As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:3-14
So many try to use their own reasoning and intellect to decipher times and the calculations in prophecy. But prophecy begins in the spiritual realm / dimension and must be interpreted by the Spirit of God. Thus any prophecy is an invitation for you to begin a conversation with the Holy Spirit as to the meaning for YOU.. in the present. When reading prophecy …first read it straight forward and look at the clear language. Then begin to ask the Holy Spirit questions that immediately arise within you. Like…. “Lord am I being lead astray anywhere, by anyone? Lord …how do I calm my own fears and not be alarmed .. even though I see terrible things approaching? How should I be preparing? How do I prepare for tribulation in my own life? How do I discern the Truth at every turn?” Questions like these the Lord loves, as He then is able to get to the heart of the matter in your life. When asking Him questions — be in a mode of listening and expecting Him to answer. Whatever scripture or thoughts come — write them down for consideration in your heart. Be led by the Holy Spirit — not your fears, or your own understanding of the situation. Be willing to set all of your knowledge aside — and listen to His answers to you. Don’t be like others who expect some ‘preacher or pastor’ to interpret all your spiritual questions for you, but go to God yourself. Learn how to hear Him for your own needs and questions. When the disciples had Jesus to themselves — they would ask Him the questions on their hearts — like the one in the scripture above. Can you be like them and ask the Holy Spirit the nagging questions in your heart? And be willing to follow the instructions He gives you? For most ‘pew sitting’ American Church going Christians — the issue isn’t that they don’t have questions — it is the fact that their leaders have never explained how to hear and follow the Holy Spirit within them, or that they are too busy with their own lives and their “faith” really is just a religious ‘belief’ rather than a vibrant living relationship that has an ongoing two way communication that happens moment by moment.
What is severely lacking in the American Church these days is a serious hunger for a real relationship with Jesus. That lack happens when persecution and tribulation hasn’t come for many years and the people become complacent in their own ways and thinking. Our brothers and sisters in the family of God in places like Iran, Syria, North Korea, China, Venezuela, Iraq, all know that ‘tribulation’ is just a part of their lives and their ONLY real salvation is … Jesus. They MUST rely on Him to just navigate their days. They know how precious the Word of God is. We as Americans mostly think we are the only ones Jesus loves, and figure the world is the way we have it in our own little community. Myopic selfish sight is all too common in America. So many care more about the earth than they do about the souls of humans. The Climate religion is strong within this country. The religion of ‘self’ is also a favorite in this country. Why? Lack of persecution and affliction. But that is slowly changing for us. Yet as minuscule as the persecution is now — I hear way too much complaining about minor physical inconveniences than the spiritual darkness sweeping across our country in the souls of the people.
Beloved – know that the Watchmen of God have begun blowing the trumpets in this country — for those that have ‘ears to hear’. The cry for ‘repentance’ is being heard in more and more in many places. Yet most institutional pulpits are still preaching the same things — rather than the prompting and revelation from the Holy Spirit. Most in those pulpits are just hirelings. Yet the remnant is rising up and coming together in secret – and not in regular Church buildings. Many have begun to stand up and say “No! We will only follow the Holy Spirit and the Word within my heart!”, rather than just ‘go along’ with whatever any ‘spiritual’ or government leader says.
And who can lead us astray? Read the words of Jesus.
“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? Luke 12:49-56
Who can lead us astray? Even our own family members. Can you hear Jesus for yourself?