THE ELEVENTH HOUR

By Dick Stoddard

I have a dear friend in Massachusetts who is ninety-nine years old and still quite active for her age. She is the kind of person who is nice to be around because of her positive attitude and her love for life. (Perhaps that is the reason for her good health and longevity.) Lately, I have noticed that she has lost some of her zest for life (that is, life on this earth). Old age is finally taking its toll; her body is wearing out from its long journey. She says she has had enough of this old world and is eager to leave it behind and cross over to be with the Lord. What she would really like is for Jesus to return before she dies. That way she would not have to go through physical death, although she welcomes that, too, because she knows something good is ahead.

I am fortunate to have a standing invitation to her house for lunch. Whenever I go there, I can count on some good conversation as well as good food. On one of my recent visits she said to me, "Do you think the Lord will return soon?" I casually replied, as I often do when asked that question, "Yes, I believe He will come soon." Then suddenly, right after I said that, chills went through my whole body. It was as if the Lord was saying to me, "Sooner than you think!"

For the next several weeks I did not mention this experience to anyone; in fact, I almost forgot it until the Lord reminded me again about the nearness of His return. This time He spoke to me through a dream.

In my dream I was talking to a man, a close friend of mine for many years, whom I have not seen in a long time. After I came to the Lord, he did not appreciate the change that God had made in my life, so he would use every opportunity he could find to put my faith to the test. (I did not realize at the time that he was doing me a favor.)

Now, when he appears in my dreams he usually represents a man of the world. As I spoke to him in this dream, I said, "I have misplaced my watch; do you know what time it is?" He answered, "It's eleven o'clock." I noticed that it was dark and the moon and stars were shining, but still I said, "That's 11 A.M., right?" He replied, "No . . . 11 P.M." I then woke up, and within a few minutes the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "This is the eleventh hour!"

In one way this dream has been a great blessing to me, because it has increased my hope that our Lord's return will be soon; but in another way it has caused me to become quite disturbed with myself. To think, after all the years I have been serving God and studying the Scriptures, that a man of the world--a nonbeliever--has to remind me of the nearness of the hour! Am I so unwilling to face the reality of the darkness in this world that I think it is 11 A.M. when it is dark and the moon and stars are visible? Is the Bride of Christ in such a slumber that people in the world who are outside the Kingdom of God have to remind us to "Wake up" because our Bridegroom is about to return?!

The world is not looking for the return of Christ; it is simply seeing, in a natural way, things getting so bad that the end must be near. The doomsday prophets are not the ones speaking out about this; it is the scientist and the man on the street. Although many people may be aware of the nearness of the final hour, few will be willing to face it. Mankind has an extraordinary ability to block out reality. You will not find many in this world who are willing to deal with the issues of life and death.

The Bible teaches that most people will refuse to face the reality of the end of the world and the Day of Judgment just as long as they can. It will be as in the days of Noah: business as usual right up to the day of the flood. It will be like the days of Lot: "They did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded" until the very day Lot went out of Sodom. Then "it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed" (Luke 17:26-30).

Ready or not, this old planet earth as we know it is about to become history. Time is winding down and the greatest events of all are ready to unfold. Few will be prepared for them. The Bible says, "For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth" (Luke 21:35).

How about you? Do you have the faith and courage to live in reality? Are you prepared for the Second Coming of Christ? Are you watching the signs or have you covered your spiritual eyes? Jesus said, "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mark 13:37). The best way to watch for the Second Coming of Christ is to look at the signs displayed in the Scriptures. These signs can also be clearly seen in the daily newspapers. Let us take a quick glance at some of them now.

THE WORLD'S 11TH HOUR

One day as Jesus was upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately and asked, "What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Mat.24:3) They asked for one sign; He gave them many. The first ones He said to watch for were the early signs: wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes and deceptions by many preachers. These early warning signs have been visible for a long time, but notice how they are increasing with intensity.

There have always been wars, but never in all of history have they been more deadly due to the invention of sophisticated weaponry. Much of the world will go to bed hungry tonight, and earthquakes are becoming so common that they no longer make front page news unless they are gigantic. We are losing the war against insects; they are increasing so rapidly that we have had to develop highly toxic chemicals to combat them. These chemicals are now permeating our food and water supply, which may be more of a danger to us than the insects. And with today's modern means of communication, one deceitful preacher can mislead many people.

I looked up the word pestilence in the original Greek and found it to have three meanings: a pest, a disease and a plague. We have, through modern medicine, done wonders in fighting diseases, but are we winning the battle? Can we stop a plague? I believe this current AIDS outbreak, that is spreading across the world like a raging fire, is the beginning of one of the final plagues mentioned in the book of Revelation, and that the world wide drug epidemic is another.

Some of the more advanced signs that Jesus said to watch for are: persecution of Christians, hatred within families, rising up of many false prophets, evil abounding, and the love of many growing cold. These signs are found in Matthew, chapter 24, Mark, chapter 13 and Luke, chapter 21.

Many prophetic signs in the Bible are reflected through the nation of Israel. That is the place to watch; it is where the final action begins. The time bomb for the end of the world will be ignited in Israel. Jesus said, "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh" (Luke 21:20). Of course, the end time signs revealed through Israel could not be seen literally until the Jews--who had been scattered all over the world--became a nation again, which happened in the year 1948. Since then, the surrounding nations have been building their armies and arsenals with one intent: to destroy Israel.

More signs mentioned in the Bible are: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" (2 Tim.3:1-5).

The last day perilous times are here: Atomic bombs have been dropped on two populated cities, killing hundreds of thousands of civilians. More than four hundred atomic bombs have been exploded in the air by scientists, in the testing of nuclear weapons, that caused enough radiation to be released into the atmosphere which will most likely continue harming people as long as the world remains. Because of the profit that can be made from the sale of weapons of destruction, the world has become armed to its teeth. Guns are everywhere: in the homes, in the schools, on the streets, and they are now being used without restraint. The violence that has dominated television and movies has permeated society so that it is being carried out in real life in epidemic proportions.

Unnatural affection has become commonplace. Governments, schools and even some churches are placing their stamp of approval on sexually perverted lifestyles.

Much of the world is now drowning in a sea of filth. It is as easy to purchase a pornographic magazine, book or video as it is to buy a loaf of bread. The superhighway of the Internet is cluttered with deadly garbage that not only ruins the lives of children but adults as well.

But the most horrible of all the heinous atrocities is the killing of millions upon millions of innocent babies while they are still in the mother's womb. Some are even being murdered after they are partially out of the womb.

The Bible says, ". . . the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1John 5:19). If an infant is not safe in the protection of the mother's womb, where in the world can anyone be secure?! There is only one safe place and that is in the loving arms of Almighty God! Anyone who receives Jesus into their heart becomes a child of God (John 1:12), is sealed by the Holy Spirit and placed securely in His Kingdom, even while they still remain on this earth.

This world is a hazardous place and is getting more dangerous by the minute. It is no wonder we do not like to face the reality of the present shape that it is in. It is like not wanting to go to the doctor for a medical report when you know there is something terribly wrong with your body. Man in his rebellion against God has allowed Satan to be the god of this world (2Cor.4:4); and under his evil control, it has become so defiled that it has long passed the point of no return. There is simply no human remedy to transform the world. It will require an act of God, and He has already done that because He has spoken it in His Word. It is just a matter of time before we see it fulfilled.

Worldly scientists and some theologians claim that the world began with a big bang. They have got it backwards . . . that is the way it will end! According to the Scriptures it is going to pass away with a great noise and melt with fervent heat (2Pet.3:10). There is therefore no hope for anyone who chooses to remain separated from God. The end of the world--as bad as it will be for them--is not the end of their sorrows, for after that they will have to stand before the judgment of God.

These predictions are hard to face, but there is a very good ending for those who turn to God. No one needs to become discouraged because there is still great hope; that is, for all who belong to Christ, because He loves the world and gave His life for it (John.3:16). After fire has destroyed the earth, the Lord of Glory will take and fold it up like a garment and then change it into something new, which will be holy and glorious (Heb.1:11-12). Then He will spread it out again, and this will be that new earth "wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2Pet.3:13).

There is another great sign that will take place just before the end of the world. I did not mention this before; I was saving the best for last. Jesus said, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Mat.24:14). Communism has crumbled in many countries, leaving a wide-open door for evangelism. God has faithful workers who have been waiting a long time for an opportunity to sow the Gospel Seed in those places.

Although these are perilous times as we see prophetic signs being rapidly fulfilled, it is a great and exciting period for all who belong to Christ. Jesus said, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" (Luke 21:28). We are well beyond the beginning stage. This is the eleventh hour! As for those who have not yet turned from their sins and received Christ as Lord and Savior . . . there is still time. Why do you hesitate when Jesus is calling you? Come to Him today; then face your future with great hope and confidence. But do not wait too long; it may be much later than you think!

YOUR 11TH HOUR

Have you looked at your own clock of life lately? Your check out time may be a lot closer than you realize. If you are in your middle or latter years, surely you must be aware of the shortness of your remaining time. Think for a moment how quickly the last ten years have passed. Even if you do make it to old age, your life here on earth--compared with eternity--is still very short. The Bible says, "For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14).

Don't take your life for granted, even if you are in your youth, because physical life is not only short, it is fragile. It does not have to be some big event like a war or a natural disaster to end your stay here on earth. A common accident, a drunken driver, a grain of poison, or even a tiny germ invisible to the naked eye could easily knock you right out of the picture. Your departure time for leaving this planet could be only a heart beat away.

Let's face it. Physical death is a fact of life. There is no escape from it except for those who belong to Christ who are still on earth when He returns. Death is no respecter of persons. Your body is going to die and become a corpse. You may as well face it and be prepared for it, for when you are prepared to die, then you are prepared to live. Are you ready for your departure? Would you want to know if you had only a few weeks to live? This may be a subject you would rather not discuss, but please bear with me because these preparations are vital to your well being.

Getting prepared for your death is not buying a good life insurance policy or making out a will. Such things should be taken care of, but they are not preparations for you; they are for others after you are gone. A good indication that you are ready for your midnight hour is if you can manage to live in reality without being in the bondage that comes from the fear of death. Many men will try to hide this fear behind a macho image, but that only shows how frightened they really are. Others will simply try to avoid even thinking about it. Some doctors medicate their patients right out of reality during their final hours; that is their way of preparing people to face death. Religious leaders have their last minute rituals, but it is all too little and too late.

Schools throughout the country are beginning to educate children about death. Some teachers take their classes on field trips to funeral parlors to view dead corpses and to crematories to see the ashes of a dead body that has been put through the fire. They bring kids to the brink of horror and leave them hanging there without teaching them of the glorious hope of everlasting life due to the death and resurrection of Christ.

Part of the fear of death is natural and normal. There will be a certain amount of anxiety regarding the sickness and pain that often precedes dying, and of course there will be apprehension about entering the unknown. Nevertheless, there is another kind of fear that goes far beyond that. It is the fear of eternal damnation.

You might say, "If God is love, why does He allow people to be cast into hell, that place of inconceivable, everlasting torment?" Perhaps that could be answered with another question: Should our loving Heavenly Father allow murderers, adulterers, liars, child molesters and perverts to dwell forever in Heaven along with His own children who have been washed in the blood of Christ? He does temporarily allow things on earth that are not permitted in Heaven.

The Bible teaches that hell was not made for people but was prepared for the devil and his angels (Mat.25:41). Still, although it is against the will of God, there will be many people cast into the eternal lake of fire along with Satan and his demons (Rev.20:15). On that great Judgment Day will come a final separation. The unredeemed will go into everlasting punishment and the righteous will go into life eternal (Mat.25:31-46). You will be in one place or the other!

This may sound incredible, but the reason people go to hell is a matter of their own choosing. God did not make us as robots. We are not machines; we do have a free choice. What is hard to understand is how anyone, after they know about the free pardon that the Judge of the Universe offers to all and the extent that He went to (allowing His Son to be crucified as an atonement for our sin) would choose to reject the mercy of God!

Many have not totally rejected God's pardon. They have, by their free will, chosen to postpone making a decision for awhile, thinking they still have plenty of time in the future to get serious about their eternal destiny. That, however, is a foolish, dangerous choice. Jesus warned us about this in the parable of the ten virgins. The five foolish ones were in a spiritual slumber. They probably went to great lengths to keep their bodies looking attractive, but they had no regard for their souls. They had no oil in their containers, which represents someone not having the Spirit of Christ living within. Perhaps they had an outward appearance of being religious, but what they needed was to become alive spiritually by the power of God.

Oh, what a rude awakening it was! The eleventh hour was over; the midnight cry had come: "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him" (Mat.25:6). In desperation they tried to get what they needed from the others who were prepared, but that was impossible. Throughout their lives they tried to depend on the faith of others instead of using their own. Even at this critical moment, they looked to fill their spiritual need in a humanistic way, instead of calling upon Jesus who is "the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb.12:2). The five wise virgins were prepared for the return of the Bridegroom and went in with Him to the marriage and the door was shut (Mat.25:10).

It is frightening to think that there is a time when the Lord will close the door to salvation, when the King of the Universe will say, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still" (Rev.22:11). It may be possible that a man can harden his heart so much that he closes the door himself while he is still alive here on earth, but the time is coming when it will be closed by the hand of God. How horrible it will be for those who are locked out.

Many will stand outside the closed door and try to talk their way in, but that will not work. Some will say, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" Nevertheless, Jesus will say to them, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Mat.7:22-23). Their work of iniquity will not be the wonderful miracles they did in the Name of the Lord; it will be trying to earn their salvation by their works rather than receiving the pardon for their sins purchased on the cross of Calvary with the blood of Christ!

There will be no excuses on Judgment Day, and no one will say that Jesus is not who He claimed to be. In that day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil.2:10-11), but the door of salvation will be closed. Final judgment will have come.

Now is a critical time. It is really getting late. Jesus is the Door of Salvation (John.10:9), and He is wide open to receive all who will come to Him. If there were any other way for you to be saved, God would not have sacrificed His Son on the cross. If you were the only one living here on earth at the time, Jesus would still have left His glorious estate in Heaven with His Father and taken upon Himself a human body, lived a sinless life, and then have borne your sins and suffered your punishment on the cross. That is how much He loves you!

Have you entered through the Eternal Door by receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, come to Him today with true repentance and faith. He is waiting for you and has promised not to turn you away (John.6:37). If you do belong to Jesus, do not get distracted and forget the lateness of the hour. The later it gets, the darker it becomes. It is time for all whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life to trim their lamps and let the Light of Christ shine brightly through their lives. It is time to care less for the things of the world and store up true riches in Heaven. It is time to be thankful; time is too short to be wasted by complaining.

This is your eleventh hour. The short time you have left here on earth is precious and should be used wisely. There is no better way to spend it than in a close relationship with your Heavenly Father.