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.

Connecting The Dots...

 

It is evident from the events occurring around us that we are nearing a spiritual reckoning. The times we are in are desperate, society is crumbling, and yet the Church is playing church. It is time for God's people to wake up, understand what scripture is saying about the times in which we live, and to rise up to role to which Jesus has called us: salt, light, and witnesses to the truth. As we look into scripture, we can begin to "connect the dots", and obtain an understanding of events, and our purpose in them.

This week, Purim was celebrated. The story of Purim is in the Book of Esther, which is also a prophetic book. The enemy of the Jews, Haman, had determined the day of the Jews' destruction by the casting of lots, called pur. The king had agreed to Haman's plan, and the decree of destruction had been set for the 13th day of twelfth month, Adar ("glorious, fire"). However, something miraculous happened on that day instead:

"Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them)...And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai (Esther's kinsman) fell upon them...when Esther came before the king, he commanded... that (Haman's) wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head... "  Est. 9:1-3, 25 (excerpt)

What caused this miraculous turn around in events? Esther, who had not been called into the king's presence for a month, requested that all of the Jews fast and pray for three days, as she and her attendants would do also, in order to receive the king's favor for her approach to him (Est. 4:11-16). This prayer and fasting had indeed brought Esther favor with the king, and she was eventually able to expose the wickedness of Haman's plot. The appointed day of destruction for the Jews by their enemy, became their day of victorious deliverance by the LORD, instead. The condition of much of the church is the same as Esther's. We have been distracted and busy with other things, and we have not appeared before our heavenly King lately. With our backs turned toward Him, He has not seen our faces, and we have not sought His. Perhaps, like Esther, we incorrectly assume that this day will not touch us, so we sit and remain silent. Yet the decreed day of destruction approaches, and seeking the LORD with repentance and intercession is the only hope against that day. We need to remember that the origins of this day are found in the wicked plots against God's people.

The prophet Joel presents a similar vision of the decreed day when the LORD compels the nations, who have plotted the Jews' destruction, to gather in the Valley of Decision:

"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision."  Joel 3:14

The nations are brought to the valley, because like Haman in the Book of Esther, "their wickedness is great" (v. 13). The timing of this appointment in the valley comes when Judah and Jerusalem has been brought back from captivity. These nations had scattered Israel among the nations and "parted My land" (v. 1-2). We are living in the time when Israel has been restored to the land, and the nations are once again desiring to partition the land of covenant promise, for their own political advantage. As the LORD details their wickedness, He says, "And they have cast lots for My people" (v. 3), as was Haman's method. Also as happened in the Book of Esther, God promises these wicked nations who plot against His people: "...swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head" (v. 4, 7).

Again, we can connect the dots between Esther and Joel, and the approaching of the terrible day of the LORD, as we look at what Joel instructed God's people to do. The LORD says to His people:

"...now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning: and rent your heart...and turn unto the LORD your God...

Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly...Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare Thy people, O LORD..."  Joel 2:12-17 (excerpt)

As His people are obedient to His word, the LORD promises a great restoration in their fields and pastures, and an even greater outpouring of His Spirit upon all of His people, even as signs in the heavens and the earth announce the coming of the great and the terrible day of the LORD (Joel 2:21-31), when God returns the evil of the nations that sought His people's destruction.

Though the outpouring of the Spirit of God is promised in Joel, there are those today who mock the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent into believers' lives. Some of the mockers are in the world, and some are even in the church. This is dangerous because it is not possible receive the promise of deliverance, while mocking its agent. Joel continues:

"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 2:32

It is a remnant who will hear and choose to accept the call of the LORD by His Spirit. As Jesus told us, "Narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Mt. 7:14).

The prophet Amos warns us that "playing church" will not suffice as the day of the LORD approaches. He says that this day should instill fear in our hearts, because it is a terrifying thing. The LORD warned that He would not accept offerings and worship to Him from His people, while they also served other gods and idols (Amos 5:18-26). Those others gods are still being served today, even within the church. Amos mentions the gods Moloch, who demanded the sacrifice of the first born child through fire, and Chiun, in the form of pillars erected to the god Saturn, which was considered to be an evil demon to be appeased. We also have accepted the murder of our children, and made it law. We have sought appeasement with ungodliness, accepting, in the name of political correctness, and out of intimidation by society, those things that the LORD has called wickedness, abomination, and those things that He hates. Similarly, Pharaoh was willing to tolerate the plague of frogs for another night in order to resist God (Ex. 8:9-10). People asked Jesus to leave their town after He commanded a legion of demons, which had plagued a man, into their pigs. The crazed pigs then ran off a cliff. The people resented losing their pigs (Mt. 8:28-34). We want to be able to keep our spiritual frogs and pigs, while we claim to continue to serve God, but God will not accept this.

The LORD says in Amos 5:27, that those of His people who connect themselves to these other gods, while claiming to worship Him, will be cause to go into captivity (remove, depart) beyond (distance, remoteness) Damascus ("silent is the sackcloth weaver"). In other words, they will be captive in a spiritual condition where repentance will not be sought by them, so it will be unavailable to them. They will be beyond, and removed from, an attitude of repentance.

All signs indicate that we are nearing the day of the LORD, when God will turn the destructive wickedness of the enemies of God's people against themselves. We, His people, are expected to be able to read these signs, and act accordingly-not be complicit in their wickedness. As we connect the dots regarding the approaching of the day of the LORD, we can see the prophetic pattern of the assignment given to the people of God. We are called to fasting, and repentance. We are called to seek our King's face and presence. We are called to leave the world's idols behind, and to worship the LORD only, in Spirit and in truth.

 

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:

Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.

 

God bless you.

 

 

 



The Coming Resurretion and the Living Resurrected

 

These are perilous times for many Christians across the world. Many are persecuted, some even to death. On the other hand, many Christians are filled with the desires for the things of the world. They enjoy their comfort, prosperity, and status, and would not want to risk losing those things. However, all Christians should treasure the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the hope and promise of resurrection for ourselves. Whether we are prospering or suffering, we all need to have a deeper and more intimate understanding of His resurrection.

Jesus taught us that even as His Father raises and quickens (restore to life, to cause to live) the dead, so the Son is also able to enliven those whom He chooses (Jn. 5:21). The Son will raise the dead by the sound of His voice:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him who sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life...The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live...the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good (by His leading and righteousness), unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."   Jn. 5:24-29 excerpt

Those raised by the voice of Jesus will be judged by Him, because He is the Son of man, as well as being the Son of God. His Father has entrusted this justice and judgment to Him.

 

The prophet Ezekiel experienced a profound vision of resurrection in a vast valley full of dry bones. Ezekiel was also called "the son of man" by God, as Jesus was, and this resurrection also occurred by the sound of his voice:

"Again He said unto me, "Prophesy unto these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD...behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army."   Ez. 37:4-5, 10

The dry bones heard the voice of the prophet, the son of man, who prophesied the word of the LORD God to them, and they were once again joined together, covered with sinew and flesh. They lived, breathed and stood again. It was the time of resurrection. This is the Valley of Decision of the prophet Joel, and the hour of harvest, in which the earth will be reaped (Rev. 14:15-16). These events of which the prophets spoke are about to come to pass upon the earth.

As we all wonder at this great resurrection authority and power of the Father, and the Son, the apostle Paul tells us that we are to seek becoming the living resurrected. We are to reach for this as something to be incorporated into our spiritual lives now. How are we to become the living resurrected? Well, before something is resurrected, even as the living resurrected, it has to "die".

 



 

Our bodies and lives are to be presented before God as living sacrifices, not conformable to this world, but transformed. This is the only way to live by the will of God, and become the living resurrected  (Rom. 12:1-2). Paul teaches further:

"...I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ...that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable (receive the same form as, to bring to the same form not found elsewhere, fashioned like) unto His death.    Phil. 3:8, 10

Our communion with Christ must include a communion with His sufferings, and death-death to the image and likeness of this world, death to the things of this world, death to our own will and flesh. If we conform to His likeness, we also must conform to His sufferings, His death, and even then, with great joy, His resurrection, while we still live.

This is not the time for a comfortable, satisfied church, but rather a church who hears His voice, His call to a living resurrection, and is pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
If you would like to know Jesus like this, and know the power of His resurrection, to have fellowship with Him in all ways, you can seek Him, and receive Him through simple, sincere prayer:
"Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive me of my sins, and become Lord of my life. I turn away from the sins and cares of this world, even my own flesh, and I turn to You, as my Savior, the true and living God. I believe that You died for me, that You rose again from the dead, and that You are coming again as our LORD and King. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and teach me and lead me in Your righteousness. By Your Spirit, give me the power and strength to live and walk in Your ways. Thank You for hearing my prayer, and receiving me. I pray this in Your name, Amen."
If you have prayed this and received Jesus, let us know! God bless you.

 

 

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