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A
Study Of Silver: Chapter 2
A Time Of Plenty Before The Famine (Psa 37:25-26 NIV) I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. (Prov 6:6-11 NIV) Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. The Lord will care for us during the tribulation period if we are some of those who will be alive during that time. However, the fact that he will provide for us somehow is not an excuse to be lazy or reckless with that which he has given us in at the present time. In other words, it's not prudent to go forgo all savings and live large without at least some type of preparation for the future. We can all cut back somewhere and put a little aside to help us survive during the famine, and there will be a famine during the tribulation period when the Two Witnesses, Enoch and Elijah withhold the rain for 3 1/2 years. According to the book of Esdras in the Greek Bible and a non biblical book called the apocryphal Revelation of John, there will be a time of great plenty before the tribulation starts, just like there were seven years of great harvests before the seven years of famine during the time that Joseph was ruling under Pharaoh in Egypt. The Christians living in the end times will have the opportunity to prepare for what is coming upon the earth during a period of great abundance just before Antichrist comes to power, and then when he does all hell shall break loose. The Horror of the Last Days 2 Esdras 16:18-20 The beginning of sorrows, when there shall be much lamentation; the beginning of famine, when many shall perish; the beginning of wars, when the powers shall be terrified; the beginning of calamities, when all shall tremble. What shall they do, when the calamities come? Famine and plague, tribulation and anguish are sent as scourges for the correction of humankind. Yet for all this they will not turn from their iniquities, or ever be mindful of the scourges. 2 Esdras 16:21 Indeed, provisions will be so cheap upon earth that people will imagine that peace is assured for them, and then calamities shall spring up on the earth—the sword, famine, and great confusion. 2 Esdras 16:22-34 For many of those who live on the earth shall perish by famine; and those who survive the famine shall die by the sword. And the dead shall be thrown out like dung, and there shall be no one to console them; for the earth shall be left desolate, and its cities shall be demolished. No one shall be left to cultivate the earth or to sow it. The trees shall bear fruit, but who will gather it? The grapes shall ripen, but who will tread them? For in all places there shall be great solitude; a person will long to see another human being, or even to hear a human voice. For ten shall be left out of a city; and two, out of the field, those who have hidden themselves in thick groves and clefts in the rocks. Just as in an olive orchard three or four olives may be left on every tree, or just as, when a vineyard is gathered, some clusters may be left by those who search carefully through the vineyard, so in those days three or four shall be left by those who search their houses with the sword. The earth shall be left desolate, and its fields shall be plowed up, and its roads and all its paths shall bring forth thorns, because no sheep will go along them. Virgins shall mourn because they have no bridegrooms; women shall mourn because they have no husbands; their daughters shall mourn, because they have no help. Their bridegrooms shall be killed in war, and their husbands shall perish of famine. God's People Must Prepare for the End Times 2 Esdras 16:35-39 Listen now to these things, and understand them, you who are servants of the Lord. This is the word of the Lord; receive it and do not disbelieve what the Lord says. The calamities draw near, and are not delayed. Just as a pregnant woman, in the ninth month when the time of her delivery draws near, has great pains around her womb for two or three hours beforehand, but when the child comes forth from the womb, there will not be a moment's delay, so the calamities will not delay in coming upon the earth, and the world will groan, and pains will seize it on every side. 2 Esdras 16:40-50 Hear my words, O my people; prepare for battle, and in the midst of the calamities be like strangers on the earth. Let the one who sells be like one who will flee; let the one who buys be like one who will lose; let the one who does business be like one who will not make a profit; and let the one who builds a house be like one who will not live in it; let the one who sows be like one who will not reap; so also the one who prunes the vines, like one who will not gather the grapes; those who marry, like those who will have no children; and those who do not marry, like those who are widowed. Because of this, those who labor, labor in vain; for strangers shall gather their fruits, and plunder their goods, overthrow their houses, and take their children captive; for in captivity and famine they will produce their children. Those who conduct business, do so only to have it plundered; the more they adorn their cities, their houses and possessions, and their persons, the more angry I will be with them for their sins, says the Lord. Just as a respectable and virtuous woman abhors a prostitute, so righteousness shall abhor iniquity, when she decks herself out, and shall accuse her to her face when he comes who will defend the one who searches out every sin on earth. Impending Persecution of God's People 2 Esdras 16:68-73 The burning wrath of a great multitude is kindled over you; they shall drag some of you away and force you to eat what was sacrificed to idols. And those who consent to eat shall be held in derision and contempt, and shall be trampled under foot. For in many places and in neighboring cities there shall be a great uprising against those who fear the Lord. They shall be like maniacs, sparing no one, but plundering and destroying those who continue to fear the Lord. For they shall destroy and plunder their goods, and drive them out of house and home. Then the tested quality of my elect shall be manifest, like gold that is tested by fire. Promise of Divine Deliverance 2 Esdras 16:74-78 Listen, my elect ones, says the Lord; the days of tribulation are at hand, but I will deliver you from them. Do not fear or doubt, for God is your guide . You who keep my commandments and precepts, says the Lord God, must not let your sins weigh you down, or your iniquities prevail over you. Woe to those who are choked by their sins and overwhelmed by their iniquities! They are like a field choked with underbrush and its path overwhelmed with thorns, so that no one can pass through. It is shut off and given up to be consumed by fire. The apocryphal Revelation of John says much the same thing as 2 Esdras. During the short time of peace and safety at the very beginning of Antichrist's reign, there will be also be an abundance of food. It will appear at that time that no one will ever have to go hungry again due to the brilliance of Antichrist's wonderful plan. From The Apocryphal Revelation Of John And I heard a voice saying to me: Hear, righteous John. In this book which thou seest there have been written the things in the heaven, and the things in the earth, and the things in the abyss, and the judgments and righteousness of all the human race. And I said: Lord, when shall these things come to pass? and what do those times bring? And I heard a voice saying to me: Hear, righteous John. There shall be in that time abundance of corn and wine, such as there hath never been upon the earth, nor shall ever be until those times come. Then the ear of corn shall produce a half choenix, and the bend of the branch shall produce a thousand clusters, and the cluster shall produce a half jar of wine; and in the following year there shall not be found upon the face of all the earth a half choenix of corn or a half jar of wine. (Choenix - CHOENIX ke'-niks : A Greek dry measure, almost equal to one quart. Mentioned in the New Testament only in Revelation 6:6, where the Revised Version, margin would read "choenix" instead of the indefinite translation "measure." The verse is then obviously a threat of famine.) International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Somehow Antichrists system of government will appear to have the answer to all of the worlds problems. It will be short lived though, perhaps only a year or two or maybe only six months, and then the whole thing will fall apart when the seven seals begin to be opened and the two witnesses appear and withhold the rain. (1 Th 5:3 KJV) 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. (Jer 8:15 NIV) We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there was only terror. When the time of peace and prosperity comes at the start of Antichrist's reign it will be time for those who don't want to take the mark a year or two later in order to buy or sell, to pay off all of their bills and stock up on non perishable food. Remember, if you own your home you may be able to live in it for a few years until they throw you out for non payment of taxes. But, if you owe money on it and can't make the payments without the mark you could be out in the street three months after the mark is implemented. Christians should strive to be out of debt by whatever means necessary when they see the Antichrist come to power. Even if it means selling your home and buying a smaller one that is paid for. Remember, once the Mark is implemented you won't be able to sell your home without it. You could have a million dollar home and not be able to sell it to get money to buy food on the black market without taking the Mark and swearing allegiance to Satan. We should all follow the principles below whenever possible, but especially so in the end times. (Rom 13:8 KJV) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. (Prov 22:7 NCV) The rich rule over the poor, and borrowers are servants to lenders. Don't be sucked into the home refinance trap and extend your mortgage into the tribulation period. If you do re-fi make sure you have enough cash in the bank to pay it off at any time you need to. That way if Antichrist comes to power you can run down and pay it off before he implements the mark. Why should they throw you out of your own home you worked so hard for and out into the street for not taking the mark? You'll be sleeping in the bushes instead of in your own bed. Any mortgage that extends past 2018 is definitely in the danger zone as we will be very close at that time to completing 6000 years from the creation of Adam. Even if nothing happens at that time it's still a good goal to have your home paid for and you will be happy you did it and followed biblical money management principles. A word to the wise is sufficient. (Prov 22:26-27 NIV) Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. |
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Find out more about end times prophecy. Read "Countdown To
6000." Click on the chapter titles below. |