End Time Prophecy II

To continue a few more interesting facts.  According to Ezekiel 38 Gomer which is Turkey now would join the attack against Israel.  In the early 2000s Turkey's prominent political party was pro-Islamic. An Islamic president was selected in 2007. The same passage indicates that neither Jordan or Egypt would join the attack. Both have signed peace treaties with the nation Israel. The move toward a one world religion accelerates as diverse religious beliefs come together in a world wide bid for peace.  Gather hands and sing Kumbaya

There is also a worldwide apostasy that seems to be growing daily.  I Timothy 4:1 states that some will fall away from the faith giving heed to demonic doctrines. Here in America and elsewhere pseudo-Christianity flourishes.  There are any number of errant doctrines perpetrated among the lands. Yet the Gospel is being preached to all nations.  Bible societies has given out approximately 500 million portions or entire Scriptures a year.  The Temple Institute in Israel have already created the furniture, vessels and priestly garments ready for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple. Young men are being trained for the Levitical Priesthood

One last interesting fact is that Ancient Petra in Jordan would be a refuge for fleeing Jews during the end times. In 1994 Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty with each other. Petra may indeed be a haven for the Jews to hide from the coming Antichrist. I. know we must be careful to not be too specific about current events and how they might be prophetically linked. I also believe that God's Word is specific and just all the prophecies were literally fulfilled in Christ's First Coming; so may those be at His Return.

End Time Prophecy

It has been a while since I posted anything. I've been busy with three spiritual goals for myself. One of which is to love and serve others and another involves a lot of Scripture memorization.  Today I was given a pamphlet by a friend called "101 Last Days Prophecies." It was a quick read and I found some things very interesting. There were also a few facts of which I was unaware. I know there are different end times belief systems. I am a Pre-tribulation, Pre-millennial rapture person.  The promises to the nation Israel are literal as is the Book of Revelation. Dr. John MacArthur is perhaps the leading Bible Teacher who is of the same persuasion. The pamphlet data comes from eternal-productions.org.

One of the prophecies is worldwide anti-Semitism. (Deut. 28:37; Jeremiah 29:18, 44:8; Luke 21: 20-24 and Revelation 12). The Jews have been persecuted like no other.  Hitler endeavored to wipe out the race of people.  Before him were others including Haman in the Book of Esther.  It is an interesting fact that 450 out of 700 of the United Nations General Assembly resolutions condemn the nation Israel.  None have ever passed against an Arab country. Out of the 190 nations represented in the U.N. 60% of all G.A. resolutions attack one nation. It is Israel.

It is interesting also that the Eastern Gate on the Temple Mount remains closed Ezekiel 44: 1-3 indicates that Jesus Christ will enter at His Return the now sealed Eastern Gate.  Revelation also indicates that the birds of prey will eat the dead flesh of their enemies at the end of the age.  A little know fact is that Israel is the bird migration capital of the world.  Some estimate that billions of birds fly over the nation during spring and fall migrations.  I don't know who counted to billions but I tend to take their word.  Another fact of note is that The Euphrates River would dry up at one point in The Great Tribulation. The Massive Atatruk Dam in Turkey (a nation that is increasingly anti-Israel) finished in 1990 can reduce this huge River to a mere trickle.

Finding the Will of God

This is a deep and complex subject.  One that I am not qualified nor inclined to teach.  I'll let my pastors and Sunday School teachers figure that out.  I want to post some verses pertaining to God's guidance.

• James 1:5: "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and ^]without reproach, and it will be given to him."
• Psalm 32:8: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;I will counsel you with My eye upon you."
• Proverbs 6: 22, 23: "When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you;
  And when you awake, they will talk to you.³ For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light, And reproofs for discipline are the way of life

  Footnotes:

  1. Proverbs 6:22 Lit she
  2. Proverbs 6:22 Lit she
  3. Proverbs 6:22 Lit she
  4. Proverbs 6:23 Or law
  ."
• Proverbs 3: 5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight."

• Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 6:22 : Prov 3:23
  2. Proverbs 6:23 : Ps 19:8; 119:105
  Psalm 37:23: "The steps of a man are established by the Lord,And He delights in his way."
• Psalm 48:14: "For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death."
• Isaiah 30:21: "Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left."
• Isaiah 48:17: "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
  “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go."
• Isaiah 58:11: “And the Lord will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."
   
  I think sometimes we don't take time to fellowship with the Lord about our decisions and His will for our lives. Other times we pray only and fail to do what He commands us in terms of taking action. It is a balance that can be hard to achieve.  I have been more guilty of doing things in my own flesh and know that approach isn't very productive. I don't want to fall off the other side of the balance beam where I "let go and let God."  There are certain things we must do in terms of His guiding us.  As for me, right now, I've been searching the Internet for jobs for two hours. I think I will spend some time in prayer using these verses as a guide.
   
   
   
  
  

Our New Homes

No I didn't move. However I am looking forward to my new home in heaven whenever I go there or Jesus comes back for His believers. Here is what we can look forward to based on Revelation 21: 1- 22:5

• No longer any sea.
• New Jerusalem is the location. Ready as a bride for her groom.
• God Himself will dwell among us.
• God will wipe away every tear.
• No longer any death, mourning, crying or pain.
• God will make all things new.
• It's already done. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
• God will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
• We are God's children and He our God.
• No cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderous, immoral persons, sorcerers and idolaters.
• God will be the glory of the New City.
• New Jerusalem will be brilliant surrounded by a great and high wall.
• Jasper, pure gold, precious stones are the building materials.
• Pearls so huge and pure will be the twelve gates.
• Streets of the city are pure gold.
• No temple for the Lord God and the Lamb are its temple.
• Kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.
• There will be no night and its gates never close.
• Honor and glory of the nations will be brought into it.
• Nothing unclean shall ever come into it.
• Only residents are those whose names are recorded in the Book of Life.

Whatever is True

I was talking with a friend today about the world's wisdom.  She has COPD and had gone to a meeting of a group of people with similar diagnoses.  The leader showed a video about the end stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  It so disturbed my friend that she left the meeting early. As we talked I wondered about the wisdom of such a video and the motive behind it.  My friend was distraught for awhile thinking about what might come to her in time.  But we don't know for sure that will happen. She might pass away some other way like a sudden heart attack. Perhaps the rapture will occur.  Who knows but it certainly upset her to view the pain of such a death.  Even if she were to pass away from COPD she doesn't have grace today for tomorrow's battle.

I had a similar incident about a year ago. I was in meetings where movies were shown that were most unhelpful to my situation. I did the same as my friend, I walked out. I later took issue about the wisdom of showing such videos to the people involved. The more I thought about what happened to my friend today and me in the past, the more grateful I was for Philippians 4:8: " Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."  I am not saying we should stick our heads in the sand and pretend things aren't as they are.  I am saying we need not borrow trouble and think on things that are of good repute and excellent.

I use this verse as a screen for what I see and hear. It is a wonderful test of what we should allow into our hearts.  Oh to be faithful to obey it at all times. Sadly, I must admit I don't. I wonder how much grief might be spared me if I were to hold fast to this verse and obey it totally.  I'm grateful my friend was able to take every thought obedient to Jesus Christ quite quickly. It saved her a lot of unnecessary pain. We need not be ostriches but the Scripture says to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Andy the Anole

A few months ago a good friend of mine rescued an anole. He looks kind of like a baby lizard about the size of a large gecko. I think he was six or seven inches from head to tail.  One of her dogs had gotten to him. His back was injured and he was in bad shape.  He had scrapes and cuts particularly on his thighs and calves (not sure that is reptile anatomy but you know what I mean). She thought his back might be broken. My friend is an animal lover and has volumes of experience with exotic animals. So she took him in to nurse him back to health. Enter Wendy the skeptic. Frankly I thought he would live maybe another week and then pass on to lizard heaven. 

My friend gave me periodic updates.  I was amazed. She kept him in a glass aquarium in her front bathroom.  The little guy kept getting better. As bad as his wounds were I could have sworn he was history.  My friend persevered. The scars on his legs started to heal as he shed his old skin and new skin grew.  He was able to scurry a bit in the bottom of the aquarium but his legs dragged greatly. Most of the work was done by his front legs.  Time passed. My friend persevered.  His back got stronger.  He could move his back legs. Then he could scramble on the side of the aquarium and his little toes held him secure momentarily. He never gave up and neither did she.  She continued to feed him whatever anoles eat.  This past week she let him go back to his natural habitat.  He had gotten healed enough that it was the only humane thing to do.  Under her loving and protective care he was ready to move out into life again.

I can relate to Andy.  The past months God has cared for me as I rebound from a hard place. He has kindly and mercifully ministered to me in ways that have brought some wholeness. There is more to do because sanctification is progressive. I am more confident in Him than I was a year ago.  I am better able to trust Him and His Word. I am prayerfully a lot more gentle and less self righteous. Hopefully I am less self centered, fearful and depressed. Yep I can relate to old Andy.  I am grateful for the Lord whose name is Jehovah Rapha--the God Who heals. I think Andy may be a wee bit grateful too.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

A while back I read about Jesus' cursing the fig tree in Mark 11.  The account of Jesus’ curse on the fig tree has baffled many for a long time. It’s the only destructive miracle of Christ’s recorded. It seems to make Jesus appear petulant and unreasonable.  After all it wasn’t the season for figs. Why did Jesus react as He did?
            Some think the answer lies in the cycle of the fig tree. In the spring the tree sends out little bud followed by the growth of leaves.  Travelers could pluck these buds and eat them. They didn’t develop fully until fall. So because the buds weren’t present in the spring Christ cursed the tree. Once again the Bible makes sense upon further reflection. Indeed there is a clearly defined fig tree season.  However a few rare species bear fruit outside the norm.  So the test wasn’t the time of year but the appearance of leaves. Thus when Jesus saw the tree in full bloom He rightly expected fruit. But there was none.
            Jesus, the prophet used the tree as an object lesson. He denounced the hypocrisy.  The leaves were in full bloom but there was no fruit.  Israel made a superficial profession of faith but they lacked genuine fruit. What a lesson for Christians today!  One of the top reasons the world rejects Christ is because of the hypocrisy of professing believers. To fail to live our faith is to fail the Savior. We will continue to sin after we are saved no question.  We must be open about that fact. We must make every effort to be holy and blameless among the watching world. We can remember that God loves His own and when we fail, even horrendously so, there is forgiveness from the Father when we repent. It is much better not to fall in the first place.