Many want an escape for the church from times ahead. But the church needs to stay here. As time of wrath begins the prayer meetings will be desperately necessary so there can be prayers for mercy, aided by the Holy Spirit. Maybe God will shorten the time of wrath. That wrath is not yet but our children will later need to prepare for it. Teach them to pray for mercy.
Many people talk like there has not already been a tribulation of pandemic lockdown when people were forced to ignore conscience and comply. Now we should all know better what the tribulation will be like, only worse, more dystopian, more distressing. No need to speculate. No need to pretend Christians cannot be put through such times. We have tasted it. Our children no longer need it all spelt out to them. They missed schooling. They had to face tough decisions. They knew things can get nasty. They knew people who died, for complying, for not complying. We simply know there will be a far worse version of what we already experienced. Nobody doubts it can happen again but worse. Even the scientists and leaders know. It might be decades away. The really big time of trial, worse than the one we all just came through, will be just before Christ comes and intervenes. Between now and this big trial time there will be a time of catastrophic global events of wrath but it might be decades before it starts. But at least we do not have to convince anyone that things can get bad. Less need for speculation, imagination, imagery, guesswork. If we have learned already to endure and keep our clothes clean, we can have more confidence we can face what is to come, if we live to see it. No need to fool ourselves and others that Christians will never have to face such things. But remember the ones who have been persecuted and murdered too. That might come our way. Until the full number who have to die this way is complete. But the church needs to stay here. Once the wrath begins, the prayer meetings will be desperately necessary so there can be prayers for mercy, aided by the Holy Spirit. Maybe God will shorten the time of wrath.
