Do you believe in dreams? The Bible is full of stories where people had dreams and visions. Usually God gives us dreams for a variety of reasons. Some dreams warn us, others show the future. Sometimes dreams guide us in what to do or what is coming. I think God likes to give us dreams because He likes stories and dreams are a type of story, are they not? Jesus spoke in parables all the time, and are those not stories to help us understand?
So the other night I had a dream. It made no sense at first but I asked Him what He was showing me because I could tell from the way that I remembered all the details, that it was from Him. I dream all the time, but most of my dreams are not from the Lord. This one was.
In my dream, I was living in an apartment/condo and I knew that my lease was almost up.
I was frustrated however, because the new tenant was already moving in. He was setting up his stuff in various rooms and acting like he already lived there. So I went to the landlord and asked him why he had rented my place to someone else. I told him I would gladly have renewed my lease, if given a chance. The landlord just stared at me. I woke up.
So I went to the Lord and asked Him what it could mean. What I heard was this: “Time is almost up, whether you like it or not!” Oh my, now it suddenly made sense to me.
If you think about it, does this dream not describe what is happening in our world today? Does it not feel like the devil has already moved in, and is taking over like he owns the place? Never mind the theology of all that, lets just cut to the chase. The world has gone mad. Or has it?
The truth of the matter is that Jesus warned us about these last days. He talks about it in Matthew 24 and in Luke 21. Daniel tells us about the time of the end in chapters 9-12. Paul warns us about the end times. I could go on because 30% of the Bible is about prophecy; much is about the first coming of Christ, obviously in what is commonly called the Old Testament. But the majority of Bible prophecy is about the last days, the return of Jesus to this earth, before He sets up His kingdom during the millennium. 30% is a lot in my opinion.
So why are people so afraid of it? Why do so few teach on it? Why are the pulpits mostly silent on this topic? The reasons are many, and sadly, there is no valid excuse. I am no scholar, but if I can talk to you about the fact that Jesus is coming back, so should the preachers. And for that reason, I believe that Jesus is taking ordinary people, like me, to warn you that time is short. Jesus likes to take ordinary people and use them. The 12 disciples were all fisherman and tax collectors. Not a religious leader among them. What I’m trying to say is that if your pastor won’t talk about it, that doesn’t mean it’s not important.
So what is my dream really saying to you and me? Is Jesus trying to scare us? Well, that would depend on several things. If you are a born again believer, filled with the Holy Spirit, then no, He’s not scaring you. As a matter of fact, He’s repeating Himself with my dream. In Luke 21:28 Jesus tells us the following: “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Jesus is encouraging you! Yes, He’s telling you that even though these are difficult and scary days we are living in, when you see all the signs, which we are, then look up, be encouraged, He’s about to call you home! He’s about to rapture His church.
Paul describes the rapture like this: “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
I want you to notice something here. Those of us who are alive when the rapture happens, will meet Jesus in the clouds in the air. Jesus does not touch down on the earth in this scene. This is not the second coming, where Jesus sets His feet on Mount Zion at the end of the tribulation, as described in Acts 1:9-11. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
I want to point out something else that Paul says in the verse I quoted above in Thessalonians 4:18. “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” And that my friend is exactly what my dream is about! Jesus wants to comfort those of us who are looking for his appearing. Are you looking forward to seeing Him face to face? Are you searching the clouds, looking up and waiting for Him? Then you are being comforted because that day is near, very near.
Now if you are reading this and that day strikes fear into your heart, and you don’t know how you feel about all this nonsense, may I please implore you to not take my word for it. Read your Bible. Read the scriptures for yourself. And if you need to, repent. Jesus is not interested in scaring you. No, He loves you and fear is not part of of His language. If you’re afraid, it is the devil scaring you. So go to the Lord, read the Word, ask Him to confirm all this to you and repent! Time is almost up. Our heavenly bridegroom is coming soon!
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