Prepare by Discerning the Times

The gospels reveal that Jesus fully expected people to discern the times they were living in. He royally dressed down the Pharisees for not doing so. If this applied to the relatively peaceable events surrounding Jesus first coming, how much more must it apply to His second? From today, all the way through to His Return, we will need to have a “weather eye” for shifts and changes in the spiritual atmosphere surrounding us. How can you seek shelter from a storm, if you don’t know one is coming your way? How can we learn to discern the times we will be going through?

Hypocrites! You know to discern the face of the heaven and the earth, but how is it that you do not discern this time? Luke 12:56

All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

End Times Challenge

Ignorance is not bliss where End Times events are concerned. Our lives may depend upon “discerning the times.” No doubt that’s why Jesus gave us so many signs in scripture. But that’s a problem: It gets confusing! What can we do so that we’ll know what to do?

Bridal Response

Step 1. Pray!

This must be repeated with every new challenge, because our usual reaction is to look to past experience and our abilities and say, “No way!” or try slugging it out bravely in our own strength. We all-too-easily forget that our strength is in Him, our hope is in Him—not in ourselves. So, if the Holy Spirit is making us aware (waking us up) to a fresh challenge, then the first thing the Lord wants us to do is cast that care on Jesus, because He cares for us enough to help us with it.[i] Pray, therefore, until fear and doubt fall away. Jesus is willing and able to help us with anything, that’s why He guarantees in scripture that if we call on Him, He will rescue/save/help us every time.[ii] How much do you have to call? Cry out in prayer until you receive confidence that He has heard you and the help is on the way.

Step 2. Build from the Ground Up

We are told that the men of Issachar had a “good understanding of the times” they lived in and, therefore, they knew “what Israel ought to do.”[iii] If we are going to know what to do, we will also have to have a good understanding of the times. Like all efforts to gain understanding, a lot of information has to be gathered and absorbed. However, this can easily become overwhelming, since there is so much being written and said about the End Times, in addition to the mass of information in the scriptures. One can easily get lost in the details. One can also be side-tracked by non-essentials. What can we do?

The number one rule to remember is that wisdom is more important than information. Childlike trust in Jesus and trusting, humble dependence upon the Holy Spirit will bring better revelation to you than years of stressed-out study. If you want to understand the times, do all you can to understand your Lord by trusting and obeying Him now.[iv] That said, information needs to be organized and a structure is necessary for shaping a good understanding.

For instance, you might organize your information gathering into these three groups: relevant scriptures, insightful prophecies and world events. Then, fasten that information onto the Bible basics, especially the timeline Jesus gave us in Matthew 24 (See Jesus’ Own Timeline). This provides a wonderful framework for seeing the big picture. As always talk over what you are discerning with trusted friends, and talk things over with the Lord as you walk with Him.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17

Next Way to Prepare

Prepare by Studying the Scriptures  As always the written Word is our anchor and our rock-solid source of revelation. Since over 100 chapters in the Bible carry messages about the Last Days, we would be wise to study them. Those passages are there for a reason. Apparently, Jesus believes that His Church will need to know with an absolute assurance many vital things about the days ahead. Much has already been gathered by others and we can learn from them, but as we know, nothing takes the place of hearing for yourself “what the Spirit says to the churches.” There is so much that is still “hidden in plain sight” that will need study, unfolding events and revelation by the Holy Spirit to make known.

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Ways to Prepare (37-page eBook)

Prepare by Discerning the Times

Endnotes

[i] Pride (in us) tries to find the answer to life’s challenges in us; humility casts all cares on the One who wants to help us:  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

[ii] This promise is given numerous times in scripture. The Lord wants us to know His help is always available to anyone who calls on Him for anything—lavishly available (“bestowing His riches”).  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him: For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:12-13

[iii] Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. 1 Chronicles 12:32

[iv] Keeping the commands of God is always dependent upon trusting Him enough to do it. To such trusting and obeying servants, Jesus promises He will “reveal” Himself and His will:  He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him. John 14:21