Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Ready or Not!*

 
The signs of the End Times are lining up very rapidly, and it is both dangerous and foolish to ignore them. Recently, we have seen that Iran, or Persia as it was called by the prophets, has been engaged in aggressive activities. Ezekiel 38 foretold of the nations, including Persia, that would be brought into conflict in the Last Days. Jesus warned against not being prepared as we see the signs. He told a parable of ten virgins, shown above, five of whom were wise because they were prepared for the coming of the bridegroom, and five who were foolish because they had failed to properly prepare. All ten fell asleep, however, which is the condition of the Church today. Wake Up, Church! The Bridegroom is coming. It is not only time to wake up, but it is time to make sure that we are prepared for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. His Bride is clothed in the pure white linen of righteousness, and it is without spot or wrinkle, without blemish (Rev. 19:7-8).
Jesus said that His return would be similar to the conditions that were present in the days of Noah, as the flood judgment was about to be released (Mt. 24:36-44). No one knows the exact day or hour of its coming, only the heavenly Father knows. While Noah was faithfully preparing the ark of deliverance for the coming unknown day and hour, those around him were still engaging in everyday worldly behavior: eating, drinking, marrying. Noah's preparation of the ark was a testimony and witness to them, a sign, which they ignored. Our preparation as believers is also a testimony and a sign to the world to "get ready". The world looks and thinks, "If the Church is not preparing, why should we?"
Our position as believers should automatically differentiate us from the world's view. Paul wrote:
"If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantegeth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not: for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."   1 Cor. 15:32-34
Because we have knowledge of God, because we have received the good news of the resurrection of Christ, we should not be sharing the world's attitude of business as usual.
Jesus told the parable of a rich man who stored up his wealth, and said to himself:
"...take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." Unfortunately for this man in the parable, his soul was to be required that very night. God told him that he was a fool. He had not prepared properly in those things that would have made a difference to his eternity. Jesus concluded: "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God."
                                                                                                             Lk. 12:19-21
Is the Church being rich towards God, or towards itself and to the enjoyments and requirements of the world? Now is not the time, when we see the signs, to take our ease, to put our feet up.
The prophet Isaiah revealed a similar word to the people of God:
"And in that day did the LORD God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the LORD God of hosts."   Isa. 22:12-14
As the prophet wrote, God is calling His people to repentance and serious prayer, but His people are not heeding the call. They are investing themselves in enjoyments and feasting, as if they have no knowledge that there is an eternity ahead for which to prepare themselves. Especially during these fall feast days, it is a time to turn to Him. The signs are warning us that the time grows short.
Paul reminded the Church that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night, without warning. It is therefore necessary to know "the times and the seasons". Sudden destruction will come when many believe that there is peace and safety. However, that day is not to come upon God's people like those who sleep at night, who are drunken and oblivious at night, but upon a people awake and prepared:
"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober...let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord, Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."   1 Thess. 5:1-10.
Paul also exhorts for us to esteem very highly those who labor at spiritual work for us in these matters, those who are over us to guide us (v. 12-13).
Jesus told His disciples the various signs of the End Times, a revelation that was opened to them by the offering of a poor widow giving all that she had. The signs that Jesus prophesied included deceptions of false prophets, and false Christs, commotions, wars among kingdoms, nations (ethnicities and races), earthquakes, famines, pestilences, fearful sights, signs in the heavens, persecutions: "and it shall turn to you for a testimony". We will have to testify by what the Holy Spirit places in our mouths to speak in that hour. Have you sought this infilling presence of the Holy Spirit, who is promised and available to all believers in Christ? Even in persecution to the death, yet Jesus says, "but there shall not a hair of your head perish." (Lk. 21:1-19). We taste but the shadow of the valley of death because of Him. We are not destroyed by death, nor captives of Hell.
As Jesus continued His description of the signs to come in these End Times, He concluded:
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape (Grk: ekpheugo: flee out of, safety in flight, to be saved by flight, to vanish) all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."  (v. 36).
"Escape" is not guaranteed. Jesus says that to attain that escape, we must remain in a state of watchful, praying readiness.
 
*The above is based upon the 9/22/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 


To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", and to help us get out the message:
Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8


http://endtimeschool.com/

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
 
Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling  


 
 




Tuesday, September 17, 2019

B-I-B-L-E, An Acronym*

 
The letters of the word "B-I-B-L-E" can also be an acronym for the following:
"Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth".
Our "Leaving Earth" is very much connected to the upcoming Lord's feast of Yom Teruah, or the Feast of Trumpets, as we will see. This feast can also be referred to by the secular term, "Rosh Hashanah", which means "head of the year". Because of this, some call it "the Jewish New Year", but it is much more important to both Jews and Christians than this secular term would suggest. In fact, the secular serves the purpose of hiding the spiritual meaning, but we will search it out. Regarding this feast day, and all other things we need to know "before leaving earth", the Bible is our source of truth and instruction, as always. The Feast of Yom Teruah, or Day of Trumpets, is commanded to Israel:
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD."   Lev. 23:23-25
While the feast day is commanded in Leviticus, its meaning is not clearly revealed. However, we can see the spiritual depths of the day as we discuss the scriptural reasons for the blowing of trumpets**:
1.   Moses was called to the Mountain, and the Law was given
2.   Prepare for war
3.   the beginning of the year of Jubilee (all debts forgiven)
4.   the crowning of a king
5.   danger warning
6.   the breakup of camp, and departure
7.   the coming of Messiah
8.   the call to repentance, obedience and worship
9.   to gather the people
10. Israel's return (the physical return, which has already occurred - the spiritual return to Messiah is yet to take place)
11. means of communication (God has something to communicate to us in this feast)
My addition to this list:
12. the rapture of the Church

These are the scriptures that justify why "the rapture of the Church" has been added here as a fulfillment of this feast:
"After this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was (as it were) of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be here-after."   Rev. 4:1
The voice of a trumpet commanded John to heaven where he saw the 24 elders wearing gold crowns and clothed in white raiment, gathered around the throne. They cast their crowns down before the One seated upon the throne (Rev. 4:4-11). White raiment, the wearing of white linen, is associated with the Feat of Trumpets. The elders threw their own crowns down before the Lord (the crowning of a king). Similarly, the Bride who has made herself ready for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, is also given white linen to wear, which represents righteousness (Rev. 19:6-9).
God does not want any to perish. This season of these fall feasts is a call to repentance, atonement, and the Marriage of the Lamb. The trumpet blast, wakes up the sleeping bride (Mt. 25:1-5), and alerts her that the Bridegroom is coming! Isaiah prophesies about this awakening, and entering into the (bridal) chambers with Him:
"Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain."   Isa. 26:19-21
Both the resurrection of the dead, and the rapture of the living in Christ are signaled by the blowing of the trumpet in what Paul describes as a "mystery":
"In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trump***: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."   1 Cor. 15:52 and
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in  the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."  1 Thess. 4:16-17
Paul described his revelation here as "by the word of the Lord" (v. 15). This was spoken to Paul by the Lord, Himself. The ***"last trump" refers to the last long blast of the shofar made after a series of shorter blasts on the Feast of Trumpets. As John was commanded to "Come up" to heaven by the voice of a trumpet in Revelation, we are also "caught up" into the air at the sound of the trumpet.
It is not known precisely the day nor the hour when the new moon will appear each year at the month of Tishri ("Beginning") to indicate the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets. Watchers are posted to look for the first appearing of the sliver of new moon, and they then sound their shofars announcing the commencement of the feast. In the same way of the Feast of Trumpets, though we may know that the season and time approaches, we do not know the day nor the hour when the Son of man is to return. Jesus therefore sets us as "watchers", commanding us to take heed, watch and pray because we do not know the hour of His return (Mk. 13:32-33, 36-37). In another place, He warns us to watch and pray that we may be accounted worthy to escape, and stand before Him (Lk. 21:36).
The secular name Rosh Hashanah may conceal its true meaning, but we have been called to know the "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth" regarding the Feast of Trumpets, and to prepare ourselves accordingly.

*The above is based upon the 9/15/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.
** "Wake Up!", Lamm, Vanbeckevoort

For more information on "white linen" see "NAZAH" information below.

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", and to help us get out the message:
Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8


http://endtimeschool.com/

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
 
Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling  



 


Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Dorian - A Sign??*

 
The Bahamas, and to a lesser extent, the eastern seaboard of the United States, just experienced the fear and destruction of Hurricane Dorian. Those who experienced loss in this storm are in our prayers. The Greek root of the name "Dorian" can mean "a gift", or, important for our understanding, "a child of the sea".
In discussing the End Time tribulation with His disciples, Jesus mentioned in three similar Gospel accounts, unusually violent natural events, among other things, which would occur before His coming. (Lk. 21, Mk. 13, Mt. 24):
"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh...when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say into you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled."  Lk. 21:25-28, 31-32
Before these signs would begin to take place, Jesus described Jerusalem as "trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (v. 24). Israel is no longer occupied by Gentile nations. Jerusalem is no longer occupied by the Gentiles, and even the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is no longer under the control of non-Jews. This means that these end time events described by Christ are for this time, as we currently see, and ongoing into the future, pointing us to the day that He appears in the cloud.
Other signs, besides great storms in the sea, mentioned by Christ in these passages also include other events of which we have seen a great increase in number and intensity:
  • deception by false Christs, and those preaching that Christ is or has returned in fleshly form, and can be found at various locations
  • earthquakes
  • famines
  • persecution of believers
  • warfare among nations and among races

Again, we are seeing all of these signs occurring today. False doctrines and false prophets are deceiving many, even the elect, if possible. Earthquakes have multiplied in number. Famines and diseases are spreading across nations. Believers are persecuted severely in many parts of the earth, and even in this country, one may face legal and social penalties for standing firm in faith, and scripture. Wars, and ethnic violence have spread throughout the globe. Overt and violent racism is in our headlines daily in incidents too numerous to count, some involving even the loss of life.
What is the believers purpose in this time of these manifesting signs? Jesus makes clear what is expected of us. As we see these signs, of which fierce hurricanes and storms are one, we are to be alert, watchful, and praying. We are not to be caught up in the cares of this world, but sober and attentive to the things of spiritual importance, "that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Lk. 21:34-36). However, we are not only to be concerned for ourselves in this manner, but Jesus expects more:
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour when you think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made him ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods."  (Mt. 24:44-47).
God foreknew us, even before our parts were formed in or mothers' wombs, while there was nothing of us to be seen (Ps. 139). He has even written all things concerning us in His Book. He sees the paths in which we walk. Nothing regarding us is hidden from Him. Those of us born into the generation that is seeing these things come to pass, have been given the commission to preach the Gospel, to provide spiritual meat in this season, to bring forth the saving truth without compromise, in an age when the truth is being denied every day. God is not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance, and we each are to play a vital role in that. This ministry plays a vital role, and needs to continue to be able to bring the timely truth, the meat, to all who have ears to hear. You can help us do that.
As we see the signs mount and tribulation increase, and the moment of Christ's return is upon us, He will send His angels to gather His elect with a great sound of a trumpet (Mt. 24:31) from the heavens to which we have been caught up to meet Him (1 Thess. 4:16-17). Up until that very moment, we have been given a purpose here on earth for this time, ordained for us before we were even formed.

*The above is based upon the 9/8/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH",
Help us get out the message:


Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8


http://endtimeschool.com/

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
 
Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling