anti-Christ is already present in the world. Christians are being put to death, imprisoned and tortured all over the planet.

Natural disasters abound in frequency and magnitude more than has ever been on the earth before. Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 24 these disasters would be one of the signs of the end of the age.

The second step in preparing for the end of this age is to have a deep knowledge of the scriptures to avoid being deceived. The devil can use signs and wonders as an imitation of God’s power to trick people into following him. If anything doesn’t glorify Christ and uphold Him as the Son of God, the doctrine isn’t the truth.

Preparation in the Word prevents deception.

Third, we are not to be in fear. Jesus said, Now when these things begin to happen look up and lift up your heads; because your redemption draws near (Luke 21:28).

Our spiritual preparedness is not only for eternity but for this life as well. In Luke 19, Jesus tells a parable about ten minas as an illustration for His church to be occupied with His work until He comes back to the earth. We are not supposed to hide in the hills, sitting around doing nothing. Spreading the gospel is necessary until the church leaves the earth.
We are the light in this dark world, so I emphasize again: We are not to be in fear, rather, we can be excited while looking forward to our Savior's return

In Hosea 4:6 the Word says, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. We can make sure we are not in that group if we will become grounded in the Word of God to be ready for service on the earth and life in eternity.

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