Most will agree that events and conditions throughout the world are different today than just a few years earlier. These times are foretold in the Bible and in 2 Timothy 3:1-4 we read: "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." In Matthew 7:22-23 Jesus provides a terrifying and sobering message to many who attended church, participated in religious activities, gave to those in need, and claimed to know Him: "On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'" We must know the difference between the religion of the spiritually dead and being alive in the Spirit of Christ. All are born spiritually dead (Ephesians 2) because of sin, yet everyone has been given the opportunity to come to life through the power and love of Jesus Christ - to abide in His will and His purpose, and to overcome with a new heart as promised in Ezekiel 36:26-27: And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. It is vital that we recognize the urgency in God's Word to believers in these last days. The Bible proclaims the eternal death that awaits those that abide in willful sin and fashion a spiritual experience that is not of God but of self-motivated desires to shape God in our image. We urge you to study the Bible passages outlined within this book with sufficient prayer so that God speaks specifically to your heart in His Word and through His grace. We believe that a more complete understanding of end-times events predicted within the Bible can bring us closer to the gospel message of love and grace within the person of Jesus Christ. Our purpose is to communicate the urgency of building an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ and to live in fellowship with Jesus so that when He returns, we will be found full of courage, faith, and love. If we abide in Christ, we overcome this world as we have passion and excitement toward His return. We live in a constant state of readiness because we know the problems of the world point us to God and encourage us to seek Him in all matters.
About the Author: RICHARD KENDRICK Richard works in the electric utility field, specializing in application of controls for distribution systems. It is a profession that Richard refers to as the "happy accident," discovering a new love and passion for this unexpected line of work after five years as a police officer, with several departments and in several capacities. After a 20-year relationship with the Lord that had its share of ups and down, the day came when the Lord made it clear that Richard had work to do. Much to Richard's surprise, it would be the seven years of education and 17 years of experience in the electrical engineering field that would provide the critical pieces of the puzzle on understanding the Rapture, what it is, and what it will look like. This soon became the basis for a greater body of work that the Lord called Richard to complete. Richard counts it the highest blessing to be serving with Stew on this project, and to be standing shoulder to shoulder with his brother in Christ. Indeed, Richard and Stew have been brought together with what can only be described as the most amazing collection of overcomers that can be found anywhere. This group of mutual friends has been a source of strength in a world that has become nothing but a drain on that very thing. STEWART SUTTON Stew had a passion for technology at an early age with inspiration from his father, who worked for NASA and by growing up with the son's and daughters of the men who were the first in space and first to walk on the moon. After college and a technical career that began at NASA in the early 80's, Stew has served as a development scientist at a Federal Research Center that provides independent oversight for the national security space community. In the year 2005 Stew was reborn to new life through the grace and love of Jesus Christ. Becoming a Spirit-filled Christian initiated a passion for the word of God that encouraged hours in the study and application of the Bible and in sharing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Stew is also blessed to be part of the church that created and operates the largest worldwide evangelical event for 26 years running called the Harvest Crusade. Stew's prayer is that many will come into a saving relationship with Jesus and shall overcome the world in these last days. It has been a special blessing to work together with Richard Kendrick on this book as a brother in Christ separated by geography, but united in Spirit and in purpose.