Willingly Ignorant*

Each week there are alarming headlines that seem to be pointing towards Armageddon. Hostilities with Russia, Iran, and other nations are escalating. In addition, we are seeing an increase in injustice, wickedness, racism and ethnic hatreds. These are all signs of the end times as prophesied by Christ. The apostle Peter wanted the church to be reminded of these signs and others as the Word written by the prophets in the Torah, and by the commandments of the apostles (2 Peter 3:1-2). Peter also wanted to bring to our minds another condition of the last days: "...knowing this first: that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking in their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his (Christ's) coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." (v. 3-6). The scoffers who deny the possibility of Christ's return, and the judgment to come, do so to justify continuing in their lusts. They are described not as ignorant, but willingly (thelo - intend, resolve, determined, desire, love, take delight and pleasure in) ignorant (lanthano - to be hidden, to lie hidden). The scoffers don't want to see the truth themselves, and delight in hiding the truth from others. Peter wrote that the same Word of judgment is now stored up as fire for the days of destruction of ungodly men (v. 7). However, God is not arbitrarily delaying that day of judgment: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (v. 9). That day wll oome however, and it will come like a thief in the night, with fervent heat that will melt the elements of the heavens and the earth. This knowledge should have an effect on how we live - living lives of holiness and godliness, and with diligence, to be found by Christ to be without spot and blameless (v. 10-11, 14). We who know these signs are to look forward to new heavens and a new earth "wherein dwelleth righteousness" (v. 13), and be watchful "...lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness."(v. 17). Theses last days are a time when even the believers in Christ may fall into the same errors of the wicked, if we are not diligent. The "error of the wicked" is that willful ignorance of the truth: "But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and for ever. Amen (v. 18). We have learned that both grace and knowledge are contained in the Torah and the prophets. Jesus warned that the last days would be like the days of Noah, and like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, when life went in as usual, with people choosing to be willingly ignorant of the warning of the judgment of destruction about to come (Lk. 17:26-30). In the days of Noah, while all men were filled with corruption and violence continually, God found Noah to be perfect, whole and complete, in his generation. Noah found grace in the eyes of God, and he walked with God. God told Noah that He would destroy wicked men with the earth (Gen. 6:9-12). God then instructed Noah to build an ark. This ark was the witness of a coming judgment by water to that generation, but only Noah and his family heeded that warning and were saved. In the same manner, the violent perversion of Sodom and Gomorrah was before God. He sent two of His angels to see the cities for themselves, and to bring the judgment of brimstone and fire to the cities. Lot, who was Abraham's nephew, lived in Sodom with his wife and daughters. He saw the angels of God come into the city and pressed them to stay at his house, because he feared for their safety. The men of the city, both young and old, and from every walk of life, came to Lot's house, and demanded that Lot send the two "men" out to them that they might do what they wanted with them. Lot offered his daughters to the mob instead, but they wanted the visiting men. Lot warned them: "I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly." The mob ignored Lot's warning, and grew angry at Lot for "judging" their desires and deeds to be wicked, and they sought to harm him. The angels pulled Lot back into his house, and struck the mob blind, so they could not find Lot's door (Gen. 19:4-11). The angels then told Lot to warn any other family that he had in the city to get out: "For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it." (v. 12-13). Lot went out to warn his sons-in-law, "...but he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law." (v. 14). Like the sons-in-law of Lot, the world often treats the warnings of those who believe God's Word as if they are crazy, yet God's Word is proven true time after time, even to physical evidence found that supports Biblical accounts, such as the utter destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, with ash being all that's left of them. These examples from Noah's flood, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah were the warnings of Jesus regarding the time of His return, and it is willful ignorance to ignore them, or mock them. These warnings were not given by Jesus in an act of hate, but of love. As we read above, God desires none to perish, but for all to come to Him in repentance for salvation. Peter gave his warnings in love in order to remind the church of the words of the prophets and apostles, so that they would be prepared, and found living in holiness and godliness by Christ. Paul also wrote that our walk must be one of love: "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us...But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints...but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man who is an idolator, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." (Eph. 5:1-5). As Jesus said, all of the Torah and the prophets reflect love. All of the law and the prophets are summed up in two commandments according to Jesus: Love God, and love your neighbor. Paul wrote that he who loves another fulfills the law, and that the Ten Commandments, with which we are so familiar, are contained in the one phrase, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Love will never do harm to a neighbor, therefore, Paul repeats, love fulfills the law (Rom. 13:8-10). It is a deception, however, to believe that because God loves, He will not judge: "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be ye not therefore partakers with them." (Eph. 5:6-7, see also Isa. 61:1-2). We are to walk as children of light in the fruit of the Spirit, which is all goodness, righteousness and truth, proving with our lives what is acceptable to the Lord (v. 8-10). Rather than having fellowship with the works of darkness, we should reprove those shameful things which are done in secret. By doing so, we are being the manifestation of light (v. 8-13). Paul also wrote the following based upon what the prophet Isaiah said: "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." (v. 14, Isa. 60:1). It's not about reproving people, but reproving sin and darkness. Resurrection from the dead brings the light of life that is found in Christ, and has no part in the works of darkness (Jn. 8:12). Finally, Paul warned here for us not to walk as fools but as the wise. Don't waste the time given to us, but redeem the time in these evil days (v. 15-16). In another place, Paul wrote: "...knowing the time, ...it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed...the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Rom. 13:11-12). In Ephesians 6:10-17, Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God. That armor is an armor of light. This is our purpose: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." (Isa. 60:1-3). Are we just going along with the crowd, or are we redeeming the time with spiritual light? Paul also wrote: "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Col. 4:5-6). *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 3/19/23 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 END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

What Now America...What Now Church?*

Recently, the Supreme Court overturned the Roe V. Wade decision regarding abortion fifty years after the original decision had changed the laws of the nation. As Rabbi Jonathan Cahn wrote in his newest book, Israel was often saved from the brink of God's judgment by removing the altars that had been built to false gods like Ba'al and Molech, both of which were connected to child sacrifice. The tearing down of these ungodly altars could have been a sign of revival in Israel at the time, or it could have been an anomaly in the nation's continuing fall from God. Will we rise up at this time and fulfill 2 Chron. 7:14, and its spiritual warfare of repentance? Our warfare is not natural, with guns and violence, or even politics, but it is spiritual, through repentance, faith, and the Word of God. God hates sin, which leads to death, but God loves the sinner. For this reason, God sent His Son to die in the place of all sinners who will accept Him. What will America choose? What will the Church choose? Paul wrote about the conditions in the last days, and we see those same things now: "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, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1-5). We certainly see this in man today. Paul wrote that even though "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived", we, the believers are to continue and hold fast in what we have been taught by the apostles of the faith, and the holy scriptures, even as persecution comes against those of faith (v. 10-14). We are seeing the beginning of persecution in this nation, as the preaching and speaking of God's Word is being silenced by law, even in pulpits. However, Paul commands Timothy: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Tim. 4:2). There will come a time, wrote Paul, that because men's lusts, their destructive desires of various kinds, will rule them, Godly doctrine will no longer be tolerated (v. 4). Jude, the brother of Jesus Christ, wrote of similar concerns. He exhorted the believers to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares...ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord, Jesus Christ." (v. 3-4). Jude added that God had dealt with this kind of ungodliness in scripture as examples for us. He dealt with unbelieving Israelites, after He delivered them from Egypt, who had seen the power of God, but did not believe Him. Angels, who rebelled against their place, were chained in the pit as a result. Sodom and Gomorrah, condemned to eternal fire, chose fornication and strange flesh rather than the knowledge of God. "Woe unto them!" (v. 5-11). People who knew God, such as Cain, Balaam, and Korah, chose their own gain instead of God. Jude wrote that the Lord will bring judgment against the ungodly for "all of their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him", the Lord. (v. 15). These ungodly people are fruitless, shameless, without fear of God, and condemned to the darkness forever (v. 12-13). In "the last time", they are the mockers who walk after their own ungodly lusts...having not the Spirit (v. 18-19), as Paul also said, above. Believers, on the other hand, should build themselves up on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of Jesus unto eternal life. It is He who preserves us, and keeps us from likewise falling (v. 1, 20-24). Peter, another apostle, wrote about these issues also: "...there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you...their damnation slumbereth not." (2 Peter 2:1-3). Like Jude above, Peter also wrote of the examples in scripture where judgment followed intentional ungodliness: the angels that sinned and were cast down to hell in chains of darkness; the sparing of Noah, while the ungodly were destroyed in the flood; the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, while delivering Lot, who was considered righteous and just by God (v. 4-8). The Lord knows how to deliver the godly from destructive temptation, while reserving the ungodly, who walk after the flesh in lust, for His judgment (v. 9-10). There is a danger from those who walk in unrighteousness towards those who know God: "For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error...For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, and the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." (v. 18, 20-21). These who had formerly been saved through Christ, but turned back because of the influence of the ungodly, are compared to a dog returning to its vomit (v. 22, see Prov. 26:11). These ungodly men try to pull both you, and the nation, back from God. We are seeing the judgment of God in this nation through violence, pandemic, and destruction. As Paul and Jude above, Peter also warned: "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts." (2 Pet. 3:3). They scoff at the idea of judgment, because all seems to continue the same, while they willingly ignore the previous judgment of the great flood by which the world perished (v. 4-6). The same Word of judgment has now reserved the heavens and earth for the judgment of fire, rather than water. This fire is so consuming, that all elements will melt from its fervent heat (v. 7, 10). The only reason that we have not seen this judgment yet is because the Lord is "longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (v. 9). Again the question is asked by Peter that, considering all of these dangers of the last days, "what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness...?" (v. 11). So what now, America...what now, Church? King David in Psalm 12, cried to the LORD, saying, "...the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fall from among the children of men." They flatter and speak empty, vain things. They say as they please, refusing the Lordship of God over themselves, their words. They oppress the poor until the poor cry out before the LORD. "The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted." We see this today in that the vile have been promoted to the highest positions until the wicked think that they can do their wickedness without suffering any ramifications. However, David assured us: "The words of the LORD are pure: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." When a silversmith purifies silver, he repeats it until the silver is pure enough that the smith can see his face reflected in it. The Lord Jesus had this pure Word for all seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. Although they almost all had failings that could lead to their destruction, He urged them to be overcomers. The rewards that the Lord promised to each overcoming church are the same rewards that all believers are promised if they abide in Christ: to eat of the tree of life; to be spared from the second death; to eat of the hidden manna and to receive a white stone with your new name written upon it; to rule over nations and to receive the Morning Star, which is Jesus Christ Himself; to be clothed in white raiment, which is the clothing of righteousness, to have your name remain in the Book of Life, and to have your name declared before the Father and His angels by Jesus; to be made a pillar in God's temple, and to have the name of God, the city of New Jerusalem, and Christ's new name written, or more accurately engraved, upon you. Even to the lukewarm church of Laodicea, whom the Lord called "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked", if they would overcome, Jesus promised to them and to us: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." The solution is not found in the wicked nor in this world, but in 2 Chron. 7:14 - If the people of God will repent. Jesus told us to judge ourselves, so we will not be judged. We know that judgment begins in the house and with the people of God. In the parable of the talents, the Master gave each one talents, and expected to see the increase from those talents. What are we doing with the "talents" that have been given to us? Our nation, like Israel of old, is standing near judgment. What now, America? What now, Church? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/27/2022 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 END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

Foundations Forgotten, Abandoned, and Attacked*

There is a scripture in the Psalms that says, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Ps. 11:3). This destruction of the foundations is what is happening today, and there are consequences to the people of God as a result. Moses set the commandments of God as the foundation for living upon the land, and prospering: "All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years...that he make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live...Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him...Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God...Lest when thou hast eaten and art full...Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God...and thou say in thine heart, My power, and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day...if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish... ". (Deut. 8:1-20, excerpt). This is a warning to us. We took prayer out of schools, and the Ten Commandments out of courthouses based on the lie that these things were unconstitutional, and based on lawsuits filed by offended atheists. The Gospel of Jesus is an offense to those who prefer to perish themselves, and to see others perishalso . Our national condition declined as we capitulated to those who advocated racial eugenics, including Margaret Sanger, who sought to establish abortion targeting minority communities. The people of God remained quiet and didn't do enough, and now we have not only forgotten the Godly foundations, but there is an active attack against those foundations. There are even groups like the 'The Christian Nationalists' that claim to be Christians, that speak against the Jewish people. They and other so-called Christians are adopting the doctrines of ungodly racial hatred. After Moses died, the LORD passed on the same commands to the new leader of the children of Israel, Joshua: "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law...turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Josh. 1:7-9). Courage, strength and obedience are required to remain standing on the foundation of God. There are consequences to forgetting the Godly foundations: "Because my people hath forgotten me,...and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths...to make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing...I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity." (Jer. 18:15-17). They even began devising ways to shut up the prophet Jeremiah from speaking the true Word of the LORD, preferring the ineffectual and compromising priesthood to continue to minister and advise them instead (v. 18). The religious leaders plotted against Jesus in the same manner when He taught truth. Later, Jeremiah revealed the Word of the LORD, describing the people as "lost sheep", coming and crying to the LORD, seeking the way to Zion, determining once again to join themselves to His perpetual covenant. They had become lost because their shepherds had caused them to go astray: "...they have forgotten their resting place." (Jer. 50:4-6). The foundations of God are the resting place of His people. Because they had forgotten God: "All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers." (v. 7). Those who came against these "lost sheep" felt justified in doing so, because, in their eyes, these lost sheep deserved the consequences for forgetting and sinning against God! There is an alarm to be sounded, and not silence to be kept, as we see the foundations being forgotten, abandoned and attacked. The prophet Hosea wrote: "Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law...Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him...I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing...now will he (the LORD) remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. For Israel hath forgotten his Maker...but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof." (Hos. 8:1-4, 12-14). As the people of God forgot their foundation in God, the enemy pursued them. Hosea also spoke of how the people of God used their gold and silver to make idols. They created gods out of their wealth. Jesus also warned "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." (Lk. 12:15). Then Jesus told the parable of the rich man whose ground had brought forth plentifully. He abounded so much, that he planned to tear down his old barn as being too small, and build greater to store all of his bounty, saying, "...there I will bestow all my fruits and goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." (v. 16-19). However, he would not be enjoying all of his accumulations for years, as he had thought, because the God said to him, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" Jesus said, "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God." (v. 20-21). The accumulation of wealth in covetousness will draw God's people away from His foundation. Churches have become businesses, and accumulators of wealth. However, it is the foundations of God that give life and prosperity, and save the soul, as Moses and Joshua were told, and not hoarded wealth. Before Stphen was martyred for his faith in Christ, he reminded the assembled crowd about to kill him of their rebellious history with God, and His foundations. He told them that even though Moses prophesied of One that would be sent by God, they ignored the prophecy and rejected Jesus, their Messiah. In the same way, even though Moses miraculously received "the lively oracles" from God on Mt. Sinai to give to their fathers, "...our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt..." (Act 7:37-39). Stephen reminded those around him how their fathers had demanded that Aaron make them a calf, and then offered sacrifices to it (v. 40-41). God then gave them up to worship all sorts of false and even demonic gods. They rejected the worship and the tabernacle patterned after heaven, and instead chose to worship the profane things of the world (v. 42-44). Because they were continuing in this same rebellious spirit against the foundations of God, Stephen told them, "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye...who have received the law by the dispensation of angels, and have not kept it." (v. 51, 53). They showed this same spirit that persecuted the prophets when the Just One came "of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers." (v. 52). Before his death, Stephen, by the Holy Spirit, gave this indictment of the abandonment and attack against the foundation of God by their fathers, and now by themselves, the ones who rejected Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter wrote to the Church in order to stir up their remembrance of their pure minds of the words which had been spoken previously by the prophets, and now, by the commandments of the apostles of our Savior. (2 Pet. 3:1-2, see also 2 Peter 1). There will be those in the last days, Peter said, who will willingly forget that promise of God of His Son's return, and the judgment that awaits those who have rejected the knowledge of God. They do so because they prefer to walk in their own lusts. They scoff at the foundations of God, which is truth (v. 3-5). Peter then wrote that although God is patient with men, giving them time and every opportunity to repent so they may be saved rather than condemned, the judgment by melting fire, which is the day of the Lord, will surely come as promised. He asked then, "...what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" (v. 8-11). How can we say that the foundations have not been forgotten when each day brings a news report of another act of mindless violence and ungodliness? As His people, we are not tp forget the foundations that have been given to us by God through His Word and His Son so that we may live and prosper. God does not desire to see anyone got to Hell, but to be saved from destruction. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/16/2022 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 END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

The Final Generation*

All indications are that we may be the final generation before the return of Christ. It is important, therefore, for the Body of Christ to "light their lamps", and be about Kingdom business, and not about what's going on in the world. We will be looking at what that final generation will be seeing, and preparing, according to scripture. In the Book of Amos, the Word of the LORD to the prophet is: "Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7). The prophets of scripture have given us a clear view of the last days, or the latter times. We still need the prophets. There are prophets today, as well as apostles, given by God to prepare the Church, and to teach the Church the way to unity of faith, and perfection in Christ (Eph. 4). The prophet Amos also wrote that God intended to bring His people Israel back from among the nations, and to "raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen...I will raise up his ruins, and I will bind it as in the days of old." (Amos 9:9, 11, 14-15). Not only does the LORD promise to restore Israel and His tabernacle, but to insure that Israel will possess "the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this." (v.12). There are "heathens", or Gentiles, that the LORD revealed to Amos, that are also called by His name. We have seen Israel restored and blooming, and we have witnessed and experienced the LORD's call to the Gentiles as well. We will surely also see the building of the third temple in Israel. Items are being prepared now in Israel for the third temple. Jesus also spoke of the existence of a third temple when His disciples asked Him about the sign of His coming, and the end of the age: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place..." (Mt. 24:3, 15). Jesus was telling us that there is yet to be an abomination of desolation, other than the one which had previously taken place in history. There must be a temple in existence for the abomination to take place in the holy place, a chamber of the temple. Jesus continued in Mt. 24 to speak of a worldwide destruction that had never been seen before (v. 21-22). In this great tribulation, no flesh would survive unless God shortens the days for His elect's sake. We have never before seen in history until this generation the kind of weapons, a nuclear arsenal, that could cause this great of a mass destruction with the potential to end all life. Immediately after this event, there will be a shaking of the heavens - the sun and moon will be darkened, and stars will fall from the heavens (v. 29). Then the Son of man will be seen coming in the clouds of heaven. A great sound of a trumpet will be heard and the elect will be gathered from one end of heaven to another. (v. 30-31). Paul also wrote about the rapture, which is the gathering of the dead in Christ, and the yet living, to meet the LORD in the air. Because of the great sounding of a trumpet, this event could be associated with the Feast of Trumpets. This event could occur at any time. Then Christ connected these events with the sign of the budding of the fig tree, or Israel, which we have seen miraculously restored as a nation within our generation: "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (v. 32-34). We are guaranteed of this promise because the Word of God does not pass away (v. 35). Jesus' instruction to us regarding the timing of these events: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come...Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh." (v. 42-44). Although we may not know the hour of His return according to Jesus, we can know the day, and we can certainly know by the signs, the season of His return. Luke reported that Jesus said to watch for His return from the wedding, and to be ready to open the door immediately when He knocks. He blesses those who will keep watch for Him, even into the second or third watch of the night. Jesus assured Peter that His words here are for all who are found being faithful and wise stewards, who watch and keep their commitment to their Master's household - to feed them in due season (Lk. 12:35-42). Are we just professing Christ or are we being Christians in the manner of which Jesus spoke? The prophet Hosea also spoke of the timing of the second and third day: "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...and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." (Hos. 6:1-3). Peter wrote that one day in the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years are as one day (2 Pet. 3:8). Considering this, we are finishing the second day (2000 years), and entering the third day (3,000 years) since that death and resurrection of Jesus. This should give us much to consider regarding the timing of Christ's return. Moses was commanded by God that His people should sanctify themselves and wash their clothes in order to be ready on the third day: "...for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai." (Ex. 19:10-11). Later in scripture, Queen Esther put on her royal robes and stood before her husband the King in his chamber on the third day (Est. 5:1). On the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, which Jesus and His disciples attended. He performed there the miracle of turning water into the best wine of the wedding. When the disciples saw His first miracle, done on the third day, through which Jesus displayed His glory, they believed on Him (Jn. 2:1, 11). Here there was a third day marriage -the marriage of the Lamb has come! Peter wrote to those who would be the generation to see Christ's return. Though scoffers would come denying the approach of the judgment of God, Peter said to stir up our minds instead with the words of the prophets and the commandments of the apostles. The first judgment against the whole earth was achieved through the flooding by water. The next judgment against the whole earth through that same prophetic Word given to Noah, would be by fire. Although the Lord is longsuffering toward us because He doesn't desire any to perish, but for all to come to repentance, the day of the Lord will come as "a thief in the night", as Jesus also said. This sure prophetic Word of God should have an effect upon the manner of persons that we are to be, according to Peter. That manner should be: "...in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat...". We should also be looking for the new heavens and the new earth of righteousness, and "...be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot , and blameless." (2 Peter 3:1-14). Considering the signs we are seeing, I believe that we are the generation that will see the return of the Lord. We should be preparing, praying and saying, "Maranatha; Come Lord Jesus", and praying for the promised harvest of salvation in Israel. Having our lamps lit, we should be reaching out to all. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 7/24/2022 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.

When Men Have No Words*

This week, there was a tragic shooting of nineteen children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. Not long before this event, there was a shooting in Buffalo, New York that killed ten. Both of these shootings were done by teenage boys armed with military style weapons. The parents of the children in Texas would gladly have died in their children's places. The police had actually put a mother in physical restraints before eventually releasing her. After she was relesed, she ignored police warnings and entered the school to successfully remove her two children. The Russian warfare in the Ukraine has also purposefully targeted women and children as well as the Ukrainian men who are engaged in the combat. Upon hearing of these ungodly crimes against the defenseless and the innocent, men have no words. They are shocked and speechless. How do we respond to such things? When men have no words, however, God does have Words, and in His Words, we find the true cause of this situation, and His provision regarding it. Before the flood of judgment covered the earth in Noah's generation, the LORD looked upon man: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man upon the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man and beast...for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of theb LORD." (Gen. 6:5-8). Grace is the gift from God, and even the faith to believe it is a gift from God. Grace is not earned. That grace of God created a difference between Noah, and the evil hearts of every other person on earth. The Prophet Jeremiah wrote of the difference between those who trust God, and those who don't: "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters...neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." (Jer. 17:7-10). Jesus pointed out the fulfillment of a prophecy from Isaiah: "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." (Mt. 15:8, Isa. 29:13). Again, as we have seen all the way back in Genesis, this is a "heart" matter. The evil comes from within the heart of man. Jesus corrected the religious people who believed that they were defiled from the outside, by what they touched or ate, as men had taught them in error (v. 9, 11). However, Jesus told them that their defilement came from within their own hearts: "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blaspemies...covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." (Mt. 15:18-19, Mk. 7:20-23). It's everybody. It's every heart. This is the importance of grace in the life of a man. When men have no words, go the the Word of God. Psalm 53 says that God looked down from heaven to see if there was any man who understood and sought God. The LORD found "...there is none that doeth good...Every one of them is gone back, they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Paul also wrote that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Sin is in our hearts. Solomon, said to have been the wisest man, wrote of the evil that is among all things under the sun: "...yea, also, the hearts of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead." (Eccl. 9:3). Solomon also wrote that because it seems that evil is not punished quickly, evil in the hearts of men is encouraged by this to continue. However, Solomon says, that no matter how long it seems that the evil doer gets away from punishment and seems to flourish, and their days are prolonged, it is well with those who fear God (Eccl. 8:11-12). Job also points out that although the wicked may enjoy wealth, in a moment, they go down to the grave. The wicked say to the LORD, "Depart from us", and they have decided that there is no benefit in prayer (Job 21). Peter pointed out to the church in order to stir up their pure minds, that God has given His Word to us through His prophets, and His apostles (2 Peter 3:1-2). When man has no words, God has Words. Does the church accept those Words? If these Words brought by the prophets and apostles are of God and therefore true, then obedience is required of us. When we speak His Words, He answers. This has been our experience. As Peter prophesied in this chapter, scoffers will come in the last days, not only scoffing at the Word of God, but at the promise of Christ's coming, and the judgment that will deal with the ungodly. Not only will the judgment by fire come, but the whole earth, and all physical elements will be consumed in fervent heat (v. 3-7). Some refuse to hear that we are in the last days because they like their lives just as they are. The last days bring us to the valley of decision. Peter wrote that knowing these things that are to happen, our manner of life should reflect that knowledge. We are to "be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless", and to "beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (v. 14-18, excerpt). Peter also answered the wicked whom Solomon and Job spoke about, who believe that since punishment has not yet come to them, it is not coming, and they are free to continue in their wickedness: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (of judgment and return), as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (v. 9). The Hand of Grace is extended still to all. When man has no words, God has Words: "...yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged...For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God;" (Rom. 3:4,23). How wicked and corrupt our system has become! What will it take for people to stand up and say "enough is enough"? The nation needs the help of men and women who will stand up and speak the truth - His Word is truth. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 5/29/2022 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, and theshroudofturin.org.

What Will It Take?*

As we see events throughout this country and the world taking place, my question is: "What will it take?" What will it take for the Church to be that called out assembly of God's people in these last days. Jesus described the events that would usher in the end of the eage to His disciples. He warned first, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall deceive many." (Mt. 24:4-5). Jesus continued, "And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars...For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places." (v. 6-7). We are seeing thev=se things now. Jesus also said that because iniquity would abound, "the love of many shall wax cold". (v. 12). As we see wickedness and sin increase, we respond like the way of the world. Prayer overthrows wickedness. Are we praying continually? Jesus told the parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8). The judge feared neither God nor man. Yet a widow woman sought him to avenge her against her adversary. He decided to help her in order to avoid her wearying him with her continual petitions. Jesus told His listeners, "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?" (v. 6-8). Even the world understands and has confidence in how persistent requests achieve action. However, Jesus wondered if the people of God have enough faith to be in prayer before God continually until His response is given to them. Immediately after, Jesus told a parable about those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, but despised others. Many churches believe that they are right, but the Word says that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. The scriptures, especially Isaiah 53, tell about the Messiah who took away our sins. What will it tke for the Church to turn to their Savior in repentance, and in prayer for others? Scripture tells us to pray, and don't faint - not vain prayers, but prayers from our hearts. Peter wrote to the Church in order to stir up their pure minds, to remember the words of the prophets and the commandments of the apostles (2 Pet. 3:1-2). Are our minds washed pure and renewed in the Word of God? Are we living up to the designation as the called out assembly of God? Peter said that this is knowledge that would be necessary in the last days (v. 3). This steadfastness of knowledge in the Word of God that transforms the mind also stands against what Peter prophesied as coming: the scoffers who ridicule the idea that God's judgment is coming. These same scoffers willfully disregard the fact that God previously judged the whole world by flood (v. 3-6). The next judgment coming, however, will be by fire, rather than water. God's timing, Peter said, is not the same as man's. To God, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day, and we are in the third day, in terms of thousands of years. The LORD waits as long as possible to execute judgment in order to give man every chance to repent: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (v. 9). Peter warns that this knowledge should have an impact on what kind of life we choose to lead. Some Christians have the appearance of Christians, but their words and ways do not. Where is the Church? The Book of Revelation mentions the importance of the prayers of believers: "...four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sung a new song saying, 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 should reign on the earth." (Rev. 5:8-10). We are made kings and priests unto God by the same blood of the Lamb that saved us from sin and death. The called-out assembly of God is from every kindred, tongue, and nation. There are none that are excluded. In Revelation 7, a great multitude in white robes is identified as having come out of great tribulation (v. 9-14). Their robes were made white, not by their own righteousness, but having been washed in the blood of the Lamb. Do we consider ourselves more righteous than them? While we are not appointed to the wrath of God, we are in the beginning of tribulation now, and will experience more of it. This is an opportunity given for prayer and repentance. Revelation 9 speaks about those who did not take the opportunity to repent throughout the plagues: "And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see , nor hear, nor walk: neither repented of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." (Rev. 9:20-21). We are in a time when men reject repentance. However, there will come a moment when time runs out: "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer." (Rev. 10:5-6). Where is the Church, and what will it take for the Church to walk in the calling of God? The signs of the end are around us, and God requires us to pray, take the Gospel to others, repent, and make up the hedge for our nation and for souls. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 1/9/2022 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, and endtimeschool.com.

What's Wrong With This Picture?*

The title of this message is based on a children's game in which the child would have to identify what was wrong with a picture. We also have a picture presented of the Church today based upon some statistics. Although 90% of Americans say that they believe in God, their affiliation with any kind of church has dropped to an all-time low of 50%. We can also see that in the last generations, our society has changed in its viewpoint towards God and His Word. In 1961, prayer was removed from schools. In 1973, abortion was legalized. In 2015, same-sex marriage became the law of the land, although only 5.6% of the population identify themselves as LGBT. These are the facts and statistics of a troubling trend in America. Now the Church must find out "What is wrong with this picture?". The Word of the LORD to the prophet Isaiah gave us answers to this question. What is wrong with the picture is found in how far God's people have turned away from Him, and His Word. In His Word to Isaiah, the LORD describes His people as a vineyard (Isa. 5:1-7): "...My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: and he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes...What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?" The LORD promises that He will remove His protection from this vineyard that did not bring forth the acceptable fruit, and lay it to waste. He said the the vineyard represented Israel, and the vines, Judah: "...and he looked for judgment (justice, rectitude), but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry (from the oppressed)." The LORD specially established and provided everything for His vineyard, His people, but they did not produce a Godly fruit. They produced oppression and covetousness against others for profit. They drank and celebrated, "...but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands." Because of this, their houses and land will become desolate, and they will go into captivity, "...because they have no knowledge" (v. 8-13, see also Hosea 4:6). The captivity that will come upon what was once the most choice and cared for vineyard of God will include hell, which will enlarge itself in order to swallow up the proud and mighty..."...and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled." (v. 14-15). Instead of repentance and humility, the people of God began to scoff Him, taunting Him to draw near so they could see His work, and know His counsel (v. 19). Then the woes would begin - the consequences of their actions. The woes would fall unto those who would "...call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter...unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!...Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him." (v. 20-23). They would experience a fire from the LORD that would destroy their fruit: "...because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people..." (v. 24-25). It is the people of God who have turned away from Him and His Word, and caused this devastation to fall. We must admit that we see this same kind of godlessness in our own land, and among God's own people. Unless we examine what is wrong with this picture of the Church, we will, and are even now, experiencing the same judgment from God. Isaiah also revealed the voice of the LORD from heaven asking: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?". Isaiah answered, "Here am I; send me." (Isa. 6:8). Are there any today who are willing to go for the Lord? The message the LORD sent Isaiah to deliver was serious: "Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not....make their ears heavy and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." (v. 9-10). Isaiah asked the LORD how long this condition would be upon the people, and the LORD answered that it would be until the land became desolate, and the cities wasted and without inhabitant (v. 11). America, do you think you can keep sinning, and the LORD do nothing? Jesus commanded us to be salt and light in the earth (Mt. 5:13-18). If the light in us is hidden, or we, as salt, have lost our savor, then we are of no use in the kingdom. Jesus also assured us that He didn't come to do away with the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. If the Church is removing or disregarding anything from scripture because they consider it inconvenient, or offensive to themselves or others, they are breaking the commandment of God. It is also not enough to speak the Word of God and claim holiness, but we must live and walk in the Word. Jesus concluded by saying, "Be ye therefore perfect (complete, whole), even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Mt. 5:48). Both Paul and Peter warned that we would see in the last days the conditions that we are seeing today. Listen to how Paul described the men of the last days: lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers...despisers of those that are good...lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Paul said, "...from such, turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1-5). He warned that evil men and seducers would get worse, using deception and being deceived themselves (v. 13), but Paul advised Timothy to continue in the things of God that he had learned. All scripture, Paul said, is given, not by men, but by inspiration of God, so that the man of God may be perfect, furnished unto all good works (v. 14-17). Peter also told the Church to stay steadfast to, and mindful of, the words of the prophets and the apostles, because in the last days, there would be scoffers who would mock the prophetic promise of the judgment of God (2 Peter 3:1-4). The timing concerning the epochs is set, and the judgment by fire is already stored up in the earth against ungodly men (v. 7-8). The witness of the scriptures, and also the witness of the Word and the resurrection provided by the Shroud of Turin (see Isa. 52:13-15, 53:1, 1 Cor. 13:12, 2 Cor. 3:18, Gal. 3:1, also "NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling"), testify and give evidence to the Church and to the world of the only saving power and name, JESUS. If you don't know Christ as Lord of your life, you need to search the scriptures. If you DO know Him, you need to "check the picture" of your church, and your life. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/26/21 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.T You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

All Things Continue*

Monday evening begins the Feast of Tabernacles, followed by Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah). The seven days of Tabernacles is related to the marriage supper of the Lamb, when the Bride is shut up with the Messiah for seven days as practiced by wedding couples. In the natural, a bride puts much preparation into her wedding dress, and the wedding plans. However, it is troubling to see that the Bride of Christ is not paying attention to the approaching wedding date, and the preparation that should accompany it. Revelation 19:7 tells us that the bride has made herself ready, but if all things remain the same, then we're missing something. Why are we not preparing? The apostle Peter wrote that there would be scoffers, though they are willfully ignorant, who know the Word of God, and recognize that there was a creation. These scoffers, walking in their own lusts, make the observation, "Where is the promise of his (Christ's) coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (2 Pet. 3:4). These scoffers, who have knowledge of God, deliberately overlook that fact that not all things have indeed continued the same since creation, but the world was subject at one point to the judgment of God by the flood. This time, Peter wrote, the judgment against ungodly men will not be by flood, but by fire. (v. 5-7). The Lord does not rush into judgment, causing some to relax and go back to life as usual: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all (Jesus told us to take the Gospel to all nations) should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night..." (v.9-10). In this event, Peter wrote, the heavens will pass away, the elements, the earth and its works will be melted and burnt. Considering these things, Peter asked the church a question: "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (behavior, manner of life) and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (v. 11-13). This is the weaving and preparing of our wedding garment - knowing the truth of the prophecy of God concerning these coming events, and showing this knowledge in our behavior and manner: our lifestyle. We show our faith by our works, as James wrote. When the Pharisees demanded of Jesus to tell them when the kingdom of God would come, He answered that the kingdom was not in any physical place, but "the kingdom of God is within you." (Lk. 17:21). Jesus pointed out that up until the moment when Lot was removed from Sodom, and the door of the ark shut Noah in, life went on as it normally did: the people married, they ate and drank. Life seemed unchanging, as the scoffers of Peter had said. However, sudden catastrophe came: "Even thus it shall be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." (v. 26-30). Again, Peter pointed out how God's people should not be behaving with the same indifferenace: "...be sober...as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (behavior, manner); Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy." (1 Pet. 1:13-16). Our lifestyle is a witness to unbelievers, saving some as we will see. Our lifestyle is to reflect our calling in Christ as a "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light..." (1 Pet. 2:9). Peter explained that even as others may not believe, or may speak against us, even treating us as evil-doers, "...they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (v. 11-12). Our manner of life as a result of our preparation in faith can have a great impact on the unbeliever and the scorner (see also 1 Pet. 3:14-16). The divine power of God has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, that we may be partakers of the divine nature, escaping the lust and corruption of the world. (see 2 Pet. 1:3-4). Becoming partakers of the divine nature is a progressive walk, that we determine to begin and to continue:"...giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 5-8). Paul also wrote concerning these same things: "...the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off conserning the former conversation (behavior, manner of life) the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness...Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Eph. 4:21-32). Our manner, behavior, and godly lifestyle, based upon our belief in the promises of God, not only affect our own wedding preparation for the day of Christ and the marriage supper, but also have an effect on a world that wrongly believes that "all things continue as they were". *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 9/19/21 message to the church. To contact, request prayer, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

This Week in America*

Watching the leadership of this nation this past week has been very disturbing. Congress, whose members' salaries range from $174,000.00/yr. - $193,000.00/yr plus "perks", left for a seven week break, without renewing the moratorium on eviction, which had been enacted during the COVID crisis. This was a very harsh thing for them to do. While the members of Congress have the comfort of their uninterrupted incomes from the taxpayers, many in this nation cannot pay their rent because of the adverse effects of COVID on the economy. There is a quote that is attributed to Ben Franklin that offers the thought that a nation will only last until its representatives could vote themselves the people's money to do with as they wish. Alexis de Tocqueville, on his vistit to America from France, said that America was great because America was good, but if America ceased to be good, it would also cease to be great. How does the recent inaction of Congress in this financial crisis on behalf of those who have been impoverished by COVID, contrast with the Word of God? The book of wisdom says, "That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the souls of those that spoiled them." (Prov. 22:21-23). First, the verses above proclaim that God's Word is the Word of truth, and we should know this with a certainty, especially as we answer others. The afflicted spoken about above coming to the gates of the city to plead their cases, were looking for justice, not further oppression. If the poor and afflicted are oppressed further, God would spoil the souls of the oppressors. God especially watches out for these poor people, who are not able to help themselves. The prophet Amos wrote the Word of the LORD concerning those who mistreat God's vulnerable people "...which oppress the poor, which crush the needy..." (Amos 4:1). The LORD swore by His holiness to take the oppressors away with hooks, and their prosperity with fishhooks (v. 2). Also because their offerings were being brought to God "with leaven", meaning with sin, the LORD said He would remove their food from them, and dry up their rain, leaving no water to drink. They would search for water and find none. Even after those hardships, the people still did not seek the LORD: "...yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD." (v. 6-8). Increasing hardships, including pestilence, were brought upon the land and its inhabitants, even as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, but they still did not return to God (v.9-11). Finally the LORD said to Israel: "Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: And because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel." (v. 12). Our nation needs to know the seriousness of His Word regarding the poor who need help, yet receive more hardship instead. As Amos said above, how we treat those who are poor and afflicted impacts many other parts of our lives. The prophet Zechariah wrote: "Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassion every man to his brother. And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart." (Zech. 7:9-10). The oppression of the poor, afflicted, and easily victimized in a nation negatively affects the justice found in that nation. The LORD said further that the people did not listen to the words of His prophets, so He would not listen to them. He scattered His people into many other nations, because they had made their hearts like stone in order to refuse His Word (v. 11-14). Jesus taught that the most important commandment of God, equal to the commandment to love God with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength, is the commandment "Love thy neighbor as thyself." The apostle James wrote that the Church of Jesus should not mix partiality with their faith. As Proverbs told us above, the Lord pleads the case of the poor. James wrote: "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor...So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." (James 2:1-6, 12-13). The injustice and partiality towards others, with which we mix our faith in Christ, will be judged. The prophet Malachi warned that the LORD would suddenly come to His temple. However, His people would be unprepared for His coming. Malachi asked the question: "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' sope." (Mal. 3:1-2). The Lord is coming to purify His people from their doings. Malachi wrote the prophetic warning: "And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not..." (v. 5-6). The hardened attitude toward their fellow man, became a hardened attitude towards the LORD also, with the people saying that there was no point in serving the LORD because they were seeing the prospering of the wicked (v. 14). Their offerings to the LORD became unacceptable as well to the point where they were robbing God, and became cursed with a curse (v. 8-9). We cannot become hardened to our neighbors who are suffering, or in our attitudes or giveing to the LORD. Peter wrote that the Church, looking for the destruction of the heavens and earth in fire as prophesied, and the creation of new heavens and a new earth to come, should beware, "lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness." (2 Pet. 3:10-18). Peter wrote that we were to be diligent, and found to be without spot and blameless before Him (v. 14). The ways and traditions of men, and the prevailing political attitudes regarding these issues will be no excuse before the LORD: "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Mt. 15:1-10). However, this is the promise of the LORD for those who hear and do the commandments that are from the LORD: "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." (Mal. 3:16-17). *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenon's 8/1/21 message to the Church. Contact us at P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705, and at Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

Has America Become Latter Day Amorites?*

Someone once said that if we don't learn from history, we are bound to repeat it. This message today is a serious prophetic warning. Second Peter warned that in the last days scoffers would come and the source of their scoffing would be the prophesied return of the Lord, and the judgment against wickedness. These scoffers would say, "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." (2 Pet. 3:3-4). These scoffers, Peter said, deliberately overlook the flooding of the earth in judgment, which occurred since the creation. Peter wrote that instead of a judgment by water, this time, the judgment against ungodly men would be by fire that is stored up for this purpose. Both the heavens and the earth will be dissolved and melted with fervent heat (v. 7, 10). The description of this melting heat sounds very much like the outcome produced by a nuclear holocaust. Many nuclear powers among the nations today are on the verge of conflict, and such conflict was only narrowly avoided in the past. The only reason that we have not yet seen this prophesied judgment, said Peter, is "The LORD is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night..." (v. 9). The judgment of God is patiently withheld to give men an opportunity to repent, but the day will come. You can read a confirming word in the Apocrypha: Wisdom 12, for those who understand that while the Apocryphal books are not now considered scripture, they were quoted in scripture, and offer interesting additional information. In a prophecy given to Abram, the LORD promised that Abram's seed would experience servitude, or slavery, as strangers in a foreign land. That servitude would last 400 years. At the end of that time, the Lord would bring judgment upon the land that oppressed His people with servitude, and His people would be delivered out of that land with great substance (Gen. 15:13-14). It has been approximately 400 years since America began oppressing the native people of this land, and began to bring people from Africa and other lands into slavery here. Now, in America, there is still violent racial hatred against different racial and ethnic groups. The prophecy of the LORD to Abram does not stop there, however. He could not bring Abram's descendants back to the land of Canaan until the 400 years were completed "for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full" (v. 16). After four generations, God would bring back Abram's descendants to the land of Canaan through judgment against Egypt, and at the same time, displace the iniquitous Amorites from that land. God found the practices of both the Egyptians and the Amorites to be an aabomination and warned His people not to do the same: "After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God." (Lev. 18:3-4). What were the practices of both Egypt and the Amorites, the inhabitants of Canaan, that were so abominable that the LORD would bring judgment upon them. What are the abominations that America shares with the Amorites? The LORD, in Lev. 18, describes numerous sexual sins that defile. Not only do these sins defile a people, but they defile the land on which the people dwell: "For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled; that the land spue not you out also, when you defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people." (v. 27-29). All of the sexual sins mentioned in Lev. 18 are running rampant in America today. Sexual perversion, promiscuity, and pornography, are tolerated by law, while those who speak out against it are not tolerated. Another abomination of the people of the land that the LORD warns His people against is the offering of children to the god, Molech: "And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD." (v. 21). Here in America, millions of chldren have been slaughtered in abortion. This is the human sacrifice of children. Shall the Lord judge the Amorites, but not judge us for doing the same? The LORD said that there were six things He hated, and seven were an abomination to Him. One of those things mentioned is the shedding of innocent blood. Does there exist any more innocent blood than that of an unborn child in its mother's womb? Yet we shed it daily. One who wanted the practice of abortion to become widespread, Margaret Sanger, who served as president of Planned Parenthood, shared the views of Hitler regarding those who were "less desireable". She believed that populations from the "mongrel nations" should be controlled, even eliminated, and that civil and religious leaders, especially from the poor, black, and immigrant communities, should be recruited to endorse and spread these methods of population control in those neighborhoods. The prophets wrote of the Word of the LORD concerning His people when they practice the ways of the Amorites. Isaiah wrote that when God's people join properties into large land possessions, their houses shall be desolate. He judges His people who no longer are sober, but drunk until they have no self-control, and encourage their neighbors in drunkenness to see them fall. As a people, we have become users of alcohol, and also drugs, in order to escape sobriety. God told His prophet that His people have turned away from the knowledge of the LORD, and no longer consider the work of His hands. "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it." (Isa. 5:14). Not only do these conditions exist in America, but Isaiah continues to show us our nation: "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!...which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him." (v. 20-21, 23). Truth, justice, and the knowledge of the LORD are no longer sought in America. We here in America surely fit the picture that Isaiah has painted. As the prphet Habakkuk sought the LORD to hear for what he should repent and intercede, he was told to write the vision down plainly, so all could quickly read and understand it (Hab. 2:1-2). This vision, though it was for a future time, would come, and it would not be late. Though the scoffers, such as those spoken of by Peter, above, believe that the Word of the LORD will not come to pass, the LORD assured Habakkuk that it surely will. The LORD spoke judgments or "woes" that would come to "him that increaseth that which is not his, and to those who become involved in the covetous and oppressive economics of debt (v. 6: "thick clay"). The Word is spoken against those who take spoil from other lands, and fill their own land, and cities, with violence and blood. The Word is against those who are covetous, seeking and taking to accumulate what they need, they believe, to secure a place for themselves in order to avoid an evil overtaking them. However, we cannot buy or accumulate our way out of the woes and judgment of God. "Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!" (v. 12). Much of the growth of our nation came by violence and practices of iniquity. We purposefully and violently drove out native peoples to inhabit their lands, and built our wealth on the enslavement of others. Habakkuk was so convicted by this vision from the LORD, that he immediately went into prayer: "O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy." (Hab. 3:1-2). This is the same kind of prayer that the LORD asks of His people when they see their land embroiled in these conditions of iniquity (2 Chron. 7:14). If His people will pray and repent, and change their own ways, He will hear and heal our land. There is no other remedy or solution. Though men may try to buy, fight, or even vote their way out of the "woes" that come from their iniquity, there is only one solution given by God: the repentance of His own people. Though men might scoff and say that there is no coming judgment, the Book of Revelation says that a moment comes when the mystery of God declared by His servants the prophets will be finished, when the voice from heaven says, "...there should be time no longer", which means there shall be delay no longer. Until that moment comes, we have been given time by a longsuffering God to heed, understand and repent. *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 4/25/21 message to the church. To contact: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 or Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com Look for Dr. Stevenson on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com

End Time Knowledge - Pt. 2*

As we continue last week's study of 2 Peter concerning the end times, this verse from Lamentations applies to what we discussed as revealed in Peter's epistle:

"Your prophets have seen (imagined) for you
False and foolish visions;
And they have not exposed your wickedness
To restore you from captivity [by teaching you to repent],
But they have seen (imagined) and declared to you false and misleading oracles."

                                                                             Lamentations 2:14 (Amplified Version)

 

Peter made clear that false teachers and false prophets would be enticing believers. Their unrighteous agenda comes from covetousness and the desire for gain, as they intend to make merchandise from their followers. Peter compares these false prophets and teachers to Balaam, a prophet of God, who compromised his relationship with God for the promise of gain from an earthly king:

..."these...speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness; beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous practices; which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam ("Not of the people/compatriots") the son of Bosor (Beor: "burning, to feed upon, stupid, brutish, barbarous, dull-hearted, unreceptive"), who loved the wages of unrighteousness."   2 Pet. 2:12-15 (excerpt) (see also Jude v. 4-16)

These false teachers promise liberty, but they themselves, and those whom they deceive, have become instead slaves of corruption (2 Pet. 2:19). Jesus corrected the lie of finding liberty in sin as He spoke to His believers who thought they were free because they were descendants of Abraham:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."   see Jn. 8:31-36

What happens to those who know Christ in this way, but choose to follow the unrighteous teaching of the false prophets and teachers instead, because of their false teachings appeal to their lusts (desire/coveting for what is forbidden)? Peter wrote that "the latter end is worse for them than the beginning", like a dog returning to its vomit, or a washed sow returning to wallow again in the mire (2 Pet. 2:20-22, see also Heb. 6:4-6, 8)). This is a warning for all of us, as we see the corruption and lusts that are drawing men, including believers, all around us today.

Peter wrote this epistle as a reminder to the Church, to stir up our pure minds, so that we are mindful of both the Word of God, and the commandments of the apostles of Christ:

"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 (Christ's) coming?...all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation..."  2 Pet. 3:3-4 (see also Jude v. 17-19)

They are promoting the thought that Jesus is not returning, and there is no need to fear judgment, because God has not judged men or the earth to this point. However, as Peter pointed out, God has indeed judged cataclysmically during the flood of Noah. That same word which precipitated that judgment is still active:

"Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But 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 Pet. 3:6-7

There are indeed those today who mock and jeer at the promise of judgment, and the return of Christ to rule and reign on earth. There was even a declaration from the son of a respected President who proclaimed that he is not afraid of burning in hell. There are indeed many scoffers who hold that false assurance against the judgment. Peter warned not to take God's patience and forbearance as slackness to keep His word regarding the judgment of the wicked. The Lord is patiently giving the opportunity for repentance and salvation:

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."  2 Pet. 3:9

However, when that day of judgment does come, Peter warned, it will come suddenly, without warning and unexpectedly for some, "like a thief in the night":

"...the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up."  2 Pet. 3:10

Keeping these things in mind, especially in the light of the end time falsehoods, scoffing, and the misrepresentation of scripture (2 Pet. 3:15-16) that can lure many away from the faith, Peter exhorts us, with wisdom for these end times, to be diligent, guarding and examining ourselves and our faith  "that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless...grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 
                                                                      2 Pet. 3:14, 18 (see also 2 Cor. 13:5-8)

 

 *The above is based upon the 1/20 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.

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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. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.