Prophecy Line
The U.S. Embassy-Jerusalem Decision
U.S. presidential candidate Donald J. Trump’s declaration was loud and clear: “We will move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital, Jerusalem!”
This was the candidate’s core promise involving Israel throughout the long, disputatious, campaign season. It was at least a part of why many within the religious right supported the Trump candidacy.
So it was that when President Trump made the announcement after his trip to the Middle East and to Jerusalem a cry of betrayal went up from his base of support. His administration will not for the foreseeable future move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a temporary order on Thursday to keep the U.S. embassy in Israel in Tel Aviv instead of relocating it to Jerusalem, despite his campaign pledge to go ahead with the controversial move.
After months of fierce debate within his administration, Trump chose to continue his predecessors’ policy of signing a six-month waiver overriding a 1995 law requiring that the embassy be transferred to Jerusalem, an action that would have complicated his efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. (“Trump delays moving U.S embassy to Jerusalem despite campaign pledge,” Reuters, By Matt Spetalnick)
The White House was quick to report that the president was by no means lessening his support for Israel. Also, they made clear that the move of the embassy is only delayed. It will still be moved to Jerusalem is the word that continues to come from the administration–thus, though there has been no time table set for such a move.
White House sources said: “The question is not if that move happens, but only when.”
The statement further said that the president’s decision to defer the move for now was made “to maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, fulfilling his solemn obligation to defend America’s national security interests.”
President Trump said at the 2016 AIPAC conference in Washington DC, “We will move the American embassy to the eternal capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem.” He remained silent about his pledge to make the move, however, following his November 8 election.
There are many within the Christian community who supported him who are worried that this means Trump is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, as the saying goes. I am even getting emails, as I wrote last week, from those who are beginning to say he has Antichrist characteristics. Some especially look at his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, with suspicion in that regard.
Some believe that the entire matter involving Trump’s decision to remove the United States from the Paris Accords on climate change was to create a diversion from the supposed fact that he was betraying his campaign promise regarding the embassy move to Jerusalem.
I harbor no such suspicions–at least not to this point in observing this president’s actions and activities. He has proven a man of his word to this point. He hasn’t not moved the embassy–only delayed that move.
Considering the current climate of distrust and animus between the Jews and their enemy Muslim neighbors, it is, in my opinion, wise to proceed cautiously, while intending fully to move the embassy at the best possible diplomatic moment.
At the same time, I urge the president to move the embassy. It will be an act that shows the desire to bless Israel–never the wrong thing to do.
He has, in my estimation, been very forthright in stating why he made the decision to delay. We will see if he follows through on his White House promise: “The question is not if that move happens, but only when.”
One thing is absolutely certain. God’s touchstone city to the entire world will one day be the capital of the millennial earth. God has reserved great things for this place He calls “the apple of my eye.”
Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain…And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. (Zechariah 8:1-4, 8)
Brave New World’s Big Brother
Aldous Huxley had published in 1932 his futuristic novel Brave New World, in which every facet of humanity came under central control of the ultimate, despotic government. The author described some pretty amazing technological tools for the times for use in enslaving all peoples.
Evidence mounts that our own generation is moving swiftly into a new, troubling world, and the tools Huxley’s fictional world utilized seem like child’s toys by comparison with what is in view now. The technologies that have developed truly constitute what could be termed the “big brother” of those technological instrumentalities described in the long-ago novel. More about that in due course. For now, let’s look at the intrusions into everyday life that increase with each passing day.
Not long ago I received a troubling news report about a small town near where I once lived in northern Arkansas. The town is about an hour away from Memphis, which lies to the east. The chief of police was acting like a Nazi thug, as best I could determine from the report. The headline of the story was “Police State Comes to Arkansas.” The police chief reportedly said, “[Police are] going to be in SWAT gear and have AR-15s around their necks.” He said further: “If you’re out walking, we’re going to stop you, ask why you’re out walking, check for your ID.”
The head policeman said that while some might be offended, they shouldn’t be. “We’re going to do it to everybody,” he said. “Criminals don’t like being talked to.”
One of the town officials backed the chief of police. He said: “[The citizens] may not be doing anything but walking their dog,” he said. “But they’re going to have to prove it…. This fear is what’s given us the reason to do this. Once I have stats and people saying they’re scared, we can do this,” he said. “It allows us to do what we’re fixing to do.”
The chief of police added, “To ask you for your ID, I have to have a reason,” he said. “Well, I’ve got statistical reasons that say I’ve got a lot of crime right now, which gives me probable cause to ask what you’re doing out. Then when I add that people are scared…then that gives us even more [reason] to ask why are you here and what are you doing in this area.”
Individuals who do not produce identification when asked could be charged with obstructing a governmental operation, the policeman said. He added that he realized what he was proposing was much like martial law, but that he really didn’t care.
The report gave statistics on the fact that increasing percentages of towns, especially some of the larger cities, are using SWAT teams to do routine patrols, following the models in other parts of the world.
In one area of the beleaguered city of Detroit, the Nazi-like tactics–or perhaps Soviet-style tactics–were recently employed against citizens. Government officials decided to cut off a large portion of the power grid because there wasn’t enough cooperation from the citizenry. When the levels of cutting off air-conditioning weren’t satisfactorily complied with, the authorities cut off all power to the grid. This was done to “send a strong message” that the orders must be obeyed, one of the officials said without apology.
Now to the latest technology that surpasses the imaginations of even Huxley and George Orwell. But, this is real, not fictional, technology that has already been proven in places like the battlefields of Afghanistan in 2011. The technology mentioned here is one of the least draconian of the many that are in development and even in use in some areas of the world.
A new gadget built by Diehl Defense, much like a portable Electro-Magnetic Pulse ray gun, can disable a vehicles electronic circuitry rendering it useless in battlefield or pursuit conditions… Police departments and militaries around the world will likely grovel over the device. The official website for Diehl Defense explains the use for the device in a convoy protection scenario reading, “The new HPEM (High-Power-Electro-Magnetics) technology protects convoys against improvised explosive devices (IEDs), can stop getaway vehicles and prevent unauthorized access to limited access areas… HPEM sources can be used for personal and convoy protection, for instance, to overload and permanently destroy radio-based fuzing systems. In contrast to conventional jammers, the HPEM convoy protection system is also effective against new types of sensor-based IEDs. Enemy vehicles with electronic motor management can be stopped inconspicuously by mobile and stationary HPEM systems (car stopping) ( Shepard Ambellas, “New Police Toy Resembling ‘Ray Gun’ Can Disable Threatening Vehicles Via EMP,” Intellihub News, September 16, 2013).
Move over, Captain James T. Kirk. The phaser is here, now. And it’s apparently set to stun America’s own citizenry at some point as policing technologies incrementally take over our lives!
“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads” (Revelation 13:16). The beast system that will make Huxley’s fictional dictatorship seem child’s play by comparison is approaching rapidly. You don’t have to be a part of that new, deadly world. Accept Christ today and not Antichrist.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).
WHAT DOES “WATCH” REALLY MEAN? – By Camilla Smith
My heart is heavy today. I will try to put in words what I’m feeling the Father is impressing on me to share.
We “watchmen on the wall” have been blessed with such a network of technological wonder. Social media, the internet, face-time, blogs, tweets, and twitters to name a few. We have access to every piece of information we could ever ask for (that in and of itself is a mystery to me—just who IS the internet?). Much of that information, these days, is false. We know that now. We think we’re getting correct information from our sources, and in many cases, we are. But, is it bogging us down—sorting it all out?
What I’m saying is…with all our efforts at piecing together this mystery called the Rapture of the Church, are we neglecting our relationship with our Almighty Father? Are we leaving Him on the back burner while we feverishly pour through, sift, investigate, navigate, post, un-post, comment, un-comment, agree, disagree, and agree to disagree? To what end, my fellow watchmen? When do we stop our endless search for the “key,” and turn to our Father and say simply, “Father—we’re at the end of it all here. We can’t possibly know Your thoughts, Your ways, Your timing…You’ve told us that Yourself! Father, is it now time for us, Your servants, to stop looking for clues, and start hitting our knees?”
Or maybe this, “Father, we’ve tried and tried to do Your will, keep ourselves and our fellow brothers and sisters informed, stay apprised of the news, tie events to Scripture, and rightly divide Your word. Is it time, Father, to leave this in Your hands and realize that You desire US? Are we focused more on YouTube than on You?”
I’m so guilty, completely guilty…. countless hours. And there my Bible sits. Waiting for me to pick it up. I utter prayers, short ones, repetitive, not always wholehearted ones. And there His Word sits. It hurts my heart to say these words.
And, let me make it very clear. I LOVE our prophecy community. I LOVE our leaders and teachers whose due diligence is incomparable. I LOVE that each and every one of us who loves Bible prophecy can’t get enough of end times updates. I LOVE and am so GRATEFUL for our prophecy experts who keep us informed—the hours, the sweat, the blood, the tears, they put into their messages, I can’t even imagine. They’re living their call. They’re feeding their flocks. The Father must be well pleased with their dedication as they combat the daily ravages and assaults launched upon them (this is NOT one of those). We’re so grateful. We soak in their every word! We are consumed by it. I imagine the Father must find great joy, knowing that we want to be with HIM! And yes—there are fantastic and valuable teachings on YouTube. I’m so grateful for online sermons and teachings and have benefited greatly from them.
But are we WITH HIM while we’re still here? He’s calling for us soon…but He hasn’t YET. Are we making Him NUMBER ONE in these waning weeks, days, or hours that we have left? Maybe He’s waiting on us, my dear brothers and sisters. Maybe, He wants us to cut the ties. Separate out. Leave our gadgets alone and spend that time in His Word, in His presence…pitching our tents with Him and Him alone. And maybe He just wants to hear, finally, exhaustively, “Father, Your Will Be Done. Father, Your Kingdom Come.”
“It is the glory of the Father to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search out a matter.” Proverbs 25:2
“O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of YHWH! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!” Romans 11:33
“The secret things belong to the Father, our Elohim, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29.”
Indeed, it is a conundrum. There is a fine line. We have an excitement that is palpable in our souls and we yearn for revelation and insight. We long for Yahshua’s calling for us in that glorious day—The Rapture! More now than ever, we must pray for discernment and seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance as to the perfect balance. We must always watch and heed the signs. We’re watchmen—that’s what we do. My brothers and sisters, we’ve left “normal” and there’s no turning back. We’re in uncharted waters here. We’re being purified. We’re being readied. We’re being drawn to the Heart of our Elohim. We’re almost Home.
Beloved Abba Father,
We thank You for the blessings You give us each day. Father, we ask that You forgive our shortcomings and convict us where we need to improve. Father, we ask that You help us, Your servants, to maintain focus in these final hours of history. Abba, we pray that You help us grow and be washed in Your Word, and that You remind us and keep us trained on Your Promise, Your precious Son, Yahshua, Your Holy City, Yerushalayim, and the Apple of Your Eye, Israel. Father, we beseech You to bring Your Kingdom to fruition and bring judgement on the evil that surrounds us more and more each day. And Father, please fill us with Your Holy Spirit—Your Ruach Ha’Qodesh, and grant us strength and grace to seek Your will in our lives, and the desire to have the Mind of Yahshua. Remind us to pray Your Word to You and share it with those whom you give us opportunity. Thank You, Father. Until we see You face to Face, we come before You humbly and expectantly.
Ah-Mein.
Restrainer Working Overtime
Over the past year, I have received email castigating me for writing on politics and matters surrounding government and things of the world. The main irritation with me seems to come from those who believe I’m paying too much attention to this world and not thinking enough on the spiritual. That is, I should, in their opinion, drop supporting one political position or the other and just dwell on strictly biblical/spiritual issues–no politics or support for politicians. That I should support and dwell on only what God’s Word has to say about the end times is foundational to these critics’ primary exhortation.
Problem is, the two are not mutually exclusive to my way of thinking. Politics and the machinations of politicians these days are, in my estimation, linked to Bible prophecy in ways I cannot ignore. To do so would be to neglect the watchman commission I believe I’ve been given.
It is thus with this admission to you that I begin yet another rant–as my critics would have it–on what is going on in the political world as connected to the spiritual. I make no apologies that I come down on one side of the issue that I wish to address. Actually, the “rant” involves a number of issues under the wider problem of the evil that pervades our nation’s capitol and other power centers here and abroad.
Satan has always worked, and continues to do so, in the power centers of the world. His record of success can’t be denied for the most part. Every man-made government that has ever existed has harbored evil at every level. The fallen one has brought every empire to destruction in one way or the other through his seduction and deception. The masses of people under the various regimes throughout history have suffered by the billions. They have died by the multiplied millions.
Purists among the scholars who observe the rise and fall of great nations and empires would, if they are biblical in their analysis, say God brings those entities down. But, it is Satan who has led them–and continues to do so–to their demise as they get farther and farther away from God in comportment.
In getting back to my dwelling on present political realities and the media and politicians who have created this incendiary atmosphere of hatred for America’s current president, I would like to offer the following.
As stated above, Lucifer the fallen one has managed through corruption, seduction, and every other way of his evil methodologies to bring down great nations and even empires. Anyone who has the good sensibility to admit the in-our-faces truth of things going on in opposition to President Donald Trump can testify to the hatred at its center. Washington, D.C., is the greatest power center, perhaps, of all of history. The evil doings there are staggering.
I find myself agreeing with the president’s words when he said recently that no president has been subjected to the degree of hateful treatment to which he has been subjected. Not even Richard Nixon had media so blatantly arrayed against him during the time of Watergate. It is an assault of unprecedented virulence we are witnessing. It is going to get much worse, and I’ve pointed out before why that is the case.
Satan’s plan to install a one-world order has been disrupted. He is as determined as ever to put his man–the son of perdition–into power. The American electorate voted the anti-globalist Mr. Trump into office, and the end-times war began in earnest.
The minions, both demonic and human, are looking for any crime and anything else that might rise to the level of impeachable offense so that they can carry out another Watergate–type coup-d’état. Short of that, they obviously intend to keep the vitriol flowing, even if there is no offense to be found. They have proven capable of creating charges–lies, out of whole cloth.
Trump’s election has brought on the observable manifestation of a specific end-times signal. The Restrainer, I am convinced, can almost visibly be seen going about His office of holding back the evil onslaught.
The Restrainer and His work in this Age of Grace (Church Age) are explained by my good friend, Ron Graham, in an excellent article posted a couple of years ago. Ron, before he died in 2013, partially wrote the following, and his wife, Nathele, completed it in 2015. The article is in relationship to prophecy Paul the apostle gave in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2.
“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
The Greek word translated into English for “letteth” is katechō and the definition of this Greek word is somewhat different than the definition of our English word “let,” which means “to allow or permit.” The Greek word is actually just the opposite; it means “to restrain, to hold back, detain, retain.” What we must ask ourselves is “Who is the ‘He’ that Paul is referring to in this verse?”
First of all we find the apostle referring to the “who now letteth” as a “He” and secondly that this “He” is currently holding back a flood of wickedness which is straining at the bit to be loosed. Who could be so powerful to be able to hold back worldwide wickedness but the Holy Spirit? (“Restrainer,” by Ron and Nathele Graham, raptureready.com, 2015)
One, if spiritually attuned to the current political climate, senses the constant surge of anger and hatred trying to excise the president from office. This will not happen so long as God the Holy Spirit says otherwise. Christians must pray as diligently as when praying before the 2016 election that the Restrainer continues to hold back the evil that is intended to bring about the installation of human history’s final dictator.
(And, yes…I’ve gotten the notes that say those writing them think Donald Trump could be that man–a thing his actions thus far refute in my view.)
Soon, Christ will call His Church to Himself. The Restrainer will at the same time remove from acting on the consciences of mankind. Meanwhile–thankfully–He is working overtime.
Trump and the Wall
There is another wall much more critical, in my view, than the one the new president promised to build during his campaign.
President Donald J. Trump reportedly asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to let him approach the Western Wall unaccompanied. Whether a signal to the world that he, representing America the lone superpower, was showing support for Israel, or whether Mr. Trump just wanted a moment alone at this most solemn place, the gesture was profound–and touching.
He was the first president of the United States to visit the so-called Wailing Wall while in office. A number of presidents either before they became such or after they had held the office have visited the site. But, never had a current president done so.
The action was profound in geopolitical, diplomatic terms. This visit, most observers of that world seem to believe, indicated the president’s–thus America’s–support of Israel as rightful heir to the wall and to the Temple Mount. This is because the visit to the wall was made as part of the president’s official trip to Israel.
Whether that’s the case or Trump handled it in that way for other reasons, the effect was dramatic. The optics of the gesture, as the news-speak types like to say, presented a picture of a president who was in charge and who was making a statement. The Temple Mount is a subject of great contention and Trump seemed to be saying it is Israel’s, based upon biblical history.
The statement might be one open to conjecture as to what it means, but that Donald J. Trump is fully in charge of the presidency of the United States of America was made unmistakably clear.
The entire trip, for the moment at least, trampled underfoot the American mainstream news conglomerate’s incessant portrayal of Trump as a dunce who doesn’t belong in the office. A picture, as is said, is worth a thousand words–or, in the case of the hate-filled news conglomerate–millions of words.
But, even that’s not the real importance of this president visiting the wall. It’s not that he, by doing so, negated a lot of the negative press he has gotten and will, guaranteed, get in the future. It’s the recognition of Israel as a special people that is all-important, here. Even if Trump didn’t say it in direct verbiage, he gave validation that Israel is the modern incarnation–the same people–as in ancient, biblical times.
Unspoken is the truth represented by the president’s action. The Jews are still God’s chosen people.
I heard President Trump come close to saying as much during his touching remarks at the Jewish Holocaust Museum on Tuesday of the past week. His affirmation that America was bonded to Israel as friend and ally could not have been given more strongly. Netanyahu’s words in response were emotional with gratitude and relief that Israel and America had again consummated the relationship that was established in 1948 at Israel’s rebirth into modernity.
I’m aware that any attempt at man-made peace involving Israel and its enemy neighbors has prophetic implications that bode evil for the Jewish people and nation. I am reminded of that by daily email received as of late. These often state that Trump’s and his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s involvement in the peace process puts them in unsavory company, prophetically speaking.
While it is certainly true that there will come, according to God’s infallible Word, a peace that will bring about holocaust far worse than that of the Nazi era, I think it not evil to work at lessening hostilities that have raged for millennia. I agree that Mr. Trump and his point man, the young Mr. Kushner, should not engage in trying to arrange peace based upon the international community’s demand that Israel, the occupier, as the diplomats put it, give up God-given land.
However, any interim step of lessening hostilities between now and the time when the man of sin makes that death-dealing “peace” seems to me not necessarily evil. That is, if it doesn’t require Israel to give up land or make other anti-God accessions as part of any such interim agreement.
My own thinking is that there will be no such agreement concluded until the Antichrist steps onto the scene sometime following the Church leaving the planet. But, the process of making such peace is already in progress, and some constituent parts of that final, deadly contract could be negotiated sooner rather than later. America certainly should not be a part of any such negotiation, again, if there are elements within any such document forcing Israel to go against God’s directives for that people and nation.
At this point, the president’s main thrust seems to me to be getting Israel and less hostile Muslim nations, such as Saudi, to come together to eliminate radical Islamic terrorism. That is a peace effort of sorts. I’ve found nothing wicked about it so far. But, let’s keep watching…
These are strange times, and the times do not yet shed light on exactly what the president’s visit to the Middle East and to the Western Wall portends for the near future. However, Mr. Trump gave the Jewish state America’s blessings on this trip and that is good news–for the moment, at least.
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12: 1-3)
ARE YOU PESTERING GOD? (The Father’s Importunity) – By Camilla Smith
We live in an environment of endless pursuit of answers. Many of us are getting feverishly excited as we try to figure out the nearness of the Rapture, study the order of the Father’s “appointed times” (Jewish Feast dates), look for answers to historical mysteries that are being uncovered, and try to pinpoint Bible prophecy and the end game of the wars and final events. We’re watching harbingers, looking at cycles, crunching numbers, and searching skies and the Scriptures–all of this is necessary and edifying. Prophecy teachers have put in hundreds, probably thousands of hours trying to help us all put the puzzle together and to their credit, many of them have taught us remarkable things. We seek answers and signs from our Heavenly Father, but what if He is waiting on us?
What is our call as watchmen on the wall? Here it is, plainly in Scripture: Isaiah 62:6-7 tells us “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem, all the day and all the night, continually, who are not silent. You who remember YHWH, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”
Obviously, He wants us to pray unceasingly about this. He wants us to come to Him about bringing in His Kingdom. We’re waiting on Him, while He’s waiting on us! Watchmen, it is time to start a revolution of approaching our Father respectfully, yet expectantly, in asking for our Marriage to Yahshua to take place. A Kingdom Come Revolution, if you will.
First, we need to come BOLDLY to the throne rather than being so willy-nilly. We seldom recognize the authority that we possess as a result of our love for Jesus. I’ve kicked it into high-gear prayer mode, a step short of demanding (maybe beseech sounds better) that He bring our marriage to the Lamb to a real-time fact rather than our whining and begging every day. Yes, many God-fearing men came BOLDLY before the throne. It’s time for our marriage, inheritance, and eternal life with Christ to begin.
God being God will accomplish all of his salvations whether this side of the Rapture or during the Tribulation. We lovers of Jesus say that it’s high time that our Messiah be elevated throughout the world and that every knee bow to the King of Kings. Just like the fellow who pounded on his neighbor’s door for bread because of his importunity, we pound our prayers before the throne of God to ACT in our behalf. Jesus tires of our repenting—we know that we are sinners, but if He can forget our sins, then we must also.
Think about this: When satan was approaching the throne having to ‘ask’ God if he could put Job thru the ringer, God, knowing Job’s heart and faith, said OK to satans ‘requests’. Now if God allowed satan to test Job, His desire for us is to get serious about ‘demanding that our marriage take place’ may be the very thing holding Him back (tarrying)! If we pray like that, God will have the legal right to answer us now instead of tarrying. He needs to tell satan that He is obliged to complete His program because the prayers of the saints have reached His Throne. “The effectual, fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16
While we scramble with day-to-day living, seeking Him, learning, listening and watching, are we earnestly, humbly, yet boldly approaching our Father, asking Him to perform His will? Are we praying multiple times a day, “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done”, or are we mumbling our memorized prayers as we drift off? I’m guilty of this myself–but NO MORE. From here on out, (and if He sends Jesus for us today, even better), I resolve to continue to boldly, precisely and specifically importune the Father and give Him NO REST, asking that He fulfill His will, send Yahshua Ha’Mashiach for us, and begin the transformation to eternity with Him.
So where is your heart—here, or Up There? If it is with Him, in His Kingdom, then let the “petitioning” begin. He’s given us His permission, even instruction, to do so. Put this PRAYER INTO PRACTICE every day! Give Him no rest…No rest.
As I concluded writing this, I had a strong urgency about Jerusalem, and how MUCH the Father loves His Qodesh City. Saints, it is imperative that we pray for Yerushalayim at this critical time in history. “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.” Hebrews 13:14. It is also imperative that we understand how MUCH He loves Her, “The bride, the wife of the Lamb” Revelation 21:9.
Dear Abba Father, my Master, my Adon, please hasten the day when you put your government in place. Those days will see Egypt, Israel, and Syria as friends. Yahshua, we, the world need this, and it is obvious that it can only come through judgment, just like you said. Let the Day of the Lord arrive. Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done. Father, we pray Your words for Yerushalayim, “We pray for the peace of Yerushalayim; may they prosper who love you. Peace within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.” Father, we pray this in Your Son’s Mighty Name, Yahshua ha’ Mashiach.
Your servant(s)
EMP and Gog
It’s a frightening thing to consider. For the most technologically endowed nation to ever exist on planet Earth, it would be a nightmare of almost unimaginable proportion. I’m referring to an attack on the U.S. by EMP –electromagnetic pulse—about which there continues to be much chatter in the cybersphere. Most feared is a nuclear blast that could interact with the ionosphere, the shell of electrons and electrically charged particles surrounding Earth, to create a series of electromagnetic pulses that could reach across the North American continent, according to the scientists who study such matters.
In such an apocalyptic scenario, an American enemy would explode a nuclear weapon a certain number of miles above a central point above the continent. This would cause everything that is controlled by electronic circuitry to fail, bringing society and culture as we have known them to an instantaneous conclusion. All modern transportation would be stopped, with planes falling from the air. Car engines and circuitry would cease to function. From the sophisticated technologies of the hospitals, banks, and electric power-generating plants to the electronically powered, smallest conveniences such as coffeemakers, all would be instantly fried, and we would be sent back to the 1850s in a millisecond, according to the experts.
There would be no more TV watching, electronic devices to play music, no cell phone talk, or texting! Now, I know that last bit got your attention. The only positive might be that car accidents caused by texting would cease to occur. For sure, the insurance industry would be out of business. Their electronic files on the texting-caused accidents would be no more…
The stores would be out of food within a day because the vehicles to resupply would no longer be operating. Whoever could get to the shelves first on foot or bicycle would get the quickly disappearing grocery items. Water and sewer systems would begin to undergo contamination and disease would begin to spread.
Those who warn of such things worry that America’s military capabilities would be degraded to the point the U.S. would have no course of action that would protect the nation from invasion. The military machinery and personnel would be as adversely affected as would we civilians.
It is indeed a nightmare to consider.
This is all predicated upon the postulation that it would be an enemy nation or possibly terrorist group that would attack with EMP. However, America has nuclear submarines and many other assets that–like in the case of the cold war and MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)—would devastate any enemy who dared to knock out the American power grid. Even if the enemy could not be determined–such as if al Qaida launched an EMP off a freighter on the Atlantic coast—there are automatic responses programmed that make any enemy think twice before attempting such an untried assault on the most awesome war-making entity ever to exist.
Well, maybe that doesn’t exactly apply any longer. Remember Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Those nineteen terrorists did not seem to regard the awesomeness of America’s military. It’s true they have paid the price for the attack. But the price we’ve paid since is far greater. Not just in the trillions of dollars spent and still being spent, but in lives lost and continuing to be lost.
Disregarding such an enemy for the moment, the experts tell us we face the possibility of an EMP attack from the cosmos. Now, there’s something to truly be concerned about!
Solar flares are the real danger, according to the scientists involved in study of this sort of EMP assault. These coronal mass ejections are enormous sun eruptions of super-hot plasma that spews charged particles across the solar system. They do the same sort of damage that the nuclear weapon EMPs might do, as I understand it.
The Earth is in a period of high likelihood for these types of coronal mass ejections, according to the scientists—authorities on such things. Although Congress has been given ways to help prepare for damage such EMP events can do, there has apparently been little interest from that quarter in making preemptive preparation. We remember the same sorts of fears and warnings about the year 2000–Y2K–event. In that instance billions of dollars were thrown into fixing the feared problems.
Now, however, unlike in the case of the Y2K scare, for example, the mainstream media seems to have all but ignored the EMP concerns. Even peripheral media cable networks and other such media have remained silence. Only the blogosphere is alive with details of the possibility of impending doom.
My own thought is that the Lord is and has always been in complete control of the fate of individuals, nations, and the entire Earth–which He created. That’s why there hasn’t been all-out warfare–nuclear war. That’s why there hasn’t been an EMP event that sets us back to the 1850s or so…
However, there is a prophetic thought that has nagged for a long time. That’s all it is–a thought.
Salem Kirban wrote the novel 666 in the 1960s. He portrayed the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog-Magog attack as being waged totally like the Scripture depicts. There were only horses, bucklers, shields, etc., as they stormed like a cloud to cover the land as the Gog forces raged toward Jerusalem. All modern weaponry had been rendered useless–I can’t remember why or how.
An EMP event from Earth’s sun could apparently make Mr. Kirban’s novel truly prophetic, if all we’ve been told about EMP is correct.
The way things are shaping in that region of the world should alert us that maybe we don’t have too long to wait to find out about how Bible prophecy plays out.
The Seven Churches of Revelation – Part Two – By Ed Wood
The Church at Thyatira
Revelation {2:18-29} And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last [to be] more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have [already] hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The next church, represented by the ancient one of Thyatira, was the one which came to exist as a direct result of Constantine’s conversion to Christianity. By the end of the Fourth Century, it was ironically the dominant faith in the Roman Empire, which had once done its worst to eradicate it. Over the course of time it split into eastern and western factions, namely the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches which still exist today.
Jesus praised the original church at Thyatira and by inference, its present incarnation in the two churches mentioned above, for its “works, and charity, and service, and faith,” patience, and thy works; and the last [to be] more than the first.” Clearly both have excelled at both in spreading the word across the globe, stepping in to aid in charitable ways, and persisting in these efforts across the centuries, right up until the present time.
But along with commendation there is condemnation, namely its association with “Jezebel.” As is the case with apocalyptic writings, our task is to try to determine the meaning of its symbolic references. In this case, it would seem that a strong case could be made that this is a reference to the wife of Ahab, king of Israel circa 919 – 897 B.C. According the account in 1 Kings, Jezebel was the daughter of King Ethbaal of Tyre and an ardent worshiper of the pagan god Baal. Ahab was very accommodating to his wife’s idolatrous worship and promoted its practice in his kingdom and in the persecution of God’s prophets such as the most prominent of that time, Elijah.
Though neither the Roman Catholic nor Orthodox Churches promote “Baal worship” both have unfortunately incorporated into their beliefs the practice of praying to Mary, the mother of Jesus and other assorted saints. In the Roman Catholic Church the term “saints” has evolved from the biblical meaning which applies it to all believers to someone in whose name a miracle has been accomplished due to prayers made to them. It is hard to imagine how everyone who is familiar with the First and Second Commandments can in good conscience accept a practice of praying to anyone other than God or enlisting the aid of any “intercessor” other than Jesus Christ himself when the Bible is quite clear on both of these matters:
Exodus {20:1-5} And God spake all these words, saying, I [am] the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.
1 Timothy {2:5} For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
A simple question I’ve always had is: Since we already have access to God through his Son, why would we need a “second stringer?” I’ve never gotten an answer from anyone who endorses this practice.
Another form of idolatry is the concept of church tradition being put on an equal or even superior basis as Scripture because here we have the exact situation experienced by Peter and the apostles shortly after the birth of the church:
Acts {5:28-29} Did not we* straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. *Members of the Sanhedrin are speaking here.
In this case the Jewish religious authorities were arrogating to themselves the “final word,” when that actually belongs to God alone.
Church “tradition” across denominations has too often darkened its history with such excesses as the Inquisitions, anti-Semitism, the condoning of slavery and racism, making a mockery of what Jesus actually taught.
The message from Jesus to the church of Thyatira, and, we may assume its future representatives, does indicate that its members which do not subscribe to these serious errors but regard Scripture, “rather than men,” to be the ultimate authority regarding doctrine, will be duly rewarded in the life to come, being part of Jesus’ government on Earth when he returns.
To be fair, by virtue of their being so many diverse versions of the Christian Church today, it is probably fair to say most of them have doctrinal problems, except the Church of Smyrna which we explored in the last article and has since disappeared into history and the Church of Philadelphia, along with its present incarnation, which we will examine a little later. Both of them received only praise from Jesus.
Before we move on, it is important to mention that we have arrived at a significant point in our exploration. Remember that in the last article it was mentioned that the first three churches have disappeared into the past? Let’s take a moment to look at how the message to each of them concluded:
For Ephesus:
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
For Smyrna:
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
For Pergamos
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it.]
Contrast this passage in the conclusion of the message to the church at Thyatira:
But that which ye have [already] hold fast till I come.
In this case the indication is that this church will still exist in some form – at the time Jesus returns! As we look at the remaining three addressed in Revelation, we see the same indications. This may yet be one more sign that his return may be very soon indeed. That being said, let’s continue with our next church.
The Church at Sardis
Revelation {3:1-6} And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 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*. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. * This is just one example of an unexpected return of Jesus (only for his followers, in this case) in complete contrast to the time when it is unmistakable to the whole world (Revelation 19:11-16). In order for both accounts to be true, they must be referring to two different events.
This is thought to represent the churches broke away from the Roman Church as it existed during the Reformation. Its most prominent feature is that it emphasized the doctrine of salvation through grace, not works and was likewise critical of what was considered corruption and other doctrinal errors of the Roman Catholic Church.
However, when reading the passage concerning it, it appears that though it might have started out on the right path, it quickly lost its way and was therefore admonished to “strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die.” Could this be reflective of the manner in which the majority of the Protestant denominations today have embraced biblically contrary doctrines such as the acceptance of active homosexual behavior, a denial that Jesus himself as being the only way of salvation, a rejection of his physical resurrection and the reality of a literal afterlife at all, and refusal to believe in his return to this planet to establish his everlasting Kingdom?
Verse 3b of this chapter also clearly indicates that most of this church won’t be ready for the Lord’s return. In other words, it will be just as big a surprise to it as to the non-Christian world alike because there is scant attention given to Bible Prophecy in most of the church today, regardless of denomination. But all is not lost because there is the hopeful mention of those who “have not defiled their garments” by accepting the “doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1) and will one day literally walk with Jesus in his kingdom to come.
The Church at Philadelphia
Revelation {3:7-13} And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David*, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.** Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name***. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. * Perhaps this means that As David was a conquering king over his adversaries, so Jesus is likewise over his. Of course, we are clearly not yet at the point where the results of his victory is fully realized, any more than David’s were immediate in his age, but the Bible teaches that one day they will be (Revelation, chapters 21 & 22).
** The indication here is that this church will be here on Earth in the present time and will be removed from the “hour of temptation (trial),” a good interpretation meaning the rapture, after which the Tribulation years will begin.”
*** Just as the false prophet will lead people to be marked with the name of the beast (antichrist), so God will cause his own to be marked as described above. Revelation 14:1 shows a partial fulfillment of this as regards to Israel.
As with the church as Smyrna, Jesus has only praise for the one at Philadelphia. In this case, it does not represent any single denomination but is comprised of all believers no matter which one (or even none at all) to which they belong. I suppose it would be safe to say that in many churches these days they adhere to the authority of Scriptural teachings in spite of what’s being preached in their pulpits. Why they choose to remain in some of them rather than leave is complex. Some, no doubt, stay in the hopes of changing them and getting them back on course. Others stay because they’ve gone to the same parish all their lives and don’t want to be uprooted. It’s probably safe to say the former are “Philadelphians” because having the courage of one’s convictions and bucking the tide is not an easy thing. As for the latter, the quality of their faith and is only something that God can decide.
Now it does not mean these individuals are perfect when it comes to doctrine because all of us are subject to what Paul said so well due to our human limitations:
1 Corinthians {13:11-12} When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
What is does say is that to the best of his or her ability, each defends the faith using the Bible as the standard, regardless of the opposition or immediate consequences. As far as the Western world is concerned, this church is sadly losing ground in the Western world, something Jesus no doubt saw coming 2000 years ago:
From the passage above we have:
Revelation 3:8 . . . . for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word . . .
And from Luke 18:8, Jesus said: Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
This is certainly not reflective of the quality of faith of its constituents. If anything, persecution, whether it be comparatively mild as in the U.S. (so far, at any rate!) or openly violent as in the recent cases of Muslim attacks on the Copts in Egypt, it has only served to strengthen their resolve to stand by their faith.
Smyrna and Philadelphia represents the church at its best. Now it’s time to look at it at its worst!
The Church at Laodicea
Revelation {3:14-22} And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 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.* He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
* Again, this is suggestive of this church being around in the present and those who do not follow its error will be saved.
It is probably no accident that the Laodicean Church shows up last, because this is indeed the state of affairs we increasingly have today. Jesus has nothing to commend in this one. We can look at it as being comprised of what I call “Comfortable Christians.” They show up each week, listen to latest non-judgmental the humanistic doctrine which pretty much teaches “anything goes.” Here’s an example from Pew Research (May 12, 2015) regarding the acceptance of homosexual behavior:
Denomination Year 2007 Year 2015
Roman Catholic 58% 70%
Mainline Protestants 56% 66%
Orthodox Christian 48% 62%
All Christians 44% 54%
Historically Black Protestants 39% 51%
Evangelical Protestants 28% 36%
Mormon 24% 36%
Jehovah’s Witnesses 12% 16%
If this one example of biblical doctrine being rejected in the church is representative of an overall erosion of the following scriptural precepts in today’s church, it is affecting all of them. Interestingly, the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, despite their other serious doctrinal errors, are doing better in this particular case than all the rest of them.
As a former life-long member of the Episcopal Church, I’ve personally seen this denomination fall apart doctrinally. Though the decline was decades in coming, in 2003 its decline into error became most evident as its triennial convention gave its assent to ordaining an open homosexual to the office of bishop. Now actively homosexual clergy people are no longer the uncommon. In the case of TEC, this was just the beginning of its descent into apostasy.
Former presiding bishop Kathryn Schori preached a “mother Jesus,” pluralistic salvation” (meaning that Jesus is not the only way to salvation (TIME Magazine, July 10, 2006), and that “confessional Christianity,” (i.e. that an individual can be saved by confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior) was a “great Western heresy” (opening remarks to TEC’s 76th Convention in July 2009). In the case of the Episcopal Church, there has been a ruthlessness exercised in any member parish not willing to “roll over” for these errors – the loss of its funds and property under the Dennis Canon which states that the church buildings and funds are only held in trust for their respective dioceses, not owned by their members. How this unjust principle ever got ratified into canon law seems positively devilish. The sad part about all this is that TEC is not unique because such heresy would find a welcome in most of the major protestant churches in Europe and North America.
Perhaps the biggest reason heresy has been so easy to foist on members of these denominations is that “Comfortable Christians” are also “lazy Christians” who never bothered to pick up their Bibles and read for themselves.
If one doesn’t know the truth, how can one possibly reject the lie?
Concluding Thoughts
From the best to the worst, the churches of Revelation present the whole spectrum. It seems fairly obvious where we must be in history based on where the church is now and where it is increasingly headed. I’ve personally watched the death spiral of the Episcopal Church from the inside and must admit I was amazed not only at the magnitude of its descent but the speed at which it occurred. I’ve watched many of the other Protestant denominations on the very same trajectory. If allowed to continue unabated, how long would it take before the percentages above top out at 100%? Based on the aforementioned acceleration into acceptance of the “doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:2), it indicates that it will not be allowed to continue much longer.
For we who believe, this is just one more sign for us along with so many others that the time of our redemption must be very, very, near!
It has never been more vital than right now to keep looking up!
God’s Next Catastrophic Intervention
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un continues to fire off missiles that fail shortly after lifting off. But there are enough successes to portend a time when he can arm them with nuclear devices to kill hundreds of thousands. The ayatollahs and military of Iran continue on course to produce deliverable nuclear weapons to rain upon the hated Israel. Russian president Putin becomes more bellicose by the day, sending his bombers near America’s Alaskan shores. He has fighter jets buzzing American aircraft within twenty feet in some cases.
Syrian dictator Assad continues to inflict genocide in the region, no doubt causing Israel’s military to consider preemptive action to protect the Jewish state.
China, despite some minor, peaceful overtures to President Trump and America, continues to build its military and new bases in waters that are considered international rather than Chinese territorial waters. ISIS and the many Israel-hating terrorist entities continue to plan and carry out murderous assaults around the world.
This is a time that there is a cry for peace and safety, while there seems little peace upon the planet.
Our president is going to the Middle East to have a go at formulating a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians–a thing many diplomats of every stripe have tried but failed to achieve.
Everything in regard to those geopolitical exigencies seem to point to just how near this generation is to the time of Tribulation, the final seven years immediately preceding Christ’s Second Advent. But, those represent only one side of the equation that makes up the signals we are to look for in being watchmen on the wall as Bible prophecy fulfillment draws near.
While the volatility and violence that will be part of end-times indicators are certainly something to consider, Jesus painted a much different picture that will be on the scene when He next catastrophically intervenes into the affairs of fallen mankind.
We know that the Bible–that God’s prophets–never contradict one another. If we search deeply enough and long enough, we will see the interconnectedness and the absolute integrity of prophetic truth. So, how, as God’s Word says, does Paul’s prophecy, “evil men and seducers will [get] worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived,” comport with Jesus’ own words about the moment He will next break in upon this rebellious world?
How does, for example, the Lord’s own declaration make sense? He prophesies that people will be buying, selling, marrying, and building–doing all the things of everyday life. How does that declaration not conflict with the Revelation foretelling twenty-one devastating judgments given to John on Patmos?
That is, how does such a not-unpleasant set of circumstances like Jesus describes using the days of Noah and of Lot not contradict the Olivet Discourse? The Lord’s words there describe conditions so horrific when Christ comes back that no flesh would be saved if He did not return at that moment (Matthew 24: 21).
The only answer to why there are these diametrically different prophetic descriptions–that of business as usual and that of the worst times of human history–is, of course, wrapped up in the apostle Paul’s foretelling.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
The pre-millennial, pre-tribulation view of Christ’s return is the only view that answers the big questions about the apparent contradictions.
God’s next catastrophic intervention into the affairs of rebellious mankind’s evil doings will take place in two phases. The first involves the “mystery” Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 15: 51-55. All born-again believers who have died or are living will in one stunning moment be translated into supernatural bodies and instantly appear with Jesus Christ above planet earth.
Jesus tells that at the time of that event–the Rapture–things will be relatively normal for most living on the earth. As a matter of fact, I believe His words tell that it will be business even better than usual.
I will expand on this greatly in my next book which, God willing, will be available late this year.
The second phase of Christ’s Second Coming will, of course, be that moment when He comes back with all the saints to put an end to man’s most terrible war–Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-12).
At that time, the earth will have been devastated by war and God’s wrath. Again, Jesus said that all flesh would die if He didn’t intervene at that moment.
God’s judgment will begin, Jesus said, the very day He is next “revealed.” That will be at the Rapture, when all the earth will know there has been a tremendous event that made millions simply vanish. Like in Lot’s day, God’ judgment will begin that very day, Jesus says as recorded in Luke 17:26-30. God’s wrath won’t begin until the covenant of Daniel 9:27 is confirmed. But judgment will begin immediately, we are told by the Lord, Himself.
It will be a catastrophic intervention right from that twinkling-of-an-eye moment!
I believe we, as watchmen, should be observing the times to see if there is in the near future a noticeable upswing in national and international economies–this in conjunction with considering all the traditional signals that the Bible describes.
Caught Up
We just upgraded to a system that has added an extra 500 channels or so to our television programming. All of it comes automatically with what I really wanted to acquire, Internet service that increases my download capacity and speed by a factor of three or four.
I realize there are many who read these columns who believe strongly that there should be no television in the home whatsoever, so I’m almost apologetic–but not quite. I was sick and tired of waiting sometimes hours to download materials I needed to do my work for this blog, Rapture Ready and for other work.
Clicking through the myriad of TV channels I now have, I am amazed at all of the things of life that bombard us. I can no longer “see” the programs and their content because of retinas that no longer work–which I suppose makes the upgrade sound ludicrous. I do hear, however, with at least a modicum of ability in my closing ears and years, so I get the gist of the programming. The many aspects of everyday living in America today are astonishing–not in scope, but in the absence of the profound.
By this, I mean that in America all that is presented on the programming revolves around nurturing self-centeredness that directly affects the average U.S. citizen in one way or another–love, sex, finance, lifestyle, and health.
Religion is covered by TV entertainment and news to a much lesser degree, and increasingly in a way that moves ever farther from the biblical fundamentals of the faith once delivered to the saints. The only things that matter for life more abundantly, according to Jesus Christ, are conspicuously absent from this massive programming regime. Things of truly eternal value are sequestered in the corners of the religious channels, and few of those Christ-centered programs exist. The majority of so-called Christian programming involves prosperity-a-thons that are almost as ubiquitous as the secular infomercials that incessantly barrage the late-late-night/early-morning viewers. Most in America in these closing days of this Church Age comprise a generation caught up in a world system that long ago pushed God out of the equation for living on the planet He designed for mankind.
Jesus forewarned of a future generation of believers that would be caught up in such a world system at the time when His return neared. He had just gone through the many signs of His coming again, and had given His disciples the answer to their questions: “Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?”
Jesus said in forewarning that future end-times generation: “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 shall it 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.” (Luke 21:34-36)
Sadly, Christians in mass numbers seem to fit the description of that final generation of the Age of Grace. If we are honest, we have to consider that it appears that the everyday cares of life hold most captive like the Lord’s description of those who will be alive at the time of the “snare” that will come upon the whole Earth. I’m convinced that “snare” referred to will be none other than the rapture of the church.
It will be a startling thing for those so married to this world to suddenly be in the presence of their Lord. Having been caught up in the world and all of its quicksand of immorality, they will suddenly find themselves “caught up” into the holy presence of the One who died for them.
While every true believer will meet the Lord in the air when He calls, “Come up here,” the above Scripture leaves little doubt that there is a most serious issue involved in the words the Lord used: “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.”
Christians are not to be caught off guard like the lost of the world, for whom the rapture will be a thief-in-the-night experience. To be caught off guard in the sense that we are living like the world, with little thought of Jesus’ coming back for us, will demonstrate unworthiness to stand before Him at that monumental moment. Our worthiness will determine whether we hear Him say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” when we then move to Heaven and the Judgment Seat of Christ for rewards earned in this life.
Terry James Prophecy Line 