Edition 447: December 11^th 2018

Pre-Trib only, works:

Introduction:

The Pre-Tribulation rapture of the church is the only position that fully works and fits in with all scripture, dispensations and pure logic! It is really liberating and exciting when you see how it all fits.

The key to the pre-trib rapture is in the church and Israel!

What I have to share with you today is new material, from the ancient scriptures. You will be challenged to deny this and come up with any other view! More than anything else, my motivation here for you is the same as it is for me, which is not to prove positions, but to turn your heart in surrender to our Lord, and seek Him and His holiness afresh.

What I’m going to do in his edition is compile some simple, well known differences between the church and Israel. I’ll then presume that the church goes through the seven –year tribulation (or any part of it) and show you the powerful impossibility!

Identifying the church:

The church was born in an instant, by new covenant on the day of Pentecost, as the law was transferred from stone to the hearts of believers and the Holy Spirit came to dwell in the hearts of believers through the new birth.

The church is a distinctly separate dispensation, which was born supernaturally, is supernatural and has its own language – tongues.

None of the above factors are found in the Old Covenant dispensation or the others.

The Old Covenant, as a dispensation, began on the original day of Pentecost as Moses came down from the mountain with the law in stone. This dispensation is not complete yet. On our modern-day of Pentecost, the dispensation of the law was put on hold. The final seven years – the tribulation period, will complete the Old Covenant, shortly. But for this to occur, the church age must end.

Proof supreme of who the “restrainer” is:

The Bible reveals the unique identity of the restrainer of evil and the antichrist. Some say he is the angel Michael. Some say he is the Holy Spirit. Some say he is the church, and some say he is the church, indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 “Now you know what is restraining, that he (antichrist) may be revealed in his own (set) time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.”

●The word, “what” is neuter gender, and “He” is masculine gender. This is important!

The term “out of the way”, is the Greek word “Ek” (Strong’s G1537), meaning, “clean out of the way, with force”. It is used for the rapture in other verses too. It is the rapture.

The “restrainer” is a reference to both a thing (neuter gender - verse six), and a person (masculine gender - verse seven). Note in verse six, “what” is the neuter gender word, and in verse seven, the “He” is capitalised, and is the masculine gender word. You would never call a person a “what.”

So here we have a sure mystery! The only way that this can work is if the “what,” in neuter gender, refers to the church, and the “He”, capitalised, refers to the Holy Spirit. That clears that up!

We could accurately say this: When the church indwelt by the Spirit, is removed by rapture, the antichrist will be revealed. Now re-read the verse above bearing in mind what I’ve explained. You will now see how well it fits together.

Yes, the Holy Spirit will still be here during the tribulation, but He will operate the way He did in Old Covenant times. People saved in the tribulation will not be born-again in the same way we are now.

We, the church, filled with the Spirit, are the restrainers now. The world will soon see how much we did restrain, when we are gone!

In the tribulation there are no gifts of the Spirit in operation. If there were, the saints could bind and cast out Satan. He is unrestrained in the tribulation.

The sign of the temple:

We could say that a symbol of the church age is no temple in Jerusalem. A symbol of the tribulation dispensation is a new, soon-coming temple in Jerusalem.

The church age began within a very short time of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Literally, as our Lord died on the cross, the temple veil was torn and it was left empty.

At the birth of the church on the day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the Spirit, with the evidence of tongues. This was the beginning of the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit for the church age. This was where the born-again church became the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

If the church goes through the tribulation and it is the temple of the Holy Spirit, why would the church need a temple in Jerusalem in the tribulation?

The sign of the New Covenant:

The covenant God made with Israel is mentioned 74 times in the Bible in different ways. The covenant is exclusively for Israel alone. This covenant includes the land of Israel, Jerusalem and the Jews as a nation.

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. 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.”

But then with the advent of the church, God made a new covenant, exclusively with and for the church. This covenant does not include land or a city. So now we see Israel and the church separated by their covenants.

If the church has replaced Israel, or goes through the tribulation, then we, God’s people in the tribulation, come under the covenant for Israel!

Psalm 89:34 “My covenant I will not break, nor alter My word that has gone out from My mouth.”

Remember that part of God’s covenant promise to Israel relates to her future as a blessing to the nations in the tribulation.

Isaiah 60:21 “Your people (Israel) shall all be righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified.”

Isaiah 49:6 “...I will give you (Israel) as a light to the Gentiles, (nations) that you should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

If the church goes through the tribulation these covenants are all mixed up and don’t fit.

The sign of the land of Israel:

If the church is God’s work now, why would it need the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem? God never gave the land of Israel, with eternal covenant, to the church.

The Messiah was given as the light of the world. He transferred that to the church. The church is now the light of the world. But now we see a huge switch! Israel is given as the light to the world (Gentiles) in the seven-year tribulation.

Isaiah 42:6-7 “I, the Lord have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand. I will keep you and give you (Israel) as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes...”

So what happened? Why the big switch to Israel as the light? The church went in rapture.

The land, the city and the Jewish people are distinct from the church. The two must be seen and viewed through prophetic, biblically-based glasses.

The sign of Jewish evangelists:

In replacement theology, the church replaces Israel. That means that the church must go through the tribulation, because it and not Israel is the agent of salvation to the world. That, of course denies God’s call upon Israel and numerous end-time promises for Israel!

The 24 elders (Revelation 4:4) are representative of the leadership of the church and not Israel. They are clearly identified (in original words) as humans (not angles), and they are males. They are viewed in heaven seated on thrones, when the tribulation begins on earth.

We see another group of leaders in Revelation 7:4-8 and Revelation 14:1-5. These are the 144,000. They are all Jewish males. These represent the Jewish apostles /evangelists of the tribulation period. They are not the 24 elders.

If the church goes through the tribulation, this all becomes a big messy mess of interpretation.

The sign of the church’s language:

A sign of the beginning of the church age is tongues. That identified the birth of the church. Tongues and the gifts were not here in the Old Covenant.

Now let’s look at a mystery proof of the pre-tribulation rapture:

1 Corinthians 13:8 “Where there are prophecies they will fail (Lit=vanish away); whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.”

Here is the amazing thing: Tongues, a sign of the birth of the church, will continue and then suddenly cease. The original word means just that. They will cease in an instant. But prophecies, which are for all dispensation, will vanish away over some time.

It is the rapture that ends the church in an instant that also ends its unique language.

By the way, I totally reject all teaching and belief that tongues and the gifts ceased with the death of the last apostle. That is heresy.

If the church goes through the tribulation, then this is all messed up.

The sign of the peace treaty:

The church is part of the kingdom of God now and forever. The kingdom is called, “The kingdom of peace.” (Romans 14:17)

What the Bible reveals in a number of passages in Daniel and elsewhere is that there will be a peace covenant agreed to, but that this very peace treaty will bring immediate destruction. It will kick off the seventieth week (of years) of Daniel 9:27) The entire tribulation period will not see one day of peace at all – only trouble, war, calamity and judgement.

A peace plan or initiative or covenant does not mean peace is coming. It does not mean that the first three and a half years of the seven-year tribulation period will be a time of world-peace or even peace in Israel.

The second half of the seven years will see a greater intensity, called the “wrath of God.” But make no mistake the wrath of God, the wrath of Satan, the wrath of man and the wrath of nature, joined by the “riders” of death and destruction will be on earth through the entire seven-year period.

In fact the make-up of the original word “tribulation” relates to the very opposite of peace. It has a lot to with the psychological aspects of man in this time.

Tribulation: (Strong’s 2347) Pressing together, distress, stress, oppression, affliction.

The reasons for the seven-year tribulation are many, but some are surprising indeed!

Perhaps the most astounding reason for the seven-year tribulation is the actual peace treaty or covenant itself.

Daniel 9:27 “Then he (antichrist) shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wings of the abomination shall be one who makes desolate...” (See more on peace: Daniel 8:24-25).

The word “confirm,” above means “to give strength to” or “to enforce.” The word “covenant” means “a treaty” or a “constitutional alliance”. It is the same word for God’s covenants.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 “You know that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. When they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape. But you, brethren are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.” (The word “Day” is a reference to the entire tribulation period.)

Note in the verse above that peace does not come when they say “peace and safety”! Sudden destruction comes! So don’t tell me that peace is coming to the world for the first half of the tribulation!

The word “sudden” above means: Unexpected, unforeseen, and instant. (Strong’s G160)

God reserves His wrath for His enemies. (Nahum 1:2) If we as believers have the indwelling Spirit, God is in us! How can God pour out His wrath on Himself?

Through the new birth, we have peace. God is peace. His kingdom is of peace.

If the church goes through the tribulation, none of this chapter would make sense.

The sign of the covenant of death:

The tribulation begins with a new covenant, a covenant of death!

The very thing that reveals and identifies the antichrist is the Daniel 9:27 covenant. In agreeing to it, Israel must break its existing covenant with the true God. They will think it’s a peace, safety and security covenant, but God says it’s a covenant with death!

Isaiah 28:18-22 “Your (Israel) covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with hell (antichrist) will not stand; when the overflowing scourge (tribulation) passes through, then you will be trampled down by it...I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a destruction (Lit=complete end) even upon the whole earth.”

Isaiah 24: 4-6 “The earth mourns and fades away; the world languishes and fades away. The haughty people of the earth languish. The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are desolate...”

We need to understand that God hold’s the whole world accountable! They have pressurised Israel for ages to give in to Palestinian causes. They have pressurised Israel to give in to demands on Jerusalem. The covenant of death was made with the “many,” which will be many nations, and with Israel.

The many nations here may be the UN or the new soon-coming Europe, or both.

The tribulation will be centred on the Middle East but, comes upon the whole world.

Isaiah 30:27-28 “The name of the Lord comes from afar, burning with His anger, and His burden is heavy; His lips are full of indignation, and His tongue like a devouring fire. His breath is like an overflowing stream, which reaches up to the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of futility; and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.”

If the church goes through the tribulation, this all means that the church will make this fateful covenant with death. Yes I agree that the apostate, counterfeit or backslidden church will be part of it all, and go through the tribulation, but most certainly not the church with God in their hearts.

The most powerful sign of all:

In the seven-year tribulation period, which is the next dispensation, completing the Old Covenant, now on hold, believers will not be born-again with the indwelling Holy Spirit as they are now. They will be saved, but their salvation will be the same as it was in Old Covenant times.

If the church goes through the tribulation period, (any part of it) as some teach, does that mean the church would have to give back the indwelling Holy Spirit and become un born-again and revert to salvation the way it was in Old Covenant times?

Do you see what I am saying? Just use some plain logic. It could never be that the church would have to give up its new-birth and indwelling Holy Spirit. It is impossible.

You can’t have two types of salvation from two different dispensations running side by side with each other.

Where does that leave the church when the tribulation begins? – Raptured!

What I have just put before you is an absolutely undeniable proof of a pre-tribulation rapture.

Some post-tribulation rapture impossibilities:

If the church goes through the tribulation, the following verse means, that when all Israel is saved, the church will be saved!

Romans 11:25-26 “I do not desire brethren that you be ignorant of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own opinion, that hardening in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved.”

●In the tribulation period, the remnant Jews have to flee to Petra. If there is a post tribulation rapture; that means that the church has to go to Israel and flee to Petra!

●If the church goes through the tribulation, the Palestinians would be all over the entire church.

●The church is a mystery. Israel is never referred to as a mystery. Only her hardening in part is a mystery. (Romans 11:25)

●The church age ends with the appearing of our Lord in the air at the rapture. Israel’s history culminating in the seven-year tribulation ends with the Second Coming of our Lord to the earth.

Finally

If the church goes through the tribulation, there are very many, not just one or two verses that simply don’t make sense. Yes, yes I know all about the few verses that imply a post-tribulation rapture. When properly studied and taken in view of dispensations, they all fail.

I have written many editions on the rapture, under “Editions by subject” and “Rapture.”

The only position that fits the requirement of all scripture, the inner witness of the Spirit and pure logic, is the pre-trib rapture!

I have a lot more to come on these subjects in coming editions that will surprise you!

Oh yes, one last thing. When does the rapture happen? It is soon!

I took this picture of the Rhino in one our game reserves and added some texture effects and trees.

Shalom and grow in His Grace!

 

Edition 446: December 4^th 2018

End-time heresies:

Introduction:

The Bible itself, like a giant jigsaw puzzle of the ages, gives a picture of what right division and application of scripture looks like. So if you’re trying to build a doctrine that doesn’t look like the overall end picture, it is you who is wrong and needs changing.

Heresy: Strong’s G139 “Hairesis. Meanings: To choose for oneself or selective division.

It means to choose how much you will accept and reject. Heresy is cherry-picking within doctrine, rejecting other doctrine. It is a “damnable” practice according to scripture.

Galatians 1:9 “If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

The overall purpose of heresy is to get you sidetracked and into error, away from the truth.

Obviously, we have to be selective, but not at the expense or contradiction of other verses and doctrines. Everything must add up.

There is a big difference between interpretation of scripture and application. For example there are many things in the Old Covenant that may not be interpreted as being for us in the New, but they can still be examples for us today.

Bible dispensations (Ephesians 3:9-10, Hebrews 1:1 Colossians 1:25) are essential for keeping things in harmony and order. But there are those who over- dispensationalise, saying that nothing from one dispensation relates to the next. They are in a ditch.

Heresy is a particular end-time plague. It has brothers, sisters and cousins, who are: False prophets, false teachers, deceiving, seducing spirits. It will intensify in these days, but it has been a major problem and the chief cause of division throughout the age.

●Heresy is a spirit. It is a “spirit of error” within the church, mostly perpetrated by leaders and teachers. It is evident in those who are not led by the Spirit of truth.

Heresy is a church issue, it’s not external. One of the great problems is that it causes disunity and division in the church, which then prevents many from being saved. Have a look at this shocking verse below, and note how important unity is:

John 17:20-21 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me, that they may be one, as You Father are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

Biblical heresy has a dramatic, negative effect on the church and on the world. The world looks at the divisions and thinks God must be confused!

People fall for heresy because they are of the same spirit. ●They are ignorant of the scriptures. ●They are ignorant of the devil’s devices. ●They have no Spiritual gifts of revelation, protection or spiritual gifts of warfare.

People fall for heresy because they have a preconceived, erroneous belief on some issue and then chose selective verses, and cherry-pick to back them up.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers. They will turn away their ears from the truth and be turned aside to fables.”

1 Corinthians 11:18-19 “I hear that there divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be me recognised among you.”

The evil power of heresy:

1 Samuel 15:24 “Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned because I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and your words, because I feared the people, and I obeyed their voice.’”

1 Kings 18:21 “Elijah came to all the people and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ But the people answered him not a word.”

A double minded person is unstable in all his ways, says the Bible. Today, the power of the devil in the mass-media, entertainment, and the opinions of the masses is extremely strong and influential.

People, especially the young, acclimatise to room temperature. Its getting cold in here!

If you want to be a successful Christian in these days, you have to break this evil power. You must cast it down and throw it out. You can be so easily led into deception by the voice of the majority of the people. You can and must be led into separation from the world and its ways by our Lord.

Romans 16:17 “I urge you brethren, note those who cause divisions among you contrary to the doctrine you learned, and avoid them.”

Jude 1:18 “I told you that there would be mockers in the last time, who walk according to their ungodly lusts. They are sensual persons, causing divisions, not having the Spirit.”

When you are going the right way with our Lord, it will cause godly division!

John 7:43 “So there was a division among the people because of Him.”

I wonder how many church leaders have ever obeyed this verse below:

Titus 3:10-11 “Reject a diverse man (Lit= Heretic) after the first and second admonition (warning) knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”

Heresy will warp you. I know many who have become badly warped!

Isaiah 47:10 “You have trusted in wickedness, you have said, ‘No one sees me,’ your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you said in your heart, ‘I am and there is no one besides me.’”

The word “warped” means: twisting, inverting, corrupting, or changing, to lead people away.

Once a church leader or teacher has been warped by heresy, he changes into a pulpit-wolf. He is a minster of division and growing error.

The church consists of spiritual babies, adolescents, teens and the mature. All must be well fed. Wolves make bad babysitters!

Acts 20:27-31 “I have not shunned declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and the flock, amongst which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers...After my departure, savage wolves will come in not sparing the flock...And from among you men will rise up speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after themselves...Therefore watch!”

You can trust God’s truth. It is the great edifier. Bear in mind that part of being edified involves being terrified, which is just what the full truth does. Don’t cut out the severe and hard sayings, and the warnings of God!

Knowledge alone of the word, without the Spirit produces proud, arrogant, clever idiots. Pretence is not spiritual experience. You need to see through it.

What heresy is, and is not:

Heresy is not just a few minor differences in beliefs in the church. Those, we will always have. They should not be reasons for division.

A church must be well established on the foundation of the six major doctrines of Messiah in Hebrews 6:1-2. All true doctrines of the Bible can be found within this foundation.

Heresy attacks any of those foundational doctrinal beliefs.

Differing beliefs, especially within some cultures are fine, as long as the foundation is solid.

We must have unity within the foundation. Bear in mind that the church is the “pillar and foundation of truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15)

Heresy is a more intensive division and is clearly rooted in a spirit of error, attacking the very foundation of major beliefs.

How to identify this spirit in church leaders, teachers:

A Bible teacher must be be trusted. This divine is earned over time. It must be apparent in its longevity, endurance and consistency. It must be tested, and have visible biblical fruits. A teacher carries within him spiritual privilege, which carries great responsibility.

Teachers and leaders who fall into heresy have problems of pride, lack of repentance, and no fear of the Lord. Their fall into heresy is often a repeating pattern.

Sometimes people fall into heresy because they are products of this superficial instant, pop-up world. Their knowledge of scripture is shallow. They are not called.

The Bible teacher must be fully open to the entirety of the work of the Spirit of God, including openness to the gifts of the Spirit. This is an urgent need in these days of coming great attack on all the things of God.

Don’t waste your time on those with no time for God and His word, and don’t waste your time with teachers who are not clearly led by the Spirit. They are not qualified to be teachers. These are dangerous days indeed!

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (Amp) “The Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in the latter times, some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines taught by demons, through hypocrisy and pretension of liars whose consciences are seared.”

2 Peter 2:1-2 (Amp) “In those days there arose false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among yourselves, who will subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines and destructive heresies, even denying and disowning the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves, swift destruction...The truth will be maligned and defamed.”

Galatians 5:16-21 “Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfil the lust of the flesh....If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. Now, the works of the flesh are evident, which are: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissentions, heresies, envy murder, drunkenness, revelries and the like...Those who practise such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Many of you reading these very words have fallen for much heresy. The deeper you get into heresy, the more difficult it is to get out. There is a cross-over point where the spirits at work will lead you to become a full-blown cult member.

Heresy stabs at the essence of major doctrines of the Bible. Its activists choose and cherry pick their verses, but because they are led by the spirit of the false angel of light, they are producing a hell-hole, devoid of God. They are producing idols of their mind – for destruction.

At the end of the day, the heretic stabs, and cuts up the Bible to suit his demons!

Delightful dogs and despicable hounds:

Are you a sheepdog? Are you a true watchdog, a watchman on the wall? You need to be able to detect wolves in sheep’s clothing! There are many wolves among the flock. The Bible said that it would be an end-time plague. The true sheepdog knows the true sheep, and barks and warns when he sees the wolf disguised as a sheep.

But there are so-called sheepdogs, and shepherds who are dumb, stupid, blind, and asleep, and can’t see the wolf, and can’t bark to warn the sheep of the wolves. They can’t bark because they are despicable, dumb hounds!

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”

Isaiah 56:9-11 “All you beasts of the field, come to devour, all you beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, they love to slumber...They are shepherds who cannot understand. They all look to their own way, everyone for his own gain from his own territory.”

Do note the problem: “They look to their own way.” That is the wrong way for any watchman or teacher to look!!

People follow their leaders, which is well and good when the priests are priests of God. But when they not, there’s always trouble ahead. And by the way, today it is fashionable to question and disrespect authority of all forms, but especially the authority structures of God.

Did you know that God is going to destroy some people’s mothers?

Hosea 4:4-6 “...Your people are like those who contend with the priest. Therefore you shall stumble in the day. The prophet (false) will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother (false religion). My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge (of God), I will reject you from being a priest for Me.”

The danger of heresy is that it knocks on and affects many other doctrines.

Heresy and Israel:

Because God has a soon-coming, mighty plan for Israel, Jerusalem and the Jews, all things relating to this are under growing attack.

The greatest demonic-led attack on Israel by the church is replacement theology. It may not fit the traditional definition of heresy, but it is!

The beliefs of unsaved Israel now, is pure heresy at this stage, but because of the uniqueness of Israel, we know that is soon about to change.

Consider the following most important line of words:

Israel:●Elected ●Rebelled ●Rejected▐●Regathered ●Repented ●Accepted.

The words above are the most important in the world! They spell God’s entire plan of the ages, in a few words. In fact these six words above encompass more than a million books on the subject!

The thick division bar represents a horrifying division. Church ministers of replacement theology stop at the division bar. They believe the first three words, but then stop. You could name that thick bar Adolf! They insert the church right there replacing God’s climactic, glorious plan for end-time Israel with themselves.

The rapture will take place somewhere just after that division bar.

Please let this sink into your thinking. I’ve intentionally created this as a simple yet powerful illustration of the greatest drama of all time.

This will rock the world. Great heresy is already before us. We see it in growing anti-Semitism and all things that fall under the demonic Swastika – the symbol of world peace without Jews.

May I share with you a personal issue?

When I was a kid my mother taught at a Hebrew nursery school. From those days, she drummed it into me that the Jews had a special calling upon them and were to be respected and loved. We lived in a Jewish neighbourhood, so I grew up influenced by the Jews, Jewish customs, and Jewish girlfriends. I’ve always had a strong, enduring connection to them.

Now, as a believer, I can always tell, in five seconds, if a Bible teacher or minister has a heart for Israel or not. Sometimes I know it before he opens his mouth.

The big thing that I note and can feel and identify is - does he see Israel like a prodigal son – just like the Father does? Is there an excitement that the lost son is on his way home? Is there a spark in his eyes? Is there a heart-witness?

Some pastors preach excellent but terrible sermons. Their stuff is good – all from the Bible, but it is what they are silent on that gives them away!

Heresy today:

Heresy grows. It seldom comes manifest in its mature form.

It’s good to bear in mind that we are in a spiritual environment. Nothing is static. You are moving forward or backwards at any time.

People are on a journey. They are hot for our Lord, or warm, or lukewarm, or cold, or dead, or a habitation of demons.

The Spirit of the living God will warn you of heresy (if you have the gifts in operation) He will set off alarm bells and warning lights – that’s the time to get out and run away from it, not later on, after it has grown.

Galatians 5:9 “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”

1 John 2:26 “These things I have written to you, concerning those who try to deceive you.”

Any teaching that interferes with or changes established doctrine on salvation is a heretic. Any teaching that in anyway adds to or subtracts from the full revealed Bible is heresy.

●All forms of replacement theology end in heresy, because it gets rid of Israel now and ultimately leads to replacement reality and the antichrist!

Replacement theology is cherry picking and choosing selected verses above others, which refute their overall picture. It is the most widespread, enduring heresy ever.

●Coming under the law is a modern heresy, which includes some modern movements.

●Gnosticism and its offshoots is heresy.

Some of the following are pure heresy and some may not be heresy yet, but become so when in practised in excess:

●Emergent church teachings. ●Hyper-grace. ●Seeker sensitive movement. ●Liberal theology. ●Liberation theology. ●Universalism. ●Origenism (allegorical interpretation) ●All theology and teachings that underplay or avoid the full message of the cross, which includes the resurrection and ascension and the Second Coming.

If you are in a good church moving forward with our Lord, and your source of spiritual food and growth is good, pray for your leaders. Pray that it remains so. Pray that they continue on the cutting edge. Pray for your leaders! This is not a game, or a club, or an entertainment show! This is about eternal life – forever and ever.

Finally

Church history is full of shipwrecks -doctrinal shipwrecks and their wrecked captains! But right in the middle, the true stand securely.

New, intense doctrinal errors are arising, and will get worse as the coming of the Lord of glory, and the lord of evil approach!

Dividing and applying the truth must be Spirit led. "Rightly dividing" truth has a subtle presumption that it is right. In many cases it is, but it can be a powerful tool of the devil too.

The big questions to ask of any teacher are these: Does it glorify the living God. Does it exalt Him? Does it draw people closer to God? Is it costly to your ego and self-life? Does it all add up consistently with all doctrine? Does it bear witness in your spirit?

There is a huge shaking coming. Thankfully, it will shake many awake!

It’s a wonderful, glorious refreshing thing to be bathed in truth in these days!

I took these two pictures in the Chobe River area, Botswana.

Shalom and grow in His Grace!

 

Edition 445: November 27^th 2018

The world gets stoned:

Introduction:

The world has a nasty surprise coming. It is going to get stoned by God. The rock that God will use will be really strange. It will be a supernatural rock that will destroy the whole world! God has sent His Rock of ages to the world, but the world would not accept Him, so now comes a rock that will put the rock in David’s slingshot to shame!

Daniel 2:32-34 “The image had a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron and its feet partly of iron and clay... You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, struck the image on its feet and broke them in pieces...The iron, clay, bronze, silver and gold were crushed and became like chaff on the threshing floor...And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.”

Daniel 7:27 “The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.”

This is more than “sticks n stones breaking bones”! It’s more than the “axe laid at the root”!

The stone striking the feet of Daniel’s image, which represents all world empires, carries God’s destructive force, and divine power. This rock is the Rock at the Second Coming.

1 Peter 2:7-8 “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, and a stone of stumbling and offence. They stumbled being disobedient to the word...”

What’s it all about?

The world, led by its god, Satan, is undergoing a metamorphosis. The forces of evil are trying desperately to produce a global, one-world system. A unified world system would be extremely strong and almost impenetrable. The global elite want control of this unified world.

That’s what the think anyway, but it is Satan in them who wants ultimate control!

The big bottom line is that globalism is essentially about equality. We were not created equal. We were created free and should have equal opportunity. But equality itself, always has to be enforced, and is always at the expense of the free.

Equality reduces you to the lowest common denominator. God lifts you to the highest.

Freedom and equality then, are mutually exclusive.

In the Garden, Satan said to Adam and Eve – “you will be like God if you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”. Ever since then, mankind has believed the lie and tried to be like God, reaching God, through his elevated knowledge. But it failed over and over again.

Globalism minimises the significance of national borders, social and religious divisions, and policies in favour of a global, one-world ideology, including political, economic and military endeavours. It was first seen in Babylon and then in numerous world empires – all destroyed and gone.

To achieve one world you need unity, so you must remove everything that separates. That is, borders, national sovereignty, human individualism, family structure, patriotism and more. The law of God must be removed so that the lawless law of the world can replace it.

We are two worlds. We are in the world but not of it. The church is not government and the government is not the church.

Globalism presupposes a centralised form of control across multiple fields. But who is at the centre? Who is the controller?

Today we have a growing clash between a gospel-based worldview and a godless-based worldview. The conflict is rising to the surface fast. World-peace is the ultimate goal.

Yeshua did not come to bring peace on earth, but peace with God. There will be peace on earth when the earth is filled with those at peace with God. – It will be in the Millennium. To the world now, He brings a sword! (Matthew 10:34) Or should we say - a big Stone!

It’s good to remember that Satan is the author of war and peace (humanistic), and God is the author of divine war and peace. There is a war that is of God. Don’t shy away from that fact!

If the world could get rid of God, it would instantly snap together into a powerful unity, but full of all its evil, just like at Babylon. It is God Himself who is preventing world-unity and its product – peace.

If you can have world-peace without God, you don’t need God!

The world today is preparing itself excellently for the antichrist.

Globalisation works where there is no God. It produces unity, which is very powerful. “Nothing is withheld in unity.” (Genesis 11:6) The world today wants globalism. But God destroyed globalism at Babel. The reason was that unity outside of God produces a new-world in sin and of the devil.

Isaiah 48:11 “...I will not give My glory to another.”

Global interfaith:

The true church is the only thing in this world not headed by Satan. That is why God will remove the church before the stone strikes!

All world religions, including cross-less Christianity are already set to come into unity.

One-world can have many religions, but all with underlying humanism as the uniting force. The one true “religion” which separates, is biblical Christianity and must therefore go, to create world unity.

The attempted union of God and Satan through multi-faith is doomed. But it has an alluring attraction. When two become one, there is power, and that’s just what Satan wants.

By the way, the origin of the word “Yoga” is “union”. It comes from an ancient Hindu belief in the union of good and evil!

True oneness or unity only comes about one pure way! It does not come by mixture!

►The big shock to the world will be when they finally see that there always has been a one-world “religion” of peace, but they couldn’t see it or receive it, because it is in Him!

The temple in Jerusalem was always to be set apart, sanctified and holy. It was not to be a place of mixed religions like Babel. We will soon see a peace plan revealed for Israel, by the US. It will, no doubt, include a multi-faith dimension, for the new temple.

Because this new, third temple on the Temple Mount will be a multi-faith set-up, it will go towards a unified new world-order. God will allow it to be the headquarters of the antichrist for a short time!

The Islamic Dome of the Rock stands as a usurper on the Temple Mount. It is Satan’s counterfeit. Through the Dome, Islam claims victory over Israel and the church. But something will soon happen there to make way for dramatic prophetic fulfilment.

The world-system was built by man, just like Babel built of man-made bricks. The world has built itself without God. Peace only comes by justification! Justification only comes through the cross, which proclaims you and me – not guilty, and justified with God.

Pure feet!

John 13:8-10 “Peter said to Him, ‘You shall never wash my feet!’ Yeshua answered and said, ‘If I do not wash (your feet) you have no part with Me.’”

Our Lord washed the disciple’s feet. Peter wanted to be washed all over. Yeshua said that he only needed his feet washed because he was already clean all over. That is a wonderful type of our salvation, which is done (all over). We only need our feet washed (1John 1:9) which is a type of being forgiven for sins as we walk through this dusty sin-filled world.

The stone of God will hit Humpty Earth hard at its feet, and all the kings men will not put it together again in its present form. The King of kings will re-create it – holy and pure.

The earth’s “feet” have never been washed. They stink like they have been walking through dung. It has never been washed all over either!

We have treasure in earthen vessels. It is our “earthen vessels” that are purified as we take up our cross. But the world’s earthen-vessel feet are a mixture of iron and clay, and have no treasure inside.

We have been washed by our Lord all over, and our bare feet have been washed, by confession of sins. We are clean and we are on “holy ground!”

1 Samuel 2:9-10 “He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness. By strength (human) no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces. From heaven, He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.”

If you are truly saved, you will overcome the world and your feet will walk away from its darkness towards ever intensifying light.

The course of the kingdom of God is seen in:

●The Lamb, ●the Lion and ●the Dove.

The Lamb represents the cross of Calvary, and the church age. The Lion represents the judgement of God and the tribulation period. The Dove represents the coming new world of pure peace, righteousness and holiness.

The course of the end-time world is seen in:

●The Beast, ●the Dragon, and ●the Vultures.

The beast and the dragon represent the devil, and the antichrist. The vultures represent the great final wrath of God on the world at the Second Advent. (Matthew 24:28)

So if you could have world peace, the world’s way, you would have to include all of these factors above. You would be mixing two kingdoms together!

You would have to mix together the Lamb and the beast, the Lion and the dragon and the dove and the vultures! Sorryyy – they don’t mix!

So, we have two kingdoms in conflict revealed above. One kingdom has a right of admission reserved! You can only get in through shed blood, the cross, righteousness and holiness. The other is cross-less, bloodless and lawless - full of evil. Its blood is soon to be spilt!

Psalm 82:8 “Arise O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit all nations.”

John 14:17 “The world cannot receive the Spirit of truth, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwell with you and will be in you.”

Don’t allow the world-system to comfort you, it has ulterior motives. Behind it is the evil kosmokratos (world power). The world’s time is up! Can you hear the shofar blowing?

A failed world:

Every attempt to create a better world of peace has failed.

Mixture of good and evil is a satanic infusion and infiltration, an intrusion, which degrades and invalidates the whole.

The world-system is mentioned in type as Egypt, Babylon, Rome, Sodom and Gomorrah and more. All failed. You would think that people would learn!

Unholiness and unrighteousness are what God calls sin! You must separate them. “There is no peace for the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:22)

If there is no peace for the wicked, how can you have new-world peace without the cross?

“The whole world lies under the power of the evil one”. (1 John 5:19) The evil one is the “god of the world”. (2 Corinthians 4:4) “The evil one comes to kill, steal and destroy”. (John 10:10) He is the “father of lies”. (John 8:44) Satan is ruler of a “kingdom of darkness”. (Colossians 1:13)

So just looking these excerpts from the Bible, how can you have a successful new-world?

Failed, futile thinking:

The danger of ignorance is the presumption which takes its place!

Isaiah 29:15 “Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord, and their works are in the dark. They say, ‘who sees us and who knows us?’”

Job 34:17 “...Will you condemn Him who is most just?”

A view of God brought down to man’s level of understanding always results in many other evils. People with no fear of the Lord always try to think Him down to their level. These people always have a materialistic, me-now view of life, which puts the light of God out!

Babylon was destroyed by God for trying to make peace their way. The world today is trying to create world peace and peace in the Middle East / Israel by going its own way! Do you think it will succeed? If you do you should be stoned!

Psalm 119:128 “All Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right. I hate every false way.”

The only place of true international globalism, with no boundaries is in Messiah. In Him there is neither Jew nor Gentile, free or slave, male or female. We are one in Him. Out of Him we are not.

When in a deep hole it’s good to stop digging! You can’t stop a sinking ship with a big hole in it unless you fix the hole! The world’s ways are sinking fast and many Christians are, and should not be on board too!

Blind- Spot bias: Simply, this is failure to see the impact of their own error and judgment, while seeing only their own view through tunnel vision. It often leads to other biases and problems of understanding.

Blind-spot bias is a result of God’s doing. Unfortunately they are blind to the fact that they will soon be stoned and won’t go high – but low – very low!

Hear, see and feel:

1 John 4:5 “They are of the world, therefore the world hears them.”

Who hears you? Who do you hear? What telling questions.

The Holy Spirit brings revelation and light. The closer you get to the light the more you see and the clearer you see.

The problem is, with no spiritual light and sight, and no hearing, and no understanding and a hard heart to God – you are totally lost.

Isaiah 6:9-10 “Go and tell the people: They keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and return and be healed.”

This is God’s doing (above). It may seem cruel, but God will not allow ultimate success in Satan’s world without going through the sanctifying work and ways of the cross.

All Christians have only two possible sources of truth and wisdom. One is from above and one is from below.

At the end of the day you know deep down that you are with and for our Lord and His entire word, or not! When you are right with God, you are at peace with Him and at peace with yourself. You know it and feel it deep inside. It is a wonderful security!

Don’t get stoned:

The entire Bible is a vivid, succinct, staggering lesson from history that mankind does not learn from history and never has!

The answer for the true biblical Christian is not to be anywhere near the world when God’s stone strikes!

Jeremiah 51:49 “As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall; so at Babylon the slain of all the earth shall fall.”

Here, “Babylon” is a type of the world-system. We must be free to be separate from it all.

The Holy Spirit separates between truth and error and shows us things to come. He fills us with good fruits. He convicts us of sin righteousness and judgement to come. He comforts us. The unholy spirit does the opposite, being the discomforter!

2 Chronicles 36:14-16 “All the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the Lord, which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers...but they mocked the messengers of God, despised his words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.”

Beware! There is a limit to God’s grace! There is time where there is no remedy!

There should be a fast growing deep down inner sense of terror in the world now.

The stone grows and grows!

I said up front it was a strange “stone!”

Daniel 2:34 “The iron, clay, bronze, silver and gold were crushed and became like chaff on the threshing floor...And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.”

After the world get’s stoned – “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and He will reign forever and ever”. (Revelation 11:15)

Psalm 37:11-13 “The meek (humble) shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The wicked plots against the just and gnashes his teeth at him. The Lord laughs, for He sees his day coming.”

Finally

Romans 9:33 “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offence, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Matthew 21:44 “Whoever falls on this stone will be broken, but on whomever it falls will be crushed to powder.”

The world has a soon-coming appointment, with a Rock of wrath – one it will not miss. You can get out of the world now by falling on the Rock, and having God remove you by rapture before the Rock strikes.

One thing the world can’t do is save itself or get out of the way of this great Rock.

Being neutral, compromising or tolerant of the world-system will exacerbate your problems.

Tolerance is an idol of this present depraved world and is a sure sign of the coming judgment of its participants! Those trying to be relevant to the world have moved, removed or changed the scriptures and injured themselves greatly in so doing.

In these days at this particular time, the fullness of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit are absolutely essential to see, understand and be protected, and for ultimate success.

I took the background picture in the Namib Desert and mixed in an elephant close-up.

Shalom and grow in His Grace!

 

Edition 444: November 20^th 2018

A rapture ready heart:

Introduction.

Many people have tunnel vision as far as the rapture is concerned. They don’t want to pay the price to get their heart right before our Lord. It is much more important than you can imagine. Of course, the rapture is very important, but according to numerous (unpopular) verses, there will be far fewer that will be saved, and therefore rapture-ready than most people believe!

The soon-coming rapture will be a great shock for many who think they are right with God, who will be left behind to go through the seven-year tribulation period. Others will be saved, but will receive a puff of fast-disappearing smoke for their reward. Some will be richly, eternally, rewarded.

Don’t minimise the prize giving! “Run in such a way as to win the prize.”(1 Corinthians 9:24)

Job 27:6 “My righteousness I hold fast to, and I will not let it go. My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.”

You can be rapture-ready or tribulation-ready! You are destined for the Throne or Rome!

Isaiah 29:15 “Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord, and their works are in the dark. They say, ‘who sees us and who knows us?’”

What a big mistake!

Presumption, based on the opinions of the masses, is a very costly mistake.

Many study the letter of the word (logos) and in their pride, gain much knowledge, “puffing themselves up.” They think they are seeking God, but they mix their knowledge in the blender, with worldly philosophy, and end up worse than before. (Colossians 2:8)

Job 40:8 (Amp) “Will you annul and render void My judgement? Will you condemn Me that you may appear righteous and justified?”

Note in the verse above that when people try to justify themselves and their worldly ways, they have to come against God.

Psalm 50:21 “You thought I (God) was altogether like you, but I will reprove you.”

Psalm 10:13 “Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, ‘You will not require an account.”

These verses above are a shock indeed. They succinctly spell out the error of modern thinking. Tragically, a lot of these thoughts have come over into the church. In most cases, it is the counterfeit church, where these mistakes are found.

The pride of life:

A life of pride is a life exalted above God and His ways. It is deadly. (1 John 2:16)

Pride was the very sin that brought down Lucifer, Adam and numerous others. Lucifer was the highest of the arch-angels. He was the light-giver. Pride turned him into the deliverer of darkness, the chief of devils and demons, and the king of hell.

Pride in you gradually raises a veil of blindness over your understanding and squeezes the life of God out, leading you to destruction. (“God resists the proud.” James 4:6)

Pride distributes hell into your life, little bit by little bit.

Be aware that both pride and humility are active, powerful transforming agents. Practised humility has devastating effects on pride and its related sins.

Pride blinds and blindness leaves you with no light, and this sets you up for great deception!

Job 18:5-7 (Amp) “The light of the wicked indeed goes out and the flame of his fire does not shine. The light shall be darkness in his dwelling...The steps of his strength shall be shortened, and his own counsel in which he trusted, shall bring about his downfall.”

Job 18:18 “He is driven from light into darkness...”

Psalm 97:11 “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.”

No rapture, they say!

One of the biggest deceptions is that there will be no rapture. “Everything will continue as it always has done!” (2 Peter 3:4)

Interestingly, many of those who believe these things also reject the reality of hell and eternal judgement. (Hebrews 6:2)

If people don’t teach on the rapture, or know about it, according to the scriptures, they will have no hope of His coming and no expectation. (1 John 3:3) You may think that’s fine. It is not! You will then have your hope anchored in the world!

Hebrews 6:19 (Amp) “We have this hope as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, which cannot break; a hope that reaches the Presence, behind the veil.”

“Reaching the Presence” here could well apply to the rapture!

Interestingly there are many consistencies amongst those who deny the rapture. Almost without exception they are absolutely wrong on all prophecy relating to Israel and that’s a huge amount! They normally have hearts in tune with the world, the media, the movies and the like.

They are products of a well mixed, wishy-washy, worldly, compromised gospel of hogwash.

Did you know that there is a rapture at the end of the tribulation – at the Second Coming? It’s a rapture to hell of all unbelievers. The Bible also refers to it as: “The feast of vultures!”

To be a victim of the vultures you just need to be yourself, and flow with the masses.

The rapture ready heart:

It is so important to have a ready heart. If we have to wait a little longer, we will be ready.

Psalm 24:3-4 “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord, or stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart...”

Psalm 15:1 “Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? It is he who walks uprightly (holy) and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.”

Psalm 17:15 “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”

Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves in righteousness; reap in mercy. Break up your fallow ground, (hard hearts) for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”

If saved, you are already right with God in spirit, but we all need to be right in soul as well. The key words from these verses above are: ●Clean hands, ●a pure heart, ●walking in holiness, ●working righteousness, ●speaking truth, ●living in His likeness ●breaking of hard hearts.

In search of quality!

Jeremiah 2:21 “I have planted you, a noble vine, a seed of the highest quality.”

1 Corinthians 3:13 “Each one’s work will become manifest: For the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work of what sort (Lit=quality) it is.”

As a believer, you are all called to change and transfer the quality in your heart to your soul.

If you seek the Lord and refuse to change, you won’t find Him. He is not there.

Quality people are those who have depth of experience with God. You transmit and impart what you are, which comes from whom or what you submit to and how much renewal you have achieved.

John 17:19 “For their sakes, I sanctify (set apart) Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”

The working “tools” God has given us are His cross and our own cross to take up daily. His tools include pure undiluted, Spirit-led truth – all of it.

Messing with the truth is one of the sure ways to blurred, hazy, foggy, neutralised, lukewarm Christian hogwash.

God gave us the cross and the cross applied, now gives us God, pure and holy.

Proverbs 27:7 “To a hungry soul even the bitter is sweet.”

“Be perfect” is the command of our Lord. It is not, become perfect, but be perfect. It is Messiah in you the hope of glory. He is in you and we are to reproduce the original!

Through the cross we as Christians died, were buried, were resurrected from the dead, are seated in heaven, justified and made holy. And technically, it all happened before the foundation of the world!

Here is good news to anyone who has been involved in curse-generating activities, or even has generational curses over them: “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13) Our Lord has taken that curse upon Himself at the cross. You are now free indeed, through the cross.

To add to all of this, the kingdom of God has been deposited in our hearts as believers. This kingdom and its fruits must displace the kingdom of the world in us, through Adam.

The amazing Temple of quality:

The meaning of the word “temple” is: “Consecrated or sacred, a separated place” (Strong’s G2411)

This word meaning is incredible indeed. It relates to the physical temple in Jerusalem, but the Bible calls the believers heart – the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19) So, we are the temple of God. But please note the meanings!

Now let’s go a little further:

The word “Salvation” in Hebrew is “Yeshua.” In Greek it is “Stoteria.” It means “Set apart” or “deliverance.”

The words, Holy, Saint, Sanctify, Salvation, and Temple, all have the same root meaning which is: “Separate, Apart.”

Do you see the incredible consistency? Do you see why we have no truck with the world?

As true end-time temples of the Lord we are to be separate and apart from the world-system and its ways and influences. If you are truly born of the Spirit of God you will see and understand these things – you will overcome the world. (1 John 5:4)

It’s important to know that true biblical Christianity is radical and different, compared to the spiritual climate of the day. You won’t find it in many churches today. Our Lord Himself would not be welcome in many churches! They would throw Him and His radical ways out.

Everyone will have all their beliefs corrected by God soon. For many – too late!

You don’t have to have every last detail of your beliefs correct right now, although that is first prize, but you do have to bow your heart in humility and surrender now. Every knee will bow...every one!

►The new believer with a heart bowed to our Lord will be rapture ready. The Christian deeply rooted in the word of God, led by the Spirit, will be safe and rapture ready.

The cross roads:

The roads to eternity cross each other at the great wide gulf or chasm which is impassable. The cross stands right there at the edge. To cross the valley of destruction you have to embrace, wear, take-up, and eat the cross, getting it on the inside of you. (Jeremiah 15:16)

You can only be safe in the world in the cross!

We see this pathway in the Lamb, the Lion and the Dove. Our Lord went like a “lamb to the slaughter” and paid the extremely high price for our salvation. But He is also the Lion of the Jews and a Lion to all who won’t receive Him. The Dove of the Holy Spirit represents the coming of peace after judgement, as it was in the days of Noah.

Those who reject the Lamb, the Lion and the Dove, will by default receive the beast, the dragon and vultures.

Make sure you choose the right road!

The heart of the believer:

Hebrews 4:12 (Amp) “The word of God speaks, is alive and full of power – making it active, operative, energising and effective. It is sharper than any two edged sword, penetrating to the dividing of the breath of life (soul) and the immortal spirit and the body, exposing and sifting and analysing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.”

Today the very heart of Christianity is under attack. You must be aware of the devil’s devices and his methods of getting at your heart to bring you down. One of the powerful, evil spirits at work is the Jezebel spirit, which operates mainly through women but is also clearly evident in men and in church leadership.

●The Jezebel spirit is alive and well and at work in most churches today. This spirit is designed to bring down God’s authority structures and replace them with illegitimate ways.

●The word “Jezebel” (Lyzebel in Hebrew) means “Baal exalts.” The word, “Baal” means, “lord.” Obviously this is the false lord!

This spirit is all about control – exalted satanic control. It is identifiable (not exclusively) in some surprising ways.

2 Kings 9:30 “When Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it, and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head...”

Hebrew word studies reveal that the “paint on her eyes” was a thick mascara of sorts, curving up an outwards from the corner of the eyes, giving a false sense of attention-demanding importance.

There is a spirit behind this form and style of make-up and dress.

You must renounce the spirit, seek deliverance from it, and cast it out, which most time involves throwing the individual out of the church, banishing them.

The Jezebel spirit is closely associated with the Nicolaitan spirit. Both want control and domination. This spirit is seen in the leadership. It operates in pride and lies, using false humility. It pits people against each other. It targets the gullible amongst the laity. It has an appearance of exalted authority.

●The Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6, 2:14-15) were established in the church. The word means “to conquer the laity or people.” They taught that grace meant total liberty and licence. They were distinguished by clothing or appearances that separated them “above” the laity, giving them a false sense of pride-based authority.

The Nicolaitan spirit is seen in ministers who separate themselves above the laity in dress, titles, mannerisms or appearance or authority.

The Jezebel and Nicolaitan spirits are twins trying to usurp spiritual authority to bring down the work of God in an individual’s heart or the church corporately.

Note that our Lord says that “He hates the deeds and the doctrines of the Nicolaitans! (Revelation 2:6, 2:14-15)

Examine your heart

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?”

Jeremiah 29:13-14 “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek for Me with all of your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord...”

Psalm 119:162 “...My heart stands in awe of Your word.”

There is a very sure way to examine and know your heart. Go to the Lord in sincere prayer and ask Him to show it to you. Tell Him that you are choosing the fear of the Lord in the process. You will soon see your own heart and what is required.

The heart of the world:

1 John 5:19 “We know that we are of God and the whole world lies under the power of the wicked one.”

It’s not parts of the world that are under the dominion of Satan – it’s the entire world system.

The world can never create true world peace. It is of the wrong spirit!

We pursue that which we value. “Where your treasure is there your heart will be." Too many have the world’s materialism and ways as their treasure! Their hearts are rotten.

Most are not living, they’re just existing in a superficial digital, automated world with no heart. They have no depth of life. Their lives are filled with illegitimate things. Their drugs, sex and rock and roll, can’t fulfil them, and never will.

These days so many are so shallow, but sometimes you find someone that really strikes you, and immediately your hearts bond.

The heart of Israel:

Deuteronomy 4:29-31 “You (Israel) will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you seek Him with all your soul. When you are in distress (tribulation) and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice, He will not forsake you, nor destroy you, nor forget His covenant with you.”

Israel’s harlotry and disobedience is well documented in the scriptures. Because of it she has brought judgement on herself, BUT there is always a BUT!

Ezekiel 16:38 “I will judge you (Israel) as women who break wedlock or shed blood are judged: I will bring blood upon you in fury and jealousy!”

BUT, just a few verses on:

Ezekiel 16:60 “Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.”

Many say that Jews must convert to Christianity! Well if that is so, is it Catholicism, maybe Calvinism. Perhaps they must become Methodists or Anglicans or, or, or! Well, at least they must celebrate Christian Christmas and pagan Easter and eat a ham sandwich!

To the shame of Christianity, there are over 35,000 denominations (including the splits.) Most are full of Babylonian paganism of sorts.

No, Jews are to convert to their Jewish Messiah, who is our Messiah and return to pure sin-free, denomination (division)-free worship.

To be silent on Israel in these prophetic days is to side with God’s enemy.

►Israel’s anthem is beautiful.

I’ve adapted some of the phrases into the following “poem” for your benefit.

The ancient hope of Israel is not lost. As long as the precious wall remains and the humbled gates beckon, the eyes will well up with tears. The daughter of Zion, of Jerusalem speaks and calls for peace. The voice of God in the veins of Jewish blood, cries out for ultimate victory. The spilt blood of the defenders of God’s call to return; turns to dewdrops of coming fertility. The living God is your healer and peacemaker, O Israel.

Finally

Isaiah 8:14 Amp “He shall be for a sanctuary – a sacred indestructible asylum to those who reverently fear and trust in Him...”

Psalm 27:4 “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord.”

1 Peter 1:8-9 “Now you do not see Him, yet believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls.”

I took these two pictures at Etosha, Namibia and blended them together.

Shalom and grow in His Grace!

 

Edition 443: November 13^th 2018

Wonders of the Millennium:

Introduction:

We are getting closer to the end of this age, and then the tribulation period begins lasting for seven years, and then the Millennium. In many ways the Millennium will be like Eden. It will see the earth restored to the way it was meant to be, before the fall of man.

We must bear in mind that God’s creation includes, nature, wildlife and environment. It includes the entire world of animal species, as well as the great physical landscapes. It also includes every inch of the entire universe and worlds we had no idea existed.

The wilderness is a fragile treasure, with many hidden messages revealing God (Romans 1:20), and showing the heart of man. Environment, biodiversity, and all things natural are inextricably linked.

Nature and environment is God’s art, His music, and His poetry and must be seen as such. When you do, you impute required value to the wilds! Man by nature, preserves and protects what he values.

We are all well-aware that man has made a mess of his job as custodian and steward of nature. But what is coming will blow Satan’s plans to hell, and blow your socks off in wonder and awe!

Deliberate environment destruction is Satan’s attack on God. That’s all about to end.

God’s concern and love of nature is about to be revealed in a spectacular new world.

Beauty:

There are a number of words translated - “beauty” in the Bible. But one of them has an incredible, insightful meaning. It applies to our Lord and to you – in resurrection! Only those born-again of God will soon be exquisitely beautiful, forever!

Beauty: Strong’s H1927 “Hadarah.” Meanings: Adornment of glory, holy glory, splendour, perfection.

Psalm 96:9 “Oh worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him all the earth.”

Psalm 50:2 “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth.”

Isaiah 33:17 “Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; they will see the land that is far off.”

Believers have a glorious, beautiful future ahead in all respects. Now, we are like grounded eagles.

Habakkuk 2:14 “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea,”

The Millennium will be part of the kingdom of God.

Romans 14:17 “The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Note the word “righteousness” in the verse above. It means right standing or being right with God by justification through the new-birth. It is exclusive to the new-birth. Note the fruits of peace and joy.

The essence of Satan’s kingdom is: unrighteousness, false peace and temporary happiness.

The outcome of your choice to go with God, or go with world will have eternal consequences.

Worlds to come:

This present world-system will soon be destroyed and a new glorious, pure, holy and righteous world will come about. This is the Millennium. After that, comes the “eternity of eternities, which we know very little about.

2 Peter 3:13 “We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

Hell, in a sense is an eternal world as well.

Yes there are other worlds out there with life on them. The Bible hints at them.

The original word used for “worlds” is aion and can be translated “age.” It has a number of applications making it plural, and is better translated “worlds” as it is in the two verses below.

Hebrews 1:2 “He made the worlds.”

Hebrews 11:3 “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed, by the word of God...”

Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork.”

Born-again, resurrected believers will not be confined to this earth in the Millennium. It is those who were saved in the tribulation who will go through into the earthly Millennium, with longevity restored, but in natural bodies.

Those who have returned from the marriage of Lamb in heaven will be set up in the New Jerusalem, which will “fly” mysteriously above the earth. Believers will be engaged in ruling and reigning on earth as well, and wherever else we are commission to in the universe!

Of course there may be variations to all of this. We can’t be absolutely sure of the little details, but there is enough in the Bible to set our hearts on fire in faith for this grand future.

How the earth got into such a mess:

God created the earth in perfection as a dwelling place for man, the pinnacle of His creation.

Psalm 115:16 “The heaven even the heavens are the Lord’s; but the earth, He has given to the children of men.”

Then came Satan, who infiltrated Eden and its residents. The great fall of man was followed by an all-encompassing curse. Man rejected God’s way and chose his own. That developed over time into godless humanism.

We see it characterised in: ●Darwin, representing creation without God. ●Freud, representing the soul without God. ●Marx, representing the socio-political / economic world without God. All are a godless failure.

All attempts by the world to make the world a place of world peace have not only failed, but been destroyed by God, all for the reason that God and His ways were excluded!

Isaiah 24: 4-6 “The earth mourns and fades away; the world languishes and fades away. The haughty people of the earth languish. The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are desolate...”

Hosea 4:1-3 “Hear the word of the Lord you children of Israel, for the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth, mercy or knowledge of God in the land...therefore the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air, even the fish of the sea will be taken away.”

Way back in my teenage years I developed a love and passion for the great wilds. I did much work, most of my adult life for endangered species and the preservation of environment. Soon after I was saved in 1976, the verse below sprang to life for me personally.

Jeremiah 9:10 “I will take up a weeping and a wailing for the mountains and for the habitation of the wilderness a lamentation, because the are burned up, so that no one can pass through them. Both the birds and the beasts have fled; they are gone.”

I have a close affinity with the wilds. I used my position in the media to bring awareness and support for wildlife and the environment, for many years.

Proverbs 31:8 “Open your mouth for the speechless.”

It’s important to understand the position of wildlife, wilderness, environment and nature in the earth because it is all part of God’s creation, and He puts great value on it.

Psalm 50:10-11 “Every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.”

Psalm 104:24-25 “O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom, You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions – this great and wide sea, in which are innumerable teeming things, living things, both small and great.”

Satan will be bound in the Millennium, the curse on mankind and on nature will be gone. But just before we get to the Millennium, in the soon-coming seven year tribulation period, nature itself will become man’s worst enemy!

Surprise, surprise... nature will be changed, but it will be no friend of man. It’s almost as though God himself gives nature the chance for incredible revenge in a rampage of terror on this world.

The tribulation will be a time like no other! (Matthew 24:21, Daniel 12:1, Joel 2:2)

The world will see the “wrath of God” the “wrath of man” the “wrath of Satan” and the “wrath of nature” all manifesting at the same time. The same sort of massive demonstrative judgments of the Old Testament will be back, but much worse.

So, before the Millennium begins the earth will see nature’s last stand in revolt against man!

The earth mourns:

War, politics, greed and ignorance have already plunged huge numbers of species into extinction, reflecting the evil heart of man and the course of the world.

The loud, living wilderness is fast becoming a silent desert in many places. The world will soon end up where it is headed. You can see how Satan in many false religions disrespects, hates, misuses and kills God’s creation. The plight of the rhino being a case in point!

Mankind was ordained to be stewards of God’s creation. He has turned that stewardship it into cruel domination. The wolrd will pay the price!

Because of new-age involvement in all things green, that does not mean that we relinquish our own responsibility to manage God’s green, living art. Oh, did you know God is green?

Job 39:8 “The range of the mountains is His pasture, and He searches after every green thing.”

The earth gets excited!

Romans 8:18-22 “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God...The creation itself will also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know the whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs together until now.”

Can you hear creation groaning? I can! But it also has within the groan a growing excited, and an earnest expectation. What is this great expectation of creation? It is the revealing and manifestation of the glorified saints in the Millennium!

The groaning of creation is starting to turn to a hum. Soon it will be song, and then a massive orchestral celebration!

There are so many things in the Millennium that will be truly wonderful and amazing. One of these things will be some sort of new covenant with nature and all of creation. Here is a hint of it:

►Hosea 2:18 “In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beast of the field, the birds of the air and the creeping things. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, to make them lie down safely.”

►Job 5:22-23 “You shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth, for you shall have a covenant with the stones of the field; the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.”

Note that the two verses above are the opposite of the verse below showing the result of the curse originating with Adam.

Genesis 9:2 “The fear of you (man) and the dread of you shall be on every beast, and bird of the air, on all that moves on the earth and in the sea.”

So God brings us, the church into the New Covenant. He brings Israel into the New Covenant and He brings nature itself into the New Covenant.

By the way, the crown of thorns was in fact payment for the curse on nature, which originally manifested in the environment springing forth in thorns. (Genesis 3:17-18)

The excitement of nature in Israel:

Isaiah 35:1-6 “The wilderness and the desert shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as a rose...Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped...Waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.” (See Isaiah 27:6)

This portion of scripture above (and many more) speaks of the anticipation of nature ahead of the coming salvation of the Jews. In fact this has all been happening for a while already. The deserts of Israel began to spring to life just after Israel’s independence in 1945, which is a precursor to their soon-coming salvation.

Israel, the head of the nations:

Jeremiah 31:7 “Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief (Lit=head) of the nations; proclaim, give praise and say, O Lord save Your people, the remnant of Israel.”

Israel will be a blessing to all nations and bring peace to the world in the Millennium.

The world’s god, Satan knows that Israel will become holy, righteous, and redeemed of God in the tribulation, and will be the agent of salvation to the world. This is why Satan’s people hate Israel.

Isaiah 4:2 “In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious; and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped. It shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and he who remains in Jerusalem will be called holy.”

Isaiah 52:9-10 “...The Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has revealed His power in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

Israel’s eagles:

In Israel there are two significant eagles of note: The Imperial Eagle and the Golden Eagle. The former speaks of kingly rule and the latter of royalty.

Here are some amazing characteristics of eagles:

●They don’t flap around excessively. ●They mount up on their wings. ●They soar above the world. ●They stir up the nest and throw the young out teaching them to fly. ●They fly and hunt alone. ●They are the highest fliers. ●Their call is a piercing scream. ●They attack when the sun (Son) is behind them. ●They fly staring into the sun (Son) with their two eyelids generating strength into their cylindrical bones. ●They have incredible eye sight. ●They have one enemy, the serpent. ●Eagles represent power, freedom and transcendence, beauty, honour, grace. ●They are true riders of the storm!

Isaiah 40:31 “Those who wait on the Lord, shall renew (Lit=exchange) their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Eden returns:

Ezekiel 36:35 “So they will say, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden...”

Isaiah 51:3 “For the Lord (when) will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.”

Isaiah 11:6-9 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat. The calf and the young lion; a little child shall lead them...The lion shall eat straw like an ox...They shall not hurt nor destroy in My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord.”

Isaiah 32:15-16 “When the Spirit is poured out from on high, the wilderness shall become fertile...Then justice will dwell in the wilderness. The work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.”

The verses above give a wonderful insight into what’s coming – and soon!

All creatures great and small:

1 Corinthians 2:9 “Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

At the end of the day, all creatures will praise and worship our Lord of all. That includes many strange heavenly creatures too.

There are strange fiery, living creatures inside flying “wheels within wheels”, the colours of “awesome crystals” (Ezekiel 1:19-28)

There are Seraphim, Cherubim , six-winged creatures full of eyes, four winged creatures and more! (Isaiah 6:2) There are creatures with four faces, flying like eagles (Revelation 4:7) Multitudes of angels and celestial beings, the heavenly host, and the mighty ones. (And you too!)

Seraphim means “the burning ones” and points to purity, power and judgement.

Numerous verses speak of the colours of heaven, and the New Jerusalem. They include: Gold, blue, purple, silver and green. Others speak of incredible supernatural trees and spectacular plants.

By contrast the Bible reveals the creatures of hell: Devouring locusts and scorpions with special tormenting powers (Revelation 9:3-10). Leviathan (Isaiah 27:1) a serpent-like dragon, or sea monster of chaos. Horned beasts and monsters (Revelation 13:1)

Summary:

This is a huge very exciting subject. I will deal with other aspects further down the line.

The Millennium will be characterised by Kingly rule, and the full manifestation of glory in our Lord, in His people in the earth and in the universe. It will be characterised by all truth.

Psalm 85:10 “Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth.”

There will be a unified language. (Zephaniah 3:9) And not before the Millennium!

Finally

The purpose of this edition is to give you a glimpse into the near-future and the glory that lies ahead for the saved of God. Be encouraged and look ahead with your eyes of faith.

2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is just for a moment, is working for us, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

1 Corinthians 15:49 “And we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the form of the heavenly Man.”

Psalm 37:11-13 “The meek (humble) shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The wicked plots against the just and gnashes his teeth at him. The Lord laughs, for He sees his day coming.”

The final enemy, death will be destroyed forever.

We are about to witness the kiss of God on all creation. No it’s not a princess kissing a frog. It’s the Prince and His kiss will do a lot more than transform frogs!

I took this picture of the giant baobab tree in the Limpopo region and the flowers in the Namaqualand Desert. I created the picture above in the main body from a picture I did in the Drakensberg Mountains, mixing it with a picture I took at Augrabies Falls and a fish eagle.

Shalom and grow in His Grace!