Finish Strong

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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 4:7-8  NKJV

Although I recall mentioning a time or two that the sport I participated in when younger was track and field I’m not sure I ever said that I began competing when I was just 12 years old.  Running for me has always been a source of enjoyment and the competitions I was able to be a part of produced fond memories I will never forget.  While I had good days and bad days, one of the lessons I never forgot was my very first coach telling me to never, ever, quit a race.  Always finish was his message to me.

When I read this passage from Paul, I immediately was impressed with two phrases he used to illustrate his point.  The first was his reference to a “fight”, which couldn’t help but catch my attention so I decided to look closer at the language to better understand what Paul might be trying to say.  I was surprised to find that the Greek word for fight used here is “agon” which when translated not only means a fight, but any struggle or contest.   Interestingly, it was also used to refer to an assembly or gathering, especially one gathered to witness the competition.  We know from history that the Greek culture was the origin of our Olympic Games, and this word would have been used at that time to refer to not only those national games, but the place of assembly to watch them.

Obviously from the context, we understand that Paul is talking about his life as a believer, and the struggles he has endured as he tried to share the gospel on his many journeys.  He chooses to describe his life in terms that anyone at that time would understand, but also makes the point that the believer also receives a crown as a reward just as the participants of the Greek games did.  Life as a believer is a fight against the powers of Satan, and all the clever ways he knows to deceive, manipulate, and lead us away from the path we have chosen.  

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”                           Ephesians 6:12  NKJV

The race Paul is referring to is of course the Christian life, which is lived much like a race in that just as while running we take steps towards a goal, life itself is a series of steps which eventually lead to the finish.  The question is, along with the fight that we have, is do we take those steps in the power of the Spirit, our new life, or do we stumble along in the flesh, trying to live according to our old ways of thinking?  One thing that I believe Paul is also telling us here, which may often be overlooked, is that by his choice to use the word “agon” he is also letting us know our struggle is very public and we are being watched just as runners in a race are watched.

Secondly, Paul wants to make the point that he has finished the race and arrived at the finish line.  Although I began my running career in the sprints, towards the end of my college days when others became faster and I did not, I began to transition into longer distance races.  One thing I noticed right away that surprised me was how many participants began the race, but for one reason or another would slowly drop out and fail to finish.  I came to understand that although everyone begins the race full of energy and strength, as the race progresses some find that their strength begins to fail them.  I have never seen anyone drop out at the start of a race, but it’s as the race gets long and difficult that people begin to fail. Since Paul makes the point that it is important to finish the race, where do we as believers get the strength to carry on when we begin to tire?

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,”      Luke 18:1 NKJV

The word uses here for the phrase “lose heart” is “ekkakeo” which means “to be wearied out, exhausted, or spiritless”.  What Jesus is telling His listeners is that by praying we can avoid being weary, exhausted, and lose our spirit for serving Him as we run the race.  The older I get, the more I find myself using the rest stops along the way whenever I travel a long distance over a long period of time.  Unfortunately, I can also remember a time when I was young and those stops were not necessary.  As I see it, Jesus is telling us here that by continual prayer we can always be refreshed with what we need to continue our race without becoming tired and discouraged.

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.                         Revelation 3:10-11  NKJV

These words from Jesus to the church at Philadelphia contain the promise we all are looking for, especially at this particular time in world history and that is the promise of the rapture of the Church.  As the events leading up to this event, and especially the time after begin to unfold before our eyes, how easy is it to get weary and discouraged just before the end of our race.  This is the very time that all of us as believers should be taking Paul’s advice and be praying continually for the strength we need to finish the race and obtain the prize He has set before us.  When Paul talks about the crown he will receive, I believe He is talking about the crown of righteousness that Jesus will award to all those who have longed for His appearing.

I would certainly be lying if I said the thought of quitting a race never crossed my mind but fortunately I never did.  Something I ended up teaching myself along the way was that when I started to become fatigued I would immediately turn my attention and focus on the finish line rather than my current condition.  My way of doing that was to look up and ahead rather than down at the road in front of me. I quickly found that this seemingly small adjustment worked wonders, even to the point of giving me energy to pick up the pace.  Truth be told, there were a few times I believe I was able to win races in the last few meters simply because of my focus on the finish line.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2. NKJV

I think most every believer would agree that when we see Jesus face to face we have crossed the finish line and finished our race.  To me, personally, that is exactly what I believe and am focusing my eyes on in order to finish my race strong.  I don’t believe it is an accident that God chooses to make so references to running a race when describing the life of a believer.  Distance races are long, difficult, tiring, and full of ups and downs but there is always a finish line that we can cross if we endure to the end.

There is no doubt in my mind that what we are seeing today can best be described as signs that our finish line is very close.  As we struggle to arrive there, the attacks we must suffer through will grow stronger and probably more frequent.  The possibility of discouragement will also never be greater, so the question is, are you going to look down at current circumstances, or will you look up at the finish line and pray continually for the strength you need to obtain the crown?  Jesus is coming quickly, don’t give up.

The rapture of the Church, made up by all who have chosen to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and sacrificed Himself for our sins, is the finish line we are looking for.  As I so often say, because so many believe they are seeing this finish line quickly approaching, it is becoming all too hard to ignore.  If you are one who has never made the decision to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I pray you would consider doing that today.  Simply pray a prayer like this one and receive the free gift God has offered to all who choose to believe.

Dear Father in heaven, I believe in your son Jesus. I believe that He died on the cross for my sins, that He rose up from the grave, and that my sins are forgiven.  Forgive me of my sin, help me to walk with you, and thank you for saving me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Coincidence or Signs?

“Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them. The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people. And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent. Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them.”                Esther 9:1-5  NKJV

 

My regular readers might recall the subject of this post as being one I have shared before, yet I believe the circumstances we see in the Middle East with the potential for another attack on Iran suggests it be revisited.  This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible and is found in the book of Esther, which recounts the story of how God arranged for the Jewish people to be saved from annihilation.  I say arranged, because in His infinite wisdom He arranges for Esther, a Jewish girl taken captive in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, to somehow become the Queen of Persia.  It is a wonderful story of palace intrigue, corruption, attempted murder, and ultimate justice which is worthy of a Hollywood movie.  It has always been a staple in my years of teaching and was easily one of the most favorite in the Sunday School classes I taught.

 

The plot, in a nutshell, revolves around the attempt by Haman, an official in the king’s court, to completely destroy all of the Jews because of a personal dislike of Mordecai, a Jew who had adopted Esther when her parents were killed.  Of course, Haman had no idea Queen Esther was a Jew, nor her relationship with Mordecai, which placed Esther in a perfect position to foil the plot.  After Haman had tricked the King into signing a decree which called for all of the Jews to be killed, Esther revealed to the King the fact that she herself was a Jew, and exposed the entire evil plot of Haman for what it really was.

 

The King was incensed, and ordered Haman to be hung on the very gallows he had built to hang Mordecai on, and because he could not rescind his own decree, he wrote another which allowed the Jews to defend themselves from their enemies and anyone else who intended harm to come their way.  The annual festival of Purim is a celebration of this deliverance of the Jews from the plot by Haman to completely annihilate them. 

 

“And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who [were] in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor. So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them, because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that [is], the lot), to consume them and destroy them; but when [Esther] came before the king, he commanded by letter that this wicked plot which [Haman] had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them,”   Esther 9:20-26 NKJV

 

If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you probably understand that I find it increasingly hard to believe in coincidence in a world created by an omnipotent God.  I especially don’t believe it coincidence when major events relating to the nation of Israel occur on the anniversaries of their Holy Days, festivals, or holidays, which, if you have studied at all, you know have happened with great regularity throughout Israel’s history.  This brings us to the subject of Purim, when Israel celebrates their deliverance in the story of Esther, which is only a couple of weeks or so away.  It will arrive on the evening of Monday, the 2nd of March, and that is one of my reasons for discussing it today.
 

This celebration in Israel is one of the most joyous, lasting three days which include the giving of gifts, wearing costumes, and singing, eating, drinking, and of course reading the Book of Esther in the synagogue. The fourteenth of Adar usually occurs in our month of February or March, and although the events surrounding this festival happened thousands of years ago, it appears that it might be a good idea to consider God’s sense of timing.   If we fully understand His love and protection of the nation of Israel, it could well result in this being a day to watch considering Israel is currently talking with the US about a joint attack on Iran.  If you haven’t guessed by now, the reason I am sharing all of this with you today is that the ancient country of Persia mentioned in the story of Esther, is in fact, modern day Iran.

In late 2002, the United States began a building up of forces in the Middle East with the apparent intent of deposing the ruler of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, who was pursuing the capability of weapons of mass destruction with the stated intent of using them on the nation of Israel. I had been invited to lecture on the situation in the Middle East in early 2003 and was in the process of preparing when I noticed the Festival of Purim on my calendar was just a couple of weeks away. 

Reminded of the story of Esther, the first thought that went through my mind was what if history was about to repeat itself with God's sense of timing thrown in for good measure? As the world was watching and waiting, I contacted a few friends in the ministry and shared my thoughts about the possibility that an attack on Iraq could occur on the very anniversary of the deliverance of Israel some 2500 years earlier. No surprise, the festival of Purim, the 14th of Adar, occurred on Wednesday March 19, 2003, the very day the first bombs dropped on Baghdad.

It goes without saying that I find it very hard to believe the attack on Iraq during the festival of Purim was simply a coincidence. Today, Iran along with its stated desire to wipe Israel off the map makes the future of Israel seem very clear.  Is history about to repeat itself again with a major action, possibly against Iran itself, by Israel occurring this coming Purim? I have no idea, but I am a firm believer that where there is smoke, there is fire, and with the rhetoric we are seeing right now and the ultimatum being given to Iran to stop its nuclear program, it would be no surprise if Israel and the US choose to take action.  Then again, Israel has no shortage of enemies in the world so an attack by or on any of the countries hostile to Jewish people would come as no surprise either.

“Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;”  Genesis 1:14. NKJV

Now If this were not enough, there is another item of interest that might add some fuel to this fire.  A subject many have written about in the past is the mention in the Bible of eclipses, recognized as signs in the heavens to be aware and taken note of.  While reading up on this subject I found it curious that in the Talmud, which is basically a commentary on the Old Testament written by Rabbis and Talmudic scholars over a period of several centuries, there are references to eclipses and I found the following to be especially interesting.

“It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Meir says: When the heavenly lights, i.e., the sun and the moon, are eclipsed, it is a bad omen for the enemies of the Jewish people,”  https://www.talmudology.com/jeremybrownmdgmailcom/2021/7/30/sukkah-29-the-causes-of-a-solar-eclipse

I think it is fair to say that an examination of Israel’s history has proven this to be true.  I also believe that it may prove to be prophetic going forward. The reason for that is a result of discovering there will be a full moon eclipse during this coming Purim as well.  Is the world about to witness something in the next week or so that will potentially reshape the Middle East?  Truthfully I have no idea if anything at all will occur during Purim but I have to say it appears there are way too many coincidences lining up not to set off my personal alarm bells.  As the Bible says, we all need to watch, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Signs of the times or time of the signs?  Personally I am all in on the latter. It certainly seems to myself and many others in the body of Christ that virtually every week we are being treated to more and more signs that the rapture of the Church is close at hand.  It is also certainly a possibility that the rapture could even occur on Purim as we know that the scriptures teach it is an imminent event which could happen at any time.  If you have never made the decision to accept the gift of eternal life offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ I urge you to do it today.  Simply tell God you accept His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and turn your life over to His control.

 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.

 

Keep watching.

P.S.  If you are interested in the subject of the eclipse you can read an excellent article by T.W. Tramm by clicking on this link.

https://storage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-35306783/documents/2ac7907567f94003866bf4e7ba3ceb81/BLOOD%20MOON%20ON%20PURIM.pdf

Israel's Seventieth Week

“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

Today I would like to follow up on last weeks post concerning the coming Ezekiel 38-39 war by sharing a post from a few years ago which explores one of the results of Ezekiel’s prophecy revealed by the prophet Daniel.  Many are of the opinion, and I agree, that the conflict we are told about in Ezekiel leads directly to the rise of the antichrist and his covenant with Israel. While we, of course, have no way of knowing if this will prove to be an accurate assessment, I believe it is certainly plausible that it will in some way be a significant part of the process which produces the events which will occur as Daniel foretold.

I imagine most of us are familiar with the old expression, “no deal is better than a bad deal”, and I for one think that the situation Israel is soon to find herself in will be a perfect example of that saying.  In the very near future, after the War of Ezekiel 38-39,  Israel will  acknowledge the supernatural intervention of God to defend them and rebuild the Temple in order to return to the Levitical system of worship.   It is the antichrist, however, who brings this to pass and as a result, they accept this man of sin as their messiah which sets the stage for all that is to come.  You see, the antichrist does not allow Israel to rebuild the temple solely for themselves, but also because he needs it for an event he has planned for the future.

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. “Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. “And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.      Matthew 24:15-21  NKJV

How many of you have seen the classic old western movie “High Noon” starring Gary Cooper?  The entire movie revolves around the climax, which is a confrontation between the town marshal and the outlaw who will arrive on the train at high noon.  When the nation of Israel signs a treaty with the antichrist the clock begins on the seventieth week of Daniel.  This is a period of time which the Bible teaches is seven years of three hundred and sixty days each for a total of two thousand five hundred and twenty days.  Unfortunately for Israel, their “High Noon” will occur at the midpoint, or three and one half years into this period of time.

What we are told will happen at that time reveals exactly who the antichrist is, and what his plan has been all along while allowing Israel to rebuild their Temple.  The phrase “abomination of desolation” is found several times in the scriptures and is spoken of  specifically by both Daniel and Jesus.  What it refers to is an event which has occurred once before, and will happen once again at the midpoint of Daniel’s seventieth week.  In 168 BC, Antiochus Epiphanes, who was a Greek king that had conquered Israel, erected an altar to Jupiter Olympus in the Temple and sacrificed a pig on the altar.

Most all scholars agree that what Jesus is telling us in this passage from Matthew is that at the midpoint of Daniel’s seventieth week, this scenario will be repeated when the antichrist stands in the “holy place” and proclaims himself to be god.  We also find in the book of Revelation that he erects a statue there and commands all to worship it.

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.”     Revelation 13:11-15  NKJV

This is the “abomination” Daniel refers to in the passage above, and it is at this point, after just three and a half years, that in Jesus’ own words a time of “great tribulation” begins, all because what the antichrist has been after all along is to be accepted and worshipped in place of the true God.

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”    2 Thessalonians 2:3-4  NKJV

Obviously the “Great Tribulation” begins because there are those on the earth who see the antichrist for who he really is, and refuse to worship him.  He will then begin a persecution the likes of which this world has never seen. 

“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”       Revelation 13:16-17  NKJV

What we are told about this time is very clear, either you take the mark and worship the beast or you will be hunted down and killed. 

“Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”  Revelation 13:6-10  NKJV

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”     Revelation 20:4  NKJV

Do you notice how black and white this time of Great Tribulation will be?  There are only two sides to this conflict; those who choose to worship the beast, and those who reject his claims and chose to have their names written in the Book of Life by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior.  How terrible will this time of persecution be?  Consider what Jesus had to say about that question.

“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”    Matthew 24:22  NKJV

Unless God chose to intervene, eventually all would be killed.  So in His infinite wisdom, God chose to limit the length of the Great Tribulation to only three and one half years.  Then what will occur is something the entire world has been waiting for since Jesus ascended to Heaven forty days after His resurrection.  I have shared before that I believe the order of these coming events are the Rapture, the destruction of Damascus, the Gog/Magog conflict, the confirmation of a peace between Israel and its enemies which begins the Seventieth Week of Daniel, and the Abomination of Desolation after twelve hundred and sixty days. 

Early reports this week on the talks between the US and Iran suggest they appear to be falling into the same pattern as talks in the past, with many of the opinion that there will be no substantial progress or favorable agreements.  The speculation that some sort of military action seems to be inevitable are rising quickly and the conditions necessary for the prophecies in Ezekiel and Daniel are appearing as we watch.  While this news may be disconcerting for others, the Church looks on with anticipation of its removal from this world via the rapture.

“And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:“Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.“And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.”   Acts 15:13-17. NKJV

The passage above is an account of a discussion at a council held in Jerusalem concerning the growing Church made up of Gentiles and the Jewish Christians who believed the gentiles were required to become Jews.  What I want to point out is the phrase “to take out”, which we find in verse 14 means “to take in order to carry away “ and “out of, from, by, away from”.  What James was telling his listeners was that Israel as a nation had been set aside while God took for Himself a people, what we know as the Church, from the Gentiles.  When this is complete He will allow Jesus to take the Church away before the tribulation starts and God turns His attention back to Israel and begins the seventieth week of Daniel.

So much is happening right now in this world that many find it hard to believe the Church will be here much longer.  As there are no preconditions for the rapture, and coupled with the signs we are seeing fulfilled before our very eyes, it certainly seems time is definitely running out.  This passage makes it pretty clear that the rapture occurs before the tribulation begins, and if you recall we spoke last week about the possibility it also begins before the events of Ezekiel 38,39.  Time is running out and our call to go home to be with our Lord could happen at any moment.

If you have never made the decision to accept the gift of eternal life offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ I urge you to do it today.  Simply tell God you accept His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and turn your life over to His control.

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.

Keep watching.