Paralyzing Fear Will Grip Humanity in These Last Days
“Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” -Luke 21:26 (KJV)
The last days before Christ’s return are upon us and according to Bible Prophecy there will be many terrible and harsh things thrust upon mankind – 2 Tim 3:1-5. We are seeing this happening right now in this generation. Ever since Israel became a nation in 1948, we have seen and are seeing prophecy’s being fulfilled with greater speed. As the scripture above states during these last days fear will terrify the hearts of all men. Remembering then that our heart is the center of our emotional being what does this ‘gripping fear’ mean?
Fear is a tactic from the enemy of our souls – the Devil – to drag us down to the pits of despair. He has had thousands of years to perfect this diabolical method of disabling people – spiritually and physically. And he uses it without mercy and the results can be devastating. Even today, he uses fear to attack Christians that are not able to defend themselves using the greatest spiritual defensive weapon known to man – God’s word, the Bible. Christian’s are attacked with the Devil’s darts of paralyzing fear that bring horrific dread upon them and many are, as a result, totally immobilized. You see, people are not being taught how to use God’s word to defeat the demons of fear (yes, there are demons named Fear, Worry, Doubt and Unbelief) that will come against them again and again. So it is absolutely imperative to stay founded and grounded in God’s word – knowing it inside and out. Reading it daily; immersing yourself in the pages of scripture. Only, and I repeat only, then will you be able to take up the Shield of Faith to quench the fiery darts or arrows of Satan’s blowgun. Folks, what I am saying is deadly serious!
“And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” – Luke 21:11 (KJV)
We cannot marginalize the fearful events that Jesus proclaimed are coming to the earth in these last days. We cannot afford to stick our heads in the sand and say oh well, “There’s nothing I can do about it anyway” and then shake it off like it means nothing. I know of church leaders that take this view and it’s nothing but pathetic and unBiblical. They are essentially afraid to talk about it and to warn others. Therefore, they will be clear targets for the enemy of our souls to instill this fear and dread as the days ramp up in harshness and difficulty.
Right now in our time we are seeing the beginnings of this terror or fear coming upon mankind. Famines are increasing and people are dying especially in third world nations. Earthquakes are growing in frequency and intensity everywhere, extreme weather is becoming more intense and fearful. We have had near misses of asteroids and meteorite strikes (e.g. Chelyabinsk meteor, Russia). Our sun is blasting out great solar flares. And get this, UFO sightings are on the rise. Note: I do not believe in aliens but I do believe in the manifestation of demonic beings to produce things like this. And that produces fear in the hearts and minds of those that do not know their Bibles or their God!
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” -2 Tim 1:7 (KJV)
So let’s take the two latest’s fears to hit the world – ISIS (terrorists) and pestilences (Ebola, Enterovirus and the Chikungunya virus). These have brought terror and horror into the hearts of the people facing these perils. Christians and Muslims being murdered senselessly without mercy, executed for no other reason but persecution and to strike dread into the minds of others. Then there’s the Ebola virus that has killed more than 3,400 people in West African nations. Do you think that the people of those countries are not deathly afraid and scared? And now it’s hitting the US and people are becoming very alarmed and fear is starting to grip the hearts and minds of people. Quarantine’s, armed guards guarding family members, disinfecting whole apartments, etc. Borders open and people coming in suspect of carrying diseases or worse. Terrorists crossing into the US almost with no restriction. All these and more are increasing in severity and frequency.
Folks, what Jesus said above that men’s hearts would fail them is coming to pass (yes, there have always been fears, wars and worries but now we are seeing these on a global basis ever increasing). You only have to look around you hearing and reading the news. Now there is one fact that we all must face and that is that it will not get any better, in fact, it will get worse, a lot worse. ‘Faithful’ Christians will fall away from the faith – 1 Tim 4:1 – in the days ahead. Why? Because, for starters, they were not warned by their church pastors and elders, priests and bishops. They did not stay in God’s word, had no relationship with Yahweh God and prayed little. Instead the lures of the world enticed them and they longed after their pleasures and idols. Friends, this is occurring right now – people are stiff-arming God in favor of their stuff! Please remember the lesson from Moses and the Pharaoh of Egypt; Pharaoh’s heart grew harder and colder as he continually refused Moses unction to let his people go till finally one day the 10th plague came and took Pharaoh’s (and others not protected by the blood of the sacrificed lamb) first born. The point: Pharaoh’s heart and mind were hardened by his refusal of God’s commands through Moses. Will this play out any different in our time. Keep refusing God and His Son Jesus Christ in your life and your heart will grow harder and harder until perhaps you will end up cursing God – Rev 16:11.
How did Jesus advise us to avoid and overcome this great fear, dread and terror coming upon humanity? By our faith and trust in Him. Not just a casual, gee whiz faith but ‘combat faith’, one that knows what it means to don their spiritual gear for daily spiritual battles against our enemies – principalities in high places – Eph 6:11-18. Will you be prepared when this fear comes upon you? Or perhaps now you are facing immobilizing fear. Dust off your Bible and get into it, read it aloud and quote scripture when you are attacked. The enemy HAS to flee – James 4:7. Keep in prayer always trusting in the Lord Jesus to see you through.
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” -Luke 21:36 (KJV)
-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher and Bible Prophecy Watchman
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” -2 Peter 3:11-12