Faith for the End Times*

When Jesus first came, the religious experts missed the signs of His coming. As we look to His return, could the Church also miss the signs of the End Times, and Christ's appearing? As Jesus dealt with His disciples and the people of God, He repeatedly remarked about the importance that faith plays in our connection with Him. Jesus told a parable about a certain unjust judge, and a widow who continually came before him asking this judge to avenge her of her adversary. The unjust judge finally agreed to avenge her, because she would weary him with her continual petitions. "And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Lk. 18:1-8). Jesus told this parable in order to teach the people "that men ought always to pray, and not to faint." The kind of faith that Jesus is looking for is the Greek word pistis, which means "conviction of the truth...with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it". Faith is active. It is a holy fervor with the conviction of truth. In the same idea, Jesus addressed those who had cares and worries for the necessary things of life, and had fear of what tomorrow might bring, "O ye of little faith...for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you..." (Mt. 6:30-34). The faith that Jesus is exhorting us to have is especially necessary for the Church in these end times. More than ever before, we see great challenges and dangers that will call for faith for miracles, and faith for the intervention of God. Jesus said this: "Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it." (Jn. 14:11-14). Do we believe this with the conviction of truth, with a holy fervor born of faith and joined with it? If so, we shall do the works of Christ, and even greater works. In this ministry, we have seen many of these miracles. These miracles are based on this very promise of Christ. The Book of Hebrews instructs us, "Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering (for he is faithful who promised). Hebrews goes on to tell us to provoke and exhort one another to the good works "and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching". (Heb. 10:19-25). As we see the day approaching for the return of Jesus, we should be believing and acting upon that belief to be doing the works of Christ. Our assurance in that faith mentioned in these verse comes from our having washed and sprinkled ourselves in the blood and water of the Lamb of God (see also 2 Chron. 7:14). As the disciples failed to cast out an evil spirit that convulsed a man's son, Jesus said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither." Of course, Jesus rebuked that evil spirit, and the man's son was delivered. (Lk. 9:38-42). When the disciples later asked Jesus why they had failed to cast it out, He answered them, "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." (Mt. 17:17-21). These wonderful works of Jesus require faith, and not great faith, but even faith the size of a small mustard seed. Did the disciples not even have enough faith to be in readiness through prayer and fasting? Do we? As Jesus described the signs of the end times, and His return, many of which we are already seeing, He talked about false Christs that would appear and deceive many. The love of many will grow cold. He told of how those who knew Him, would be hated, betrayed and persecuted. He said, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Mt. 24:3-13). A key component of our end time "endurance" is faith. From the Apocrypha, 2 Esdras 13:23 says, "He that shall endure the peril of that time hath kept himself: they that be fallen into danger are such as have works, and faith toward the Almighty." 1 John also says, "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." (5:18). Faith for endurance, faith to "keep" ourselves, faith to minister greater works to others as Christ's in these perilous end tmes will be required and necessary for believers. *Based upon Dr. Stevenson's 12/27/20 message to the Church. To contact: Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com or PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 Look for us on Facebook and Twitter also.

The REAL Christmas Story*

The Word that created the world and everything in it, the Word which was God, the Word that is the life and light in all men, this Word became flesh and tabernacled, or dwelt, among us. His own people did not receive Him, but whoever does receive Him and believe upon His name, Jesus (Yeshua), He gives power to become the sons of God (Jn. 1). His coming was prophesied by God, and those prophecies were fulfilled in the birth of the Christ child in Bethlehem. His divine nature and conception were revealed by the angel Gabriel to Mary as he said to her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Lk. 1:35). Many have difficulty believing that a virgin conceived by the power of God, but this is the case, and it was confirmed by several corresponding miracles at the time. The writer of the Gospel of Luke assured the receiver of his report that it was given by eyewitnesses and ministers of this truth, which is assured (Lk. 1:1-2). The prophet Isaiah wrote (Isa. 7:14) hundreds of years before the birth of Christ that "the Lord himself shall give you a sign", that a virgin would conceive and bring forth a son, and that son's name would be called Immanuel ("God with us"). John the Baptist was also miraculously conceived by a barren, older woman, Elizabeth, in order to identify and reveal the Messiah to Israel when He came (Jn. 1:29-31). When a pregnant Mary visited her kinswoman, Elizabeth, Elizabeth felt the child in her womb leap with joy within her, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Sha called Mary "the mother of my Lord". (Lk. 1:39-45). Mary began to praise God and announce the fulfillment of His prophetic promises to His people, concluding: "He (God my Savior) hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, (as he spake to our fathers), to Abraham, and to his seed for ever." (v. 46-55). After the birth of Jesus, prophetic worshippers who saw the child, witnessed of their belief that they had seen the promised Messiah (Lk. 2:25-38). As Elizabeth's miracle child, John, was born, his father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to prophesy: "...thou child shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Lk.1:76-79). These miraculous things, Zacharias said, God did "To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham." (v. 72-73). We are again told, that both the birth of John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Lk. 1:17), and the birth of Jesus Christ, were the fulfillment of God's prophetic promises to Israel made thousands of years before to Abraham. Even before Abraham, the promise was made in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:14-15). John the Baptist bore witness to Jesus as the Messiah: "And John bare record saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him (Jesus). And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw and bear record that this is the Son of God." (Jn. 1:31-34). John did not identify Jesus only as the One who would baptize in the Holy Ghost, but as One who was eternal, and as "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world"(v. 29-30). This child, Jesus, born, and later identified by John as the Messiah, came in the flesh to us in order to die for us. The same prophet Isaiah, who prophesied His birth to a virgin, also prophesied His death, and the salvation accomplished through His severe suffering and death. The command of the LORD to His people is to "Awake" and "Shake thyself from the dust (of death); arise...loose thyself from the bands of thy neck...ye shall be redeemed without money...How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that sayeth unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" (Isa. 52). The proclamations of the angels in heaven at the birth of the Savior mirrored these prophetic words of Isaiah (Lk. 2:9-14). Isaiah went on to prophesy in the next chapter (53), the death of the Savior, not for any wrong that He committed, but for the sins and iniquities of us all. It is an exact description of the Gospel of salvation of the New Testament, achieved by the sacrifice of Christ. In this sacrifice, Isaiah wrote, "So shall he sprinkle (nazah) many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider." (Isa. 52:15). The real story of Christmas is a story of prophetic promises made by God to His people centuries and longer before the birth of Christ, and fulfilled that night in Bethlehem. It was the birth of the Word of God Who came to die for all of us. The prophet Isaiah asked concerning the Savior's birth and death, "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?" He has been revealed clearly to us. Will we believe the report? *Based upon Dr. Stevenson's 12/20/20 message to the church. To contact: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 or Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com Also visit us on Facebook and Twitter

Hannukah, Dedication, LIGHT*

Hannukah, the Feast of Dedication, also called the Festival of Lights, is not one of the original feasts of the LORD as given in scripture, but it was proclaimed a feast by Judah Maccabee after the cleansing and dedication of the temple which had been defiled by heathens. Part of tht dedication was the lighting of the Lamp in the temple. The account of the cleansing and dedication of the temple is found in the Apocrypha in the Book of 1 Maccabees. This feast is still kept by the Jews, and was also kept by Jesus: "And it was at Jerusalem the feast of dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch." (Jn. 10:22-23). It was at this time that certain Jews demanded of Jesus to say outright if He was the Christ. Jesus answered,"I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (v. 25-28). As Jesus described those who believe in Him, He said, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Mt. 5:14-16). Believers in Christ are supposed to dwell in His light. That light is to shine outward for all to see. That light testifies of our works. Is your light shining? Jesus, in the same passage, described the believers in Him as the salt of the earth. However, Jesus said, salt that has lost its savor, or taste, is no longer good for the purpose it was intended. The same applies to our light. The Apostle Peter described the believers in Christ as those who have been called out of darkness into His marvellous light: a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people (1 Pet. 2:9). We are defined by the light of Christ. First John says that we are to walk in the light even as Christ is in the light, and as His blood cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, John continues, then we are liars, and the truth is not in us (1:7-8). If we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive them, and cleanse us. This is walking in the light. The temple in Jerualem had to be cleansed and dedicated in the original Hannukah account. We are a living temple, and that cleansing and dedication is necessary for us all as well. Have you cleansed your temple? Have you dedicated yourself? Paul discussed the seasons and times, and how we should all be familiar with them. He said that we aal should know that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. When men are declaring, "Peace, peace", sudden destruction will come upon them. He reminded the Church of the role that the light of Christ plays in our preparedness and understanding, "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 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...For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ..." (1 Thess. 5:1-9, excerpt). We are not meant to be sleeping. Jesus told the parable of the ten virgins, and ALL ten had fallen asleep. The only thing that allowed five of them (who were wise) to enter in with the bridegroom, is that they had their lamps well prepared, and more thaan enough oil to keep their light. Paul wrote that the wrath of God would come upon the children of disobedience, and warned, "Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light...And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them...all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light". He added quoting Isaiah, "...Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" (Eph. 5:6-14). As Jesus told the parable of the wheat and the tares, He explained that the good seed, the wheat, "are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one". At the end of the age, Jesus said, both the wheat and the tares would be gathered, or harvested, by the angels. The tares, the children of the wicked one, those who offend and do iniquity, will be cast into a furnace of fire with much suffering and wailing. However, of the good wheat, the children of the kingdom, Jesus said, "Then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Mt. 13:36-43). Are we willing to hear the revelation of Jesus, or will we stop up our ears against it? Do not be deceived, heaven is real. Hell is also real, and to be avoided at all costs. The righteous shining like the sun, as Jesus taught, is a promise prophesied in Daniel. Daniel's prophecy is of the time of trouble like as has never been seen before. This time of trouble takes place in "the time of the end". Daniel also spoke of a judgment of the dead: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Though the times will be very difficult, there will be a difference seen in those who are children of the kingdom. Daniel wrote, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Daniel was told to seal up his book until the time of the end (Dan. 12). We now read and understand these visions and prophecies of Daniel, which is yet another identifier that we are in those end times of which Daniel wrote. Are you shining, as Daniel prophesied of the wise? The lights of the Menorah are lighted to recall the cleansing and dedication of the temple after it had been defiled. The light is to be kept shining. The saints are equipped by apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists to do the work of the ministry. Shining the light of Christ into the darkness is a large part of that work. Is your lamp filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit? Are you shining with His light? *Based upon the 12/13/20 message of Dr. Stevenson to the Church. To contact: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 or Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com Find Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson on Facebook and twitter also.

Confirm Scripture With Scripture*

We mentioned last week that we were going to begin to unlearn error so we can learn truth. One of the strongest confirmations that the scriptures are truth, and inspired by God, is the fact that it contains prophecies, especially dealing with the Messiah, that have been fulfilled. If the books of the Apocrypha also contains fulfilled prophecy, then why are they not also considered inspired scripture? These books were once included in the King James Bible, and they are still included in the Catholic Bible. Jewish religious leaders first contended that the books of the Apocrypha did not rise to the level of scripture. However, these same books point directly to the Messiah being Jesus. Could this be the reason that these books began to be disregarded? Jude, the writer of one of the books of the New Testament, and one of the brothers of Christ, who also held the position of Bishop of Odessa, quoted from the Book of Enoch, one of the Apocryphal books. Jude wrote: "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken aginst him..." (v. 14-21, excerpt). In another example from scripture, the Apostle Paul, speaking to the Greeks, told of how the LORD created all peoples from one blood, and determined beforehand the geographical boundries of their habitations (Acts 17:24-27). Genesis 10 tells us of the three sons of Noah and their sons after the flood. From those sons, came the various people, both Gentiles and Jews, with their physical locations named after them. In the beginning of the earth's creation, all of the seas were gathered in one place, and the same being true of all of the land, which the LORD called "earth", or eretz in Hebrew (Gen. 1:9-10). However, along the descendants of Noah was born one named Peleg (meaning "division"), because it was in Peleg's days that the land, or eretz, was divided (Gen. 10:25). As we see on maps today, the continents could fit together like puzzle pieces, if we brought them together without the water dividing them. This could be one reason why various peoples, including Native Americans on this continent, show a DNA relationship with Middle Eastern Jews. Many of God's people, the Israelites, have been, as Moses prophesied, rooted up from their land (Deut. 29:19-29): "And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day." According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, Columbus' explorations and discoveries were based in part upon the earlier astronomical and geographical writings of learned Jews. He also took several Jews on his voyages to the new world. This is during the same period when Spain was expelling Jews from their nation, and those Jews were seeking new homelands. The Apocryphal Book of Esdras 2, Chapter 13, includes descriptions of Jews, ejected from their lands because they did not keep the ways of the Lord. They became determined to keep His ways in their new lands where men had never before dwelt: "...37 And this my Son shall rebuke the wicked inventions of those nations, which for their wicked life are fallen into the tempest; 38 And shall lay before them their evil thoughts, and the torments wherewith they shall begin to be tormented, which are like unto a flame: and he shall destroy them without labour by the law which is like unto me. 39 And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him; 40 Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land. 41 But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt, 42 That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land. 43 And they entered into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river. 44 For the most High then shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over. 45 For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Arsareth. 46 Then dwelt they there until the latter time; and now when they shall begin to come..." In the Gospel of Matthew, when Jesus was crucified, He was mocked, reviled and scorned by spectators, saying, "If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross." Even the religious leaders mocked Christ saying, "He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross and we will believe him. He trusted in God, let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God." (Mt. 27:39-43). The Apocryphal Book of Wisdom (of Solomon), Chapter 2, tells of an identical event: "16 We are esteemed of him as counterfeits: he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness: he pronounceth the end of the just to be blessed, and maketh his boast that God is his father. 17 Let us see if his words be true: and let us prove what shall happen in the end of him. 18 For if the just man be the son of God, he will help him, and deliver him from the hand of his enemies. 19 Let us examine him with despitefulness and torture, that we may know his meekness, and prove his patience. 20 Let us condemn him with a shameful death: for by his own saying he shall be respected. 21 Such things they did imagine, and were deceived: for their own wickedness hath blinded them. 22 As for the mysteries of God, they knew them not: neither hoped they for the wages of righteousness, nor discerned a reward for blameless souls." As is mentioned in the above Book of Wisdom, the Apostle Paul also spoke about the spiritul blindness that had in part come upon the Jews for the sake of the Gentiles, until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in (Rom. 11:25). However, let us also keep in mind the next verses concerning Israel, which includes: "As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes." If the Apocrypha is judged the same way that we judge scripture, as containing fulfilled prophecy especially those dealing with the Messiah, we can see why these Books had originally been included in our scriptures. We can also see, why they have likewise been removed: because they testify specifically and in detail as to Jesus being the Messiah. It is time to unlearn error, and learn the truth. We can do that by confirming scripture with scripture. *Based on the 12/6/20 message of Dr. Stevenson to the Church; To Contact: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705, Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com

Back to the Future*

In order to be prepared for the return of the Lord, we need to look back to understand things we have been mistaught in order to receive the truth. We need to know the truth, not the doctrines of men or devils. For instance, scripture tells us that the kingdom of God is made up from every nation, tribe, and tongue, yet racism is on the rise, as Jesus prophesied when He said "Nation shall rise against nation...". The word "nation" used here is the Greek word ethnos, from which we get the word ethnicity. We have been taught many things about our history involving the Native Americans of this land. Evidence points to the fact that the native people of this country may be part of the lost tribes of Israel. Their early language and heiroglyphics have a similarity to the ancient Hebrew language. It is said that when Columbus made one of his trips to this continent, he was greeted by native people with the Shema: ""Hear O Israel, the LORD our God is One". In addition, DNA evidence shows a relationship between the Cherokee tribe and Middle Eastern Jews. While Christian settlers tried various methods to destroy or drive out native people, the earliest Christian converts in our land were Native Americans. There are religious customs among the Native Americans, which the government tried to ban, that reflect their understanding that the Messiah, Jesus, appeared to their ancestors on this continent earlier in their history. Yet, the white man was taught that the Native Americans were all without the knowledge of God. The book, "The History of the North American Indians" by James Adair, is recommended reading for more information on this subject. In another example of the lack of truth, few know that the people of the nations of the western coast of Africa, which was called "the slave coast" because their inhabitants were captured and sold into slavery, lived in an area of Africa that had previously been called "The Kingdom of Judah" on the ancient maps. It is believed that these people, later sold into slavery, had emmigrated from Israel to Africa earlier in their history. In another example of misinformation, the Jewish books of the Apocrypha are believed to be outside of, and less than, scripture. Yet the Apochrypha had been included in the original King James Version of the Bible, only to be later removed. These books are still included in the Catholic Bible. From the time of the Reformation, Catholics and Protestants were at enmity with one another, and these books were removed from scripture. When flesh gets in, it can uproot the Spirit. We will find, as we look into the Apocrypha in the future, that there is a testimony of the Messiah contained in these books. The Word of the LORD through the prophet Hosea reveals that the LORD has a controversy with His people who do not value truth: "Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood....Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity." (Hos. 4:1-9). There are those who have been told they are not the people of God. The prophet Hosea prophesies this Word of the LORD regarding them: "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God." (Hos. 1:10). The Apostle Paul found this to be the truth as he traveled to the city of Athens in Greece. One would assume in that day that the people of Athens, having practiced polytheism for centuries, could not possibly be people of God. Yet Paul discerned within both the Athenian religious and philosophical culture, an acknowledgement of God and His power, Whom the Greeks could not specifically identify, but included in worship at an altar upon which was written "To The Unknown God" (Acts 17:22-23). Paul challenged their idolic worship teaching, "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing as he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also your own poets have said..." (Acts 17:24-28). Paul went on to preach the Gospel of Christ to those people of Athens. Some mocked the idea of One who was raised from the dead, but others wanted to hear more (v.32). Paul had discovered earlier in his travel to the Greek city of Thessonica, that not only some of the Jews, although many remained hostile to the Gospel, but also many of the Greeks there, accepted the Gospel he preached to them (Acts 17:1-4). When Paul came to another city in Greece, Berea, he again preached at the synagogue there. The Jews there were very interested in hearing what Paul had to say, and were interested enough in knowing the truth that they searhed the scriptures for themselves to verify what Paul had told them. Many of them then believed the Gospel. Also more than just a few of the local Greek people believed (Acts 17:10-12). Scripture called these Bereans "noble" because they desired to know truth more than anything else. Many believers even to this present day have been taught that they will not experience any part of the Great Tribulation, because they believe the Rapture of the Church will precede it. However, Revelation tells us that a great multitude of believers, clothed with white robes, out "of all nations, and kindreds, and people and tongues", are described as those "which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. 7:9-17 excerpt). So there is evidence that believers will experience some portion of the Tribulation. Our lack of the knowledge of the truth has probably affected to whom we bring the Gospel, and whom we have historically considered to be the people of God, or not. With all signs, including rising racism, the pandemic, earthquakes, storms, indicating to us that the end is near, we are in need like never before of the truth in order to be prepared ourselves, and to prepared others. What are we doing to reach the lost as we see the day approaching? *Based upon the 11/29/20 message of Dr. Kenneth Stevenson to the Church. To Contact: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705, or Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com Please look for us on Facebook and Twitter also.