I have occasionally commented to my staff about an observation I have made after 30 years of ministry.  Most people recognize me as a "prophecy preacher" because much of my teaching involves prophetic insight.  I have observed that when there are few national and international disturbances which include natural disasters, the economy is booming and things are rather quiet in the Middle East, not nearly as many people keep up with the word we are preaching. However, when natural disasters destroy cities, the economy is shaking and the Middle East looks like Armageddon is on the horizon, then the phones ring, emails pour in, and people pack into the churches.

            I have observed this cycle of interest versus lack of interest over the years.  I used to become somewhat frustrated that people seemed to not care about what I was saying until trouble hit. However, I have learned that this is human nature. The Lord allows us to be a voice to the nation when the people of God need direction, warning, preparation or a new word.

            The more difficult times that come and the more evidence of the "birth pains" that occur the more apt people are to say, "Christ is coming...look at the signs all around us."  There is much visible evidence that the coming of Christ is certainly going to occur, and possibly sooner than we think. However there are two important points that are often overlooked when things get bad.

            The first observation is that the coming of the Lord is compared to the days of Noah before the flood and the days of Lot before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  In both cases, the economy was not in a tailspin and there were no losses in homes, food shortages or any of the events we call "signs." In fact, Christ said, "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days   that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark" (Matthew 24:37-38).

                        "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom 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 17:28-30

            Life was not only going on as normal in Noah and Lot's day, but in both instances the economy, along with the housing market (building), agriculture (planting), and family planning (given in marriage) was moving forward. In both instances there was abundance of food, as indicated when Ezekiel revealed the sins of Sodom and listed one of the five sins as "fullness of bread" (Ez. 16:49).

            With all of the discussion of bailouts and economic downturns, job layoffs and trouble in the lending industry, many American Christians are saying, "This would be the end of America as we know it...surely Christ is coming." I do believe these events are playing out a purpose in bringing America under a more direct control of a global form of economic control. However don't miss the point. According to Christ, when he returns it appears the business world is booming in prosperity. Right now it would be difficult to find a backslider who would scoff when you say, "These are the last days."  However, when the economy turns around and prosperity is filling Main Street, these individuals turn to scoffers saying, "Where is the promise of Christ's coming?" (II Peter 3:3). 

            We must remember that the coming of Christ will surprise a world that is caught up in eating, drinking, and making money. This is why we are to watch and not be caught off guard when he returns! When things are going too well, we can either forget the promise of His coming or be uninterested in His return since it could disrupt the good life we are enjoying here and now.

            America is certainly in a time that many people identify as selective judgment. We cannot break the laws of God's Word and expect blessings to continue.  As ministers we must seek God for cleansing and repentance on a consistent basis and ask Him for his favor and grace. After all it's when "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Gen. 6:8) that God spared him from destruction and gave the old preacher a way of escape!