1999 Year in Preview
( Days until Y2K)
1900 years ago the Church stood in expectation of Christs return...
1000 years ago, again, the world was convinced that the world would end after the "Thousand Year Reign of the Church"...
At the turn of the present century, and the dawn of the Age of Technology, again there were doom sayers predicting the end of civilization; this time by the earth passing through the tail of a comet.
Y2K, and yet again we hear stories of the fall of civilization as we know it. This being the age of computers, the doomsday device is a programming bug that could shut down systems world wide.
Of course, in 1999, there are those who still talk of comets and meteors destroying the earth, and of revival in the Church ushering in the Millennial Reign of Christ. We even have those who talk about ALIEN VISITORS saving us from cataclysmic "EARTH CHANGES". As we reach 2000 we have all kinds of theories on HOW we will be destroyed, but everyone seems convinced that SOMETHING is going to happen. So, What's a Christian to do?
Jesus said DON'T PANIC ! Over and over again He taught us to live each day as our last. Then we would Be ready when He returned. We should not need to calculate the day of His return so that we can Get Ready right before He returns. We should BE ready right now. We should live our lives as if the Heavens would open at any moment. If our Lord returned today (He said he would come "like a thief in the night" totally unexpected) is there someone who could look at YOU, right before they are cast into the Pit, and say "Why didn't you tell me about Jesus?"? Are you, yourself, ready to stand before our Lord and give an account of your life and ministry (we all have a ministry)? Paul wrote "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:11-12) And if you are not Saved by His Grace, how indeed will you stand before Him on that day?
Everyone is looking for the next "Sign" of His coming or the next "anti-christ" in the shadows. Jesus said "Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Many will (and some already do) claim to know the time or "season" of His coming, or the manner in which He will appear. There will be many false Messiahs, many false teachers; false doctrines, misleading signs, popular revivals, people yelling "Here He is !", "He's over there !". DON'T BUY IT !!! Test the Spirits, whether they be of Christ. If you are His (and this is the main issue. Are you saved?) then you will Know His Voice. LISTEN. Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would lead us into ALL truth. Read your Bible (the very Word of GOD) and listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Don't chase after men and their doctrines, seek the guidance of the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ.
i'm not saying that everyone who claims to have a word from GOD is a liar, or that all who preach on prophecy are deceived; But are you ready to stake YOUR eternal life on the word of someone else? Find out for yourself. GOD is not a respecter of persons, if He speaks to me He will speak to you. Read His Word! Trust the Spirit of Christ that is within you (if you are truly saved). If you are unsure of your salvation, or lack the faith of your conviction, then go to Him in prayer; Ask Him to fill you through and through with His Spirit and lead you into knowledge of Him. Fall on your knees before the Lord of Hosts (if not now in repentance, then later in judgment: Romans 14:11)
With all this in mind, i will begin my Year in Preview. We will take a look at what, if the Lord tarrys, we can look forward to over the next twelve months. It looks to be an interesting year. What i predict here is based on what the Spirit has given me. i have tried to limit it to those things which have been witnessed to by other Brothers and Sisters in the Lord who have received similar Words. But as i have said, don't listen to me, listen to the Spirit of Truth. This should bear witness to what the Spirit is speaking to you, not convince you of MY revelation.