“It is not enough to be in the church; the church must be in you.” Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen
Month: May 2026
Light in the Last Days – Day 56
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
How many in the church today truly practice these commands? It appears that only a small percentage remain faithful to them. Everywhere we look, we see evidence of Christians conforming to the world rather than being transformed. This is evident when believers suggest that abortion or the support of it aligns with God’s heart. Can that ever be considered His perfect will? Paul explicitly defined what contradicts God’s will in his letters to Timothy, where he described the moral decay of the last days:
2 Timothy 3:1-9 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.
If these verses describe what is clearly not God’s will, we must ask whose will they actually follow. The truth is they conform to the will of Satan. The influence of this dark spirit within humanity is clearly reflected in:
2 Timothy 3:2-4 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.
In these final days, God’s will is for us to distance ourselves from ungodliness. Someone might use the title of Christian, yet their actions tell a different story when they participate in pride events to champion their cause. We must remember that while God’s love for the individual is unwavering, His hatred for sin is absolute. A faithful Christian can be present at such a gathering to share the message of deliverance found in Jesus, and doing so is exactly what God requires of us.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
The world of the unsaved is all around us. The gospel is open to everyone but they won’t hear if you don’t do your job. Friend, you must be born again in order to participate, no matter what viewpoint you hold. Friend, if you are not born again, it is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Don’t you want to be a part of the Church when she is raptured into the clouds to meet Jesus? (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
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Quote by Samuel Davies
“The soul of the meanest beggar is as immortal as that of the greatest monarch.” Samuel Davies
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Light in the Last Days – Day 55
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Colossians 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Revelation 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Revelation 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Revelation 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Revelation 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
Revelation 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Revelation 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
We live in a time where sin is not just present—it is rampant. One only needs to look at the world’s current state through the lens of God’s Law to see how far we have wandered. This raises a heavy question for every soul: what is the final cost of un-repented sin? Today’s scriptures reveal the sobering truth of what lies ahead. This is exactly why end-times preaching is so prominent today; it serves as a final, urgent plea for the world to turn back to God before the clock runs out.
Despite the constant warning of end-times preaching, has there been a true change in men’s hearts? On the contrary, it seems that sin has only abounded. We see this hardening clearly in modern ‘pride’ parades, where public indecency occurs even in the presence of children. Many have grown so spiritually cold that they now reject any higher truth, consumed entirely by the lusts of the flesh. Perhaps most tragic is the state of many mothers’ hearts; they have grown so indifferent to God’s standards that they intentionally bring their innocent children into the midst of such blatant sin.
Judgment is coming upon those in rebellion and upon the world they inhabit. Make no mistake: there is no ‘party’ in Hell, only the eternal torment of an unquenchable fire. This sobering truth should compel us to take the message of salvation to the world. We are called to start right where we are, reaching out to our loved ones, our social circles, and anyone God puts in our path. Stay alert and be prepared to give an account!
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Perhaps you’re waiting for someone to ask about your faith, but is your life lived in a way that sparks that curiosity? We have been given the incredible promise of the Rapture—Christ coming to claim His Bride. If looking for His return isn’t a part of your everyday mindset, it’s a sign that your heart is fixed on the wrong priorities.
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
We must have a heart for the lost, or something is fundamentally wrong with our spiritual walk. You are likely the only bridge to the Gospel for those in your immediate circle. Think clearly about what their eternity will look like: forever apart from God, enduring the fire of judgment. If this truth doesn’t stir you, you are focusing on the wrong things. Don’t let fear keep you silent, only to realize too late that their blood is on your hands because you refused to speak.
Ezekiel 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Countless people around us are struggling to fill an empty space in their souls, chasing a peace the world simply cannot provide. They will never experience true rest until they find it in Christ. Since you have experienced God’s peace firsthand, what is stopping you from offering that same hope to those who are still searching?
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
What a blessing it is to have God’s peace as we watch the world today—it is news too good to keep to yourself! But this hope is only for those who have been born again. If that isn’t you, believe that today is your divine appointment for salvation. God has placed this before you right now so that you don’t have to miss out. Don’t you want the joy of joining the Church in that glorious moment when we are raptured to meet the Lord? (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
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Quote by Gilbert Tennent
“The reason why congregations have been so dead is, because they have had dead men preaching to them; for I am verily persuaded the generality of preachers talk of an unknown and unfelt Christ.” Gilbert Tennent
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Quote by John Wesley
“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God… they alone will shake the gates of Hell.” John Wesley
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Light in the Last Days – Day 54
2 Thessalonians 2:1-10 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (5) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (6) And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. (7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. ( 8 ) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (9) Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Since the days of the first-century church, the timing of the Rapture has been a point of intense scrutiny and, unfortunately, deep division. The Apostle Paul dedicated much of his ministry to explaining this “catching up,” likely because his own experience in the third heaven left him with a relentless desire to see every believer anchored in that coming glory. Yet, where Paul intended to bring hope, many today find only a reason to argue. In a world desperate for the Gospel, we must pivot from the exhaustion of endless debating toward the life-giving work of reaching the lost before time runs out.
The Holy Spirit teaches us through Paul that we don’t have to live in a state of confusion or fear. By telling us not to be ‘shaken in mind,’ God is commanding us to be diligent students of the Word so we aren’t easily moved. Notice the specific warning in verse 2: even then, deceptive sermons and letters were circulating to convince believers that the Second Coming was imminent. If the Thessalonians struggled to stay steady despite Paul’s direct influence, we must realize how much more vulnerable we are to the chaos of modern misinformation.
In verse 3, Paul makes it clear that the Second Coming is contingent upon the ‘falling away’ and the revelation of the man of sin. However, the distinction lies in verse 5, where Paul checks the Thessalonians’ memory of his earlier instructions. By appealing to what he had already taught them in person, Paul reinforces the necessity of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture. For many, this is the definitive point where alternative Rapture theories lose their consistency.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. (7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only HE who now letteth will let, until HE be taken out of the way. (8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
What is keeping the Antichrist from starting the Tribulation period right now? Paul explains in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 that a powerful Restrainer is blocking his entrance. This isn’t a new battle; the spirit of lawlessness has been at work since the early church, but it is being successfully suppressed until a pre-appointed time. The King James word ‘letteth’ comes from the Greek katechō, which means
katechō
kat-ekh’-o
From G2596 and G2192; to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively): – have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, X make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.
Only God has the power to restrain the rising tide of evil in our world. Currently, the Holy Spirit acts as a spiritual barrier, working through the Body of Christ to ensure that darkness does not fully overflow. Much like a dam holding back a great flood, the Spirit (through the Church body) suppresses the start of the seven-year Tribulation. This restraint remains firm until the specific transition mentioned in verse 7, when the Restrainer and the Church are removed from the scene.
Matthew 16:7-8 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only HE who now letteth will let, until HE be taken out of the way. (8) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Why hasn’t the devil taken over yet? Because Jesus declared that hell cannot overpower His Church! The Holy Spirit resides in you and every other believer (Acts 8:15, Ephesians 1:13), and He is the Restrainer stopping the Antichrist’s debut. Right now, He is the dam holding back the floodwaters of judgment. But when the Church is gone, the restraint is gone, and evil will saturate the earth. Let’s look at why this specific ‘removal’ is the strongest evidence for a Rapture that precedes the Tribulation.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only HE who now letteth will let, until HE be taken out of the way. ( 8 ) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
According to verse 7, the Holy Spirit will one day step aside, ending His current restraint. Paul follows this immediately with a definitive timeline: then shall that Wicked be revealed! This confirms that the Antichrist is only unmasked after the Rapture has taken place. We may not know the length of the pause between these two events, but we know the order is fixed. This ‘Wicked’ one’s identity is sealed by his destruction; as verse 8 tells us, he is the one Jesus will personally consume at His glorious Second Coming.
With so much scriptural support, the Pre-Tribulation viewpoint should do more than settle an argument—it should jumpstart our service. The imminence of the Rapture is meant to keep us ‘occupying’ until He comes. To claim Christ and yet refuse to serve is to mirror the Pharisees, who knew the scriptures backward and forward but never truly knew the Savior. They went through the motions with hearts of stone, focusing on outward rituals while their inner selves remained unchanged. Don’t just be a student of the end times; be a servant of the Great Commission.
Ultimately, your viewpoint on the Rapture matters far less than your relationship with Christ. You must be born again. If you aren’t certain of your salvation, consider that God has sovereignly directed you here today for this very moment. Why wait any longer? You can have a place among the believers who will soon be raptured to meet the Lord in the air.(1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
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Quote by George Whitefield
“It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher.” George Whitefield
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Please Help Me In My Research
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
I am looking for ideas for my next devotional series entitled “The Anchored Soul.” It will be a mish-mash of various topics that affect all Christians in their walk. What are some events, highlights in your life, mountains you’ve climbed, etc. that you would enjoy reading? For some reason, my Comments have been disabled due to a conflict in my plugins. So please go to my “Contact Me” at the top of my page and send me a message that way. I would love to hear your thoughts!
Thank you!!!
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Light in the Last Days – Day 53
Luke 21:29-36 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; (30) When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. (31) So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. (32) Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. (33) Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (34) And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (35) For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. (36) Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape ALL these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
While many see the chaos of our modern world as a sign of decay, Luke 21:29-36 points us toward the ‘budding fig tree’ of Israel as a sign of hope and prophetic reliability. The re-establishment of Israel in 1948 stands as the most important ‘sign of the times,’ marking the moment this biblical symbol began to come back to life. This passage reminds us that God has not finished with His people, and as we watch the fig tree grow, we are encouraged to keep our spiritual lives in order. It is a call to live with the urgency of a generation that has seen the first signs of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As well, we see that the fig tree refers to Israel in Hosea 9:10 and Joel 1:7:
Hosea 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.
Joel 1:7 He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.
Israel, the fig tree, habitually left God to serve other gods and it no longer bared fruit for the one true living God. Later, in the New Testament, we see it mentioned in Mark 11:13-14:
Mark 11:13-14 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. (14) And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
Jesus points out that the fig tree would not produce fruit and man would not eat of it for ever. What fruit will mankind eat from then? It is the fruit of the Lord Jesus Christ, the fruit of His Spirit!
When Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948, the world entered the ‘season of the fig tree,’ alerting us that the end of the age is truly at hand. Jesus told us that the generation alive to see these leaves sprout would not pass away until every prophecy was accomplished. Because the final hour will come as a sudden snare to the world, we are called to a life of watchfulness and being missionaries in our allotted “land.” Let us strive to be spiritually ready, that we might be accounted worthy to escape the coming tribulations and stand before our King.
Escape what? The answer is the “snare.” The Greek word for snare is “pagis” and is defined in Strong’s Concordance as:
pagis
pag-ece’
From G4078; a trap (as fastened by a noose or notch); figuratively a trick or stratagem (temptation): – snare
To escape the deceptions and stratagems the Antichrist will use to trap the world during the Tribulation, one must be a true member of the Church of Jesus Christ. This requires more than a label; it requires being authentically born again. When we become a “new creature” as described in 2 Corinthians 5:17, our old sinful desires are replaced by a pursuit of God’s will, identifying us as the Body of Christ. It is this authentic Church that Jesus promises to rescue prior to the Tribulation through the Rapture, allowing us to be accounted worthy to escape the horrors to come and stand before the Son of Man.
So how do we secure our escape from the Antichrist’s coming snare? By the grace of God, we will be counted worthy to take part in the Rapture of the Church (1 Corinthians 15:50-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18). Far from being merely an “easy way out,” as some critics of the Pre-Tribulation view suggest, this escape is a divine promise given to the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:14-23). As the literal Body of Christ, the Church is shielded from the Great Tribulation, a period specifically designated for the outpouring of God’s wrath. Because we are in Him, we are eternally secure; as Romans 8:1 explicitly declares, those who belong to Christ Jesus are not under condemnation.
The Greek word for “condemnation” used in Romans 8:1 is katakrima (κατάκριμα):
An adverse sentence or judicial punishment. It refers to the final penalty or “doom” that follows a guilty verdict.
Because the Tribulation is a time of divine judicial punishment upon a Christ-rejecting world, the Church is legally and spiritually exempt from that awful sentence.
The Church is no longer under an adverse sentence of death with a destination of Hell. No indeed! We have been bought with the price of Christ’s shed blood.
1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
Once we grasp this truth, it becomes clear that the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is the only viewpoint that aligns with God’s character and promises. Regardless of your viewpoint, the fundamental requirement remains the same: you must be born again to participate. Friend, if you have not yet experienced your sins being entirely forgiven by Christ, it is no coincidence that you are reading this right now; God has brought you to this moment so that you might be saved before it is too late. Don’t you want to be counted among the Church when she is caught up into the clouds to meet Jesus? (1 Thessalonians 4:17) Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
