Time
Time
By Dennis Huebshman
In 1964, a group called The Rolling Stones released a song called, “Time Is On My Side”. This message isn’t about the song, which was popular in my “Rock-n-Roll” days, but about the title itself. The following year, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” was released, and I have previously commented on this title by showing no one will ever be satisfied on this earth.
The very first mention of a time frame is found in Genesis 1: 3-5, “God said, let there be light. And there was light. (4) God saw that the light was good, so God separated the light from the darkness. (5) God called the light day, and the darkness night. There was evening and there was morning marking the first day.” Going on to verse 14, “God said let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons and days and years.” (emphasis mine)
God proved without a doubt He controls time. Joshua 10:12-14, “The day the Lord delivered the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua prayed to the Lord before Israel; O Sun, stand still over Gibeon. O Moon over the valley of Aijalon. (13) The sun stood still, and the moon motionless while the nation took vengeance on its enemies. The event is recorded in the Scroll of the Upright One. The sun stood motionless in the middle of the sky and did not set for about a full day. (14) There has not been a day like it before or since. The Lord harkened (listened) to the voice of a man for the Lord fought for Israel.” It was evident to the Israelites that God was in control of their battle just as He will be again when a coalition of Countries attack present day Israel in the near future.
Luke 12:25, “And which of you by worrying an add an hour to his life?”
Matthew 24:42 and Matthew 25:13, “Therefore, stay alert, because you do not know what day your Lord will come.”
Now, about speeds; Eye Blink – sudden reflex action of the eyelid where danger is detected and lasts somewhere between 300 and 400 milliseconds or less than ½ second. Twinkle – light entering the eye and reflecting as a “twinkle” in about a billionth of a second. (Source; discoveryworld.us.science) Why should these speeds concern us? In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Listen, I will tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, (52) in a moment, in the blinking (ESV – KJVL=Twinkling) of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable and we all will be changed.”
What we know for sure is God made time for us, and He is not bound by time. He is in the past, present and future at the same instant. God controls time; we don’t. Even the most expensive Rolex or the world’s most accurate atomic clocks are but trinkets to Him, and are not as accurate as He is.
We know God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29 and Hebrews 6:18), so when His Holy Word tells of events to come, we can count on them happening. In Acts 1:11, as Jesus was “Raptured” into heaven, Angels told the Apostles, “…Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into Heaven will come back in the same way you saw Him go into Heaven.” John 14:2-3, “There are many dwelling places in My Father’s house. Otherwise I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you, (3) and if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you with me so that where I am, you will be too.”
Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-17 and also 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, the events that will take place at the Rapture. In summary, there will be a shout of command with the voice of the Arch Angel, and a trumpet blast will be heard. Then, all the believers that have died from Calvary to that moment will rise up first and soul and body will reunite into an immortal body. Then, all believers who are alive at that instant, will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and will be changed into an immortal body instantly that will last pain and death free for all eternity.
One final thing we know for sure, we don’t have any idea of the “exact” millisecond this will all take place, and anyone who says otherwise is a false prophet. Jesus said we would know the “season”, but not the day or hour.
Looking at world events today, a lot has taken place in just the past couple of decades; this world is rapidly heading for the “twinkling / blinking” moment spoke of in God’s true word. It could be at any time, even today as you are reading this.
Time is only on your side if you are on the side of Jesus. If not, it can soon become your worst nightmare. Those who have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior will go into the tribulation soon after Jesus takes His Church – all believers – out of this world. The majority of the population left here will perish before the 7-year period is over. Some will be martyred for accepting Jesus during the anti-christ’s reign, and their souls will go to be with Jesus. Most of those who die or are killed during this awful time will have to wait until the end of the Millennium before they are raised again. This will not be a joyous resurrection as all unbelievers from the beginning of “time” on this earth will be in the long line at the Great White Throne Judgment. They will be told what their eternal punishment will be, that they will suffer forever. This is not a myth as some would have you believe; it is very real.
Satan and his demons know this is real, yet he is arrogant enough to think he may somehow escape his much-deserved punishment. The anti-christ and false prophet will be the first occupants of the Lake of Fire, (Revelation 19:20) followed by satan 1000 years later (Revelation 20:10). Last, all who did not follow God’s will pre-Calvary, and all who would not accept His Son Jesus post-Calvary will join them for eternal agony because of their foolish actions. (Revelation 20:11-15) Everyone there will be shown all through eternity just what they could’ve done when the opportunities were there; when they were alive on this earth. There will be no “pardon” from hell although each individual will be punished in different degrees according to what was done. There will be no “mistakes”; everyone there will know and understand God will be “just” in their sentences.
For the believers, we will all face Jesus at His Judgment Seat, but for rewards (or lack of) for our having accepted Him as our Savior. This is not about punishment, but we will be shown all we could have done for Him while on this earth. Again, we will know it to be fair and just, and we will spend eternity with our beloved Jesus the Christ.
For the “Ain’t Got No Satisfaction” people; those in the Lake of Fire will never know satisfaction. Those with Jesus will be completely satisfied for the very first time, and it will last all eternity. Best – or worst if not chosen correctly- part is it’s totally our choice to make. The wise will call out for Jesus to be their Savior; confess they are sinners; and ask for His forgiveness. Also, they must believe He did actually die on that cross, and the Father raised Him from the dead three days later. All our sins were on that cross with Him, and only those who accept Him will receive forgiveness. All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10: 9-13) All who do not accept Him will be separated in outer darkness forever.
We’re steadily running out of time. Satan’s biggest lie is “There’s plenty of time”, but he wants a lot of company in Hell. Get your reservation for the Rapture finalized today. Jesus personally paid for your ticket with His precious blood. He’s offering the free gift of eternity with Him. Please don’t wait any longer. There is no third option, and saying, “I was going to…” wont’ work.
Maranatha!