The above title is not referring to someone with bad breath as some
might think, nor is it fresh-smelling breath with the help of a mint. The phrase bated breath was first
used by Shakespeare in “The Merchant of Venice
With all of the negative things that are going on in the world, I
believe that the end of time is quickly drawing to a close. Humanity, with all of its knowledge, should
not be taken by surprise, because all that is happening around us was
prophesied in the Bible. It states that
we will know the season of the return of Jesus when we see certain things coming to pass that were
written.
(Mark 13:5-8), “And Jesus,
answering them, began to say: ‘Take heed
that no one deceives you.’ ” vs.6 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am
He,’ and will deceive many.” vs.7 “But
when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled, for such things
must happen, but the end is not yet.”
vs.8 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom. And there will be earthquakes
in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.”
(2 Timothy 3:1-5), “But know
this, that in the last days perilous times will come:” vs.2 “For men will be
lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” vs.3 “unloving, unforgiving,
slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,” vs.4 “traitors,
headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” vs.5
“having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
If we truly knew or realized the nearness of the Lord’s return, we
would be waiting with bated breath, but I am afraid that most people are so
involved with other things that little thought is given to the all important
moment in life, which is called the rapture of the church. It is a one-time-only event that we
definitely do not want to miss.
(Luke 21:28) “Now when these
things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption
draws near.”
There will not be time to say, “God forgive me of my sins!” The Bible says that He is coming in the
twinkling of an eye, which lasts between 300-400 milliseconds. It would be fair to say it occurs in about a
billionth of a second. The Lord’s return
will be so fast that if a non-Christian blinks their eyes they will have missed
the return of Jesus.
I am not going to get into the math or physics of the time it takes to
blink, nor am I going to attempt to pass it under a modern microscope to
scrutinize or determine just how fast the Bible says that the rapture will
happen. I just want to share with you
the importance and meaning of what the Bible is telling us—it’s quick and it’s
done; ready or not. We need to be ready
to go the moment it takes place, because there will not be a second chance.
(1 Corinthians 15:51-52),
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall
not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—” vs.52 “in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.”
If a non-Christian is talking to a Christian at the very moment Jesus
returns, and they blink, the non-Christian will be standing alone as soon as
their eyes return to open. It is just
that fast. I am sure they will be
standing there with bated breath for fear of what’s to come now that they have
been left behind. I know I don’t want to
be on earth without the Spirit of God present.
I can only imagine what people are thinking in the last days, “How can
I stand and proclaim Christ when everything and most everyone around me is
anti-Christ?” The answer is simple, “The
Whole Armor of God.” It will help us to
stand against the wiles of Satan; having bated breath regarding the return of
Christ.
(Ephesians 6:13-18), “Therefore
take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand.”
vs.14 “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put
on the breastplate of righteousness,” vs.15 “and having shod your feet with the
preparation of the gospel of peace;” vs.16 “above all, taking the shield of
faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
one.” vs.17 “And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” vs.18
“praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful
to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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