Over the past few months, people have brought up my book Apocalypse: A Spiritual Guide to the Second Coming. Some have emailed me, and others have mentioned it in social media posts. One of the most common remarks is that almost everything I warned would happen is occurring now throughout the world.
Many people felt I should focus more on current events that are unfolding around us. They feel that if I, or others, would talk more about these events, the church would somehow awaken, rise up, and change the course of global events. Since the 80s, I have warned about what was coming and what could be done to prevent it. That time is over!
The theme of that entire book is the spiritual history of the world. I wanted to answer the question, “How did we get here? What’s going to happen next, and most important, ‘How do we respond to what’s happening now?”
The great majority of believers are like the Jews before they were taken into captivity. They think they can suddenly pray more, fight the devil more, and they will somehow curtail the imminent flood of evil! Some believe there is going to be a great end-time revival that will change the course of history. Maybe we should revisit what we know about the end times.
First, and most importantly, is the fact that the Book of Revelation, and the hundreds of end-time prophecies peppered throughout the Bible do not portray an end-time revival that changes the course of history. I am not being negative or fatalistic; I am attempting to get believers to quit praying about something the Bible clearly reveals is never going to happen. I am not saying there isn’t going to be a great move of God, but it is not coming the way we want it to.
The great mystery that is unveiled in the Book of Revelation is the fact that Jesus personally returns to deliver the church. Then, the nation of Israel will finally realize that Jesus is the Messiah, and they will turn to Him and be delivered! When Israel turns to Jesus, the One true Messiah, He will then be able to unleash His power and might against the antichrist and his followers. All the prophetic prophecies concerning the nation of Israel will finally be fulfilled.
The great end-time revival is the nation of Israel turning to Jesus as Lord! It doesn’t happen within the walls of the orthodox church. The orthodox church is slipping back into the dark ages in a vain attempt to recreate an ecumenical, i.e., universal/catholic church that they believe, contrary to all recorded history and all end-time prophecy, will rise up to rule the world. No… that would be Jesus’ job.
After the antichrist is conquered, Jesus will establish His kingdom of righteousness on Planet Earth. He will rule for one-thousand years. He will show all people who have ever lived, and all principalities and powers what life on earth could have been if we had actually followed Jesus’ teaching!
God’s every Word will be proven true; His every action will be vindicated; His eternal judgments will be proven fair, just, and merciful. Then the final mask will be ripped from the ugly face of unrighteousness. After it becomes clear that righteousness is the only basis for love, mercy, and justice, there will be a final rebellion. This will prove that sin has always been an empty lie. And never could bring happiness. We will finally see that the true purpose of unrighteousness has always been the destruction of the human race.
So, if there is no stopping the rise of the antichrist, what are we supposed to do… just give up? No! We are supposed to do what we should have been doing all along. Taking care of kingdom business! “Do business till I come” Luke 19:13. (If this had been what we gave ourselves to, the world could have never reached this degree of wickedness.)
What we call the parable of the talents is the description of our commission that should have been happening since Jesus’ resurrection! We, the Church, had one job, make disciples unto Jesus. Instead, we built temples and cathedrals. We started denominations claiming that each of them would reach the world as soon as we stopped murdering one another. We launched programs. We hired professionals to do what God called us to do as individual believers and disciples.
One of the most common questions we all feel compelled to ask is this, “How do I make disciples?” Considering we haven’t had that modeled to us, since a few decades after Jesus departed, that is a legitimate question. The only way to know how to make disciples (unto Jesus) is to be a disciple (unto Jesus). Until I know what that looks like in my life, I have no idea how to help a person make the journey in their life. We have learned how to build everything except people. The one way to make disciples is to invite people to follow us and do what we do for the same reasons we do them.
I’m going to share what I think are some of the most important things you need to focus on if you want to use the time you have left wisely.
Manage every aspect of your life as if someone else’s eternal life depends on it… because it does!
Quit being religious, just be a genuine follower of Jesus.
Make the main focus of your spirituality how you treat people.
a. Does it look like the way Jesus treated people?
Discuss everything with God
Make sure your solution for every problem is a biblical solution
a. It can be found in the Scripture
b. Your motive for how you do what you do is love, i.e., it expresses value for everyone involved, including God.
c. Its intention will always serve to connect people to God
Make sure everything you believe is in the Bible and supported by Jesus’ teaching, ministry, and lifestyle.
Be willing to repent of all your opinions.
Be the voice of reason in every situation.
Be the peacemaker in every conflict when possible.
Avoid arguments, especially about religious topics.
a. Keep your opinions to yourself unless asked for input.
Make sure the people you love are the ones you influence the most
Live in such a way that you can guarantee, “If you follow me, you’ll always be an overcomer.”
Don’t get a “fighting spirit,” but prepare yourself to die for our Lord and your example to others!
Don’t focus on identifying the error as much as you are sure you are following Jesus.
When you have to choose between being happy or being responsible, always choose to be responsible!
a. Responsible people are always happy. Don’t confuse OCD with responsibility.
Last of all live for an eternal purpose. Nothing facilitates love growing in our hearts like serving others, especially in the things of God. People often ask how I have kept my passion for ministry alive for over fifty years without losing my passion.
First, ministry has never been about being in the ministry or building a ministry. It has always been about serving others. When we give to others, it transforms our hearts.
Jesus warned that love will grow cold because of the lawlessness, i.e., injustice, of these times. The heart that keeps serving people in the gospel never grows cold.
Let’s continue using the time and resources we have left to prepare the people we love to meet Jesus.
Below are some stories about lives that are being transformed by your generosity.
Blessings,
Dr. Jim Richards
DrJim@drjimrichards.com
I have been listening to the 3 Days that Changed the World audio series for the first time. The whole time Dr. Richards is teaching, I sheepishly admit: “Yep, I taught that.”
I am so eager to repent, to change what I believed, change my thoughts, and my own opinions. After all, if they were working I wouldn’t be stuck in a various areas of life. It is my beliefs and opinions that keep me stuck and keep me from experiencing all that Christ is.
Listening to this series while doing the New Beginnings Meditation is a beautiful combination of teaching and practice, as I see the rewiring in my heart take place.
I may have to camp on this series for the rest of the year. So refreshing!
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In our last weekend worship experience we were able to have all of our 89 students from all locations come out to join us. We shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people who graced the occasion. We had 14 Pastors who also graced the occasion and heard about IMPACT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MINISTRY CLASSES. They were blessed by how the students were discussing the book of John. They want us to take the class to their people too. We will make this happen.
The work in Kenya is expanding. Working with the team I have is making the work fun and enjoyable despite the traveling and feeding challenges we face to get all the classes in all 5 locations now running.
The Lord has been faithful to us. Keep us uplifted in your prayers as we trust God for provisions. God bless you. Pass out our love to your family and the entire Ultimate Impact family. Much love from this part of the world. – Pastor Isaac
