What do we do Now – While we are Waiting
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING: - I was asked this week what I felt about the collapse of the banks that happened. In that conversation there was the mention of becoming a cashless society and turning to the CBDC – Central Banking Digital Currency. The conversation continued to talk about all this is leading into the Anti-Christ system and the Mark of the Beast. Now I consider myself a part time conspiracy theorist which means I believe to some extent that some secret but highly influential organization is responsible for particular events or phenomenon’s that happen in the world. Some things are just too coincidental and the way they play out seems to be too systematic. There must be something or someone controlling certain events because if you follow the money trail you can see that it is not a super natural event. For example, and this is documented before the collapse of the SVB and Signature Bank Hundreds of Billions of dollars was withdrawn by some of the wealthiest investors. As well as other events that have happened that have perpetrated as the result of some fabricated story of the WOKE revolution, remote work, foreign terrorist and so forth.
Now I don’t believe everything is a conspiracy, there are natural events that happen, there are things that God allows to happen; however, I feel that certain events take place at the hand of man to set fear among people to control the people and most of all the economic system.
I believe that the Covid-19 pandemic, the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank and Signature banks, the train derailments in Ohio are part of a larger conspiracy that was been established and set in motion not by random supernatural circumstances but by systematically organized events that are designed for another purpose not yet known to the masses but have been established by a few so-called elitest.
I believe that there is the desire to establish the CBDC - Central bank digital currency, to establish 15-minute cities and bring about a totalitarian society as George Orwell mentioned in his book “1984” which was published in 1949, in my opinion that would be a foundation of the Anti-Christ System making it very simple to fulfill Revelation 13:17 “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”.
I believe that God allows people’s very imagination to be as Genesis 6:5 says, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” to let us see certain things and feel certain ways because He is trying to get our attention. That’s why I look at certain things as conspiracies because they are attention getters and warnings that time is winding up.
You must understand that when God who is Super-Natural does something in the Natural He uses a natural agent. When He got Balaam’s attention in Numbers 22 He used a donkey, when He parted the Red Sea He used the rod Moses had in his hand Exodus 14. In 2 Kings 4 when the widow woman was going to cook her last meal for her and her son and wait to die God used natural pots to do the supernatural. God uses the natural to convey the supernatural.
Some of what we call conspiracies are natural things that God is using to convey the supernatural that He is soon to come. Earthquakes, strange weather patterns, increase in wars, pestilences, love waxing cold are all attention getters saying that He is soon to return.
So, the question becomes What do we do now While we are Waiting?
PRAYER: -
SCRIPTURE: - Matthew 24:4-14 “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 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. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come”.
There are nine major characteristics described here of this period before the coming of the Lord. This period of time is described as follows:- (1) False Christs, 24:4-5; (2) wars and rumors of wars, 24:6-7; (3) famines, 24:7; (4) pestilence, 24:7; (5) earthquakes, 24:7; (6) many martyrs, 24:8-10; (7) false prophets, 24:11; (8) increasing evil and loss love, 24:12; and (9) worldwide preaching of the gospel of the kingdom, 24:13-14.
In general, these signs have been at least partially fulfilled in the present age they characterize the period between the first and second coming of Christ. Understand they are general signs rather than specific signs that the end is near. According to verse 8, these are the beginning rather than the end of the sorrows which characterize the close of the age.
Ever since the time of Christ and before there have been many false Christs, war, famine, and pestilence. There is a study that was done that stated in the 3550 years of recorded history that there has only been 286 years of worldwide peace and over 8000 peace treaties have been made and broken. Famine and pestilences are ever increasing. The iniquity of the world is at an all-time high, the loss of love is greater now than it ever has been and is seen all over the world. These signs, events, circumstances, and situations mark the progress of the end times and indicate that the end of the age coming. Nevertheless, these signs, however, by their very characteristics and because they have occurred throughout the times since Jesus’ first coming until His second do not constitute a direct answer to the question of “the sign” of the coming of the Lord, but I truly believe that they are attention getters letting us know to be ready with great expectation looking for the coming of the Lord.
Understand that the second coming of Jesus and the Rapture are 2 different events. The second coming of Jesus mentioned here in Matthew 24 deals with the second coming of Jesus to earth this time to set up His millennial reign. This second coming of Jesus happens after the Rapture of the church and after the Tribulation. Now there are several ideologies concerning the Rapture of the Church, Pre-Tribulation which is what I believe, Mid-Tribulation that believe midway through the Tribulation period at the 3 ½ year mark the Rapture takes place, and Post-Tribulation they believe the Church will go through the Tribulation then be raptured.
Let me get back on track here I said these signs of war, famine, pestilence, the collapse of the banks, increased iniquity, loss of love, by their very characteristics and because they have occurred throughout the ages do not constitute a direct answer to the question of “the sign” of the coming of the Lord, but I truly believe that they are attention getters letting us know to be ready with great expectation looking for the coming of the Lord.
So, since this doesn’t constitute the sign of Jesus’ coming the question is What do we do Now – While we are Waiting. We don’t just sit around doing nothing like we are waiting for the plane at the airport looking at our boarding pass. There are somethings we must do while we are waiting for Jesus to return for the Church in the Rapture.
What do we do now!
Let me give 5 things we must do now.
1. WE MUST LOOK UP. Luke 21:28 says, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”. Psalm 121:1 says, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help”. We must make sure our focus is Heavenward. I remember when I was in the Army in Basic Training and we would march to a particular cadence that said “Ain’t no sense of looking down ain’t no discharge on the ground”. There is no help looking down, but look up for your redemption, your hope, your salvation, your deliverance draws nigh. Understand this looking up is more than just looking with your eyes. The angels tell the disciples at the tomb of Jesus in Acts 1:11 “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven”. Looking up is having our minds on things that are above. Colossians 3:1-4 says, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory”. So, we must look up, don’t be down trodden by the things going on in the world, don’t be entangled in the affairs of this world, keep focused on Jesus looing to the hills from whence cometh our help for our help comes from the Lord. Looking up having our minds on things that are above causes us to be the next thing.
2. WE MUST BE SOBER and VIGILANT. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. This is not talking about not drinking alcohol but to be sober minded. When you drink too much you become drunk and develop a hangover. Drunkenness is the state of being intoxicated by consumption of alcohol to a degree that mental and physical faculties are noticeably impaired. Symptoms include slurred speech, impaired balance, poor coordination, flushed face, reddened eyes, reduced inhibition, vomiting, and uncharacteristic behavior The symptoms of a hangover are fatigue, weakness, extreme thirst, headache, muscle aches, nausea, stomach pain, vertigo, sensitivity to light and sound, anxiety, irritability, sweating, and increased blood pressure. We must be sober minded not drunk with the abominations of this world, we cannot be intoxicated with the depravity and degradation that this world has fallen into, but we must be clear thinking and vigilant. Colossians 3:5-9 says, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds”. We must put to death all that dishonors God this is how we are sober and vigilant. Being sober and vigilant will cause us to do the next thing.
3. WE MUST PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD. Ephesians 6:11 says, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”. We know this is Ephesians 6:14-17 “having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”. The Armour of God will keep us from the wiles of the devil, but we also must make sure we put on the spiritual garments of Colossians 3:12-17 which are “ Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him”. These spiritual garments like the Armour of God protects us from the wiles of the devil these spiritual garments show the sinner man woman boy and girl that God is Love and that we have love one for another causing the world can see we are His disciples. Having on the spiritual garments will cause us to do the next thing while we are waiting.
4. WE MUST PRAY. Prayer is the breath of our soul touching the heart of God and causes our souls to be reignited in right relationship with Him. There are several commands to pray in scripture. Praying keeps us grounded and lets us focus on what is truly important. Praying causes us to have peace and patience when everything around us is falling apart. Praying keeps our minds on things above where are to be looking. Praying keeps you motivated and able to make it through the day. Praying strengthens our faith. Praying has been scientifically proven to help your immune system because praying cause our physical and mental health to improve therefore producing natural immune defenses. We must pray - Pray everywhere, 1 Timothy 2:8 says, “I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting”. Pray consistently Romans 12:12 says, “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer”. Praying in the Holy Ghost Jude verse 20 says, “Build up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost”. Praying always Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”. Pray Exceedingly 1 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith”. Never stop Praying 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing”. When we Look Up, when we are sober and vigilant, when we put on the whole armour of God and the spiritual garments, when we pray it leads us into the 5th thing and that is.
5. WE MUST PLEASE GOD. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”. So often we can fake out people by being nice on the outside, while in our hearts we don’t care about them. We can smile in their face, and they may never know what we are feeling inside. We can wear the mask of everything is alright when inside I am messed up and people will never know. Not so with God, He knows our every thought so we can’t fake Him out! He knows what you really feel even if on the outside you seem to submit to the religious rituals, live a morally clean life, pay tithes, give to the poor. God sees and judges the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, so we must please Him. Pleasing God requires drawing near to Him and seeking Him. WATCH THIS: - “that cometh to God.” Cometh is the same word that is translated draw near in 4:16, where we are exhorted to “draw near to the throne of grace”. Drawing near to God and seeking Him are deliberate, intentional activities. You do not accidentally draw near to the Holy One. It means to draw near or come close to God in prayer and worship. We can’t just worship Him with our mouths and our hearts be far from Him. Romans 8:8 says, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God”. So, the first thing that must be done is repentance Acts 2:38 says, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”. We please God by worshiping Him in Spirit and in Truth John4:23-24. We please God by living by faith. Hebrews 10:38 says, “Now the just shall live by faith”. We please God by living by faith and that is simply what is required of our spouses, or children it is an indispensable condition of our being pleased with them. So, it is with God. John 14:15 says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”. Pleasing God is a matter of living according to His precepts, commandments, and doing so in love. The New Testament is filled with exhortations to display throughout our lives the behavior that is pleasing to God 1 Thessalonians 4:1 ESV says “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more”.
CLOSING:- While we are waiting for the Rapture of the Church we must continue to look up focusing on Heavenly things. Making sure that we are not intoxicated by the abominations of this world, oppressed with the issues of life. We must make sure that we live a life that is rooted and grounded in the Word and the Will of God putting on the whole Armour of God. That we show to the sinner mercy, kindness, humbleness, and most of all Love becoming more and more like Jesus every day.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 says, “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing”. We are not to sit idly by doing nothing but are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling actively working to build up the Kingdom of God by witnessing and bring lost souls unto Him. Showing Love and compassion to the hurt, lost, sin sick souls.
While we are waiting we can’t get distracted by what the world is doing but we must be a beacon of Hope as Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
