Willingly Ignorant*

Each week there are alarming headlines that seem to be pointing towards Armageddon. Hostilities with Russia, Iran, and other nations are escalating. In addition, we are seeing an increase in injustice, wickedness, racism and ethnic hatreds. These are all signs of the end times as prophesied by Christ. The apostle Peter wanted the church to be reminded of these signs and others as the Word written by the prophets in the Torah, and by the commandments of the apostles (2 Peter 3:1-2). Peter also wanted to bring to our minds another condition of the last days: "...knowing this first: that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking in their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his (Christ's) coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." (v. 3-6). The scoffers who deny the possibility of Christ's return, and the judgment to come, do so to justify continuing in their lusts. They are described not as ignorant, but willingly (thelo - intend, resolve, determined, desire, love, take delight and pleasure in) ignorant (lanthano - to be hidden, to lie hidden). The scoffers don't want to see the truth themselves, and delight in hiding the truth from others. Peter wrote that the same Word of judgment is now stored up as fire for the days of destruction of ungodly men (v. 7). However, God is not arbitrarily delaying that day of judgment: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (v. 9). That day wll oome however, and it will come like a thief in the night, with fervent heat that will melt the elements of the heavens and the earth. This knowledge should have an effect on how we live - living lives of holiness and godliness, and with diligence, to be found by Christ to be without spot and blameless (v. 10-11, 14). We who know these signs are to look forward to new heavens and a new earth "wherein dwelleth righteousness" (v. 13), and be watchful "...lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness."(v. 17). Theses last days are a time when even the believers in Christ may fall into the same errors of the wicked, if we are not diligent. The "error of the wicked" is that willful ignorance of the truth: "But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and for ever. Amen (v. 18). We have learned that both grace and knowledge are contained in the Torah and the prophets. Jesus warned that the last days would be like the days of Noah, and like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, when life went in as usual, with people choosing to be willingly ignorant of the warning of the judgment of destruction about to come (Lk. 17:26-30). In the days of Noah, while all men were filled with corruption and violence continually, God found Noah to be perfect, whole and complete, in his generation. Noah found grace in the eyes of God, and he walked with God. God told Noah that He would destroy wicked men with the earth (Gen. 6:9-12). God then instructed Noah to build an ark. This ark was the witness of a coming judgment by water to that generation, but only Noah and his family heeded that warning and were saved. In the same manner, the violent perversion of Sodom and Gomorrah was before God. He sent two of His angels to see the cities for themselves, and to bring the judgment of brimstone and fire to the cities. Lot, who was Abraham's nephew, lived in Sodom with his wife and daughters. He saw the angels of God come into the city and pressed them to stay at his house, because he feared for their safety. The men of the city, both young and old, and from every walk of life, came to Lot's house, and demanded that Lot send the two "men" out to them that they might do what they wanted with them. Lot offered his daughters to the mob instead, but they wanted the visiting men. Lot warned them: "I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly." The mob ignored Lot's warning, and grew angry at Lot for "judging" their desires and deeds to be wicked, and they sought to harm him. The angels pulled Lot back into his house, and struck the mob blind, so they could not find Lot's door (Gen. 19:4-11). The angels then told Lot to warn any other family that he had in the city to get out: "For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it." (v. 12-13). Lot went out to warn his sons-in-law, "...but he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law." (v. 14). Like the sons-in-law of Lot, the world often treats the warnings of those who believe God's Word as if they are crazy, yet God's Word is proven true time after time, even to physical evidence found that supports Biblical accounts, such as the utter destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, with ash being all that's left of them. These examples from Noah's flood, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah were the warnings of Jesus regarding the time of His return, and it is willful ignorance to ignore them, or mock them. These warnings were not given by Jesus in an act of hate, but of love. As we read above, God desires none to perish, but for all to come to Him in repentance for salvation. Peter gave his warnings in love in order to remind the church of the words of the prophets and apostles, so that they would be prepared, and found living in holiness and godliness by Christ. Paul also wrote that our walk must be one of love: "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us...But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints...but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man who is an idolator, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." (Eph. 5:1-5). As Jesus said, all of the Torah and the prophets reflect love. All of the law and the prophets are summed up in two commandments according to Jesus: Love God, and love your neighbor. Paul wrote that he who loves another fulfills the law, and that the Ten Commandments, with which we are so familiar, are contained in the one phrase, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Love will never do harm to a neighbor, therefore, Paul repeats, love fulfills the law (Rom. 13:8-10). It is a deception, however, to believe that because God loves, He will not judge: "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be ye not therefore partakers with them." (Eph. 5:6-7, see also Isa. 61:1-2). We are to walk as children of light in the fruit of the Spirit, which is all goodness, righteousness and truth, proving with our lives what is acceptable to the Lord (v. 8-10). Rather than having fellowship with the works of darkness, we should reprove those shameful things which are done in secret. By doing so, we are being the manifestation of light (v. 8-13). Paul also wrote the following based upon what the prophet Isaiah said: "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." (v. 14, Isa. 60:1). It's not about reproving people, but reproving sin and darkness. Resurrection from the dead brings the light of life that is found in Christ, and has no part in the works of darkness (Jn. 8:12). Finally, Paul warned here for us not to walk as fools but as the wise. Don't waste the time given to us, but redeem the time in these evil days (v. 15-16). In another place, Paul wrote: "...knowing the time, ...it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed...the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Rom. 13:11-12). In Ephesians 6:10-17, Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God. That armor is an armor of light. This is our purpose: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." (Isa. 60:1-3). Are we just going along with the crowd, or are we redeeming the time with spiritual light? Paul also wrote: "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Col. 4:5-6). *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 3/19/23 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook. You can also get a free ebook titled "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary" at www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.

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.

What Now America...What Now Church?*

Recently, the Supreme Court overturned the Roe V. Wade decision regarding abortion fifty years after the original decision had changed the laws of the nation. As Rabbi Jonathan Cahn wrote in his newest book, Israel was often saved from the brink of God's judgment by removing the altars that had been built to false gods like Ba'al and Molech, both of which were connected to child sacrifice. The tearing down of these ungodly altars could have been a sign of revival in Israel at the time, or it could have been an anomaly in the nation's continuing fall from God. Will we rise up at this time and fulfill 2 Chron. 7:14, and its spiritual warfare of repentance? Our warfare is not natural, with guns and violence, or even politics, but it is spiritual, through repentance, faith, and the Word of God. God hates sin, which leads to death, but God loves the sinner. For this reason, God sent His Son to die in the place of all sinners who will accept Him. What will America choose? What will the Church choose? Paul wrote about the conditions in the last days, and we see those same things now: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1-5). We certainly see this in man today. Paul wrote that even though "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived", we, the believers are to continue and hold fast in what we have been taught by the apostles of the faith, and the holy scriptures, even as persecution comes against those of faith (v. 10-14). We are seeing the beginning of persecution in this nation, as the preaching and speaking of God's Word is being silenced by law, even in pulpits. However, Paul commands Timothy: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Tim. 4:2). There will come a time, wrote Paul, that because men's lusts, their destructive desires of various kinds, will rule them, Godly doctrine will no longer be tolerated (v. 4). Jude, the brother of Jesus Christ, wrote of similar concerns. He exhorted the believers to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares...ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord, Jesus Christ." (v. 3-4). Jude added that God had dealt with this kind of ungodliness in scripture as examples for us. He dealt with unbelieving Israelites, after He delivered them from Egypt, who had seen the power of God, but did not believe Him. Angels, who rebelled against their place, were chained in the pit as a result. Sodom and Gomorrah, condemned to eternal fire, chose fornication and strange flesh rather than the knowledge of God. "Woe unto them!" (v. 5-11). People who knew God, such as Cain, Balaam, and Korah, chose their own gain instead of God. Jude wrote that the Lord will bring judgment against the ungodly for "all of their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him", the Lord. (v. 15). These ungodly people are fruitless, shameless, without fear of God, and condemned to the darkness forever (v. 12-13). In "the last time", they are the mockers who walk after their own ungodly lusts...having not the Spirit (v. 18-19), as Paul also said, above. Believers, on the other hand, should build themselves up on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of Jesus unto eternal life. It is He who preserves us, and keeps us from likewise falling (v. 1, 20-24). Peter, another apostle, wrote about these issues also: "...there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you...their damnation slumbereth not." (2 Peter 2:1-3). Like Jude above, Peter also wrote of the examples in scripture where judgment followed intentional ungodliness: the angels that sinned and were cast down to hell in chains of darkness; the sparing of Noah, while the ungodly were destroyed in the flood; the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, while delivering Lot, who was considered righteous and just by God (v. 4-8). The Lord knows how to deliver the godly from destructive temptation, while reserving the ungodly, who walk after the flesh in lust, for His judgment (v. 9-10). There is a danger from those who walk in unrighteousness towards those who know God: "For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error...For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, and the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." (v. 18, 20-21). These who had formerly been saved through Christ, but turned back because of the influence of the ungodly, are compared to a dog returning to its vomit (v. 22, see Prov. 26:11). These ungodly men try to pull both you, and the nation, back from God. We are seeing the judgment of God in this nation through violence, pandemic, and destruction. As Paul and Jude above, Peter also warned: "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts." (2 Pet. 3:3). They scoff at the idea of judgment, because all seems to continue the same, while they willingly ignore the previous judgment of the great flood by which the world perished (v. 4-6). The same Word of judgment has now reserved the heavens and earth for the judgment of fire, rather than water. This fire is so consuming, that all elements will melt from its fervent heat (v. 7, 10). The only reason that we have not seen this judgment yet is because the Lord is "longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (v. 9). Again the question is asked by Peter that, considering all of these dangers of the last days, "what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness...?" (v. 11). So what now, America...what now, Church? King David in Psalm 12, cried to the LORD, saying, "...the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fall from among the children of men." They flatter and speak empty, vain things. They say as they please, refusing the Lordship of God over themselves, their words. They oppress the poor until the poor cry out before the LORD. "The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted." We see this today in that the vile have been promoted to the highest positions until the wicked think that they can do their wickedness without suffering any ramifications. However, David assured us: "The words of the LORD are pure: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." When a silversmith purifies silver, he repeats it until the silver is pure enough that the smith can see his face reflected in it. The Lord Jesus had this pure Word for all seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. Although they almost all had failings that could lead to their destruction, He urged them to be overcomers. The rewards that the Lord promised to each overcoming church are the same rewards that all believers are promised if they abide in Christ: to eat of the tree of life; to be spared from the second death; to eat of the hidden manna and to receive a white stone with your new name written upon it; to rule over nations and to receive the Morning Star, which is Jesus Christ Himself; to be clothed in white raiment, which is the clothing of righteousness, to have your name remain in the Book of Life, and to have your name declared before the Father and His angels by Jesus; to be made a pillar in God's temple, and to have the name of God, the city of New Jerusalem, and Christ's new name written, or more accurately engraved, upon you. Even to the lukewarm church of Laodicea, whom the Lord called "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked", if they would overcome, Jesus promised to them and to us: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." The solution is not found in the wicked nor in this world, but in 2 Chron. 7:14 - If the people of God will repent. Jesus told us to judge ourselves, so we will not be judged. We know that judgment begins in the house and with the people of God. In the parable of the talents, the Master gave each one talents, and expected to see the increase from those talents. What are we doing with the "talents" that have been given to us? Our nation, like Israel of old, is standing near judgment. What now, America? What now, Church? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 11/27/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.

Putting It All Together*

Looking at the world, we are seeing events play out, such as the rise of Russian aggression and nuclear threats among the nations, that coincide with prophesied signs of the end times, and Christ's return. There is a new documentary available titled, "Who Can He Be?", which examines the Shroud of Turin and the work of the original STURP research on the Shroud. The question of "Who Can He Be?" becomes the most important question in these times, and will help us to put together the whole picture. Who He is, and what's next on the prophetic timetable of God will impact the whole earth. Even believers often have a limited idea of who Christ is. Scripture brings us this revelation: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (Jn. 1:1-3, see also Gen. 1:1). Jesus was always with God and He was the Word spoken that created all things. In the same way, Christ plays the principal role in the current events and future events of the world, and beyond. We also play a role living in our knowledge of God through these events: "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust:" (2 Pet. 1:2-4). Knowing Christ in the fulness that God has provided for us, changes our natures, even to becoming partakers of the divine nature, and escaping the corruption of the world, and the consequences of that corruption. Those who are not changed by knowledge of Christ in such a way (v. 5-8), remain blind and cannot see into far things, and cannot remember the purging of old sins in themselves done by Christ (v. 9). Part of the knowledge of Christ that is necessary for our future pertains to prophecy, and the understanding of those prophetic promises that have been given to us. These prophecies and commandments were not given by men, but by God through the holy prophets, and through the apostles (2 Pet. 3:1-2). Among these prophecies of God to us are those which pertain to a coming judgment by fire upon the earth, and of Christ's sudden, and to some, unexpected return. Scripture tells us that there will be those who scoff at these prophecies: "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 willingly are 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 then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire (see also v. 10-12) against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." (v. 3-7). These scoffers even deny what we already know - that God had previously judged the earth (by water) in Noah's flood. They purposely decide not to believe that God will judge the earth again, although He has promised to do so. Peter warned us not to be ignorant of the fact that while God views time differently than we do, He nevertheless has a very precise timetable for these things, and that timetable puts us very close to the day of judgment (v. 8). To the Lord, a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day. The Lord, Peter wrote: "...is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (v. 9). Our knowledge of the Lord also goes beyond the day of judgment. Peter wrote that our knowledge should result in our looking forward to His prophetic guarantee of a new heaven and a new earth. (v. 13). In having the knowledge of these things, and Who He is, our behavior should be ruled by this knowledge into being holy and godly (v. 11). Hosea also gave us prophetic knowledge of the Lord's view of the timing of events: "Come and let us return unto the LORD...After two days he will revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain; as the latter and former rain unto the earth." (Hos. 6:1-3). As the morning, and the rains, the timing is set. Again, our following after knowledge of the LORD affects how we will live through the moving of the LORD, whether in godliness or ungodliness, with understanding or willful ignorance, with preparation, or in being unprepared. We, in general, have not consistently been walking in His sight - we need to prepare for the third day, because it is sure to come. Paul wrote that we are not to be ignorant of the fact that in the day of the coming of the Lord, the dead in Christ will be raised, and we who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, which is also known as The Rapture (see 1 Thess. 4:13-17). In getting the answer to the question, "Who Can He Be?", we have seen that the knowledge of Christ stretches from the beginning, to the ending, and beyond to a new beginning. He has revealed who He is to man prophetically in manners that could not have been anticipated, or engineered by men. In Psalm 22, written by David approximately one thousand years before the birth of Christ, Christ revealed Himself to David in crucifixion details that were later described in the gospel accounts. At the time that David wrote the Psalm, crucifixion as a form of execution had not yet been invented by the Persians. Yet Christ revealed Himself in this Psalm saying, "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels...the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet...They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture..." V. 14-18). However, through this terrible experience, the prophetically revealed Christ declares that He trusts in the LORD to help Him, and that He will praise the LORD, and declare His name (YHWH - "Behold the hand; Behold the nail"). This is the transforming of the character of others based upon what has happened to Him: "The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations...They shall come and declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this." (v. 26-31). The knowledge of "Who can He Be?" is a transformative and necessary knowledge as we prepare ourselves for these end times, God's judgment upon the earth, and the Day of Christ's return. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 4/24/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.

Has America Become Latter Day Amorites?*

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

Scoffers Beware*

 

This is a follow up on the theme we discussed last week. We discussed the new abortion law that New York State has enacted that reaches a new level of wickedness. Scripture teaches that man is encouraged in this kind of wickedness because they think that the judgment of God has not come, and will not come. Peter warned that these are scoffers who will come in the last days:
"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. 3:3-4
Peter wrote that these scoffers of judgment deliberately ignore that fact that God had indeed sent devastating judgment previously in the form of the flood, and Peter assured that fire is now reserved for the judgment that will come against ungodly men (v. 7).
Though some mock the idea of the universal flood, physical evidence, including the fossil record, is abundant indicating that large land masses were indeed flooded by water.
Jesus also warned that in the last days, it would be as the time of Noah, and Sodom and Gomorrah in regard to judgment of mass destruction (Lk. 17:26-30).
Peter taught that those who scoff at the judgment of wickedness do so in pursuit of their own lusts (desire/craving for what is forbidden, of those who seek forbidden things). New York State, and the United States have become these scoffers of which Peter warned as they enacted these wicked statutes because of the lusts of men, and because they feel falsely secure in the belief that there will be no judgment from God. For this, these scoffers should beware of the warnings of scripture.
Peter went on to warn as we have noted previously, that God is slow to judge, not because He is slack in performing His word, but because He desires to give men the time and opportunity to repent, not willing that any should perish in judgment (2 Pet. 3:9).  
We have an excellent example in scripture of this patience regarding judgment. After God entered into a solemn covenant with Abraham and his promised future descendants, He spoke to Abraham prophetically regarding the land which would be given to Abraham's seed. The habitation of the promised land would be delayed until the fourth generation of Abraham's seed. This delay would be because "the iniquity (perversity, depravity, crimes, great guilt) of the Amorites ("prominence, publicity") is not yet full." (Gen. 15:13-16). The judgment against the tribes of Canaanites for their iniquities, would be delayed until it had grown so great, that it could be wait no longer.
What was involved in the iniquity of these Canaanite tribes? We get a detailed description from the book of the Apocrypha, The Wisdom of Solomon, Chapter 12. We do not treat the books of the Apocrypha with the same weight as scripture, but as they line up with the scriptures and bear witness to the scriptures, we can gain insight from them. These books were written during the time of the Old Testament, before the birth of Christ, and at one time they were included in the King James Bible. As an example of the value of the information these books can contribute, this is a quote from 2 Esdras 7:28 (KJV):
"For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that shall be with him, and they that remain shall rejoice within 400 years."
Regarding the Amorites mentioned by God to Abraham, and their iniquity before God, The Wisdom of Solomon says, in part:

"Whom thou hatedst for doing most odious workes of witchcrafts, and wicked sacrifices;
And also those mercilesse murderers of children, & deuourers of mans flesh, and the feasts of blood;
With their Priests out of the midst of their idolatrous crew, and the parents that killed with their owne hands, soules destitute of helpe:
That the land which thou esteemedst aboue all other, might receiue a worthy colonie of Gods children.
Neuerthelesse, euen those thou sparedst as men, and didst send waspes forerunners of thine hoste, to destroy them by little and little.
Not that thou wast vnable to bring the vngodly vnder the hand of the righteous in battell, or to destroy them at once with cruel beastes, or with one rough word:
But executing thy iudgements vpon them by little and little, thou gauest them place of repentance, not being ignorant that they were a naughtie generation, and that their malice, was bred in them, and that their cogitation would neuer be changed....
But they that would not bee refourmed by that correction wherein he dallied with them, shall feele a iudgement worthy of God.
For looke, for what things they grudged when they were punished, (that is) for them whom they thought to be gods, now being punished in them; when they saw it, they acknowledged him to be the true God, whome before they denyed to know: and therefore came extreme damnation vpon them."

The iniquity of the Amorites, for which judgment came, though delayed for the chance for repentance, included very much the same iniquity that we see practiced in our land now, including the "merciless murderers of children". The above excerpt from The Wisdom of Solomon confirms scripture in that the judgment would come little by little in order to provide an opportunity to repent.  However, in a warning to be taken today also for the scoffers of these last days, judgment would not be delayed indefinitely, and would surely come.
An important truth for the people of God to know and understand in all of this, the LORD strongly expressed to that fourth generation of the children of Israel when it was time for this judgment to fall on the Amorites, that they would prevail over the Amorites not because of their own righteousness, but because God was righteous in His judgment against the "odious" iniquity of the Amorites:
"Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying,  For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth not this good land to posses it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people."   Deut. 9:3-6
In The Wisdom of Solomon, the murder of the children, whether sanctioned by those in authority, or by the parents themselves, was odious. In Scripture it is called an abomination (Prov. 6:16-19). Judgment, though delayed, should not be mocked or scoffed upon, but the longsuffering of the LORD towards us should be used as the opportunity it is-the merciful opportunity extended to us for repentance for ourselves, our state, and our nation before it is too late. "The Lord is...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."


*The above is based upon the 2/3 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

 

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

https://everlastingcovenant.sermon.net/main/main/21320220
 

 

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.

End Time Knowledge - Pt. 2*

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

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

                                                                             Lamentations 2:14 (Amplified Version)

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his (Christ's) coming?...all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation..."  2 Pet. 3:3-4 (see also Jude v. 17-19)

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

"Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."  2 Pet. 3:6-7

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/
 

To watch Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

 

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.

 

 

 



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/
To Watch Dr. Stevenson's Complete Message:
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

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.