Hope of Israel Ministries (Ecclesia of YEHOVAH):
Perilous Times
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"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did exchange the natural use for that which is against nature; and likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was fitting" (Romans 1:26-27). |
by Bob Vermaat
"This know, that in the last days perilous times shall come" (2 Timothy 3:1).
This statement by the Apostle Paul to Timothy seems to be coming to fruition in these days that we are now living in. Paul wrote those words approximately 1950 years ago, but if we look around us and see what is happening in the world today we can surely see this prophecy, for that is what it is, coming to pass right before our eyes.
Just look at the world's economic picture. For the last eighteen to twenty months or so our governments have been trying to stop and correct the financial meltdown, that occurred mainly through corruption and greed, and even though they, the bankers and officials, are saying that they are gaining the upper hand, all indications are that they are failing. Just look at the rate of unemployment, home foreclosures, lost savings for many and overall poverty that is coming about because of these predicaments.
Now we see financial trouble in the European Union. Greece is financially kaput and had to be bailed out to the tune of almost 500 billion. Italy, Spain and Portugal are broke and in an article in The National Post it stated that even Great Britain is not financially stable. So, you see, it is a domino affect and it all points to the fall of economic Babylon. "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen...., and the merchants of the earth are grown rich through the abundance of her delicacies." (Rev. 18:2-3). "And the fruits that thy soul lusteth after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing." (Rev.18:14-15).
Perilous times, "For men shall be lovers of self,....having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it....But they shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be manifested unto all men...." (2 Tim. 3,5,9).
The Church of Rome, the scarlet woman, is in more trouble than it has possibly ever been, with all its scandals, perversion and pedophilia coming out in the open. For years they have been trying, and to some extent succeeding, to hide all those facts by transferring the perpetrators to different locations, but it seems that their sins are too great to whitewash anymore and have therefore come out in the open for everyone to see. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness." (Gal. 5:19). "Be not deceived, God is not mocked." (Gal. 6:7). So you see, eventually all deeds will be laid bare by our Heavenly Father and it seems that their time has so arrived.
But the same goes for all of us, so let us strive that all our deeds, actions and thoughts are always geared toward the honor and glory of YEHOVAH God our Heavenly Father. So, what should our deeds be? What should our actions be? Let's look around us in our Israelite nations. Look for instance at the abortion issue. What are our actions regarding this murder of the unborn? When the law was given at Mt. Sinai, the Sixth Commandment reads, "Thou shalt not kill." The Hebrew language employs several words to express the idea, to kill. The verb used in this instance is a special word which can only mean "murder" and always indicates intentional slaying. So, what is our action toward this abomination? Sadly, we condone it by our inaction.
How well we remember how Romans 1:26-27 used to be understood, "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections; for even their women did exchange the natural use for that which is against nature; and likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was fitting." Today it is interpreted differently and it has advanced the cause of those not following natural relationships, as intended by YEHOVAH God. One cannot dispute the fact that as the practice has grown to be an alternative lifestyle, so has the "AIDS" pestilence. I want to say, "Shame on the Christian community for being so complacent" but I think one thing is crystal clear, "God is not mocked."
It's difficult to say anything about it in our present day society but in Genesis 1, at the time of creation, YEHOVAH God mandated that all creatures should procreate in kind after kind. That's gone by the boards as all the races are freely intermixing and when it is brought to attention by strict Bible-based Christians, or, for that matter, elders of all races, it is met with derision of some sort. No one even speculates on the reasons why YEHOVAH mandated this, or, for that matter, His subsequent instructions to His People, but rather than summoning up the desire and courage to question, we go along and add to our well deserved shame. Again, "God is not mocked."
The Apostle Paul faced a similar problem way back in the beginning of the church-age. Because the Jews did not want him to preach Yeshua the Messiah, Paul was therefore arrested and he then appealed to King Agrippa, after which Paul was sent to Rome. You can read this account in full in Acts 25, 26, 27. But this adversity did not deter Paul. In the face of everything he went on preaching the message of the Kingdom until the end of his life. Paul wrote in Eph. 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Yes, perilous times indeed, but if the Apostle Paul could persevere, then so must we stand strong in our convictions. The Messiah told us not to fear, "For greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4.4).
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