Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
By Lou Yeboah
“I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come…: And there followed him another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
Such, my, friends, is God’s message for this generation. I want you to know that this judgment of God is now in session. You and I are in a world emergency. The financial crisis, racial conflicts, and violent weather should make us realize that God wants to get our attention. He is shaking everything that can be shaken. We are already feeling the ’birth pangs’ Jesus said would proceed the end times. This world’s contractions are close together, the earth is dilated to 10 and could deliver at any time! The New Testament tells us that the day of his return is not far away: “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here” [Romans 13:12). “The Lord is at hand” [Philippians 4:5]. “The Lord’s coming is near” [James 5:8]. “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” [Revelation 22:20]. Jesus said, “Learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh; So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things [signs of the end of the age], know that He [Jesus] is near, even at the doors.” [Matthew 24:32–33]. Jesus adds this important exhortation: “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].
I tell you, BE PREPARED because we are living in a day and age unlike any other time in the history of mankind; and if we become complacent, we could suffer loss. So watch and consider the following “buds of the fig tree.” There is the proverbial “handwriting on the wall.” It is vitally IMPORTANT that we do not underestimate the perilous times we’re living in!
Consider there are conditions that could easily erupt into a rapid progression of circumstances igniting the world into catastrophic chaos. The book of Revelation explains that “power was given unto them [the four horsemen] OVER THE FOURTH PART of the earth, to kill with the sword [second horseman], and with hunger [third horseman], and with death [fourth horseman], and with the beasts of the earth” [Revelation 6:8].
The apostle John warned us that 25 percent of the population of the world will be destroyed by the effects of these four horsemen contained in the FIRST FOUR SEALS [Revelation 6:8]! Then following right on the heels of these first four seals, is the fifth seal describing a horrific Christian martyrdom. Quickly following is the sixth seal, describing heavenly signs in the sky, with the seventh seal opening up thereafter to announce the “seven trumpets,” outlining the great day of God’s wrath [Revelation 6:17].
The point is, we are living in volatile times that are unlike any time before. Beware, and WATCH [Luke 21:29–36]! A storm is brewing! Indeed, the “fig tree” is putting forth “buds”!
Will you repent of your sins and turn to God? Or will you be just like the people in Noah’s day, ignoring the warning messages and rejecting God’s righteous ways [Matthew 24:37-39, 44].
Just like Noah, the prophet of God, was very likely mocked and ridiculed for preaching “righteousness” [2 Peter 2:5]. The Bible reveals that in the end times, prior to Christ’s return, people will also ignore warnings to repent. As Peter notes, “Scoffers will come in the last days, … saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:3-4). But Jesus added, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” [Luke 21:34-36].
