OUR DUTY TO THE CHILDREN AND THE YOUNG BEFORE THE TRANSLATION
We often see teenagers, children and babies as innocent but only God knows each of them. Many have wondered how judgment fell on the children in the days of Noah’s flood. Only Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives made it alive after the flood. The rest perished, adults, pregnant women, teenagers, children and babies. God gave the people that perished another opportunity; this time to hear the gospel, (1st Peter 3:18-20 and 4:5-7). As the gospel was preached to them, some repented and accepted the gospel but some rejected. They had the chance to hear from the Lord Jesus Christ directly, like those who saw and heard him in the deserts, streets and temples of Judea and Jerusalem. Yet some accepted the gospel and some rejected. Those whose names were in the Lamb’s book of life made it. “For this cause was the gospel preached to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit,” (1st Peter 4:6).
When our Lord Jesus Christ was on earth, to bring the good news of perfect salvation through the gospel; He ran into a situation with his disciples. Little children were coming to Jesus and his disciples tried to forbid them. “Then were there brought unto him little children that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and his disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And He laid his hands on them, and departed thence,” (Matt 19:13-15). Jesus cared for the children and rebuked the disciples for resisting the advance of the children. There was the childlike spirit at work but the disciples did not catch it. Jesus said for such is the kingdom of God. Accept the gospel with childlike faith. He laid his hands on them. You think it was coincidence? No, Jesus knew the children wanted him. But in the days of Noah, no children came around, to the point of Noah perhaps laying his hands on them and may be believing in what Noah was doing and be saved. Parents and believers should work hard to get the gospel to the children. Participating in Sunday school as a teacher is absolutely urgent as well as witnessing to children. Remember Jesus said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
In Genesis 6:1-8. Noah lived in a time when the people in the world did much evil; in verse 3, God said, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years (men lived over nine hundred years but now because of increased sin God reduced it to 120 years, which means man’s life on earth was reduced by about 85%). In verse 5, it reads, ‘And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thought of his heart was only evil continually.’ In verse 6 also it reads, ‘And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.’ In verse 7 the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth.” Further in verse 8, we find out that only Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah had many relatives of all ages but none of them it seemed stayed around their uncle Noah. Children stay around those that fear and find favor with the Lord, like Noah. Many lives were lost in the flood and no children, babies or teenagers were found in the ark. God is never unrighteous in judgment. Today, once again, man has failed God again, population has grown and sin has reached the highest heavens. Imagine the sins of today, millions of abortions yearly, of innocent babies not given a chance to live. Drugs and alcohol and immorality of today. Men marry their biological sisters; men sleeping with mother and daughter. Pastors sleeping with church members. Women birthing children with different men and not their husbands. Judgment is around the corner, not flood but fire, this time. God is patient and loving, but also righteous in judgment. Now is time to repent.
Lot did not get out of Sodom with any babies, children or teenagers. In Genesis 18:20-21, the Lord visited Abraham and discussed with him about the problems in Sodom and Gomorrah; because of the cry of the city is great and the sin is very grievous. Abraham interceded for Lot and the cities in Genesis 18:23-33; he said, “Lord will thou destroy the righteous with the wicked; peradventure if you find fifty righteous within the city. And in verse 32, the Lord said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.” In Genesis 19:24, “Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.” Out of these cities of thousands of people, no non-adults were saved. All children perished. Children were not raised in the ways of the Lord and therefore suffered the fate of their parents. How are we bringing up our children today? Remember the Lord warned in Luke 17:32, “Remember Lot’s wife.”
The Translation period is the best time to escape God’s judgment through salvation: For both children and adults. This is the stage of life on earth we should give all attention to. Because eternity for the whole family can be worked on now or else separation forever could occur at the translation, if any family member fails to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This is when to share the gospel with children of all ages, give them the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Paul said in Galatians 4:19, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” There is a serious need for every believer to remember what happened in the days of Noah’s flood and the narrow escape of Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah destruction. Preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to children, they must not suffer the faith of the children in Noah’s flood or destruction in Sodom and Gomorrah. Devote time to children evangelism, be a Sunday school teacher, above all, let all family members love their children and relatives enough to travail in birth till Christ be formed in them. If you are saved remember the serious consequences these children face if they are left behind; plus some may be orphaned, think it over. Preach and teach the children about Jesus Christ now. Lead them to accept Christ, teach them how to study the scriptures to help them grow in the faith. Give them the whole counsel of God. The key here is to travail in birth until Christ is formed in these children, who the devil is attacking beyond imagination.
After the translation comes the Great tribulation. What happens to children and the young? If the parents are gone what happens to the children and the young. Remember the trumpet and vial judgments will show no mercy to those who do not make it. I have seen children of about 4 years talking about Christ and even preaching at their levels. Someone took the time to travail in birth till Christ was formed in them. Other children are good in academic things, some entering university at 10 to 15 years of age; very smart but do not know Christ. The parents, these days are in a hurry to educate their children to excel in life without knowing the saving power of Jesus Christ. If you the parent or brother or relative are saved, then you will know what priorities should be for the child, if Jesus Christ were to return today. To miss the translation for a child will be very devastating. They become preys to the adults and world system of the anti-Christ. Can you imagine your children been left behind after you are raptured. This is possible and is around the corner. If you love children then travail in birth until Christ be formed in them. Look at Rev.8:7, the first trumpet, “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.” Can you imagine the shock the child will experience, who would protect them and where are the parents?” Rev. 13:16 reads, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that hath the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” What chance has a child that is left behind, who will guide the child and to whom will the child depend? All these because nobody took the time to lead the child to Jesus Christ. No one travailed in birth until Christ was formed in that child. Many parents and adults are self-centered and forget to reach out to the children. Teenagers are still children and need attention and compassion.
Finally, it is important to think it through, what chances these children have against these two scriptures if left behind. Firstly, Rev. 9:1-6, “——-And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when it striketh a man.” This was for five months. Secondly, Rev. 16: 13-14, this is where the three frogs which are unclean spirits and spirits of devils come out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet, by which means they gather the whole world to the battle of the great day of God Almighty. In all sincerity and honesty what chance does a child, baby or teenager have against such forces without Christ, besides it is then too late to preach to these children? No parent or family to succor or protect or guide them under this situation. Watch and pray for your children and other children around you.
Today is the day of salvation, if you love your children and children in general, this is time to labor to get them to Christ for their salvation. Invest time and effort to see that you travail in birth until Christ be formed in the children for of such is the kingdom of heaven. This present world is to be destroyed by fire after the agony of been left behind, the seven trumpet judgments and the seven vial judgments and more. If you are saved make room in your heart for the salvation of the children. Time is running out. Find compassion in your heart for these children, preach to them, and travail in birth, until Christ be formed in them. With your effort many of these children will make the translation and saved from the torment of taking the mark or name or number or worship the beast. Jesus Christ is watching, the harvest is ripe but few laborers available. Now is the best time to teach the children and the young about the word of God; so that they may be able to go in the translation. Witness to children before demonic forces will make a nest in them. Jesus Christ has not shut the door yet. Act now for love of the children, they could be yours.
083 – OUR DUTY TO THE CHILDREN AND THE YOUNG BEFORE THE TRANSLATION