Q: If God's prophecy is that things will get worse before they get better, then why do we fight a battle that we are destined to lose?

A: We don’t lose! We teach the world how to thrive in the face of adversity. We show them the peace we have inside from our knowledge of the Lord. Look at how God is allowing the small and moral town of Littleton to be teaching the world about his ways. God causes ALL things to work together for good, for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28) In the eyes of God we continue to build up our treasure in heaven. Our reward will be sweet victory, in return for remaining good and faithful servants while here on earth!

The world's problems will continue to grow. But remember that believers are to be in this world, doing the Lords work; even though we are not to be of this world. (John 17:16-18)

Some may say, "God knows that once we accept Jesus as our personal savior, that we have all the salvation we are ever going to need. Then why does he leave us here?

Why doesn't he rapture us up into heaven already, or just end the world as we know it and get it over with? Why doesn’t he just wrap it all up?"

The answer can be found in the 3rd chapter of 2 Peter. But as you read this, remember that believers are not appointed unto God’s wrath. When God decides it is time to judge the earth for all that has been going on around us, he will make a provision for believers to escape the judgment, and escape death. He always has… every time God’s judgment has come down from heaven, there has always been provision for those who were obedient and loved the Lord. (Noah, Abraham, Lot, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Jeremiah, Nehemia, Apostle Paul, - to name a few!)

For us, at the last day, it is referred to as the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

And now for the reason God is waiting:

2 Peter 3:3-16

In the last days there will come scoffers who will do every wrong they can think of, and laugh at the truth. And this will be their line of argument: "So Jesus promised to come back, did he? Then where is he? He'll never come! Why, as far back as anyone can remember everything has remained exactly as it was since the first day of creation."

They deliberately forget this fact: that God did destroy the world once before with a mighty flood, long after he had made the heavens by the word of his command, and had used the waters to form the earth and surround it. And God has commanded that the earth and the heavens be stored away for a great bonfire at the judgment day, when all ungodly men (and women) will perish.

But don't forget this simple fact, dear friends, that a day to the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day.

The Lord isn't really being slow about his promised return as some count slowness. But he is waiting, for the good reason that he is not willing that ANY should perish, and he is giving more time for sinners to repent. The day of the Lord is surely coming, as unexpectedly as a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise and the heavenly bodies will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be burned up.

So you see, everything around us is going to melt away, so what holy, godly lives we should be living! You should look forward to that day and hurry it along - the day when God will set the heavens on fire, and the heavenly bodies will melt and disappear in flames.

But we are looking forward to God’s promise of new heavens and a new earth afterwards, where there will be only goodness.

Dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen and for him to come, try hard to live without sinning; and be at peace with everyone so that he will be pleased with you when he returns.

And remember why he is waiting. He is giving us time to get his message of salvation out to others.

So grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be all glory and splendid honor, both now and forevermore.