Dear….
‘Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand.’
Revelations 1:3
Is the day of reckoning nearer than we think? Seems to be if recent news bear fruit. The European debt conundrum is starting to take on the form of a huge whirlpool(like the one in the Pirates of the Caribbean?), that is not just sucking in all and sundry in Europe, but possibly the rest of the world. And what about the Middle East, a favorite indulgence of mine. Fantasy it might seem but increasingly, the odds of a Israelite/Arab conflict are looking more plausible if the headlines in the newspapers are to be believed. A bluff many might still consider, this latest threat from the Israelite leadership on a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. But from all accounts, the present Iranian President and his sect truly believe that the 12th Imam( “the Mahdi," Arabic word for a messiah) will only resurface upon the destruction of Israel. Belief often transcends logic, and mere words of threats from the Israelites might not be suffice to take away this very real threat to their existence. The oil pundits believe that if such a conflict ever arise and inflame the entire Middle East, the risks of oil at $200/barrel(from present $115/barrel) is quite high. The huge swath of paper monies that the Western world has printed and will continue to print is like a tinderbox, ready to engulf the world in flames, at least economically. And from the resultant ashes, will not rise the mythical Phoenix, but rather the much dreaded dragon of stagflation and a new world order.
‘So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God…’
Romans 14:12
One should speak only as the Spirit of the Lord leads. For it is not for us to add on or subtract from the Word of our Lord. And may these thoughts shared be truly a reflection of what our good Lord has impressed upon my humbled and contrite heart. “Antioch of the East,” that is a belief that many including myself(and publicly pronounced by Billy Graham in his rally in Singapore back in 1978 at the National Stadium) have held of the calling for our small little red dot of a nation, in a sea of future believers. But “Laodecia,?” This is the thought that our good Lord brought me to, in the Book of Revelations. Of the seven churches that the Apostle John was asked to write to by the Spirit of God, the church of Laodecia was termed the “lukewarm church.”
‘I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth…’
Revelations 3:15-16
God always affirms His thoughts for me, and attached is a link ( http://www.ourdailyjourney.org/2011/11/06/autocorrect/ ) to the Nov 6th “Our Daily Journey – titled autocorrect?’ Do take time to go to the link at ( read and ponder upon the author’s thoughts on “Laodicea” and their preponderance to rest on their own strength). Does it not seem familiar?
Laodicea was a very wealthy nation, being a the center of the trade routes of that ancient period. It was also a renowned medical center as well as famous for its black wool. And when an earthquake( “sub prime crisis?”) hit, it was able to rely on its own resources to rebuild, without help from its overlord, the Roman Empire( “USA??”)
'Because you say, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable,poor, blind, and naked _'
Revelations 3:17
Are we truly happy in Singapore? Or for that matter, in this world of 7 billion people, those of us who have a disproportionate share of the material wealth, are we truly happy? The mountain kingdom of Bhutan is supposed to be the happiest place in the world, based on the Happiness Index. Not too sure about that, but at least the canines are happy there for the Bhutanese, being devout Buddhist, stray dogs are not culled and left to free range. China is a much wealthier place today, notwithstanding the imbalance of distribution of wealth, however, it seems that rich or poor, there is surge in many who seek spiritual solace, to fill that emptiness that material goods cannot fulfill.
'Remember therefore how you have received and heard, hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.'
Revelations 3:3-4
I was doing a little research on the net. Clearly, being late in our founding in 1819, Singapore was not the first place where Christianity had its beginnings in South East Asia. But we have come a long way from our humble beginnings both materially and spiritually. And with our unique position in the changing geopolitics, the world has truly come to us, and for many who are now making Singapore their abode, it could be their first real experience with vibrant Christianity compared to the West or the dearth of opportunities back home. A modern day Antioch in a different sense our beloved Island can be.
But reality is, iron sharpens iron, but if most of us have since lost our spiritual vitality and is a pale dross of our once Spirit lifted self,when we first believed, of what use are we in the service of the Kingdom of God?
'Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.'
Revelations 3:10
"Fence sitting" is no longer an option. The year 2012 is moving to one of great shaking where the different plates, not just the physical, but the social, political and economics will shift, in ways that will make the brave fainthearted. A "new birth" is coming, of a world that will be vastly different from that borne after the ashes of World War 2. USA will be inward looking, economically incapacitated, an invalid. Europe will be xenophobic, ruled by a body vested with powers greater than individual Sovereign rights. Vassals of China, most of us in Asia will implicitly be, if China's unreasonable claims to the South China Sea is any indication of what is to come. And the old Soviet Union, under an imperialistic Putin, will reclaim many of its breakaway land. And the simmering cauldron in the Middle East will boil over as the war drums of anti-Israel masses beats even louder.
'I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich, and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, Therefore be zealous and repent.'
Revelations 3:18-19
Gold was what our good Lord impressed upon my heart back in year 2008, at the beginnings of the sub prime crisis. Gold as in my spiritual man refined by the fire of the Lord's tender making was what I have been subjected through and still am. God is preparing me and all of you who are willing for what is to come. To be unshakeable so that He can use us to minister to the many that will surely teeter and totter over the next few months. To point them towards Christ the source of all comfort and grace.
‘Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’
John 4:13-14
Prayers must be first and foremost in our preparation for what is already with us and for what is to come. Prayers bring us out of our own understanding and strength, and unto the presence of God and His enabling grace. Having been involved in prayer ministry for the past decade, it is one area that is growing, yet very much neglected in the main by most Christians. Why?? Many come to God with their "shopping lists" and end up often disappointed because their will is not answered.
Prayers is about taking time in with God and time out from the world. Prayers brings us unto the presence of God, for His Spirit to search our very being and to cleanse and uplift our very being. Prayers is about being still and knowing the will of God. And we will know the will of God, and if we are willing to believe and obey, prayers will be answered, because we no longer ask in our will but in His will.
'Jesus answered and said unto them. Verily, I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say to unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.'
Matthew 21:21-22
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(16th Nov 2011)
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