NEWS UPDATE - July 2019

"The world remained at record levels of anger, worry and sadness in 2018, according to an annual global survey released this week that reinforces studies showing that work-life balance is more important than wealth in attaining happiness. Additionally, a growing share of Americans reported experiencing stress, worry and anger in 2018, according to Gallup's Global Emotions Report, the Washington-based analytics and consulting firm's annual survey assessing the state of emotions around the world. Gallup surveyed 151,000 adults in more than 140 countries in 2018 to generate the findings. From the survey questions, Gallup generated two indices, one focusing on positive experiences and the other focusing on negative experiences. Globally, 39 percent of people said they had experienced a lot of worry the day before and 35 percent reported stress. Another 31 percent of people reported experiencing pain, 24 percent experienced sadness and 22 percent said they were angry. In the United States, 55 percent of adults surveyed said they were stressed, a figure nearly as high as in Greece, which topped that list and where 59 percent of respondents reported experiencing that emotion in the past day. Additionally, 45 percent of Americans reported being worried and 22 percent reported being angry, both up from the year before." (source)

And this has continued, if not increased in 2019. Now what can happen very quickly to those who are experiencing sadness, worry and stress? They can very quickly become angry. So add those numbers to the people who are already angry and you have a lot of angry people to deal with! Just look at what we were told in Revelation concerning this:

Revelation 11:18 ...'And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.'

So what does 'the nations being angry' coincide with? The time of God's wrath! And you don't need to just rely upon this report to see that the world is more angry than ever before. Just look at all the protests and marches going on around the world, which we reported on recently. People are generally fed up with the way things are run in this world and this is a sure sign of God's soon coming wrath - the seven last plagues which are to be poured out.

But there is something else in the above verse from Revelation which also points to our day today. We are told that God is going to 'destroy those who destroy the earth.' Today, man is destroying the earth like never before, through deforestation, corporate farming, pollution, wars, etc. Just look at the weapons now available to cause widespread destruction. Man is certainly destroying the earth and God is soon to destroy them.

So what should be our response? We are told the following in 2 Peter 3:11-14 ...'Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.'

As we see the signs of God's wrath to come and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, we need to strive to be found in Christ, without spot or blemish, as Christ is looking for a people whom He can present as 'as a glorious church, holy, without blemish, not having spot or wrinkle' (Ephesians 5:27). Our lives must be FULLY surrendered to the Lord, so that He can do His work in us, putting away our sins and make us righteous in Him. We must be about our Father's business, not seeking to please ourselves or build a future in this world. Our entire focus must be based on the kingdom of Christ. So as we see the signs all around us, let us get to work! Preparing our own characters and also reaching others with the truth. But this can only be done if we abide in Christ.

John 15:4-5 ...'Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.'