| Vol. VI Number 28 | July 28, 2002 |
With these troubled times many are asking, ``What's going to happen?'' Many are worried about the near future without taking into account the total history of the world. Many only think about the current news headlines, with no thought about how they relate historically. There are a number who don't equate history and what is happening in the news today. Let's take the financial news for an example.
Now concerning the financial news of today and the financial news of late 1929 and early 1930's we see a simular theme. The commentators back then and now are saying the same things. Also, if you compare the long term charts we can see simularities between the rapid growth of the late 20's and the 90's. In both of these periods there was a 4 to 5 year speclative and rapid growth in the stock market. Looking at the charts I see a parabolic curve in the speculative period of both eras. The governmental lies, the commentators all were and presently saying that the economy is good and the stock market will come back soon. Yesterday I saw this disturbing item, ``House fails to move long-stalled bankruptcy bill.'' This item is simular to what Roosevelt and Congress did during the depression to sure up the banks. Also in the news are continuing notices of layoffs with a smaller portion of the population being employed. Are we headed to a depression like that of the 1930's?
The Bible tells that we see through a glass darkly when looking into the future, but one of the major items we have at our disposal is history. We see wars and rumors of war, along with financial booms and busts. We also see the simularities between the two periods, but are not willing to see what is happening when it happens. After a peek in the market we want to see the market continue to rise, though it is starting to fall. We don't want to sell at a loss, so we hold on while the market continues to slide down the path to a real loss.
The prudant must be on the look out to see the signs of the times to be able to make the appropriate decisions. Today, we have resources at our disposal that the investor did not have in 1929. Today the investor has the ability to watch the market in real time over the Internet from her home. Also, the prudent knows that when the government keeps telling you that the economy is in good shape, but there are more people being laid off you know that something is not right. When major corporations are declaring bankruptcy, you know that the economy is not in good shape no matter who is telling you that it is.
Concerning Bible prophecy and the last days, we are seeing a time when everything is going down. Just like it was going down after the crash of 1929, the prudent put their money in safe havens, while the majority waited for the economy to turn around. Instead of worrying about the near future the Christian needs to concern himself with the real future. The future of where he will spend eternity. The near future will come no matter what you do, only be prepaired for it. It is the true long term future that the Christian needs to concern himself with. If the rapture of the Lord would happen tonight, would you rise to meet the Lord in the air? Now if there is a depression, you will come through it, but the real importance is the true long term investment in Jesus Christ the Lord.
Matthew 16:1-11
1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
The whole world watches the stock market, but you need to pay attention to Jesus and making sure that you are built on the solid rock. While it is good to watch your own finances, you also need to keep an eye on your true long term goal which is to enter into the gates of heaven.
Luke 6:47-49
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
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Published by: Rev. LeRoy D. Cressy (215) 535-4037
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