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Shadows of the Tribulation

The rapture is the very next event in the sequence of end-time occurrences. The “Church Age” or the “Age of Grace” in which we now live, will suddenly and without warning come to an end with the rapture of believers. At this time, Jesus will descend not fully to earth, but will come into the stratosphere, and take us up to Himself in the air. (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15: 51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Immediately following the rapture of believers, the age of grace ends, and the time of tribulation begins. During the first half of the seven-year tribulation, the antichrist will deceive the nations (including Israel) into believing that he is a peacemaker. He will make a treaty with the nation of Israel and allow the restoration of their sacrificial system.

However, he is a filled with the power of Satan, who is the “father of lies.” The antichrist will suddenly break his treaty with Israel after three and one-half years, and then he will unleash his evil regime, demanding that the world worship him, and he will desecrate the temple in Jerusalem.

These events will mark the beginning of the “Great Tribulation,” of which Jesus said, “then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be” (Matthew 24:21). During this period, God Himself will unleash a kind of trouble that we have never seen. It will be His direct wrath upon godlessness, as Revelation reveals that Jesus Himself opens the seven seals of the deed to the universe in order that these horrors may begin. (Revelation 5:1-5; 6:1-17) God at this time, is still attempting to reach hardened hearts.

I am forever grateful that I will not be on earth to endure this wrath, because the wrath of God for my sin has already been poured out on Jesus Christ at the cross of Calvary two thousand years ago. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

Please know that the horror of this time, plagues will occur that exceed anything that we can imagine (such as one hundred pound hailstones, rains of sulfur and blood, locust-like demons with the power to torment with scorpion-like stings for five months, myriad public calamities, an earthquake accompanied by a “sky quake,” horrible sores breaking out on bodies, etc.)

Make no mistake, COVID-19 is nothing compared to what is to come. The economic disaster is nothing compared to what will come when the antichrist allows no one to buy or sell without his mark, the mark of the beast. Right now, the earth and humanity are groaning and heaving under the weight of the sin curse GENERALLY. In that time, humans and the earth will be suffering the wrath of God SPECIFICALLY.

The horrors of the tribulation – though we are not experiencing them yet – CAST THEIR SHADOWS into our day. (Note the graphic attached.) The events are so grave, and so unlike anything we have ever seen, that they cast the shadow of horror to us now, as a warning or precursor.

You still have time to repent. You still have time to yield your heart to God by admitting that you are a sinner in need of Jesus to cover your sin with His blood. You still have time to let the wrath of God that you deserve for your sin to be placed onto the shoulders of Jesus, who bore that sin on the cross so long ago. If Jesus took that hit for you, and you claim it in reality, then God will never again punish that sin – not now, and not in the time of tribulation, for you will be gone with Jesus! (Romans 6:23; John 3:36)

– Shelli Prindle

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” (Jesus, in Matthew 24:21)

Right Focus

My friend, keep your eyes on Jesus, not your disappointments, not your frustrations, and not your fears. Looking about at troubles will be the temptation and the “natural” tendency. But fixing your eyes on your Savior is your privilege, as the Holy Spirit lives in you and empowers you. Do it. Staying focused on Jesus is real living, in the deepest and eternal sense.

– Shelli Prindle

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

Not a Statistic

You are not simply a statistic. You are not just an isolated person, or just a case of COVID-19, or just an unemployed person, or just one who is depressed, or just a member of the human race during a pandemic; no, you are individually known and loved by the God who created the galaxies. He is reaching out to you right now. He knows your name and every detail of your life. He sent His Son to die for you. You are special to your Creator, if not to anyone else in the world. Pick up a Bible (or let me know if you don’t have one), and read His truth. You are known and loved infinitely.

– Shelli Prindle

“O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:1, 7-10)

Scattering Worry or Uniting Your Heart?

We can scatter many unhealthy worries all over the place as we try to handle our own lives, OR we can unite all of fear into the one, healthy reverence for the Lord Almighty! Yielding our heart to fear God and God alone, will cause the other worries to dissipate, as we trust in Him for the powerful, sovereign God that He is. He is in control, and if our hearts reverence Him properly, everything else will begin to fall into proper perspective.

– Shelli Prindle

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Don’t Despise Desperation

Do not despise God for allowing something to happen that causes you to drop to your knees in desperation to know Him and seek Him as you never have before. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that is more important than your relationship with Jesus and the heavenly treasure we build as we direct others to God. Do not you let anyone or any demon in hell to drive you to despondency, when the Holy Spirit is seeking to compel you to the beautiful heart of Jesus, to depend on Him and walk with Him in deeper and more glorious ways than you have ever known. This world is a preparation for Heaven; this life is not for fun and comfort. It is a battle ground, where Satan tries to drive you to distraction or despair, as God works to bring you to a vibrant relationship with Him that outshines anything else in life or the world.

– Shelli Prindle

P.S. I speak from personal experience, and I am advising myself as I write.

“Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” (Psalm 143:7-8)

One Breath Away

At any moment, we are all just one breath away from Heaven or Hell. We could be one instant from eternal, unhindered joy in the presence of God; or everlasting, unmitigated misery, separated from His being forever. So I ask you, are you moving in the direction of God, by the grace and blood of Jesus Christ? Or are you ignoring the Lord, thereby, through default, moving further from Him?

– Shelli Prindle

“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement.” (Hebrews 9:27)

Pray. Pray. Pray.

Pray. Before you plan, pray. Before you work frantically, pray. Instead of worrying, pray. Lift your heart and mind to the One who is already in the future, who loves you, and who holds the destiny of the whole world in His hands.

– Shelli Prindle

“The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.” (Psalm 33:11)

Atheist Mocks the Blood of Jesus

As I sit and read the famous atheist Richard Dawkins’ latest book, as he mocks the atonement and the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus, I am wondering how many Christians today even understand atonement, and how many churches preach the blood of Jesus as the only hope of humanity for forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God.

The core doctrines of the Bible seem to have been partially shelved or deemphasized in order to appease the masses that we want to attend our churches. But then, after they come into the church, what do they receive? Do they truly enter into salvation, or just a surface religious experience that makes them feel better about themselves?

If the leading atheists and skeptics of our day have enough time and influence to write and promote what opposes genuine Christianity, isn’t it time that preachers of the Gospel take seriously the call to preach and teach the whole counsel of God?

If the Gospel becomes watered down with each passing generation, what will be left for the people coming behind us? I guess this is precisely why Jesus, Paul, and many prophets emphasized the dangerous and rampant deception of the end times.

Dear Lord, make me part of the remnant who stays true to You and Your Holy Word.

– Shelli Prindle

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”  (Acts 20:28)

Persisting to Know Christ

We persist in many things that matter to us. If we truly care about accomplishing a goal, then we commit. Though obstacles and weariness come, we work to overcome in order to achieve that on which are minds are set.

Some people are good at staying the course, while others struggle with perseverance. Nonetheless, it is a tenacious heart that sees a purpose through to the end. We may persist in career milestones, health goals, financial objectives and many other areas.

Determination is a wonderful quality, but we must keep proper perspective. No goal is to even compare to the goal of knowing Christ more and more intimately, no matter the cost. Of all the things in which we persevere, we must stay the course in our walk with Jesus. In the end, that’s the one aim that matters most and matters forever.

– Shelli Prindle 

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8)

“By your endurance you will gain your lives.” (Luke 21:19)

As the Frog is Boiled Slowly

The Word of God is abundantly clear that the end times will be a season of grave difficulty and actual ferocity when it comes to living for Jesus. The spiritual corrosion that will happen even in the “Christian community” is the method by which Satan will attempt to lead people astray, and he will meet with some success. We will see the weeding out of those who are truly committed Christ followers, rather than those who are simply professed Christians.

The downgrade of the truthful and full proclamation of the Gospel is astounding. And as the frog is boiled slowly without realizing it, so many “Christians” are missing completely how the Gospel has been watered down to a mere shell of what is truly is.

As I walked through my living room and briefly listened to a doctor who had a near-death experience and supposedly “saw the light” and was asked by “saints” if she wanted to “choose to return as a baby” or go back to her former life, I paused and asked God to keep me from delusion – even from being very sincerely led astray. The lies of demons exist both in the culture and, sadly, in the church. When we fail to proclaim the entire truth of God’s Word, we open up places for Satan to fool around with people’s minds.

There is only one standard by which to measure reality, life, and morality, and that benchmark is the Bible. The Bible reveals Jesus to us. The Bible must be read and studied and applied to life. The Gospel in all its fullness must be taught and preached and understood.

“Light and fluffy and feel-good stuff” does not cut it. Not only that, but “light and fluffy and feel-good stuff” paves the way for lies to invade the churches. People are not nearly deep enough in their understanding of God, His triune nature, His holiness, His specific way of salvation, the working of His Holy Spirit, His plan of sanctification for every believer, His plan for the return of Christ, His soon making of the New Heavens and New Earth, and the reality of human everlasting existence – whether damned or saved.

My heart is breaking for the deception, and this moves me to press into my Savior and His calling on my life to teach and preach His eternal Word.

I will pray for you, if you are reading this, that the very Spirit of God will prompt you, enable you, and keep you. I ask you to pray as well. Pick up your Bible and study it. Seek the Lord now more than ever.

– Shelli Prindle

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” (2 Timothy 3:1)

His Cross, His Blood, My Forgiveness

His cross,
His blood,
My forgiveness.

His suffering,
His death,
My freedom.

His rising,
His power,
My victory.

His Spirit,
In me,
My life.

His return,
One day soon,
My hope.

– Shelli Prindle

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

Peace No Matter the Situation

Peace is not the absence of trouble; peace is the presence of Jesus, no matter in what situation you find yourself.

– Shelli Prindle

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)