Preparation for the end of time

IAUA Preparing for the End of Time
IAUA End Time Ministry
The Lord is Coming!   Are you ready?
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How do we prepare to be a part of the 144,000 or of those whom will be saved at the end of time? Preparation and growth occurs in stages. People can be observed in three main stages concerning their relationship with God.
  1. Worldly
  2. Religious
  3. Committed

Worldly

The worldly person has put God on the back burner. They rarely, if ever, attend church. They often consider themselves good people. Deep inside they feel an emptiness or loneliness which they rarely admit. The emptiness is unsuccessfully filled with work, parties and having a good time. A good deed here and there or volunteer work partly fills the emptiness.

The occasional disaster or trial jars them to a realization of a greater need. Before long the pleasures of life drag them back to the same routine. What do these people need? They need to:

  1. Recognize their current lost condition as a sinner in a world which can never provide peace, happiness, and security.
  2. Recognize God as the Supreme Being in the universe who loves us very much and has the solution to the problems in their lives.
  3. Commit to God their life and everything they have, to do what He has shown is best, for which He provides grace and strength.
  4. Recognize the need for spiritual growth by Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers.

Religious

The religious person has made God a priority in their lives. They attend church every week. They study the Bible. They listen to the pastor's sermon. They accept the doctrines of the church. They are baptized into the church. They give an offering to support the church. They often consider themselves good people. They occasionally feel an emptiness or loneliness which they rarely admit. The emptiness is mostly filled with work, church activities and having a good time.

Ezekiel describes these people.

31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Ezekiel 33:31

Revelation describes the church of these people.

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold (knowing the need and seeking more truth) nor hot (Earnestly studying and proclaiming more truth): I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm (satisfied with a little truth and not proclaiming it), and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich (plenty of truth), and increased with goods (more truth than anyone else), and have need of nothing (we are members of the church); and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Revelation 3:14-17

The occasional disaster or trial jars them to a realization of a greater need. Before long the routine of life continues. What do these people need? They need to:

  1. Recognize their current lost condition as a sinner, because the church membership and attendance alone can never provide peace, happiness, and security.
  2. Recognize the need for continual growth by Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other growing believers. In this way we continue to develop firmer, steadier characters, which reveal the Messiah's righteousness in every situation.
  3. It is not enough to hear and understand the truth. Do not accept what anyone else tells you. You must prove every truth yourself from the Bible.

The Bible says:

18 I counsel thee to buy (obtain by study and obedience) of me gold (more precious truth) tried in the fire (obtained by great effort), that thou mayest be rich (have all the truth); and white raiment (sanctification), that thou mayest be clothed (righteous), and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve (Holy Spirit), that thou mayest see.
The warning:
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
The promise:
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Revelation 3:18-22

Committed

Those truly committed to God will look to others like they should be committed to a mental hospital. Their thoughts are different from the rest of the world. Their actions are different. The closer they follow God the less they fit in this world and in the organized churches.

These are the basic beliefs of those who are committed. The first of these are shared with those who have heard and followed the Three Angels' Message.

You must first believe and practice these concepts. Then you will be prepared to evaluate and understand the concepts of the Fourth Angel's Message. How does one prepare for the end of time?

(Book Contents) Next: The Mark of the Beast

Revised 2009-05-22