As a young boy Jim
loved the “trick” handcuffs he received on his birthday
He’d work
enthusiastically until “I’m free, my hands are free!” he’d joyfully say
Escaping from their
confinement intrigued him in his childhood play
Teenage years found
him following the episodes of Houdini and his special form of art
Escaping from all
types of dangerous situations, the hold your breath kind, stopping the heart
Only seconds from
certain death, he would elude his demise, victory impart
“The Great Escape”
movie was a big favorite, all the effort they made to succeed
God given desire to
be free drove the prisoners to work tirelessly to fulfill that need
Many were
recaptured, but a few were triumphant in where the escape would lead
After college Jim
felt called to join the Fire Department, learn their specific skill
Fighting fires,
helping many escape whatever was burning, a new hope instill
It gave him a
passion for serving others; he knew this was his mission to fulfill
One day at the
station he found a book called “The End Times” & all that would, one day,
transpire
Intrigued, he read
it whenever he took a break, a new source of anxiety he’d acquire
It told of how the
world would be judged, as it once had been by the flood, but this time by fire
That God had set a
day when His patience with man would run out and the consequence would be DIRE
He’d shown the
Apostle John what would take place; things that will be, because of man’s
sinfulness prior
John’s writing of
the book of Revelation was meant as a WARNING, but to also HOPE inspire
It told of a coming
world leader, riding onto the scene on a WHITE horse
Charming at first,
but evil at heart; his power Satan will simply reinforce
Because since the
Garden of Eden, behind all trouble he’s the ultimate source
Close behind will
be a RED horse of war, when the dictator’s true intentions are known
Worldwide chaos,
millions dying, as bloodshed & hatred are set in stone
Treaties broken,
any sense of commitment is lost, everyone is just out for their own
Productive land is
destroyed, ushering in the BLACK horse of famine to the scene
The value of money
is reduced, starvation is rampant, there’s no one to intervene
The leader calls
himself god, his statue is made to talk…idolatry is seen
The PALE (color of
dead rotting flesh) horse arrives, humanity killed by meteorites falling from
the sky
Complete islands
disappear, great environmental woes, earthquakes, mighty rivers suddenly dry
Drastic changes in
the sun and moon cause extreme heat to total darkness, mental stress sky high
People affected
with boils, swarms of demonic locust, tremendous suffering day & night
Water turns foul
when the creatures in them die, for daily survival people fight
In spite of such
grief, man is still rebellious, their heart does NOT show them contrite
The evil leader
MANDATES all must take the MARK to be able to buy or sell
Perhaps a
micro-chip under the skin, those who refuse will be killed as well
BUT those who do
have SEALED their eventual ticket to an eternal hell
Jim shuttered at
the thought, how could all these things ever take place?
Would they happen
in his lifetime, was there a way to prepare for this tribulation phase?
What kind of world
would be left, would it be fit for the future human race?
Discussing this
with a friend, he learned about God’s love, mercy and Grace
How, since man
first sinned, He’d made a WAY TO ESCAPE for all to embrace
That BEFORE these
things come to be, the Lord would CALL His children Home, leaving this earthly
space
God promised to
keep them from the hour of trial, by the power that raised Jesus from the dead
Believer’s graves
will open, those within will rise to meet the Lord in the air…just as He said
Behind them, those
believers still alive will answer the trumpet’s call, ESCAPING the coming dread
That very day Jim
asked Jesus to forgive him, save him, set him free!!! Eternal protection bestow
ACCEPTING that ONLY
God could & would help him escape the coming tribulation woe
He was so grateful
for Jesus’ sacrifice, the ultimate LOVE His death & resurrection did show
