Perilous Times*

There has been a great increase across all of the forms of media of those who deny the existence of God. Our response is to teach truth to them. The times are perilous now, and will become more so, because, according to all of the signs, we are living in the last days before Christ's return. As we read last week in Second Timothy: "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 pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1-5). These are people who may know God in a certain way, but do not allow Him to have any power or authority over them, or anything else. Paul also warned Timothy that persecution would come for those who live godly lives through Jesus Christ. Evil men and deceptions shall grow worse (v. 12-13). Timothy is told to continue in the things he has learned from Paul, and from the scriptures, for they are sure: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect (complete), thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (v. 16-17). There is no other book on earth which is produced by men that is like the scriptures, which is written by men, but those men wrote the scriptures under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God does not need man to prove its truth, because it proves itself. The scriptures do not lead men into a legalistic or religious relationship with God, but rather, a personal relationship with the Savior, Jesus our Salvation, as Saul/Paul discovered on the road to Damascus. He had been a persecutor of the believers in Christ, but after his supernatural encounter with Christ speaking to him from heaven, Paul dedicated the rest of his life to living as a servant of Jesus Christ. Paul told Timothy: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Tim. 4:2-4). We see now that society demands that sin be tolerated, accepted, and even celebrated. Even the Church is afraid to teach against sin, and its sure wages of death. However, the scriptures say that all have sinned, and are only saved by grace, the gift of God through Jesus, and not by good works nor good intentions. Again, Paul wrote of the perilous last days, and the deceptions that come with them. There was a deception being taught at the time of Paul that Christ had already returned. There were also letters going to the churches claiming to be from Paul, teaching false doctrines, but they had not been written by him. Paul wrote to correct this: "Let no man deceive you by any means: For that day (of Christ's return) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2 Thess. 2:1-4). Paul is speaking of the acts of the antichrist who will come before Christ's return. However, this spiritual evil is already at work, seeking to sit in God's spiritual temple of men's hearts. Paul wrote that there is a restraining force to hold back the actual event that reveals the wicked one until the time is right, but "the mystery of iniquity doth already work" (v. 6-8). This wicked one will come with deception, and the works of Satan, "with all power, and signs and lying wonders". God will send a strong delusion to believe the lie upon those who are doomed because they do not accept the truth, and take pleasure in unrighteousness. The wicked one to be revealed will be consumed by the Lord "with the spirit of his mouth", and shall be destroyed "with the brightness of his coming." (v. 8-12). The perilous times, as we see, include a pandemic of lies and strong delusions, and the supernatural, lying works of Satan. Part of the perilous times were told by Jesus concerning the Kingdom of God and the coming harvest of those who were righteous in Christ, and the unrighteous. Both parables involve the sowing of seed, and then the harvest. In one parable, the Kingdom is like a man who plants seed in the ground, and then sleeps. The earth does its job, and the seed germinates, gradually bringing forth a shoot, then a plant, then finally the mature ear of corn. Then the man knows it is time to "putteth in the sickle" to harvest the crop that the seed and the earth has produced (Mark 4:26-29). In the second parable, again a man has sown good seed in his field. However, this time, while men slept, an enemy came and sowed tares among the man's wheat crop. The man's servants noticed that as the wheat matured and brought forth fruit, the tares showed themselves because of their lack of fruit. He realized that an enemy had done this to his crop. He instructed his servants: "Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." (Mt. 13:24-30). In perilous times, men teach false doctrines, sowing tares that do not bear the fruit of Christ. There are those who profess Christ, but in works, don't know Him. The prophet Joel prophesied about the harvest, and the judgment of the Day of the LORD, at a time when the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem has ended, and God's people have been brought back to the land (fulfilled in Israel, 1947): "Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come get you down; for the press is full, the fats (vats) overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision." (Joel 3:12-14). Joel described the Day of the LORD as a day when the sun, moon, and the stars are darkened. It's a terrible day when the heavens and earth shake and quake. We need to know the signs of that Day, and when the harvest grows ripe. The New Testament speaks of the same signs. As it becomes evident that the Day is drawing near, it is a fool who says in his heart that there is no God. Joel wrote of the purpose of God's people as this Day of the LORD approaches, and it is what sets the difference between "the wheat and the tares" of the ripening harvest: "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand...Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rent your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of gret kindness, and repenteth him of the evil...Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproah among the heathen." (Joel 2:1, 12-13, 18-19, see also 1:13-15). Joel called the people of God to repentance, as we have often said the same in referring to 2 Chron. 7:14. The Book of Revelation also prophesies about the harvest to come. One who looked like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on His head, and a sharp sickle in His hand, heard the loud command that came out of the temple in heaven: "Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe." (Rev. 14:14-15). Then additional angels came with their sickles also, but this time, the grapes of the vine were ripe and ready for harvesting (v. 17-18). "And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God." (v. 19). Much blood came out of that winepress of wrath (v. 20). As we saw in the parable of Jesus, there were two reapings here of the ripe harvest - one was reaped by Jesus for the Kingdom, and one was reaped by the angels for the wrath of God. We see the harvest ripening all over the world, and we see wickedness waxing worse and worse. Isaiah warned, "Woe" unto you who call evil good, and good evil...and justify the wicked for a reward. We must continue to sow seeds of righteousness, and keep our lamps lit, for darkness is here. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 12/4/2022 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 Shemitah: Judgment or Restoration*

Scripture gives us a choice - to receive the blessing, honor God's commandments, accept His Word, or reject it. The LORD told us that there are blessings and cursings, life and death, to choose between. Adam and Eve had a choice, and they chose to disobey the commandment of God, and we have sin and death as a result. It is the same with the LORD's commandment regarding the Shemitah. The Shemitah is described in Leviticus 25: "And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard..." (Lev. 25:1-4). In the seventh year, the land would remain unplanted, and no harvesting would be done. This sabbath year would be for the owner, his sevants and any traveller or stranger who might be staying with them. The sabbath year would also apply to any animals owned. The LORD promised that as the Israelites prepared to observe the Shemitah in the seventh year: "Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years." (v. 21). The children of Israel would not suffer lack for their obedience to let the land have a sabbath unto the LORD in the seventh year. There is no record of Israel or the Jewish people keeping the Shemitah seventh year sabbath for the land. There was a similar special sabbath year called the Jubilee year, which was to be oberserved every fiftieth year as well (v. 8-9). A Jubilee year would begin on the Day of Atonement of the fiftieth year (v. 9). In the Jubilee year, liberty is to be proclaimed throughout the land, and every man's possession shall be returned or restored unto him (v. 13). In giving commands regarding the speacial sabbath years, the LORD said that His people should not take usury or increase from their brothers, "but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee." (v. 36-37). Not only do we not observe the Shemitah and Jubilee, but the whole system of debt in America is based upon usury and increase. Considering this, will we see the restoration that comes from obeying the commandments of God or judgment for disobeying them? The LORD commanded that the Israelites should not compel a poor brother into being a bondservant or slave, but a hired servant until the year of Jubilee, when all is restored to him (v. 39-41). For over two hundred years, we kept people as bondservants or slaves in our country. There were no Shemitah or Jubilee years of liberty and restoration for them. We ignore the sabbaths whether in days, or years, even though Jesus told us that the sabbath was made for man, for his benefit, as an opportunity to enter into the LORD's holy rest. The prophet Joel prophesied about a complete devestation of the land, where all trees and crops shriveled and dried up like had never been seen previously. What little was left on the land had been eaten by locusts. No offerings could be brought to the house of the LORD, because there was nothing available to bring. The land had ceased to prosper. Could this attack upon the land be the result of a failure to give the land a sabbath rest unto the LORD in the form of the Shemitah, as He commanded Israel to do? Joel revealed what the people must do: "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD, Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come." (Joel 1:14-15). Again Joel said, "Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand..." (Joel 2:1). The day of the LORD is described as a day of darkness, devouring fire, pain, earthquakes, and the withdrawal of light from the stars, sun, and moon (v. 2-10), "...for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible, who can abide it?" The LORD called His people to repentance: "Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting and weeping, and with mourning: and rent your hearts and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him..." (Joel 2:12-14). Again, the LORD by His prophet called for the blowing of trumpets, and for all of the people to gather together without exception to weep and fast in sanctification. As a result, the LORD will be jealous for His land, and pity His people (v.18). Joel then began to prophesy a restoration to the land and the beasts, gladness and rejoicing, and praises to God (v. 21-27). Rain and crops would be plentiful. Not only would the land be restored as a result of the repentance of God's people, but the LORD also promised a great outpouring of His Spirit on all flesh, wonders to be shown in the heavens and the earth, and deliverance of His remnant in Zion and Jerusalem (v. 23-32). The LORD always has a remnant in the earth. The prophet Zephaniah also delivered the Word of the LORD to His people: "Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger." (Zeph. 2:1-3). Do we think that failure to obey God's Word, including His Word regarding Shemitah and Jubilee, is without consequence today? The following events, being just some that occurred in Shemitah years, would tell us otherwise: 1916-17: the Stock Market collapses; some empires of the European nations collapse. 1930-31: 86% of stocks are wiped out. 1937-38: 50% of stocks are wiped out. 1944-45: the Nazi Third Reich ends, the British Empire collapses, America rises in power. 1972-73: 48% of stocks fall causing a recession, the U.S. legalizes abortion, and America suffers a loss in Vietnam. Skipping ahead to 2000-2001: the World Trade Center Towers collapse in an attack, and a financial crisis. 2007-2008: 50% of stocks are wiped out, and a global recession ensues. This would lead us to conclude that when the command of the LORD is not kept, a curse follows. This is confirmed in Deuteronomy. In Deut. 28, many different kinds of blessings are promised if God's people are obedient to His voice, and commandments: "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine (meaning "cattle, oxen; to learn, to teach, to utter"), and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store..." (Deut. 28:1-5). The description of all of the blessings continues from there for those who do all His commandments. However, there are corresponding curses for those who do not do His commandments: "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store..." (Deut. 28:15-17). The curses continue as direct opposites to the blessings that are promised for the obedient observance to God's commands, which would include the periodic sabbath rest of the land unto the LORD of the Shemitah, and the appointed liberation of the Jubilee years. How can we turn the curses or judgment of disobedience into blessing and restoration? Joel and Zephaniah, and also Daniel (see Dan. 9:2-23) gave us the answer: all of God's people gathering together to pray, fast, repent, and to turn back to the LORD with all of their hearts. Second Chronicles 7:13-14 confirms this yet again: "If I should shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 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." The coming Shemitah (7th) year, is appointed to begin next month, in this year 2021. The next Jubilee (50th) year is scheduled soon also. These two special years in God's commandments can bring either judgment or restoration for our land based upon the obedience or repentance of the people of God. Which shall it be for our nation? *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 8/22/21 message to the church. You can contact us at P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR at Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. Look for us also on Facebook, Twitter, and at endtimeschool.com. We welcome your prayer requests, praise reports, and your support for this ministry.

Why I believe "The Time" is at hand

 

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

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

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

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

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