A Matter of Days*

Each day of our lives has a purpose, and the choices we make today will impact the rest of our lives. Yesterday has passed, and tomorrow is not guaranteed to us, so what we accomplish is contained within today. A day can take us either further into the Kingdom of God, or can be used by the devil to take us further away from the Kingdom. God has put a great importance into the measure of a day: "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 years." (Gen. 1:14). The Hebrew word for "day" used in this verse is yom, which means "day, time, year, division of time, life time, time period". The Hebrew people also use it to refer to sesons, times, and perpetual time. The Greek word for "day" used in the New Testament is Hemera, which means "day, time in general, day of life, period of time, age, years". David wrote in music form about the importance of a day in our lives: "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me...while I was musing, the fire (in my heart) burned: then spake I with my tongue, LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as a handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah." (Ps. 39:1-5). David wrote that part of the vanity, or emptiness, in which men spend the short number of days given to them is in the heaping up of riches. However, David fills his days with the substance of the Lord instead: "And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee." (v. 7). The Apostle James also wrote about how easily vanity, or emptiness, enters into our days. He said that we assume that we will have many days ahead of us, and we waste them by planning ahead how we will fill each day with activities and travels in order to get gain. He said that we should instead surrender our own planned days to the Lord's will for those days of our lives (James 4:12-16). Our plans for the day will not stay the hand or timing of God. He is the lawgiver, and He has set the days. He is the One who is able to save or destroy. David understood that each of our beginnings was not our own to determine: "...thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth...and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." (Ps. 139:13-16). Abortion is the exact opposite of this truth revealed by David. Abortion did not begin as a tool of freedom, but out of the racist eugenics of Margaret Sanger. Her agenda was to rid society of "mongrel" races and "undesirables". It was even stressed that the efforts begin in black communities, preferably recruiting black pastors and community leaders, in order to gain cooperation among the people there. However, the days of a person's life, even before he is born, is determined by God. Every part of us was written in His book before we were even formed. The Prophet Amos wrote the Word of the LORD saying "...it is an evil time", and telling His people to "Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live...Hate evil and love the good, and establish judgment (justice) in the gate: it may be that the LORD of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph." (Amos 5:13-15). He said that it would be a time of mourning and wailing: "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light...even very dark and no brightness in it." (v. 18-20). The LORD said He despised how His people made their offerings, and kept His feasts, which they turned into tabernacles of Moloch and Chiun, images and idols representing the most abominable practices, including the burning of their children (v. 22-26). The LORD commanded, "...let judgment (justice) run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." (v. 24). The day of the LORD is set, and our days should be conducted as those who love good, justice, and righteousness, having no part in the evil of the day. We are not to live taking for granted that we will automatically escape that day, as some in the Church believe. We are to pray, Jesus said, to be accounted worthy to escape, and to stand before the Son of man (Lk. 21:36). The LORD promised in His Word to Amos, "In that day, will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old." (Amos 9:11). In another prophecy to Zechariah, the LORD spoke about the day He has assigned to deal with those who were going to besiege Judah and 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 against it...In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem..." (Zech. 12:2-8). It won't matter that all the world has come against Jerusalem, On that day, the LORD will defeat them, and defend Jerusalem. Not only that, but the LORD will pour out a spirit of grace and supplication upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 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 who is in bitterness for his firstborn." (Zech. 12:10). That day will be a day when eyes are opened to see their Messiah, Jesus. In addition, "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 day is set and established in the LORD. The Prophet Hosea wrote: "Come and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days, will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight." (Hos. 6:1-2). Return to the LORD, because He has already set the days. All of the significant events of my life can be pinpointed to specific days. Those days also presented choices to me, and determined how my life would be turned as a result. It is the same for each of us. Each day of a life has a significant purpose assigned for us by the LORD. All else is vanity. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 3/20/2022 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.

If You Knew...*

In Matthew 24:3, Jesus was asked two questions by His disciples when He told them that the stones of the temple in Jerusalem would be thrown down: "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (aion - "age, period of time")? The Greek used here indicates that Jesus is being asked about the end of the age, rather than the end of the world, as found in some translations. Jesus described many events that would come to pass and added: "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." (v. 21-22). Jesus also warned of something we have seen. He said that there would be those who would say that Christ was in a certain physical location, but Jesus told us not to believe it. He said false Christs and false prophets would come, even showing great signs and wonders, that would deceive even the elect. Jesus said not to believe these false Christs and their sightings. In describing the true nature of His return, Jesus said that the Son of Man would come suddenly like lightning crossing the whole sky.(v. 23-27). As the signs come to pass, Jesus said that He would send His angels to gather the elect "with the great sound of a trumpet" (v. 31). Then He told His disciples to learn a parable of the fig tree: "When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled...But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only...Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." (32-42, see also Mk. 13:28-37, and Lk. 21:29-36). The corresponding verses in Luke end, "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare it shall come on 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). In these verses from Matthew and Luke, there are several things of which to be aware. First, as all of the signs manifest, the angels will gather the elect with a great sound of a trumpet. This is what we call the rapture, and we will read about it again later in this message. Luke says to watch and pray that we may be found worthy to escape the things coming. Again, another mention of a rapture, or catching away, of believers. Then Jesus uses the parable of the fig tree to add to His comments about His return, and the end of the age, as He was originally asked. The fig tree of Jesus' parable is just beginning to sprout its leaves from tender branches. The fig tree in scripture represents Israel. Israel was conceived as a restored nation in 1948. Jesus said that "this generation" that sees these things shall not pass until all of these things are fulfilled. We will consider the number of years in a generation as we continue in this study. Jesus also said above that of that day and hour we know not, only the Father knows. "Of" that day and hour, means about that day. He then indicates that the day comes unawares to those who are involved in life's cares and fleshly pursuits, and warns us to watch and pray instead. Is it possible that we may be able to know the day of the Lord then? It is the hour that will remain unknown according to Jesus, above. Paul will also speak about this same thing, the knowing of the day, which we will read. First, regarding the rapture, or catching away of the believers, Paul wrote that it is connected to the resurrection of the dead in Christ: "...I would not have you to be ignorant...concerning them which are asleep (referring to those who have died in Christ), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope...For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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...comfort one another with these words. (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Here Paul has given us more details on the resurrection of the dead and the catching away of those believers who remain alive. Next, Paul wrote about knowing "the day": "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. Ye are all children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and...are drunken in the night." (1 Thess. 5:1-7). The ones who are overtaken and unprepared for the day of the Lord are those who are of darkness, and drink and sleep in darkness. Not so of us, who are of the day, and the light. Let those of us who are of the day be sober, Paul wrote, and clothed in the armor of love and the hope of salvation, which is resurrection, and therefore includes the catching away, or rapture also (v. 8). "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 9). That day of the Lord is not to surprise us like a thief in the night, because we are not of the night. We are to be aware, knowing, sober, awake, and watching. What would you do, and how would you act if you knew the day of His coming? Would you act any differently than you do now? The knowledge of those of the day and the light is different from those of the night and darkness. Paul again wrote about the difference between those who are the saints of light, and those who are held in the power of darkness (Col. 1:12-13). Paul also described the destruction surrounding the coming of the Lord to be like a woman with child in travail, suffering birth pangs. Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, and the firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:15-20). There is a specific knowledge of timing involved in this comparison to conception, travail and birth, which we hope to get into in more detail at another time. Going back to the discourse of Jesus in Mt. 24 regarding the signs of His return and the end of the age, we can discuss "this generation", mentioned after the parable of the fig tree (Israel), which will not pass until all of these things are fulfilled. How long is this generation of which Jesus spoke? In Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, Moses is writing about the destruction that has come upon man, and God's invitation to them to return to Him (v. 3). We also read a precept in v.4, that is mentioned again in 2 Peter 3:8, that also deals with the timing of the day of the Lord for those who understand: "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." About a generation, Moses wrote: "The days of our years are threescore years and ten (70); and if by reason of strength they be fourscore (80) years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." (v. 10). If strength is added to us, then 80 years are given as the length of our years. Note: Paul prayed that we be "strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness" (Col. 1:11), and in another mention, Sarah received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child. If we add 80 years (which were extended from 70 because of strength) to the first greening of the fig tree in Jesus' parable, which is the conception of a reborn nation of Israel in 1948-49, we are brought to the year 2028. However, our timing must include another consideration. Year 2028-29 is a Shemitah year, just as 1948-49 was also, which is a special 7th year Sabbath in the Lord. However, there is a period of labor and sorrow, the birthing travail that Paul mentioned, and the tribulation that Christ mentioned, as is also a final seven year period according to the prophet Daniel. If we count back 7 years from that 80th year of 2028-29, it brings us to this year, 2021-22, again another Shemitah year, that began on The Feast of Trumpets (the sound of a trumpet). The Shemitah years between 1948-49 and 2021-22, and the additional Shemitah year of 2028-29, also correspond to a pregnancy analogy involving length of term, which we perhaps will be able to discuss in the future. This is not about setting dates for the return of Christ, but we are presenting some interesting and important considerations for the body of Christ. We believe that the scriptures indicate that we, the believers in Christ, CAN know the day, as children of the day and the light. In any case, the additional information serves to remind us that the time may be very short, as the signs also confirm to us. Considering the possibility of all of this, if you knew the day of His coming, what would you do differently? Would you prepare more earnestly than before? Instead of being caught in the snare of the cares of this life, would you instead be awake, sober, praying, and watching for Christ's return? It is our prayer that the body of Christ seriously awake and prepare. *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 3/6/2022 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.

The Coming Day of the Lord*

There seems to be a persistent feeling in the Church that the Rapture, the catching away of the Church, means that we don't have to be concerned about the coming Day of the Lord. However, scripture has some sobering prophecies concerning that day, and those prophecies are directed to God's people. When Israel, Judah and Jerusalem are mentioned in scripture, the Church also needs to pay attention, because we are not exempt from the truths being revealed. The Church does not replace Israel by any means, but we are part of "the people of praise". We are grafted into that holy root. The prophet Amos begins our look at the day of the LORD, and what it should mean to us: "Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel. The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up....For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live...Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel." (Amos. 5:1-8, excerpt). The LORD has said here that His people are fallen, and they need to seek His face if they want to live. He is calling His people to repentance (see also 2 Chron. 7:14). The LORD continues to speak through His prophet Amos: "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light...Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?" (v.18-20). Do we understand what the day of the LORD entails, and towards whom it is directed? The LORD also told His people that their feast days, their offerings, and their songs did not please Him, and would not save them from the coming day. The LORD said instead: "But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." (v. 24). The LORD points to His people's idolatry, and its consequences: "But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Molech and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. Therefore, I will cause you to go into captivity..." (v. 26-27). The nature of the gods and idols mentioned, Molech and Chiun, are very much with us today as well, even amongst the people of God. Molech required the sacrifice of children, and millions of unborn children, innocent blood, today have been destroyed in the abomination of abortion. The god, Chiun, is a god of male virility and fertility. Our culture today is filled with idols representing this same type of god. The LORD spoke this prophetic word concerning the day of the LORD to His prophet Joel: "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness...A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth...The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" (Joel 2:1-11, excerpt). The warning of the trumpet here is to God's people, to Zion. As He spoke to the prophet Amos, the LORD also spoke to Joel, calling His people, regardless of circumstances, age, or station, to repentance: "Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly..." (v. 12-15). If His people will repent, the LORD will hear them and answer: "Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people...And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." (v. 18, 32). Another prophet, Zephaniah describes the same things regarding the day of the LORD: "That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: Their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy...” (Zeph. 1:15-18). On 9/11 we saw the towers fall in New York City. We saw the dust of the devastation and ruin cover everything, including the faces and clothes of those running from the horrible event. Wicked and evil will be judged, and we are seeing it. Isaiah described a widescale execution of judgment that involved the whole world: "Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter...And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scrole: and all their hosts shall fall down...my sword...shall come down upon Idumea...For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land therof shall become burning pitch." (Isa. 34:1-10, excerpt). Again we read something that could be described in our era as a nuclear holocaust, that will involve all the nations. The apostle Peter also wrote of this total destruction involving the burning up of the elements, and the heavens (2 Peter 3). Peter also made clear that considering that we are looking to the coming events of the day of the Lord (v. 12), there is also an expectation upon the people of God" "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye 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...seeing ye know these things before, 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 both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Pet. 3:14-18). Peter's recommendation to us in view of the coming day of the Lord was not to be looking toward a catching away of the Church, but because we know these things are coming, we are to be even more serious about being without spot, blameless, in the peace of Christ, growing in His grace and in the knowledge of Him. Without this preparation and "diligence", we come in danger of being led away with the wicked. We are seeing the pestilence of COVID, and nations of the earth lining up according to the prophecies regarding the last days. God's people, who are expected to know the signs, should be concerned about the coming day of the Lord, and turning back to Him in repentance, and bringing the Gospel and the opportunity of repentance to others: "Seek the LORD, and ye shall live." *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 6/13/21 message to the church. To contact: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705 OR Everlastingovenant@ymail.com You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com