Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I think we have forgotten a spiritual war is being waged, Eph_6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
It is being fought above us and our fleshly weapons can’t intervene in that war. And when I say above us, I mean the spirit of anti-christ is already at work in people in high places around the world. We are caught in this war, and it affects us. We know the outcome from the Word of God. We can read the end from Revelation 19 and following chapters.
But what about the believer [us] in the pretribulation days? We are facing the rapture of the church. The church is the Body of Christ. The rapture and the tribulation are inevitable on God ‘s timetable. Our victory is won or lost in the mind, 2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
The Word of God says, Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
The true study of prophecy does bring us face to face with Christ. Seeing Christ in the light of scripture effect a change in the life of the believer, Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
To worship God is synonymous with worshipping Christ, the throne of One is the throne of the Other but yet here there is reference to the One sitting on the throne. And I see that like Titus 1:2, 2Timothy 1:9 and John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Things are happening in the World that point to the Tribulation
What would cause nations to come against Israel? Answer: Hatred toward the Jewish people and the wealth of the Nation Israel.
1] The value of the minerals in the dead sea was 4 trillion to 5 trillion in 1925-1929, see daily post
2] 2010 huge deposits of Natural Gas were discovered along Israel’s northern coastline
Huge oil discovery on Golan Heights, 2015. On 25 March 2019, then- President of the United States Donald Trump proclaimed the recognition by the United States of the Golan Heights as part of the State of Israel, making the United States the first country to recognize Israeli rather than Syrian sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Israel is the only nation that were expelled from their homeland but yet remained a nation! From A.D. 70 Israel, the Jews, were scattered in many nations until1948 but they never lost their I.D. Approx 2, 000 years later they are returning to the same land where they were dispossessed
The first half of the tribulation will not be a time of lasting peace
1Please understand that the finishing of the second woe and sixth trumpet judgment occur at the middle of the seven-year tribulation. Half of the world’s population will be dead by the end of the sixth trumpet judgment and the first half of the tribulation period. There will not be a lasting peace in the first half of the tribulation period. The tribulation starts with a peace treaty, but Paul says, “When they say peace and safety, sudden destruction cometh upon them” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
In Revelation eight there are seven trumpets to sound, 8:1-12. In v12 four trumpets had sounded. The remaining trumpets are called woe trumpets V13 , And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
The fifth trumpet is the first woe [trumpet] 9:1-12. The sixth trumpet is the second woe, 9:13 –21. And that I believe brings you to the mid-point of the tribulation. But chapter 10 does not give the seventh trumpet or the third woe. Rev. 11:14 [The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.] picks up the order through V19.
This speaks of the midpoint of the Tribulation, there appeared a great sign in heaven, Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: Rev 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. Rev 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. Rev 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [Duet.32:11]
When did this sign appear? Answer: 9/23/2017, [Seven Major End Time Signs, by Jimmy Evans, Tipping Point ministry]
This war in heaven, Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Until this war the devil had access to heaven, and to God, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
So, you can see even with the peace treaty, which starts the tribulation there is no peace, Rev. 6:1-2, And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. I do not think you will see a literal white horse. It is symbolic. White is the color in order to deceive, to disguise his real agenda,
Rev 6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. Rev 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. It brings war, internal strife, and social strife and international strife. They kill one another. By the end of the first half of the Tribulation half of the world’s population is killed. [pick up here next week]
So, we are living in the last days of the end time. [[Remember this age ends with the rapture] And we are looking for the S.C. of Christ in the air, the rapture. It is a sign less event, 1 Thes. 4:13-17, But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Remember in these Last Days before the Rapture. Spend less time listening to preachers and more time reading the Bible and praying. It is your faith that counts, and you have access to Him in prayer.
1] Our Lord watches over His creation. There is no need for climate change laws. His laws are exact, Psa_19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
He watches over His land. It is all His land. The only land that He gave to anyone is to the Nation of Israel. And so, who are we to tell His people to give up their land. The Jew is the only one who owns land. They have the deed from CREATOR. He watches over His people. A people who He brough forth, Gen 12:1 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: Gen 12:2 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: Gen 12:3 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.
[Just as a side note, Shem was born 100 years (or 98 years) before the flood and lived for 600 years so that he lived for 500 years after the flood. Abraham was born 352 years after the flood so that Shem died when Abraham was about either 148 or 150. - Lamach was 58 years old when Adam died.] [this information regarding Adam and the times of Noah unto Jacob came down all the way to Jacob who passed the information on to his 12 sons.....who founded the 12 tribes of Israel. Firsthand knowledge].
2] He is inescapable, Psalm 139:1-18, i.e. 7-8, Psa 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? Psa 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
At every turn of your life, He is there. There is no sin that can separate you from Him for it is His blood that washed from our sins, Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
There is no sin of the past, present or future that is not included in Christ’s death, 1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
3] He is indescribable, Joh 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. There could be no salvation for sinful humans unless God provided a perfect Savior. There could be no perfect Savior unless God Himself became a man, which He did. Jesus said, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Jesus is God in the form of man. It was as the Son of Man that Jesus became the Messiah,
It was the Son of God, The Son of Man that was born of the virgin Mary. It was the Son of Man, God made like unto us that taste death for you and me, Heb_2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. And 2:14 –16 Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
That is the meaning of Abraham’s word to Isaac in Gen 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? Gen 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Jesus is the Father’s sacrifice for us. John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He gave Jesus for us but He gave Jesus to Himself as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the World. And Jesus as the Lamb of God that took away the sin of the World said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
What is the characteristic of the believer in these last days? If our LORD is waiting in the last days as 2Peter 3:9 says, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. May we have the same longsuffering in our lives not willing that any should perish.
The Father wants us to pray. The Father answers prayer. You can pray, Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Sometimes I feel like I did not say what my heart was asking but the Holy Spirit presented my need to the Father.
Because Jesus has entered Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. So can we enter in the presence of the LORD: spend time in prayer!
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