Given that we recently had St Patrick’s day (on March 17th), I had thought of giving some teaching and insights from the life of Patrick, but somehow it didn’t come together, and so I decided against it.
However, you can read his ‘confessions’ free on-line. His story of his conversion reads like the opening few lines of Psalm 40.It reads: ‘ So, I am first of all a simple country person, a refugee and unlearned……But this I know for certain…..I was like a stone lying deep in the mud. Then he who is powerful came, and in his mercy pulled me out, and lifted me up, and placed me on the very top of the wall’.Compare this to: “I waited patiently for the LORD; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”Psalm 40:1-2 KJVApparently, there’s a Chinese proverb that says ‘May you live in interesting times’, well I don’t think there’s any argument about the fact that we do live in such times.Reading Psalm 2:“Why do the heathen rage, And the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, And cast away their cords from us.”Psalm 2:1-3 KJV“Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.””Psalms 2:1-3 NLTVerse 12 in the New Living Translation states:“Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities— for his anger flares up in an instant. But what joy for all who take refuge in him!”
Over 25% (one quarter) of the Bible is prophecy and there’s no question that we are living in prophetic times, and reading Psalm 2 it certainly looks prophetic since it refers to the ‘kings and rulers of the earth’. We can see that the ungodly people of the world, and particularly those with access to power, what we might call the ‘movers and shakers’ or the ‘globalists’ in their rage and rebellion against God are seeking by their schemes to free themselves from slavery to God’. We can see that by doing so they will however bring themselves under God’s judgement.Before the time of David becoming king in Israel, there is a scripture which describes a time when many soldiers are defecting from King Saul, and warriors from various tribes are also aligning themselves with David.“And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred.1 Chronicles 12:32 KJV.We need to be like these men of Issachar today, to understand prophecy.“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”2 Timothy 3:1 KJV“……knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,”2 Peter 3:3“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”Daniel 12:4 KJV and:“And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.”Daniel 12:8-10KJVTECHNOLOGY/ TECHNOCRACY:He also foretold that ‘many will run to and fro’ and that ‘knowledge would increase’ There is no question that we live in those times. The dead-sea scrolls were discovered in 1946. The transistor was developed in 1948. On the prophetic calendar, there’s no doubt that the establishment of the state of Israel on May 14th 1948 was a huge marker on God’s countdown clock. It is interesting that since that time, there has been an explosion in technological knowledge in particular, and the speed of ‘progress’ is mind-blowing. When I left school in 1976, we had no computers and the ones that were developed were huge. Now we have 5G and even 6G. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has to quote one source, gone from being ‘A tool of convenience into a global system of surveillance and control’.With the onset of holograms, quantum computers, QR codes, digital currency, and A.I. and a host of other technology, the world situation referenced in Revelation 13 is not only possible, but inevitable, and we can see that it in fact ready to be rolled out.“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”Revelation 13:16-17 KJVThe Angel who spoke to Daniel in this 12th chapter said that his words would be ‘closed up and sealed’, until the ‘time of the end’. Daniel wanted to understand end-time events, but with our understanding we can see that he was really asking the impossible. Imagine a Bible scholar even 150 years ago, reading Revelation 13 about the worldwide ‘Beast’ system and the fact that there would come a time when without the ‘mark’ (‘stigma’ in the Greek) no one on the planet would be able to buy or sell——his FAITH would cause him to believe God’s word, but realistically he would be left totally scratching his head as to how on Earth that could be possible.So again, looking at Psalm 2, having cast off any idea of God as creator, the minds of the global elites are fixed on accelerating the evolution of Homo Sapiens; achieving immortality and becoming gods.Quote from WEF: The central premise of Transhumanism is that biological evolution will eventually be overtaken by advances in genetic, wearable and implantable technologies that artificially expedite (speed up) the evolutionary process’.Quote from Yuval Noah Harari, a high profile advisor to the World Economic Forum:‘Homo sapiens as we know them will disappear in a century or so. We are in the process of becoming gods, and the big question that faces us is what to do with our new god-like powers.Elon Musk has developed Neuralink, which, via a device implanted in the brain, has recently been used to restore motor functioning in a quadriplegic man in the US.There was a story a few days ago about a quadriplegic young man (Noland Arbaugh) from the U.S. who has had a brain implant which enables him to play chess and computer games, through activating his thoughts.Neuralink’s device, which is about the size of a one pound coin, is inserted into the skull, with microscopic wires which can read neuron activity and beam back a wireless signal to a receiving unit.Scientists have developed devices which can detect some of those signals – either using a non-invasive cap placed on the head or wires implanted into the brain itself.
The technology – known as a brain-computer interface (BCI) – is where many millions of dollars of research funding appears to be heading at the moment.
ANTISEMITISM:This is another very important end-time sign.“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.”Zechariah 12:2-3 KJVYet we know that: “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.”Zechariah 2:8 KJVExamples are:(1) Students in many universities around the world and particularly in America, having sit-ins, demonstrating, threatening Jewish students and even declaring ‘we are Hamas’. The lack of any real condemnation or action by the chancellors of these Universities led to the resignations of the heads of Columbia, Yale and Harvard, after a House of Represenatives investigation headed by Elise Stefanik, whom Donal Trump has appointed to be the US ambassador to the UN.(2) Israel being taken to the International Criminal Court for alleged genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza.(3) On September 18th last year, the general assembly of the United Nations voted to designate the Old City of Jerusalem as ‘occupied Palestinian territory’ and has demanded that Israel had it and the ‘occupied West Bank’ into Palestinian control. The vote was 124 in favour and 14 against.(4) We had several nations, including (sadly) Ireland, Spain and Norway, and more recently Mexico, deciding to formally recognise a Palestinian state. In Ireland’s case, they have received and credentialed a Palestinian ambassador in late 2024, and relations between Ireland and Israel are so bad, that Israel saw fit to withdraw their own ambassador, whom I believe had received death threats.APOSTASY…..knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,”2 Peter 2:3All apostasy is based on satan’s initial lie to Eve, way back in the Garden of Eden:“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”Genesis 3:1 KJVIn other words, “Did God really say…….”?Scripture says ‘ “If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?”Psalm 11:3 KJVMinistries like ‘Answers in Genesis’ have pointed out that the ultimate foundation for all of our theology in found in Genesis chapters 1-11: Biblical marriage (“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”Genesis 2:23-24 KJV2 sexes: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”Genesis 1:27 KJVNo devastating climate change: “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”Genesis 8:22 KJVThe process has been summarised on one Church Noticeboard as follows: ‘Gradually, the unthinkable becomes tolerable, then acceptable; then legal, then praised’. You could add that the final step is that those who oppose the change get persecuted.Whole denominations have gone Woke! and have embraced the prevailing culture, especially in the area of creation, sexuality, gender and Biblical marriage. You hear of Christians ‘deconstructing’, and rejecting whole portions of scripture. Around the time of the American Super Bowl, I saw a clip from an American Southern Baptist church where they had a pastor swinging in on a giant soft toy style ‘wrecking ball’ while Mylie Cyrus’ song ‘Wrecking Ball’ played in the background. Then the pastor, who was dressed as an American Football umpire kicked a soft toy Bible through goal posts they had set up!!We know that on 2 occasions at least, apart from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the flood of Noah, where God intervened directly to thwart the effects of Mankind’s sin. One is described in Genesis 3:22, God put the fallen Adam and Eve out of the garden:“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever. therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”Genesis 3:23-24 KJVThe other is in Genesis 11 where God saw that humans were entering territory tha5 was forbidden for them. Prophecy teachers believe that they were building a portal to connect with the demonic realm.“And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.”Genesis 11:5-8 KJV.The way technology is going, one wonders how long God will let these developments go on, before calling ‘TIME’, as he has done before and will do again.So, what are we to do. Well, looking at Jesus’ instructions, encouragements and rebukes in the 7 letters seemed like a good idea.(1) Ephesus: “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and REPENT, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”Revelation 2:5 KJVIf you’re loveless or sinful in any area: REPENT.(2) Smyrna: “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”Revelation 2:10 KJVJesus’ message here is: Don’t be fearful of persecution, but be faithful to him, and remember the rewards in eternity.(3): Pergamos: “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth”. Revelation 2:14-16 Repent of covetousness, idolatry, sexual immorality.(4) Thyatira: “But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.” Revelation 2:25 KJV“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.” Revelation 2:26-28 KJVRepent, and hold fast/hold on/ hang on; keep looking to the rewards.(5) Sardis: “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”Revelation 3:2-3.Jesus’ message: Hold on, repent, be watchful and alert, and overcome.(6) Philadelphia: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Revelation 3:10-11 KJVHold fast.(7) Laodicea: “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”Revelation 3:18-19Jesus tells them to repent; to be zealous (on fire, not lukewarm). We are warned that:“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”Matthew 24:12-13 KJVto buy gold (see Zechariah 13:9):“And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” Zechariah 13:8-9 KJVThe white linen reference is to a spiritual state and actions in life:“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”Revelation 19:7-8 KJV.Though we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, we need to keep our garments clean.“Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.”Revelation 3:4 KJVThe eye salve could be seen as crying tears of repentance, as in:“Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?”Joel 2:17 KJVor washing the ‘logs’ out of own eyes, as in:“Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”Matthew 7:5 KJVAbove all, we are on the last lap. The end is close and therefore, like any athlete finishing his race, we should strive all the more to finish well.Or as Peter puts it:“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”1 Peter 1:13-19 KJVCome Lord Jesus.