How Long?*

Current events including wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, as well as a sharp increase of racial and ethnic hatred, and intolerance towards the Word of God, and people of faith, cause us to ask "How long?" in regard to the return of Christ. There are those who troll and deride any suggestion of the possibility that there is coming a Day of the Lord, a day of judgment and of Christ's return. They even reject the belief in the resurrection of Christ, or the existence of miracles. Some of this denial comes from within the church itself! However, scripture warns us of this dangerous denial, especially in connection to the last days, and Christ's return. Peter wrote to stir up the pure minds of the believers, and remembrance of the words of the prophets, saying: "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 heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water, and in the water: Whereby the world that was, being overflowed with water, perished..." (2 Peter 3:1-6). The scoffers that are now so prevalent are yet another prophetic sign of the last days. These scoffers deny the possibility of a day of judgment and return of the Lord, because they claim that judgment has not happened since the beginning of an admitted creation. However, judgment did strike the earth, and the physical evidence exists that testifies to a great global flood. Peter continued to write: "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...beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (v. 7-8). The same prophetic Word of judgment that released the deluge of flood waters is still active, and, this time, that Word will release stored up fire rather than water. As we see the increase of ungodliness around us, and question the timing of the judgment, Peter assured us that the Lord's timing follows a certain pattern for the following reason: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness' but is longsuffering toward us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (v. 9). The judgment that some scoff of as eternally delayed, is delayed just long enough to allow all to repent who will repent and be saved. Our behavior should reflect this knowledge as we take the Gospel to all nations, as Jesus commanded His disciples to do, so that all may be given the opportunity to hear, repent, and be saved. (Following through with this Great Commission from Christ, I have written an ebook, "The Shroud of Turin: A Perfect Summary", which is made available for free. The instructions for getting this free ebook are found at the conclusion of this post.) However, make no mistake, the day of judgment against ungodliness, and the return of Christ is ordained, and will happen according to the plan and timing of God. New heavens and a new earth come forth out of this event. This knowledge of the unstoppable, sudden day of the Lord, when a cataclysmic heat will melt all of the elements, requires a certain lifestyle and manner from us, a lifestyle of holiness and godliness (v. 11-12). If we truly believe that this day approaches, and soon, then it should be reflected in our behavior. Peter wrote: "...look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation...beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.. To him be glory now and for ever. Amen." (v. 14-18). In Matthew Chapter 24, Jesus is asked by His disciples' the question of "When?": "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (meaning "the end of the age")? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation (meaning "ethnicity against ethnicity"), and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places. All thses are the beginning of sorrows...And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains...For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Mt. 24:1-22). After this time of terrible tribulation, Jesus said that the sun and moon will be darkened, the stars will fall, and the heavens shaken - then the sign of the Son of man shall appear in heaven: "...and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." (v. 29-30). Jesus taught this to His disciples, and to us, from the Torah, and the Prophets, as He taught all things. In answering the question of "When?" for His disciples, Jesus cited Daniel the prophet who wrote of an abomination of desolation, which upon occurring, Jesus said, people should run for their lives. Jesus was referring to a prophecy in Daniel 9, as Daniel gave an account of what happened when he read a prophecy written by Jeremiah: a prophet reading a prophet. This prophecy from Jeremiah (see Jer. chapters 23, 25, 27, 29) brought Daniel to prayer and fasting in repentance for his sins, and the sins of his people: "We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even from departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land." (Dan. 9:5-6). Daniel had read the prophet Jeremiah, who had written of a certain mysterious time frame of seventy years, that would come to mean much more than would appear on the surface. What Jeremiah wrote brought Daniel to repentance seeking God's covenant and mercy "to them that keep his commandments" (v. 3-20), and this repentance immediately brought a revelation from the angel/man, Gabriel, concerning "How long?". This revelation included the timing of the arrival of the Messiah, His death, and "the overspreading of abominations" to be committed by the Anti-christ, who "shall make it desolate". (v. 21-27). As we read from Mt. 24 above, Jesus also spoke of the tribes of earth mourning when they would see the sign of the Son of man. The prophet Zechariah wrote this: "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." (Zech. 12:10). The image of a pierced Christ, Daniel's Messiah who is cut off, whether found in scripture, or upon the Shroud of Turin for example, brings a spirit of mourning and repentance upon the souls of men who will look upon Him. Zechariah also prophesied that the LORD would make Jerusalem "...a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." (Zech 12:2-3). This small geographical area has become, and will continue to be, the focus of all the nations' hatred and threats, as we hear regularly from speeches given in the United Nations, and see on the news. As the prophet warned, those nations will tremble, and be cut in pieces as the LORD defends Jerusalem and Israel. God will keep His covenant with Israel, and restore them, with the questions of when?, and how?, being answered according to what the prophets have written: "In that day, there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." (Zech. 13:1). The Lord answered another question of "When?" as asked by those who will be martyred for their faith: "...How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." (Rev. 6:9-11). Believers are being martyred now for their faith in various nations across the earth, a martyrdom that could one day be seen in America as well. As we consider the other signs of the last days that we have read about above, we know that when asking the question, "How long?", we receive the answer that we have a wait of only a little season. How long before the church wakes up to the lateness of the hour, stops accepting wickedness, and obeys 2 Chron. 7:14 in seeking the LORD in repentance and prayer? All are sinners, but God sent His Son to shed His blood for all. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 3/5/23 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.

Foundations, Traditions and Doctrine*

More and more we are seeing examples of ideas and doctrines within the church that are not based upon the Word of God. They are instead doctrines of men, rather than God. There are consequences that occur when God's people begin to turn from His Word, and prefer the words of men: "Hear the word of the LORD ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, no mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out and blood toucheth blood." (Hosea 4:1-2). The LORD said through His prophet that as the knowledge of God was removed from the inhabitants of the land, sins and violence began to spread, as we see here in America. The LORD further warned: "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge (Hebrew da-at - knowledge, wisdom, insight, understanding), because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." (v. 6). Rejected knowledge of God leads to corruption, creating future generations that are separated from God. Psalm 11, a psalm of David, tells us to place our trust in the LORD. It also carries the warning: "If the foundations (Hebrew satah - basis of political or moral support; defenders of morality fall from moral righteousness) be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (v. 3). The foundations of the Word of God, the foundations of our faith, are being destroyed. As an example of this, this Psalm warns that fire and brimstone will be poured out upon the wicked, but fewer and fewer believe that there is such a penalty for wickedness, or that Hell exists. Often, the church doesn't want to hear knowledge. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth that he had to continue feeding them milk, like babies, because they couldn't bear the meat of the Word. He told them this was because they were still so carnal, rather than spiritual (1 Cor. 3:1-2). If we are to be mature believers, we need the meat of the Word of God to grow. Paul described himself as a "masterbuilder" who has laid the foundation, that foundation being Jesus Christ: "For other foundation (Greek themelios - first principles of institution of truth) can no man lay that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Paul warned others to be careful how they built upon that sure foundation (see v. 10-11). The elemental principles of the foundation of our faith established in Jesus Christ, which basic principles the church should know and teach, are described in the Book of Hebrews: repentance from dead works and of faith towards God (we are not saved by works, as some churches believe, but through faith), doctrine of baptisms (There is more than one baptism, however, many churches reject the baptism of the Holy Spirit, for example), laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment (There is a heaven to gain, and a hell to shun). These are foundational beliefs for the Christian, but the Christian is also expected to continue growing from these: "...let us go on unto perfection." (Heb. 6:1-2). Here is also a serious warning in these verses: for those who have believed this foundation, experienced this gift and the Word of God, and partaken of the Holy Spirit, and have seen the powers of the world to come, yet fall away from the truth, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance because they crucify Christ again for themselves, and put Him to shame openly (v. 4-6). It is not a small thing for the church, or an individual, to fall away from the necessary foundation of truth in Christ. Again, Paul tells us in the Book of Ephesians that the foundation of our faith is established by the apostles and prophets, with the chief cornerstone of that foundation being Jesus Christ. There is a living holy temple of God being built upon this foundation, and this habitation of God is built together by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:19-22). Yet many in the church teach that there are no longer apostles and prophets, and many deny the active working of the Holy Spirit in this continuing work of God. Ephesians also tells us that the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers have been given to teach the church until all are brought into the unity of the faith, and the full measure of Jesus Christ (see Eph. 4:11-16). Since this outcome has obviously not yet been achieved, apostles, prophets, and the other gifts must still be needed and are present in the church. Paul tells Timothy to teach the church that they are to be "...laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. O Timothy, keep that which has been committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith..." (1 Tim. 6:19-21). It is that good foundation, not false science or men's doctrines, that will keep us against the time to come, that will keep us unto eternal life. As people accused Jesus and His disciples of not obeying the Jewish traditions that had been in practice for centuries, Jesus warned them that these traditions of men could not save them, cleanse them from sin, or offer them excuses to ignore the Word of God: "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (see Mt. 15:1-20). They made their traditionals as important, or more so, than the scriptures. This took them away from the truth that they needed to know in order to be saved. Jesus told them that men were not defiled by what they touched or ate, but by what was in their hearts: "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man..." (v. 19-20). We see stories of so-called believers speaking hatred, anger and even threats against those with whom they disagree. They believe they are righteous in their violent militancy, but this is not the foundation of Jesus Christ. These are the doctrines of men and devils. Paul wrote again in Timothy: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron...Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine...Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." (1 Tim. 4:1-2). To the church, Paul wrote: "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein in thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ...Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?" (Colossians 2:6-10, 20-22, excerpt). Often we have seen that religious legalism stems not from the Word of God, but from the teachings of men. However, these teachings are wrongly treated with equal importance to the Word of God. The church has been impacted by all of the things that we have seen warned of here in the scriptures. In many cases, they have rejected the truth and the knowledge of God, as Hosea warned, and embraced instead the doctrines of men, demons, false science, philosophies, all of this world. We are not to be conformed to this world, however, but transformed by the renewing of our minds, by the washing of the water of the Word of God. I pray that eyes and ears will be opened to the truth that the LORD has provided to us. *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/17/21 message to the church. To contact, submit a prayer request or 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.

The Great Trumpet and the Feast of Atonement*

Yom Kippur, or the Feast of Atonement, is approaching this week. There is a great trumpet that plays a role in this feast. The Atonement is also often referred to as the "At-One-Ment", where man is reconciled with God by the blood of Atonement, which in the fulfillment of this feast, is the blood of Jesus. Adam and Eve had this "oneness" in their relationship with God in the garden, walking and talking with Him, before they disobeyed God and fell. The prophet Isaiah connected the reconciliation in man's relationship with God with the sound of a great trumpet: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river into the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem." (Isa. 27:12-13). The coming of Christ is also described with the same great trumpet: "Immediately after the tribulation...the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Mt. 24:29-31). As Isaiah referred to a threshing and gathering of Israel at the sound of the great trumpet, Jesus also taught of a gathering done at the sound of a great blast of a trumpet. The Feast of Atonement is the call to examine ourselves, and to come back into the status of righteousness in God: "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth...Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright." (Ps. 11:3-7). We are seeing the nation's foundations being destroyed, more each day. This affects the righteousness of the nation. The LORD's temple is holy, and we read in scripture that His temple is a living temple, and that we are that living temple of God. The wicked will suffer great snares and punishments, while the countenance, or face, of the LORD is turned to the righteous. The Word of God tells us to "seek His face". This time leading up to the Day of Atonement is the time to seek the LORD's face. The verses from the Psalms above point out the important role played in the life of the righteous by "the foundations". The foundation not only establishes the steadiness and squareness of a building, but unifies the components that are being built together upon it. The apostle Paul wrote concerning the foundation of this living holy temple of God: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth into a holy temple in the Lord: In whom you also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit." (Eph. 2:19-22, see also 1 Cor. 3:9-11). The building being constructed is the holy temple of God, and it is built upon the foundation of the Word of God established by the apostles and prophets, with Christ being the cornerstone. This holy temple cannot be constructed on any other type of foundation. The components being united in this building according to the verses above are Israel and the Gentiles. The Gentiles were strangers and aliens without the covenant of promise, and without the hope of God (v. 11-14). However, now through the blood of Jesus Christ, the barrier between the two peoples, and between the Gentiles and God, has been dissolved. From these separated parts, Jesus has made one new man, reconciled together into one body by the work of the cross (v. 15-16). This is the Atonement that reconciles and unites into One. Why then is the Church so divided? Instead of building upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with the cornerstone being Christ, many churches have been built on the interpretations and doctrines of men. Ephesians 4:11-16 states that the ministers that have been supplied to the Church by Jesus, which include apostles and prophets as well as many other gifts of ministry (see 1 Cor. 12:27-28 also), cause the Body of Christ to be edified to do the work of the ministry, and perfected until the Church comes into "the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ...". This necessary foundation of the apostles and prophets has not passed away, although some in the Church erroneously believe that it has. The Church still is not unified, or perfected, nor has it attained the full stature of Christ. This foundation, as gifted to us by Christ, is to prevent us from being like children, "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." (v. 14). We see this today, as so many believers are deceived into following strange and divisive doctrines. The Lord wants us to be established in truth (v. 15), if we are to grow up into our Head, and the Head of all things, Jesus Christ. This is the purpose in the Atonement. The apostle Peter urged the Church to remember their foundation, "...the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour." (2 Peter 3:1-2). Keeping this foundation is especially important to the Church in these laat days, according to Peter, as pressure mounts to follow false doctrines, and having to face the challenges to truth from scoffers. The great trumpet of the Day of Atonement, like the great trumpet that is sounded at the return of Christ, is to cause the Church, the Bride, to unite with the Holy Spirit in saying to all who hear, to all who thirst, and to the Lord Himself, "Come" (Rev. 22:17, 20). The Book of Revelation also warns that the words of prophecy in this book cannot be added to, or removed, without severe consequences from plague to removal from the book of life for the one who does so (Rev. 22:18-19). These are the consequences for those who would destroy the true foundation, and the goal of Atonement - unity with God in Christ, unity with each other in the Body as the holy temple of God, and unity of the faith: "At-One-Ment". *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 9/12/21 message to the Church. To contact us, submit a prayer request or praise report, or to support the ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

Learn to Discern*

Like last week's message, "Be Not Deceived", this message is important in these times in which we live. The prophet Malachi wrote regarding the need to properly discern: "Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not." (Mal. 3:18). In the New Testament, there were those in Berea who would search out the scriptures to confirm what was being taught to them. Before we accept anything from anyone who "comes down the pike", we need to compare it to scripture and decide whether it lines up or not. God raises up prophets, putting His word in their mouths, and He expects us to heed what the prophet of God is telling us, or it will be required of us (Deut. 18:15-19). The LORD also spoke of the judgment that would come against any prophet who claimed that he spoke in the name of the LORD, but spoke words that the LORD had not commanded him, or if the prophet spoke in the name of others gods, that prophet shall die (v. 20). This is how important God considers the truth and integrity of the prophetic word to His people. The LORD told His people how to determine a prophet who is not speaking the word given to him by the LORD: "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." (v. 22). The test of a prophet is if the word they prophesy comes to pass. Many of those who have called themselves prophets have said that we are not to fear the Corona virus, yet some of them have sickened and died. The LORD warned of prophets who speak out of their own hearts and spirits, seeing vanity and lying divinatios, saying the LORD had said it, when He had not. These lying prophets seduced God's people saying "Peace" when there was no peace. The LORD compared them to bulders of a wall who use faulty mortar. The wall can't help but fall. The LORD would bring down these walls built upon vanity and divination, and the prophets would be consumed in the midst of the destruction (Ezek. 13:1-9). Ezekiel again warned the people to discern the prophets. In another example, the LORD dealt with the elders whose hearts were filled with idols, yet they sought out the prophet of God for the word of the LORD. To those who do this, the LORD said, "...Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations." (Ezek. 14:2-6). The LORD speaks of pouring out His fury and sending famine, beasts, sword, and pestilence upon the land of His people who refuse to hearken to Him, having been told to turn away from their abominations. God's word tells us that if we obey His commandments and statutes, He will bless us. If we disobey, the curse comes. For a long time now, America has been experiencing the curse of disobedience to the Word of God, and to the warnings of His prophets. Racism, armed violence against the those who are unarmed, and child murder have become the daily events and the wickedness imbedded in our society. It has become systemic, rather than isolated events. In scripture, the prophets of God called His people to repentance, but the people would not listen to the word of the LORD. The anger of the LORD came upon them: "And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets...but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever: And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt. Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt." (Jer. 25:4-7). Ignoring the prophets who speak the word of the LORD, and relying instead on false gods and our own strength and efforts, leads to our own hurt. False gods today include Mammon, the corrupt and worldly system of money and wealth. The sacrificing of our own children in abortion is like the worship of the god Molech, or Ba'al. The Word of the LORD to His people today, through the mouths of His servants, is again a call to repentance. The 2 Chron. 7:14 repeated message to God's people is very similar to the message that the prophet Jeremiah brought to the people of God long ago. Will we heed that message, or turn instead to the gods we have made with our own hands? Again, through Jeremiah the prophet, the LORD asks His people, "...Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD...Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend his doings, and go not after other gods to serve them...but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me." (Jer. 35:12-15). The prayer of the porphet Daniel, for God's people in the midst of their captivity in Babylon, applies very much to the confusion that we are surrounded by today. He prayed, "O LORD, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. To the LORD our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him; Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him." (Dan. 9:8-11). The prophet Amos wrote that God does nothing without first revealing it to His servants the prophets, who sound the alarm of warning to God's people (Amos 3:6-8). Paul's letter to Timothy includes the warning that "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." However, Paul wrote that Timothy should continue in the things of the scriptures tht he had been learning since childhood. It is scripture, which is inspired, that corrects us and instructs us in righteousness so that "the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:13-17). He also warns Timothy of the time when people will not endure sound doctrine, but accumulate teachers who appeal to their lusts..."And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Tim. 4:1-4). As the scriptures close in the Book of Revelation, John is assured that the things that he has been told are true. The LORD God of the holy prophets sent His angel to reveal these things to come to His servants. concluding, "Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book." (Rev. 22:6-7). There is a blessing in heeding and keeping the words of the prophets of God. God expects His people to rightly discern His true prophets, and listen and obey the Word of the LORD. If you would like to heed the prophetic warning of God's servants, and join in repentance, turning away from sin, and turning back to God, join us in prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to learn to discern Your voice. Forgive me for refusing to hear Your prophetic word, and for disobeeying the scriptures. As Daniel said, there are mercies and forgiveness in You for a people who will turn and repent. I want to abide in Your Word so that You will abide in me. I believe that You died for me, and that You were raised from the dead. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to lead me in truth and obedience to Your voice and Word. I ask this in Your name, Amen. *Based upon Dr. Stevenson's 11/8/20 message to the church. To contact: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 or Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com

Believe HIS Prophets*

 

 

King Jehoshaphat declared to Judah, "Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." (2 Chron. 20:20). It is especially important now, in the times in which we are living and during this pandemic, to listen to the prophets. The prophet Amos wrote:

"Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the LORD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?  Amos 3:6-8

How far we have come away from God's Word, and our understanding of the vital importance of His prophets and His prophecies! Sometimes we miss the prophetic because we don't recognize the package it is coming in. For example, there is much prophetic significance in the Books of the Apocrypha concerning the Messiah, but because of where they are found, we are not familiar with them, or discount them. In another example, secular songs have been written that have prophetic significance:

"And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning
in the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, 'The words of the prophets
are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls.
And whispered in the sounds of silence."

Sound of Silence, by Paul Simon

 

or from Bob Marley:

"One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
Hear the children crying (One love)
Hear the children crying (One heart)
Sayin', "Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
Sayin', "Let's get together and feel all right."

 

Jesus compared the coming of the Son of man to the conditions and warning given during the days of Noah, giving that scriptural account prophetic significance for our time (Mt. 24:35-42). The response to Noah in that day was an example of how people often respond to the prophetic today - they ignore it or do not see its significance. The people of Noah's time ignored the prophetic warning until the flood carried them away. There will be those upon the coming of the Lord who will be carried away by calamity, as in the flood. However, in the midst of great and universal wickedness, Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Gen. 6:5-8). Jesus concluded by saying, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."

The grace that Noah found in the eyes of the Lord was also a prophetic picture of the foundation upon which the new covenant would be established forever, in the grace found through Yeshua, Jesus.

The apostle Peter exhorted his readers to be mindful, to take heed, of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and also now by the apostles. The same (prophetic) words which spoke of the unrighteous in the world having been flooded with water, continues and has created a store of fire this time in the earth for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men- fervent heat that melts the elements and the works of man. God is only holding off from this fiery destruction in His patience to allow as much time and opportunity as possible for men's repentance. Knowing this prophetic warning is still active, this knowledge should mold how we believers continue in our character, expectations and outlooks: "...what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness...?" (2 Pet. 3). As Peter mentioned in his epistle, the apostle Paul wrote similarly of the Lord revealed from heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who don't know God, and refuse to obey the gospel of Christ. His presence and glory will punish with an everlasting destruction. Christ will be glorified in those who do believe His Word and promise. We are to be worthy of this calling of faith in Him who saves us, and "fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power." (2 Thess. 1:7-12). The apostles of today are likewise bringing forth the same prophetic warnings to the Body of Christ for this same purpose, that we would be shaped and conformed in this fullness (Eph. 4:11-13).

As prophesied, there are many false prophets and teachers who come to bring a contrary word, driven by covetousness, twisting the scriptures in order to make profit off of those who clamor to hear lies and false assurances (2 Pet. 2:1-3, 3:17). But the genuine word of prophecy which we have received, and are now receiving from the true apostles, prophets and teachers, is a sure word of prophecy, because it does not come from the will and interpretation of men, "but holy men of God (who) spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet. 1:19-21).

By these precious prophetic words originated in the Holy Spirit, we are conformed, not to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds, minds washed in the truth of the Word of God, becoming blameless and without spot, growing in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:14-18).

 





*The above is based upon the 5/24/20 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", and to help us get out the message, to contribute to the Book of Remembrance for Sean 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.
 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:

  

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                                                                   Sean Stevenson





The Voice of God

 

There are those today who mock faith in God. Those who believe are openly ridiculed for their belief. Many also scoff at the idea that the LORD speaks. He spoke in the past, and He still speaks today. To His prophet, Jeremiah, He said:

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD...I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them...but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me."    Jer. 35:12-15 (excerpt)

Perhaps man mocks the concept that God has a voice, and speaks, in order to relieve ourselves of the responsibility of hearing and obeying:

"Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us...because we have sinned against him."   Dan. 9:10-11

Because of their unbelief, man has looked upon prophets with great skepticism. However, the Word of God says, "Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the LORD God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?"   Amos 3:7-8

We are often stunned at the enormous calamities that have come upon the earth in recent times, but as Amos told us above, all of these things have been spoken by the LORD beforehand to His prophets. We have just refused to heed it. Many also choose to believe that the voice of God as spoken to His prophets remains in, and applies only to the past. However, the prophetic word is applicable especially to our current time:

"And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and swear 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 (delay) no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets."   Rev. 10:5-6

The words spoken to the prophets, recorded long ago, are appointed for even this present time. As the Word says, God does nothing without having declared it to His prophets. It has been further prophesied:

"And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."   Rev. 22:10-13

The above words of prophecy written around 70 A.D., are not sealed, or hidden, any longer, but revealed for all men to know and understand now, for this time.
The apostle Peter also identified the connection of the written words of the prophets to our present time:
"...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 Saviour: 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."   2 Pet. 3:1-4
Peter reminds the Church that it was said by the prophets that scoffers would mock the promise of the return of Christ, just as we see today. Peter taught that these scoffers would be ignorant by choice of the knowledge of the previous judgment by flood that destroyed the earth after the creation, and its continuing prophetic significance for the future. By the same word that brought that judgment by flood of water, the heavens and earth are now storing up fire for judgment. In choosing to ignore the truth regarding the past world-wide judgment by flood, the scoffers do not have to face the prospect of the prophesied world-wide judgment by fire. According to Peter, they also choose to believe that because God has waited this long to carry out that prophesied judgment, despite the prevalence of wickedness, that it will not come. Peter, however, warns against this kind of unbelief of the scoffers referring to both the heart of God, and His timing (v. 8). He warns us not to mistake the kindness and patience of God for weakness, or a failing to keep His word:
"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...and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness...?"   2 Pet. 3:9-11
Peter said that this prophetic word has been given to us so that we may be prepared for the coming events. The prophetic word, the voice of God, requires us to stir up our pure minds, not being conformed to the world's scoffing and unbelief, but transformed by that word, the voice of God, that we would walk in holy and Godly character. God, in His mercy, has provided more time also for those who have not yet been transformed by repentance in the face of His warning word given to the prophets.

There are prophets still prophesying the voice of the Lord today. They are not often accepted even by the Church, yet they, along with apostles and other ministers to the Church, have been provided by Christ, who is the Spirit of prophecy, to equip the Church, and to perfect the saints into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:11-13). They are especially crucial to us in these last days. Will we hearken to the voice of God?

To Contact/Submit Prayer Requests/Support the Ministry/Order the Book, "NAZAH":
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
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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.