Thurs.'s Devo - Discern the Times

Read Pr. 27: 12
The wise people can discern the times. That was the blessing of the tribe of Issachar, that they would be able to discern the times they lived in. It doesn't take a prophet to discern the times we are living in, but still some simple people miss it. I have heard many talk about the fact that Jesus must be coming back soon because of how bad it is getting. These times are birth pains which could go on for years. I personally don't think I will live to see the coming of Jesus but we ARE in the "last days". Hebrews 1:2 says that the time of Jesus was the last days too. 2Titus 3 tells us how it will be in the last days: men will be disrespectful, proud, blasphemers, liars, haters of righteousness, traitors, etc. Sounds like today and many other eras. Matt. 24 tells us that there will be wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues, and troubles, BUT, all these are the beginning of sorrows and the end is not yet. Christians will suffer persecutions, false prophets will arise and deceive many, sin will abound, and many will have hardened hearts. The gospel will be preached in all the world and THEN shall the end come. And WHEN you see the abomination of desolation that Daniel talked about in the holy place, it is time to run. If you look in Daniel 9:27 he is talking about a sacrifice made on the temple mount. In Daniel 11:31 it says that they will have to take away the daily sacrifices to do this abominable thing. If you have been to Israel lately you know that on the temple mount stands a Muslim mosque and no holy sacrifices to our God are being made there. There is too much that has to happen before Jesus can come back. BUT, we are experiencing great birth pains. The whole earth is in travail waiting for the sons of God to be made manifest on the earth. These birth pains are for the body of Christ to wake up and be the hand of God extended to the earth. All creation is waiting for this to happen. (Rom. 8)
Lord, help us to be wise virgins who had oil in our lamp because we did not give up on your coming and like the sons of Issachar we know the times we are living in and respond correctly to them. Let us not be like the simple that are punished.