PLEASE READ THIS HEART-WRENCHING LETTER FROM A YOUNG PASTOR IN LONDON.

Please read this heart-wrenching letter from a young Pastor and his wife in London, via the excellent website of my good friends Alan and Pat Franklin. It can be found at http://www.thefreepressonline.co.uk/.

It is quite a shocking letter, for it not only depicts the path many people are taking in our country these days, but many of the people he refers to are Christians and born again belivers! Quite alarming!

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Alan writes:

 

This message came in from a young Christian friend:

“Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus! ….“Since we spoke I have become a student pastor at an independent Baptist church in London. The teaching and ethos of the church are great but I am really struggling with all that is going on in this country and I feel that there is nobody with whom I can share my views without being called a racist/bigot/fascist.

 “The borough I live in is extremely liberal and 'tolerant' and to openly admit to views like mine could land me in a lot of trouble. My wife understands me and shares all my views but we are feeling very isolated and lonely here. Even Christian friends whom we regarded as 'sound' believers seem to becoming more 'tolerant' towards things which they previously stood firm on.

 “A good example of this is the Baptist church which I grew up in which is shortly to have a vote on allowing women to be pastors. My wife and I are in our early thirties but we realize that this is a direct contradiction of the Bible's clear teaching. We fear for the church that we love and are dismayed that so many people seem to be wavering in their opinions and are becoming more 'open minded' when it comes to issues such as homosexuality, other religions, Israel etc.

“I know that all these things are hallmarks of the end times and that we should lift up our heads and wait for our Lord's return. However, I cannot tell you how grieved I am to see people I love and respect gradually departing from the truth whilst all along thinking that they are genuinely honoring God in doing so. I hate the way that this country is going, yet what makes it harder is that so many 'Christians' do not understand what is going on. I honestly believe that we are being sucked into a totalitarian state (as you describe in your books) but one which is made all the more sinister in that it wears the smiley face of 'tolerance.'

 “I hate to see the way that the way of life that I love is being destroyed and that our country is being meekly handed over to others who care nothing for its culture and Christian heritage. I find the way that London and other places is changing is oppressive and also the way that English people constantly have our identity mocked and derided by the elite.

“I imagine that you can identify with much of this. I know that I can be quite negative and depressive and that I should live in the joy of the Lord, not in fear of the future. All the same, I am struggling to cope at the moment.

“I hope that you don't mind me sharing all this with you. It has actually made me feel better already to be able to 'unload' in this way. I would just ask that you and Pat remember us in your prayers. We are coming to the end of our placement and are looking for a biblical church where we can serve the Lord as pastor and wife. At the moment life in London seems intolerable and it is exacerbated by the fact that whilst many Christians sail on by in blissful ignorance, we know something of what is going on in this country today and what some of the agendas are.

“May the Lord continue to bless you in your life and ministry,
Regards…. Alan adds: If any church wants a fine young pastor I will pass his name and contact number on!

As for my friend’s worry about women preachers, he is right. If those pushing the feminist agenda in churches read the Bible the SHEologians might find a few scriptures not to their liking. They think women can do anything men can do, but the Bible says: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”  1 Timothy 2:11,12.

 As Pat writes in our book Goodbye America, Goodbye Britain (which you can buy from this website if you haven’t got a copy!): “These scriptures teach that women are not to have a public leadership ministry in the church, but there is still plenty we can do.  Jesus loves us and a woman (Mary Magdalene) was privileged to be the first person on earth to see Him after He rose from the dead.  Mary was on a mission of mercy, to take care of a practical need, and what divine favor she found!  There certainly is scope for merciful acts today.”

 The signs of the times are all around - money meltdown, (Spain, Greece etc) a great push for homosexuality to be accepted as just another lifestyle choice, the destruction of the family, the sewage-like surge of permissiveness and so on. Time is short. Men have no solutions but are just postponing the inevitable.
 Paul wrote to Timothy about the moral collapse the End Times would bring: “But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers  of God, having a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these.” 2 Timothy 3: 1-5.

Just as before the Flood and before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, life will carry on, with eating, drinking, marrying and money making  until the rapture suddenly takes us out of the increasing chaos (Luke 17: 26- 37).

In Luke 21: 34;36 The Lord warns believers to be careful of our priorities immediately prior to the rapture: “Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day cone on you suddenly like a trap; For it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

The signs –as in the time of Noah - clearly indicate that we are on the threshold of what is going to be the most terrible time in human history — a time of unprecedented horror, the Great Tribulation. A one-world government will soon be established with total control over all commerce. During this time a dictator referred to in the Scriptures as 'the man of lawlessness’ , ‘The Man Of Sin’ etc will be responsible for killing around half the world's population during the first half of the Tribulation. And during the second half, he will murder two-thirds of the Jewish people. My estimate is that around three quarters of the world’s population will die in those seven years.

The Second Psalm speaks of the end times world of rebellion against God and this is what we are now seeing, plus Satanically-inspired worldwide anti-Semitism. But God laughs at their antics….verse 4:
The threat against Israel looms large and has immense prophetic significance. Israel’s Chief of Staff has pointed out that Israel is the only country in the world that another nation – Iran – has said must be destroyed, and which is building nuclear weapons to do just that. Will Israel make a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s numerous nuclear sites? If so, when? It could be this year, which could lead to a sequence of prophecies being rapidly fulfilled.

In his first letter the Apostle John wrote these words to the true believers: (I John 2:18) “ Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour.”

 John wrote that over 1900 years ago yet it is significant how accurately they capture the spirit of these last days. If there is a peaceful interlude now it is an uneasy peace, just as Israel is even now awaiting the next onslaught, attacks which will continue and intensify. Jets are flying practice runs over northern Israel as I speak.

 The Apostle Paul warned that we must take heed when people babble about peace and safety. Their peace is an illusion, as Israel’s is. In Ist Thessalonians 5;3 he tells us: “While they are saying ‘Peace and Safety’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

 Paul is speaking of the return of our Lord and was telling the church to be prepared – not to be lulled to sleep in the expectation of the rapture. The time of the antichrist is almost upon us and this is no time for us to rest. But there is good news in the midst of all this trouble, for the message of the Bible is that we who are believers are going to win in the end. The Tribulation will be cut short at the end of seven years with the triumphant return of Jesus. He will destroy the Antichrist and will replace him as the ruler of this world, bringing peace, righteousness and justice.
And that's not all the good news. The Bible teaches that believers are going to be taken out of this world before before the Tribulation begins. Christians will not have to face the Antichrist and his horrors.
The world is getting darker ands the antichrist spirit is abroad…in December the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution about combating intolerance, discrimination and violence on the grounds of religious belief. So far so good. But this was sponsored by the 57 nations of the Organization of Islamic Co-operation and is aimed at preventing slander of Islam- which means outlawing making statements any Muslim would dislike.

Later this year the EU is hosting a meeting to follow up on the Islamics’ bid to impose “blasphemy legislation” on all the EU to criminalize “defamation of Islam.” Yet Christianity is defamed every day on TV, radio and so on. Perhaps ten per cent of the EU population is now Islamic- and it is a young ten per cent.  Yet the good news is- Islam will not rule the world!

The Lord and his faithful church will do that for 1000 years! The church of Jesus Christ in these End Times is  a “remnant church,” which should not surprise or dismay us. Luke 18 verse 8: quotes Jesus asking: “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” The way the question is put suggests the answer is “not much.” When many of those who love their success-driven churches go broke and lose their jobs, when serious trouble comes, will they still have faith? It depends on what their faith is placed in.

These are people who give the impression they are on the side of Jesus but they do not act in accordance with His words, which is precisely how the antichrist spirit will be manifest. Antichrist will give the impression to many that he is Christ, by being a benefactor and bringing peace, before his true nature as a son of the devil emerges.

There are many people who call themselves “Christians” but some have believed another gospel, the wrong gospel, which is no gospel at all and which will not save anyone.  Some worship another Jesus, not the real Jesus. Only those who have believed the simple, true gospel and been born again of the Holy Spirit are Christians.

All the others are impostors who have rejected the narrow way of salvation and gone some other way.  If they have added anything at all (like sacraments or church membership) to the simple gospel, they are believing another gospel. Our salvation depends solely on our faith in Jesus, with nothing added and nothing subtracted.  If they are worshiping a communion wafer, they are worshiping another Jesus, not the real Jesus.

The wheat and the tares grow together and look pretty much alike at first glance, but they are not alike.  The wheat, representing those who have believed the true gospel, has useful “fruit.” (the spiritual fruits of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance – Galatians 5:22,23).   The tares (weeds), representing false Christians, look a lot like wheat, but they have no fruit.  They might have charm, but charm is deceptive, and that charming exterior will vanish when times of stress come.  They might do some good works, but good works are like filthy rags in God’s sight unless they are filtered through faith in Jesus – the real Jesus.  Only then will our good works count for anything in Heaven.

Around the world real Christians are under persecution. In Britain we are mainly just mocked at present. Our troubles are never greater than our Helper. Jesus said: (John 16:33) “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” The victor of Calvary is with us as John says in his first epistle (1 John 4:4) “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”The world is getting darker, closer to its destruction. It’s a few seconds to midnight and we must learn to trust the Lord completely. God is still on the throne and prayer changes things.

In John 6: 16-20 we read of the disciples in grave danger.“Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea. And after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea at Capernaum. And it had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. And the sea began to be stirred  up, because a strong wind was blowing. When therefore they had rowed three or four miles, they beheld Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, ‘it is I, do not be afraid.’ ”

Sometimes storms blow up, but Jesus’ disciples on the Sea of Galilee rowed into the dark. The storm scared them, but they a glorious destination, Capernaum – Jesus’ home during his time on earth.
Matthew 9:1 calls it “His own city.”

Fear and uncertainty will grow as it becomes more and more obvious that the world is out of man’s control.
Jesus spoke of his coming again in great power and glory but he said something else had to happen first (Luke 21: 26)… “Men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken”.

However, Romans 8:37 says that in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
Time and again Christians in the End Times will turn to the Lord in prayer and be helped. Jesus is there at crisis points. The people of the world are often full of fear but have no comforter to turn to. The children of God can overcome fear in the name of Jesus.

However, Jesus did not promise us a small patch of heaven on earth, to quietly till until His return. This is actually an appealing prospect for me, as I look out on the garden. It is tempting to spend time there and while away the day.

However, we are given gifts to use. Jesus placed us- all of you- in this demon influenced world to spread the Gospel in word and deed to those who are not yet believers. Evil is increasing alarmingly in the world and ignorance and propaganda is promoted by our government, in the guise of learning. But we who are His are on our way to the Lord’s house, His home. On the broad path almost anything is tolerated. The only thing the world won’t tolerate is the Gospel Truth.The broad way, the world’s way, leads to destruction. It is based on lies. The narrow way is the Jesus way – He is the Truth. Absolute truth.

The Lord is preparing the believers for His soon coming. He is taking the true church out of the apostate church. Why? Because the spirit of Laodicea is at work in the nominal church.
Paul wrote to Timothy, in his first letter- (1 Timothy 4:1-3) “But the Spirit explicitly says that in latter times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, By means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience with a branding iron, Men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.”

Here we see, among others, the Catholic church, a major part of the Great Whore Church of the last days – forbidding marriage, banning meat on Fridays and so on. God calls their ideas “doctrines of demons,” yet most of the church in Britain today will happily join with them in ecumenical events. If you disagree you will probably be called a bigot or worse. Look on our website for the Table of Truth, or get our book Cults and Isms: True or False? From our web shop. It examines and dismisses, with full scriptural references, the claims of cults and false religions.

The church at Laodicea was smug, self satisfied – a very purpose driven place. Revelation 3:17 describes it like this: “Because you say I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

There are churches today which have  big numbers. Some are even good churches. Some are following business-like formulas for success, which means people in pews. But these established churches can be lonely places. And how good is the teaching? What do even the ministers really know about the Bible? True life and warmth can only be found with a personal relationship with Jesus. Trends like The Emerging Church bring the New Age and mysticism into what passes for Christianity today. We are warned to take heed that no man deceives us- deception is the hallmark of the End Times church.

Those who like labyrinths and mysticism should read Leviticus 10: 1-2: “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.”

This is how God judged two sons of the high priest! Yet there is strange fire in churches today. Fake blessings, fake revelations, fake prophecies, false manifestations of the spirit. We need to watch for it and beware. No church is safe from it.

The Lord made this offer to Laodicea: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20.)
Although we seem small and unimportant, we are not alone. The Creator of the universe is with us, in us and watching over us. If we trust in Him we will have an eternal reward. Remember that the grass withers, the flower fades but the word of God shall stand forever, according to Isaiah 40:8.
Writing to the Corinthian church, Paul had this to say: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Visible reality all around us is often bad or just disappointing. But this world is not our home. We are in it but not of it.  In the pages of the Bible we read of “evidence of things not seen.”
In 2 Kings Elisha was in the city of Dothan and the King of Syria was surrounding the city with a great force of horsemen and chariots. Elisha’s servant is afraid, but Elisha tells him that there are more on the Israelites’ side than are against them. Elisha asks God to open the man’s spiritual eyes and he sees a mountain full of the chariots of fire and horses of Israel. When Syria, Iran or any other country  next attacks Israel it will discover this all over again.

Our five senses will die with us- they are temporary. The invisible is what counts – this is what the Bible is all about. Spiritual realities are a very different story to what we see in the world and right now, in Heaven, Jesus is preparing for His return in triumph. He is also preparing a place for us.

Maranatha- Come, Lord Jesus.
Alan Franklin.