Tag: Jesus Return

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Preparing the Bride of Jesus Christ

Challenged like never before?

If you are feeling challenged like never before, I don’t need to explain — given the politics and societal rapid decline, or witnessing physical and mental health issues like never before — I don’t need to explain or give detail, do I?

If you have been watching and connect the dots, you’ll see the conspiracy theory walking into reality. The World Economic Forum and IMF (International Monetary Fund)  are dictating national financial policy; the G20 is being led by the unelected; the UN and all its associated bodies are telling us how to live: redefining good and evil. You’ll observe the overall national decline in the UK for example, and recognise it is the consequence of society finally catching up with our lack of reference to GOD. There has been just enough delay after turning our backs on the Yehovah GOD and His Son Yeshua/Jesus, to question whether there is a connection between the decline of democracy and economic success and its lack of reverence for the Creator. We worship the planet and seek to save the planet, rather than to worship the Creator and save the people on it. Hmm… do you think there is a connection?

The LORD allows sight to those who desire to see, and blindness to those who do not. (Matthew 11:25)

So, I write today to say we can hold on… The future in our nation of UK, and pretty much any Western nation, looks bleak. Poverty and powerlessness have come at last to the bastions of freedom. Western democracy is all but gone, as politicians put infighting and satisfying lobbyists and media over running the country.

And so we ask, “Where are you LORD?” Well, the Word has already told us —  

“Trust in the LORD and lean not on your own understanding… In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:4-8)

These wars and evils only mark the beginning of sorrows. There is much more in store, all of which is triggered by man’s choice to control and the exclaimed priority being climate control. It is the religion of the 21st Century. Zealots are everywhere, their voices heard and followed by those full of fear or seeking something to worship. The void has been filled at last. 

It is Satan who is behind this and whether he is unshackled or merely shaking the chains (Jude 1:6), on the time line of eternity, decline of common sense and common decency is rapid now, pervasive, and it would seem unstoppable.

So, we need to decide: do we still believe Jesus or do we give up?

As we move forward in this day, these times, we know that GOD is for us. “If GOD be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

We forge on, knowing our Saviour and Lord is interceding and the Creator GOD, Yehovah, Father of us all, is waiting for His kingdom to come upon the earth as it is in heaven. And we pray! Holy Spirit fill us, help us to walk in Your anointing, help us to surrender our everything to You and enable us to walk in Your strength, joy, comfort, love, that we will comfort others with the comfort You give to us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Preparing the Bride of Jesus Christ

Prepare – Prepare – Prepare!

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

I keep having dreams the bottom line message being “Prepare”.

I am not one for prophetic dreams. There was a phase of several years where I did not remember my dreams at all! Before that, I used to dream stories, some of which have become short stories and books (some published, some on the shelf). But over the last couple of years, I’ve tended to dream messages which tell me to ‘be prepared’ — for a worsening scenario on the society scope.

John the Baptist said, “Prepare ye the way of the LORD”. 

I am dreaming, Prepare dreams: preparing landscape, preparing buildings, preparing farmland, preparing young women by encouraging character growth… I’m preparing for something….. 

Yet, this morning I awoke and thought to write this post.

How short is our time?

When is Jesus to return? 

About 18 months ago, the LORD spoke to my heart and said simply, “Jesus is returning soon”. Well, we know from scripture that GOD’s quickly and ours is not the same sort of time line. McDonald’s fast food ‘soon’ and the Father’s ‘soon’ are worlds apart.

In Revelations 3:11 Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”

Preparing the Bride

I write “Preparing the Bride” in an effort to offer depth and breadth of Biblical understanding to encourage us all to grow in the LORD, to deepen our faith, trust, responsibility, readiness for the return of our Lord.

The wise and foolish virgins

Have a look at Matthew 25:1-13. I highlight the following, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour [b]in which the Son of Man is coming.”

This familiar parable is for all of us to remember along with “… I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23) to remind us, to ensure we are wise and ready. The oil in the lamps is compared to the oil of the Holy Spirit, the surrender of our souls, to willingness to follow. 

Elisha did not leave Elijah but clung to his presence, not wanting to miss his teacher’s departing. Elisha did not miss that moment when Elijah was taken up as recorded in 2 Kings 2 and was rewarded a double portion of anointing in his own life as a prophet.

Likewise, we do not want to miss what the LORD has for us: here on earth and in heaven. So let us continue to be ready, to be prepared for Jesus’ return, not dwelling on the riches of this world nor rewards here on earth, but on the eternal presence and eternal rewards — such as the crown of life (James 1:12, Revelation 2:10)

Wearing our love and our armour

Today we who are In Christ must wear our love and our armour….. for we wrestle not against flesh but against powers and principalities. May I encourage us to do deeper study of 1John 3:16-24, 1 Corinthians 13:4-12 and Ephesians 6:10-20, to develop a clearer, deeper, fuller understanding of how we may love the LORD our GOD with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and love our neighbour as ourselves… even our enemies.

May the word of Yeshua Jesus dwell in us richly! (Colossians 3:16)

Added bonus

When we are in heaven, taken up as in a rapture, or when the LORD takes us in death — I know not which — let us be all He has created us to be, to the best that our surrender, love, joy, compassion and peace will enable us to be. And then we will have “no more tears”, perhaps even to meet our previous-departed loved ones, and many of the saints that have gone before us, including the prophets of old and of course, Yeshua / Jesus himself.

Hallelujah!

Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus.

Categories
Examining Biblical Scripture Politics and Society today

America has fallen: doom but not gloom

America has fallen. It’s doom… but it’s not gloom.

At last, the beautiful and wonderful and Godly beacon of light to so many other nations, for truth and liberty, prosperity and democracy, and “in God we trust” is busted.

It has been falling for a long time. Some Believers have been steadfast for Jesus, but many, many Americans and the nature of American society has been turning, over a time span of decades, from purity and holiness intended by the founding fathers, to degradation, greed, lust and so much more evil.  Last night, as Americans stormed the Capital in Washington DC, as Senators and Governors debated inside about the fraudulent election and what — if anything — to do about it, America landed in muck! And it is unlikely ever to get out of it…. it is more like quicksand than dung or mud or any other filthy substance we can wash from.

I’m sorry. I have good news but that comes at the end of the article.

Jeremiah 14-16

I have been reading Jeremiah, chapters 14-16. Some dear sisters in the LORD have pointed this to me today, and I’ve picked up on it. 

The verses in Jeremiah which jump out at me this day are, 

14:11-12: Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for this people, for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Bu tI will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.”

To my view, this are a direct warning from God

14:21b: Remember, do not break Your covenant with us.

To my view, this a demonstration of the cries (or manipulations) of the Jewish prayers

15:19b: You shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, but you must not return to them.

To my view, here is an example of the directness of Yehovah and Jeremiah in discussion

16:10b-11: Why has the LORD pronounces all this great disaster against us? Or what is our iniquity? Or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?

My response: ‘Oh, the vanity of the Jewish response to God’s warning’

As you have a look at these three chapters in Jeremiah, I wonder if you’ll spot a pattern within these chapters which shows a bleak though relevant outcome in the Word. I did.

Back to America

America is in chaos. At this opportunity, I’m not going to preach sides. That’s not what this post is about. There was a president in office who was pro-life and pro-Israel. This gave huge encouragement to those in or supportive of those “camps” and tremendous consternation to those with opposing views. At the heart of the matter, many and most Christians thought of Donald Trump as a modern-day Cyrus, and one who certainly was beneficial to the causes of and perspective of Christians. It is primarily to you that I am writing…

How Trump “lost”

This doesn’t boil down to one issue. At best, it is complicated. And I even put “lost” in parenthesis to account for the debate over whether he won a huge majority and was cheated or he lost the vote. 

God is sovereign. Trump leaving office is not something God didn’t know about or expect; it isn’t something that the enemy slide by the Father. The loss also doesn’t mean that Trump was all the things the media and his opponents said he was: a liar, a cheat, disreputable, crooked. Nor does it mean Trump was not God’s choice in 2016. The loss also doesn’t mean that the American Constitution failed. If the result of the election is fraudulent, it isn’t something the Constitution couldn’t have handled. No, my thought is that Trump lost for one key reason…

Moses strikes the rock in anger

In Numbers 20:10-11 it states, And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock? Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.”

But the LORD was not pleased with Moses and Aaron. Verse 12 continues, Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe me, to hallow me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 21:12)

At the end of Deuteronomy, nearing the time of Moses’ death, the LORD leads Moses up Mount Nebo and shows him all the land and says, “…This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, “I will give it to your descendants.” I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” (Deuteronomy 34:4).

Moses died in Moab, without entering the Promised Land.


Hold this truth and draw it into what I shall say about the end of President Trump’s time in office.

Why Trump lost

You will know, those who follow what I write about or what makes me “tick”, that my hubby and I have been building a ministry called Sabbath Rest Ministries. Now before you wonder at the strange digression from Trump v Biden, and the United States and its democratic structure, read on. Sabbath is totally relevant to GOD. Anyone who follows Yehovah and His son Yeshua/Jesus will be familiar with the 10 Commandments and the fulfilment of those by Jesus. Do you also know what is the Sabbath which Jesus upheld?

God’s Sabbath is the seventh day of the week. The Hebrews knew when the Sabbath was and historically, so do we. It is what we in English call Saturday. Sunday became “the Lord’s Day” by papal decree some time after Constantine declared Christianity to be the state religion of Rome. The Sunday worship originated from the Roman Catholics.

If you study scripture (another time I might highlight certain scriptural references), you will learn that the Sabbath is of critical importance to our God. It is the seal which He places upon His children. It is the day of rest which He created and stipulated. It is made for man, not man for it. It is the most detailed commandment which the LORD defines in scripture.

Exodus 20:8-11 says, Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your email servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that sin them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

God has never changed the Sabbath, though man changed the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday — thereby separating Christianity from Jewish tradition. As it was done by what is the Roman Catholic Church, it is, perhaps, the last reform we must make before we have completely returned to the roots of Jesus and the early church.

There are many reasons why the LORD might have allowed Trump to lose power

My most pronounced thought as to why the LORD allowed Trump to be trumped in the election is that Trump endorsed the Pope’s bid for Sunday to be the day of rest for man. 

In 2019, the Pope visited the White House and President Trump was pleased to endorse a move to mandate Sunday as the day for family and rest in Texas.

Many will find other reasons, likely all from man’s point of view. I can think of several, all from my own thinking. But I reckon actually, that it is the importance of God’s Sabbath to God as expressed by His Forth Commandment which He wants hallowed, which caused GOD to remove favour from the President.

Selah Blessings and Shalom as you ponder this “food for thought”.

Jesus’ Return – 2 stages: Doom and Light

The Doom 

With a change in party and leadership in the White House from relative conservatism to liberalism, significant change including a continuance of moral decay is likely. Abortion will rise, rather than fall as it did during the Trump presidency. If it is accurate to say that the election was fraudulent and it remains unchecked, then democracy in America is likely to be contaminated forever. And as it has been said many times, where America goes, the world goes. So, if America is lost, then so too is the world.

These statements are debatable but I only mention them as a consequence of the change toward social democracy (as the Democrats claim to be) or cultural communism (as the Republicans suggest their opponents to be). This is not my main two-fold point, which is that the endorsement of Sunday lost Trump his leadership… and that the loss of the Sabbath must be restored.

The Light

Finally, although there is doom, there is no gloom, not when you let go of the world and everything in it, as we who purport to follow Jesus must do. If the world falls far enough, the Lord Jesus will catch his children, and the earth will be transformed: lost yet found, by the Prince of Peace, the Light of the World.

For it is said in Revelations 21:1-2a Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem…

Categories
Supernatural & Prophetic

On the passing of Billy Graham

A humble man acknowleged

Tributes to a wonderful and Godly man have rung out since the moment his death was announced on the 21st of February 2018. Whether religious or not, folks who knew the name or the man personally held him in high esteem. But that would not have mattered to Mr Graham. The single-most important thing to him was the name of Jesus being upheld and people coming to recognise faith in him was their saving grace.

A person with a purpose and the integrity to uphold that purpose shines in the community of mankind.

The passing of Evangelists

There have been many Evangelists in recent years who have passed into he glory of the LORD. David Wilkerson, Derek Prince, Oral Roberts and now Billy Graham are four.

Several years ago, I heard a prophecy from someone… I cannot remember whom… and the prophecy was this: I (Jesus) will not return until after the passing of four great men of GOD.  No names were given. Though I’ve not got a terrific memory, even for prophetic words (hence I write most of them down), I remembered that one. When David Wilkerson died the Word of GOD came back to me and I knew in my heart he was one of those four great evangelists. And I knew something else, the word would not be fulfilled until Billy Graham died. I just knew he was one of the four.

Time is short

Billy Graham has died. I conclude the time which is short has just become much shorter.

This morning I was praying and the Father laid on my heart Obadiah. So I read it. The following passage struck me hard:

“For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near;

As you have done, it shall be done to you:

Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.” (vs 15)

When you read Obadiah, it is clear that the LORD is raising up Israel once again and those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who have already cursed Israel will be cursed.

Israel in these End Times

Oh, that my nation and others might be a blessing to Israel. But I sigh, and believe few have been. And what of individuals and churches and denominations? The same will be true.

Many of the readers of this post will be supporters of the nation and the people of Israel. Praise God for you! And how far we must all go to support the nation and the people and God’s Holy ways.

Sabbath Rest Ministries

I am embarking on a joint ministry with my husband, Alan Tun. The ministry is called “Sabbath Rest Ministries”. It is named primarily to draw attention to the value and importance to GOD of His Sabbath and the rest the Sabbath brings. Hebrews Chapters 3, 4  will shed further light. Suffice to say, we want to also draw to folks’ attention the principle of One New Man as mentioned in Ephesians 2. Jew and Gentile Believers — Messianic Jews and Messianic Gentiles if you will allow me to say — need to come together before Jesus will return.

We all need to be awake for these last days. We don’t know the timing, but Jesus’ return in imminent. Signs of Daniel and Matthew 24 demonstrate this. Revelations is full of the secrets and mysteries of the last days. The Church Age as we have known it for centuries is closing (some say it has already finished) and those who love the LORD need to prepare for Spiritual Warfare, need to love one another, and must value the Jewish people and their nation. For some of us, one most difficult thing will be to grapple with Jesus’ fulfilment — not replacement — of the Law of GOD as comprised in the first five books of the Bible. I fear many are lost who believe they are “found” because they are not rooted in the complete Word of GOD.

God’s Call

Billy Graham was a blessing to many thousands and millions who came to Jesus through his preaching. He said of himself, he wished he’d done more discipleship, though I feel he was called as Paul,

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” (1 Corinthians 1:17).

It is up to us to fulfil our calling and be about the LORD’s business. Will we be prepared for however the LORD chooses to lead, to teach and to use us? Will we be open to revelation of His Word and see in it new things that are true though unexpected, such as following the Sabbath has He intends?

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Supernatural & Prophetic

Natural Signs and Fulfilment of Scripture

We seem to be waiting for Jesus’ return, and even the weather and the stars are saying the time is soon.

We’ve had Hurricane Harvey, then Irma, then Maria, all occurring in the Gulf of Mexico and in surrounding regions, all with severe and even devastating consequences. The storms continue, around the Gulf, and around the Globe.

We’ve had Jupiter hiding inside Virgo for 9 months and late last month, Jupiter was expelled or “born”.

Now, this is one take from a spiritual perspective, which I certainly endorse, though Jesus has not yet appeared…


Revelation 12;1-4 says,

“Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.”

Is it not possible that Virgo, the one female astrological sign, is representative of the woman who has given birth? And if so, he who has been born (represented as Jupiter) is the Church, who will now rule with an Iron Rod of Righteousness over the calamity, decadence, and madness that has been on the rise over recent decades. Is it not possible that Donald Trump, in his unpopular but unstinting resolve to support Israel, to counter abortion, and encourage international sovereignty of nation-states, is an international authority who rules counter to societal trends (which are anti-God).

There have been other signs in the skies. We had the blood moons, beginning a few years ago. Matthew 24:29-30 says,

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Interestingly, the most recent lunar eclipse which spanned America, ended at the starting point of Hurricane Harvey, just days before the Hurricane ripped through the landscape.

We have the fiery red dragon, a kingdom beast, as mentioned in Revelation 12. Could he not be the Islamic kingdoms, with its 7 heads and 10 horns?

But if all these connections between Biblical prophecy and natural events are connected, then where is Jesus? How well has the One New Man = collective of Jew and Gentile coming together been manifested? And where are the resurrection bodies?

Some predicted that the dead in Christ would rise on the 21st/22nd September and Jesus would appear on the 23rd. The month of September has passed.

While it is true that there have been uncanny connections between natural events and scripture over recent months and days, it is also true that Jesus is not here. Why not?

Have we failed again to prepare ourselves as his bride? Have we failed to unite as one body the keepers of the Law (Jew) and the keepers of Grace (Gentile Church), coming together faithfully as One New Man (Matthew 24:35)?

It was predicted that at the beginning of the month of Elul (September) there would be signs: damage to the kingdoms of the East and great storms. Kim Jung Un is under threat of sanction and annihilation; ISIS is losing its grip. And the people in the region of the Gulf of Mexico have experienced great storms.

Jesus, where are you?

Last night it was in the news that the skies of England have turned orange. Is this another timely sign — or warning — from the God of the Universe?

As October passes, I have been told my website will no longer have a host. This may be my final Soaring Post. Or I may, in due season, find another provider that is suitable. Perhaps Feast of Tabernacles, 23rd October, will bring Jesus and my posts will no longer be of service.

We must be prepared for whatever will come, not holding on to the past but prepared for the future, with hope and resolve.


Storms come and pass. We battle on. Love wins.

Thanks to: Steve Cioccolanti, Discover Ministries &

BreakingIsraeliNews.com

Categories
Supernatural & Prophetic

The LORD has said, “There is a storm coming…”

I’m on a brief break. You might remember my saying this newsletter might not get out as I’m moving as the LORD leads, and am planning a literal move.

But all is possible with God.

Today, as I was relaxing in the middle of the afternoon, as one learns to do when one lives in Spain, He spoke deep into my spirit, “There is a storm coming.”

It was ominous. A warning. One I’ve heard others say they’ve heard from Him. To my surprise, this time He told me directly.

There is a storm coming.

We must be prepared for Jesus’ arrival. We must be prepared for a Tsunami in society. We must be prepared for war, for violence, for dramatic upheaval, for loss of life. One or some or all of these things are going to come to pass.

When first I heard Him say it, I thought He was referring to my family. That may be the case. Storms come. We must ride them out.

As the family of Believers, let us be prepared. Let us ride it out. Let us help one another and those who are lost.

Let us always remember to be prepared to tell them of our hope.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” (1 Peter 3:15)

I plan to meditate on this Word, and allow its power to bring me to a new level of readiness. Something is coming… We must be ready. I trust the LORD and the power of His Word to equip me.

Shalom, God’s peace be upon us all.

Categories
Politics and Society today

Christian Persecution in the Last Days

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

(2 Timothy 3:12)

I recently viewed the movie The Promise, an historical romance based on the facts surrounding the Armenian Genocide in Turkey during the First World War.

Armenian Genocide

During the years 1915 to 1918, Armenians were systematically removed from the Muslim majority society in the Ottoman Empire; they were put into camps or killed, simply because of their cultural and racial heritage. They were Christians.

Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political or cultural group (Miriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam-Webster Incorporated, Springfield, Mass USA, 2008), such as was undertaken in Nazi Germany against the Jews and homosexuals during WWII, and in Turkey against the Armenian Christians, after they allied with the Germans in WWI.

Until I met and became friends with an Armenian a year or two ago, I had never heard of the Armenian genocide. I hadn’t realised that in the early 20th century Christians had faced persecution on a large — national and international — level. Now, as I look at the present day, such as when ISIS terrorists beheaded men at the waterside, for example, I realise persecution of Christians has been on the rise for some time. This is further evidence that we are in the Last Days before Jesus’ return (see 2 Timothy 3).

Last Days are Perilous Times

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3: 1-4) Does this also not describe the times we are in?

The persecution does not always begin with expulsion and death. Whether you are a baker in Belfast, N Ireland or in Oregon in America, you can be persecuted for your faith.

And those who speak on behalf of Christians or their values can also experience persecution. Never has a United States president had such hate thrust upon him, until President Trump. His inauguration speech called for unity and hope, citing Psalm 133 and that the unity of brethren pull together. He asked the citizens of America to stand in solidarity with one another, regardless of colour or economic situation. When a child of poverty, black, white or brown skin goes to bed at night in America, he looks up at the same sky as a child in wealth, black, white or brown skin, he said.

Attack on Trump

But his detractors inspired and continue to insight protest. Then, people raged and carried signs saying, “Not My President”. To my mind their behaviour was reminiscent of the brownshirts’ uprising in fascist Nazi Germany. And yet, they protest, accusing Trump of such sympathies.

Today, while Donald J Trump does himself no favours with his confrontational style and tweets, giving loads of ammunition to his enemies to use against him, he nevertheless has been vilified on a scale never before seen by a US president.

Why is this happening?

I believe at the heart of it is satan, working his way through the minds of those who dislike Trump, using them to attack so he can’t get on with government.

Why would satan take an interest?

Because Jesus is elevated by those who surround the president and Judeo-Christian values are at the heart of his policies.

There is persecution, there is a war going on. We are not to fear. We need to be aware and to be ready.

With persecution comes hope. Jesus will come “in the night”, and he will call us to himself.

We must be sure we have our lamps when he comes, and that they are fully prepped with the oil of the Holy Spirit. We must be dressed as the bride, ready for his call.

As we witness the signs: the deterioration of society and the persecution of Christians to name only two, we must see that the End is near. Jesus will come and he’ll call us to him. We need not to fear but to be ready.

Categories
Examining Biblical Scripture

Biblical Prophecy and the Fulfilment of Matthew 24

What does the fulfilment of Biblical Prophecy mean for the Watchman

I study Matthew 24 vigorously these days: wars and rumours of wars, earthquakes and pestilence; woe if the days were not shortened… but they will be shortened.

“And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows…” (vs 6-8)

“…And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” (vs 22)

So, does shortened days mean fewer daylight hours, or fewer days before the end and Jesus’ return, or something else entirely?

On the one hand we read, “And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”” (vs 3-4) This makes me think Jesus is not coming any time soon. Literally, there have not been many who have claimed to be the Messiah, so the end of our world as we know could still be a long way off.

On the other hand, there are the undeniable disturbances across our societies, which collectively we label Signs of the End Times.

When should we expect Jesus’ return?

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (vs 36)

End Signs:

There is an escalation of war. Recently the internet announced only 11 nations worldwide which are not locked in a state of aggression or war. (Global Peace Index)

There is an increase in disease and famine. We see cancer is on the rise and communicable diseases are spiralling in number and frequency. It seems that no sooner is one epidemic taken under control before another arises.

Moral law is on a slide into oblivion. “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (vs 12) We seem unable even to speak the biological truth of the difference between boys and girls without being attacked for being homophobic.

As for me, as a Watchman, what do I do with the awareness of what it says in Matthew 24 and the signs which seem to be marking the end of our world as we know it?

I study, I pray, and I share what I detect with those who have ears to hear and eyes to see. No one knows the time the Messiah will come again, to bring judgement on the earth.

Be Prepared:

Those who know Jesus are called to be ready.

Are you ready with your lamp full of oil for the bridegroom’s arrival? (Matthew 25) In other words, are you ready to leave this life behind? Are you full of God’s anointing and blessing, walking in the New Man the best that your faith enables? Are you living the Love of God, ready to share the secret of your strength with those who ask?

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15)

Are you focused?

What if the internet is simply a ploy of the enemy to keep us busy, productive, in the flesh of the Old Man?

Do you know your value, your purpose and your calling in Jesus?

Are you obeying the law of God, namely to love Him and love your neighbour?

Are you living a life of righteousness, of being right with God and His principles?

What matters is not the success of your ministry or business. What matters is not how many connections you have on social media. What matters is not your productivity.

What matters is being surrendered, ready, and willing to follow Jesus, and to share your passion and commitment when asked to do so.

And if we are in End Times, then we all need to be ready, now.

Hebrew roots:

Most reading this post will be Gentile. But our roots are Jesus’ roots, and his roots are Jewish. He was the Hebrew of Hebrews. After 2000 years of sweeping this truth aside, the Jewish people are discovering the Messiah, and the body of Believers is recognising God’s passion for His ways as outlined in the Torah (OT).

As we seek to fulfil God’s purposes, I believe we need to rediscover the love He has for His festivals, His feasts, and His calendar. This is not legalism but love for the Father which we can convey through a celebration of His culture.

I have learned recently that there is a Gospel of Matthew in the original Hebrew available for study (one of several copies is in Caesarea). I’d like to study it. Most Bible New Testaments are derived from a Greek translation. But surely some impact has been lost through translating from Hebrew into Greek, and then into our native language. I would like to look at a translation direct from the Hebrew, to compare and contrast the Message. That hunger is not a fascination with languages but a passion for God, to know Him and to understand His intent.

And what of His Sabbath? Is the seventh day Saturday? Or is the Lord’s Day – what we call Sunday – the day to hold as the day of rest? We are not under law but under grace. And yet, I have a great desire to honour my God in all fullness, not because I have to but because I want to.

Christian Persecution:

As we attempt to gauge how close we might be to Jesus’ return, I look at how the world looks at the Christian. Around the world, people of the Christian Faith are in conflict with those of other faiths or no faith.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” (vs 9)

In times passed Christianity spear-headed humanitarian projects and expanded worldwide. Now, Christians in the USA and the UK face mocking, job loss, and imprisonment because they stand for their faith in Jesus as the only way to God. Middle Eastern Christians are losing their heads for their faith. In the Far East, Christians are in hiding, unable to worship freely in China and elsewhere.

Conclusion:

The reality is we do not know when the End will be. Nor are we meant to. We are meant to be ready though, to share the reason for our hope and to receive the bridegroom when he comes.

I believe we are saved by God’s grace and it is not works that save us but Faith, as found in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

And yet, I also believe we are fully responsible for our faith and the outworking of it, as James says in Chapter 2:20 “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”

Those who believe will find their peace, fulfilment and security in walking out their faith at the level of personal revelation they have.

As for me, I have received the revelation that it is possible to surrender and walk in the New Man (see Pursuit of Holiness), leaving behind the angst and wilfulness of the Old Man. That is my aim. Without that, I won’t be truly satisfied or free. Because of God’s incredible revelation, I find no satisfaction in anything less.

A Blessing:

In your walk, may you fulfil all grace, peace and joy that the Father God has for you, and may you be ready for His call in His perfect time.