Before the Seventh Seal*

The events in the news this past week show our nation divided, as well as facing military threats from China and Russia. Israel, as well, is suffering rocket attacks from Gaza. Even some organizations claiming to be Christian have begun publishing Anti-Semitic, and other racist hate. A look at scripture will reveal that all of these things fulfill last days prophecies concerning the time before Christ's return. The Book of Revelation describes the unsealing of prophetic events: "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" (Rev. 5:1-2). John wept because no one was found worthy to open the seals of this book, or to even look upon it. However, there was One Who was worthy: "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." (v. 5). That Lion of Judah, the root of David Who was worthy to loose the seals of the book is described as "a Lamb as it had been slain...Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (v. 6-10). Only the slain Lamb Who redeemed many by His blood was worthy to open the seals of the book. Those who were redeemed came from every race and nation, and they were made priests and kings to reign. We will see again that the kingdom of God is made up of all nations of people. Do not be deceived by racist and Anti-Semitic lies, even if they come from those who claim to be believers in Christ. As the Lamb Who was slain opened the first four seals of the book, horses were released upon the earth. The horses brought warfare, murder, famine and economic turmoil, and death and hell over a fourth of the earth (Rev. 6:1-8). The fifth seal revealed those who had been martyred for their faith in Christ, who were crying out to the LORD for vengeance. They were given white robes, and told to wait for a "little season" until their fellow martyrs joined them (v. 9-11). We have seen this death, turmoil, and martyrdom already being loosed in the earth. The opening of the sixth seal is described as being great earthquakes, the sun becoming black, and the moon becoming as blood. Stars of heaven fall to the earth, the heavens depart, and the mountains and islands of earth are moved from their places. When the events of this opened seal begin to happen: "...the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman,, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (v. 12-17). We have not yet seen the events of the opening of the sixth seal occur on earth. The prophet Malachi, and also Jesus, both asked the same question: "Who shall stand when he/the Son of man appeareth?" (Mal. 3:2, Lk. 21:36). We also see in the Book of Revelation that a great harvest of believers, 144,000, called "servants of God". will come out of the twelve tribes of Israel. These servants from the tribes of Israel must be sealed before the angels of God can hurt anything on the earth. (Rev. 7:1-8). Then again we are told, "...a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands..." (v. 9). This multitude from every race and nation worshipped the Lamb. An elder in heaven described them as those "...which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (v. 14). Again, scripture states here specifically that racism is not of God, and contrary to what is often taught in churches, the tribulation will not just be for the Jews. As we saw in Revelation, the Lord has a harvest in these end times from among the Jewish people. The prophet Zechariah also wrote of the Lord's plans for Israel and the nations: "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee." (Zech. 2:10-11. In this same prophetic word, Zechariah wrote that the LORD would inherit Judah his portion, and shall choose Jerusalem again. The LORD has not turned His back on Israel, Judah, which means "the people of praise", or Jerusalem. We have seen the restoration of Israel and Jerusalem in our lifetime. The LORD calls Jerusalem "a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. Because of this, He is jealous for Judah and Jerusalem with great jealousy, and great fury towards any nations that come against them. (Zech. 8:1-3, 9:13-14, 12:4-9). As He said: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem." (Zech. 12:9). Not only will the LORD fight for Judah and Jerusalem, but the LORD will bring a spiritual awakening to His people, and they will know their Messiah and see that He is one who is pierced: "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace, and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." (Zech. 12:10). Salvation comes to Jerusalem as Zechariah wrote: "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." (Zech. 13:1). This fountain is the fountain of blood shed by Jesus for sin. There will be no doubt as to who that fountain will be: "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." (v. 6). They, like Doubting Thomas, will see their Messiah, Jesus, face to face, and they shall mourn for what they see. One way in which the Savior may be revealed to Israel is through the Shroud of Turin, with its deeply impacting image of Christ, bearing witness to His sufferings, death, and even His resurrection. In these times filled with the signs of the Lord's soon return, we see much hatred against those of faith, along with Anti-Semitism, and other forms of racism. Scripture tells us that there is a deceiver who accuses the brethren of faith, and even causes the brethren to accuse each other, as even the elect will be deceived if possible. However, he is defeated and cast down: "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world...'Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Rev. 12:9-11). We saw earlier that martyrdom of the saints occurs when the seals of the book are opened. There may well be martyrdom to face in this era of hatred against faith, not only in the so-called third world nations, but it could also occur here at anytime. Time is progressing quickly, and these things are coming about with a vengeance. We need to know the Word, the facts, and the truth. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 8/7/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and endtimeschool, also on Facebook.

Rejoice in the LORD*

This week, the Feast of Tabernacles ends after a seven day observance. The next day, the Eighth Day, is Shemini Atzeret. The eighth day is also called Simchat Torah, or "Rejoice in the Torah": "Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein." (Lev. 23:36). It is interesting to know that acording to Jewish custom, a marriage supper doesn't occur until after the newly married couple enters their chamber for seven days at the time of the wedding. On the eighth day following the marriage, the bridegroom brings the bride out of the chamber for the marriage supper celebration. The Eighth Day is a time for rejoicing. Eight is also the number of "new beginnings". The phrase "Rejoice in the LORD" occurs thirty-six times in scripture. From the New Testament: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord...Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:1, 4:4-7). A type of shutting in, like that which occurs for seven days within the wedding chamber mentioned above, appears in prophetic scripture, and again, it leads to rejoicing: "...Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust...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. 26:17-21, excerpt). These verses speak of the raising of the dead, and the punishment of the wicked, while the LORD's people are enclosed safely in their chambers with the doors shut. We see this also with Noah being shut up in the ark, with God Himself shutting the door. In this way, Noah was kept in safety while the earth was flooded in judgment of the wicked. The parable told by Jesus of the five foolish virgins who were unprepared for the arrival of the bridegroom (Mt. 25), found that they were left outside the shut door as a result. Isaiah prophesies of a strong city in Judah, whose walls and defenses are salvation. Its gates are open to the entrance of the righteous nation that keeps the truth. For those who trust in the LORD, there is perfect peace and everlasting strength (Isa. 26:1-4). In this, Isaiah wrote that he will exalt and praise God: "And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine...well refined. He will destroy in this mountain...the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the LORD God will wipe away tears from off all faces...And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us...we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." (Isa. 25:1-9 excerpt). There is also great rejoicing regarding the coming marriage of the Lamb: "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints....Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb...These are the true sayings of God." (Rev. 19:7-9). In these verses, first we have the marriage of the Lamb, and then the marriage supper of the Lamb. This fits into the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles, and the rejoicing on the Eighth Day, following it. Rejoicing also accompanies the anticipation of the coming of the LORD: "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee...And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again." (Zech. 2:10-13, excerpt). As the LORD promise here to "dwell in the midst" of His people, this is the essence of the Feast of Tabernacles. The LORD will not forget His promises to Israel, Judah and Jerusalem, of which we see one example here in these verses. The Church does not replace Israel in the plan and promises of God, although this false "Replacement Theology" doctrine is believed today by some. The LORD will fulfill His Word regarding Israel and Jerusalem, and all of the nations of the earth will also be benefitted as a result. The LORD is jealous for His land, and its people: "Thus saith the LORD, I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain." (Zech. 8:1-3). Through this fall feast season, we have come through a time of fasting, self-examination and repentance, as found in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. From that cleansing, we enter into the rejoicing of Tabernacles and Shemini Atzeret, the Eighth Day. The prophet Joel wrote of the same thing. The people were to call a solemn assembly to seek the LORD with their whole hearts, fasting with weeping and mourning (Joel 2:12-17). Even the bridegroom and the bride were to come out of their marriage chamber to join the assembly in repentance. As a result of this repentance of His people, the LORD would turn again and have jealousy for His land, and pity upon His people. He will bless with abundance, and restore what was destroyed (v. 18-25). Joel wrote: "Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things...Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God..." (v. 21, 23). After this, the LORD gave His great prophecy where He promises: "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh...I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth...before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." (v. 28-32). The LORD also promises that in that day, He will bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem (Joel 3:1). We do not react and judge based upon current outward appearances, but we bring all thoughts and imaginations into the obedience of Christ, who is the Word of God (see 2 Cor. 10:1-7). It is time to rejoice in the LORD: "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation." (Hab. 3:18). Are we going to believe the report of the WORD, or the report of the world? *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 9/26/21 message to the church. To contact us, to make a prayer request, to give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705, or by email at Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us, including the complete video of this message, on Facebook and Twitter. You can find information about Dr. Stevenson's newest book, "NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling" at endtimeschool.com.

Why I believe "The Time" is at hand

 

Make no mistake-scripture is very plain that Jesus Christ is returning. The prophetic signs that are to appear before His return are already in place. Jesus, Himself, clearly taught these signs so His disciples would know when the season was approaching, yet much of the Church doesn't seem to be preparing for this great event. Some in the Church have the same attitude that Peter warned against:

"...I now write unto you...I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they are willingly ignorant of, that by the word of God...the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But that the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."   2 Peter 3:1-7 (excerpt)

Peter points out that men laugh at the idea of the imminence of Christ's return based upon the false idea that God has never judged the earth, but He has indeed judged it- by a flood of water. Of this flood, evidence can be found today. Peter goes on to say that the only reason the coming judgment by fire has not yet happened is because of God's nature and desire to allow man as much time as is possible in order to repent and return to God. He "is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."  Believers, as opposed to the scoffers however, should be looking for, and anticipating these things to come (v. 12-14).

The prophet Joel gave us a description of our role and purpose as the day of the LORD draws near. That description has nothing to do with sitting back apathetically while we wait, as we can see:
"Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD, Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty it shall come...Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all of the inhabitants of the land tremble, for it is nigh at hand...now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rent your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil..." Joel 1:14, 2:1-2, 12-14
Joel tells us that all of the people need to assemble, even children and babies (2:16). The priests and ministers of the LORD should be weeping and crying aloud, "Spare thy people, O LORD..." They should be crying to the LORD to deliver his people from the rule of the heathen. It is a terrible thing for God's people to be in the hands of the heathen. We see today, the effects upon people of faith as we have become ruled by the heathen. They are pitiless and intolerant towards those of faith, and it will become even worse according to the prophetic word of scripture. Their rule is so complete in their own estimation, that they feel free to mock the God of the faithful (2:17).
Has the Church sounded the alarm? Have we assembled together without exception in a united appeal? Are we crying out to the LORD with weeping and repentance, or is it "Church as usual"? Joel describes the day of the LORD, and it is one of terror, darkness, war, quakes, and fire, as Peter also said. Joel asks in horror, "...for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" (Joel 2:11). How can the petitions and repentance of God's people possibly have any effect upon this pending devastation? Yet it does. Upon the repentance and cries of His people, God moves:
"Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people...I will no longer make you a reproach among the heathen...Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God,...and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month...And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit...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 2:18-32 (excerpt)
Not only does the LORD do a wondrous spiritual thing for His people, pouring out His spirit as never before, but He will also bring the heathen who have sought to divide, rule over, and profit from His people of Jerusalem, Judah, and Zion, into the valley of judgment. The harvest is ripe, the press is full, because their wickedness is great (Joel 3:12-13, Rev. 14:14-20). We are seeing the fullness of that wickedness even now. However, because of the cries and repentance of His people:
"The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel."  Joel 3:16
Is the reason that we are failing to follow the LORD's provision for our miraculous deliverance because of our own disbelief? What other reason could there be for us to have failed to gather, fast weep, and cry out to Him, as we see the signs of His return all around us? Have we fallen into the league of scoffers that Peter warned about who are saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?"
Church, I am here to tell you that I believe the time is at hand.

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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. 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.


 



A Covenant vs. A Testament

 

 

Often the Church views its relationship with Christ as a result of a testament, rather than a covenant, and teaches others to do the same. However, the Church cannot be the Ekklesia, the called out assembly, until it understands and walks in covenant relationship with Christ. Jesus expressed the result of that failure to do so this way:

"Not everyone that sayeth unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."  Mt. 7:21-23

Many are going to make this mistake, having felt secure in their knowledge of Christ, only to find out too late that they never had a covenant relationship with Christ.

One way the Church has missed the Gospel of Christ completely because of the lack of covenant, is in its neglect, or wilfull ignorance of some of the Gospel's foundational truths. Much of the Church believes and teaches that the Church has replaced Israel in covenant with God - that the Church is spiritual Israel. Nothing could be further from the truth, as we shall see.
Also the Church teaches that salvation is a one-time, for all time, gift from God through Christ, requiring nothing from the receiver, but acceptance. As we learned from Jesus in Mt. 7, above, there is more required.
 Writing to the church at Rome, Paul said:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith...To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life...Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also to the Gentile; But glory, honour and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God."   Rom. 1, 2
Salvation in our lives is not a one-time event, received as a testament bequeathal from the One dead. It is worked out in increments and growth in an ongoing covenant relationship with the One who was dead, but is now resurrected, and living. A testament is unilateral from one dead. A covenant is bi-lateral, requiring two to enter into it. As Paul taught, the Gospel is a continuing, developing growth into the full measure of the stature of Christ-from "faith to faith", and with "patient endurance".
Often the Church leaves behind the principles of the Gospel in order to please men, especially in its compromise regarding righteousness. Paul taught that those who continue in the flesh and sin, are still servants or slaves to sin unto death regardless of the gift of grace available through Christ (Rom. 6:1-2,16). To continue to sin brings us right back under the dominion of death. Covenant with Christ, on the other hand, joins us in baptism with His death, with His burial, and with His resurrection. We become dead to sin, it no longer having power to entangle us, and living in resurrection, or Spirit instead:
"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwell (to occupy a house, reside, cohabit, inhabited house, all become one in a house) in you...For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."   Rom. 8:11, 13
Instead of excusing and accepting sin, which leads to certain death, shouldn't the Church be teaching how to dwell in and with the Spirit, in order to live? The Church should be advocating the way to life in Christ, and in the Spirit, not the way to death. If we continue to advocate the way to death, even though we know the way to life, then we are like those who thought they were doing great works for Christ, but were, in reality, unknown to Him. What a sad and useless end! However, this does not have to be our end.
Additionally, as the Church, which claims to preach salvation, continues to ignore the importance of the Jew first in that salvation, again, we will be like those incomplete, and even dead.The Jews are not excluded from the Gospel of Christ, and His salvation. In fact, they are an integral part of it. Paul insists that their re-grafting back into the Gospel and Christ, or "the olive tree", is life from the dead:
"...through their fall, salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness? For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches...And they also, if they bide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again...how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?  Rom. 11:11-24 (excerpt)
After the resurrection of Christ, thousands of Jews, even scribes and priests, believed on Him. Israel was blinded in part so the fullness of the Gentiles could be brought in. However, the Church ignores the will of God that "All Israel shall be saved." (Rom. 11:25-26, Isa. 59:20, Ps. 14:7). To continue to ignore the importance of the Jew to the Body of Christ, is to continue to refuse to do "the will of the Father", as Jesus instructed us in the verses from Matthew 7.
Most of the problem comes in our misunderstanding, and our incorrect use of the word "church". "Church" has become to us an organization, even a building. However, the word in the New Covenant, poorly translated into English from the Greek is the word ekklesia. Ekklesia is neither an organization, nor a building. It is a called out, called forth, called by, called away from, called aloud, separated from, assembly of people, to receive the name of, to bear the name or title of, by word, command, or order (of God), especially gathered for sacred purposes (by God). If we do not understand the awesome and miraculous "calling out" with which we were called, we cannot fulfill it.
Being the Ekklesia is not the result of a testament. Being the Ekklesia is the result of a covenant, a covenant with the One who was dead, but is now alive (Rev. 1:18).

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 https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.e.stevenson/videos/10212240456628407/    
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FhuiqfVgzw&feature=youtu.be                                                                                           

 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart. I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, forgive me, and 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.

Back To Pentecost

 

Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, is the next appointed feast of Israel on the calendar. Pentecost was necessary to the Church in order to keep the directives, also known as The Great Commission, that the risen Jesus, gave to His disciples while appearing to them. Pentecost is also the fulfillment of the prophetic promise of God as told to His prophet, Joel. As we shall see, this prophecy was for the end time, so its fulfillment is a very important event in discerning the times in which we live.

Jesus' commands to His disciples were specific, and must have sounded to their ears virtually impossible for them to achieve, as they were already struggling with doubt (Mk. 16:14):

"And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (age). Amen...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

So then after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached every where, the LORD working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."  Mt. 28:18-20, Mk. 16:15-20

As we look at The Great Commission of Christ that was given to His disciples, and all of the Church, there are several important points to understand.

The directives were born out of the POWER that Christ had been given in heaven and in earth.

The disciples were to go and teach all nations, and preach the gospel to every creature. From this point on, the gospel was also to go to the gentiles, as well as the Jews (first:Rom. 1:16), and to all creation. The Kingdom of God is made up of every race, tribe, and tongue (Rev. 5:9, 14:6). Racism and prejudice do not belong in the Church, and are not acceptable in any society that claims a Judeo-Christian heritage.

The disciples were to teach what Christ had taught them-man's doctrines and traditions have nothing to do with Christ's directives.

Because the disciples were fulfilling the commands of Jesus, they would have protection in their work. This is not an invitation to put on displays with serpents and poisons, as some practice. Several incidents in scripture depict the fact that the disciples were delivered from death that would have resulted from the performing of their Commission.

The signs that would confirm the Word of Christ, would follow believers, not just those who are of a certain rank in the Church, but all who believe. This Word of the gospel casts out demons, and causes the sick to recover, not just then, but also now and forever. These signs don't follow and confirm tradition, or religion, but the Word, which is Jesus.

On the last occasion when Christ would discuss His directions, having shown Himself to them for forty days following His crucifixion, He began to reveal how these simple men from Galilee would be able to carry out this world-changing Commission that He had given them:
"And being assembled together with them, (Jesus) commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence....ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."   Acts 1:4-8 (excerpt)

The power to fulfill the Commission which Jesus gave not only to those disciples, but also to all believers, comes by the baptism with the Holy Ghost. This baptism, which the disciples must wait for, is the one prophesied and promised by God, and we will read the details of that prophecy later. Because of this description of the baptism given by Jesus, the disciples also asked Him if this meant the kingdom was being restored to Israel at that time (v. 6). As we know from history and scripture, Israel was under the dominion of the Romans. Jesus answered that it was not for them to know what the Father has kept in His own power and authority.
After this appearance by Jesus, the disciples saw Him ascend into heaven, and two men, clothed in white, appeared to tell them that Jesus would come again in the same manner that they had just witnessed Him ascending, directly from heaven (v. 10-11). This is important for us to know, because in these last days, we have heard many claiming to be a messiah figure, some even claiming to be Christ, and others will make the claim in the days ahead. However, according to these verses, the only true Christ will come from heaven through the clouds when He returns.

A few days later, on the day of Pentecost, as the disciples gathered together in one place, and in one accord, the baptism of the Holy Ghost, as promised by the Father, and assured by the Son, fell upon them. A sound (voice) from heaven, and a mighty wind filled the place. This baptism appeared as fire upon each one. The Spirit gave them the utterance of other tongues as they were filled. There were many witnesses to this supernatural event. Devout Jewish pilgrims from many nations were in Jerusalem and at the same location, because the tomb of David was located below the place where the disciples had gathered. (It is still there to this day.) All of these pilgrims from other lands heard the disciples proclaiming the wonderful works of God in all of the foreign tongues represented by the pilgrims. These witnesses were astounded because it was obvious that the disciples were Galileans, and not familiar with all of the various languages with which they spoke (Acts 2:11). The witnesses wondered how it was possible that they were hearing the gospel in their own languages.Some thought they were witnessing drunkenness.
Peter, once a frightened man who had denied Christ three times, now stood and addressed the crowd with boldness and with scriptural knowledge. He told them that what they had just witnessed was not drunkenness, but the fulfillment of the promise that God had made through His prophet, Joel:
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy...And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved." 
                                                                                            Acts 2:17-21 (excerpt)
This Holy Ghost outpouring witnessed by many that day, and explained by Peter, was also one of the signs and wonders that would precede that "great and notable day of the Lord", according to Joel's prophecy (v. 19-20).
The baptism of the Holy Ghost is not just for two thousand years ago, but is for us also. This power from heaven still enables each believer to fulfil the Commission of Christ. Signs and wonders still follow and confirm the teaching and preaching of the Word.
As we approach Pentecost, let each of us faithfully walk in this baptism. Let us seriously return to Pentecost, and pray for the unity of the faith, and the stature of Christ among us. Let us pray for our nation, and for the repentance and revival that leads to eternal life. Neither the problems of the world, nor the solutions, are political, but spiritual, and the ministry to these things is in the hands of the believers in Christ, filled with the Pentecost Spirit of God.
If you have never received Jesus as your Savior, nor the baptism of the Holy Spirit, both are available to you today. All you have to do is ask:
"Lord Jesus, I believe You Word and Your promises to me, and I ask that You come into my heart, and cleanse me from my sins. Fill me with the Holy Ghost fire from heaven, promised by the Father. Fulfill in me the Feast of Pentecost, so I can have the power to live in Your righteousness, and minister Your saving truth to others in these last days. Thank You for the precious gifts that You died, and rose from the dead, to provide for me. I ask and receive this in Jesus' name, Amen."

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Will You Seek His Face, or Hide From His Face?

 

There is great debate and confusion, even within the church, regarding current events and issues, and how they relate to these latter days before the return of Christ. One thing is clear, however, more than ever before, we must seek God's face, and His direction for us.

From the beginning, man has tried to hide himself from God, when he has sinned, even though his healing and remedy could be found in God. After choosing to believe the lie of the serpent, and refusing to follow God's instruction, Adam and his wife tried to hide from Him:

"And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden."   Gen. 3:8

The word "presence" in the above verse is the Hebrew word paniym, which means "face". In their guilt, Adam and Eve hid themselves from the face of their Creator.

From this beginning of scripture, we can go to the end of scripture, and find that man will still choose to remain in sin, and hide from the face of God, even in the midst of great wrath and destruction. Death and Hell will be loosed over the fourth part of the earth. Great natural calamities will be occurring in heaven, and on earth. Yet men will still be determined to hide from God's face:

"And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath has come; and who shall be able to stand?"   Rev. 3:15-17

No one will be exempt from His wrath. Even the most powerful and wealthy will choose to hide with the lowliest among man. Zephaniah the prophet similarly said:

"Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy..."   Zeph. 1:18

Prophet Hosea revealed that the LORD was waiting for men to acknowledge their sin and seek His face as He says:

"I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek My face: in their affliction, they will seek Me early."  Hos. 5:15

The people who decide to seek Him declare:

"Come and let us return unto the LORD...after two days, He will revive us: in the third day, He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight."   Hos. 6:1-2

While the phrase "in the third day" prophesies the resurrection of Christ that will occur centuries later, it also refers to the latter days, the time in which we live.

Zephaniah wrote that mighty men shall cry bitterly in that great day of the LORD, even at the voice of the day of the LORD. He describes the day of the LORD as a day of wrath, trouble and distress, desolation and darkness (Zeph. 1:14-15). He, like Hosea, counsels men to seek the face of the LORD:

"Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger."

                                                                                                             Zeph. 2:3

Zephaniah spoke above that in seeking the LORD, one may be hidden from the danger to come.

Prophet Isaiah also wrote that we should seek the LORD, rather than hide from Him:

"Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near."  Isa. 55:6

Isaiah's words also imply a warning, that there may come a time when it will be too late to seek the LORD, so men must seek Him now, rather than later.

David, even before Zephaniah, wrote in the Psalms about seeking the LORD, and as a result, being hidden by Him in the time of trouble:

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock....When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek..."   Ps. 27:4, 5, 8

The LORD, Himself, instructed His people in the day of calamity:

"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."   2 Chron. 7:14

The remedy, as we see calamity come upon our land, and upon the whole earth, is not to hide from God's face but to seek it. He is our remedy for sin, not only for us as individuals, but for the whole land. He is waiting for us to turn away from ourselves, and toward His face.

The LORD has even made provision for us to seek His face in these end times, by revealing His precious face upon the Shroud of Turin. It is the face of the One who died to provide our mercy, and rescue ( Seek His Face ).

Will you seek His face, or hide from it?

 

"But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming?" Handel

 

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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.

 

The Sword, The Prod, and The Word

 

 

Jerusalem has been in the headlines lately, with the announcement by the President of the United States that this country will recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The announcement caused much turmoil in that city, and condemnation from all the nations of the world. What is so important about this city, especially in these Last Days, and the role it will play in the events of the End Times, that the world would be so agitated by its recognition?
The city of Jerusalem, cannot be separated from the Temple Mount within it, and with the Temple of the LORD which sat upon that Mount in the past, and, according to prophecy in scripture, will sit upon it again. Not only does the Temple Mount have historical and current day importance, but it also has deep, spiritual meaning and importance. As Ezekiel prophesied:
"Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. This is the law of the house; upon the top of the mountain, the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house."   Ezek. 43:10-12
Every detail, every activity of the House of the LORD, has spiritual, life-changing power, according to the verses above. Even the mountain upon which it stood, every inch of it, was "most holy". As the people examined this Temple that Ezekiel would write out for them in detail, it would bring about a spiritual change to Israel. It would bring repentance, renewal, and reconciliation with God. This House shown to Ezekiel was not just a physical structure, but a spiritual structure.
A similar vision was given to the prophet Isaiah:
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, "Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we shall walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."   Isa. 2:2-3
This house established on the top of the mountains, which Isaiah saw in a vision, is a work of "the last days", the days in which we currently live. That term does not refer to the end of the world, as people often mistake it, but the end of an age. Not only will this house spiritually impact Israel, but all the nations and people of the world. The LORD will teach all of the people from this house, and they will be enthusiastic to go there. The word of God that comes out of Jerusalem is no small thing. There is also no mistaking who the LORD is that is being referred to here. He is the God of Jacob, from the line of Isaac.
Not only is the world hostile to the idea of a glob-impacting spiritual transformation from Jerusalem, but even many of God's own people, prefer the comfortable status quo, in which they create their own law, and their own religious customs. To these people, it will never be the right time to "build the house of the LORD":
"Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, "This people say, "The time is not come, the time that the LORD's house should be built."... Now therefore thus sayeth the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways."   Hag. 1:2, 5
The LORD went on to tell the people that the things that they considered important, and of a higher priority, had not satisfied their needs. The activities in which they invested instead of building the LORD's house, not only consumed their time, attention, sweat, and finances, but had not yielded long-lasting fruits to their lives, just the opposite: "Therefore, the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit." (Hag. 1:6,10). Even the natural conditions of the earth are affected by the presence, or absence of the house of the LORD. The LORD instructs the people to "...go up to the mountain..., and build the house; I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified" (v. 8).
As they listened to the servants of God, Zerubbabel (meaning "I am the sword of the Highest, and a prod to the house") and Joshua, who had both been obedient in all that the LORD had given them to do, and also to the prophet Haggai, the people came and did the work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God. 
The LORD again declares that this house to be built will have a spiritual effect upon the whole earth. The Lord will shake the heavens, the earth, the land, and the sea. Also:
"And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace."   Hag. 2:6-9
As the people completed the foundation of the house of the LORD on the 24th day of the ninth month (this would be around the time of Hanukkah), the LORD told them to consider the day because  "...from this day, will I bless you." (v. 18-19).
Keep in mind through all of this, the fact that Jesus is building a spiritual house out of living stones, a living temple. As the Church, this should be our fervent desire and goal. As we consider this great house that the LORD will build on the mountain of Jerusalem, and the earth shaking and changing effect it will have on all people, the living, spiritual house being built by Christ, a latter house, has even greater glory, and must be a part of this plan also. We can see this below.
In Chapter 37, Ezekiel talks about a divided people, one of Judah, and the other of Ephraim, the half-gentile son of Joseph, becoming joined together as one (v.19). It will be accompanied by a great miracle of God: the Israelites are taken from the nations, and brought back into their own land. We already saw this fulfilled after WW II.  As these two people are united as one, David (Messiah) will be their King and Shepherd (v. 24). They will be cleansed of sin, and restored to God (v. 23). The LORD will make an everlasting covenant of peace to be established among this united people. "I...will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore."  Ez. 37:26-28

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Feast of Atonement-Yeshua IS Our Atonement

 

The Feast of Atonement, Yom Kippur, is the second fall feast of the LORD. One day a year, the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle or Temple, and sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice upon the Mercy Seat, which was atop the Ark of the Covenant. This blood offering cleansed the sins of the people for one year. It was not a permanent atonement for sin, and had to be renewed yearly. The days leading up to this feast were marked by self-examination, and deep repentance. This feast was a prophetic type and shadow that would be perfectly, and eternally, fulfilled by the Messiah.

Under the New Covenant, Jesus Christ became both our High Priest who enters, and the  blood of sprinkling. He brought  into the heavenly Holy of Holies the sacrifice of blood that He provided from His own body, to sprinkle upon the Mercy Seat of God:
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause, He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."   Heb. 9:12-15
                                                                     And:
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ...To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you..."  1 Pet. 1:2, 4
No longer for just a year, but now, as Christ has fulfilled the Feast of Atonement with the sprinkling of His blood, the redemption and the inheritance are eternal.
The Jewish blessing and prayer for the Feast of Atonement is "May you be inscribed in the Book of Life". Now, through Christ, the Messiah, that prayer is fulfilled.
We should also know that not only did Jesus enter the Holy of Holies with His blood, but in so doing, He made the way possible for us to enter this holiest place as well:
"Having therefore, brethren , boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, His flesh; and having a High Priest over the house of God; 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 in pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our hope without wavering (for He is faithful that promised)."   Heb. 10:19-23
Following into the Holy of Holies, after the way that Jesus established with His blood, we follow Him in priesthood, and we have priestly responsibilities, and obligations. We cannot hold our priesthood in just any manner. It requires consecration, setting ourselves apart from the ways and spirit of the world. Through the Prophet Malachi, God exhorted the priesthood:
"For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto My name, and a pure offering: for My name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts."
                                                                                            Mal. 1:11
Incense offered to God is the form of our prayers before Him (Rev. 8:3-4), and also in the verse above, God says He requires a pure offering. We are that pure offering ("I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  Rom. 12:1). As we perform these priestly duties, God's name becomes great in all the nations, and among the heathen who do not know Him. We see this principle again in Malachi:
"My covenant was with him (that is Levi, the tribe of priests) of life and peace,,,he feared (reverenced, awed by) Me, and was afraid (amazed, broken, prostrate) before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with Me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts."  Mal. 2:5-7
The LORD teaches through Malachi above, that the priest who fulfills his responsibilities as he should, brings the covenant of life and peace with him. His reverent ministry before God has the effect of turning many others from iniquity. People will seek the knowledge and truth found in the priest's mouth, and the priest becomes the messenger of the LORD. All of this is accomplished as a result of the total reverence and deference to God in the priest's own heart. His own heart must be sprinkled with that atoning blood.
All of this great work of the Messiah's atoning blood and the Spirit is a fulfillment of the prophetic promise of God:
"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one who is in bitterness for his first born...In that day, there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhbitnts of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the (false) prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land....And one shall say unto Him, "What are these wounds in Thine hands? Then He shall answer, "Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends."  Zech. 12:10, 13:1-2, 6
The eternal promise and inheritance have been accomplished in us and through us in the fulfillment by Jesus of the Feast of Atonement. Others, even whole nations, are to be impacted by that atonement work in us. However, as we have seen, our resulting priesthood in Christ also requires something of us.

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Hosea and Gomer:Yeshua and America

 

The prophet Hosea, whose name, like Jesus' name, means "salvation", "deliverer", was instructed by God to marry a prostitute named Gomer, and have children with her. Many times, Hosea had to go out and find his missing wife, and buy her back from one of her male customers. This marriage was a prophetic picture of how God sadly viewed His relationship with Israel. Like a prostitute, Israel was unfaithful in her relationship with God, her Husband (Hos. 1:2). Gomer's name can mean either "completion" or "failure" in Hebrew. The dichotomy of Gomer's name represents a crossroads in God's relationship with His people, Israel.

Just as Israel came to this crossroads of choice in her relationship with God, America has come to a very similar crossroads of choice with Jesus, Yeshua. The choice we make at these crossroads, as with Hosea's Israel, will determine the future of America. Will we, the people of God in America, choose the road to "completion" in Christ, or "failure"? As Israel was the bride of God, the Church is the bride of Christ. This is a very serious turning point in our history as a nation, which will hinge upon the choice made by God's people-not the politicians, nor unbelievers, but by His own people, called by His name.

We will see clearly the choice that lays before us as we examine the very similar conditions

between the nation of Israel during Hosea's time, and the America of today.

Israel was brought to a crossroads of choice because she forgot her God from whom all of her blessings came, and worshipped instead false gods and idols:

"For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Ba'al."   Hos. 2:8

Though God had blessed Israel, Israel turned to blood-thirsty false gods, who demanded even the sacrifice of their children in fire. Similarly, God's people of America have forgotten the source of her riches and blessings, and have used these abundant riches from God to indulge self, and to enrich the idols of our souls- our own desires, our own will, comfort, entertainment and adornment. We have wrongly believed that the power to get wealth has been a power of our own hands.

Israel saw God remove His wealth and blessings from her (Hos. 2:9-13). America, including God's people, is seeing the same removal of God's blessings in our own economy. Although we are seeking to become economically great again, we will find "failure" instead without seeking God first in repentance. God rewards those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).

As with the economic similarities between Hosea's Israel and America today, so also are the political, spiritual, and moral similarities. Israel fell into political chaos and division, as well as a spiritual vacuum, as they forgot God:

"For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod (chest piece of a priest's robes which includes the Urim and Thummim) and without teraphim (a figure, or idol, from which oracles are sought)...there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land."  

                                                                                                      Hos. 3:4, 4:1

The chaos of the political condition, and the emptiness of the spiritual condition of Hosea's Israel, was also reflected in the fallen moral condition of God's people at that time:

"By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and everyone that dwelleth therein shall languish...My people are destroyed for 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."   Hos. 4:2, 3, 6

We cannot help but see these same things today in America- economic loss, political division and chaos as never before. Truth, faith and morality are at an epic low. And our children! God help the children of America, who, having been raised without the knowledge of God, are treading in the darkness of that loss.

These sad conditions were also reflected in the names of the children Hosea fathered with his wife, the prostitute, Gomer:

Jezreel- God sows/scatters (casting in various directions)

Lo-Ruhamah- no mercy, compassion, nor tender affection

Lo-Ammi- not My people/kindred

Even the Hebrew letters of Gomer's name, gimel, mem, and reysh reflect the spiritual condition of God's people illustrated in the above verses: rising up from the knees in pride, floods of chaos, and what or who is the highest, the most important in our lives.

Like Gomer, God's people in America, have lifted themselves up off of their praying knees, full of pride and self-importance. What has become most important in our lives seems to be everything, and anything other than God. We have given everything to the temporal, the things that pass away, and ignored the eternal, the things that are lasting. Floods of chaos have come into our lives and nation as a result. Truth, mercy, and the knowledge of God, have been replaced by swearing, lying, killing, adulteries, and bloodshed upon bloodshed. We have, as a result, been brought to a crossroads with God.
 

The good news, as it was with Israel, is that God  and "completion" are waiting at these crossroads to forgive, heal, and restore, if we will seek Him, seek His face, once again returning to our knees in prayer, repenting and making Him, and Him only, the God of our life (2 Chron. 7:14).

"...and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said to them, "You are not My people", there it shall be said to them, "Ye are the sons of the living God."

"And I will betroth them unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD....And I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not My people, "Thou art My people"; and they shall say, "Thou art my God."

"Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their King (Messiah);and shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days."

                                                                            Hos. 1:10, 2:19, 20, 23, 3:5

We are living in the "latter days". Hosea and Gomer: Yeshua and America. We are at the crossroads of decision with God.

 

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2017-Season of Zechariah

 

 

Recently, the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, made statements regarding Israel and Jerusalem that, at best, were lies, and at worst, were anti-Semitic. There has been very little outrage expressed by the Church regarding these statements. One example from Sec. Kerry's comments follows:

"If the choice is one state, Israel can be Jewish or democratic, it cannot be both, and it won't ever really be at peace."

The statements of Sec. Kerry are unacceptable, and shameful to America, but they reflect the prophetic conditions of our time warned of in scripture. They also signal the nearness of the end of the age (not the end of the world, as some incorrectly speak), the creation of a false treaty of peace that will result in a horrific war, the building of a third temple in Jerusalem, and the return of Messiah, Jesus.

In the face of lies, demands, and accusations against Israel by the highest officials, and by the United Nations, it is essential and timely to read and know what God's plans are for Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem.

God describes Jacob (Israel) as the "apple of God's eye" (Deut. 32:9-10, Zech. 2:8), meaning Israel is the center of God's presence, fountain, and face. God makes assurances in the strongest terms as the Keeper of Israel:

"Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."  Ps. 121:4

 

שָׁמַר

That word "keepeth" in Hebrew has a very strong meaning. It is the word shamar, to keep, guard, observe, have charge of, protect, save life, watchman, wait for, preserve, keep covenant, perform vows, to be on one's guard. The letters of the word, shin, mem, reysh, are even more emphatic, meaning to devour, to chew to pieces, to flood in massive water, chaos, and blood by the Head, the Highest. We will see this meaning fully developed later. While the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps, the Church seems to be sleeping, with very little to say about these important prophetic developments. Even though Secretary Kerry and others have spoken concerning Israel and Jerusalem, the words of men will not prevail over the Word of the LORD as given to His prophet, Zechariah  regarding Jerusalem:

 

 



-The LORD will return to Jerusalem and His house (the third temple) shall be built in it. The LORD shall comfort Zion, and yet choose Jerusalem. (Zech. 1:16-17, 2:12)

-The LORD has said that He will be unto her (Jerusalem) a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.  (Zech. 2:5)

-The LORD says that he who touches Zion touches the apple of His eye, and God will shake His hand upon those who touch her, and they shall be a spoil.  God also tells all flesh to "Be silent" before the LORD regarding their opposition to Jerusalem.  (Zech. 2:8-9, 13)

-Furthermore, the LORD says that He is jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and with great fury.  (Zech. 8:2)

-The LORD returns to Zion, dwelling in the midst of Jerusalem on the holy mountain of the LORD of hosts. He calls Jerusalem His city of truth.  (Zech. 8:3)

-The Creator of heaven and earth, and the One who forms the spirit of man within him, declares that He will cut in pieces those people of the earth who gather against Jerusalem.  (Zech. 12:1-2, 9)

-The LORD Himself will defend, and battle for Jerusalem.  (Zech. 14:1-3, 12)

-The LORD considers the city, and the house of David to be as God, and as the angel of the LORD.  (Zech. 12:8)

After all of these things, the LORD will reveal His salvation to Jerusalem:

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for His only Son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one who is in bitterness for his firstborn."

"And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem...and the LORD shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one."

                                                                                                 Zech.12:10, 14:8-9

With the nations currently rising up against Israel, and Jerusalem, this makes 2017 to be the year of Zechariah. We ignore the words of the Keeper of Israel and Jerusalem at our own peril. Those nations who move against Jerusalem will be judged harshly and unequivocally. In view of these events, it is time for the Church to wake up, and rise up, to be the Bride, to be the Ekklesia, the called-out assembly of God's people. Many in the Church fast for the new year. If we do so, let us do so sincerely (Isa. 58, Zech. 7), fasting for the peace of Jerusalem, and for the spreading of the Gospel to the Jews, and then the Gentiles. Let us also fast for our own nation, because we do not know the Word of God, nor how to repent before God. The little Word we do know, we ignore, or call irrelevant to our times. We have gone our own way, doing what seems right in our own eyes. This year, let us turn back to the LORD, and to His life and light.

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