Why the End Times? (The Abrahamic Covenant part 2)

To understand why, and how the events of the last days will play out we need to go back to the beginning. Last post we briefly looked at the fall of man and the resulting consequences that followed. People were now looking for one to come and reverse the curse (see Genesis 5:28-29).

God had foretold of one who would come and restore all things, and now this was being put into place one piece at a time.

Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your fathers house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and  you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."

Genesis 12:1-3 NASB

God chose a man through whom he would bring the Messiah, the one who would reverse the curse and destroy the serpent. He called Abram out of his country, and away from his family to become a mighty nation in a land that he would give him and his descendants.

The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.

Genesis 12:7 NASB 

The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you forever. I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you."

Genesis 13:14-17 NASB

Now it needs to be mentioned that Abram, who was 75 when he departed from Haran, was childless. And Sarai, his wife, was barren. Imaging how Abram must have felt. A promise like this would be an incredible thing. 

In Genesis 15 we read of the actual covenant that the LORD made with Abram. The LORD took Abram outside and asked him to look at the stars and try to number them, and nd then told him that that was how numerous his descendants would be. Abram believed the LORD, and it was counted to him as righteousness (Gen 15:1-6).

The LORD had Abram bring a heifer, a female goat, a ram, and a turtle dove and pigeon. He cut the animals in half and laid them out opposit from each other. The birds he left whole. At sundown Abram fell into a deep sleep. Then what appeared as a smoking oven and flaming torch passed in between the animals (Gen 15:7-17).

In that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite."

Genesis 15:18-21 NASB 

This covenant was made by God, to Abram, without stipulations on Abram's part. The LORD Himself walked through the pieces of the slain animals in making this covenant. What He was signifying by this act was that if He did not indeed fulfill this covenant by giving this land to the descendants  of Abram as an eternal possession, then may what happened to these animals happen to Him. Bear in mind that Abram did not pass between these animals, he was in a deep slumber. God has pledged this land to Abram's descendants. This chapter alone absolutely refutes the idea of "replacement theology", the teaching that God has rejected Israel, and now these promises are symbolically applied to the Church. If this false teaching is true, then a major part of end times prophecy makes no sense at all, and leaves a huge portion of Christians in the dark on the topic of the last days.

In Chapter 17, Abram is now ninety-nine years old. The LORD appeared again to him and reaffirmed this covenant. Again, Abram, whose name has been changed to Abraham, is promised to become a mighty nation, and the land was promised to him and his descendants after him as an eternal possession. God would be their God, and they would be His people (Gen 17:1-8). 

It is also at this time God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, as the sign of the coven between them. Any disobedient male, refusing circumcision, among them would be cut off from his people for breaking the covenant (Gen 17:9-14). So, an individual may fail to remain within the covenant, but yet the promise still remained for the nation. This is a major theme, and has ramifications for what will transpire in the last days. I will go deeper into this in a post discussing the Mosaic covenant given at Mount Sinai.

We also read in this chapter that Sarai, Abraham's wife will bear a son whom they will name Issac. It will be through Him that the covenant made with Abraham will be passed down (Gen 17:25-21).

In Genesis 26:1-5 we now read of the covenant made with Abraham being passed down to his son Isaac. 

"Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham."

Genesis 26:3 NASB 

And from Issac we see the same covenant pass down to his son Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob had a dream. In it he saw a ladder reaching up to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it (Gen 28:10-12).

And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed."

Genesis 28:13-14 NASB 

As one reads through the Old Testament numerous references are made to God being faithful to the covenant made with Abraham and the fathers. God chose a people through whom a deliverer would come, fulfilling prophecy, destroying the serpent and reversing the curse. God has sworn an oath, and He will fulfill that oath. That plays a huge part in the events that unfold in the last days. 

It must also be mentioned that Abraham had other son's. In fact his eldest, Ishmael was sent away. The covenant was not to pass to him. And Jacob had a twin brother named Esau. The covenant went through Jacob and not Esau. Tragically Jacob relied on trickery to gain Isaac's blessing, and it created a rift that exists to this day. These two events play a significant part in what is to come in future days. 

These are topics for future posts as I lay out a case for the how and why the end time events will play out.

 

Coming Like a Thief

"But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will 

Matt 24:43-44 NASB

Jesus exhorts us to be alert and ready for His appearing. While it is true that we do not know the day or hour of His coming, this statement does not stand alone by itself. Jesus has just finished foretelling the signs and events leading up to His return, so we must take this passage as a whole. We have been given distinct things to watch for. His coming will be unexpected for many, but those who are awake and watching will be ready as they see the signs fulfilled.

Now as to the times and epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not if night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 NASB

In a similar fashion Paul admonishes his readers to be on the alert as well. While the return of Christ will be a sudden unexpected event for many, those who are alert and watching will not be caught unaware. 

We see two groups listed in this passage. Those who are of the light and day, and those who are of darkness and the night. From this we can see that the unsaved world will be taken by surprise when Jesus appears in judgement. They will not be ready, all of the signs of His soon appearance will go largely unoticed. Just like the people in the days of Noah were oblivious to what was about to occur, so too, those who are living in darkness will be caught by surprise.

Those who are of the light, the faithful, will be alert and ready. They will see the signs, and know that Christ is about to come. They will be ready to meet Him. 

So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

Revelation 3:3-4 NASB

 Revelation records for us many events and signs that will occur prior to the thief-like appearance of Jesus Christ. Their are seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls of judgement that all culminate together at the final moment when the sky splits and Christ returns in power and glory. The last warning we read in relation to His sudden appearance is found in the context of the gathering of the armies for the battle of Armageddon.

 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and it dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. ("Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, do that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.") And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon

Revelation 16:12-16 NASB

Any Christian alive at this point in history has lived through the most intense three and one half years of time. They have witnessed the signs that have occured over the previous seven years and are looking up because their redemption is drawing near. 

Take note of the fact that this is not an event that happens before the tribulation! Popular dispensational theology teaches that Jesus comes like a thief to gather the saints in a secret rapture, removing them from the earth before the tribulation begins. What we have just read contradicts this erroneous teaching. As the armies of the world are gathering for the final battle, the warning still stands. Jesus has not yet come like a thief, we must remain vigilant.

The rest of the world will be eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage. They have taken the mark. They can buy and sell. No one is persecuting them, in fact, they worship the beast that is persecuting Christians. They will cheer as the antichrist invades Israel. Yes, as these events all unfold they will be caught by surprise when Jesus unexpectedly appears. By the time dread overtakes them it will be too late.

"But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Luke 21:28 NASB

What things are Jesus referring to? The events leading up to His return. The things He has just mentioned in the previous verses (Luke 21:10-27).

"Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all  those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Luke 21:34-36 NASB

We must be prayerfully alert. Our strength comes from God. Many do not expect to see these days. They believe that they will be long gone, taken up when Jesus comes like a thief to rapture them. But here we see that we must have the strength to endure, to hold fast without giving in, as the events of the last days unfold around us. Our focus must be on Christ, we must look up expectantly, waiting for His sudden appearance. How tragic for one to be this close, only to give up under pressure.

Will We be Ready?

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the 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 stand before the Son of man.

                             Luke 21:34-36 KJV

Dark days are coming upon the earth. At some point in time, maybe sooner than we think, biblical prophecy will unfold, and the events of the final seven years of this age will occur. I believe multitudes of professing Christians will be caught by surprise. They will not be ready. 

I have noticed a lack of teaching on these subjects lately. I haven't heard any sermons geared towards preparing people for Earth's final days. These are things Christians are not talking about. One pastor that I recently had a casual conversation with admitted that he didn't know what he believed about the end times. He hadn't really looked into it. I have heard others share the same concerns. They have also noticed a strange silence in their churches as well. 

It's not as though there is a lack of end times information. Vast numbers of books have been written on the subject, the Internet is filled with videos and websites, some good, and others not so good. There are plenty of teachers out there promoting their version of how the last days will play out, and no doubt people are tuning in to see what they have to say. However, when I step into church, I'm not hearing conversations, I'm not hearing sermons, about world events that will someday be upon us.

 I believe we have been set up for failure. On the one hand there is the popular teaching that we will not be here when all hell breaks loose. The main thing is to make sure you are ready for the rapture. The rest, as concerns us as Christians, isn't anything that will affect us.

The other teaching, one, more common than I realized, is that there will be no actual end times tribulation. All of the last days events foretold in biblical prophecy are symbolic, an apocalyptic portrayal of the battle between good and evil. All we as Christians need to do is wait for Jesus to someday come. While persecution has been a real thing all along, an end times Antichrist orchestrating great tribulation is only symbolic. Again, why worry?

What if we are wrong? What if there is indeed a day coming when the events that so many  have spiritualized away into nothingness actually come to pass, and we as a Church are still here, contrary to popular belief?

I don't mean to offend anyone who may hold to any of these teachings. I understand that prophecy is not easy to understand, and a wide range of views are held by Christians throughout the world. I also understand that there are committed Christians who are looking into these things with the same interest and concern that I have. Therefore I am speaking in general terms when I voice my concerns. My intent is not to create heated debate between brothers and sisters, nor is it to belittle the beliefs of others. I write this out of a concern for the Church. I read the scriptures and see hard times coming, and a great falling away from the faith occuring at the same time. 

Speaking of the return of Christ to gather his elect, we read of a great falling away that will occur first, along with the revealing of the "Man of sin" who we know as the Antichrist (2 Thess 2:1-4). This passage that has commonly been used to teach a prettrib rapture event actually teaches quite the opposite. Before Jesus returns to gather His faithful, many professing Christianity, instead of being raptured, will actually apostasize from the faith. This verse is clear, Christians will see the revealing of the Antichrist, and many will not make it. This affirms the words of Jesus, who foretold that the "love of many will grow cold." He admonishes us that one must "endure to the end to be saved" (Matt 24:11-12).

This is what is so tragic. How can we be better prepared to face the future? And if we never live to experience these events, how can we ensure that the future generation who will, is adequately equipped to stand for Jesus during Earth's greatest trial?

I have a few thoughts that I will briefly share. I will put them down here, and perhaps go deeper into them in future posts. 

1. We must recapture the "Maranatha" cry.

The early Church looked for and longed for the return of Christ. It was not so much that they wanted to escape trials and trouble, but they had such an incredible love for Jesus Himself. I fear that many today have entrenched themselves into the affairs of this life. They have made a good life for themselves, and seek to keep up that standard. Like a child who spoils his appetite by eating a cookie before supper, many of us have got it so good here (at least here in America) that we no longer long for eternity with Jesus. We may give the idea of the return of Jesus some fleeting thoughts, but it is not a deep aching reality for a lot of us. We are too content here. At the close of his life the apostle Paul said this,

     Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:8 KJV).

Are we numbered with those who "eagerly await Him" (Hebrews 9:28)?

2. We must recover a theology of martyrdom and suffering.

The early Church suffered intense persecution, yet they turned their world upside down for the cause of Christ. To identify with Jesus, to be baptized into His death, took on a literal meaning for them. Countless others have paid the ultimate price for their devotion to Christ down through the centuries. Jesus Himself calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. To save our lives is to lose our lives, while to lose our lives for His sake and the gospel's is to save them in the end (Mark 8:34-35).

We live in a time where we consider it persecution when the cashier at Walmart won't wish us a Merry Christmas. How will we make it when this verse is a reality,

     And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death (Rev 12:11 KJV emphasis mine).

Martyrdom will be the primary way out of the great tribulation (see Rev 6:9-11, 7:9-17). Are we ready?

3. We need solid biblical teaching on the end times.

The Apostle Paul spent three weeks in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-4). During this time souls were saved and a Church was planted. Paul was forced to leave because of persecution. However, in that three week period this group of "baby" Christians were soundly taught enough to thrive in the midst of suffering themselves (1Thess 1:14). They were also taught about the last days (1Thess 5:1-11, 2 Thess 2:5). Can you imagine a class for new converts today, where the main topic is a deep dive into eschatology? Could it be that this enabled them to endure the suffering that they faced? 

Instead of running from prophecy because it is hard to understand, or scary to talk about, we must dig into it, learn it, and pass it on to others. The book of Revelation is perhaps the most misunderstood and therefore neglected book of the Bible. Yet we read this,

     Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near (Rev 1:3 NASB).

We need solid teaching based upon what the Bible actually says about the events surrounding the last days and the return of Christ. There is way more found throughout both Testaments than most of us realize. From the Prophets to Revelation an end times scenario unfolds. It is here that we learn why the events will unfold the way they do, who are the nations involved, where will the "Beast" come from, and at what point will Jesus return to establish His kingdom. 

There is a lot of prophecy teaching out there, some of it is sound, but so much of it is mere speculation. It must line up with the word of God. Beware of those who have to spiritualize things away to hold to a particular doctrine. Yes there are symbols found in prophecy, but these symbols represent real things. If something can be taken literally, then take it literally. Wading through so much of the stuff out there is like navigating a minefield. It will explode in the end, and take many adherents with it I'm afraid.

We are warned throughout scripture to avoid deception, especially as it concerns those who will go through the last days. We must know and understand the truth. There is no more time to remain ignorant of these things. The Church cannot afford to remain in the dark,

     But you brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober (1 Thess 5:4-6 NASB).

Paul wrote this to the Thessalonian Church. He knew that they had an understanding that went beyond a mere head knowledge, but had entered their hearts. Can we say the same today? 

There are many more things I could say here, but this must suffice for now. Perhaps, God willing, I can expand on this in future posts. There is a day coming when Jesus will return, but before He comes there will be tribulation. If we are the generation to see all of these things come to pass will we be ready?

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Part 8, God Vindicated).

29. But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

30. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;

31. (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

                   Deuteronomy 4:29-31KJV

God is a covenant keeping God. He swore an oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob concerning a piece of land that they and their descendants were to possess. The land was given to them with no strings attached. However, covenant obedience is required to remain in the land, as I wrote in my first post in this series. You can read it here.

This proves to be a dilemma of sorts. God is bound by a solemn oath made to the patriarchs, yet how can a nation expect blessing if they turn from Him? And so, He has warned them that if they are disobedient, they will be driven off the land, and scattered throughout the nations.

We encounter this in the affair of the golden calf. The LORD desired to destroy the people after they made a golden calf to worship. However, Moses stood in the gap on behalf of Israel. His plea was based upon two points.

1. What would the Egyptians think of God, who brought Israel out of the land of slavery with great power only to slay them in the desert ( Exodus 32:11-12).

2. Remember the covenant that you made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses tells the LORD that He swore by Himself that He would multiply them like the stars of heaven, and give them the land as an eternal inheritance (Exodus 32:13).

God relented and did not destroy them as a nation. Yet, about three thousand were killed that day on account of their sin. God is holy, and as such, He will not let sin go unpunished (Exodus 32:26-35).

This was the dilemma that Habakkuk faced. He understood that God was holy, and the rampant sin of the nation had to be punished. One gets the idea that God's honor is at stake if He just lets sin go. Yet when Habakkuk realizes that God's answer to Judah's sin is the Babylonian captivity, he struggles at first with the idea that a nation "more wicked than they were" could be used as a tool of divine judgement ( Habakkuk 1:1-17). Yet we see Habakkuk submit to God's sovereign will regardless of what may come. He understood that God's honor must be upheld no matter the cost (Habakkuk 3:16-19).

Daniel, in his intercession for his captive people, takes God's side against the nation (Daniel 9:4-29). He recognizes that they have sinned and deserve all of the evil that has befallen them. He recognizes the absolute justice in God's dealings with them, and can only plead for mercy. Again, he also recognizes that God's honor is at stake if Jerusalem as well as the people are not restored, as they are now a reproach before the nations in their desolation (Daniel 9:26).

And finally the apostle Paul agonized over the "scandal" of fallen Israel. The people who had been given the adoption, the glory, the covenants, and the law, the patriarchs, and ultimately Jesus Christ, had fallen into apostasy. Here in Romans 9-11 we read of his great burden over his lost brethren; of their partial hardening; the branches being broken off, yet when we reach the end of these chapters we see that the broken branches will be grafted back in, and all Israel will be saved. 

Paul makes it clear that it is Israel in question here. Many scholars throughout history have symbolized Israel or Jacob to refer to the "Church", and Zion to refer to heaven. This is inaccurate however. Throughout scripture, Israel refers to three things: Jacob, who is also known as Israel (Gen 32:28), the ethnic people of Israel, and the land of Israel. Zion is used biblically to refer to the land of Israel, and more specifically as a reference to a hill in Jerusalem, and  Jerusalem itself. When these terms get interchanged with the Church or heaven it becomes hard to make sense of a lot of prophecy. Promises made to, and events foretold pertaining to Israel are thought to belong to the Gentile Church, causing a lot of misunderstanding and confusion within the body of Christ.

Paul speaks of the great sorrow he feels for the lost condition of his brethren, the people of his own race (Romans 9:1-4). He has ethnic Israel in view in this treatise that covers the next several chapters. Many theologians use this section of Romans as a proof text for their views on election and predestination. However, they miss the point that God's corporate election of Israel is what is in view here. Ironically many who champion the doctrine of predestination replace Israel with the Church. This is not what Paul has in mind however.

He asks the rhetorical question, "Has God cast away His people?" To which he immediately answers, "God forbid. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew." (Romans 11:1-2).

He goes on to state that he himself is an example of God's grace, and even now there is an election of grace. In other words there are Jews being saved even up to the present time. Yet scripture is not content with a few saved here and there, but looks forward to the day when Israel as a nation has a day of national repentance as they "look upon Him whom they pierced" (see Zechariah 12:10-13:1).

Paul asks another rhetorical question, "Have they stumbled so that they should fall?" And the answer is once again, "God forbid" (Romans 11:11).

Through their fall, salvation has come to the Gentiles, but God is not done with Israel. They are referred to as branches that are broken off because of unbelief, but yet if they turn from their unbelief God is able to graft them back into the root again (Romans 11:16-24).

25. For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery - so that you will not be wise in your own estimation- that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 

26. and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

   "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB."

27. "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."

28. From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;

29. for the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.

                      Romans 11:25-29 NASB

Paul refers to this as a mystery, yet something that we must, and can understand. As I wrote previously, we are now living in what is commonly called the Church age. For almost two thousand years now the majority of individuals who follow Christ have been Gentiles. However, we read here that at a certain point in time, that will be it. Then Corporate Israel, as a nation, will be saved. The blinders will come off, and they will recognize Jesus as their Messiah and turn to Him in repentance. Notice here that one of the purpose statements in Daniel's prophecy is mentioned: to make an end of sin. 

We read this in Isaiah 59:20-21,

"A redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declares the LORD 

"As for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring," says the LORD, "From now and forever."

This is the entry of Israel as a nation into the new covenant. The Spirit has been poured out upon them never to depart again. In Jeremiah 31:31-37 we read of this covenant initially made with the whole house of Israel. The day would come when they enter into it and receive the Spirit of the LORD to enable them to walk in obedience to Him. In language that holds God to deliver this nation as His people forever, we read that only if the fixed order of the sun, moon, and stars cease, and the heavens above, and the depths of the earth below can be measured, will Israel cease to be a nation before Him. Then and only then will He cast all of them off for what they have done (see Jeremiah 31:35-37).

As I have stated before, if God cannot fulfill His word concerning the salvation of Israel, and their permanent dwelling in the land promised to their forefathers, can we be sure of our salvation? I don't mean to be flippant here at all. God, who cannot lie, has made some promises concerning Israel. As a holy and trustworthy God, He must, and will fulfill His word.

The Bible is filled with these promises of restoration. I always say "By the mouth of two or three witnesses let a matter be established." 

God will act to vindicate the holiness of His great name. We read in Ezekiel,

22. "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the LORD GOD, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.

23. " I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD," declares the LORD GOD, "When I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.

24. "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.

25. "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from your idols.

Ok

26. "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

28. "You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God."

                         Ezekiel 36:22-28 NASB

 Notice the language of the new covenant in this passage of Scripture. The new heart and spirit; God's Spirit living within, causing obedience to His laws. Notice how this ties in with the land. Now walking within covenant faithfulness to God, they return to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The great "scandal" is over. God has been vindicated in the sight of the nations. On the one hand, he did not totally destroy a nation as Moses feared would happen when they made the golden calf. He was concerned that the Egyptians would take notice that God brought a people out of bondage only to destroy them in the wilderness. And God was true to His covenant promise concerning Israel's status as His people, and their right to dwell permanently in their land. Any controversy over the land of Israel will be ended in that day. 

They will live in the land forever, and not only that, but the LORD Himself will live in their midst, vindicated in the sight of all the nations.

25. "They will live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons and their sons' sons, forever; and David My servant will be their prince forever.

26. "I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever.

27. "My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.

28. "And the nations will know that am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever."

                          Ezekiel 37:25-28 NASB

All of these passages that I have quoted are all speaking of prophetic events yet to come. While on the one hand the new covenant was inaugurated by Jesus during His last passover supper the night before His arrest and crucifixion, corporate Israel has not entered into it yet. As Paul stated in the above passage, a partial hardening is now in effect until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. To be sure, there have been many Jews saved throughout history, even many now today, but their day of national salvation is yet to come. 

Ezekiel 38 -39 describe the invasion of a Middle Eastern and North African coalition led by an individual referred to as "Gog." This is the Antichrist's invasion of Israel three and one half years into a covenant he has confirmed with many ( Daniel 9:27). After a time of intense tribulation, this individual is destroyed at what is referred to as the battle of Armageddon. This is the context of Ezekiel 39 where we read this,

21. "And I will set My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgement which I have executed and My hand which I have laid on them.

22. "And the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God from that day onward 

23. "The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity because they acted treacherously against Me, and I hid My face from them; so I gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and all of them fell by the sword.

24. "According to their uncleaness and according to their transgressions I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them."

25. Therefore thus says the LORD GOD, "Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name.

26. "They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid.

27. "When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations.

28. "Then they will know that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer.

29. "I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel," declares the LORD GOD."

                          Ezekiel 39:22-29 NASB

At this present time Israel is living in the land given them by God. After nearly two thousand years they returned from the nations where they had been scattered by the Romans in 70 AD, and then again in 135 AD. But it is obvious that they are not living securely in the land at this time in history. Ezekiel 38:8-12 mentions a period of time when Israel will live in security without walls or gates. You can't say that is true right now. This initial security that leaves them "defenseless" is a result of a covenant that is broken by the Antichrist whose armies cover the land like a cloud  (Ezekiel 38:16). So there is one more great scattering to come before Israel's final restoration. The passage quoted above refers to the peace and security that Israel finally receives after the destruction of the "beast." There will be one final regathering of the nation back to their own land. This time the nation is turned back to the Lord their God. They have looked upon the one they have pierced and mourned for Him. They have had their national day of atonement, and have made their peace with God (Zechariah 12:1-14). A fountain of cleansing has been opened up for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Zechariah 13:1), and the iniquity of the land has been removed in one day (Zechariah 3:8-9). They have experienced the new birth, the receiving of a new heart and Spirit.

As Gentile believers, we have had access to that very same fountain of cleansing by the offering of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins. However, this verse makes it very specific in its application to ethnic Israel. We must not make it symbolic and therefore confuse the meaning. Once again, Israel means Israel; Jerusalem means Jerusalem, and here the house of David is referring to corporate Israel, and not the predominantly Gentile Church. There are many who get this wrong. Again as Paul admonishes in Romans 11:25, "I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery-so that you will not be wise in your own estimation- that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in..."

"Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God. 

"Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins."

                                         Isaiah 40:1-2

We read in Isaiah 60:1-22 of a glorious time yet to come when Jesus will reign from Jerusalem,

1. "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 

2. "For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and his glory will appear upon you.

3. "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."

                              Isaiah 60:1-3 NASB

This will be the ultimate security. The world will experience peace; the wolf will lay down with the lamb as nations beat their swords into pruning shears (Isaiah 2:4-1-5, 11:6-10). 

The ultimate answer to the anguished pleading of Daniel can be summed up in Isaiah 60:18-22,

18. "Violence wii not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.

19. "No longer will you have the sun for light by day, nor for brightness will the moon give you light; but you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, and your God for your glory.

20. "Your sun will no longer set, nor will your moon wane; for you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be over.

21. "Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified.

22. "The smallest one will become a clan, and the least one a mighty nation. I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time."

Here we find the fulfillment of Daniel's seventy week prophecy. It covers the rebuilding of Jerusalem in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, the arrival of the Messiah and His crucifixion, a long period of wars and desolations up to to the present time. We are now waiting for a covenant that perhaps recognizes Israel's right to live in their land, and allowing them to build a temple and begin the daily sacrifice. This is something that has not occured since 70 AD. Then comes the abomination of desolation which begins a time of tribulation unlike anything that has ever happened before. This will lead up to the return of Christ, the salvation of Israel as a nation, their regathering to the land of promise, and usher in the final Jubilee, as we enter the millenial age. 

  

Solar Eclipse 2024: Should We Be Concerned?

There has been a lot of talk recently about the solar eclipse that is to occur on April 8, 2024. A lot of people are looking at this as a prophetic sign of the end. In fact, the Internet is buzzing with people claiming prophetic insight into this event. Are they right, should we be concerned about this coming event? 

My short answer is no. What is coming is a scientifically predicted eclipse, just like a host of eclipses that have happened in the past. I remember the "prophetic" world was ready for the end in 2017 when that eclipse was in the forecast.

But what about the signs in the heavens that Jesus mentions? Isn't this that?

Let's look at the passages found throughout the Bible that mention these cosmic signs that will precede the day of the Lord.

Surprisingly these events are mentioned quite often. By comparing these passages we can determine what signs we should be looking for, and when we should expect to see them.

Isaiah has this to say about the coming day of the LORD,

Behold the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

                        Isaiah 13:9-10, 13  KJV

And the prophet Joel says this concerning the day of the LORD,

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it.

                               Joel 2:10-11 KJV

And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

                                 Joel 2:30-32 KJV

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 

The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

                               Joel 3:14-16 KJV

I have just quoted several Old Testament passages that all refer to this same event. We have the cosmic signs, the sun is darkened, the moon turning to blood, and the stars not shining. All of this is happening before the Lord's coming in wrath to destroy the wicked, and to deliver His people.

You may still be thinking that this sounds a lot like a major eclipse. One could make this assumption I suppose, but as I previously stated, eclipses have occurred in the past, and they have had no real significance spiritually speaking.

The New Testament also contains references to these same verses we have just looked at. In these passages we begin to see a timeline that will show us what kind of heavenly signs  we should be looking for.

In the gospels, Jesus references these same apocalyptic signs that we have seen in Isaiah and Joel. But He gives us time markers that should eliminate our speculation. In Matthew 24:29-31 we read,

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Notice that these signs in the heavens that precede the second coming of Jesus follow a time of tribulation. Go back a few verses and see the timeline that Jesus sets forth. The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet kicks off the great tribulation. This will be a time unlike anything the world has ever seen up until this point. (Matt 24:15-21, Daniel 8:9-12, 9:27, 11:31, 12:1).

A man who the Bible refers to as the Antichrist will invade Jerusalem, pollute the temple, and attempt to annihilate the Jews. Yes, Christians will be persecuted mercilessly at this time as well. This time of trouble preceeds the darkening of the sun and moon according to Jesus. He will not return until the end of this period of time.

Just think for a moment and walk this back a bit. In order for the abomination of desolation to be placed, and the sacrifices ended, a temple must exist in Jerusalem, and sacrifices have to be started. We don't see this today, so any eclipse or "harvest" moon cannot be a sign of the imminent return of Christ at this point in time.

One individual made a video where he quoted Luke 21:25-26. He mentioned the signs in the heavens and made a point to show that the nations today are indeed in distress. But look at the previous verse, (Luke 21:24), the time of the great tribulation, also referred to here as the time of the Gentiles. This is why the nations are in distress. All of the events of the final 42 months of this present world's existence are happening.These things must come first. On April 8, we might see an eclipse, but no second coming will occur yet.

In Revelation we see these signs mentioned again.

And I beheld when he opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became  black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains

And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

                      Revelation 6:12-17 KJV

Just as we saw in Matthew 24, the events of the sixth seal are late into the final seven years of this present world. Five seals have already been opened. By this point we have experienced the false peace initiated by the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27),  followed by believe it or not, wars and rumors of war (Rev 6:3-4, Matt 24:6-7, Isaiah 28:1-4, Daniel 11:23-30), famine (Rev 6:5-6, Matt 24:7), and the breaking of this seven year covenant paving the way for the great tribulation. The Antichrist has taken his seat in the temple and made himself out to be god (Daniel 11:36, 2 Thess 2:3-4), Christians have been martyred in unheard of numbers for almost three and one half years by this point (Rev 6:9-11), and Jerusalem has been utterly ravaged (Zech 14:1-2). None of these things have occured as of yet. 

The final seven year period before the return of Christ is described in the book of Revelation through the opening of seven seals, the blowing of seven trumpets, and the emptying of seven bowls of wrath. These events are happening concurrently, and terminate at the same point, the return of Christ on the day of the LORD. Here are a few more things that the world will see and experience before the return of Christ takes place.

When the first trumpet is blown hail and fire mixed with blood is cast to the earth, causing a third of the trees and all the green grass to be burned up (Rev 8:7).

At the second trumpet something like a great burning mountain is cast into the sea, turning a third of the sea into blood (Rev 8:9). This is similar to what we read in Revelation 16:3-6, where the second bowl of judgement is poured out upon the sea, and the third bowl is emptied upon the rivers, turning them into blood.

At the blowing of the fourth trumpet a third part of the sun is struck, a third part of the moon, and a third of the stars. This causes a dimness of these heavenly bodies, shortening the days to an eight hour period of light during the daytime, and likewise at night. It is my belief, although I am not dogmatic, that this occurs somewhere near the middle of the final seven year period, perhaps coinciding with the revealing of the Antichrist as he places the abomination of desolation. Imagine living in a time when the sun is dimmed that much, especially if it stays that way for any length of time. 

At some point near the end, another bowl of wrath, the fourth one is poured out upon the sun. The resulting heat scorches men, who blaspheme God in their misery ( Rev 16:9). This is followed by the fifth bowl which, when emptied, plunges the kingdom of the beast into darkness (Rev 16:10).

The sixth bowl is a lead up to the battle of Armageddon, as the nations are being deceived, and gathered unto the great day of God Almighty (Rev 16:12-14). This is extremely late in time, the seals, trumpets and bowls are progressing swiftly to the end. It is at this point that Jesus interjects and says,

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

                      Revelation 16:15 KJV

Now the nations are gathered together at Armageddon and the seventh bowl is poured out into the air, a voice cries out it is finished. There is a great earthquake, the islands flee away and the mountains disappear, and the biggest hailstorm in history falls on mankind (Rev 16:16-21).

Likewise, in Revelation 11:13-19 we read of the same events at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Hail, a great earthquake, and the kingdoms of the world becoming the kingdoms of Christ. This is the day of the LORD, the thief like coming of Jesus Christ (1 Thess 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10). It does not happen secretly at some earlier point in time, no, it is a highly visible cataclysmic event preceeded by major events that will be obvious to all.

I mention a lot in this short post to try to show that we must be diligent to try everything by the word of God. Not every "blood moon," is a sign of the times, and likewise not every solar eclipse is forewarning of Christ's return. Much has to happen, and will happen before that day comes. If you are alert you can't miss it. Paul tells us that we as Christians don't belong to the night, we can and should be aware of what is coming so that we are not taken by surprise. The world at large will be deceived and caught unaware when these things begin to happen (1 Thess 5:1-8, Luke 21:34-36).

If talk of next week's eclipse has caused anyone concern about the last days, I urge you to examine yourself and be sure you are right with God. While events like this come and go with no major repercussions, the time will come when the real thing begins to unfold. Make sure you are ready.

The Eschatological Focus of the Church.

I listened to a message given by Art Katz the other morning. It really challenged me to look at my life and what I was living for. In this message Art defined an apostolic Church as one that lives with the end in focus. This gives it a sense of urgency. All of it's efforts are ultimately aimed towards the return of Jesus and His coming kingdom. Like I said, it was challenging to say the least. We say "Lord, Lord," but is He really our Lord? So in turn, I would like to share some thoughts of my own.

It doesn't take long in reading through the New Testament to realize that the early Christians were looking towards the goal. They had their eyes on the end, the return of Christ and the coming of His kingdom, when all things would be made new. 

I think it would be good for us to spend time in the word of God, looking at these things, and allowing the Holy Spirit to challenge us to move up. It can be easy to drift into the every day routine. Many of us spend the week pursuing our careers, hobbies, college educations, and so on, yet faithfully attending church on Sunday. We devote the majority of our lives to temporary pursuits; our focus is in the wrong place.

I understand we have to provide for our families, and work is part of that process. However, there is a point when our focus changes from the eternal, from what is unseen, to that which is temporary in the here and now (2 Cor 4:18).

This is something that by God's grace we must all work out. Jesus tells us not to worry about the essentials of life. Instead, we are to make His kingdom and righteousness our life's ambition, and the things we truly need will be provided us (Matt 6:25-34).

Jesus is showing us where are hearts are at. If we are consumed by life's affairs, that is what we treasure, and that is what has captured our hearts. In the context of His second coming, Jesus warns us not to be weighed down with the worries of life. That day will come upon those who are like a trap (Luke 21:34).

The early Church lived as strangers in this world. They understood that this life with all of its pain and sorrow was only temporary. They looked towards the day when there would be no more pain, no more death,and the curse would be reversed. They understood that God would dwell among them and make all things new ( Rev 21:3-5, 22:3-5). Don't get me wrong, good times can be a blessing, but with the good comes the very real possibility of losing our focus, and slipping into complacency. The danger is real, prosperity breeds self sufficiency, and our focus settles on the comforts of the here and now.

They were citizens of heaven, and as such they eagerly awaited the Savior who would come to bring the final redemption of their bodies, transforming them into His likeness (Philippians 3:20-21, Hebrews 9:28). 

Jesus is coming for those who are eagerly awaiting Him, who love His appearing ( 2 Timothy 4:8). Can we truthfully say we long for His coming? Or are we comfortable and happy with how things are? Of course we might give a mental assent to the fact that someday Jesus will return, but hopefully not now. Understand, I'm not intending to be harsh, but I want to challenge each one of us, myself included, to place our focus where it really belongs.

The fact of Jesus' second coming challenged the first Christians to live in anticipation, to be ready to see Jesus face to face. There was work to be done, and the fact that this world as it is, is only temporary, spured them on. Paul in describing the resurrection of the dead, and the transformation of the saints at the return of Christ, exhorted the Corinthian believers to be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Likewise, Peter

Instructed his readers, in light of the end, to eagerly look for the coming day of God. This day will bring about the destruction of this temporal world with all of its sin. But, out of the ashes so to speak, a new heavens and earth where righteousness dwells is coming. So if this is true, how should we live today? If this is a reality in our hearts, we should live holy lives so that when Jesus comes He will find us spotless and at peace (2 Peter 3:10-14). John states that when Christ returns we will be like Him. In the meantime, those who have this hope fixed upon Jesus will purify themselves, just as He is pure (1John 3:2-3). Is this how we are occupying our time?

Again, I only desire to challenge us to examine our hearts, to determine what we are really living for. Our we happy and content with our temporal pursuits? Do our careers or plans consume our lives, leaving very little room for Jesus and His kingdom? Or are we living with a focus on the goal. The end of the temporary, and the ushering in of the eternal?