Is Harvey a Sign?

 

After the terrible events of the past week, a question is being asked, "Is Hurricane Harvey a sign? Did we miss something with Hurricane Katrina, so worse came in the form of Harvey? It is appropriate to be thinking about this, especially at this time of year. This time of year is a period known as "teshuva". It is associated with the Fall Feasts of the LORD, with the return of Israel to the land, and with the return of hearts to God. We should be contemplating world events, and the signs of the times:

"It is the glory (kabode-splendor, heavy with honor) of God to conceal a thing (dabar-word, command, promise): but the honor (kabode-same as previous) of kings is to search out a matter (dabar-same as previous)."  Prov. 25:2

It is God's will and our purpose as His kings and priests, to search out these matters. Jesus scolded God's people because He wanted them to properly discern the signs of the times, but they failed to do so (Mt. 16:3).

One significant sign of the latter days, or end times, is the wickedness that prevails in men's hearts-even, unfortunately, in the Church:

"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 creation."  2 Pet. 3:3-4

An attitude of scoffing at the return of Christ exists today, as it did then, and men are determined to walk in the lust of the flesh like never before. We see the connection between sinful character and the end times repeatedly in scripture, and we are strongly warned not to allow ourselves to be partakers in this evil character:

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away (apostasia- defection from truth, the state, writing of divorcement) first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he that now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."  2 Thess. 2:3, 7

The revealing of the evil in our own hearts that causes us to turn from God, from Christ, is directly related to the revealing of the embodiment of evil character, the Anti-Christ. The spirit of antichrist is already at work in the world (1 Jn. 4:3).

Paul connects the evil in men's hearts and perilous times:

"This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good."   2 Tim. 3:1-3

Believers in Christ should not be partaking of this same evil character that feeds the growth of evil in the end times...quite the opposite:

"...that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."  Phil. 2:15

In addition, we have been given the spiritual armor of God, for the purpose of standing in His righteousness in these evil times (Eph. 6:13).

Again, Paul exhorts:

"Be ye not therefore, partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light...Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord, and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, rather reprove them. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time for the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."

                                                                                                 Eph. 5:7-11, 15-17

Walking in light, and wisdom is not for our benefit only, but we can actually redeem the time that has been overtaken by evil and wickedness. We are to lay aside all malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and evil speaking, abstaining from fleshly lusts (1 Pet. 2:1, 11). We have been called to something very different in this chosen generation, because we have been called out of that darkness, and into His marvelous light. God has made us His spiritual house, His royal priesthood, a holy nation, from every nation, kindred, tribe and tongue, of peculiar (of place, time, and purpose) people (v. 9).

We are called to be builders in these evil days, not destroyers, repairers and restorers of the ways of righteousness (Isa. 58:12).

As with the time of teshuva, this is the time to draw near and honor the LORD. Our ways, pleasures, and words, are to be His ways, pleasures, and words (v. 13). We are not called to add to division and strife, which is carnal, but we, the Church especially, must be laborers together with God (1 Cor. 3:4, 9).

Is Hurricane Harvey a sign? In the days of tribulation upon the earth, Jesus said that there would be "distress of nations with perplexity (be in doubt, not knowing what to do, or which way to turn); the sea and the waves roaring" (Lk. 21:25). As a nation, we have turned our own way. We have trusted in ourselves, and we have turned our backs on God. There are great trials coming upon the earth, and are now here, that carnal ways and understanding cannot solve. If we, as a nation, continue to choose to rely upon those things that cannot deliver us, we will reap distress and perplexity as a result.
However, we, the Church, also are a sign in these days of wickedness. The LORD put it this way:

"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

Today, Sunday, has been declared a national day of prayer. On this day, in this teshuva season, it is good for us to remember this promise from God, and turn back to Him.

 

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Is The Bride Ready to Say, "Come Quickly"?

 

 

So many signs around us point to the lateness of the hour. From the time that the nation of Israel was miraculously re-established in 1948, and the subsequent triumphant entry into Jerusalem in 1967, those who love the Lord's appearing have been on high alert.

Preparations have been made by some of the Jewish people to re-build the third temple, and to re-establish temple worship. Priests' garments have been prepared according to the Law of Moses, utensils used in temple worship have been made, a cornerstone of a new temple has been hewn, and the ashes of the last red heifer have been found.

The nations of the world are lining up according to prophecy.

The prophetic stage is set, the curtain is about to go up, the other players are all in place, but the key player is missing from the scene. The clock is ticking, and the audience, which is all creation, is getting restless, and beginning to call out. However, the curtain will not go up, and the greatest event of all time, the return of Christ, the Messiah, will not begin, until the lead player, the Church, is in its proper place, playing the role for which she has been ordained, and speaking the words from her heart that have been written for her to speak by the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Why is the Church missing from this stage? What is the Church's role in this great event? What are the words written, which the Church is to speak?

The first question, "Why is the Church missing?", can be answered with examples from scripture. In Lk. 14:15-24, Jesus told a parable about a certain man who prepared a great supper, and invited many to come: "Come; for all things are now ready." (v. 17). Every invited guest began to make excuses for why they could not be there. The excuses all had to do with the common cares and distractions of daily life. The man who had prepared this great supper was angry, and commanded his servant to bring in any poor stranger on the street, even those not usually held in esteem. There was still room, so the servant was told to go into the highways, and the countryside outside the city, and "compel them to come in that my house may be filled." (v. 23).

The Church, so caught up with daily cares, activities and needs, has chosen to send our excuses for our absence, and we have also not bothered to compel others to come so that the house may be filled.

There are also those who are supposed to be in place, but because of their own lusts, have chosen to walk in those desires, untransformed, unrenewed. They have become scoffers of the return of Christ saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."  (2 Pet. 3:3-4). For these people, the return of Christ is not desirable, nor convenient, so they choose to ignore the signs of the times, and the role they are supposed to play in these times.

Jesus said that there are those who are called "Jerusalem, the City of God", who refuse to be gathered and covered. They would rather kill the prophets who are calling and warning them, than heed and obey. They are determined to be their own lord and master, under the cover of religion, and as a result, they will become desolate (a flock deserted by the shepherd; a woman neglected by her husband, from whom the husband withholds himself). Jesus warns that these will not see Him again until the time comes when they cry out "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord". (Lk. 13:34-35, Ps. 118:26).

What is the Church's starring role in this great upcoming event?

 

 

The Church has been called to become the Royal Bride. The Bride is lovingly and eagerly awaiting the great moment of the coming of her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. This Bride is not distracted from her preparations. She is not dreading, delaying, nor avoiding the day because she desires others. She is not refusing because her Father has set the date and place, rather than herself. This Bride knows that the time of her departure is at hand. She stays on course to complete her role. She has prepared and made herself ready, clothing herself in the fine, clean, white linen of righteousness (Rev. 19:7-8). She faithfully plays her regal role with a crown of righteousness upon her head:

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing."  2 Tim. 4:8

The Church, who is to be in her proper place on stage, will be there because she desires not to be anathema, accursed, but, instead, to be Maranatha, "O Lord, come!"  (1 Cor. 16:22).

From offstage, we hear the Bridegroom proclaiming, "Behold, I come quickly...and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be...Surely I come quickly."                                                                                       Rev. 22:7,12, 20

The Bride now stands in the center of the stage, joined with the Holy Spirit, to speak those words which have been sovereignly written for her, and only her, to speak, "Come... Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Rev. 22:17, 20).

 

 

"And let him that heareth say, "Come."

 

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