Today, as the new year begins, the cry for peace and safety rings more loudly than ever. I’ve written about the fears and calls for remedy of those fears in numerous posts. The prophecy below is one of the clearest in indicating when judgment will fall.
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. (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
Following the Rapture of the Church, that cry will become much more urgent. As a matter-of-fact, the cry will be demanded from most everyone on earth at that time. The Antichrist will step forward and presumably have the answers to the deluded masses’ life-threatening dilemmas.
We can hear the cries even now beginning to build—not so much by the masses of peoples under the increasingly despotic governing authorities, but by the governing authorities themselves.
These fear mounting threats to world peace. Their fears, I think the evidence shows, is because they don’t wish their safe havens of ever-increasing wealth-building they’ve carved for themselves to be disrupted.
China wants to be number one in all matters of world domination. The CCP wants to retake Formosa (Taiwan). The Communist Party’s dictatorship has lost its fear of the US vanguard against their aggression with the current American presidential administration. The Chinese have, with patience and clever, even brilliant, strategies, tied up the US and much of the Western world with economic/monetary chains.
Vladimir Putin and the Russian military threaten the Ukraine and other neighbors. They have, by taking advantage of the Biden administration’s foolhardy green environmental/anti-petroleum policies, rearranged things in Europe and elsewhere that in a way that places increasing hardships upon the average citizenries.
Israel, in the view of the globalists elite, presents a great threat to their drive toward one world by demanding that Iran get of its nuclear weapons ambition. Israel is seen as the hold-up to peace in the Middle East to a large extent, despite that it is the Jewish State’s surrounding enemies that declare almost daily that they will wipe Israel off the map.
The very wealthy and privileged among us are picking up the mantra of peace and safety in the entertainment world as well. The very purveyors of ideology that has been at the forefront of the “woke” cancel culture and the rest of that insanity now seek safety from their constituent masses. It would be humorous if it wasn’t a sin infection that will ultimately enlarge the chambers of Hell.
The following report tells more.
After years of rising crime in Los Angeles, elites in wealthy neighborhoods are finally panicking about the recent string of high-profile retail robberies and home burglaries. Experts say wealthy individuals are purchasing bulletproof cars, safe rooms, employing armed guards, and even constructing walls with barbed wire around their properties.
The issue of violent crime is nothing new to Los Angeles, but a spillover to upscale neighborhoods has put elites on edge. The Hollywood Reporter reports agencies that provide private security are seeing increasing demand for private patrols…
Estate manager Bryan Peele, president and founder of the L.A.-based Estate Managers Coalition, said his clients have “fully equipped safe rooms that they can live in for a few days, if necessary, that are completely hard-wired with phone cables, Internet, everything.”
One of Peele’s clients has three bulletproof cars and wears fake Rolexes. “This guy will take a $200,000 Rolex and copy it, using stainless steel and other metals, so it looks like the original but costs maybe $2,000-$3,000 per watch. So, in the event that it’s stolen, the client is out a lot less money,” he said.
Many upscale homes are installing more cameras, constructing fences with barbed wire, and employing 24-7 security details that will protect them from once their private jet touches down to their mansions. (“Hollywood Elites Panic-Buy Armored-Cars and Safe-Rooms Amid Rising Violent Crime,” Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge, December 28, 2021)
Crime in the most elite sections of LA and the surrounding area has risen dramatically since so-called reforms to law and justice have taken place. The madness has caused cries for peace and safety from the most vocal “wokes” in the nation.
Criminals can steal as much as $950 worth of goods and receive only slaps on the wrist. What comes to mind is the scriptural reminder, “Be sure, your sins will find you out.”
Woke culture is reprobate thinking manifest for the entire world to see. Turning one’s back to God, as we are reminded in Romans chapter 1, brings about upside-down thinking.
Sadly, many–most—will never experience true peace and safety, either in this fallen world or, even more tragically, in the world to come—in eternity.
True peace and safety are found only in Jesus Christ. Only He can provide the shelter from the Tribulation storm to come and offer us safety throughout all of eternity during life after death.
Read again the words of the Lord of all lords—the Savior who came to take away the sins of the world. Hear through your spiritual senses the compassion and love in His prayer to the Heavenly Father.
When the Lord Jesus prays, the heavenly Father ALWAYS grants His Son’s prayer. Jesus prayed for the children of God—all children past, present, and future, saved through Christ’s precious shed blood:
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them…
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them (John 17: 9–10, 20–26).
Terry James Prophecy Line 
Thanks so much for this much needed encouragement Terry. I firmly believe we are as my pastor says, living in the Braxton Hicks contractions, AKA the labor pains before the actual labor pains, before the rapture occurs, and when it does, I am going to be very glad I won’t be here for it. I see so much craziness and division going wrong right now in the body of Christ, it’s not funny, and that’s why I so appreciate the verses that you posted. Much of what I am seeing, is based on peoples beliefs that somehow or another Donald Trump is going to be president again, and the firm belief in all the things that Q Anon states, and I’ll be honest it scares me. I’ve done a lot of research on Q Anon, especially having read not just the scriptures, but also a very well thought out article by JD Farag, and believe as he does, that Q Anon is not only a cult, it’s something straight from Satan!
These verses that you posted, speak volumes as to how we as Christians ought to be on these issues, and we’re not doing that! I would really appreciate some prayer right now in this regard, because I have seen a lot of division over the COVID-19 vaccine, especially in my family, and it’s really getting bad. My husband and I made the choice to get the vaccine, end now certain members of my family are treating us as pariahs. They’ve even gone so far as to very inaccurately, end unbiblically state that we’ve got in the mark of the beast, and all kinds of foul things, and it’s breaking my heart right now.
In the beginning of Matthew’s account of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse , he mentions a “beginning of sorrows” time:
Matthew {24:4}Take heed that no man deceive you. {24:5} For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. {24:6} And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet. {24:7} For nation shall rise against nation,and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. {24:8} All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.
That hostility between not only nations, but ethnic groups within them is increasing, hunger, disease (real, and, in my opinion, exploited as an excuse for dictatorial control in formerly free lands as is the case of Covid), seismic activity worldwide, makes it pretty obvious as to being in this time right now.
Immediately following is that anyone professing Jesus and the truth of his word will become increasingly marginalized, the rise of false prophets, false messiahs, and the growing kind of heartlessness we are watching in the human race. I mean, look at the Untied States alone.
our own government is so divided it is about at the point of paralysis – except when it comes to eroding our freedoms, it seems.
The purpose of this comment is not meant to make you feel worse, despite all the gloom I’ve portrayed, but to make you realize you are NOT alone. I think that helps to know that.
You should also know that there are many of us not rolling over for the way things are now and that we are not struggling in vain. God is well aware of the way things are and he WILL make things right.
Just as these times of sorrows must happen, so will our rescue from them all.
I think it’ll be soon.
So, hang in there, keep looking up!
Hi Wendy! Let me just say that you are not alone in your thoughts. I agree on everything you commented about. The one issue I would like to being forth from your comment is this vaccine. It has troubled me so very much about how Christians are treating other Christians over this issue. You did NOTHING wrong by getting vaccinated. You chose what was best for you and your family and it is NO ONE’S BUSINESS!! How dare anyone, who claims to follow Christ, damn you to hell for making that decision. Some Christians are just plain ignorant and think that this vaccine is the Mark of the Beast. IT IS NOT!! I have written several ministries stating my disapproval on how they are treating their congregants who have chosen NOT to be vaxxed. I only heard back from one of those ministries. They agreed with my stance and gave his opinion as well. He did say the vaccine was Not The Mark of the Beast and confessed that he would not take the vaccine. He also said that he has been treated badly by some in his church because he is unvaxxed.
This has become an issue that I think has damaged the church. It has opened my eyes wide. I have even cried to God about it.
The church today is in a bad state. We have lost our saltiness. We have become a laughing stock to unbelievers. It has become so hard to evangelize to people because they see how we are treating each other over the vaccine issue. I know, I have been called all sort of names. Jesus’s name has become denigrated. What’s even sad is that some Pastors still think that people are turning to Christ because of CoVid. That may be true, but I believe the numbers are small.
It is time for Christians to unite and stop the bickering and name calling. We are supposee to be the light of the world, but now our light is under a basket. I hope things change, but then I remember Jesus wondering if He will find any faith on earth when He returns.
God Bless you!!
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them…
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them (John 17: 9–10, 20–26).
That is so beautiful; I love Jesus; He is God and the comfort of the word of God
One of my fav. verses is from the first chapter of the Book of John
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
and I first read it in my amplified Bible;
so many years ago
that the ladies had given me when I stayed in the transition house for the last time
my first husband was quite violent
The Word Made Flesh
14 And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).
and the NASB
The Word Made Flesh
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
KJV is easier to remember but I am not a false Christian if I have other versions
Chuck’s family (his grandmother and his great grandfather on his mother’s side had a Bible; I found it and now it is mine)
with newspaper clippings from 1897 in it
Her fav. hymn was
He hideth my soul in the cleft of a rock
In a dry and thirsty land
My goal this year is to go to her gravesite at Fort Fraser and lay flowers on her grave
She should be in Heaven when I get there either through the Rapture of the church or through death
It is all in the LORD’s hands and I trust him completely
In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths
blessings in Christ’s Holy and Mighty Name
Maranatha!
mellany
Thanks for the reminder of these scriptures, Mellany. What a treasure that family Bible is! I have my grandma’s. A sweet pastor I had years ago who was fluent in Hebrew and used the Hebrew Bible for his personal study told me that the NASB is actually the most accurate translation from the original language we have. I have used it ever since. Also Amir Tsarfati, an Israeli, Jewish Christian and Bible teacher, said we lose so much in translation and he wishes we could all read the Hebrew Bible. In his teaching in English he uses the NASB. So yes it’s ok to use another translation than the King James. In fact I personally think having two or more translations help a great deal in personal study.
Your love of the Lord is so evident and such an encouragement to me! God bless you sister!
Amen. Thank you.
I live in LA county so I know this first hand. The crime issues are made worse by stiff headwinds for law enforcement including Vax mandates, COVID excuses for not jailing criminals, and defunding movements. The criminal gangs know how to use the $950 limit to their advantages and most of the arrests are catch and release. They know they can get away crimes. The police has in many ways conceded certain crimes to the criminal gangs saying they are no longer a priority for enforcement. So citizens are at their mercy and of course they have none. I no longer can recommend California to anyone as it is becoming a more dangerous place each year. Lawlessness abounds. Its really a shame – California is a place of incredible beauty. But the church I attend still goes out to the streets to preach the gospel and people still respond. So we rejoice in that.
The U.N. chose a hideous statue of a winged jaguar (lion analog, perhaps?) as its “peace and security” mascot last month.
This particular symbol represented ancient Babylon, according to (Daniel 7:4) and Revelation 14 mentions what appears to be the fall of a revived Babylon, very likely a direct connection to the coming Antichrist and his government. With modern technology, it may be that the city itself be rebuilt and be the actual capitol.
It is just too much of a stretch for me to accept this as “coincidence.”
I believe we are watching Bible Prophecy in the process of becoming literally fulfilled.
Thank you, Terry for your encouraging blog posts. I look forward to seeing them in my inbox! I am a long-time student of Bible prophecy, over 40 years. I listen weekly to many excellent Bible based teachers, (several of them have written submissions for your recent books). I attend one of the rare churches that still teach the Bible and has not caved to social justice and other heresies. But I have noticed a disturbing trend, mostly in the past year that I don’t know how to process.
Many of my most trusted prophecy teachers have begun to point to coming intense persecution of the church. They believe that this is the next thing we should be looking for. They say that they are “not saying this to scare you, but to prepare you”. They then just leave this statement hanging there, without elaboration. I don’t understand how they intend to “prepare us”. Within the last week, one of them has stated that “if the first century church had to face death for their faith, why do we think we will escape?”
I am not afraid of death, but I am not convinced that the Bible teaches that there will be persecution unto death right before the rapture. I DO find everything that you pointed out in this post about the rise in crime, the global unrest with China, Russia and Israel – all of these things definitely ARE in prophecy of the end times. I also see the Bible teaching that right before the rapture, “they” will be eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, buying and selling, building and planting. In other words, business as usual.
Obviously, there are Christians in this world who are facing persecution. But there have always been Believers who have faced persecution. That has been a fact for the past 2000 years. One of my pastors recently gave a sermon that elaborated in gory detail several stories from “Foxes’ Book of Martyrs” and “Jesus Freaks”. He then asked us to pick a story that we could “most relate to”. What?!!! How is this helpful?
I see this kind of teaching as fear mongering and feeding into Satan’s lies. I know that God has not given us a spirit of fear, so fear comes from Satan. Why are so many pastors and prophecy teachers going down this road? Is this just leaning too much on their own understanding? Are we getting so close to the Tribulation that they don’t know what else to say? Aren’t we supposed to be looking for our blessed hope?
I have reached the point where I no longer want to listen to some of my favorite teachers and I hold my breath every time I go to church, expecting another sermon based on doom, gloom and bloody persecution. Am I missing something here? Am I just too fear based in my outlook? How do I process this? What do I say to other believers who are absolutely paralyzed with fear?
Remember what happened to Peter in the midst of the storm on Lake Galilee? As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he successfully walked on the water despite the storm raging all around him, all in defiance of the laws of science. However, once he turned his focus from Jesus to the surrounding chaos, he began to sink.
Even so, once he turned it BACK to Jesus, Jesus rescued him.
(Matthew 14:21-31)
Perhaps that is the way we should approach the chaos of these times – by keeping our attention focused back onto Jesus.
Fear is one of the devil’s strongest tools to control and paralyze us. We see a prime example of this in action being exploited by the Covid fear-mongers to divert and control the masses across the whole Earth right now.
The real truth is that greater is the one who is in and with us (Jesus and the Holy Spirit) than the one (the devil) who is the world. (1 John 4:4)
Believe me, I need to remind myself of these facts all the time.
Hope they will go far to reassure you.
Thank you, Ed Wood. That was an encouragement. I just don’t understand why this kind of teaching is happening. Most of these people are really excellent in every other regard.
You are welcome, Beth.
Maybe the thing with “fear” is that it is such an integral part of what human beings are. I suppose a sociologist or anthropologist might say it’s part of our survival instinct carried over from primitive times.
If one of our ancestors was being chased by a carnivore, that shot of adrenaline released as a result of being afraid might have helped in getting him or her up into that tree out of harm’s way, or back to the cave faster, or even given that person a better chance at successfully fighting back with a club or rock.
The downside is that fear also tends to diminish one’s ability to reason things out clearly and I think this aspect is what is being used against us every day now. In the example of Covid, why is there such a big thing being made out of a disease that, to the best of my knowledge, is only 1% fatal? Now I don’t mean to minimize the deaths of those who have died from it, not at all, but it just seems to me the reaction has been greatly overblown.
In my own opinion, what has happened in the last two years is positively devilish on every level, based on what has become of the free world in that time.
Maybe I’m just stubborn, but I just refuse to roll over for the propaganda I see in the media that wants to see us terrified of just about every aspect of life today to such a point that it keeps us from seeing things clearly.
Of course, I can’t claim to be 100% successful, but when I find myself falling into the “fear trap,” I remember things like Peter’s Sea of Galilee experience . . . not to mention the empty tomb!
It is unfortunate that so many people who are supposed to be reassuring us about God have fallen into fear-mode and leaving out the much greater “hope” that is to be found in a simple statement like this:
John {16:33} These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. [Jesus is the speaker.]
So, keep looking up – not only is Jesus is coming soon, but he’s watching over his own, right here and now.
After re-reading my post, I wish I could edit it! I do not mean to imply in ANY way that my pastor or any of these teachers is propagating lies from Satan. I just meant that Satan really feeds on fear and these kinds of teachings can lead to fear. We are already being fed fear 24/7 by the media. I, for one, can
really appreciate some encouragement and hope – and more emphasis on our blessed hope! Just not sure how to process this new focus on persecution.
Every day, I am accepting more and more fully, that this is it. This is really the end. Or, rather, for the believers, the beginning. But I now know I am grieving, too, this world. I’m not proud to say that. There was so much here I desired to finish, promises I made, animals and people I am caring/providing for. I’m grieving the loss of small comforts HERE, I’m sorry. I tell Him , I’m sorry. Friends have harshly judged me, reprimanded me, for loving something HERE. I thought that was what we were commanded to do.