A Sense of Normalcy?

“Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past.  For behold, the LORD comes out of His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; The earth will also disclose her blood, And will no more cover her slain.”   Isaiah 26:20-21  NKJV

Although this passage was written for the nation of Israel concerning the coming tribulation period, it would certainly feel as if it was written to the Church considering the events we see happening now as the world appears to be on the doorstep of the end of this age..  I for one, though, believe what is happening now has had a profound effect on many in the body of Christ.  I say that because, from what I hear and read, many have begun to contemplate that the rapture might just indeed be closer than they have thought.   As a watcher, I have long despaired that so many are so consumed with what this life has to offer that they gave little or no thought to the fact that the rapture could occur at any time.  That mindset now appears to be changing.

“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”  2 Timothy 4:8  NKJV

Of all the sermons and teaching you may have heard up until now, I would expect that while the subject of many was love, it would be a safe bet that few if any revolved around the love of Jesus’ return for His Church in the rapture.  Yet this passage makes it clear that “the crown of righteousness” awaits those who have looked forward to the expectation of “His appearing”.  That being the case, is it any surprise that one of Satan’s goals is to try to get us to change what we love with the temptation of all this world has to offer us?  I think it’s fair to say that the priorities of many have made a drastic change in the past couple of years.

“while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:18  NKJV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”  Matthew 6:19-20  NKJV

Something we hear quite often now as we approach the upcoming election in this country is the need to return to what used to be, especially as it relates to the economy.  It should come as no surprise that the majority of the world is concerned with things somehow returning to normal, and the focus of many is just how to accomplish that.  Although many are skeptical of that actually happening, many believe that the possibility of an eventual return to some semblance of normal is prophesied in scripture.  Consider what this passage, that may of you are familiar with, actually says.

“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”   Matthew 24:37-39  NKJV

Now some might disagree with me, but it certainly appears to me that this verse suggests that at some point in the future, the world and those who inhabit it, will be trying to live as "normal" of a life as is possible in spite of what is occurring around the world and in this country today.  Many commentators have described this passage using the phrase “business as usual”.  Although the situation we face as a nation right now could easily be described as “dire”, everybody is still “getting on with their lives” as best they can,  My thought is that what this passage actually tells us is in the time just before the rapture people are more concerned with maintaining a sense of normalcy in their lives rather than focusing on Jesus’ imminent return.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”   John 14:1-4  NKJV

You might well ask, how do we not be troubled in times like these?  I believe the Word of God reveals the answer to that question.  First we need to prepare ourselves for His appearing by growing stronger in our faith through study of His Word.  Lately I can’t help but remember a song I learned in Sunday School as a child called “Standing on the Promises of God”.  Studying the Bible, and all of the promises He has made to us, reminds us of who is really in charge and the fact that He will do exactly as He has promised.  The more of His promises we are aware of, the more we will long for His appearing.

Secondly, we should work to simplify our lives by divesting ourselves from the things of this world which serve only to take our focus away from the next life.  We would do well to be reminded that this world is but temporary and it is the next life, which lasts for eternity, which should be the focus of our efforts.  Making the commitment to serve Him while on this earth is how we lay up treasures in Heaven which we will enjoy for eternity.  As one pastor put it, money invested here will pass away but treasure invested in Heaven will last forever.  May our focus be on the next life, and not the present one.

If you have never made the decision to accept Jesus Christ into your heart and accept the free gift of eternal life He has offered you, I urge you to do so right now. You can do that by praying this prayer and accepting the gift of eternal life God has offered you by the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Father, I know I am a sinner in need of salvation. I believe you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin, and I ask you now to forgive me of my sins. I want to receive your gift of salvation so please come into my heart and help me to live and follow you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Man Proposes, God Disposes

“Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.”        Daniel 2:20-21  NKJV

A thought occurred to me this past week as I was watching and reading all the news concerning the race for the presidency of the United States and that thought was this; “why do you never see a race for the vice-presidency”?  Candidates for president choose a running mate rather than having a race for the position. Do you suppose it is because no one really wants to be number two?  After all, who wants to run for second place, play the super bowl to be the loser, or compete in anything just for the glory of being the runner up?  So what really made me smile this week was the realization that this is, in reality, what we are seeing in the upcoming election for president because it is in reality, a race for second place.. 

A perfect example of this can be found in the book of Daniel, one of my favorite books of the Bible, and one that I encourage you to become familiar with if you have not already done so.  In this book we find Daniel, a young boy, taken into captivity along with the nation of Israel by the Babylonian Empire, and transported to what would now be modern day Iraq to serve as slaves.  This captivity would last for seventy years as a punishment to the nation of Israel by God for their disobedience to Him.  The King at that time was named Nebuchadnezzar, and for all intents and purposes, he considered himself to be, and more than likely could be described as, the King of the World.

Yet while he might have thought of himself that way, along with the rest of the world as well, Daniel tells us that there was a harsh reality waiting for Nebuchadnezzar which would literally cut him down to size.  You see, while man might believe that they can rule the world, the reality is that no matter how big they get or how much of the world they manage to control, they are still number two.

“But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. “Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.”      Daniel 5:20-21  NKJV

While the race to become president of this country takes center stage in the media, as believers we should never forget that it is God who controls who will eventually hold that position and that individual will unknowingly achieve only what God allows according to His divine will.  It has become clear to many that in light of what the Bible tells us about the end of this age, and comparing that to what we are witnessing today, it would appear that the winner of the upcoming election might in fact be a foregone conclusion.  Yet God works in mysterious ways so we can only wait to see what He has in store for us in the coming months while knowing full well where this is all going to end up eventually.

I find it ironic that it is again, Daniel, who tells us in the context of Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling, that another individual will come and attempt the very thing God showed could not be done.

“Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. “He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. “But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. “Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.   Daniel 11:36-39  NKJV

This is, of course, a description of the coming world leader most commonly called the antichrist.  This name is appropriate when you read in this passage that he blasphemes the name of God, and exalts himself instead, considering himself to be a god.  So once again, just as in Daniel’s time, God acts to show who the King who rules truly is, and the power that only He can control.  Is it any wonder that this period of time is called the “wrath of God”, the “time of trouble”, the “Great Tribulation”, etc? 

“At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. “He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. “He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. “He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. “But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. “And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.”                           Daniel 11:40-45  NKJV

While God appoints leaders to rule on earth, none should ever forget who the King of the world really is.  No matter the position or title, “the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.” Fortunately for the Church, and all who believe in the saving blood of Jesus Christ, thanks to an event called the rapture, we will be taken home to be with the Father before He pours out His wrath on the earth, and those who would believe they could be"King of the World".  If you have yet to make the choice to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, I urge you to do it today.  Simply ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and tell Him you believe He has the power to save you by virtue of the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.       

          

“The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.”   Psalms 33:10-11  NKJV

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The Days of Lot

“And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 

“Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; “but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. “Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed."   Luke 17:26-30  NKJV

I'm willing to bet that most of us in the Church, the body of Christ, have heard the expression "just as in the days of Noah" in regards to the rapture of the Church and just how close so many believe we are to that event occurring.  It has been used by numerous people to describe where the world seems to be today, the direction our society is going, and the needed judgment this world deserves.  Yet while I would not disagree with those thoughts, I feel it important to point out that when discussing these times, Jesus felt the need to use two examples for illustration and I believe a closer examination reveals that there is an important difference between them.

While it might be safe to say that believers in the world today are in the minority, I think it is also safe to say that most everyone, including unbelievers, are familiar with the story of Noah and the Flood.  Somehow the judgment of the entire world by a flood is a story that is almost universally understood and recognized.  You will, of course, notice I did not go so far as to say "believed", yet somehow this story is still talked about today, and even referenced at times in the secular world.  Not so much, though, is the story of Lot and his family.  While still familiar with many, it is not given as much attention as Noah's story, yet Jesus chose to use it and include it when revealing what is to about to occur.

The context of Jesus' words in Luke 17 refer to answering questions from the Pharisees in regards to the coming kingdom of God.  Jesus tells them simply that the kingdom they are looking for is not an external one, but one that lives within.  He then turns to His disciples and seemingly changes the subject by beginning to speak about the days of the Son of Man, which is a direct reference to Himself as the Messiah.  Jesus tells them the day will come where they will long to see Him, but His immediate future is to be rejected by His people and to suffer at their hands.

Jesus then refers to the days of Noah and the days of Lot to illustrate the future time when their desire to see Him will be fulfilled.  While at first glance many would say that they are the same because they both speak of a time of judgment, the truth is that the two accounts are actually quite different and I believe there is a very good reason. As I looked closely at the two references, something I recognized almost immediately is that in verse 26, when speaking of the "days of Noah" Jesus refers to them as "the days of the Son of Man".  In verse 30, when speaking of "the days of Lot" Jesus refers to them as "the day when the Son of Man is revealed".  The question that immediately came to my mind is could it be that Jesus is talking about two different events?

Although both events, the flood of Noah and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, involved judgment, I believe it's important to note that they were also different in that in Noah's case a small group was preserved through God's judgment where in Lot's case a small group was removed before God's judgment occurred.  When looking at these words of Jesus it seemed to me that the only logical conclusion was that on the one hand, Jesus was revealing a prophecy of Israel's future during the tribulation (Noah) while also revealing the future of the Church's rapture before the tribulation (Lot).

"Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.   Genesis 19:22-24 NKJV

When discussing the city where he and his family were going to escape to, the angels told Lot that they could not do anything until he and his family were safe in Zoar! Now I think many could easily make the argument that these two accounts suggest that not only is the pre-tribulational rapture of the church the correct one, it is entirely possible that the judgment of this earth will begin on the very day that the church is raptured.  I should also add that I as I have mentioned before, I am a firm believer in the Gap Theory, which takes the position that there is a gap of time between the rapture and the start of the tribulation.  As most believers are aware, the tribulation begins with the confirmation of a covenant made with Israel but I also believe you can make the point that the rapture would not only prepare the world for God’s judgment, but also qualify as "the day when the Son of Man is revealed"

“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."

Daniel 9:27 NKJV

Now the “he” in this verse refers to the coming one world leader who is also known as the Antichrist, which is only the best known of the many names given to him throughout scripture. In this verse we are told without question that the coming tribulation, the seventieth week of Daniel, begins with the man of sin “confirming” a covenant with the “many”. Most scholars agree that an examination of the original language reveals that what we are being told here is that the Antichrist will enforce an existing treaty between the nation of Israel and it's enemies which most likely will concern their territorial boundaries, with the result being a temporary peace with their neighbors.

The late Chuck Missler was fond of saying that when you see the Christmas decorations going up, you know Thanksgiving is near.  He was, of course, referring to the events which foreshadow the coming tribulation, which at this point in time most everyone who watches would agree are occurring in greater and greater frequency.  The current political situation in this country and the impeding attack promised to Israel by Iran and its proxies both seem to indicate the world is swiftly approaching its prophetic destiny.

The point of all of this is simply that when so many see and believe we are staring the rapture of the Church in the face, wouldn't it be wise to be sure we are going to be part of the family that Jesus takes away on the day He appears? If you have never done that, I encourage you to do it today. All you need to do is pray a simple prayer like this and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin, and begin a new life with the Lord as your Savior.

Jesus I know I am a sinner. I have sinned against you, but I know you loved me enough to send your Son, Jesus Christ to die for my sins and then rise from the dead so that I may live forever with You. Lord forgive me of my sins and come into my life and help me to begin to live for You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."  Hebrews 10:25  NKJV

Keep watching...for "the day when the Son of Man is revealed". 

The Unknown Holiday

"Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those who remain, since the women of Benjamin have been destroyed?” And they said, “There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe may not be destroyed from Israel. “However, we cannot give them wives from our daughters, for the children of Israel have sworn an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the one who gives a wife to Benjamin.’ ”Then they said, “In fact, there is a yearly feast of the LORD in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.” Therefore they instructed the children of Benjamin, saying, “Go, lie in wait in the vineyards, “and watch; and just when the daughters of Shiloh come out to perform their dances, then come out from the vineyards, and every man catch a wife for himself from the daughters of Shiloh; then go to the land of Benjamin. “Then it shall be, when their fathers or their brothers come to us to complain, that we will say to them, ‘Be kind to them for our sakes, because we did not take a wife for any of them in the war; for it is not as though you have given the women to them at this time, making yourselves guilty of your oath.’ ”And the children of Benjamin did so; they took enough wives for their number from those who danced, whom they caught. Then they went and returned to their inheritance, and they rebuilt the cities and dwelt in them."      Judges 21:16-23  NKJV

To reiterate, those of you who are familiar with this site should be aware that I am a firm believer in the doctrine of imminency, or the belief that the rapture could occur at any time and is not reserved for a certain date on the calendar.  That said, one can’t ignore the fact that there are certain days on the Jewish calendar where events have happened throughout history which seem to exhibit a certain “rapture” connection.  One of these is about to occur in just a little over a week and I for one find it an extremely interesting holiday and thought I would share this article again as I have done in the past for those of you who may have missed it.

I think most believers would agree that our hope, the event for which we are all watching and waiting is the rapture of the Church. I'm sure most of us too, are familiar with the Church being referred to as the “bride” of Christ. Many of you are also probably aware of how the events surrounding the rapture follow precisely the pattern of a Jewish wedding. Since Jesus is Jewish, it is expected that His wedding to His bride, the Church, will follow the pattern and traditions associated with Jewish weddings. But there is one question I personally have always had with this idea and it is this; does it matter at all to this picture that we the Church are not, strictly speaking, Jewish?

Years ago when I first met Chuck Missler and began to study his teachings, one thing he said which has always stuck with me was “pattern is prologue”.  While there are many examples of this throughout scripture, it is probably never more obvious than when applied to the relationship between Christ and His Church.  Many of Jesus’ parables referenced the Jewish wedding ceremony and Paul refers to the Church as the bride of Christ.  Taking all these things into account, I had to wonder if there was a point to be made about a wedding between Jesus, a Jew, and the Church, a gentile?

I don’t recall exactly when I first began studying the Jewish feast days, but I do know it was quite some time ago.  Yet it wasn’t until 2010 that I first became aware of the holiday in Israel called Tu B’ Av, and wrote my first article about it. Quite often it is referred to as an unknown holiday because most have never even heard of it; much less understand the traditional beliefs associated with it.  It isn't even listed on my Jewish calendar along with all of their other holidays, which makes me wonder why it is so "forgotten"? If you look it up on the internet, you will find that most sites call it a "minor" holiday in Jewish culture, but for reasons I want to share with you, I think it's entirely possible this might be the most important holiday for the Church that you've never heard of.

First of all, Tu B'Av was declared a celebration by the first generation after the forty year wilderness wandering from Egypt during the Exodus. If you recall, God commanded that an entire generation must die because of their sin before a new generation could enter the Promised Land. After forty years, seeing the full moon told the new generation that the appointed time had passed, and they were able to enter the land that God had led them to. Remember the Jewish calendar is lunar, so the months are calculated by observing the phases of the moon, and the full moon always occurs on the night of the 14th (don't forget the new day starts at sunset). So this new generation declared this day a new day of celebration.

Secondly, the Jewish Talmud, which is a collection of ancient Rabbinic writings, teaches that on this day, Tu B' Av, the tribes of Israel were allowed to intermarry. The rest of the year, it was required that you marry only within your tribe, but on this one day every year, women were free to marry whomever they wished from any tribe. For this reason, and because it also marks the end of the wheat harvest in Israel, many believe this is the day that Ruth married Boaz. If you remember the story, Ruth was not a Jew, but a Gentile. Yet as a distant relation, she and Boaz, who was Jewish, were allowed to marry. Their marriage occurred at the end of the harvest, and since on this day, marriages to others were allowed, it’s entirely possible that this was the day of their wedding.

Third, as a result of a civil war between the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of Israel, only 600 males survived the conflict. The leaders of Israel decided they would allow these men to take wives from "the daughters from Shiloh". It seems there was a celebration at the beginning of the grape harvest at Shiloh where the daughters would go into the vineyards and dance. The surviving men were told they were to hide in the vineyards and catch themselves a wife from the girls who came out to dance. In later years this day became known as a traditional day of love and courtship, where girls would exchange white clothing so that prospective husbands would not know who was rich or who was poor.

Fourth, Tu B' Av is the last holiday of the year in Israel. Since the New Year begins on Rosh Hashanah, which is just a month and a half away, this is the last holiday, as well as the last harvest of their calendar year. Being the last of the holidays, it is a time of celebration both in looking back, and looking forward to the New Year that is approaching. This day is also considered to be the time where planting of crops or trees was to end for the year. During the time of the Second Temple, Tu B' Av was proclaimed as the beginning of the grape harvest which continues until Yom Kippur.

Fifth, prophetically speaking, Tu B' Av could well picture the future marriage of Christ with His church.

"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."               John 14:2-3 NKJV

In the Jewish culture, after the engagement the groom goes to prepare the home in which he and his wife will reside, and it is up to his father to decide when the home is ready and the son is allowed to return for his bride.  Another interesting fact is that the full moon is considered to be an auspicious time for a wedding and Tu b Av does indeed occur on a full moon.  Also, Tuesdays are believed to be the most favorable day of the week for a wedding, and coincidently Tu b Av this year is on a Tuesday.

So in review, we find there is a holiday in Israel that many are unfamiliar with which is a traditional day celebrating love. It is a day many choose as their wedding day, and historically is the only day that Jews were allowed to marry outside their own tribes. It comes at the conclusion of the wheat harvest at the end of summer, and along with being the last celebration of the year, because of the allowance to intermarry it also perfectly pictures the future marriage of Christ with His Church.

Many look at this day as a perfect time for the rapture of the Church to occur, and in all honesty, I would have to agree. But as we all know, God has His own timetable and as far as we know, He hasn't made it crystal clear. Yet with all the clues we do have, and all that has been happening lately in the world, many are convinced that this truly could be the day. Who knows, but since Tu B' Av starts the evening of the fourteenth of Av at sunset, which this year occurs on Tuesday, August 4, I would be lying if I said I wasn't going to be watching the skies more than usual. The day is approaching when we will be taken to be with our Lord forever. I'm praying it will be soon.

If you are reading this today and have never made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I urge you to do it right now. Simply admit to God that you need His forgiveness because you are a sinner,  be willing to turn away from your sins, believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and invite Him to come in and control  your life through the Holy Spirit by praying a simple prayer like this;

Father, I know I am a sinner in need of salvation. I believe you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin, and I ask you now to forgive me of my sins. I want to receive your gift of salvation so please come into my heart and help me to live and follow you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:"   John 1:12 NKJV

If you have prayed this prayer you are part of the body of Christ, a member of His Church, and like the rest of us are now waiting for the call to join Him in Heaven for the wedding soon to come.

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