trial by fire

 

"O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness."  Joel 1:19-20

The above passage, quoted from the first chapter of Joel, is a prophecy describing the spiritual condition of the world at the time of Christ's return.  That is not some private interpretation of mine.  But it is a true understanding of the meaning of Scripture.  And it is a profoundly important revelation given to us who are now living in that period of time described in Joel's prophecy.

Many who object to the idea, of the pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church, do so on the supposed grounds that a pre-Tribulation Rapture would unfairly relieve those, (Raptured individuals,) of having to endure suffering and persecution such as has been the common lot of untold millions of Christians throughout history.  Why should not we have to endure suffering like they did? it is sometimes objected.

As a matter of fact, true Christians have been suffering greatly throughout this unprecedented time: the time of the great Apostasy.  In the third chapter of Second Timothy we read: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves...."  How, you may ask, does that result in "perilous times"?  How does the Apostasy result in intense suffering for the Body of Christ?

The reality of what the Bible calls the 'new birth', entails the impartation of a new spiritual nature in the lives of all who are 'born again', or made alive, in and by the Spirit of Jesus Christ.  That new nature - which is Christ's own nature, is characterized by God's divine love for human souls.  True Christians do not witness about Christ because they believe it is a spiritual duty.  Rather, true Christians are possessed of a powerful, inborn desire to bring others to know the love of God in Jesus Christ; a desire so deep and strong that, indeed, it is a deeply felt need of the heart.

In the story of Jesus at Jacob's well in Samaria: When his disciples offered food to Jesus, he replied: "I have meat to eat that ye know not of....  My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work" (John 4:32-34).  In ways that the world does not understand, ministering by the Spirit of God is like food to one's own soul.  Joel prophesied that "the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness".  The wilderness is symbolic of the world; whereas, pastures represent feeding places.  What are "pastures" (feeding places) - in the world?  To be sure, the word pastures does not refer to anything the world itself has to offer.  The world is dead in sin....

Joel said the pastures are burned up; the rivers of water are dried up; therefore, the beasts of the field cry unto God.  Joel, by the Holy Ghost, is saying that the sources of spiritual food and drink have been devastated by some kind of fire.  Not by Nero's fire that burned Christians at the stake.  No, Joel prophesied concerning a strange kind of fire that would devour the spiritual pastures and spiritual rivers . . . at the end of this present Church Age.  That 'fire' is what has long been burning down, as it were, the once-massive edifice of (what I shall call,) 'institutional' Christianity, or, the visible Church.

Faithful churches were the pastures; praying congregations were the rivers - that once supplied life-giving nourishment to the world at large.  Now, there appears something like a burned-over forest, where once stood strong and healthy trees and vines with fruit....

We, true Christians, have been passing through a time of great trial - a trial by fire.  We have been "passing thru", I say.  It has been very hard.  For a long time at first, there was much we did not perceive, much less did we then understand what was happening in the churches.  We have been perplexed; we have been frustrated; we have been discouraged; but we have not been defeated!

I have seen myriad examples, in my extensive studies of sacred history, proving, that great spiritual victories are always preceded by great spiritual battles.  Moreover, those victories were won not by half-hearted devotion to Jesus Christ.  The Word of God urges each of us to "put on the whole armour of God", that we may thus be enabled to stand against the wiles of the devil and withstand every attack of the enemy.

This is not a time for us to grow weary or be faint-hearted.  The coming of the Lord is at hand - and we know it!  Surely, God is willing not only to preserve all who seek him and love him in truth.  But God has said that his high purpose is to prepare a glorious Bride for his Son: a Bride that is without spot, or wrinkle, or blemish.  And Christ is coming to receive unto himself a Bride that has "made herself ready" for him (Revelation 19:7).  Jesus is not going to Rapture out of this world a sick, weak, defeated Church.

Let us renew our vows of holiness.   Let us renew our strength in Christ.  And let us be renewed in the joy and power of him whose Name is Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God.  We still have work to do.