The Glorious End Times Church!

Many of today’s preachers and many so-called prophets when you hear them speak about a “glorious end times church”, almost without fail, you will hear them mainly emphasize and focus on signs, wonders, and miracles. And, though I do believe most definitely in signs, wonders, and miracles, let me also tell you most emphatically, that is not what’s going to define the character of the last days glorious church! As a matter of fact, I would go as far as to say, you better be very, very cautious, and discerning regarding the promotion of, and focus on, signs, wonders, and miracles in these last days, because the Antichrist himself is also going to come with all power, signs, and lying wonders! As Paul forewarns, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10). Take heed my friends. Signs and wonders is not what will define the glorious end times church!

Yet! It seems like all you hear when Christians talk about a “last days glorious church”, all they seem to want to expect and focus on in their minds are miracles and calling fire down from heaven, and all of those wonderful signs and wonders sort of things! And, I also do believe some of those things will happen! Yes! God will do miraculous things for His people! But! And here’s a big…BUT! And I realize this is going to most likely rattle some cages, but the character of the last day’s glorious Church will not be founded in its signs and wonders but will be found in the suffering it endures! Listen closely to what Peter says;

“ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 1:6–7)

I want to tell you that more than the sensational, more than the miraculous, more than all the signs and wonders that you can imagine, and what will be more precious and more extraordinary than any of that, is what the scripture declares will define the glorious end times church! It is when “the spirit of glory rests upon us”, when our faith will shine forth even when it’s under fire in the mist of the furnace! Listen up, Peter says! “…If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified…” (1 Peter 4:14). “…if anyone suffers as a Christian, let let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” (1 Peter 4:16)

The things that were glorifying the church and causing it to grow in those first few centuries was the persecution, the sufferings, the Christians singing in prison, and singing in the Colosseum even while they were being torn apart by lions! The real life changing miracles those blood thirsty Roman crowds were witnessing were the Christian’s rejoicing in their Savior even in the midst of their suffering! That’s what turned the world upside down! That is what turned unbelievers into believers! When the unbelievers saw the supernatural and otherworldly hope and joy of these Christians in the midst of earthly pain and suffering they saw the glory and the Spirit of God upon the Christians!

This message is so strange to our modern ears! Yet, Paul tells us that it has been appointed to us to suffer for His name! “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake…”(Philippians 1:29) Now certainly not all are called to be martyrs of course, but all are called to suffer for his name sake.

Where did the idea of a suffering free, pain free, cross-less christianity come from? Christian! Its time for a reality check! Americanized Christianity and Biblical Christianity are two completely different things! Peter also exhorts us; “…Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings…” (1 Peter 4:12–13).

Oh! But American christians by and large do think that's a strange thing! I've heard Christian's say things like, "We don't have to suffer! Jesus already suffered for us!" And they say that nonsense and gibberish with a straight face! It's completely false and fanciful, and it’s definitely not biblical! I realize this goes against the grain of what is largely taught in the American syndicated gospel enterprise. Nevertheless, what I’m sharing with you is Bible! If you hear any so-called preacher, or Christian leader tell you that as a Christian you don’t have to suffer, that there is no need for you to suffer, because Jesus already suffered for you. He’s a liar and a charlatan. I don’t care who he is! Run from him like the plague! For, “… evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:13)

Listen up church! Paul gloried in the sufferings of Jesus! “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church…” (Colossians 1:24). What a completely alien mindset that is! And it flies in the face of our self absorbed, narcissistic, Americanized, Your best life now! false gospel that is an aberration of a truly biblical Christianity!

Christians throughout the world and throughout the Mideast are being beheaded, churches are being burned down and multitudes are being forced to flee their homes and you see very little coverage of these things in the American media, and sadly, you don’t hear much about it in our churches either! I fear that we American Christians aren't paying too much attention to it but we need to! We need to raise our voices! As well as our prayers! Christian’s are under persecution and attack all around the globe. From India, to Pakistan, to China, to North Korea, and even in European countries Muslims are rising up against both Jews and Christians.

Now, it ought to be needless to be said that all of this is in keeping with what Jesus said it would be like in the last days before His return.

“… they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” (Matthew 24:9)

We need to remember the persecuted church around the world. Furthermore, many of us need to get our heads out of the sand in the land of Disney because real persecution is coming to America as well. It is inevitable. The spirit of Antichrist will only grow more intense in the months and years ahead, for all that is written must come to pass.

“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another.” (Matthew 10:21–23)

We must endure to the end through the fire! It’s the fire that proves our faith not the signs and wonders! Signs and wonders, have a place but not the primary place! And if we get that wrong, we may be placing ourselves in great danger! The danger of losing our hope! The danger of losing our faith! The danger of losing our trust in God! Because we have a misplaced faith!

When the disciples were caught in an argument over who was gonna be great amongst them Jesus reproved them with a question; “Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” (Matthew 20:22). (Funny how we tend to always think more highly of ourselves than we ought without even realizing what it is we are affirming!)

So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with…” (Matthew 20:23). What was the cup he was talking about? It was the cup of His pain and suffering! What was the baptism that he was talking about? It was the baptism of the fire of trial and testing! As He also said in another place, “For everyone will be seasoned with fire…” (Mark 9:49)

I want to tell you that the glorious end times church will indeed resemble the glorious early days of the church!

Where:

Stephen was stoned to death…and…Matthew was speared to death…and James, John’ brother, was run through with a sword…where, Andrew was crucified and his brother Peter was crucified upside down…and Paul…he was beheaded.

The writer of Hebrews reminded the believers of their former glory days too!

“But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and  joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise…” .( Hebrews 10:32–36)

I realize this is a message none of us wants to hear! But I believe it’s the message that we must be awakened to. Every Christian claims to trust the Lord. Yet in reality, many of us aren’t ready to face the storm that is coming upon this world. But brothers and sisters, unless we lay hold of an unshakable trust in our Lord, we won’t be ready for the hard times, now, or in the future. When the full fury of the coming storm hits, and a demonic darkness falls over this world like a raging tempest, multitudes of Christians won’t be able to handle it! Overcome with fear, many will lose their faith along with their song of rejoicing! Therefore, I exhort you once again to listen closely to these words of Peter! “…but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter 4:13–14)

At the end of the day what is the end times glorious church going to look and be like?

"And they overcame….by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Rev12:11)

And that my friends is what will define the glorious end times church!

His grace is still amazing to me!

Andy White