Understanding the Root and Not the Symptoms*

Passover is twenty days away, and eight days later, is Resurrection Sunday. Seldom are these two important days so close together. The divine congruence of these two holy days this year, should cause the Church to prepare themselves in a special way. These days should bring to mind the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and His resurrection from the dead. Much of what we see in the world today is very concerning. However, we need to understand that those things we are seeing are the symptoms of a much deeper root problem. That root problem is sin, and it applies to us all: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back, they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."(Ps. 53:1-3). Sin is not someone else's problem, but everyone's problem. The sin nature of man passed from Adam like a gene. If we deny it, we are not dealing with reality, we are only dealing with the symptoms. How deeply is sin imbedded in our nature? The prophet Jeremiah wrote: "Thus saith the LORD; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD...Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters...her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who shall know it." (Jer. 17:5-9). Many in the Church have been trusting in politicians to cure the ills of society rather than the LORD. Many trust in pharmaceuticals to heal us of the latest deadly outbreak. We should keep in mind that the Greek word for sorcerer is pharmakeus. Our hearts convince us that our hope is in man rather than God. Our hearts deceivingly convince us that there is hope in self-help, rather than God. Scripture explains the division between heart and Spirit, and the respective results from each. "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh...these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, forniction, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like...they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit..." (Gal. 5:15-25). Jesus came under criticism because He did not keep the traditions of men that had become more important to the people than the Word of God. However, the traditions of men would not keep them clean and undefiled. Jesus quoted Isaiah: "This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Mk. 7:5-9). Jesus continued, "Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man..." (v. 14-15). Even His own disciples did not understand this principle, and asked for an explanation. Jesus was surprised that they couldn't understand. He then explained, "That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man." (Mk. 7:20-23). As we read above in Jeremiah, Jesus said that it is from the evils of our own hearts that we are defiled. We often look at the outward appearance in judging whether we and others are righteous. However, Paul wrote that the outward appearance has no importance in the Spirit. The Jews valued physical circumcision as signifying their covenant with God. Paul said, however, "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." (Rom. 2:28-29). Paul went on to say that whether Jew or Gentile, all are under sin (Rom. 3:9). "As it is written", Paul said quoting the Psalm we read above, "There is none righteous, no not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God...There is none that doeth good, no, not one...There is no fear of God before their eyes." (v. 10-18). People who don't fear God will do anything. They will latch onto a lie, like Darwinism, as an excuse not to believe. However, this condition is not without remedy! Paul wrote, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God...that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (v. 23-26). 1 John 1:8 says, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." He then writes that if we walk in the light, as God IS light, with no darkness in Him, the blood of His Son, Jesus, will cleanse us of all sin (v. 7). If we confess our sins to Him, "he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (v.9). For Jesus "is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 Jn. 2:2). That word used by both Paul and John regarding Jesus as the "propitiation", refers to the sprinkling of the atoning blood of the sacrifice by the high priest on the mercy seat of God. Passover is coming soon. Resurrection Sunday follows immediately after. As the Bride, we need to make ourselves ready. We need to deal with the root of the problem, and not just the outward symptoms. And the root of the problem is found within each of our own hearts. *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 3/7/21 message to the Church. To contact: Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com or P.O. Box 154221 You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimesschool.com

Back to the Future*

In order to be prepared for the return of the Lord, we need to look back to understand things we have been mistaught in order to receive the truth. We need to know the truth, not the doctrines of men or devils. For instance, scripture tells us that the kingdom of God is made up from every nation, tribe, and tongue, yet racism is on the rise, as Jesus prophesied when He said "Nation shall rise against nation...". The word "nation" used here is the Greek word ethnos, from which we get the word ethnicity. We have been taught many things about our history involving the Native Americans of this land. Evidence points to the fact that the native people of this country may be part of the lost tribes of Israel. Their early language and heiroglyphics have a similarity to the ancient Hebrew language. It is said that when Columbus made one of his trips to this continent, he was greeted by native people with the Shema: ""Hear O Israel, the LORD our God is One". In addition, DNA evidence shows a relationship between the Cherokee tribe and Middle Eastern Jews. While Christian settlers tried various methods to destroy or drive out native people, the earliest Christian converts in our land were Native Americans. There are religious customs among the Native Americans, which the government tried to ban, that reflect their understanding that the Messiah, Jesus, appeared to their ancestors on this continent earlier in their history. Yet, the white man was taught that the Native Americans were all without the knowledge of God. The book, "The History of the North American Indians" by James Adair, is recommended reading for more information on this subject. In another example of the lack of truth, few know that the people of the nations of the western coast of Africa, which was called "the slave coast" because their inhabitants were captured and sold into slavery, lived in an area of Africa that had previously been called "The Kingdom of Judah" on the ancient maps. It is believed that these people, later sold into slavery, had emmigrated from Israel to Africa earlier in their history. In another example of misinformation, the Jewish books of the Apocrypha are believed to be outside of, and less than, scripture. Yet the Apochrypha had been included in the original King James Version of the Bible, only to be later removed. These books are still included in the Catholic Bible. From the time of the Reformation, Catholics and Protestants were at enmity with one another, and these books were removed from scripture. When flesh gets in, it can uproot the Spirit. We will find, as we look into the Apocrypha in the future, that there is a testimony of the Messiah contained in these books. The Word of the LORD through the prophet Hosea reveals that the LORD has a controversy with His people who do not value truth: "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, nor 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....Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge, 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. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity." (Hos. 4:1-9). There are those who have been told they are not the people of God. The prophet Hosea prophesies this Word of the LORD regarding them: "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God." (Hos. 1:10). The Apostle Paul found this to be the truth as he traveled to the city of Athens in Greece. One would assume in that day that the people of Athens, having practiced polytheism for centuries, could not possibly be people of God. Yet Paul discerned within both the Athenian religious and philosophical culture, an acknowledgement of God and His power, Whom the Greeks could not specifically identify, but included in worship at an altar upon which was written "To The Unknown God" (Acts 17:22-23). Paul challenged their idolic worship teaching, "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing as he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also your own poets have said..." (Acts 17:24-28). Paul went on to preach the Gospel of Christ to those people of Athens. Some mocked the idea of One who was raised from the dead, but others wanted to hear more (v.32). Paul had discovered earlier in his travel to the Greek city of Thessonica, that not only some of the Jews, although many remained hostile to the Gospel, but also many of the Greeks there, accepted the Gospel he preached to them (Acts 17:1-4). When Paul came to another city in Greece, Berea, he again preached at the synagogue there. The Jews there were very interested in hearing what Paul had to say, and were interested enough in knowing the truth that they searhed the scriptures for themselves to verify what Paul had told them. Many of them then believed the Gospel. Also more than just a few of the local Greek people believed (Acts 17:10-12). Scripture called these Bereans "noble" because they desired to know truth more than anything else. Many believers even to this present day have been taught that they will not experience any part of the Great Tribulation, because they believe the Rapture of the Church will precede it. However, Revelation tells us that a great multitude of believers, clothed with white robes, out "of all nations, and kindreds, and people and tongues", are described as those "which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. 7:9-17 excerpt). So there is evidence that believers will experience some portion of the Tribulation. Our lack of the knowledge of the truth has probably affected to whom we bring the Gospel, and whom we have historically considered to be the people of God, or not. With all signs, including rising racism, the pandemic, earthquakes, storms, indicating to us that the end is near, we are in need like never before of the truth in order to be prepared ourselves, and to prepared others. What are we doing to reach the lost as we see the day approaching? *Based upon the 11/29/20 message of Dr. Kenneth Stevenson to the Church. To Contact: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705, or Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com Please look for us on Facebook and Twitter also.

The Coming Fall Feasts*

The time we are living in is very serious. The LORD has set times that He commanded us to keep, and we have entered into one of those set times. These appointments or holy convocations that are to be kept with the LORD are divided into the spring feasts and the fall feasts. In Jesus' first coming, He fulfilled the spring feasts with His death, resurrection, and baptism of the Holy Spirit. Those spring feasts which He fulfilled are Passover, First Fruits, and Pentecost or Feast of Weeks. The Fall Feasts of the LORD which He commanded, deal with His return: the catching away of the Church, the marriage supper of the Lamb, judgment, and our preparation for these events. The fall feasts of the LORD are: the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles. We do not know the day nor the hour of Christ's return, but we can know the season and the times (1 Thess. 5:1). God purposefully created the bodies in the heavens for the purpose of our identifying His set times and seasons: "And God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so." Gen 1:14-15 All of the feasts are set at specific appointed times: "...Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts...which ye shall proclaim in their seasons." Lev. 23:2, 4 Many important events in Israel's recent history, including the wars of defense from attack, occurred on the set times of the feast days. We have also seen in recent years that several lunar eclipses have taken place on feast days, so the lights in the firmament are still drawing our attention to His feasts, and His set times. The Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar, because the moon plays a large role in the timing of the feasts of the LORD. The fall feasts are preceded by the month of Elul. This month is spent in spiritual preparation for the feasts to come. It is a time of repentance and return to the LORD. Every day during the month of Elul, the shofar, a trumpet made from the horn of a ram, is blown to remind the people of the purpose of this time. White linen garments are bleached to remove all stains, and blots, and ironed to remove wrinkles. As Christians, we are familiar with the scriptures that say that we are to be clothed in clean white linen garments of righteousness, which are without spot or wrinkle. These white linen garments being prepared during the month of repentance and preparations for the return to God, Elul, will be worn on the first fall feast, the Feast of Trumpets, or Yom Teruah. The Feast of Trumpets begins by commandment of God on the first day of the seventh month, or Tishri 1. The LORD set the timing of this feast: "Speak unto the children of Israel saying, "In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD." Lev. 23:24-25 This is an unusual feast because it cannot begin until at least two witnesses, who are assigned to watch, see the new moon appear. This first appearance of the new moon marks the beginning of Tishri 1, Yom Teruah. No man knows the day nor the hour of the beginning of this feast. It depends upon waiting and watching for that appearance of the new moon. Similarly, Jesus told us that no man knows the day nor the hour of His return, and He also told us to watch for it. The blowing of the trumpets include a blowing of the last trump, the final blast in a long series of blasts. 1 Thess. 4:13-18 mentions that the raising of the dead in Christ, and catching away of those still alive at the moment of His return will occur at the sound of a shout and the trump of God. 1 Cor. 15:51-55 reveals that the transformation of this moment from corruptible to incorruptible occurs at the "last trump". This moment is the overcoming of death and the grave for all who belong to Christ. As we come upon the appointed time of this feast, we must make sure that our preparations, repentance and return to God have been completed. Without those white, pressed linen garments, we cannot enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9). The next fall feast, the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, comes ten days after the Feast of Trumpets: "Also on the tenth day of this month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings..." Lev. 23:27-31 The Day of Atonement, fulfilled by the atonement of the covering blood of Christ which He applied upon the Mercy Seat of God, marks the differentiation between those who submit to the atonement or covering work of God, and those who refuse. It is a most solemn day. Paul wrote about being aware, sober, and awake during the times and seasons of the LORD. He wrote about the sudden destruction that comes, but that we, who are supposed to be aware and prepared, are not meant for that coming wrath of God (1 Thess. 5:1-7). Jesus said to his disciples regarding that destruction to come that we are to watch always and pray that we will be found worthy to escape the terrors that are coming upon the whole earth, and instead to stand before the Son of man (Lk. 21:36). Five (the number connected to "grace") days after the solemn feast of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, comes the fall feast of Tabernacles: "...The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD....Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD...Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days...And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days....It shall be a statute for ever in your generations...Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God..." Lev. 23:34-44 This fall feast of Tabernacles is connected to the gathering of the harvest, even as the Lord has an end time harvest to gather in. Jesus talked about fields white with the harvest. Those who belong to the Lord are gathered in to the storehouse. Those who have refused the atonement covering of the Savior, Jesus Christ, are gathered for destruction. Isaiah spoke about the chamber that God's people are called to enter at this time: "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation is overpast. For behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." Isa. 26:19-21 In this fall feast season and set time of the LORD, His Church should be preparing for His return with repentance (2 Chron. 7:14), soberness, and watchfulness. The Church that Christ is looking for in His return is prophesied in these fall feasts, and is described in Ephesians: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Eph. 5:25-27 Those who belong to the Lord, who have prepared themselves by their return to God, their repentance and the white linen wedding garments which are His righteousness, are gathered in as a harvest to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. They go into the marriage chamber, and the door is shut, as the indignation of God covers those who remain in the earth. This is the promise of the LORD's fall feasts of Trumpets, Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles. *Based upon Dr. Kenneth Stevenson's 9/13/20 message to the Church. To contact Everlasting covenant, or Dr. Stevenson: PO Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705

Palm Snday 2020*



 

All four Gospels give an account of the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem (Mt. 21, Mk. 11, Lk. 19, Jn. 12), which we call Palm Sunday, because the great multitudes spread palms on the road, and waved palms in the air in welcome and praise Him. The words the crowd cried out fulfilled prophecy (Ps. 118:25-26). The colt miraculously supplied that Jesus rode into Jerusalem was a fulfillment of prophecy (Zech. 9:9).

There were other events that happened around the time that Jesus entered into the city for Passover. He went into the temple, and began clearing out the merchandizing which had taken over the house of God, saying:

"It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer (of all nations), but ye have made it a den of thieves".  Mt. 21:12-13 (Mk. 11:17) (see also Isa. 56:7, Jer. 7:11).

The people were astonished, but His zealous action of cleansing the temple was resented and His authority was called into question by the religious leaders of the city. They began to plot against Jesus because the people were listening to Him (Mk. 11:18, 27-28). At His first coming, Jesus judged and punished the merchandizing and corruption of the temple, the house of God. This is a prophetic warning to us, the Church, to cleanse ourselves in preparation for His arrival again. The Church has become defiled, and we as individuals have become defiled by the buying and selling of religion.

Also during that time, Jesus sought fruit from a fig tree, although it was not yet the season for fruit. Finding no fruit, He curses the fig tree, saying to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." The fig tree withered from its roots. (Mk. 11:13-14, 20-21). At His first coming, Jesus expected fruit without excuse. This is a warning to us that He will expect us to have produced fruit in our lives when He comes again.

After this eventful entrance into Jerusalem, His disciples asked Jesus, "What shall be the sign of thy coming? (Mt. 24). They were asking about the signs accompanying His return, and the end of the age. After describing the signs to watch for, many of which we are already seeing today, Jesus begins to describe His return with a wedding parable (Mt. 25:1-13). In this parable of the ten virgins who were to be at the marriage, Jesus describes the different outcomes awaiting the five who were wise and prepared for the bridegroom's coming, and the five who were foolish and unprepared. The five wise virgins, who were prepared with trimmed lamps and extra oil when the sudden cry went out of the bridegroom's arrival at midnight, went with him to the marriage. The door was shut after them. When the five foolish virgins arrived late because they had been unprepared, they were not allowed in, and the bridegroom/Lord told them, "Verily I say unto you, I know you not."

At the end of the parable, Jesus exhorts us, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." We do, however, know the times and the seasons. We know the signs as written in scripture. We are not meant to be unaware or unprepared for the sudden moment of His return. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church:

"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." 

                                                                                               1 Thess. 5:1-13

Paul made it  point to teach the churches the signs to watch for regarding the return of Jesus, because he wanted them to be prepared. Though the world may think that peace has been established, the day of the Lord comes with sudden destruction. We are not to be overtaken as if this moment is unexpected, like a thief's ambush. "For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that...we should live together with him."

Paul goes on to say that the work of those who are our spiritual leaders is to teach us these things and to admonish us in preparation. We are to value and esteem those teachers who faithfully prepare us.

Peter also wrote to the church who profess the belief in Jesus, that they should stir up their pure minds in remembrance of what the prophets have written and what the apostles have taught concerning the last days, and the signs of the return of Christ (2 Pet. 3:1-14). He wrote:

"Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

Revelation also speaks about the bride who has made herself ready to enter the marriage  of the Lamb, arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, which is the righteousness of saints (Rev. 19:7-9).

As the signs reveal to us the approach of the time of Christ's return, we are to take the prophetic lesson from His entry into Jerusalem, and we are to be prepared for His sudden appearance at any moment. There will be no time to prepare when the moment comes.

Jewish customs concerning preparation for marriage is a parallel to the preparations to be made by the bride of Christ, and Jesus, her Bridegroom. A previous message concerning these marriage customs titled, "Preparing for the Marriage of the Lamb" has been posted to the right of this entry as the "featured post" for your convenience. There is also a link here. Please read it for additional information concerning this subject.
Be watching also for a special live broadcast this week from Dr. Stevenson on the Shroud of Turin.
 





*The above is based upon the 4/5/20 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:

Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

http://endtimeschool.com/

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

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Sermon.net/EverlastingCovenant
 

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:
  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/ 

To send testimonies for the Book of Remembrance to be published in the memory of Sean Stevenson:
 

You can send your testimonies to:

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Sean Stevenson

Being Ready*

 

Last week, we discussed the truth vs. the lie, and how these things relate to the return of Christ, and the day of the Lord. Let's see what the prophets have to say concerning these events, and how we should be preparing ourselves for them:

"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 God hath spoken, who can but prophecy?"   Amos 3:6-8

The prophetic word of God is like a trumpet sounding an alert, like a lion giving his warning roar. It requires a reaction from us. A wise man takes these warnings seriously, and reacts accordingly. The LORD announces these warnings so that those who will give heed to them will have knowledge and become prepared.

In Revelation, as the Seven Vials of Wrath are released by the angels, a warning is given:

"Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame."   Rev. 16:15

We are now in the period of tribulation spoken of in the word of God. Christians are persecuted, even to death in some places, and are blamed for everything. This is the time when God warns His people to be watching. It is not the time to be distracted by worldly things, or fleshly concerns. The warning in the Gospel of Luke says:

"Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overtaken...and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare it shall come upon all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

                                                                                                          Lk. 21:34-36

We are to be watching for the day, praying, and keeping our hearts unblemished in His righteousness. It is not our own righteousness that keeps us, but Christ's righteousness, paid for each one of us in His own blood. We are to keep our hearts, and our spiritual garments in this saving righteousness. It is a righteousness that does not compromise truth, and does not compromise with sin and death.

The day of the return of Christ has not yet occurred. At His coming, the dead in Christ are raised first, and then we who are still alive join them and Christ (1 Thess. 4:16-17). Paul warned the Church not to be ignorant. There are conditions and events which precede Christ's return. Paul delivered the word of the Lord regarding this event:

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."   2 Thess. 2:1-4 (excerpt)

The first event that precedes the coming of Christ is a "falling away". This is the Greek word, apostasea, meaning "defection from truth". As we discovered last week, the lie that deceives man, and separates him from God and truth, questions and challenges everything in God's word. We have seen this condition today like never before. Even in the Church, apostasea is taking its toll. According to statistics, in 1972, 16% of Americans in mainstream denominations described themselves as evangelical Christians. By 1977, that number increased to 24%, and again, by 1993, the number increased to 30%, approximately one in three Americans. However, as of today's figures, that number has dropped to 24%, only 10% of whom identify themselves with a mainstream denomination. In 1972, those who then described themselves as either atheist or agnostic were 5%. Now that figure has increased to 24%. The numbers show that fewer are believing, and more are becoming unbelievers. We see daily the manifestation of these statistics in our culture, as secular humanism**, even the perverse, the demonic, and the repudiators of Christ gain more and more influence, even over our children, which has always been their declared goal. The Church seeks "peace" in this turmoil by compromising truth, and the wicked are justified for a reward. Evil is called good, and good, evil. Hell is enlarged, and scoffers jeer at the idea of God intervening in judgment. The LORD is angry with His own people as they deny the truth, and accept the lie, and are taken in captivity because of it, but His hand is stretched out still to them. Never doubt,  "... the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness." (Isa. 5:13-25).

The LORD is waiting for His people to repent, pray, and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways. He will hear from heaven, and heal their land (2 Chron. 7:14).

Paul wrote that "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God...." (1 Thess. 4:16). These are the sounds of warning, and the sounds of warfare and victory. His coming will be sudden and when least expected, like a thief in the night. Are you ready?

 

**https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanist_Manifesto

   https://americanhumanist.org/what-is-humanism/manifesto1/

 

 

*The above is based upon the 8/11/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson.

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

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http://endtimeschool.com/

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

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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.

 

Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
  

To order "NAZAH": https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8     http://endtimeschool.com/ 

2019- A New Preparation*

 

The new year has begun, and with it the Church should begin a new preparation for the prophesied events that we are seeing fulfilled even now. World events are lining up with scripture, and wickedness grows greater. This also means for those in Christ, that the marriage supper of the Lamb is drawing near, and the marriage supper requires preparation from us:

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) has come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."  Rev. 19:7-9

The verses above assure us that the call to make ready as the Bride by preparing ourselves for the marriage supper, and the call to righteousness represented by the wedding apparel of fine, clean, white linen, are the true sayings of God, Himself.

Jesus also sounded His Father's call as He told the parable of the king who prepared a marriage supper for his son (Mt. 22:1-14). Servants were sent out with invitations to the marriage feast, but those invited refused to come. Again servants were sent, and were commanded to say to those bidden, "Behold, I have prepared (make ready, prepare the minds of men to give the Messiah a fit reception and receive His blessings) my dinner: my oxen (root word: "alpha") and my fatlings are killed (sacrifice and immolation of the pascal lamb), and all things are ready: come unto the marriage."
Again, not only did the invited guests decline with the excuse of other, unimportant things to do, but also made light of the king's invitation and treated his servants with violence. The wrath of the king fell upon those who had refused in such a way. The servants were then sent out to invite anyone they could find along the streets to come to the royal wedding. Of those who came, it was still expected of them to be dressed appropriately in a wedding garment. About the one guest not properly attired, and who had no excuse, the king said:
"...Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Jesus concluded by saying, "For many are called, but few are chosen."
Many are called and given the opportunity to attend the marriage of Christ and His Bride, but it is still a matter of free choice for man to accept. Only a few recognize the great importance of the event, and prepare appropriately. There are factors that enter into who accepts and who does not: who is prepared and who is not.
All things have been made ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb. We must make sure that we have made our preparations as well. As we resolve to make ourselves ready in this new year, Jesus gave us the principle by which we can begin. As the religious leaders of various types began to test and question Him regarding controversial topics of the Torah that had caused division and debate among the experts, Jesus broke down the law and expectation of God to an irrefutable principle, and to the place where we all can begin our preparation:
"Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."  Mt. 22:35-40
The Church needs to hear and heed this.
The prophet Micah revealed that even considering the obedience to temple sacrifices, the true beginning point of our renewal and preparation in God was found in this way:
"Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God?...He hath shewed thee O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?  Micah 6:6-8
True, effective preparation begins in the heart, and we will see that the preparation of the heart begins in the Word of God.
Paul's second letter to Timothy points out the challenge to Timothy and the Church in the midst of a last days spiritual condition of men that is the opposite of all that Jesus and Micah discussed above. Paul gives a complete description of that condition that is very much evident today, beginning with the fact that men have become "lovers of selves", and goes on from there until finally "...evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Tim. 3:1-7, 13). However, we are to love God with all that we are, and our neighbor in the same manner, rather than ourselves. Paul exhorted Timothy in the face of this prevailing worldly condition, to stand firm in the doctrine that he has learned from Paul, as a spiritual example, and from the scriptures themselves, that prepare a man in perfection, or completeness in God, being sustained even through the inevitable persecution that will come to the Godly (v. 12, 14-17).
In our wedding parable from Jesus, there is a complete disregard for the king. His invitation is unimportant to those who received it. This is another factor that affects the choice and preparation of men. When questioned directly by Pontius Pilate, Jesus confirmed His kingship- not of an earthly kingdom, but of a heavenly kingdom, and Pilate even agreed crucifying Christ as "King of the Jews". However, the people would not have Christ as their King. They were invited to a royal wedding banquet prepared for them by God, but they received the invitation with belittling and violence. As men reject and lose the kingship of Christ in their lives, this is the moment when they become "lovers of self", and descend into the spiritual condition of which Paul warned Timothy. Scripture also bears witness to this in various places:
"In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges 17:6, 21:25, Deut. 12:8-9, Prov. 12:15
Also in Proverbs we see these same contrasting spiritual conditions:
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but the LORD pondereth the hearts. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice."  Prov. 21:2-3
This is what the Prophet Micah had shown us earlier as well, and this is the same beginning point to which Jesus also pointed us in our complete and total love for God, and our neighbor. This is also where the Church's new preparations for the coming marriage supper of the Lamb begins.

*The above is based upon the 1/6 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.



Trumpets: Yom Teruah

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The season of the Fall Feasts of the LORD has begun. Today is the Feast of Trumpets, or Yom Teruah. Many of the Jewish faith mix the secular and the holy significance of this feast, referring to this day by its civil calendar name of Rosh Hashanah, but wishing each other the blessing, "May you be inscribed (in the Book) for a good year." The Book mentioned here is the Book of Life, and that Book belongs to the Lamb of God, the Messiah, Jesus, which we shall see later. Many who go to the synagogue to observe this feast, dress in white linen clothing. We will see how this practice has special meaning to the Church as well.

The Feast of Trumpets cannot begin until the new moon is physically sighted by at least two people. This is called "the hidden day", because no one can predict exactly when the new moon will be sighted. That new moon is the first glimmer of light that reappears after a phase of lunar darkness. As with the return of Christ, we may know the times and the seasons, but we cannot know the exact moment, or day of His return. When the new moon is sighted, the signal is given and the shofars, or trumpets, begin sounding (click above under the photo to listen), signaling the beginning of the feast. The trumpets made of rams' horns make an awesome, majestic sound, the last trumpet blast in the series is a long, drawn-out note called the teruah gadol: the last trump, the great trump. All Israel is filled with the sound of the shofars made from the ram's horn. To what are these trumpet blasts calling God's people?
Some of the themes of Yom Teruah are: repentance, reconciliation, helping the needy, and preparation. The Feast of Trumpets begins the "ten days of awe" - the days of spiritual preparation for the Feast of Atonement, Yom Kippur. These are the days when the judgment of God hangs in the balance.
This feast is also associated with the crowning of kings, the wedding of the Messiah, and the resurrection of the dead. Everyone in the Church should understand the significance of these events. Yom Teruah is also known as "The Day of the Wake-Up Trumpet", because of its association with the resurrection of the dead. The Apostle Paul wrote of this connection:
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words."  1 Thess. 4:16-18
The "Wake-Up Trumpet" is also meant to awaken God's people from a spiritual indifference, or slumber. No one could sleep through the sounding of these trumpets! Jesus warned against that spiritual slumber and lack of preparation in His parable of the ten virgins. Five were prepared for the coming bridegroom, but five had not properly prepared. All ten, however, were slumbering and sleeping on that fateful night of His coming. At the rousing sound of His coming, all awoke, but those who were unprepared were not able to go into the marriage supper (Mt. 25:1-9). They are called "foolish" in scripture. We know that "fools" are those who do not believe God (Ps. 14:1, Ps. 53:1). Much of the Church right now is like those five foolish virgins: unprepared and asleep. Will they also be "foolish" like those who don't believe God? After the Bridegroom comes, He enters His chamber with His Bride, and the door is shut. There is no allowance for a late arrival (v. 10-12). Jesus gave the warning of the Feast of Trumpets, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." The day of His coming is surely like "the hidden day" of this feast. We must be prepared, even as this feast is about preparation. Paul also warned about the suddenness of the day of Christ's return:
"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night...But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief...Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch (give strict attention to) and be sober."  
                                                                                                          1 Thess. 5:1-6
Jesus warned the Church at Sardis. "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee....He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."   Rev. 3:3-5
The white raiment mentioned here is also written of in Rev. 7. Those who wore the white raiment came out of great tribulation, and having washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, now stood before the throne of God, and the Lamb.
Sardis means "red ones". It was once a luxurious capital city of Lydia, but became an obscure village of ruins. Did the Church of Sardis heed that warning of Jesus before the judgment of God came upon that city, or were they unprepared?
The new moon appears, the trumpets sound, and as Jesus did with the Church at Sardis, the warning to repent and prepare goes forth, the warning to watch goes forth, to wake from slumber, for the judgment of God approaches. The King has been crowned, and the time for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white... (Rev. 19:7-8)
The Feast of Trumpets is not about setting a date for Christ's return. It is about being aware of the signs, the times, and the seasons. It is about preparing, repenting, washing our garments in the blood of the Lamb, and watching so that day does not find us asleep, unprepared, unaware, or in unbelief.

To Contact/Support the Ministry/Submit Prayer requests/To Order the new 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. 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.

 

Prepare the Passover

                                     

On the night that Israel was delivered from their slavery in Egypt, as told to us in Exodus 12, the LORD instructed them to prepare (make ready) the Passover. Every household would prepare to sacrifice a lamb without blemish. The blood of the lamb would be applied to the door posts and lintels of each home, in order to protect that household against the last devastating plague against the Egyptians. The LORD would pass over the door of the house, not allowing the destroyer to enter. To a believer in Messiah, this is the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus, who redeems us from death, saves us from the wrath to come. He was crucified on Passover, and raised from the dead on the Feast of First Fruits.
Along with these preparations, each person should be ready to leave quickly. Their shoes were to be on their feet, and their loins girded. This means pulling up the robes between the legs and tucking them at the waist, in order to be able to run. Your walking staff was to be held in the hand while eating the Passover. This would be a quick deliverance.
Their bread was to be unleavened, the sacrificed lamb was to be roasted, and the bitter herbs were to be eaten with it.
This Passover was an ordinance to be observed by that generation and future generations forever (Ex. 12:24).
Jesus observed the Passover with His disciples (Lk. 22).
The Apostle Paul taught the churches about the depth of meaning in the Passover:
"Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed, Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."               1 Cor. 5:7-8

Today, purging, or cleansing the house of all leaven is part of the Passover preparation. Leaven represents sin in our lives. A candle is used to light the search for any leaven, and a feather is used to sweep away any crumbs that might be left behind. Any leaven found is then burned. The candle used represents the light of the LORD that searches the hearts of men:
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my thoughts;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting."                   Psalm 139:23-24
                        And
"The spirit of a man is the candle of the LORD,
Searching all the inner depths of his heart."         Prov. 20:27

Paul taught us above, that we are to use this time to examine ourselves by the candle of the Lord, and to rid our lives of old leaven (sin) as we prepare for the Passover. In the same manner, the Bride also prepares herself for the coming marriage supper of the Lamb:
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready (prepared)."                        Rev. 19:7

We are looking for the same miraculous Passover deliverance that comes in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye! (1 Cor. 15:52).

Let us prepare the Passover, and share it together.
                                                                        

If you would like to celebrate the Passover Seder*, the following links will have some information you will need:



Messianic Passover Haggadah
"Dayenu" Passover Song
"Let My People Go"

*You can also join our Seder, Sat. 4/23/16 at 2 PM, via Skype.