It is evident from the events occurring around us that we are nearing a spiritual reckoning. The times we are in are desperate, society is crumbling, and yet the Church is playing church. It is time for God's people to wake up, understand what scripture is saying about the times in which we live, and to rise up to role to which Jesus has called us: salt, light, and witnesses to the truth. As we look into scripture, we can begin to "connect the dots", and obtain an understanding of events, and our purpose in them.
This week, Purim was celebrated. The story of Purim is in the Book of Esther, which is also a prophetic book. The enemy of the Jews, Haman, had determined the day of the Jews' destruction by the casting of lots, called pur. The king had agreed to Haman's plan, and the decree of destruction had been set for the 13th day of twelfth month, Adar ("glorious, fire"). However, something miraculous happened on that day instead:
"Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them)...And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai (Esther's kinsman) fell upon them...when Esther came before the king, he commanded... that (Haman's) wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head... " Est. 9:1-3, 25 (excerpt)
What caused this miraculous turn around in events? Esther, who had not been called into the king's presence for a month, requested that all of the Jews fast and pray for three days, as she and her attendants would do also, in order to receive the king's favor for her approach to him (Est. 4:11-16). This prayer and fasting had indeed brought Esther favor with the king, and she was eventually able to expose the wickedness of Haman's plot. The appointed day of destruction for the Jews by their enemy, became their day of victorious deliverance by the LORD, instead. The condition of much of the church is the same as Esther's. We have been distracted and busy with other things, and we have not appeared before our heavenly King lately. With our backs turned toward Him, He has not seen our faces, and we have not sought His. Perhaps, like Esther, we incorrectly assume that this day will not touch us, so we sit and remain silent. Yet the decreed day of destruction approaches, and seeking the LORD with repentance and intercession is the only hope against that day. We need to remember that the origins of this day are found in the wicked plots against God's people.
The prophet Joel presents a similar vision of the decreed day when the LORD compels the nations, who have plotted the Jews' destruction, to gather in the Valley of Decision:
"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision." Joel 3:14
The nations are brought to the valley, because like Haman in the Book of Esther, "their wickedness is great" (v. 13). The timing of this appointment in the valley comes when Judah and Jerusalem has been brought back from captivity. These nations had scattered Israel among the nations and "parted My land" (v. 1-2). We are living in the time when Israel has been restored to the land, and the nations are once again desiring to partition the land of covenant promise, for their own political advantage. As the LORD details their wickedness, He says, "And they have cast lots for My people" (v. 3), as was Haman's method. Also as happened in the Book of Esther, God promises these wicked nations who plot against His people: "...swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head" (v. 4, 7).
Again, we can connect the dots between Esther and Joel, and the approaching of the terrible day of the LORD, as we look at what Joel instructed God's people to do. The LORD says to His people:
"...now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning: and rent your heart...and turn unto the LORD your God...
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly...Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare Thy people, O LORD..." Joel 2:12-17 (excerpt)
As His people are obedient to His word, the LORD promises a great restoration in their fields and pastures, and an even greater outpouring of His Spirit upon all of His people, even as signs in the heavens and the earth announce the coming of the great and the terrible day of the LORD (Joel 2:21-31), when God returns the evil of the nations that sought His people's destruction.
Though the outpouring of the Spirit of God is promised in Joel, there are those today who mock the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent into believers' lives. Some of the mockers are in the world, and some are even in the church. This is dangerous because it is not possible receive the promise of deliverance, while mocking its agent. Joel continues:
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in Mt. Zion, and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." Joel 2:32
It is a remnant who will hear and choose to accept the call of the LORD by His Spirit. As Jesus told us, "Narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Mt. 7:14).
The prophet Amos warns us that "playing church" will not suffice as the day of the LORD approaches. He says that this day should instill fear in our hearts, because it is a terrifying thing. The LORD warned that He would not accept offerings and worship to Him from His people, while they also served other gods and idols (Amos 5:18-26). Those others gods are still being served today, even within the church. Amos mentions the gods Moloch, who demanded the sacrifice of the first born child through fire, and Chiun, in the form of pillars erected to the god Saturn, which was considered to be an evil demon to be appeased. We also have accepted the murder of our children, and made it law. We have sought appeasement with ungodliness, accepting, in the name of political correctness, and out of intimidation by society, those things that the LORD has called wickedness, abomination, and those things that He hates. Similarly, Pharaoh was willing to tolerate the plague of frogs for another night in order to resist God (Ex. 8:9-10). People asked Jesus to leave their town after He commanded a legion of demons, which had plagued a man, into their pigs. The crazed pigs then ran off a cliff. The people resented losing their pigs (Mt. 8:28-34). We want to be able to keep our spiritual frogs and pigs, while we claim to continue to serve God, but God will not accept this.
The LORD says in Amos 5:27, that those of His people who connect themselves to these other gods, while claiming to worship Him, will be cause to go into captivity (remove, depart) beyond (distance, remoteness) Damascus ("silent is the sackcloth weaver"). In other words, they will be captive in a spiritual condition where repentance will not be sought by them, so it will be unavailable to them. They will be beyond, and removed from, an attitude of repentance.
All signs indicate that we are nearing the day of the LORD, when God will turn the destructive wickedness of the enemies of God's people against themselves. We, His people, are expected to be able to read these signs, and act accordingly-not be complicit in their wickedness. As we connect the dots regarding the approaching of the day of the LORD, we can see the prophetic pattern of the assignment given to the people of God. We are called to fasting, and repentance. We are called to seek our King's face and presence. We are called to leave the world's idols behind, and to worship the LORD only, in Spirit and in truth.
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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:
Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.
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