Covenant Church

Imagination is not necessary. The Bible speaks clearly that the "last days" will be perilous. It will be possible for weapons to destroy all flesh. God will intervene to prevent total annihilation.

We further know by the Bible that in the "last days" (which means before Jesus returns for His Church—as I would understand it) there will be many who have followed Christ that will turn away from the faith. However, because God will generously pour out the Holy Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2) the greatest revival in all of history will occur!

The Church is caught between winds blowing in opposite directions. Violent are the waves. Violent are the winds. The House shakes.

There are facts to the present crisis:

• Terrorism has cost the United States hundreds of billions of dollars, which has weakened our economy and lowered the value of our dollar.
• Europe and other nations are as threatened by terrorism as is the United States.
• The United States is the world's most powerful economic and military force.
• While the United States has been bleeding, other nations have been gaining in strength, e.g., Germany, Russia, and the United States of Europe have been flexing muscle.
• When the United States of Europe (a relatively godless gathering) comes together in harmony it will:
  1. Have the largest military force in the world
  2. Be the most powerful economic force in the world
  3. Be the #1 producer of food in the world
• A Global News Blog noted on September 23, 2008 that the United States of Europe (European Union) has been only mildly afflicted by the current economic crisis, because of a $300,000 reserve fund to prop up the EURO (our dollar).
• The United States of America will no longer be first economically, politically, or militarily.
• Presently about 80% of the world's giving to missions is from the United States. Evidence is beginning to surface that the strain on economics with oil, food, etc., prices increasing is decreasing giving to churches and charity causes.

Support of missionaries is critical in every nation, but especially in oppressive and rogue nations where Christians are horribly persecuted. When support and assistance cease, governments and militants can persecute/execute Christians without repercussions from other nations.

I have long said that part of Satan's strategy is to tear at the soul of Christians in the United States. Hell's strategy is to make believers choose between their comfort level and tithes and mission offerings. If the Church is weakened and brought to its knees it will be easier for Hell to target the Church/believers as the enemy. If Christians choose not to tithe and give, missionaries and mission works around the world will suffer horrible adversity.

Let us not forget that Rome actually protected Christians until Emperor Nero burned Rome. Some of Nero's soldiers were seen lighting fires. As anger grew, Nero knew he had to find a scapegoat. He cleverly made a decision that Christians were no longer a sect of Judaism, but that Christians were a cult. Thus, the law protected Judaism, but made execution possible for Christians. The Book of I Peter was written during the time of persecution.

In order for the anti-christ to set up his kingdom and declare that he is really "the Messiah," it will be necessary for Christians to become the enemy. The Church will be "raptured" (word not in Bible, from an Italian word that means "ecstacy") or taken out of the world to escape a time of great tribulation.

Believing that what I am writing is biblical, be motivated to continue to be faithful to God. God does not give us fear. We have confidence through the power of the Holy Spirit. We gather in Corporate Worship. We Pray. We tithe and give to missions that the Church may be strong and able to reach the lost and make disciples.

"Make an ark," God told Noah. "Go into the Ark," God told Noah. God is saying in our time: "The Church is the Ark. Go in. Stay in and you will be saved."

Satan will huff and puff. He will do much damage. However, we have confidence in Our God that He is able to deliver us. We resolve that by His help we will share the gospel with many who will stand with us on that great day to celebrate that salvation is of Our God!

Stay in the Church! If you are out in the cold, come in. Welcome home! Defeat the devil. Choose Jesus and the Family of God. Choose to be a good steward of tithes and offerings that we may be strong for the battle for Our God!

Pastor Bare

Ephesians 6:11 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood…"