Why is Time Moving Faster? | Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y997nVdFV4I
2:10 What’s the Bible’s explanation, and well, what we’re all witnessing, and it seems that time just seems to be moving faster and faster?
3:28 Why is He cutting the time short as we as Brother Eric just read from that verse?
4:26 So there’s only a little bit of time for people to be in the right condition for the attainment of salvation, right, Brother Phil?
8:30 But the Brothers who can be certain that Christ will save them when he arrives?
10:49 Well, is there then a prophecy that we could look at here in the Bible that will tell us who the elect or the chosen are in our time, right now, before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the time is running out, the time is speeding up? The time is being cut short. Is there a prophecy identifying them?
13:00 How else can you identify the daughter of Zion? What the Bible tells us here they are redeemed of the Lord?
17:20 What are people to do now before that actual end comes, what should be done, Brother Phil by all of us?
18:35 What’s one of those ways by which we can tell that we are Christians?
22:09 What is the promise of the Lord for those who have become His elect, His chosen?
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INC International Edition
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[Source: Tik Tok]
Know what I know? What do I know? The Bible says in the last days that the days will be shortened. And if you cannot tell that the days are going by so fast, time is going by so fast right now, then I don’t know what to tell you.
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Brother Bob Pellien: Greetings, one and all, once again, we’re facing a new year. Time is truly moving faster and faster than ever, and many are eagerly anticipating the upcoming New Year, making New Year’snew year’s resolutions. And you know, people cannot seem to find even though they resolve to find solutions to various problems, they cannot find solutions to them.
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Bob Pellien
San Francisco, California
Minister of the Gospel
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Today’s topic: “WHY IS TIME MOVING FASTER?”
Brother Bob Pellien: The situation, instead, just keeps getting worse for so many. What are we supposed to understand about this swift changing of time? Swift coming of a new year, and what does the Bible actually have to say about time and cutting time short and time speeding up? This is what we’ll be discussing today in the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. Joining us in this important discussion is Brother Eric Waterman in Quezon City, Philippines. Welcome to the program, Brother Eric.
Brother Eric Waterman: Hello, Brother Bob and dear viewers, thank you for having me in the program today.
Brother Bob Pellien: Joining us as well in this important discussion about time, is Brother Phil Velazquez, there in the United Kingdom, there in London. Hello, Brother Phil.
Brother Phil Velasquez: Hello, Brother Bob, thank you, and also greetings to all our viewers.
Brother Bob Pellien: And joining us from Jacksonville, Florida, here in the US of A, Brother Ruel Salazar. Welcome to the discussion, Brother Ruel.
Brother Ruel Salazar: Thank you, Brother Bob, and greetings to all our viewers.
Brother Bob Pellien: So dear friends and Brothers in this discussion, we’re asking, what’s the Bible’s explanation, and well, what we’re all witnessing, and it seems that time just seems to be moving faster and faster? And here we are approaching the end of another year, right about to ring in a new year. Seems as if time is being cut short, right, Brother Eric?
Brother Eric Waterman: Certainly, Brother Bob. There are so many people that are saying time is running away and I have no time for myself, no time for my studies, no time for my hobbies. But what does the Bible teach as the reason why time seems to be going so quickly by?. Allow me to read what is recorded here in Matthew chapter 24 and the verse is 22:
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Eric Waterman
Quezon City, Philippines
Minister of the Gospel
If those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
[Matthew 24: 22 New English Translation]
Brother Eric Waterman: So what we have noticed here in what we have just read, but for the sake of the elect, no one would be saved if not for the quick passage of time.
Brother Bob Pellien: Yes, if the time was not cut short, no one would be saved. But Brothers, of course, we have to pose the question, Well, why is God doing that? Why is He cutting the time short as we, as Brother Eric just read from that verse? Let’s go to you. Brother Roel, why is God doing this?
Brother Ruel Salazar: Well, Brother Bob, this is what the Bible teaches. Why God cut time short aside, for people to be saved. What else does the Bible say the reason God is cutting time short? Here in the book of Hebrews the chapter is 10 and the verse is 37:
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Ruel Salazar
Jacksonville, Florida
Minister of the Gospel
For in a very short time, “The One who is coming will come and will not delay.
[Hebrews 10:37 Expanded Bible]
Brother Ruel Salazar: So what else is the reason God is cutting time short? Well, the Bible is very clear. The one who is coming will come, and He will not delay. That’s the reason God is cutting time very short.
Brother Bob Pellien: Because there’s still a need for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, that’s coming soon. So there’s only a little bit of time for people to be in the right condition for the attainment of salvation, right, Brother Phil?
Brother Phil Velasquez: Brother, the Bible tells us who this one is coming soon, the one who will be returning. We can read that here in Luke 21:7, 11, and 27 this is what the Bible teaches us:
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Phil Velasquez
London, United Kingdom
Minister of the Gospel
“Teacher,” they exclaimed, “when will all that happen? And what will be the signal that it’s about to happen?”… And there will be great earthquakes, famines, and disease epidemics in various places. There will also be terrifying and incredible happenings threatening from the heavens. …And it is during the time of this great chaos that the Son of Man will be seen coming to earth in a cloud, with power and great glory.
[Luke 21:7, 11, and 27 Last Days Bible]
Brother Phil Velasquez: According to the Holy Scriptures, who is this one that is coming in a very short time, the one who will return? Well, the Bible says He is the Son of Man or our Lord Jesus Christ. So we can see all the things that are happening now are the signs, are the indications that the coming or the return of our Lord Jesus Christ is very near. We read here about great earthquakes or natural disasters, famines, hunger, disease, terrifying sights, incredible happenings, civil unrest, wars, things that we are seeing in the world today. All of these things are indications, signs that the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, or the day of Day of Judgement are there.
Brother Bob Pellien: A lot of those incredible happenings we can see right here in California, Brother Phil, we have an enormous amount of intense wildfires that are taking place. And I think globally, in your places, also, Brothers, there’s some pretty incredible things that are happening, right?
Brother Phil Velasquez: Oh yes. Brother Bob, I mean, you might have wildfires there because of, you know, drought, but here it’s excess of water. Recently we had here and in Spain, great flooding, where hundreds of people died, billions of Euros of property destroyed, and it’s because of, you know, some say it’s global warming, or the result of rapid urban expansion. And then here in the United Kingdom, we have flooding, something that used to occur once every 10 years. Now it’s happening every year, without fail. And then we’ve also got civil unrest here in the United Kingdom, with farmers protesting, going on strike because of massive tax hikes that’s affecting everybody. We can really see these things happening throughout the world, not only here in Europe, Brother Bob.
Brother Ruel Salazar: In Florida, violence is widespread. Not only violence, a lot of homeless people are everywhere, even though you know they say that Florida is supposed to be a state where many are retiring, still, economic hardships can be felt here in this part of the nation.
Brother Eric Waterman: And Brother Bob, here in the Philippines, we see many political disagreements. We see this civil unrest that Brother Phil was talking about as well. And we also see the problem of economic hardship, runaway inflation, the cost of daily living that makes it harder and harder to live, and the poor get even more poor.
Brother Bob Pellien: So Brothers, all of these things, dear viewers are happening now. We’re all the witnesses, wherever we are in the world, and all of these are, of course, causing great chaos and great pain and anxiety in life nowadays, signs, however, that have been given to everyone so that all will know that there’s only a short time remaining before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Today’s topic: “WHY IS TIME MOVING FASTER?”
Brother Bob Pellien: Time is going faster and faster and faster, which is the announcement and the reminderremainder of the Lord. We need to be ready for the soon arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ. But look, many people maybe would say, Hey, I know that already, which is why I’m in this religion or that religion, and trying to be worthy of the Savior when Hhe does arrive. But the Brothers who can be certain that Christ will save them when Hhe arrives?
Brother Eric Waterman: Well, Brother Bob, let’s remember what we read earlier, but for the sake of the elect, the days are running fast so that we could be saved. But who are those that are elect? We must be certain. So, dear viewers, we must ask, who are these that are the elect of God, that are certain or on their way of salvation?
Brother Ruel Salazar: Brother Eric, we can recognize those who are elected or chosen by God because they have something that those whom God did not choose don’t have. And what is that? Well, this is what the Bible teaches. And let us listen to Apostle Peter in his second letter here in 1:10 down to 11:
Therefore, brothers, diligently make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. For in this way, the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided for you. And we have a more reliable word of prophecy, which you would do well to follow, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until a day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
[II Peter 1:10-11, 19 Modern English Version]
Brother Ruel Salazar: So how can we recognize, how can we deserve, who God has elected or chosen? Well, according to Apostle Peter, those who have been chosen or elected by God, they’re the ones who will enter the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, meaning they will be saved are those who have the reliable word of prophecy. They have the sure word of prophecy and the word of God, or the prophecies or pronouncements of God written in the Bible attest to their God-given election, and that is how we can truly know who they are. They just don’t claim that they are elected or chosen by God. They have that sure word of prophecy.
Brother Bob Pellien: So Brother Ruel, dear viewers, prophecy is the key. Prophecy is the key. Well, is there then a prophecy that we could look at here in the Bible that will tell us who the elect or the chosen are in our time, right now, before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the time is running out, the time is speeding up? The time is being cut short. Is there a prophecy identifying them?
Brother Phil Velasquez: Oh, yes, Brother Bob, actually, in the Bible, there are many prophecies regarding God’s people in these last days. And we invite our viewers to join us in the Church Of Christ to learn more and deeper about these prophecies. But for today, we’re going to share with them one of these prophecies written here in Isaiah 62:11 and 12. This is one of the prophecies of our Almighty God regarding His elect in these last days. We read here:
The Lord has proclaimed to the ends of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, “See your salvation comes; see, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.” They shall call them The Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken.
[Isaiah 62:11 and 12 Modern English Version]
Brother Phil Velasquez: Being spoken of here in this prophecy, Brother Bob are God’s holy people. This is the nation of God, God’s elect. How else were they addressed in this prophecy? They were called the daughter of Zion. When would this daughter of Zion, God’s elect, come about? Well, the Bible says the Lord has proclaimed to the ends of the earth. You know, ends of the earth refers to a period of time when the end of the world, or the end of the earth, is near. And we studied earlier on the signs that Jesus Christ gave that would signal that we are already in the last days, with all the calamities, the famines and and everything else, that is the period of time, ends of the earth. And this is when the daughter of Zion, God’s elect, would come about. How else can you identify the daughter of Zion? Well,What the Bible tells us here, they are redeemed of the Lord?
Brother Eric Waterman: So Brother Phil whoWho are these redeemed of the Lord? Who are these holy people of God, the ones that were elected and the ones that are promised salvation? Is it just anyone in any church or religion? Allow me to read what’s recorded here in Acts 20:28, in the Lamsa translation of the Bible. This is what we can read:
Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ, which he has purchased with His blood.
[Acts 20:28 George M. Lamsa’s Translation]
Brother Eric Waterman: So where do we find the elect? They are those that are inside the body of believers, those that were redeemed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, earlier in prophecy, it said the daughter of Zion. Zion refers to the first century Church Of Christ, as many biblical scholars have discovered. The daughter of Zion is the church in these last days at the time ends of the earth. These are the ones that were redeemed by the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and these are the ones that are indeed the ones that are a part of God’s elect. Going back to what we indeed asked a few verses ago, who can be certain of salvation? Those that are elected., Wwho are those that are elected, those that are redeemed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, or members of the Church Of Christ.
Brother Bob Pellien: That’s why dear viewers. We will never stop sharing our faith with you. We want that you will know and understand the value of joining with us inside the Church Of Christ, so that we can all be counted among the chosen.
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Today’s topic: “WHY IS TIME MOVING FASTER?”
Brother Bob Pellien: We can all be, we can have received that divine election because we are among the true followers of Christ, true Christians, members of the Church Of Christ. But again, what’s happening now is the signs given to us for the sake of the elect. It proves that there’s only a short time left before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. And then, therefore, salvation is soon upon us and will be given to the members of the Church Of Christ. So we pose to you, dear friends, this simple yet important question, do you want to be part of this great work of salvation? Do you want to receive salvation when the Lord Jesus returns? If your answer is yes, stay with us when we come back, we’re going to find out about what needs to be done next by those who are eagerly waiting for the return of Christ so they could be certain of receiving the salvation that He promises to bring. Stay with us here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition, we’ll be right back.
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INC International Edition
Brother Bob Pellien: Welcome back everyone to the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition, where we’ve been discussing with our global panelists theThe important topic is, people have noticed time passing very fast, time becoming very short.
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Bob Pellien
San Francisco, California
Minister of the Gospel
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Today’s topic: “WHY IS TIME MOVING FASTER?”
Brother Bob Pellien: What we’ve learned thus far is that has been brought about by God as further announcement to the nearing return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because as the Lord’s return approaches, time will speed up. People are running out of time as they come to a year end and about upon the threshold of a new year, we should all understand that the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, is at hand. Before we took our short break, we asked, well, then what are people to do now before that actual end comes, what should be done, Brother Phil by all of us?
Brother Phil Velasquez: Well, Brother Bob, that’s a great question. I mean, it’s something that we should always do, but especially when we’re being reminded that time is swiftly passing by, and the end or the return, the end of the world, or the return of our Lord Jesus Christ is nearing. And Apostle Paul tells us here in Second Corinthians 13:5 to 6, exactly what we should do, especially during times like these in our lives. It tells us:
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Phil Velasquez
London, United Kingdom
Minister of the Gospel
Check up on yourselves. Are you really Christians? Do you pass the test? Do you feel Christ’s presence and power more and more within you? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually you aren’t at all? I hope you can agree that I have stood that test and truly belong to the Lord.
[Corinthians 13:5-6 The Living Bible]
Brother Phil Velasquez: Well, Apostle Paul tells all true Christians here to check up on ourselves. What about ourselves should we check out what he says? We have to ask the question, are we really Christians? Or maybe we think we’re Christians, but we’re actually pretending just to be Christians. What’s one of those ways by which we can tell that we are Christians? All he says here, do you feel Christ’s presence and power more and more growing within you? But you have to remember it’s not just about feeling or feeling that Christ’s presence is with us. Although that’s important, that’s not everything. That’s why Apostle Paul tells us here, do you pass the test? There’s a test that we need to pass.
Brother Bob Pellien: Brother Phil, Brother Ruel, Brother Eric, what’s that test all about?
Brother Ruel Salazar: Brother Bob, this is what the Apostle Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth of how one can truly pass the test. And this is what he wrote to them here in Second Corinthians 2 and the verse is 9.
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Ruel Salazar
Jacksonville, Florida
Minister of the Gospel
The reason I wrote you was to see if you would pass the test, to see if you would fully obey me.
[II Corinthians 2:9 The Complete Jewish Bible 1998]
Brother Ruel Salazar: So who are those who pass the test? Apostle Paul clearly stated, if you would pass the test, you would fully obey me. Who was the Apostle Paul? He was the one appointed by God to administer the first century Church Of Christ in the Gentile world. And what do those whom God appoints to administer his church? God’s commandments, God’s teachings, the gospel of our Lord Jesus, Christ. So when Apostle Paul said that if you’d pass the test, you would fully obey me. They will fully obey the commandments of God, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. One of the gospels of our Lord Jesus Christ is what he said in the book of John 10:9, that one must enter into the fold through him. And what is the fold? The flock? And what is the flock? Well, the flock is the one that He purchased with His blood. That is the Church Of Christ. We read that earlier in the book of Acts 20:28. And what is the relationship of our Lord, Jesus, Christ to the Church? And that is his body, Colossians 1:18, Hhe being the head. So those who passed the test are those who fully obeyed the commandments of God. Those who became members of the Church Of Christ. But it does not stop there. Those who fully pass the test are those not only joined the Church, but also continue to uphold the commandments of God, living by his teachings, always obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Brother Phil Velasquez: Yes, Brother Ruel, and I think it’s important that our viewers understand. You know, in the true Church Of Christ, amongst God’s elect, and in the Church Of Christ, there are do’s and don’ts. There are right and wrong that members of the Church Of Christ must live by. And the measure of right and wrong isn’t dependent or dictated by one’s feelings or emotions. They do it because they do it because they want to. They don’t do it because they don’t want to. You know, it’s in accordance is dictated by the commands of our Almighty God., God’s elect,. Tthey live by the words of our Almighty God., God’s elect, live not to please themselves, but to please our Almighty God.
Brother Bob Pellien: And Brother Eric, if a person passes the test, follows the commands of the Lord, enters into the body of Christ, joins as a member of his body, the Church, the Church Of Christ, which he redeemed with His shed blood. What will they gain? What is the promise of the Lord for those who have become His elect, His chosen?
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Today’s topic: “WHY IS TIME MOVING FASTER?”
Brother Eric Waterman: Well Brother Bob, as we witness the violence, the political unrest, the poverty, the difficulty to just live day by day. What did God say to His elect? Allow me to read what is recorded here, the benefit to be within the elected people of God. Psalms 46 verse 1 to 3 teaches:
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Eric Waterman
Quezon City, Philippines
Minister of the Gospel
God is the one who protects us and causes us to be strong; he is always ready to help us when we have troubles. So even if the earth shakes, we will not be afraid. Even if the mountains fall into the middle of the sea, and if the water in the sea roars and foams and the hills shake violently, we will not be afraid! (Think about that!)
[Psalms 46: 1-3 Translation for Translators 2008]
Brother Eric Waterman: So as the elect Brother Bob, we will have God’s continuous protection through thick and thin, no matter what happens in this world, God will be by our side because we were chosen. We are the holy people of God. We are redeemed by the blood of Christ, and we are elected and God promised to help and rescue us.
Brother Ruel Salazar: So Brother Eric, maybe there are those who are watching us. May ask, “What must I do exactly to be part of God’s promise of making it to heaven?” Well, let’s look at this video.
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We all want to know if we’re going to make it to heaven one day.
But how can we be sure? When there’s a different answer, a different set of requirements, depending on who you ask. Have you been told that to be saved all you need is to sense the power of the Holy Spirit and have the desire within you to live a godly life, or maybe you’ve heard that it’s enough to just accept Jesus as your personal Savior. So which is it? Is it enough to just accept Jesus as your personal Savior? Is it enough to just say that one feels the power of the Holy Spirit? Is it enough to just have the desire to live a godly life? And who came up with these requirements? Are they man-made or based on God’s instructions? Let’s dwell on that for a second.
But if you’re really interested in learning how to make it to heaven, the Bible clearly gives us steps to follow.
Step one, learn and truly believe the teachings of God written in the Bible.
It makes sense, right? You can’t graduate to the next level without learning and understanding the material. Step two is to repent.
Step three, renew your life.
Once you’ve learned God’s teachings, it’s time to implement them in the way you live and stop doing the things that go against the body.
And one more step is to be baptized in the one body, or Church Of Christ.
Important note about this step. You can’t get to the step without completing the first three steps.
But there you have it. If your goal is to be saved and make it to heaven, these are the steps to follow. We’re so excited, you’ve decided that getting to Heaven is important to you. It’s important to us too.
That’s why we invite you to set up a time to talk to a minister of the gospel in the Church Of Christ, and know without any sliver of doubt that you are indeed on the right path to make it to heaven.
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Brother Phil Velasquez: We want to once again, our viewers, know time is running out, and we feel how time is running out with each and every passing year, passing year, especially when we approach the end of a year, and that’s why it was mentioned in our introduction earlier. During this time, people make New Year’s resolutions. Make your New Year’s resolutions, you know, and decide how you can improve your life for the next year, but make sure the building of your relationship with our Almighty God is included in that New Year’snew year’s resolution. And this is by finding out how you can be a part of God’s elect people in these last days. Please don’t wait till it’s too late, and that’s why we’re inviting you to visit Iglesia Ni Cristoiglesianicristo.net, and I can see incmedia.org to learn more about the Iglesia Ni Cristo and the activities that we’re holding. You’re also welcome to join us in those activities. You’ll find out in those websites how the Church can benefit you and your family, along with how the teachings can help you and your family. It’ll also when you browse the content, you’ll also get answers to the questions that you may have, and you’ll find material there that will provide inspiration for the coming year and beyond.
Well, dear friends, that does it for us today. We’d like to thank Brother Eric Waterman in Quezon City, Philippines. Brother Phil Velazquez in London, United Kingdom, as well as Brother Ruel Salazar in Jacksonville, Florida. Thank you Brothers for providing Bible-based answers so that, as the Apostle Peter said to the members of the Church, you will always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. That’s First Peter 3:15. Thank you once again for joining us in this program.
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