EVENTS ON EARTH-Part 2 of Phase 3

Part 2 or Phase 3
Scripture References: Joel 2:17-32

(V17) “Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?"
(V17) After the destruction of the locust like army that swarmed the land devouring everything in its path a three fold order came from the Lord: 1) blow the trumpet in Zion, 2) sanctify a feast, 3) call a solemn assembly. All the people are called to the holy gathering to sanctify a fast and in a future day the priests will assemble themselves in a remorseful assembly to earnestly cry out to the Lord.

(V18) “Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people." 
(V18) In that day the Lord will be envious of His land and will shower His people with compassion. That is the way that God has always been starting in the garden of Eden even unto this present time.

(V19) “Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:” 

(V19) Yes, the Lord will always answer His praying people who pray according to His will (2^nd John 1: 14,15).

(V20) “But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.” 
(V20) The Lord now speaks to Judah and tells them that He will destroy the northern army (which is the Assyrian army) from the eastern sea (which is the Dead sea) to the western sea (which is the   Mediterranean sea) and all this is in addition to moving their reproach from among the nations.

(V21) “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things.”
(V21) Then He tells the people of the land not to be afraid but to be glad and joyful for the Lord will do great things, including restoration of the land, rain in abundance, and cribs overflowing with wheat.   To the people He promised that He would restore them and they would never be ashamed again.   In addition, the years that were destroyed by the locust invaders would be restored also.

(V22) “Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.” 
(V22) The Lord now speaks to the bestial division of his creation and tells them not to fear for the wilderness pastures will be a fountainhead.   The trees will bear their fruit and the vine will produce with all of its might.

(V23) “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.” 
(V23) Now the focal point and the tone of His conversation seems to change when speaking to the children of Zion telling them to cheer up in the Lord their God for He gave them rain in the beginning and with them He will conclude with rain.  To break it down to a simpler form “what God has done before He can do it again”.      
 
(V24) “And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.” 
(V24) In addition to the former and latter rains the wine vats will be filled to the overflow and the threshing floors crammed with wheat again.

(V25) “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.” 
(V25) God’s restoration included restoring the years He sent His destructive army among them.  This was an army of swarming hairy caterpillers that appeared in great numbers wandering about and consuming all herbal life.

(V26) “And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.” 
(V26) In this verse God tells the children of Zion that there would be plenty of food in store for them to eat to their own satisfaction and to praise the name of the Lord their God who had dealt marvelously with them. God reiterates what He had previously told them that they would never be ashamed.

(V27) And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.”
(V27) God now assures Israel that He would always be in their midst, but it is worth noting that the words “I am” reassures them that the great I AM was still in their midst.   Jehovah was still declaring what He had told their forefathers when they came out of Egypt, that He would not tolerate any other god before Him. And for the third time He reminds them that they will never again be ashamed.

(V28) “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:” 
(V28) The Old Testament promised the great outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost and the New Testament provided the verification of a partial fulfillment of that promise (Acts 2: 14-18).

(V29) “And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days I will pour out my spirit.”
(V29) Contrary to many doctrines and beliefs the Holy Spirit was poured out on servants and women (handmaids) as well as the men. There were 120 people in the upper room including Mary, the mother of our Lord, tarrying with the apostles who had been given a commandment to tarry in Jerusalem until they were filled with Holy Ghost power.   Remember the word tells us that all were in one accord and all were baptized in the Holy Ghost.   There is another part of this fulfillment yet to come to pass in a latter day.

(V30) “And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.”
(V30) In these terrible wondrous days there will be an earthly fireworks display, while in the heavens the moon is turning to blood (some modern writers say that the moon will turn as red as blood), but I try to stick to the scriptures.

(V31) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.”  (V31) This will be the time when the sunlight goes out on planet earth and the moon turns into blood.   This all must happen before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.

(V32) “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on 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.”
(V32) And it will come to pass in that day that whoever calls on the name of Jesus shall be saved.   Deliverance will come to those who remain in mount Zion and in Jerusalem as the Lord hath said.

This is the conclusion of this blog, but before I shut the ole computer down there’s a question that I must ask: DEAR READER, ARE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY RAPTURE READY??????

　

　

　

EVENTS ON EARTH

Phase 3
Scripture References:  Joel 2; Matthew 24; Revelation 6-20

Joel 2:1-16

(V1) "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;"
(V1) Hidden away in the little book of Joel we discover a great wealth of prophetic information concerning events that take place in the last days.  Here in this verse a trumpet calls the people to battle with the message that the Day of the Lord was at hand.  Though the immediate reference was referring to the Babylonian captivity, the complete fulfillment is yet in the future.  I am compelled to ask where are the vocal trumpets today that need to be sounding out this same message to this lost and dying world?

(V2) "A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations."
(V2) In that day the thick darkness, gloominess and overshadowing clouds spread upon the mountains like the heat of the morning sun.  This was the beginning of the destruction by the locust like invaders that left the land in total desolation.

(V3) "A fire devoured before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them."
(V3) Before the invaders a destructive fire burned that destroyed everything in its path and behind it.  Nothing remained but cinders and ashes.  Some prophetic scholars believe that this portion of Joel is referring to our modern day tanks and guns.

(V4) "The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run."
(V4)  According to the Believer's Bible Commentary on page 1109 William MacDonald compares the locusts to "swift steeds climbing the walls like men of war marching in formation, entering everywhere like a thief and blackening the skies with their immense numbers, constitutes some of the most graphic, poetic scriptures in the prophets."  This intolerable invasion is completely at God's command whose campground is very large.  These invaders look and run like horses that are running at break-neck speed toward the heat of a mighty battle at the command of a vicious rider.

(V5) "Like the noise of chariots on tops of the mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoured the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array."
(V5) This verse gives a very impressive description of the invaders by equating their sound with the noise of stagecoaches running on mountain tops.  They also were compared to a blazing fire that even devoured the short stalks that have been left in the field after harvest.

(V6) "Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness."
(V6) Some scholars say this is referring to paleness that covers the face when the blood runs out.  Their hearts would fail them for fear of things coming upon this earth.  Thinking of it as blackenss, it could mean that smoke from the fire made the face turn black, and it could also mean that smoke from the fire blackened the face.  There is another possibility to be considered here. It may mean that it could be speaking of mourning when the color of the face changes at death.

(V7) "They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:"
(V7) These destroyers run like powerful men that are able to climb the wall like men ready for the battle every man going his own way and not breaking the lines.

(V8) "Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded."
(V8) These savage intruders shall not stab one another with a sword as they walk every one in his own path that no doubt was divinely appointed them. If they should fall on their own sword they shall receive no wounds.

(V9) "They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief."
(V9) At this time the Gentiles were instructed to prepare for war as the enemies of Israel run to and fro in the city and upon the protective wall, while like thieves they entered through the windows of their houses.

(V10) "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:"
(V10) The battle weary earth will quake before them.  The firmament will shake while the sun and moon turn dark and the stars withdraw their gleaming.

(V11) "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?"
(V11) Here the Lord thoughtfully declares his voice before his great army camp for he is powerful when he speaks.  In the Day of the Lord it will be frightening to those who have fought against God in the day of battle; for he will fight with them in the valley of decision.  In another valley called Jehoshaphat the Lord will sit to judge the bordering nations.

(V12) "Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:"
(V12) This is the same as when the Lord through the Holy Spirit calls the sinners to him.  He wants them to turn to him whole heartedly with fasting, lamenting and grieving.

(V13) "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."
(V13) In this verse God tells them that he doesn't want their filthy garments split.  He wants heart torn people that are clean.  This is the problem today when some so called clergymen minister only to the outside garment and not the heart.  To preach a message that reaches way down deep in the heart it can't be void of Jesus Christ and the old rugged cross.

(V14) "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?"
(V14) It is my opinion that this verse speaks of the one whose heart has been torn and is born again.  It is possible that he might return to where he was blessed and bring a blessing to the Lord through the church where his life was changed.

 (V15) "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:"
(V15) In this verse a group of people are being summoned to a holy gathering and to dedicate a fast.  In a day yet in their future the priests would cry out to the Lord in a ceremonial penitential gathering.

(V16) "Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet."
(V16) When the trumpet sounded it was calling the people to assemble to consecrate the assembly, including the elders, the children,  and even those that were breast feeding.  At that time the bridegroom left his chamber and the bride moved out of her residence.
This concludes Phase 3 of Events On Earth.

Dear Reader, before I shut the ole computer down I want to ask you a very important question, ARE YOU RAPTURE READY????

EVENTS ON EARTH Phase 2 of 3

Scripture References:  Daniel 9:24-27; 12:1; Isaiah 24; Joel 2; Matthew 24; Revelations 6-20

Phase 2
Daniel 12:1
(V1) "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."
(V1) In this verse we find a description of the great tribulation, the three and one-half years preceding the second advent of Jesus Christ when He returns to set up His Millenial Kingdom.

Isaiah 24:1-23
(V1) "Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down and scattered abroad the inhabitants thereof."
(V1) Here Isaiah the prophet is not writing about God's mercy, grace and love, but about his judgments upon all of the wicked earth that appears to start in the land of Israel then broadens to encompass the entire earth.  (The earth here may also mean the land.)  The reference to the priest in verse 2 implies the land of Israel is what we're viewing here.  It is worth noticing that the text alternates between the land and the people.  It's catascrophic and devastating to the land as well as the people who dwell there.

(V2) And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him."
(V2) This verse simply tells us that when God's judgment falls on this earth it will have the same effect on every person regardless of their status in life.  In other words those that have and those that have not will suffer the same judgment.

(V3) "The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word."
(V3) Again this verse is referring not only to the land of Israel but wicked beings in the heavens are also included.  When the Lord speaks it is always final for His word takes preeminence over every voice that has ever been spoken or written.

(V4) "The earth mourned and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish."
(V4) The cause of worldwide contamination is that the everlasting covenant has been broken by rebellious men much like today when they refuse to call America a Christian Nation.  Some believe that this is referring to the Noahic Covenant. (Genesis 9:16), but that unconditional covenant depended entirely on God.  Others think that the Mosaic law is referred to but was given to Israel only, and is not spoke of as an everlasting covenant.  Some Bible scholars say that it is "the covenant people implicitly had with God".  Genesis 9: 16  "And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth."  All we have to do to be reminded of this covenant is to look up after the sun shines through the rain and see the beautiful rainbow.

(V5) "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant."
(V5) Because man has polluted the earth by transgressing the laws of God, he cannot correct it himself.  It's likened unto a severed wire where men labor all day and night trying to put it back together again only to find that they have been working in the wrong place.  Like men today, in order to mend their broken relationship with God, they must go back to God to fix it.

(V6) "Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left."
(V6) Some commentators describe this catastrophe as occurring during the middle of the tribulation period after the first three and one-half years expire.  In Revelation 8:7 when the first angel sounded and a third part of the ear, trees, and grass are burned up by hail and fire mingled with blood.  The best way to understand this verse is by using a literal interpretation.  This method will help you to understand that this disaster will be devastating to the areas from where man gets most of his food.

(V7) "The new wine mourned, the vine languished, because there are no people all the merry hearted do sigh."
(V7) The new wine mourns here because there is no one to drink it.  The vine languished because there are no people left to dress and take care of it.

(V8) "The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth."
(V8) The merriment of the tabrets stopped and the sweet noise of rejoicing was no longer heard.  This situation was so bad that the beautiful therapeutic sounds of the harp were silenced.

(V9) "They shall drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it."
(V9) To add to their misery described in the previous verse they now have come to the place where even the ones who drink the wine are not allowed to drink it with a song, and even a strong drink shall taste bitter to those who partake of it.

(V10) "The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in."
(V10) It is possible that the city of confusion is referring to Jerusalem, but in a broader sense it could encompass all urban civilization. 

(V11) "There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone."
(V11) According to John Wesley's notes on this verse "such was their Gross Sensuality and Sottishness".  That unfamiliar word simply means having had too much alcohol to drink.  I guess that's where we got the term "sot".

(V12) "In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction."
(V12) This verse could be referring to the book of Nehemiah Chapter 1:3 when he learned from Hanani, one of his brethren and others that came with him from Judah, that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

(V13) "When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done."
(V13) People used olives to produce oil, and grapes to create wine.  They picked the olives by hitting the trees.  That was a rule of God that can be found in Leviticus 19: 9,10.

(V14) "They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea."
(V14) The remnant that remained could be heard singing the praises of Jehovah (the New King James version has it Lord) for His saving grace.  Then in sorrow the prophet gazes toward the Great Tribulation and mourns.  Then will be an unparalleled period of disloyalty and treason that will make it impossible for them to escape.  These people use their voices and shout loudly from the west declaring that the Lord is glorious!

(V15) "Likewise in the east give honor unto the Lord God of Israel glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea."
(V15) Likewise in the east the people gave honor to the Lord God of Israel and gave him honor from the islands of the sea.  The earth will stagger like a drunk man who has been hit by a colossal earthquake and falls never to rise again.  This reminds me of my childhood days in Johnson County, Kentucky where we lived just a few houses away from an habitual boozer.  Every fall of the year my dad would go to Ohio to cut corn and often my mother would call to all of us children and say "get in the house, that drunk man is coming up the hollow and taking both sides of the road."

(V16) "From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous.  But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me!  The treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously."
(V16) From every part of the country, we hear songs.  People are singing praises in honor of the One that is fully good.  But I said, I have become thin and weak!  I have become thin and weak!  I am very sad!  There is absolutely no loyalty among the people anymore.

(V17) "Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth."
(V17) I say this to you who are in this country, terror, a deep dark hole, and a trap await you.

(V18) "And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake."
(V18) The people who run away from the sound that fills them with terror will fall into the deep hole.  Those who are able to climb out of the deep dark hole will be caught in a trap.  This all happens because God has opened the windows of heaven  and He has shaken the foundations of the country.

(V19) "The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly."
(V19) This that has happened to this country has ripped it apart entirely.  It has shaken this country like the March wind that shakes the rotten trees all the way to their roots and finally brings them down to earth.

(V20) "The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again."
(V20) God moves this earth about.  It shakes like a drunk man trying to break the habit before the habit breaks him.  These people are guilty because they have done wrong and feel that guilty feeling as all sinners have experienced.  That guilty feeling is like a heavy load that affects the entire country.

(V21) "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth."
(V21) The wicked hosts in heavenly places will be judged also.  This agrees with Revelation 19:19,20 where John said that he saw the beast and the kings of the earth.  Their armies gathered together to make war against (Jesus) that sat on the horse and against his (Jesus) army.  The beast (antichrist) was taken and with him the false prophet that was able to perform miracles as long as he was  in the presence of the beast.  By these miracles he deceived them that had taken the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image.  The antichrist and false prophet were cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

(V22) "And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited."
(V22) They will be herded together as prisoners bound in a dungeon.  They will be shut up in prison and punished for the one thousand years.  Revelation 20: 1-2 states, "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the keys to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years". This is the the same time period of the Millennial Reign of The Lord Jesus Christ.

(V23) Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously."
(V23) In this verse we find that there is no comparison between the glory of the sun and moon to the supreme glory of our Lord Jesus Christ at his second advent.

DEAR READER, we hope that you will be ready to meet our wonderful and glorious Lord when He rules on the throne during the Millennial Kingdom.  ARE YOU RAPTURE READY!!!!

Also check out our two daily Facebook posts:  "Today's Word From Jesus" and "God's Daily Bread".

EVENTS ON EARTH Phase 1 of 3

Phase I - Seven Year Tribulation Begins

Scripture References:  Daniel 9:24-27; 12: 1;  Isaiah 24; Joel 2; Matthew 24; Revelations 6-20

Daniel 9:24-27

INTRODUCTION:
Daniel 9 records his prayer when he brought to the Lord's attention the approaching end to the 70 year time of chastisement.  This mercy laced prayer was on behalf of his people.  Before this prayer was concluded the angel Gabriel appeared on the scene and spoke these words that I am commenting on today.

(V24) "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."
(V24) This portion of the word of God is believed by many to be the most important of all the prophetic scriptures to be found in the Bible.  Without this section in the word of God, it would be almost impossible to connect the velvet threads of prophetical end time scripture.

(V25) "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in trouble times."
(V25) So the readers are to know and understand that from the publishing of the command of the instruction to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.  Here the Prophet Daniel wants us to know and understand something.  Then he tell us when and where to start.  We should start counting the time of God's prophetic clock from the going forth of the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem.
   According to William MacDonald's outstanding "Believers Bible Commentary" this decree came forth from Artaxerxes in 445 BC (Nehemiah 2:1-8).  "Until Messiah the Prince" refers not just to the First Advent of Christ, but also to his death.
There shall be seven weeks (49 years) and 62 weeks (434 years).  The 69 weeks were split into two periods, seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.  The city shall be built again with plaza and moat even in troublesome times.  Jerusalem would be rebuilt during the first seven weeks with public square and protective channel.
   At this time Daniel had grown old, possibly in his eighties.  His home had been in Babylon for approximately seventy years.  At that time Jeremiah had just finished a scroll (especially the part known as Jeremiah 25:8-11) that the seventy years of captivity ordained for Israel by God was almost over (Daniel 9:2).
   The main cause of Israel's captivity was that they worshiped and served the false gods of their pagan neighbors.  The reason 70 years was chosen by God for the captivity was because for 490 years they had failed to leave their farmland unseeded after plowing, after God had warned them by Moses from Mount Sinai to let their land have a Sabbath of rest meaning one year out of every seven (Leviticus 25:1-7).

(V26) "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined."
(V26) After sixty two weeks (434 years) that is after the sixty two weeks part of time, that is actually at the end of the sixty ninth week, the Messiah will be cut off.  Obviously here we have a reference to our Savior's death on the cross.  In his book "The Coming Prince", Sir Robert Anderson gave detailed calculations of the sixty nine weeks using "prophetic years" allowing for leap years, and the change from BC to AD, he figured that the sixty nine weeks ended on the very day of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem five days before his death.  "But not for Himself" or literally "and having nothing" could mean that He had received nothing from Israel as a nation to which He had come.  Or it could also mean that He died without apparent posterity (Isaiah 53:8).  Or it may be a common statement of His absolute poverty.  He had nothing to leave but the clothes that He wore.

(V27) "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
(V27) We now come to the seventieth week.  Here we find there is a gap between the sixty ninth and seventieth weeks.  This is a parenthetical time period also known as the Church Age that extends from Pentecost to the Rapture.  It is the age that we are now living in and sometimes referred to as the Grace Dispensation.

DEAR READER:  It is the hope of our ministry that you and your loved ones are RAPTURE READY!!!!   We deeply believe that it could happen in the next blink of an eye.

BIBLICAL TRUTH ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING

Lesson #11
Scriptures:  Isaiah 51:6; 34:4; 40:8
                    Psalms 102:26
                    II Peter 3:10-13
                    Matthew 24:35
                    Mark 13:31, 32
                    John 12:34

INTRODUCTION:
In the last few years there's been a lot of debate concerning global warming, and most of what we have heard has been false.  But there's an old book that the educated secular world has never read that contains the truth about the subject.

Isaiah 51:6
(V6) "LifT up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished."
(V6) Isaiah the "Prince of the Prophets" was trying to get the attention of those who follow after righteousness and seeking the Lord to scan the starry skies before looking upon the earth below.  Then he proceeds to tell them that the place where the birds fly and the place where the aircraft soar will one day vanish away like smoke on a rainy day and that the very earth on which they walk is getting older every day and would eventually wax old like a moth eaten garment and vesture that are folded up and put away.  In Hebrews 1:10 we read, "And Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands." (1:11)  "They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they shall wax old as doth a garment;" (1:12) "And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up and they shall be changed: but thou are the same, and thy years shall not fail."


Isaiah 34:4
(V4) "And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree."
(V4) In this verse we find that we don't need to take this ole earth for granted for it will not always be here for perhaps much sooner than we think.  The same hands that made it will reach down and take it away.   

Isaiah 40:8
(V8) "The grass withered, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
(V8) Here we are reminded of the green plush meadows that we ran and played in when we were children.  It so beautifully glistened in the morning dew, but when the sun stood overhead in the heat of the summer day the beauty of the grass was taken away.  In this verse we're informed that there is one thing upon this earth that will never be taken away, and that is the Word of God that liveth and abideth forever.

Psalm 102:26
(V26) "They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:"
(V26) This a Messianic Psalm referring to Jesus.  Here once again we have a comparison of the things that will pass away and the things that will remain which are the words spoken by Jesus.  In most bibles they are written in red.

II Peter 3:10-13
(V10) "But the day of the lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
(V10) The Apostle Peter writes expressly about the end time global warming and, as you will see, it is much more destructive and devastating than the political bill of goods that some politicians tried to jam down our throats recently.
It is called the day of the Lord.  It will come upon this wicked world like a thief in the night; and the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with blazing heat.  The works also that are therein shall be burned up.

(V11) "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,"
(V11) Because all these things will be annihilated or destroyed how should we fashion our lives as we see that day approaching?  Here we learn that the way we talk should be consecrated for godly living that points the sinner to the One that lives within us.

(V12)"Watching for and rushing unto the arrival of the day of God wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?"
(V12) Watching for and rushing unto the arrival of the day of God in which the heavens will be on fire and completely destroyed.  At that same time all the elements shall melt with fiery heat.

(V13) "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."
(V13) Notwithstanding we, while conforming to his promise, watch for new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells.

Matthew 24:35
(V35) "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
(V35) Here in Matthew Jesus reminds us that though heaven and earth will truly pass away His words will surely remain.

Mark 13: 31,32
(V31) "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away."
(V31) Here in Mark we find the same reminder of the lasting stability of his words.  It seems that Jesus had taught the apostles the power of repetition and they executed it well.

(V32) But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven neither the Son, but the Father."
(V32) Not withstanding the actual day and hour is unknown by man though over the years there have been many date setters.  All have been proven to be false and left with red faces.

John 12:34
(V34) "The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up?  Who is this Son os man?"
(V34) Here Jesus was nearing the end of his life on the earth and He made it known that if He would be lifted up from the earth He would draw all men unto Him.  Upon hearing his words they reverted back to the old law and told him that they had heard that Christ would abide forever.  Then they asked the question that has been asked for over two thousand years: WHO IS THIS SON OF MAN? 
This will be the next blog on Let's Study Prophecy.
ARE YOU RAPTURE READY???

THE LAST DAYS MESSAGE FOR THE END-TIME CHURCH-PART I

PART 1
I Corinthians 15:1-8

(V1) "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;"
(V1) Here Paul is writing his first letter to this troubled church at Corinth.  He is proclaiming the same gospel that he had preached to them before.  This gospel was the same one they had received when Paul preached to them in an earlier visit.  In this evil, faithless generation when the great apostasy is getting more noticeable every  day, we see and hear of entire congregations turning away from the original teachings of Jesus Christ and the Apostles.  I would compare today's apostatizing church or our nation to the decaying of a fish that begins to rot in the head first.

When a preacher (head of the church) begins to preach another gospel from the pulpit the entire body will soon spiritually decompose.  That's why we see so many little splinter groups breaking away from the churches main body and like the little fish, they desintegrate and die.  Paul is reminding the congregation at Corinth to keep their feet on the solid Rock gospel that will never roll regardless of the power and the strength of the storm.

(V2) "By which also ye are saved, if  ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain."
(V2) This verse reminds us that the gospel Paul preached was not just a tickling of the ears or a so called feel good gospel but a sermon that contained the words of God that's spiritually required for biblical salvation.  The absence of this kind of gospel preaching today is the reason our altars are empty and dry.

(V3) "For I delievered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures."
(V3) Retrospectively, Paul brings to their attention that he was not preaching something to them that he had not first received himself.  In other words he was saying that he was not a hypocrite like so many pulpit fakes today that have never been born again while telling others that they should be.  What Paul received  according to the scriptures was how Christ died for our sins.  From his soul stirring conviction Paul preached with a great anointing to the Corinth congregation so they could receive it for themselves.  On the other hand, there is a day coming when all fakers and pretenders will stand before the great God of the universe to face the real facts of their life.

(V4) "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."
(V4) Verses 3 and 4 are absolute essentials in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Without His death, burial and resurrection we have no delieverance from sin, no means of salvation, no way to be saved, and no way to heaven.  If He hadn't died He wouldn't have been buried, if He hadn't been buried He couldn't have raised from the dead, and if He hadn't raised from the dead there would not have been any post resurrection sightings.

(V5) "And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve."
(V5) The post resurrection sightings are very important not only in establishing the eternal truth about the last days of the Son of God upon this earth, but also establishes the caliber of those that observed Him.  Cephas (Peter) was the first of the Apostles to see Him after His resurrection.  The rest of the twelve witnessed that they saw Him also.    The last Apostle to see Him was Paul as one born out of due season.

(V6) "After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep."
(V6) After that He was seen of above five hundred brethren at the same time. Many of those who saw Him were still alive at the time Paul wrote this but some had fallen asleep (died).

(V7) "After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles."
(V7)  Later He was seen by James and then by the rest of the Apostles.  James was the brother of the Lord Jesus Christ and is believed to be the writer of the five chapter book of James.  Although he was the Lord's brother he was not a believer until after the resurrection (John 7:3-5), (Acts 1:14), (I Corinthians 15:7).  He later became the pillar and then the head of the Jerusalem church (Galatians 1:19; 2:19).

(V8) "And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time."
(V8) Saul of Tarsus met Jesus on the road to Damascus, Syria and had quite an encounter with Him.  It was here that this evil man was changed into one of the greatest preachers that ever preached the gospel.  I am under the persuasion that the Apostle Paul wrote 14 of the 27 books in the New Testament, so that means that over half of the books in the New Testament were penned by him.

To Be Continued.......

DEAR READER, ARE YOU RAPTURE READY???

MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB-Part 4

HOST OF THE MARRIAGE-THE FATHER
Luke 14: 16-23
Lesson #9

(V16) "Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper and bade many:"
(V16) This verse pictures God as a certain man who prepared a great supper and sent out invitations to many guests.

(V17) "And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready."
(V17) The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19) is a majestic occasion in the near future.  Down through the ages the saints have considered this glorious event to be one of the fabulous marvels of the Word of God.  Those who leave this earth in the Rapture of the church (I Thess. 4:13-18; I Cor. 15:51-54; Rev. 4:1) will stand at the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of themselves for every work they have done while in their body on this earth (I Cor. 3:9-15; Rom. 14:12; II Cor. 5:10).  After the judgment they will go through the straight gate and enter into their mansion built for them by a King with nail holes in His hands.  (John 14:1-3).

(V18) "And they all with one consent began to make excuse.  The first said unto him I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused."
(V18) Here the invited guests consented together to reject the wonderful invitation.  The first said unto him, "I have purchased a piece of groud, and it's a must that I go and see it."  This rejecter valued the piece of ground sight unseen more than the creator of the whole earth.  I know people today that value their little shacks sitting on an acre of thorns and thistles more than the mansion that sits on holy ground where the streets are pure gold.

(V19) "And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused."
(V19) This verse reminds me of those faithless church goers who excuse themselves for staying home from church to take care of their animals.  True bible faith would at least give the creator the opportunity to take care of his own creation.  This too is putting the created before the creator.  After a tornado or any kind of violent storm have you ever seen men with wheelbarrows gathering up dead birds?  Who raises up and restores to their natural beauty the little lilies of the field that get blown over and flattened by the strong winds?  That same One is truly able to take our storm stricken lives and make them beautiful and whole again.  All we need is to have faith in God.

(V20) "And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come."
(V20) This verse informs us that the next one asking for excusal is a man that had just married a wife and honestly said that he couldn't come.  Sometimes family ties and social relationships obstruct the sinner from receiving the gospel message.

(V21) "So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things.  Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind."
(V21) So that servant returned to his lord and showed him these things and it made his lord angry.  He commanded the servant to take the invitation to the poor, and the maimed, and the halt that are in the streets and lanes of the city.  Notice here the command had changed to "bring them in".

(V22) "And the servant said, "Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room."
(V22) The servant replied, "Lord, I have done what you told me to do and there is still room."  This and the following verse is telling us that God will not accept anything less than a full house at the glorious Marriage Supper of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

(V23) "And the lord said unto his servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."
(V23) This last verse lets us know that the command is now laced with stout words loaded with great power.  He now sends the servant out to the highways and hedges to compel them that dwell there to come in, so His house may be filled.

Supper time was always special at our house.  I vividly remember Momma calling from the door of the old home place and saying, "Come on home son, it's supper time."  I will always be indebted to my late friend, Governor Jimmie Davis, for memorializing that special time in a song written by Ira F. Stanphill simply titled, "Supper Time".

Dear Reader, We hope and pray that we will see YOU at that great MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB!!