Edition 422: June 19^th 2018

The uniqueness of prophecy:

Introduction:

Bible prophecy is supernatural in origin. It is from God Himself and always has the secondary effect of proving the veracity of scripture and the Lordship of Messiah. Bible prophecy is unashamed and unapologetic, speaking God’s truth into time and eternity. In fact, our God laughs at, and scorns those that come against His word, and sings with His saints!!

We are in a most critical time right now.

The Mystery of prophecy:

Isaiah 46:9-10 “I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand and I will do it.’”

Isaiah 42:9 “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

The predictive power in Bible prophecy is supernatural and unique, it is therefore quite mysterious. It has a 100% accuracy record of fulfilment. But like all biblical mysteries, many people can’t understand it at all. Others are totally ignorant of its existence.

Prophecy is exclusive. The understanding of it is only for those who meet the conditions. Just like the understanding of all scripture, there is only one way to safely receive it and that is through humility. Pride is always a source of spiritual blindness.

Psalm 40:4 “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord His trust, and does not respect the proud.”

If you respect the proud, you are inviting that evil spirit into your life, and are affirming it.

Job 41:34 “He (Satan) beholds every high thing. He is king over all the children of pride.”

A major characteristic of these end-times is pride in ministries. This is especially true amongst those who deal with prophecy and biblical revelation. Spiritual pride is like wizardry and witchcraft disguised as the real deal.

There is an anointing of hell on a growing number of ministries.

But there are always giveaway signs, of the false teachers, to those who know where to look.

There are a growing number of ministries who call themselves watchmen and who deal with prophecy, who are to be avoided like the plague. They are of a false spirit of error. They are full of pride. They are being used to sidetrack you and get you shipwrecked.

They are damaging Bible prophecy in the eyes of many. We must be vigilant now.

Colossians 2:18 “Let no one defraud you of your reward.”

This warning above would not be there if it were not possible.

John 8:47 “He who is of God hears God’s words; you do not hear because you are not of God.”

Some do not have eyes to see and ears to hear. (John 8:43-44) They don’t understand because they can’t hear God’s voice, so in their pride, they speak their own mind all the time.

We need the enlightenment of the Spirit to turn dead letters on a page into living truth, with His light to give us sight.

Isaiah 50:4 “...The Lord awakens my ear to hear as the learned.”

This verse below is one of my favourites:

Job 42:5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my (spiritual) eye sees You. Therefore, I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

Genuine spiritual revelation will always knock you off your throne before God.

Enlivened, enlightened Bible prophecy is light for our path in this dark wilderness-world.

I recall once being way out in the wilds in an old game reserve Land Rover with no lights. We got back to camp in the dark, after hitting a few trees on the way. O...the need of light!

Have a look at these three verses below and note the words in bold:

Jeremiah 8:6-7 “They did not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his own course...My people do not know the judgement of the Lord...”

Ephesians 2:2 “You once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan)...”

Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy...”

This is the tragedy of blind modern man with no biblical, prophetic light or sight! He is on his own course, which is the course of the world – heading for hell. He cannot see coming judgement.

Thank our Lord, that He shows us the path of life. And His prophetic word is a search light mounted on the 4x4 in the dark.

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.”

It is unique!

God is the architect of the ages. It is revealed in His incredible blueprint in a clear, literal manner. There is no greater body of scripture given to prophecy. It is the only doctrine of Messiah for which a special reward is given. It is for those that “look for His coming.” (2 Timothy 4:8)

The Revelation of Messiah is the only book in the Bible for which a special double blessing is promised to those who read it. (Revelation 1:3)

The fruits of Bible prophecy in the light of the Spirit are: Understanding of the times. ●Revelation knowledge of God’s plans. ●God-given discernment and wisdom. ●Effective warfare against error. ● Inner peace and rest even in a world of turmoil. ●Great excitement, hope, and encouragement. ●Purpose and meaning to life. ●Eternal rewards to come.

The fruits of the allegorical methods of interpretation are: Inconsistency, subservience to church doctrines, legalism, and a big mess!

If you deny or change Bible prophecy, ignorance of the coming turmoil will subject you to it! Say hello to great stress – your great friend. It will stick to you like a leech.

Prophecy makes you pure, holy and wise:

Prophecy is miraculous. It cleans you up. “When He is revealed, we will be like Him. Those who have this hope in them, purify themselves.” (1 John 3:2-3)

The word “pure” above, comes from a root word, (Strong’s G1506) meaning “purified by the light of the sun.” An additional use of the word (G53) means innocent, faultless or perfect.

This is closely linked with the word, “Holy” which means, “apart” and “separate”.

Without a Spirit-led understanding of prophecy in your life, you are like a grounded eagle. That’s a sad sight, which I have personally witnessed a few times. The eagle is designed and built excellently to fly high above the earth, but a broken wing can lead to its death for lack of food.

Isaiah 40:31 “Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength and mount up with wings like eagles...”

The word “renew” here actually means “exchange.” We will exchange our strength for His.

The nuts and bolts of prophecy:

Bible prophecy was predicative of many events in the past. It is predictive of current events, and it is predictive for future events. It has never failed. It can and must be trusted. If you don’t believe it, it is only you who will be damaged. Prophecy will continue with or without you!

Joshua 21:43-45 “The Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers...The Lord gave them rest...Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.”

Bible prophecy can apply to one single event or to a few. For example, some prophecies relating to Israel can apply to the church also. Most times they only apply to Israel itself. You need to be led by the Spirit to know the difference.

For example, Isaiah 66:8 speaks prophetically of a nation which is to be born in a day. That relates only to Israel and NOT the church, or new-birth or any such thing. The key is in the surrounding verses, which most people are too slobbish to read for themselves, so they just believe the philosophy of replacement theology, claiming that this is for the church.

The surrounding verses speak of events in Jerusalem, which is never the church – ever!

The interpretation of the verse below relates it to Israel. But this can also be a prophecy with a double reference, applying to you and me.

Psalm 40:2-3 “He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth – Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.”

Prophecy reveals the goodness and severity of God! It elevates and glorifies our God. It is not to be underestimated, trivialised or chopped and changed. Bible prophecy confirms all other doctrines of the Bible in various ways.

For example, the Bible identifies what sin is. Prophecy shows its ultimate demise in detail.

Rejecting prophecy is playing with danger! But playing with danger when your odds of being destroyed, are 100%, is not very clever!

Prophecy and nature:

One of the things I absolutely love about prophecy is that it deals with nature itself in amazing detail.

The Bible speaks of a revolution taking place in the deserts of Israel in anticipation of the return of the Jews and their coming mass-salvation. Here it is:

Isaiah 35:1-2 “The wilderness and the desert shall be glad for them (Israel) and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as a rose; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with singing.”

But there is more! The Bible speaks prophetically of all creation stirring in anticipation of the revealing of the sons of God to the world after the tribulation. Here it is:

Romans 8:19-21 “The earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God...The creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption (curse) into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

However, there will be a short time – seven years, in which nature itself will become a supernaturally charged weapon, causing great destruction on the fallen world. This wrath of nature will in effect be its final act of vengeance for man’s cruelty to animals and disregard for creation!

Nature in heaven and eternity will be glorious, beyond our wildest imagination.

Lift up your hope:

We as believers talk as if the God and King of the entire universe, and every little atom, is our own father – and so He is. How great is that? Yet unbelievers with zero prophetic insight also use His name a lot, but always in vain and blasphemy!

We speak with great admiration and love, for One whom we have never seen – yet! But through prophecy we know Him well.

When we have a true vision of God, in His own light, it produces a falling from your self-made throne. Isaiah saw God and said – “Woe is me, for I am undone!” (Isaiah 6:5)

Daniel 10:8 “I was alone when I saw this great vision (of the Lord) and no strength remained in me; for my vigour (Lit=splendour) was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength.”

But, from that valuable fall, we arise a new person.

The world-system is a facade, just like a movie set – it has nothing behind it but a few props. The world’s facade is propped up by evil minds and spirits. But God’s structures are secure, solid, substantial, and of incredible value.

You are a diamond in the dirt and that’s your face shining in it! Look closely, do you see your face?

Real beauty and value is seen in a diamond after it has been cut and polished. Before, the value is there, but it is embryonic and latent. Hard instruments are needed to get that value and beauty out. Don’t neglect the “hard sayings” of the Bible.

We are made of the dust of the earth, with cursed muddy blood in our veins. But through the new-birth we have been re-made with spiritual material of the highest value imaginable.

It is the work of the Spirit of God using the hard instrument of the cross to turn dust to a spiritual diamond of great value.

The godly see beauty and potential beauty all around them in the midst of the world’s dirt.

The godly see their coming glory, if only through the eyes of faith.

Prophecy and Israel:

Israel has been a lost diamond in the dirt, but now it is beginning to be found. Soon that glittering diamond will fill the earth with the glory of God. We, the church are diamonds already found.

Jeremiah 33:6 “...I will reveal to them (Israel) the abundance of peace and truth.”

Please note that real peace comes with truth.

When the Lord is preparing to do a mighty work, He reveals it to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7). When He is ready to act He reveals His work to His watchmen.

Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man (Ezekiel), I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning for Me.” (This is the call of this ministry.)

Many, when they find out about the real place of Israel in Bible prophecy, are shocked at how far off they have been. Some dig their heels in and others change fast. In fact, many have been saved by simply seeing this amazing prophetic picture.

Zechariah 8:3 “I, the Lord will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. It shall be called the City of Truth, the Mountain of the Lord of hosts, The Holy Mountain.”

Considering this beautiful, and shocking verse above, do you see why Islam, the Palestinians or the nations can not have any part of Jerusalem?

Prophecy is very bad news and very good news!

Isaiah 21:11-12 “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, ‘the morning comes and also the night...’”

Beloved brethren, please take note of this verse above. Yes, a deep, dark night is coming. But so is the morning, and then the day! Bible prophecy, rightly divided and applied, speaks of both! The watchman that sees only the night is not to be trusted. Nor is the one who sees only good things!

Everything is not getting darker! The things of the world are, but there are many who are awake to the rising dawn.

I have spent many thrilling nights in the deserts of Southern Africa. There is nothing to beat the orange glow of dawn as it destroys a Kalahari Desert night!

The Kingdom of light is getting brighter. The kingdom of the world is about to go into a dark, gloomy, stormy night of unimaginable proportions.

The unsaved of the world are the real riders of the storm in the night, with a bad moon rising!

Isaiah 60:1-3 “Arise shine; for your light (Israel) has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Behold, darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light and kings to your rising.”

Daniel 12:1-3 “There shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. At that time your people shall be delivered...those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever.”

Some shocks in prophecy:

Prophecy reveals: ●Heaven is real. ●Hell is real. ●Eternity in either one is real. ●The world-system is totally doomed and to be destroyed completely. ●A new world called the Millennium is coming soon. ● Israel will prevail, survive and be blessed. ●The Palestinians are doomed to soon coming destruction with the religion of Islam. ●All religion will be destroyed. ●All sin will be destroyed. ●Eternity will be holy and pure. ●Thousands of other supernatural conditions will abound in the Millennium and beyond.

Our great God laughs and sings:

Psalm 37:12-13 “The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes his teeth at him. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming!”

Psalm 2:1-4 “Why do the nations rage and plot a vain thing. The kings of the earth take counsel together against the Lord and against His anointed, saying, ‘let us break their bonds in pieces...He who sits in the heavens shall laugh...”

►Zephaniah 3:15-18 “The Lord has taken away your judgements; He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel is in your midst; you shall see disaster no more...The Mighty One will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you in His love. He will rejoice over you with singing...”

My Jewish friends, please note that one day soon, the King of kings, the God of the universe, will sing a song for you and over you! I wonder what that song will be. I would love to hear it. It will be great!

Not only does our God sing over us, He exalts us, glorifies us, and enthrones us with eternal value. This identity produces belonging, acceptance, trust, security and stability.

Finally

My aim in and through The Prophetic Scroll is to see you RIP. That is to assist you to Rest In Peace now while alive and well. Rest and peace, beloved brethren, only comes by applied truth.

Bible prophecy reveals and spells out the greatest drama of all. It is also the greatest love story of all, filled with betrayal, hatred, revenge and also love, forgiveness and eternal victory!

You will fail if you ignore or come against prophecy long before it will. Well, it never will, so guess who is the idiot?

One certainty about Bible prophecy is - you can trust it entirely!

Receiving and knowing the prophetic word gives you sight and insight that others don’t have, and it gives you power to be delivered from the grip of the world-system. It gives you strength to “love not the world.” It empowers you to be “in the world, but not of it” – detached from it.

Yes, Bible prophecy is gloriously unique!

I took this picture in the dunes of the Namib Desert and merged it with a tree in the mist.

Shalom and grow in His Grace!

Edition 421: June 12^th 2018

Peace, peace – destruction!

Introduction:

Today’s denuclearisation and peace summit between President Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and the soon coming summit between Russia’s Putin and the US points to something much larger and more significant for the whole world.

The summit produced excitement, elation and emotion. It’s better to have peace than war.

The N. Korea summit took place on an island in Singapore called Sentosa. Previously, it was called, “The Island of Death!” Now, this new name means “Peace.” From death to peace is the inference!

The details of the summits although important, are not the main issue, and not what I’m referring to in this edition at all. I am speaking of a far more important, soon-coming summit!

1 Thessalonians 5:3-4 “When they say, peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes upon them as labour pains, and they will not escape. But you brethren are not in the darkness that this Day should overtake you as a thief.”

Daniel 9:27 “Then he shall confirm (sign) a covenant with many for one week (of years)...”

The word “confirm,” in the verse above is Strong’s H1396 – “gabor.” The meanings are: “To make strong or prevail”, to “act in pride”, or to “show oneself mighty.”

Because of the context, and the other parallel verses on this subject, using the term, “signing a peace treaty at a summit” is perfectly legitimate.

Daniel 11:21 “In his place shall arise a vile person (antichrist) to whom they will not give the honour of royalty. He shall come in peaceably (making peace) and seize the kingdom (Israel) by intrigue.”

The actual event that reveals the antichrist, removes the restrainer, and begins the seven-year tribulation period, is a summit of some sort involving world powers and Israel, to bring peace to the Middle East and the world.

Peace summits:

I am suggesting that the peace summit we have seen today between the US and N. Korea and the upcoming summit with Russia, are in fact forerunners to the big summit of Daniel 9:27, which will see the antichrist revealed and tribulation begin.

These current summits are to prep the world for the big one; and to get the world ready and used to the idea that world-peace is just a summit away!

Is world peace coming? Are we to see peace, unity, conciliation and pacification or distress and discord of nations, division, dissention, friction, and antagonism?

The role of world religion:

World religion, which is totally of a false spirit, will work hard to bring the antichrist onto the stage. The spirit of antichrist, which works with this spirit of error, does not deny God or the Son, but the Father – Son relationship. (1 John 2:22)

The antichrist arises in association with the church in some way. (1 John 2:18-19)

The antichrist is seen in his characteristics. He desires respect and worship. He is called “the son of perdition,” and the “man of sin,” and the “lawless one.”

The name “son of perdition,” given to both Judas and the antichrist, means “son of destruction.” Yeshua said to Satan, “Get behind Me Satan.” The original words mean: “Follow behind Me.” So, Satan follows the work of Yeshua and the church with his destruction!

“He (antichrist) exalts himself above all that is of God and is worshipped, so that he sits exalted in the temple...” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) He is revealed as being full of pride, demanding respect.

The only thing preventing the revealing and release of the antichrist is the cross of Calvary in the hearts of true believers. The cross-enlivened church, the dwelling place of the Spirit of God is the restrainer of the antichrist.

Most ecumenical churches and orthodox churches, and all Spirit-less churches are entertaining false spirits relating to Israel. It’s all because God has chosen Israel and Jerusalem and Satan is following behind with attempted destruction. His trap is called “entrapment”

Entrapment: “The act of tricking the gullible, through deception into committing a crime in order to secure their position.”

Today, the world is being entrapped by false beliefs and presumptions that the Palestinians have a right to Jerusalem and Israel. The world thinks that this brings in world peace!

We saw this entrapment at work in this terrible statement from the Nazi leader:

Hitler: “Make the lie big, keep saying it and eventually the masses will believe you.”

Tragically, many churches are blind to whom they are really serving!

Prepping for the antichrist:

I don’t know this for sure, but it is a very real possibility: If President Trump’s recent cancelling of the summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un was a bluff, meaning he was going to restore it, as he did, that was a brilliant strategy.

It had the effect of elevating Trump before the summit even began. It put him in a position of power to win and get what he wants, because of the strong-man implication.

President Trump is organising a major summit between himself and Russia’s Putin.

No, no, I’m not suggesting that Donald Trump will be the antichrist. That is impossible for numerous biblical reasons. But he may well be the final agent of high-stakes manoeuvrings, and the facilitator of the coming antichrist summit. He would now be seen as the one who can do it.

It will not be Europe who will organise and get the Daniel 9:27 summit on the go, because Israel does not trust Europe at all anymore – and rightly so.

Israel does trust the US now.

Perhaps we will not see the actual antichrist summit, due to the rapture, but we will see the summit coming, just as we saw the North Korea summit coming before it happened.

Big rocket-man (Trump) tamed little rocket man and is now the boss of the rockets!

The USA and the Third Temple:

What is a certainty is that there will be a temple on the Temple Mount in the tribulation period. It is required and spoken of in numerous verses.

What follows is a possible application of these verses. It is not cast in stone, just possible and probable. I put it before you for your consideration:

Isaiah 18:1-7 “Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, which sends ambassadors by sea...Go swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin, to a people terrible from their beginning, a nation powerful and treading down, whose land the rivers divide. All inhabitants of the world: When he lifts up a banner on the mountains you see it; and when he blows a trumpet you hear it...In that time a present (gift) will be brought to the Lord of hosts from a people tall and smooth of skin...To the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, (Lit=place of worship) to Mount Zion.”

Many commentators and analysts believe that these verses above are referring to the US because of the descriptions used, which could fit the US.

If this is so, the very last part of this discourse is important. The “gift” seems to be connected with the place of the name of the Lord which was most certainly the temple!

Here is another rather surprising verse. It may well have strong prophetic overtones. Again, this is implied and not cast in stone:

Zechariah 6:15 “Even those who are far away shall come and build the temple of the Lord. Then you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you...”

Could this be referring to the soon-coming Third Temple – prophetically? If so, who are the “people from far away?”

It seems from these verses, and there are quite a few more, that the coming temple will be facilitated in some way by the US. It may well all be part of the upcoming antichrist summit!

Jerusalem is stirring:

Jerusalem is stirring. She is joining all creation, stirring in anticipation of the coming of the Lord. Even the wilderness is warming up for the greatest celebration of all time – the Millennium.

Distress of nations is coming first and fast. But the peace of God for those that are His is already here in spirit.

The Bible speaks of Jerusalem being surrounded by enemies. Then destruction is near. Today the battle is on for Jerusalem. She is surrounded! It’s not a military conflict yet, but that’s what’s coming soon.

Gaza and the Golan (Syrian side) have Jerusalem in their sights. The Vatican, UN, EU and many nations are in collusion. The liberals of the US have Jerusalem in their sights. The world’s mass-media have Jerusalem in their sights.

But it’s always wise to weigh up your odds of winning a war before you set out! Only a stupid, ignorant, nation would go out to war knowing that their eternal defeat is in their own hands!

Isaiah 29:5 “The multitude of your foes (Jerusalem) shall be like fine dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passes away; yes it shall be in an instant, suddenly.”

Zechariah 12:9 “It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”

The entire history of Israel is foretold in detail in Bible prophecy with not one miss! And every single prophecy was fulfilled literally! So, you want to war with Israel and Jerusalem? You fool of all fools!

The Jews are stirring:

Please consider the following in prayer and all seriousness. It is not just a collection of words on a page. It is most important for you and the Jews at this junction.

Jews are soon to start being saved en masse. The majority will be saved in the tribulation period, but many will be saved before. You as a believer have a role to play in prayer.

Christians are not to try and “Christianise” Jews or make them part of traditional churchianity with all its idols of Babylon. Christians with a heart for the Jews must know and distinguish between New Covenant doctrine (Hebrews 6:1-2) and church tradition, especially that which originates in Babylon, perpetuated by the Catholics.

The Jews know all about Babylon! It held them in captivity once before. The church must not take them there again.

Most Jews identify Christianity with Babylonian Christmas and Easter. Most believe Hitler was a Christian, because he often quoted Luther. 

Some Jews think that Christians want to take them to destruction again! That’s thanks largely to the Catholic and other orthodox churches and those of replacement theology.

True Bible-based Christians have a lot to undo in this regard, which by the way, is part of the call of The Prophetic Scroll.

We are to turn Jews to the truth, with all error stripped out. That is where the Spirit of God dwells and operates.

The coming mass salvation of the Jews will be a supernatural work of the Spirit of God, but we are our Lord’s co-workers, this side of the tribulation.

When the Jews start seeking the Lord and many Christians continue to seek the Lord, we will find each other too. The “twain shall meet!” – Wonderful!

The rapture of the church:

This is a bit of pure and simple logic:

A profound truth is that in the seven-year tribulation, many people, Jews and Gentiles will be saved. Who will the agents of salvation be? If the church replaces Israel, it will be the church.

If the church is the main instrument of God in the tribulation, obviously, the church goes through the tribulation. But many scriptures, not just a few, speak very clearly of saved Jews being the agents of God in the tribulation!

The reason is because the church is missing – or should I say – truly and really found!

I have mentioned this many times before, and will continue to do so. Of all the arguments for a pre-tribulation rapture, and there are many, this is undisputable.

The peace accord of horror:

The coming peace summit that will reveal the antichrist will seem like the arrival of world peace. It will not! It will be made between Israel and the world - liar, deceiver, murderer and destroyer. Here is the doom of the summit:

Daniel 8:23-25 “In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise (antichrist), having fierce features and understanding sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power (It will be Satan’s). He shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive. He shall destroy the mighty and also the holy people. (Jews and trib saints) Through his cunning he shall call cause deceit to prosper under his hand, and he shall magnify himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity (Lit=peace). He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he will be broken without human hand.”

The world powers in their foolishness will finally be brought face to face with their intense stupidity and ignorance. They will be brought face to face with the truth of God’s word, which they have rejected in their Satan-led blind deception.

The world has seen Israel in their blindness and has a supernatural hatred for them because of the coming truth of prophecy – their light, sight and salvation!

Isaiah 43:8-9 “Bring out the blind people who have eyes and the deaf who have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together and let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this and show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses that they may be justified; or let them hear and say, ‘It is the truth.” You (Israel) are My witnesses says the Lord.”

So, in this incredible prophecy above, the blind nations of the world are asked if they can justify their foolish beliefs about Israel in the face of Bible prophecy. They will finally have no option but to admit that it is the truth!

Alas, too many will fulfil this prophecy above, and say: “It is the truth.” But it will be too late to miss the tribulation period.

Imagine how stupid you have to be to sign a covenant rejecting God’s ways and ensuring the launch of seven-years of absolute hell on earth, the likes of which have never been seen before, nor ever will be again! (Matthew 24:21)

To the shock and shame of the world, there is a new world empire coming. It will be headquartered in Jerusalem. It is called the Millennium! Yeshua, the King of kings and Lord of lords will be the supreme head. Satan and his antichrist empire will be cast out to hell.

The role of the mass-media:

God sends hunters and fishermen to bring His people in and back to the land of Israel. (Jeremiah 16:16) Satan sends the Palestinians to hunt, and fish for God’s people and to replace them with themselves. Satan uses his hunters in the UN, the EU and many nations of the world and of course the mass-media.

The problem today is that collective, worldwide group-speak and false belief-bias about Israel is fuelling the attacks. Group-speak without God in the equation, becomes Satan-speak.

The mass-media is Satan’s stooge, pawn and puppet!

If Israel were to be defeated, world apostate religion, and Islam would triumph. Of course the media can’t see that because they are working, blindly for it! But God saw it thousands of years ago and His scribes wrote and warned against it all.

Did you know that there are some incredible verses in the Bible showing the soon coming total destruction of Islam at the hands of the Jews? I will share them with you soon.

The reason for the coming tribulation:

Isaiah 24:1-6 “Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty and distorts its surface. It shall be; as with the people, so with the priest...The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away; the haughty (proud) people of the earth languish. The earth is defiled under its inhabitants...they have broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the curse has devoured the earth...therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned and few are left.”

Okay, so now we see that one of the main reasons for the coming tribulation period is the breaking of God’s covenant with Israel. The new antichrist peace summit will be its replacement!

Here is God’s peace-“summit” with Israel:

Genesis 17:7-8 “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

Finally

So, look beyond the peace summits. Their message is – the big summit is coming soon.

Satan’s greatest act ever, will be a covenant of peace made with Israel. It will be the work of the beast, the dragon, the sneaky snake, the deceiver of the whole world.

World peace through the antichrist produces world tribulation. The tribulation period, produces world peace – the Millennium. Hell will be the home of God’s enemies. The world’s mass-media, you can say “Oops” now!

Romans 11:15 “If their (Israel) being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?”

If you could have world peace now, there would have been no need for the cross and no need for the Second Coming. There would be no need for Israel. It is Israel in the Millennium under Messiah that will be the manifestation of world peace.

The present evil age must end with either the destruction of Israel or the destruction of Satan. There will be a big fight! Amazingly, the victor has in fact already won – according to prophecy!

I took the background picture of Augrabies Falls – the waterfall in the desert, while it was in flood, and the King Protea in my garden, and merged them together.

Shalom and grow in His Grace!

 

Edition 420: June 5^th 2018

War of the Worlds:

Introduction:

Guns, spears, bullets and bombs are the tools of the world’s war-trade! Truth, untruth, error and deception are the tools of the war-trade in ideologies, beliefs and practises. All are on the stage, right now, and more are coming to a neighbourhood near you – soon!

“War of the Worlds” was the title of a book published in the late 1800’s by H.G. Wells. It was purely science fiction, and was adapted into many media forms. What I am speaking of in this edition may seem like science fiction to many, but it's more real than you might imagine!

This is a thrilling, rich subject, full of incredible truths, seen in great far-reaching vistas.

We are on the verge of massive wars. We are already in a war for the mind, soul and heart of mankind. We are in the war between God’s ways and man’s. We are in a war for the truth of God. We are in the war of Satan’s last stand!

Defeat or victory lie ahead. Pick your choice - pick it well, because you will pay for either.

I want to have a broad sweeping look through the ages to the origins of all these problems, and to the terrible future for many, and the glory that lies ahead for others.

The fall of Lucifer:

Isaiah 14:12-15 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God...I will be like the Most High, yet you shall be brought down to hell.”

Ezekiel 28:17 “Your (Lucifer) heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendour. I cast you to the ground. I laid you before kings that they might gaze upon you.”

The fall of Lucifer occurred way back in pre-Adamic times. Lucifer was already Satan in the Garden of Eden. These verses imply a pre-Adamic world with nations. What is important is that this was when the battle began.

It continued throughout history in slightly different forms, but Satan always had the purpose of exalting himself, bringing down truth and resisting God’s plans.

Satan’s war against everything of God will come to an end very soon. Many will be dragged down with him as he is cast into hell, and many will fly high above him for all eternity.

The real war of the worlds:

The real war is spiritual, with an outworking in the natural. Because we can’t see into the spiritual realm now that does not mean it’s not there. There are angels, demons and spiritual forces in conflict now, and it is intensifying.

Wars of many types that play out on earth are a mirror-image of what is going on in the spirit realm. “Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

We are to use our spiritual gift and armour in this attack upon the entire kingdom of God, which includes the church, and prophetic Israel.

When you understand that we are in a spiritual environment and you understand the workings of spiritual forces, you see behind the devil’s masks. Your understanding of the battles in this world becomes a lot clearer.

People fight wars for material things, yet they are fighting for a ship on fire and sinking fast. What futility of purpose!

The war for the truth

Truth is the pillar upon which the universe rests. It is the foundation of all things godly.

1 Timothy 3:15 “...The house of God, which is the church of the living God, is the pillar and foundation of the truth.”

If you can wreck a foundation, the pillars will collapse and the whole building is coming down! This is just what the enemy is doing. Bit by bit he tries to chip away at the foundation of truth, the pillars start shaking and like a satanic Samson at work. Will this temple fall?

The temple of God’s truth will stand supreme forever!

Yes, many things are shaking, rocking and rolling but no sir; Satan will lose this battle soon. It will be an eternal loss causing great weeping, wailing and regret for those who messed with God’s truth.

Only the law identifies sin and only the cross kills it. Today the world is trying to get rid of God’s law and the cross of Calvary! No wonder the world is lost!

Satan can try to pollute the truth, with error, sin and wickedness, but he will fail – forever.

It is sin that separates God from man and only the cross fixes that! How can you have world peace, personal peace, or any form of globalism with sin present?

Sin, beloved brethren, separates God from man, and holiness separates man unto God!

Trust in God’s truth, meditate on it, love it and put it to bed in your heart.

The war for Israel

The war for Israel is essentially another war against God’s truth.

Israel, in spiritual darkness still carries God’s call in their hearts, encapsulated in Bible prophecy.

Isaiah 42:16 “I will bring the blind (Israel) by a way they did not know...I will make darkness light before them...I will not forsake them.”

The two verses below are short and sweet. They are most powerful, all encompassing truths, and few are as relevant as these are for today. They completely summarise the entire plan of God for Israel and show why the world and much of the church will fail in coming against Israel.

Isaiah 45:17 “Israel shall be saved with an everlasting salvation and shall not be disgraced or ashamed forever and ever.”

Isaiah 49:3-6 “You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified...I will give you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

If Satan can stop the coming salvation of the Jews, he would also have stopped the great climax of the ages, which is saved Israel taking the good news of Messiah to the whole world.

This is why the Palestinians are at war with Israel. This is why many Arab nations are at war and why the European Union, Canada and many other nations are at war with Israel, or at least pro Satan’s work to get rid of God’s call upon Israel. Of course, they are all blind to this.

The war for you:

The war for you is essentially a war against the kingdom of God, since you are a part of it.

The war for your soul includes the war of ideologies. Many man-made socio / political ideologies are rooted in Satan’s kingdom, which is all about making you a satanic puppet, nullifying your anointing, plan and purpose of God for you.

Most ideologies have their roots in either capitalism or communism. Capitalism in its various free-market forms (although none are perfect) has a godly foundation. The various communist and socialist ideologies, with their system of control, and subservience, are not godly in origin.

These broad ideologies play out in a similar way, in you personally.

Look at the fruits of your life. Are you free, in peace, and in liberty and full of good godly fruit?

Satan has little to no chance of totally derailing the salvation of God’s own people, but he can and does get them sidetracked into many things that are errors. He can keep believers defeated by their adherence to many cursed things like legalism, witchcraft, and a host of deceptions.

Why is the world blind to these wars?

The reason for the blindness is simple, yet extremely profound!

We all know what a mystery is, or do we?

One of the words the bible uses for “mystery” in some instances is: Strong’s G3466 “Myterion.” It means: “A mystery hidden from the ungodly, but revealed to righteous.”

The Bible uses this word in the following verses (amongst some others):

●The Gospel itself is a mystery. (Romans 16:25)

●It calls God manifest in the flesh, as well as godliness, a mystery. (1 Timothy 3:16)

●Messiah in the church is called a mystery. (Ephesians 5:32, Colossians 1:27)

●It calls the kingdom of God a mystery. (Colossians 1:26, Mark 4:11)

●It calls Israel’s blindness a mystery. (Romans 11:25)

●It calls the rapture a mystery. (1 Corinthians 15:51)

●It calls the revelation words of wisdom we speak, a mystery. (1 Corinthians 2:7)

●Sin is called a mystery. (2 Thessalonians 2:7)

●Babylon, the system and the whore-religion is called a mystery. (Revelation 17:5)

The unsaved are blind to these things above. They can only look to the world-system and the fleshly, material counterfeits. They can only look to what they can see with their eyes.

The world is blind to the spiritual conflict around all these godly things. It’s all a mystery to them, which is why they are such easy, subservient tools of the devil!

In war, how can you fight a mystery? If you can’t see God in these things, you are not aware that you are fighting God, who is in them!! The world will lose this war because it is blind to the spiritual reality, which has been revealed to us!

The mystery hidden from the ungodly includes the gospel and its prophetic word.

2 Corinthians 4:4 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Messiah, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

Do you see why unbelievers are doomed?

Wars come to an end, or do they?

War leads to a cry for peace. This is where we are right now with peace summits planed and more coming, because of years of conflict. Satan knows very well that war leads to peace, so because he is now the god of the world, he brings in a counterfeit peace.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoke to you that in Me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

There is no peace ever for the wicked! (Isaiah 57:21)

In this present world, there is an end to war with a victor and a loser. Imagine going to war and knowing as a certainty, that you are going to win, before you even leave!

Let’s have a brief look at the incredible end of the drama, and why you must not give up:

●Here is the end of the Palestinians:

Zephaniah 2:8-10 “I heard of the reproach of Moab (modern day Palestinians) and the reviling of the peoples of Ammon, who made arrogant threats against their borders. Therefore as I live says the God of Israel, surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the people of Ammon like Gomorrah, a perpetual desolation. The remnant of My people (Israel) shall possess them. This they shall have for their pride, because they have made arrogant threats against the people (Jews) of the Lord of hosts.

Isaiah 19:17 “The land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself because of the counsel (word) of the Lord...”

These two verses above should shake the UN to their knees in repentance.

●Here is the end for Israel:

Micah 7:8-9 “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall I will arise, when I sit in darkness the Lord will be a light to me...He will bring me forth to the light, and I will see His righteousness.

Micah 7:18-19 “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage (Israel)? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue (destroy) our iniquities.”

Isaiah 42:6 “I the Lord have called you (Israel) in righteousness, and will hold your hand; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles.”

●Here is the end for the lying “peacemaker”- the United Nations.

Isaiah 54:15-17 “Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you (Israel) shall fall for your sake...No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgement, you shall condemn.”

Isaiah 49:26 “I will feed those who oppress you (Israel) with their own flesh and they will be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know that I the Lord am your Saviour, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob (Israel).”

●Here is the end for the nations of the world at war:

Obadiah 1:15 “The day of the Lord upon all nations is near; as you have done, it shall be done to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head.”

1 John 2:17 (Amp) “The world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings, passionate desires and lusts; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life, abides and remains forever.”

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord...”

Psalm 9:17 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

●Here is the end for the true born-again church:

Revelation 22:3-5 “There shall be no more curse, (including on nature) but the throne of God and His Lamb shall be there, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face and His name shall be on their foreheads...and they shall reign forever and ever.”

Revelation 3:8-10 “...I have set before you (church of Philadelphia) an open door which no one can shut, for you have little strength and have kept My word and not denied My name...Because you have kept My word to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test them.”

●Here is the end of the counterfeit false church – cast into eternal war of hell:

Revelation 2:22 “Indeed I will cast her (church of Thyatira) into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation unless they repent.”

Revelation 3:16 “Because you (church of Laodicea) are lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.”

The duty of church leadership when we are faced with war:

Deuteronomy 20:2-4 “When you are on the verge of battle, the priest shall approach and speak to the people. And he shall say to them, ‘Hear O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies; do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not be terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies to save you.”

The verse above presupposes a godly nation or at least a nation on God’s side. If not, the following applies perfectly:

Hosea 4:8-9 “...They set their heart on their iniquity. It shall be like people like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their (evil) deeds.”

I tell you, when God’s Spirit shines His light into the scriptures and awakens them – it’s a very “different” Bible and can be pretty scary too, but always with glorious victory at the end.

As a cross-born believer you are not your own anymore. You have been bought with a price and employed by the King of the universe to make yourself of extreme eternal value for the purpose of God’s call, which extends through to the ages ahead.

Your leader must be leading you to identify the enemy and into glorious spiritual victory.

Here is a spectacular, amazing view of the true church of the living God. It speaks of a beautiful bride, bedecked as a soldier at war. The banners proclaim her victory:

Song of Solomon 6:4 “O my love, you are beautiful as a Tirzah (the favoured), lovely as Jerusalem, awesome (Lit=terrible) as an army with banners!”

Words of war:

Here are some general verses relating to war. You can apply them to your own personal wars and to spiritual warfare as well:

Psalm24:8 “Who is the king of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”

1 Samuel 19:8 “There was war again and David went out and fought with the Philistines (modern day Palestinians) and struck them with a mighty blow, and they fled from him.”

Psalm 140:2 “Preserve me from evil men, preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and continually gather together for war.”

Psalm 55:21 “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart.”

Psalm 68:30 “...Scatter the people who delight in war.”

Psalm 120:7 “I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.”

Satan is a god of war, but God is a God of war, with a book, 100% true, outlining the defeat of the Satan the god of futile war.

Exodus 15:3 “The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is His name.”

Finally

Why is your life so important and valuable? It is your one and only, irreversible shot at setting the brightness of your eternal state!

You can tell what value people impute to their own God-given lives by observing what they think is important, by what they say and do.

A powerful sign in those who are serious about their relationship with our Lord, and those who want to move forward with Him is seen in what they won’t do. What you do or don’t do won’t save you, but they are fruits of salvation.

How many of the idols in your life have you destroyed? How many of your beliefs that are suspect, have you destroyed and cast out of your life?

How many people have you cast out of your life? There should be some. Satan often looks for weak spots in you by bringing people into your life that will find those weaknesses. He often brings poisonous, hazardous people into your life, who will lead you onto the slippery slope downwards.

Personally, I have a few people whom I felt led to throw out of my life altogether. Not many, but a few. You must also be very selective in who you receive from.

If you do not have an active, vibrant desire for the truth at the expense of error, you do not know God as you should. True biblical life involves believing, rejecting, accepting and expelling. It involves walking with people and avoiding some people. It involves welcoming in and kicking some out.

Walking and operating in God’s love is not for sissies.

I took elephant picture in Etosha and the background picture in the Namib Desert.

Shalom and grow in His Grace!

 

Edition 419: May 22^nd 2018

Darkness turns to light:

Introduction:

I love this subject. It’s full of rich allegory, fantastic imaginations, and fiery insights into truth.

Darkness and light are biblical references to spiritual or social conditions, not physical.

Job 10:22 (Amp) “There is a land of sunless gloom, as dark as darkness itself, it is as the shadow of death, without any order, where even the light is as thick darkness.”

“The entrance of Your words gives light.” “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”(Psalm 119:105, 130, John 8:12)

The path of darkness:

The course of this world is into ever increasing, thick darkness. (Ephesians 2:1-3)

Satan operates through gradualism. He keeps repeating the same thing, until it is accepted, then gradually moves his evil further downhill. He uses suggestion to question the authority of the truth, and sow seeds of doubt. Then once he has established his foothold, he uses full-force to come against God’s word and people.

Pure and true doctrine is Satan’s great enemy. Anti-true doctrine prepares the way for false doctrine and false thinking and believing.

As a true born-again believer, you must be moving from darkness to light. The world-system and its host of unbelievers are moving ever deeper into darkness. We are called out of it. We are to come out and be separate. (2 Corinthians 6:17)

Did you know that the word “holiness” means apartheid! The opposite of being apart and separate is being together as one. That is one-world globalism. This is why the world hates holiness!

We are not to mix truth and error. When you mix light and dark you get shades of muddy grey, which are all unacceptable to God.

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who put darkness for light and light for darkness...Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes.”

2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? What communion has light with darkness?”

Spiritual darkness is synonymous with spiritual blindness. Its root is the unredeemed, sin-ridden blood of Adam.

There is a personal darkness which we can and must do something about and there is a universal darkness which we can do nothing about, except come out and be separate. The principles are the same in both. We must be aware of the devil’s devices.

Prophetically, terrible deep darkness is coming soon. The good news is that we may escape it and even escape the effects of the forerunners to it, in the rapture.

Isaiah 60:2 “Behold, darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you (Israel) and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

The verse below is shocking, staggering and wonderful:

1 Samuel 2:9 (Amp) “The Lord will guard and protect the steps of His saints. The wicked shall be silent and perish in darkness. By (human) strength no man shall prevail.”

Amazingly, it is God who forces the wicked onto the path of darkness and the reason is because they are wicked in heart. They are not redeemed, not born-again.

Job 18:18 “The wicked are driven from light into darkness and are chased out of the world.”

Again, amazingly, those in the dark do not know that they are, otherwise they would get into the light. They are blind to their blindness!

Psalm 82:5 “They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are unstable.”

Proverbs 4:18-19 “The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter towards the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness, they do not know what makes then stumble.”

How many times have you heard someone say: “I don’t see it that way?”

Clear, pure, holy and true sight is vitally important to your entire life. Spirit-led and cross-cleansed truth produces good eye-sight! Far too many people think, in their pride, that the way they see things is true and right while it comes from the pit of hell.

Do you know that your life can be full of dark light?

Luke 11:33-35 “No one when he has lit a lamp puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on the lamp-stand, that those who come in may see the light. The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when you eye is good your whole body is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. Therefore take heed that the light that is in you is not really darkness.”

People today, especially the youth, thanks largely to their parents, are unthankful, unforgiving and unholy. (2 Timothy 3:1-2) They may know about God, but they will not glorify Him, because they glorify themselves and the god of this world.

They will not repent. Their thoughts are then “darkened” by God. They profess to be wise, but are true fools.

By the way, “unthankful, unforgiving and unholy” are real steps downhill. They are always found in conjunction with each other. The opposite is just as true: Holy, forgiving and thankful.

Nations of darkness:

There are entire nations of darkness with socio-political systems entrenched in godless practice, all cursed of God. (Deuteronomy 28)

We are the “light of the world” Matthew 5:14-16

It is the duty of the Christian to be a light in the dark world.

Don’t get the idea that you are doing God any favours by letting your light shine in the dark. It is your basic, expected duty. You a light!

Be aware that the political systems can change from darkness to light in days! Do not underestimate your own influence by prayer in this regard.

The world and its nations are doomed, but a new world is coming soon. It will have all that produced the doom of the former world destroyed! It will be a thousand-year Millennium of world peace. Afterwards something more magnificent is coming, which we can’t even imagine!

By contrast, those who rejected our Lords salvation offer in this life will sit on their toilet-seat throne of darkness forever.

Why is it that so few ministers of the gospel speak, preach or teach on Satan and hell? Some of them can’t even say the words or name! Hell is spoken of more in the Bible than heaven!

It is Satan himself who conceals himself and the abode of hell. Hiding or obscuring hell is as serious as murder. Think about that – it’s true!

Is it because Satan comes as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14) and ministers are blinded in this regard. Or is it because they don’t want rock the cradle of a sleepy church and cause alarm?

There is great comfort in embracing and applying the wisdom of God’s word, and great terror, whether you see it coming or not, in embracing and applying the wisdom of the world. The world will put you in a compromised, comfort -zone, but be careful; there are many spooks within that comfort. A comfort-zone on fire will not be very comfortable!

The tragedy is that people love the darkness because their lives are full of evil! (John 3:20)

So, you love the darkness do you!

Micah 3:6-7 (Amp) “Thus says the Lord...You shall have night without prophetic vision and you shall have darkness without divining wisdom. The sun shall go down on the prophets and the day shall be dark for them...There is no answer from God.”

What a horrific situation - to be going into these end-times with no prophetic vision and only darkness for your friend.

So, you think you can hide in the dark? Sorry, there is no place to hide from God – ultimately!

Job 34:22 “There is no darkness, nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.”

The light is getting dim fast:

When the light goes out, you can’t see. You are lost. The Bible indicates that the light will go out! It is doing so now thanks to the dark shepherds, and wolves in too many pulpits!

Much of this will be in the tribulation period, but we are seeing forerunners now:

John 12:35-36 “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. He who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light...”

John 9:4 “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”

Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while He may be found.”

Trapped in darkness:

One of the meanings of the word darkness in the Bible is to cover and blind the mind with ignorance and wickedness. A mind “covered” in darkness is essentially trapped.

There is a powerful force behind spiritual darkness. It is not to be underestimated. Consider the following verses and note what I have made bold:

Colossians 1:13 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”

Ephesians 6:12 “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.”

Acts 26:18 “You (Paul) will open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God...”

When spiritual darkness has come of age in an individual or a nation, it becomes a fully fledged curse and is much more difficult to break. Here is one of many examples of a curse at work:

Deuteronomy 28:29 “You shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways. You shall be oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you.”

The Dark Ages, Reformation and Renaissance:

The Catholic church produced a deadly twilight and then the Dark Ages. The Spirit of God brought an end to the darkness and the truth began to shine through. This produced the Reformation and the accompanying Renaissance. The former was spiritual and the latter was social, economic, cultural and the like.

The Dark Ages was a terrible time of mass murder by the Catholic popes. It was also a time of universal poverty and despair amongst the people. It was also the time of the black-death plague. It was the home of evil deceptions like the flat-earth theory. Enshrined stupidity, and ignorance of the masses was the order of the day! It was a time when the Bible was banned!

Interestingly, the spiritual darkness was so dense, it covered and killed the expressions of culture, art, music, science, technology and all that was revived in what became the renaissance. The evil spirits of the darkness tried to imprison humans who were made and created free!

An evil spirit seldom affects one area only. It is multi-pronged and multi-facetted, with far reaching consequences as we saw in all things created by the Catholic church.

The spiritual reformation, a break-away from Catholicism, produced the renaissance and the accompanying industrial revolution.

The word “renaissance” means “rebirth”

The day dawned. First light produced hope. The golden aurora of new-life spread worldwide like wildfire. Liberty and freedom were produced in the break from darkness, and the Bible was again restored and elevated in society.

Liberty is a wonderful thing, but must always be restrained with a godly cap on it! If not, liberty loses its light and descends in a spiral. It goes from liberty to complacency to bondage and tyranny. Then the cycle begins again, because mankind does not learn from history!

When liberty loses its light, it becomes a dark tool of the devil! We have seen that in so many people and situations of late. We saw that with Obama. We are seeing it now with much of Europe. It’s not so much that the West is in decline, but that liberty has lost its light.

In many cases that is the fault of the church. It has lost its saltiness and is hiding its light!

Darkness produces division. Light produces unity because in the light we can see the truth.

The Catholic church removed the Bible from the laity (masses) and produced the dark ages. Light streamed into the darkness, the Bible was brought back and the spiritual reformation began. Darkness turned to light with the Bible in its rightful place.

But because the reformers rejected the fullness of the Spirit, this move of God was incomplete and produced divisions instead of unity!

Jude 1:19 “These are sensual (Lit= soulish) people, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.”

Repent, believe, know, see and understand, is the path to glory.

Here comes the light:

Once you decide to repent of your sin and all your human-based good, God begins to shine His light into your darkness. Suddenly you see, sometimes with great shock, how dark you are! It’s like a veil has been pulled aside.

The light of God seeps into every dark corner in the dark rooms of your life. Repentance clears the gloom out of the air for God’s light to shine.

Have you been to the optometrist, ophthalmologist, or optician lately? Can you see clearly?

Spiritual eye doctors are: Repentance, believing, seeing and following!

Miracles begin:

Darkness is replaced with light, and truth replaces error. Curses turn to blessing. Captivity turns to freedom. Bondage turns to liberty. Torment turns to peace. Failure turns to victory. Oh, the glories of knowing and loving the King of kings, Lord of lords and great God of the universe.

When the darkness of the night ends things begin to take on a beautiful golden glow, with a gold tinge around everything. Then the fullness of the light shines brightly.

I can tell you from much experience that the attention and excitement is seen in this golden phase. I have slept under the stars many times in the orange dunes of the deserts of Southern Africa. Sunrise is a truly thrilling, exciting experience of sound and sight!

►Seeing a person repent and believe, or a prodigal backslider return, is like this golden time.

Darkness to light for Israel:

Acts 28:26-27 “Go to this people and say: Hearing you shall hear and not understand; and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing and their eyes have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their heart and turn, so that I should heal them.”

In the verse above, which applies to Israel, we see the futility of trying to be righteous and right with God without going His way. This is the way without repentance.

But now, in our day, we see the dawning of the light. We are just at that exciting crack of golden dawn as the Jews begin to repent.

Micah 7:18-19 “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage (Israel)? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue (destroy) our iniquities.”

Isaiah 29:18 “In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book and the eyes of the blind shall see out of the obscurity of darkness.”

Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.”

The Bible also speaks to the Christian believer in relation to Israel’s coming salvation and all things related to eschatology:

1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 “You, brethren are not in the darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night or darkness.”

►Please be aware that as darkness turns to light for Israel, so light will turn to deep darkness for the church that opposes God’s new work with His people! It’s already happening!

We need the word of Bible prophecy to shed light on our path in these dark days!

2 Peter1:19 "We have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your heart."

Finally

So, we have looked at how darkness turned to light for the church of the Middle Ages. We’ve looked at how darkness will turn to light for Israel and we’ve looked at how darkness turns to light for an individual believer.

There are many consistencies and principles which apply to all areas.

Our Lord is seated on His throne of glory. He has all power, and ultimate authority. One day soon, our Lord will elevate our humility. We will rule and reign with Him in the entire universe. We will in fact share His throne of ruler ship. That’s a thrilling and frightening thought! (Revelation 20:6)

1 Peter2:9 “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”

Psalm 18:28 “You will light my lamp; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.”

What a truly wonderful privilege we have to be in God’s light so that we can see. How glorious spiritual sight is, and much more is still coming.

I took the background picture in the Etosha Game Reserve as a storm approached and the flower picture in Namaqualand. Combining them echo’s the message of this edition.

Shalom and grow in His Grace!

 

Edition 418: May 22^nd 2018

Incredible Temple Miracles and timing:

Introduction:

The three main miracles I’m dealing with here are recorded in the Hebrew Talmud. They actually carry great weight, because they are widely accepted as Jewish history. They have profound implications for the Jews! They are little known amongst Christians.

These three miracles have an important time element contained in them. There were other miracles which occurred in the Second Temple, but not relating to time as these three are.

Bear in mind that the Second Temple was built 70 years after the destruction of the First Temple and the Second Temple was destroyed in 70AD. 70 is a significant number for Israel and Jerusalem.

We are now soon to see the prophesied Third Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

The Temple was called Beit Hamikdash, meaning “The house of holiness.”

Three incredible miracles – same message!

►Miracle of the Temple Gates:

Forty years before the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD (30AD), the large front gates of the Temple opened repeatedly by themselves every morning after they had been closed for the night. One of Rabbis, (Yohanan Zakkai) finally rebuked the gates saying in Hebrew: “Why do you alarm us. We know that you (the temple) will be destroyed.” (Talmud Yoma 39b)

The Rabbis believed that for the final Ezekiel temple to be built, this Second Temple would have to be destroyed. They did not know of the amazing prophetic plan of God!

The Temple doors ignored the Rabbi and continued to open every night for 40 years until 70AD.

They did not understand that the significance of the supernatural opening of the gates beginning in 30 AD - the time of the crucifixion. Was this God’s sign that the way to holiness was now open to everyone who believed in the cross?

The symbolism here is that the presence of God had left the Holy of Holies, also confirmed by the supernatural tearing of the veil from top to bottom. It was now open for all. The sacrifice of the cross has changed things forever!

►The miracle of the black and white stones:

On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest, Aaron was to conduct the temple-sacrifice.

Aaron was to cast lots to select one of two goats for the temple sacrifice. (Leviticus 16:8) This was done after the words, “For the Lord” was written on the white stone and “For Azazal”, (scapegoat), was written on a black stone. The two stones were put in a box and one stone was selected by the blindfolded High Priest.

For over two hundred years there was no consistency in which stone was chosen. It was simply random as it should have been.

Then in 30AD and for 40-years afterwards – until 70AD, the black stone was miraculously chosen every time by the blindfolded High Priest. The scapegoat then became the sacrifice.

The mathematical odds of that occurring are one in 5.5 billion.

During the sacrifice, a crimson cloth was tied to the scapegoat. It was then brought back to the Temple where it miraculously turned white, signifying that God had accepted the sacrifice for sin. (Isaiah 1:18) But in 30AD and for 40 years afterwards until 70AD, the cloth remained crimson and did not turn white!

The continuous supernatural selection of the black stone and the refusal of the crimson cloth to turn white were most certainly signs of God’s displeasure at Israel and her refusal to repent.

The Day of Atonement is central to Jewish tradition. This miracle means that our crucified Lord now becomes the life-long “Day of Atonement.”

►The miracle of the Temple Menorah:

The beautiful great big pure gold Temple Menorah was spectacular to behold. The central lamp was slightly raised above the other six and was called the “servant-lamp”. The other lamps were lit using the flame of the servant lamp.

From 30AD and onwards for 40 years, this central servant-lamp refused to burn for 40 years, until 70AD. The light of the Menorah, representing the light of God, the presence of God and the Spirit of God went out every night on its own.

What is the amazing message?

The crucifixion occurred on a Passover during the governorship of Pontius Pilate who was in office from 26AD to 36AD Passover on Nisan 15^th 30 AD fits the bill perfectly and is consistent with many other factors.

●The message is: 70 is a very important number for the Jews, Jerusalem and Israel!

●The message to the Jews is: In 30AD when our Messiah was crucified, your temple became an empty shell as the veil was torn.

●The message is: From 30AD, when our Lord was crucified, the Jews chose Barabbas, the scapegoat. By the way: The name Barabbas means “son of the father.” The first name of Barabbas was “Jesus”! He was the ultimate counterfeit, like the coming antichrist will be!

●The message is: From 30AD, the crimson cloth would not turn white indicating that God’s saving grace wasn’t in the temple anymore.

●The message is: From 30AD, the temple menorah would not light up, indicating that God’s presence had left the temple.

●The message is: Jews will accept the Third Temple – the home and throne of the antichrist, although that will only be initially.

●The big, enormous, amazing message in these miraculous events is: Our Lord’s sacrifice was and is now the only accepted sacrifice.

●The all-powerful message to the Jews is: Your Messiah has come and gone and is ready to return again, and receive you back as He lifts the veil of blindness.

●The message is: Now is the time!

The consistency in these three miracle-messages is that they all have the same time frames associated. That gives extra strength and support to the meanings.

►The miracle of Hebrew lost and restored:

This is miraculous, but not like those above. It does have a time element to it, but much broader.

Zephaniah 3:8-13 “Wait for Me, says the Lord, until the day I rise up and plunder the nations...and pour out My indignation (wrath) upon them, all My fierce anger. All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy. (Tribulation period) Then I will restore to the peoples a pure language that they may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him in one accord...The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness.”

The Hebrew language has many direct associations with the temple. It was the “temple language”, associated with the holiness of the temple.

The Hebrew language of the Jews of Israel was lost during the dispersion, which began at the fall of the Second Temple in 70AD. The language was then basically “lost.”

During the time of lost Hebrew, Jews in Israel spoke a number of Semitic, Arab and mixed languages. Those who were scattered took on the languages of their host nations. In the restoration, Hebrew then became closely associated with Zionism and the call of God upon the Jews to return.

So it was the dispersion (diaspora) and regathering (aliyah) which was marked by the lost and restored Hebrew.

The temples stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. God put His name in the temple in Jerusalem. The city, the land, the people, and the temple are all interconnected.

If the destruction of the Second Temple in 70AD marked the fall of the Hebrew language, is the restoration of Hebrew a sign that the Third Temple is just around the corner?

Restored Hebrew was a miracle sign confirming God’s call on the people, the city and the land and an indication of the soon-coming Third Temple.

It’s all connected!

As Hebrew was restored it was first spoken in the synagogues, then in Jewish homes, schools, businesses and then the first Hebrew-language newspaper was born. Its first headline in Hebrew was “The People declare The State of Israel.”

Here is the front page:

A side note: It is evident from the scriptures that Hebrew will be spoken by the Jews of Israel in the tribulation period. Hebrew may well become a universal language in the Millennium, but we are not there yet. There are no verses or commands anywhere in the Bible for all nations to speak any words at all in Hebrew, unless of course you are a Jew.

I use the name “Yeshua” instead of Jesus because that is a testimony to the Jews and speaks to them of exactly who their Messiah is.

Understand that those who claim Hebrew or Heblish as it has become known, must be spoken now by all nations of the world are wrong, wrong and wrong again. The restoration of Hebrew is a miracle of God and a sign of restoration of the Jews, the land and their city – exclusively.

There is not one single verse in the Bible saying or even implying that other nations must speak Heblish and say God’s name in a specific way in Hebrew. Some of these deceived teachers even go so far as to say that if you don’t you are a goat nation – going to hell! Run away from all them fast.

Other soon-coming miracles:

We are on the verge of many supernatural things occurring. Some will be demonstrative and in your face. Others will be more “gentle”, but still miraculous. Some will release all hell, devils, demons wolves in sheep’s clothing, and savage wars and upheavals in the tribulation period.

Israel will be the main focus of the work of God and the attack of the devil in this time.

Here are some fantastic miracles to consider. Some have already started:

Zechariah 3:9 “...Upon the stone are seven eyes. I will engrave its inscription. I will remove the iniquity of that land (Israel) in one day.”

Isaiah 35:1-2 “The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, (Jews) and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice...”  

Even nature itself is being restored with the restoration of the people.

Ezekiel 36:35 “They will say, ‘This land that was desolate (Israel) has become like the garden of Eden.’”

►Now, let’s have a look at something quite amazing:

Deuteronomy 28:37 “And you (Israel) shall become an astonishment (Lit=horror), a proverb, and a byword among all the nations where the Lord will drive you.”

We all know that the Jews have been treated as a “horror” and with much indignation.

But here is how it ends up! (I’ve said so many times that it’s not very cleaver to listen to the world, the media or the stupid intellectuals of the day on anything related to Israel.)

Deuteronomy 28:10 “Then all the peoples of the earth shall see that you (Jews) are called by the name of the Lord and they shall be afraid of you.”

CNN, BBC, Sky and others of the mass-media – the verse above is just for you! (The verse above and the one below, occur in the tribulation period. And yes you will be there, mass-media!)

Zechariah 8:22-23 “Many peoples, and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before Him. Then ten men of every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

Do you see it? The people of the nations of the world will grab the sleeve of the Jew! Does that ring any bells? It was commanded by Hitler that all Jews must wear a yellow star on their sleeves identifying them as the enemy!

Many Jews of the Holocaust went to deaths with a yellow star on their sleeve.

Now there will be no yellow star, and the people will now be grasping at God in those sleeves! They will recognise God at work in the Jews, bringing salvation to the nations!

Isaiah 45:14 “...Men of stature shall come to you (Israel) and they shall be yours. They shall walk behind you, in their chains; and they shall bow down to you. They will say, ‘Surely God is in you and there is no other God.”

The nations will say: “Surely God is now in those sleeves!”

Isn’t it interesting that there is so much conflict over the Temple Mount in Jerusalem? It was the spot of so much of God’s work and so many messages from God. Now Islam puts its claim on it. You would think that history would have taught them something.

Interestingly, the mass-media, Satan’s mouthpiece, never, not once condemns or even questions the Muslims actions to make and keep the Temple Mount exclusively Muslim. No Jews allowed!

Hitler’s yellow stars have taught Islam nothing! (Nor the media for that matter) Guess what will soon happen with that story? Again a spectacular reversal and turn of events!

New names, a new “temple:”

1 Corinthians 3:16 “You are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you.”

Through the new-birth we are already supernatural, miraculous beings, with the living God living inside of us. At the rapture of the true church, we will instantly become fully and totally complete in our salvation. Our bodies will have the characteristics of the body of our Lord.

The salvation of our bodies, which still lies ahead, is in fact the completion of our salvation and the final end to the final enemy – death.

The new birth occurred in the past, when we were born-again and that applies to our spirit being.

We are already living walking, supernatural “temples of God” (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19)

At the completion of our salvation (body) all things become new! At this time we are also given new names, Israel too.

Revelation 3:12 “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and I will write on him My new name.”

Revelation 2:17 “...To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”

Isaiah 62:2-4 “The Gentiles shall see your righteousness and all kings your glory. You (Israel) shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name...You also shall be a crown of glory...You shall no longer be termed ‘forsaken.’”

Have you considered that eternal life for you begins now this side of the grave? Have you considered that God’s plan for your life began before the foundation of the earth?

In fact, just like Israel, you were seen, chosen and called in ages past!

Have you considered that we will have life eternal – never ending, clean, holy, pure, righteous and full of glory!

Hebrews 7:16 “...The power of an endless life.”

Finally

Jews, will you please wake up to the fact that something shattering happened to your rabbinical belief system and practice in 30AD. Please open your spiritual eyes. If you do, you will see great and wonderful things! You will see your own Jewish Messiah and all He has done for you and still will in the very near future. Don't wait...wake up now!

You can’t live in God’s peace when out of God’s calling. When we see and understand that God has a plan for all of us, Jew and Gentile and ultimately many Arabs, we come into rest. We run into trouble when we don’t know His plans or try to modify and change them!

Isaiah 45:11-17 Thus says the Lord, the holy one of Israel, ask Me of things to come, concerning My sons...I will direct all his ways and he shall build My city and let My exiles go free, not for price nor reward...Israel shall be saved by the Lord, with an everlasting salvation. You shall not be ashamed or disgraced forever and ever.”

I took the background picture of a giant fern leaf in my garden and the rhino in the wilds. I messed around with colours and textures for some visual fun.

Shalom and grow in His Grace!