Just go ahead and say it—I know you’re thinking it—we approach parenting in a weird way. It’s strange, we’re a prophecy and faith building ministry turned parent-support ministry. Yeap, it’s weird, but there are so many children raised in church, who have professed Christ but leave the church. We need to take a different approach. Through my journey of encouraging believers to stand firm and helping them navigate these crazy times, I’ve learned some things that can greatly impact our parenting. Through Stand Firm Parents, I’m reverse engineering parenting. I’m doing all I can to help your family have a faith that lasts. In a recent podcast, I shared about parenting goals. I’d love to hear from you about your parenting goals, please comment below! From preparing that episode, I got to thinking on some of the end of age events that we should recognize and work back from in parenting. Here’s those three future Biblical events to guide you in your parenting.
1. The Great White Throne Judgment.
Let’s work through this weirdness, lol. Yes, I’m writing a parenting article and talking about the Great White Throne Judgment recorded in Revelation 20. This moment is the pivotal moment in which one’s eternal destination rides upon. Everyone will be judged by if their name is in the Book. Our names are in the book by us trusting in Christ and following Him. That’s it, that’s the only way.
Here’s part of that pivotal passage,
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. …Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. – Revelation 20:11-13, 15 (NIV)
This event happens not just at the end of the age but following the 1,000-year Millennial Kingdom. This judgment determines whether one spends eternity on the new earth or in the lake of fire. The results are settled at our last breath. This moment is huge! It’s easy to at least gain a parenting aim in reverse engineering this end time event. The salvation of our children is absolutely vital. Now we can’t force that upon them unfortunately, but we can help them in this process.
Parent, the future Great White Throne of Judgment should guide you to shepherd your children to place their faith in Christ and follow Him.
2. The Judgment Seat of Christ.
The Great White Throne of judgment is a judgment for everyone. The rubric is salvation.
Scripture reveals another judgment—this one is for believers. Paul writes explicitly about this judgment in 2 Corinthians 5.
Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. – 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (NIV)
Just as Paul names this judgment in his writings to Corinth, Jesus mentions this judgment numerous times in the Gospels. It is an unrelenting thread in the Old Testament. Nearly all New Testament writers point to this judgment. It’s a judgment of believers, and our faithfulness will be on trial. Ultimately the rubric is faithfulness, but I believe especially in following Jesus and fishing for people.
Parent, the future judgment seat of Christ should guide you to shepherd your children to faithfully follow Christ—obeying how He leads them individually and what He has declared in His Word.
3. The Great Falling Away.
Of all the end time events I could mention, this one scares me the most. Scripture warns that there will be a great falling away at the end of the age. This isn’t generic but is a specific time that rises due to the persecution and deception brought by the Antichrist. Yes, believers are leaving the faith now, but it’s nothing compared to this time that Paul calls the great rebellion in 2 Thessalonians. Jesus also warned us about this falling away in the Olivet Discourse.
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other… – Matthew 24:10
Whether our children are the generation that will face this time, we will have descendants that do. We need to be passing down a faith that survives that time.
Parent, the future falling away should guide you to shepherd your children to stand firm.
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Executive Director of Stand Firm and lead pastor of Epic Church NWA in Springdale, AR and multiple award-winning author, Jake has a B.A. in Bible and Pastoral Studies from Central Baptist College, and an Advanced Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Former regular contributor to the Baptist Press and WND News with popular conservative voices such as Pat Buchanan, Ann Coulter, Ben Carson, Chuck Norris, Greg Laurie, Ben Schapiro, Joel Richardson, and others. He now is a weekly contributor for Israel, Islam, and the End Times and Armageddon News. He has authored books such as the, award-winning Spiritual Prepper from WND Books. Award-winning devotional books, Invincibleand For Uncertain Times, he authored the ground-breaking children’s book, Jesus and His White Horse from CrossLink Publishing. He is also a regular guest on national and international radio and streaming web shows, along with hosting his weekly live streaming program Talking Stand Firm and weekly podcast Stand Firm Parents.
