1 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:08,510 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hello, welcome to the Praying Christian Women podcast. 2 00:00:08,690 --> 00:00:10,990 Speaker 1: I am Alana here with Jamie. How are you? I'm 3 00:00:11,970 --> 00:00:16,270 Speaker 1: doing great. We are thrilled to have you join us today. 4 00:00:16,770 --> 00:00:19,529 Speaker 1: We are bringing you a coffee break episode with a 5 00:00:19,550 --> 00:00:23,170 Speaker 1: question that I wondered about for like over 20 years. 6 00:00:23,190 --> 00:00:26,770 Speaker 1: So I'm really excited. We're talking about end times and 7 00:00:26,930 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 1: prayer and how does it all fit together. So I'm 8 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: really looking forward to diving in. 9 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm always hesitant because as like the person that 10 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 2: needs to have like all the research done and know 11 00:00:41,620 --> 00:00:43,950 Speaker 2: all of the things and fact check, this is not 12 00:00:43,970 --> 00:00:46,950 Speaker 2: going to be a discussion where we come away with like, 13 00:00:47,090 --> 00:00:50,210 Speaker 2: these are the theological truths and it's an answer. This 14 00:00:50,270 --> 00:00:52,849 Speaker 2: is going to be like a discussion. And I just 15 00:00:52,870 --> 00:00:55,450 Speaker 2: feel like I already have a lot of thoughts about 16 00:00:55,490 --> 00:00:58,529 Speaker 2: it and am more interested in the questions that come 17 00:00:58,610 --> 00:01:02,030 Speaker 2: out of this conversation than maybe even the answers. 18 00:01:02,250 --> 00:01:02,570 Speaker 1: Yeah. 19 00:01:02,870 --> 00:01:03,029 Speaker 2: Yep. 20 00:01:03,090 --> 00:01:05,530 Speaker 1: That's what I love about the coffee breaks. So you 21 00:01:05,569 --> 00:01:07,810 Speaker 1: can submit questions to us or topics that you would 22 00:01:07,830 --> 00:01:09,700 Speaker 1: want us to cover or just things that are on 23 00:01:09,740 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: your mind at prayingchristianwomen.com slash questions. And with that in mind, 24 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,460 Speaker 1: can you read us our question for today? Yes. 25 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:22,279 Speaker 2: Our question says, since revelation says things will get worse 26 00:01:22,380 --> 00:01:26,020 Speaker 2: before Jesus comes, Should we pray for world peace, or 27 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 2: should we pray to hasten Christ's return? 28 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:32,220 Speaker 1: Yeah. So I remember having this question in my early 20s, 29 00:01:32,860 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 1: and I have told you about the book called Operation World. 30 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:39,580 Speaker 1: It's like this 800-page, you know, like a prayer guide 31 00:01:39,620 --> 00:01:43,300 Speaker 1: for every single country of the world. And for every 32 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:46,670 Speaker 1: single country, the very last prayer point, as I recall 33 00:01:46,700 --> 00:01:50,710 Speaker 1: at least, was like, and pray for peace in, you know, Oman, 34 00:01:50,730 --> 00:01:53,890 Speaker 1: pray for peace in China. And In my head, because 35 00:01:53,970 --> 00:01:57,210 Speaker 1: I grew up, you know, when everything was all about 36 00:01:57,710 --> 00:02:00,770 Speaker 1: left behind and the tribulation, and it's going to get 37 00:02:00,830 --> 00:02:04,090 Speaker 1: so much worse before Jesus gets better. I'm sorry, did 38 00:02:04,110 --> 00:02:06,270 Speaker 1: I say that wrong? It's going to get so much worse. 39 00:02:06,310 --> 00:02:08,910 Speaker 1: Before Jesus comes back. That's what I meant to say. 40 00:02:09,389 --> 00:02:10,570 Speaker 2: And makes things better. 41 00:02:10,590 --> 00:02:15,290 Speaker 1: And makes things better. In my head, there was that question, wait, 42 00:02:16,050 --> 00:02:20,060 Speaker 1: maybe I shouldn't pray for peace. Maybe I... And I 43 00:02:20,100 --> 00:02:22,340 Speaker 1: would never go so far as to say maybe I 44 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,740 Speaker 1: should pray that things get worse. But if you truly 45 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:31,609 Speaker 1: believe that the only way for Jesus to return, and 46 00:02:31,650 --> 00:02:35,290 Speaker 1: this is what some people's eschatological beliefs would tell them, 47 00:02:36,510 --> 00:02:40,930 Speaker 1: is that the only way Jesus will come back is 48 00:02:41,010 --> 00:02:46,930 Speaker 1: if things get way worse. My thriller novelist, hat goes 49 00:02:46,990 --> 00:02:49,889 Speaker 1: immediately to, well, why don't we just start like nuking 50 00:02:50,230 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: other nations to make that happen, which personally, theologically, and 51 00:02:55,980 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: morally is totally wrong. But I could see somebody's twisted 52 00:03:01,540 --> 00:03:04,820 Speaker 1: thinking to be, okay, well, if Jesus is waiting for 53 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:06,950 Speaker 1: things to get worse, let's make things worse to make 54 00:03:06,990 --> 00:03:11,650 Speaker 1: him come sooner. And I think the more innocent version 55 00:03:11,669 --> 00:03:14,070 Speaker 1: of that is getting passive in our prayers. Well, why 56 00:03:14,850 --> 00:03:17,250 Speaker 1: Why should we pray for peace in the Middle East? 57 00:03:17,370 --> 00:03:20,310 Speaker 1: Because the revelation clearly says it's not going to come 58 00:03:20,370 --> 00:03:24,270 Speaker 1: till Jesus comes back. That is the attitude some people have. 59 00:03:24,310 --> 00:03:26,190 Speaker 1: Some people will say it out loud and some people 60 00:03:26,260 --> 00:03:26,889 Speaker 1: only think it. 61 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,180 Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, I think what we need to start with 62 00:03:30,540 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 2: is we don't have time or the bandwidth or probably 63 00:03:34,220 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 2: the theologian hat here to go into end times eschatology 64 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,670 Speaker 2: and theology. And there are so many different views on it. 65 00:03:44,420 --> 00:03:46,100 Speaker 2: But I think we should kind of just give a 66 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 2: short rundown, just very basic. But what I would say 67 00:03:50,660 --> 00:03:55,660 Speaker 2: to anyone listening is like, if your end times theology 68 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:59,010 Speaker 2: comes from left behind or reading a novel, like read 69 00:03:59,050 --> 00:04:01,650 Speaker 2: the Bible and maybe get a study guide or something 70 00:04:01,690 --> 00:04:05,770 Speaker 2: because it's a lot, it's so complicated. And the more, 71 00:04:05,870 --> 00:04:08,930 Speaker 2: like I've read a couple of books about end times 72 00:04:08,990 --> 00:04:13,190 Speaker 2: theology theology and eschatology, how things might play out, how 73 00:04:13,220 --> 00:04:17,029 Speaker 2: different theologians think it's going to play out. And chances 74 00:04:17,070 --> 00:04:17,830 Speaker 2: are we're all wrong. 75 00:04:17,850 --> 00:04:21,010 Speaker 1: That's how I come down to it as well. I 76 00:04:21,050 --> 00:04:25,909 Speaker 1: don't think that any one person has the entire picture. 77 00:04:25,930 --> 00:04:28,930 Speaker 1: A book that I really recommend, this is like this 78 00:04:29,010 --> 00:04:31,010 Speaker 1: kind of book was written for people like you and me. 79 00:04:31,150 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: It's called something like Four Views of the End Times 80 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: or Four Views of Revelation. 81 00:04:35,900 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 2: That sounds like a good one. 82 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,339 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's almost like a parallel Bible where you can 83 00:04:40,380 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: read like different translations at the same time. But in 84 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:47,220 Speaker 1: this case, it's going through the book of Revelation almost 85 00:04:47,339 --> 00:04:52,229 Speaker 1: verse by verse, but taking it from different theological perspectives. 86 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:56,550 Speaker 1: Because some people believe that Revelation is entirely symbolic. Some 87 00:04:56,570 --> 00:05:01,529 Speaker 1: people believe that there's no symbolism whatsoever. Some people believe 88 00:05:01,610 --> 00:05:06,690 Speaker 1: that the tribulation comes after the church is raptured. Some 89 00:05:06,730 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: people believe The rapture happens in the middle of the tribulation. 90 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 1: Some people don't believe in a tribulation at all. Some people, 91 00:05:13,220 --> 00:05:16,380 Speaker 1: you know, so there's tons of views. And this book 92 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,420 Speaker 1: is nice because it doesn't take one bias. It just 93 00:05:19,540 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: gives a synopsis of multiple viewpoints. 94 00:05:22,100 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. And, you know, and then you've got the millennial 95 00:05:24,860 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 2: reign of Jesus. I remember when I read about that 96 00:05:27,020 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 2: and I was like, what's that? Where does that come? 97 00:05:30,020 --> 00:05:32,230 Speaker 2: And then you've got in the end where there's a 98 00:05:32,310 --> 00:05:35,470 Speaker 2: new heavens and new earth and God will reign with 99 00:05:35,510 --> 00:05:39,580 Speaker 2: his people. And so I had this idea that, okay, 100 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:41,599 Speaker 2: I die, my soul goes to be with God, and 101 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:45,140 Speaker 2: I'm in heaven. But there's other stuff that's mentioned. And 102 00:05:45,180 --> 00:05:48,700 Speaker 2: whether it is, like some people say, symbolic, whether it's 103 00:05:48,820 --> 00:05:51,859 Speaker 2: already happened, whether this new heavens and new earth is 104 00:05:51,900 --> 00:05:54,860 Speaker 2: symbolic and it's a spiritual existence, or whether we live 105 00:05:55,260 --> 00:05:58,620 Speaker 2: in these new bodies that were promised on an actual planet, 106 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,490 Speaker 2: I don't know. But I encourage everyone to kind of 107 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:06,710 Speaker 2: dig into it if you're interested. And Also, don't get 108 00:06:06,790 --> 00:06:10,089 Speaker 2: so stuck in the weeds that that becomes all you 109 00:06:10,150 --> 00:06:13,110 Speaker 2: focus on, unless you love theology and studying it for 110 00:06:13,130 --> 00:06:15,850 Speaker 2: the curiosity, which I kind of do. But I just 111 00:06:15,890 --> 00:06:19,130 Speaker 2: feel like if we try so hard to figure it out, 112 00:06:19,870 --> 00:06:24,930 Speaker 2: a lot of times our understanding or interpretation of what 113 00:06:24,970 --> 00:06:27,670 Speaker 2: we think the Bible is saying, like we get so 114 00:06:27,730 --> 00:06:31,669 Speaker 2: wrapped up into that, that we get sucked into conflicts 115 00:06:31,730 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 2: with others who disagree. Or worse yet, if something happens 116 00:06:35,339 --> 00:06:38,500 Speaker 2: to challenge that view, then maybe your whole faith starts 117 00:06:38,540 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 2: to crumble or get weak. So I would just challenge everyone, 118 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 2: know your personality, but just look to the Bible for 119 00:06:45,980 --> 00:06:49,919 Speaker 2: answers when it comes to the end times stuff. 120 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,540 Speaker 1: Yeah. And if we want to just lay out our 121 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,670 Speaker 1: biases at the beginning, I think our biggest bias is 122 00:06:57,870 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: we don't know. 123 00:06:58,690 --> 00:06:59,500 Speaker 2: And Yeah. 124 00:06:59,660 --> 00:07:00,359 Speaker 1: And that's okay. 125 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:01,500 Speaker 2: But, you know, let's go ahead. 126 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,220 Speaker 1: And it's okay. I think that's a big deal. 127 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,980 Speaker 2: It's okay not to know all of the details. 128 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: Mm-hmm. And I think it's important, too. Like, let's lay 129 00:07:09,610 --> 00:07:13,270 Speaker 1: out what we are convinced of. I'll speak for both 130 00:07:13,290 --> 00:07:15,550 Speaker 1: of us, and then you can speak if I get 131 00:07:15,610 --> 00:07:18,030 Speaker 1: anything wrong or forget something. Like, Jesus is coming back. 132 00:07:18,870 --> 00:07:22,850 Speaker 1: The physical form of the deified Christ will come onto 133 00:07:22,890 --> 00:07:27,010 Speaker 1: this earth. And somehow the earth will be transformed and 134 00:07:27,050 --> 00:07:30,210 Speaker 1: made new. And we will live with Jesus in eternity 135 00:07:30,750 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: where there will be no sin, death, all of that. 136 00:07:35,740 --> 00:07:39,940 Speaker 1: Beyond that, there's a whole lot of, I'm not really sure. 137 00:07:41,260 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 2: And I will say one thing that I think is 138 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 2: pretty clear is there is some relationship between people being saved, 139 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 2: nations coming to know the name of Jesus, and the 140 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 2: coming of Christ. And I don't know if it's a direct, 141 00:07:58,700 --> 00:08:01,820 Speaker 2: like as we might think with the book, like every 142 00:08:01,860 --> 00:08:04,180 Speaker 2: single nation needs to know the name of Jesus, but 143 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:07,700 Speaker 2: I would like to actually look at the scriptures. 144 00:08:07,220 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: That talk about that. Because there is one. It says 145 00:08:09,420 --> 00:08:13,710 Speaker 1: the gospel will be preached to every nation, tribe, and tongue, 146 00:08:14,090 --> 00:08:17,030 Speaker 1: and then the end will come. And so some people 147 00:08:17,090 --> 00:08:22,230 Speaker 1: take it upon themselves to say, basically, Jesus cannot return. 148 00:08:22,900 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: until every single people group has heard about him or 149 00:08:27,500 --> 00:08:31,660 Speaker 1: however you decide to define nation, tribe, and tongue. And 150 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:36,750 Speaker 1: so people use that as an incentive to go out 151 00:08:36,970 --> 00:08:41,870 Speaker 1: and evangelize the world. And I think that it does 152 00:08:41,910 --> 00:08:44,790 Speaker 1: make sense, but sometimes it feels a little, it feels 153 00:08:44,870 --> 00:08:47,470 Speaker 1: a tiny bit backwards to me. It's almost like, let's 154 00:08:47,510 --> 00:08:49,610 Speaker 1: go out and share the gospel because people need to 155 00:08:49,630 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 1: know about Jesus. But instead it's, Let's go and share 156 00:08:52,700 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 1: the gospel because I really want to go to heaven. Right. 157 00:08:57,559 --> 00:09:00,780 Speaker 1: Not that they both can't be motivations, but I don't know. 158 00:09:01,340 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 2: No, I think a lot of our faith comes down 159 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:10,370 Speaker 2: to splitting hairs and intention and motivation. And like you said, 160 00:09:10,429 --> 00:09:14,770 Speaker 2: there's a fine line between a good motivation and a 161 00:09:15,370 --> 00:09:17,569 Speaker 2: little bit off kilter motivation. 162 00:09:17,590 --> 00:09:21,510 Speaker 1: It can feel a little wrong. Like, imagine... imagine this. 163 00:09:21,850 --> 00:09:26,390 Speaker 1: Let's put it into suburbia, and let's say that the 164 00:09:26,500 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 1: gospel truth— this is all hypothetical— the gospel is that every single 165 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:38,350 Speaker 1: neighborhood in suburbia must have a door-to-door witness talk to 166 00:09:38,470 --> 00:09:43,490 Speaker 1: somebody before anybody gets to go to heaven. And so, 167 00:09:44,330 --> 00:09:47,650 Speaker 1: Everybody is trying to get Jesus to come back. Everybody's 168 00:09:47,750 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: trying to get this beautiful, glorious second coming. And so 169 00:09:52,059 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: the people knocking on my door don't, it doesn't feel 170 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,270 Speaker 1: to me like they care about me. It feels like 171 00:09:57,390 --> 00:10:01,490 Speaker 1: they're just trying to check this box. because, you know, 172 00:10:01,630 --> 00:10:04,010 Speaker 1: after me, there's another neighborhood they got to get to 173 00:10:04,030 --> 00:10:05,410 Speaker 1: where God can't come back. 174 00:10:17,860 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 2: Right. 175 00:10:18,380 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: Yeah. 176 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 2: And It's something we all have to deal with in ourselves. 177 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 2: I mean, I kind of feel like probably every new 178 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 2: Christian goes through a phase of a little bit of 179 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:34,589 Speaker 2: like maybe misguided zealousness and maybe not misguided zealousness. But like, 180 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:36,950 Speaker 2: I'm speaking for myself. Let me just be safe and 181 00:10:36,990 --> 00:10:39,949 Speaker 2: speak for myself. When I first became, I won't say 182 00:10:39,990 --> 00:10:41,970 Speaker 2: first became a Christian. I think I've been a Christian 183 00:10:42,010 --> 00:10:43,790 Speaker 2: for a long time. But when I rededicated my life 184 00:10:43,809 --> 00:10:49,850 Speaker 2: to Christ, I had a I would say somewhat, almost this, 185 00:10:50,710 --> 00:10:55,110 Speaker 2: like I have to evangelize to people, even if it's uncomfortable, 186 00:10:55,630 --> 00:10:57,710 Speaker 2: just so I can say that I did it and 187 00:10:57,750 --> 00:11:01,850 Speaker 2: I can put numbers in my pocket. I can notch 188 00:11:01,970 --> 00:11:06,050 Speaker 2: my spiritual belt and I'm gonna be honest. I don't 189 00:11:06,070 --> 00:11:08,350 Speaker 2: know if consciously I let myself think of it that way, 190 00:11:08,429 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 2: but that was really the motivation. And so I grew 191 00:11:11,179 --> 00:11:15,300 Speaker 2: and I understood. And I think sometimes as my personality, 192 00:11:15,340 --> 00:11:18,140 Speaker 2: my air on the side of, not being vocal enough, 193 00:11:18,610 --> 00:11:21,650 Speaker 2: but I'm gonna be really controversial and really honest right now. 194 00:11:22,150 --> 00:11:25,750 Speaker 2: Get ready. No, but I, sometimes when it comes to 195 00:11:25,809 --> 00:11:29,970 Speaker 2: talking about the second coming of Jesus, I'm almost like, Jesus, 196 00:11:30,170 --> 00:11:32,630 Speaker 2: I love you. I wanna see you, but later. I 197 00:11:32,970 --> 00:11:35,290 Speaker 2: don't want people to die without knowing you. Give us 198 00:11:35,350 --> 00:11:38,610 Speaker 2: more time. And I know I'm not great at evangelizing. 199 00:11:39,570 --> 00:11:42,949 Speaker 2: So that might be a cop-out, but I just, you know, 200 00:11:42,990 --> 00:11:46,950 Speaker 2: there's part of me that is, not just like, oh, Jesus, 201 00:11:47,030 --> 00:11:50,620 Speaker 2: come now, because I love Jesus. I love him, but 202 00:11:51,100 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 2: I know I'll see him, and that's enough for me 203 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 2: right now, and I don't know if that's wrong. 204 00:11:56,740 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 1: I don't think so at all. No, I think that 205 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:06,630 Speaker 1: we see Jesus's delay as a sign of grace. I 206 00:12:06,660 --> 00:12:09,989 Speaker 1: think it's Paul who says that. If Jesus were to 207 00:12:10,050 --> 00:12:12,650 Speaker 1: come now, it would mean that some people who would 208 00:12:12,690 --> 00:12:16,450 Speaker 1: be saved wouldn't have that chance, and it's It's God's 209 00:12:16,550 --> 00:12:20,990 Speaker 1: grace that causes him to tarry. So I don't think 210 00:12:21,030 --> 00:12:21,929 Speaker 1: that's bad at all. 211 00:12:22,650 --> 00:12:24,980 Speaker 2: Yeah. And then you can get into, you know, all 212 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,860 Speaker 2: the crazy like different views of time and how that works. 213 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 2: But I don't know. Anyway, back to the question at hand. 214 00:12:32,900 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 2: So should we pray for Christ to return or should 215 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,199 Speaker 2: we pray for world peace? Or as you and I 216 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 2: often do. Or some mix of the two or somewhere 217 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 2: in between. So I don't know. What are your thoughts on. 218 00:12:48,220 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: The question at hand? I don't think it's wrong at 219 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:52,929 Speaker 1: all to pray for Christ to return. We have come, 220 00:12:52,970 --> 00:12:56,690 Speaker 1: Lord Jesus, come. However, I think that doesn't mean that 221 00:12:56,730 --> 00:12:59,150 Speaker 1: we pray for the things that we believe must happen 222 00:12:59,190 --> 00:13:02,130 Speaker 1: before Christ returns. I don't know that it's wrong to 223 00:13:02,170 --> 00:13:03,670 Speaker 1: do that, but I don't think it's prescribed. 224 00:13:04,500 --> 00:13:05,340 Speaker 2: Elaborate on that. 225 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:08,319 Speaker 1: I would say it's not wrong to say, Jesus, please 226 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,850 Speaker 1: come back. I don't think that the Bible requires us 227 00:13:12,030 --> 00:13:15,350 Speaker 1: to say, Dear Jesus, I want you to come back, 228 00:13:15,429 --> 00:13:18,150 Speaker 1: so I need A, B, and C to happen in 229 00:13:18,190 --> 00:13:21,929 Speaker 1: the political realm to fulfill these prophecies. God's going to 230 00:13:21,970 --> 00:13:25,350 Speaker 1: fulfill those prophecies in a way that we're not expecting 231 00:13:25,410 --> 00:13:28,770 Speaker 1: at a time that we're not going to recognize. And 232 00:13:28,790 --> 00:13:30,910 Speaker 1: He's going to do that whether we're praying for it 233 00:13:30,929 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 1: or not. That's my opinion. My opinion is the prophecies 234 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:38,829 Speaker 1: themselves are too hard to... figure out exactly what they mean, 235 00:13:38,850 --> 00:13:43,430 Speaker 1: that I would not personally pray for the fulfillment of 236 00:13:43,570 --> 00:13:48,210 Speaker 1: specific prophecies in order to bring Christ back sooner. Is 237 00:13:48,250 --> 00:13:51,069 Speaker 1: it wrong to pray for every person, tribe, and tongue 238 00:13:51,110 --> 00:13:54,220 Speaker 1: to hear the name of Jesus? Absolutely not. But again, 239 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: my goal wouldn't be, because therefore, like the second that 240 00:13:57,860 --> 00:14:01,260 Speaker 1: last door gets knocked on, Jesus gets to come back, 241 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:03,260 Speaker 1: you know, and we get the game over. 242 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:03,420 Speaker 2: So.... 243 00:14:06,670 --> 00:14:10,890 Speaker 1: I think it's wise, smart, definitely not wrong to pray 244 00:14:10,929 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: for Jesus to return. But I think it's also wrong. 245 00:14:17,179 --> 00:14:19,500 Speaker 1: I'll go ahead and say this. I think it's wrong 246 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,620 Speaker 1: to pray for bad things to happen because you think 247 00:14:22,700 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: it will end in something good. I think it's wrong 248 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:30,570 Speaker 1: to pray for a prodigal to suffer so that they 249 00:14:30,670 --> 00:14:33,350 Speaker 1: come to Christ. I think it's wrong to pray for 250 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: a godless nation to be punished so that they'll be 251 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:41,980 Speaker 1: forced to repent. To me, that doesn't feel loving or 252 00:14:42,060 --> 00:14:48,490 Speaker 1: gracious at all. And so if your eschatology leads you 253 00:14:48,530 --> 00:14:50,850 Speaker 1: to believe that we all have to go through this 254 00:14:51,010 --> 00:14:53,910 Speaker 1: big old tribulation where there's going to be all these wars, 255 00:14:54,930 --> 00:15:00,229 Speaker 1: my thought is your prayers shouldn't be, God, bring the war. 256 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:03,460 Speaker 1: Your prayers should be, God have mercy on us all 257 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: who are going to have to go through this. You 258 00:15:05,180 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 1: know what I mean? 259 00:15:06,230 --> 00:15:08,850 Speaker 2: Yeah, I like that. Because I do think that, you know, 260 00:15:08,890 --> 00:15:12,350 Speaker 2: when Jesus prayed, he prayed, your kingdom come, your will 261 00:15:12,390 --> 00:15:15,110 Speaker 2: be done on earth as it is in heaven. And 262 00:15:15,650 --> 00:15:17,890 Speaker 2: your will be done is kind of a generic thing, 263 00:15:18,170 --> 00:15:20,170 Speaker 2: you know, and that could mean any number of things. 264 00:15:20,270 --> 00:15:24,590 Speaker 2: But your kingdom come, like, It's almost like if you're 265 00:15:24,630 --> 00:15:27,610 Speaker 2: driving and you have your eyes on the road in 266 00:15:27,650 --> 00:15:30,050 Speaker 2: front of you and you're swerving all around, or if 267 00:15:30,090 --> 00:15:33,670 Speaker 2: you have your eyes fixed on something at the far, 268 00:15:33,830 --> 00:15:36,050 Speaker 2: you know, way down the road and it helps you 269 00:15:36,110 --> 00:15:39,230 Speaker 2: kind of stay going straight. I guess it reminds me 270 00:15:39,270 --> 00:15:41,820 Speaker 2: of like where, is it Hebrews where it says, let 271 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:43,980 Speaker 2: us throw off the sin that hinders and fix our 272 00:15:44,060 --> 00:15:46,260 Speaker 2: eyes on Jesus, the author, the perfecter of our faith. 273 00:15:46,780 --> 00:15:49,940 Speaker 2: And I think getting stuck in the weeds of praying 274 00:15:49,980 --> 00:15:53,420 Speaker 2: for individual things that might or might not actually happen 275 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:57,750 Speaker 2: is kind of keeping us from the end goal, which is, 276 00:15:58,370 --> 00:16:00,630 Speaker 2: you know, thy kingdom come. And that could look like 277 00:16:00,670 --> 00:16:03,750 Speaker 2: a lot of things. But to me, when you pray 278 00:16:03,770 --> 00:16:08,150 Speaker 2: for God's kingdom, you're not praying for war. You're not 279 00:16:08,230 --> 00:16:13,070 Speaker 2: praying for pestilence and famine. I mean, his kingdom, even 280 00:16:13,110 --> 00:16:14,530 Speaker 2: if in your mind, you're like, well, his kingdom will 281 00:16:14,570 --> 00:16:16,570 Speaker 2: come after that. But if you're praying for his kingdom, 282 00:16:16,670 --> 00:16:19,010 Speaker 2: like the Bible says, we're a city on a hill. 283 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:23,590 Speaker 2: We're salt and light. We're yeast in an unleavened world. 284 00:16:23,870 --> 00:16:26,270 Speaker 2: And all of those things, other than the yeast that 285 00:16:26,290 --> 00:16:28,650 Speaker 2: could be used to talk about sin in other parts 286 00:16:28,690 --> 00:16:32,390 Speaker 2: of the Bible, but it's all a positive thing. And so, 287 00:16:32,410 --> 00:16:35,700 Speaker 2: I don't know, it just, it seems healthier and someone 288 00:16:35,740 --> 00:16:38,320 Speaker 2: might be able to conjure up a Bible verse that 289 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:40,860 Speaker 2: says something different, but it does seem way healthier to 290 00:16:40,940 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 2: pray for good in the midst of anything, no matter 291 00:16:45,700 --> 00:16:48,330 Speaker 2: what comes, like you said. How did you word it? 292 00:16:48,380 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 2: Can you remember the exact wording of how to pray, like, 293 00:16:52,460 --> 00:16:53,340 Speaker 2: no matter what comes? 294 00:16:54,020 --> 00:16:56,740 Speaker 1: I don't remember exactly what part you're referring to, but 295 00:16:57,380 --> 00:17:00,860 Speaker 1: instead of praying for the bad things, even if you 296 00:17:00,940 --> 00:17:04,830 Speaker 1: believe the bad things are going to come, that instead 297 00:17:04,869 --> 00:17:07,369 Speaker 1: of praying for those things to come, that you're praying 298 00:17:07,410 --> 00:17:10,610 Speaker 1: for grace through them, or that Like you said, your 299 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:13,450 Speaker 1: eyes are fixed on the future where those things are gone. 300 00:17:13,490 --> 00:17:16,310 Speaker 1: Like we should all, especially, I'm so glad you brought 301 00:17:16,330 --> 00:17:18,830 Speaker 1: the Lord's Prayer into this. Your kingdom come on earth 302 00:17:18,930 --> 00:17:23,010 Speaker 1: as it is in heaven. So when God's kingdom comes 303 00:17:23,550 --> 00:17:27,580 Speaker 1: on earth, let's all picture whatever heaven or the new 304 00:17:27,730 --> 00:17:30,380 Speaker 1: earth or eternity with Christ or whatever you want to 305 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:32,260 Speaker 1: call it. You know, most of us just call it heaven. 306 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 1: And so people are like, well, actually, we're going to 307 00:17:34,500 --> 00:17:39,500 Speaker 1: be on the earth. I mean, location notwithstanding, right? When 308 00:17:39,540 --> 00:17:44,940 Speaker 1: we think of eternity with Jesus after all the revelation 309 00:17:44,980 --> 00:17:48,859 Speaker 1: drama has been fulfilled, we know there's going to be 310 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:52,420 Speaker 1: no war. We know there's going to be no grief. 311 00:17:53,060 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 1: So let's be praying for those things, even if we 312 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: know that up until then we have to talk through it. 313 00:17:59,220 --> 00:18:02,460 Speaker 1: Here's an example. Let's say that I have a close 314 00:18:02,550 --> 00:18:06,590 Speaker 1: friend who at this moment is in labor. I'm not 315 00:18:06,750 --> 00:18:12,230 Speaker 1: praying for that her labor pains are the most excruciating 316 00:18:12,290 --> 00:18:15,629 Speaker 1: thing in the world. I'm not saying, God, bring on 317 00:18:15,690 --> 00:18:18,310 Speaker 1: the labor pain because we just can't wait for this 318 00:18:18,430 --> 00:18:21,890 Speaker 1: baby to come. I'm saying, God, help her through this 319 00:18:22,050 --> 00:18:25,100 Speaker 1: and bring this beautiful baby into the world. And so 320 00:18:25,180 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 1: maybe that's a good way to look at end times 321 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:29,879 Speaker 1: in prayer. Yeah, I like that. 322 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 2: But I wanna bring up something kind of like very important, 323 00:18:46,460 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 2: which is there is a lot of talk about world 324 00:18:51,940 --> 00:18:57,160 Speaker 2: peace coming through like a new age of enlightenment and 325 00:18:57,180 --> 00:19:04,780 Speaker 2: the elevation of consciousness of humanity. And I think that 326 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,640 Speaker 2: we need to be very careful if we're praying for 327 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:11,479 Speaker 2: world peace. I think that's a different extreme than praying 328 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:14,780 Speaker 2: for Christ to come almost. It's like, it's one thing 329 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 2: to pray for war to end, for people to be 330 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:23,780 Speaker 2: good and kind and live by, you know, God's plans 331 00:19:23,820 --> 00:19:27,570 Speaker 2: and purposes. But I think that if we rely on 332 00:19:28,350 --> 00:19:33,930 Speaker 2: looking to elevate the collective consciousness of the world apart 333 00:19:34,010 --> 00:19:36,689 Speaker 2: from the Holy Spirit, apart from God, and I know 334 00:19:36,730 --> 00:19:39,790 Speaker 2: that as Christians we wouldn't do that, but I'm thinking 335 00:19:39,869 --> 00:19:43,830 Speaker 2: about Christians may be being led astray by embracing a 336 00:19:44,050 --> 00:19:50,619 Speaker 2: philosophy of human-led utopia that might come through me. that are, 337 00:19:51,140 --> 00:19:55,879 Speaker 2: at best, secular and maybe not what they seem, and 338 00:19:55,940 --> 00:19:57,970 Speaker 2: at worst, maybe dangerous. 339 00:19:58,570 --> 00:19:58,869 Speaker 1: I don't know. 340 00:19:58,910 --> 00:19:59,870 Speaker 2: What are your thoughts on that? 341 00:20:00,210 --> 00:20:05,090 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that the desire for what anybody would 342 00:20:05,150 --> 00:20:09,060 Speaker 1: blanketly call a world peace is... I think it is 343 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:12,020 Speaker 1: inherent in us, but I think that a lot of 344 00:20:12,060 --> 00:20:14,440 Speaker 1: people also have in the back of their heads, like, 345 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: it's not actually ever going to happen. So it's almost 346 00:20:19,060 --> 00:20:22,360 Speaker 1: like the majority of people are almost holding two things true. Like, 347 00:20:22,420 --> 00:20:25,460 Speaker 1: wouldn't it be great to have world peace? And there's 348 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: never going to be world peace. Right. So at least, 349 00:20:28,740 --> 00:20:32,920 Speaker 1: like you said, without Christ. So yeah, a human system 350 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:36,590 Speaker 1: that promises something that looks like world peace can turn 351 00:20:36,630 --> 00:20:40,869 Speaker 1: into something. spiritually and morally dangerous just because we are 352 00:20:40,910 --> 00:20:44,030 Speaker 1: in a fallen world. It reminds me, did you ever 353 00:20:44,130 --> 00:20:48,070 Speaker 1: read the book called The Chosen? And it's often like 354 00:20:48,109 --> 00:20:50,889 Speaker 1: an assigned high school or junior high book. And I 355 00:20:51,869 --> 00:20:54,810 Speaker 1: don't remember all the details, but I remember it's about 356 00:20:54,850 --> 00:20:57,100 Speaker 1: these two Jewish boys. And one of them comes from 357 00:20:57,130 --> 00:21:00,620 Speaker 1: an extremely Orthodox Jewish family, I believe in New York. 358 00:21:01,210 --> 00:21:04,770 Speaker 1: at the time that Israel is becoming a state, if 359 00:21:04,810 --> 00:21:06,230 Speaker 1: I'm getting my facts right. Okay. 360 00:21:06,260 --> 00:21:08,060 Speaker 2: This is a different book. I did not read this book. 361 00:21:08,260 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: Okay. And the very Orthodox community are anti-Zionist. They do 362 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,220 Speaker 1: not want Israel to become a state because in their mind, 363 00:21:19,820 --> 00:21:25,530 Speaker 1: it is apostasy to have an Israeli state before the 364 00:21:25,570 --> 00:21:26,490 Speaker 1: Messiah returns. 365 00:21:27,050 --> 00:21:27,230 Speaker 2: Oh. 366 00:21:27,490 --> 00:21:30,870 Speaker 1: And So they see this as dangerous. And this has, 367 00:21:31,010 --> 00:21:33,470 Speaker 1: you know, this is just the novelized form of how 368 00:21:33,609 --> 00:21:35,830 Speaker 1: certain people at a certain time in history thought about it. 369 00:21:35,869 --> 00:21:39,409 Speaker 1: But I do appreciate that idea of, well, no, we 370 00:21:39,470 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: can't have world peace without the Messiah. I think they're 371 00:21:42,540 --> 00:21:47,780 Speaker 1: right in that regard. And so, yeah, an earthly system 372 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:53,820 Speaker 1: that promises a utopia before Christ's return is probably dangerous 373 00:21:53,859 --> 00:21:58,659 Speaker 1: at the very least. maybe well-intentioned, but something that sinful 374 00:21:58,700 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: nature and or the devil could very easily corrupt. 375 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,120 Speaker 2: And I don't know. I just, it's just something I've 376 00:22:04,140 --> 00:22:06,919 Speaker 2: heard rumblings and it just, there's things that I've heard 377 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:10,950 Speaker 2: just that seem potentially dangerous. So I just think, yeah, 378 00:22:11,430 --> 00:22:14,690 Speaker 2: make sure if it's devoid of Jesus, if it's devoid 379 00:22:14,750 --> 00:22:17,409 Speaker 2: of God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that 380 00:22:17,430 --> 00:22:19,870 Speaker 2: we know to be the true God, I would just 381 00:22:19,890 --> 00:22:23,530 Speaker 2: be careful. Not to say that there aren't, you know, 382 00:22:24,230 --> 00:22:28,109 Speaker 2: It's totally fine. If you feel like voting a certain 383 00:22:28,170 --> 00:22:31,689 Speaker 2: way for a certain thing is something that you feel 384 00:22:31,830 --> 00:22:35,150 Speaker 2: is going to make the world better, that can go 385 00:22:35,210 --> 00:22:40,979 Speaker 2: hand in hand with your personal convictions. But again, the 386 00:22:41,020 --> 00:22:45,660 Speaker 2: danger could be that putting stock in politics to bring 387 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:48,880 Speaker 2: about totally, and I'm not even referring to anything spiritual. 388 00:22:49,020 --> 00:22:54,340 Speaker 2: I'm talking about putting stock in politics alone. to bring 389 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:58,890 Speaker 2: about meaningful, lasting change. It can be a good thing, 390 00:22:59,130 --> 00:23:03,630 Speaker 2: but there are pitfalls to that mentality. And the pitfalls 391 00:23:03,730 --> 00:23:08,010 Speaker 2: come even more readily, in my opinion, when you try 392 00:23:08,030 --> 00:23:15,139 Speaker 2: to attach religion to systems, to systemic politics and slap 393 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:18,700 Speaker 2: labels on it. And this is maybe getting into the 394 00:23:18,740 --> 00:23:20,400 Speaker 2: weeds that we don't like getting into because we don't 395 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:24,460 Speaker 2: talk about politics on here. But- In general, I just 396 00:23:24,500 --> 00:23:28,250 Speaker 2: feel like it's important to be careful. And I know 397 00:23:28,290 --> 00:23:31,330 Speaker 2: we're not talking about that. We're talking about praying for 398 00:23:31,450 --> 00:23:34,350 Speaker 2: the end of the world to come sooner or praying 399 00:23:34,430 --> 00:23:37,109 Speaker 2: for world peace. But I don't know. I think we 400 00:23:37,130 --> 00:23:40,609 Speaker 2: need to be careful who we put our and what 401 00:23:40,830 --> 00:23:45,700 Speaker 2: systems we put labels of God says do this. Right. 402 00:23:45,740 --> 00:23:51,129 Speaker 1: Absolutely. Absolutely. And, you know, anytime an election season comes around, 403 00:23:51,250 --> 00:23:54,310 Speaker 1: anytime a new president or world leader gets elected, like, 404 00:23:54,710 --> 00:23:56,780 Speaker 1: some people are going to label that person the Antichrist, 405 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:57,619 Speaker 1: no matter who they are. 406 00:23:58,020 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, every president at some point has probably been labeled 407 00:24:00,780 --> 00:24:01,300 Speaker 2: the Antichrist. 408 00:24:01,340 --> 00:24:05,100 Speaker 1: Yes, but here's what can drive home this point that 409 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:08,220 Speaker 1: we're kind of trying to warn people against. There would 410 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:12,730 Speaker 1: be a subset of people who literally would knowingly vote 411 00:24:12,770 --> 00:24:16,810 Speaker 1: for the Antichrist, Because they know the Antichrist must rise 412 00:24:16,850 --> 00:24:20,659 Speaker 1: to power before they believe Jesus comes back. And I 413 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:25,860 Speaker 1: think that that's very backwards. I think that if there 414 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:29,980 Speaker 1: is going to be a literal, actual Antichrist, he's not 415 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:35,150 Speaker 1: going to need Christians to do anything to bring him 416 00:24:35,250 --> 00:24:40,330 Speaker 1: to power. And instead, we should be praying against evil. 417 00:24:40,710 --> 00:24:44,260 Speaker 1: We should be praying against principalities. We should also be 418 00:24:44,300 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 1: very careful not to label anybody we don't agree with 419 00:24:46,900 --> 00:24:50,540 Speaker 1: as the Antichrist. But what I'm saying is that because 420 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:54,739 Speaker 1: it's become so pervasive that things are going to get 421 00:24:54,780 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 1: worse and then Jesus gets to come back, subconsciously or not, 422 00:24:59,020 --> 00:25:01,420 Speaker 1: some of us are like, well, why should we try 423 00:25:01,460 --> 00:25:04,120 Speaker 1: to stop things from getting worse? And then, well, why 424 00:25:04,180 --> 00:25:06,400 Speaker 1: shouldn't I vote for the Antichrist? Why should I pray 425 00:25:06,420 --> 00:25:09,260 Speaker 1: for peace in the Middle East? And, you know, let's 426 00:25:09,300 --> 00:25:13,090 Speaker 1: say you're in a war-torn region. Let's say you're a mom. 427 00:25:13,690 --> 00:25:16,620 Speaker 1: in the Middle East and whether, no matter what religion 428 00:25:16,970 --> 00:25:19,139 Speaker 1: you practice or what you believe, let's just say you 429 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:23,900 Speaker 1: are a mom and your neighborhood is getting bombed and 430 00:25:24,100 --> 00:25:28,500 Speaker 1: you have a friend who's a Christian who promises to 431 00:25:28,540 --> 00:25:30,939 Speaker 1: be praying for you. Don't you want them to be 432 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,580 Speaker 1: praying for you and your children to be safe and 433 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:37,010 Speaker 1: protected and comforted and not, oh, bring it to them, God, 434 00:25:37,050 --> 00:25:39,930 Speaker 1: because we want Jesus to come back. Like that is so, 435 00:25:39,970 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 1: when you look at it from that human level, that's 436 00:25:42,980 --> 00:25:47,100 Speaker 1: so grotesque. Or this is not in the Bible, but 437 00:25:47,140 --> 00:25:49,970 Speaker 1: what if the Bible said that there will be a 438 00:25:50,950 --> 00:25:54,950 Speaker 1: thousand children who die of starvation and then Jesus comes back? 439 00:25:55,570 --> 00:25:59,270 Speaker 1: That does not mean that we withhold food from hungry children. 440 00:25:59,290 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 1: Do you know what I mean? So I think we 441 00:26:02,980 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 1: can go back to the Lord's prayer, your kingdom come, 442 00:26:05,619 --> 00:26:07,859 Speaker 1: your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 443 00:26:08,260 --> 00:26:13,350 Speaker 1: We would not pray for war or poverty or bloodshed 444 00:26:13,869 --> 00:26:17,020 Speaker 1: or pain in heaven. So I don't think we should 445 00:26:17,060 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 1: ever pray for it or wish for it here on earth. 446 00:26:19,460 --> 00:26:19,980 Speaker 1: I agree. 447 00:26:20,180 --> 00:26:23,139 Speaker 2: And when we think about the imagery Jesus gives us 448 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:28,500 Speaker 2: about his return, he wants us to remain vigilant doing 449 00:26:29,020 --> 00:26:32,900 Speaker 2: what we're supposed to be doing. He doesn't say, okay, 450 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:35,439 Speaker 2: you need to stop and orchestrate things so the end 451 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:37,660 Speaker 2: will come. He's like, when I come, will I find 452 00:26:37,700 --> 00:26:40,290 Speaker 2: people faithful still? Are they still going to be praying 453 00:26:40,330 --> 00:26:42,930 Speaker 2: against those principalities? Are they going to be feeding the hungry? 454 00:26:42,950 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 2: Are they going to be helping the orphans and the widows? 455 00:26:45,859 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 2: Are they going to be making my name known? I mean, 456 00:26:48,820 --> 00:26:54,060 Speaker 2: I don't think he wants us worrying about orchestrating things 457 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:58,119 Speaker 2: or trying to figure things out to bring him back. 458 00:26:58,660 --> 00:27:00,660 Speaker 2: I think he wants us to go about the business 459 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 2: that he's given us with the Great Commission, with love 460 00:27:03,660 --> 00:27:06,100 Speaker 2: one another, you know, be salt and light, be a 461 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:07,640 Speaker 2: city on a hill, stuff like that. 462 00:27:09,340 --> 00:27:11,800 Speaker 1: A funny story. This is going to be me testing 463 00:27:11,859 --> 00:27:15,540 Speaker 1: your how Alaskan are you still, even though you haven't 464 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:17,970 Speaker 1: been here in a while. You know fireweed. For people 465 00:27:18,010 --> 00:27:19,210 Speaker 1: who don't know what fireweed is. 466 00:27:19,710 --> 00:27:23,070 Speaker 2: Oh, yeah. We were camping in the mountains here one weekend, 467 00:27:23,410 --> 00:27:26,919 Speaker 2: and our daughter found a little tiny fireweed. 468 00:27:27,410 --> 00:27:29,889 Speaker 1: There's fireweed in Utah? Apparently. I didn't know. 469 00:27:30,430 --> 00:27:35,330 Speaker 2: I mean, it was wimpy compared to Alaskan fireweed. But 470 00:27:35,390 --> 00:27:39,910 Speaker 2: fireweed is this beautiful kind of pinkish purpley flower. And 471 00:27:39,970 --> 00:27:42,310 Speaker 2: you kind of mark the summer by the fireweed. It 472 00:27:42,410 --> 00:27:46,470 Speaker 2: blooms up and then it closes up top down. Is 473 00:27:46,730 --> 00:27:49,210 Speaker 2: that right? And so, yeah. 474 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,820 Speaker 1: So out here, it's very common knowledge that once the 475 00:27:53,940 --> 00:27:57,530 Speaker 1: fireweed blooms all the way to the top, you can 476 00:27:57,590 --> 00:28:00,970 Speaker 1: count six weeks until the snow is most likely to fall. 477 00:28:02,310 --> 00:28:04,870 Speaker 1: And so I told my kids this once when they were, 478 00:28:04,890 --> 00:28:08,260 Speaker 1: you know, like elementary age and younger. And I said, 479 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:10,060 Speaker 1: did you know that when it gets to the top, 480 00:28:10,460 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 1: then it's six weeks till winter? And this is still summer. 481 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:16,400 Speaker 1: So that tells people like how short of a fall 482 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:16,609 Speaker 1: we get. 483 00:28:16,619 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 2: It's a fleeting summer. 484 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 1: And so bless their hearts, they started yanking all the 485 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:25,570 Speaker 1: fireweed out of the ground. Oh, Because in their minds, 486 00:28:25,609 --> 00:28:30,060 Speaker 1: they were like, if we keep the fireweed from blooming 487 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:32,240 Speaker 1: all the way to the top, winter's never going to come. 488 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 1: It's cute. It's adorable. It makes no sense. And I 489 00:28:37,060 --> 00:28:39,520 Speaker 1: believe that that's what we do as Christians when we 490 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:43,100 Speaker 1: hear about end time prophecies and then say like, okay, 491 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:44,180 Speaker 1: now I better go do this. 492 00:28:44,740 --> 00:28:48,550 Speaker 2: That's a great analogy. It's true. And the reality is, 493 00:28:49,230 --> 00:28:52,729 Speaker 2: in God's time, you know, I think... what did Jesus say? 494 00:28:52,790 --> 00:28:55,650 Speaker 2: No one knows the day or the hour except God. 495 00:28:56,010 --> 00:28:59,030 Speaker 2: And he already knows it. We're not going to, that's 496 00:28:59,150 --> 00:29:01,170 Speaker 2: one of the plans that I don't think he's going 497 00:29:01,190 --> 00:29:03,970 Speaker 2: to budge on if we, you know. Yeah. 498 00:29:04,770 --> 00:29:08,210 Speaker 1: And when we think about like the gift of getting 499 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:12,500 Speaker 1: to heaven and perhaps getting to see the fruit of 500 00:29:12,540 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 1: some of our prayers, we don't know if that's how 501 00:29:14,380 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 1: it's going to work or not. Like, I don't picture 502 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:19,740 Speaker 1: getting to heaven and having someone rushing to me saying, 503 00:29:20,300 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 1: thank you for praying for the tribulation to come, right? 504 00:29:23,620 --> 00:29:26,940 Speaker 1: But thank you for praying for me when my home 505 00:29:26,980 --> 00:29:30,460 Speaker 1: was getting bombed. Okay. Thank you for praying for me 506 00:29:30,570 --> 00:29:34,170 Speaker 1: when we were being persecuted for our faith. Okay. Not 507 00:29:34,590 --> 00:29:37,110 Speaker 1: thank you for praying that persecution came. I hear people 508 00:29:37,150 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 1: talk about this with persecution too. They're like, bring on 509 00:29:40,180 --> 00:29:43,300 Speaker 1: the persecution because America needs it. And it's like, well, 510 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:45,820 Speaker 1: if persecution is going to come, it's going to come. 511 00:29:47,100 --> 00:29:49,680 Speaker 1: And I wouldn't wish it on my children. So I 512 00:29:49,700 --> 00:29:53,730 Speaker 1: wouldn't wish it on my church and I And if 513 00:29:53,770 --> 00:29:56,090 Speaker 1: my children were going through it, I would be praying 514 00:29:56,150 --> 00:29:58,150 Speaker 1: against it. And so I'm going to be praying against 515 00:29:58,290 --> 00:30:00,370 Speaker 1: it for my brothers and sisters who are going through 516 00:30:00,410 --> 00:30:03,550 Speaker 1: it in other parts of the world. At the same time, 517 00:30:04,210 --> 00:30:07,690 Speaker 1: my brain is going to know that persecution is a reality, 518 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:10,540 Speaker 1: just like my brain knows cancer is a reality. But 519 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 1: that doesn't stop me from praying against the cancer diagnosis 520 00:30:14,020 --> 00:30:15,800 Speaker 1: when a friend's going in for a biopsy. 521 00:30:15,820 --> 00:30:16,420 Speaker 2: Yeah. 522 00:30:17,060 --> 00:30:20,310 Speaker 1: I want to close with a verse in Isaiah 11. 523 00:30:20,310 --> 00:30:24,130 Speaker 1: This comes from Isaiah 2, talking about heaven and the 524 00:30:24,190 --> 00:30:26,709 Speaker 1: new earth and there being no more. This is one 525 00:30:26,730 --> 00:30:30,010 Speaker 1: of my favorite passages about that. And this is King 526 00:30:30,030 --> 00:30:32,370 Speaker 1: James Version. First off, because it was the one that 527 00:30:32,390 --> 00:30:34,250 Speaker 1: first came up when I tried to Google it on 528 00:30:34,270 --> 00:30:37,570 Speaker 1: the slide. But second, it's also very poetic. So it works. 529 00:30:38,570 --> 00:30:40,950 Speaker 1: And he shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke 530 00:30:41,020 --> 00:30:43,980 Speaker 1: many people. And they shall beat their swords into plowshares 531 00:30:44,180 --> 00:30:47,860 Speaker 1: and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations shall not lift 532 00:30:47,940 --> 00:30:51,750 Speaker 1: up sword against nation. Neither shall they learn war anymore. 533 00:30:52,390 --> 00:30:58,340 Speaker 2: Amen. We'd like to take just a quick second to 534 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 2: thank the team at Life Audio for their partnership with 535 00:31:00,900 --> 00:31:04,459 Speaker 2: us on the podcast. If you go to lifeaudio.com, you 536 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:07,400 Speaker 2: will find dozens of other faith-centered podcasts in their network. 537 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:11,370 Speaker 2: They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and so 538 00:31:11,410 --> 00:31:13,370 Speaker 2: much more. That's lifeaudio.com.