For Fair Use Discussion and Educational Purposes

http://www.raptureready.com/soap/phillips24.html


Fear Not

By Grant Phillips


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just read that sales for doomsday bunkers have increase 1,000% since the Japan quake. A 137,000 square foot bunker is being built in Nebraska and is designed to house 950 people for a year. The cost is $25,000 to secure a place, including a $5,000 deposit. The California-based company, Vivos, that is building the bunker, stands to rake in $23,750,000 in gross sales (after doing the math).

It is obvious that fear is beginning to creep into the hearts of mankind, but countless times in Scripture we read the words, in one form or another, “fear not” or “trust in the Lord”.

We live in very troubling times. I personally feel that these are the most troubling times in all of history … so far. Political turmoil reigns in every country on earth. Diseases with no known cures are sweeping across the globe. (A new strain of AIDS has purportedly been announced in a very large country just today.) The world’s economy is teetering toward a sudden collapse. Crime is at an all time high. Immorality is taking over the land like an ugly beast. Nature, (whether hurricanes, tsunamis, quakes, floods, tornadoes, etcetera) is getting very nasty. Corruption is all around us; in the political sphere, the entertainment industry, the religious sector, the class rooms, even families. Greed, distrust, fear and other human frailties are consuming people. Even those who do not know Jesus Christ fear that something terrible is about to happen, and that it is. This world is obviously on the brink of collapsing upon itself. Where can anyone go to find peace, and rid their hearts from the fear within?

The one true God, Who created this world and its inhabitants says, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” (Psalm 118:8) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

The Scriptures tell us that just prior to our Lord’s second coming, “Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” (Luke 21:26) The Rapture has not yet happened, but is imminent. Therefore, the world is not even in the Tribulation period which follows the Rapture, and already people are beginning to fear. The curtain has not risen on the judgments that will soon befall this world, and earth’s dwellers are already beginning to fear.

Even Godless “Hollywood” has taken advantage of this fear to sell movies. One of the latest is “2012”. Our scientists are warning us of meteors from space that will eventually strike this earth and bring it to its knees.

Do we really have anything to fear? If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you absolutely have much to fear. What we are seeing today is nothing to what is ahead, and it very well may be sooner than we think. The fear factor today is a mere hiccup to what is ahead. The calamities ahead are just clearing their throat for the main performance. Everything I have mentioned, and much I have not, is going to get a thousand fold worse before Jesus sets His feet on the Mount of Olives at the end of the Tribulation.

Some of you may be angry at me, claiming that I am using scare tactics. Folks, the only thing you are hearing is the truth. Would you rather I lie to you, and tell you that everything is just going to get better and better? Maybe I should tell you that our “fearless leaders” are going to fix everything. (If you believe that, you’re really in trouble.) I haven’t even touched the surface of just how bad it's going to get … for everyone … world wide … as the world advances toward center stage of the Tribulation. Are you afraid? Do you fear? GOOD! Let that fear bring you to your knees before your only Source of true peace, Jesus Christ. Confess to Him your unworthiness, that you deserve Hell, then sincerely call upon Him for forgiveness, asking Him to shower you in His grace by saving your soul. Then you can have true peace that removes fear.

All true believers in Jesus Christ will not be here for the Tribulation. We will be in Heaven with our Bridegroom during that time. But even if everything gets much, much worse before He takes us to His Father’s house first, we (true Christians) have nothing to fear because, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) Can you say that?

Fear is one of Satan’s best tools, but it is no match for the power of God. It really should not matter to a child of God what takes place around them, as far as fear goes. Though we suffer the worse the world can throw at us, we can rest in the comfort our Lord provides. Jesus said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)

If you are afraid and without Christ, then come to Him in true repentance, and He will save your soul.

If you are afraid and a child of God, just remember one thing, i.e. our God is always in control. If He can hold all the galaxies, planets, stars, and moons in place, don’t you think He can handle our fears? Don’t let Satan make a spiritual wimp out of you. Fear not, and put your trust in the Lord.

Psalm 46:1-3 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” The “Selah” at the end of these verses is a musical term which we would call a rest note in our music today, meaning that while the orchestra continues playing, the soloist rests at this point. Let us rest in the Lord and not fear.

Grant Phillips

grantphillips@windstream.net


Disclaimer: Rapture Forum, does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article posted on this site. We do however, encourage a healthy and friendly debate on the issues of our day. Whether you agree or disagree, we encourage you to post your feedback by using the reply button.

If you are new to this site and would like to post articles, opinions, youtube videos that are appropriate for this site just e mail me at stevensandiego@ymail.com and I will send you a PASSWORD

Some of the Topics are but not limited to:

Bible: Jesus - Messianic Perspectives - Bible End Times

Prophecy - Worship - Prayer Requests

Fellowship - Middle East - America and the Bible

Israel and the Bible - Earthquakes - Famine

Pestilence - Pre Tribulation Rapture - PreWrath Rapture


Please make sure to view rules for posting which can be found on

http://pub39.bravenet.com/forum/static/show.php?usernum=3330765498&frmid=0&msgid=0


I look forward to your posts and comments

Come and share with other Christians in these last days the bible speaks of.


Ybic


Steven