“And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.”
Esther 4:13-17 NKJV
If I perish, I perish
The work of the Gospel is reaching its end, as the opportunity for those who are the followers of Jesus to go and tell, is fading. It is become more difficult to reach those who have not heard the Good News, and the powers that be are work ever so harder to block any attempted to tell the world of Jesus.
Though still relatively safe to do so here in America, it is not elsewhere. For many in distant lands where Christians are in the extreme minority, sharing Jesus can bring a death sentence. Even converting can bring imprisonment and possibly death. Often it is the family that kills the one they deem apostate.
Little by little, Christians in this country are being placed in a crisis of decision: stand for Jesus or fall away. I am sure that there are some who think that if they remain quiet, if they do not go and tell, they will be safe. The peril has a way of reaching us all.
Reading Esther chapter four this morning encouraged me, as I saw one of our for runners, a type and shadow demonstrating for us the desire to stand firm in the faith. She faced the possibility of death in going before the king, but she did so anyway. She chose to speak up, even if it meant her peril.
There is coming a time, very soon when there will be two great purges. The first will be the purge of Christians by the Harlot, when she makes her final effort to please the beast, Satan, that hates her.
In reality, this purge has gone on since Babel, as the evil one has made a great effort to destroy the people of God. But the effort will be greatly increased in the end times. Her desire for the lives of the saints has been a major part of her identity.
“And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.”
Revelation 17:5-6 NKJV
Her persecution of the people of God will reach its apex during In a short tribulation of ten days, when she will have free rein to slaughter as many Christians as she pleases.
“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Revelation 2:10 NKJV
I this a good time now to make sure your salvation and seek the Lord with all of your heart. There will be some who are spared the coming troubles.
“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. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”
Revelation 3:10-11 NKJV
Many will choose that time to fall away, to seek safety in the Harlot, laying aside the faith to blend in. But there will be no safety, as the Anti-Christ will destroy the Harlot in one hour with fire, smoke and sulfur. A third of mankind will die. All her great wealth will not save her. Even now we are seeing the building up to the Great War that will mark the destruction as east opposes the west.
“For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’”
Revelation 18:17-18 NKJV
The system that began at Babel will be no more.
Brothers and sisters, we are now in a time of decision, a time when we must make a choice: to live for Christ, which could mean perishing, or seek refuge in the Harlot which will mean certain destruction and the possibility of hell. I for one desire to serve my Lord, whether I live on or die. If I perish, I perish.
May we be a people who seek to serve the Lord with a heart like Esther, willing to bear the burden, going and telling of Jesus. We are in a rescue mission, seeking to rescue souls from hell as our time is running out. Make the most of each moment, seeking every opportunity to tell someone about the Lord. The next few months or years could be overwhelming. Begin now.
Have a blessed Lord’s day, rejoicing as we look forward to the great Day of the Lord to come.
#prayfortheharvest
#prayforthepersecuted
#prayforthegospeltospreadeverywhere
Musings from an idle mind 
I will hold fast on to Him, and He will hold me fast
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