Wednesday, March 23, 2011

More than Bread

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Revelation 13:18

What two things, if controlled, would bring the entire world to its knees.  To its knees?  I guess that is not quite true as you think men would go to their knees and cry our to Almighty GOD for help rather than follow a power hungry world dictator who is bent on destruction. Yet, we find men in the New Testament bowing to the anti-Christ rather than serve the Savior Jesus.  At any rate, whoever controls the world's food and water controls humanity.  

There has been a silent bid to do just that--control the food and water supply--for at least twenty years.   No other generation until today has even had the ability to control the food supply until now.  It took the the discovery of Watson and Crick, DNA, and its eventual mapping of genetic information to bring that eventual control about.  Do you realize that over 95% of the available seeds for food production are controlled by just one or two conglomerates?  Also, those same seeds that are available are all genetically engineered hybrids which will not propagate after about three seasons.  It is feasible, then, for one man, a charismatic world leader, to gain total control of all food production worldwide.

Unmodified seeds are currently being gathered and stored in arctic storage facilities.  Without these unmodified seeds, you cannot grow your own food to survive for any extended time.   Here is a commercial advertising seeds that are not engineered as many see the writing on the wall. 


Look at these links that discuss the seed storage facilities.



Not only is there the potential of food supply problems that is exacerbated by droughts, flooding, and now radiation poisoning worldwide (see "Engraved Invitations" for a more complete least of current food production crises), but there is also a serious concern that we could run out of fresh water.





This is leading many to consider a global governance on the fresh water supply.  Look at these sites for more information.




Bottom line--we are near the formation of the anti-Christ's government.  If you don't know Christ, the only means of salvation, then I suggest you listen to the Holy Spirit, repent, and turn to Him for the full pardon of your sin.  Remember, it takes more than good works to appease the righteousness of the HOLY ONE!  It takes an eternal sacrifice to wash sins with eternal consequences.  Only Jesus, the Eternal Savior, has the ability to wash away those transgressions.  Your life is more than bread, there is no life without Jesus.  He is the resurrection and the life! 


And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Revelation 6:5-6

Israel and the Middle East






Christian Persecution


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Monday, March 21, 2011

Always Faithful

And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
Esther 8:17

I love those moments!  You know! Those moments when something from the text of God's Living Word just jumps right off the page and speaks to you.  There is nothing like the experience of God illuminating something especially when it comes from a Bible passage you have read many, many times before.  That happened yesterday.  It was part of the text I was using to preach and had studied all week.  Yet, as I was reading the phrase at the pulpit, "and many of the people of the land became Jews,"  it popped from the text and spoke as if He was screaming at me.  I had read this verse numerous times this week as Sunday was the celebration of Purim--a good time to preach from Esther--but God had a message for me. He let that small line shine apart from the rest of the passage.  It immediately let me have insight into all the news of wars and disasters and seemingly inept world leaders I had been fretting over all week.  

Think about it!  How was evil ancient Persia any different than what we face today?  Wicked leaders who denied God and His sovereignty were in charge. The Persians partied with extravagance and decadence for 6 months at the beginning of this story--I am sure that nothing holy went on.  They thought they were doing things their way, but there behind the scenes was God bringing His purposes into fruition while playing them like marionettes on divine strings.  In the end it was God who was the unnamed hero using a forgotten, insignificant orphan girl and an old man whose name means "little man".  The great king of Persia, who called himself the king of kings, and an blindingly arrogant man, Haman, whose name means "magnificent one", ended up looking like buffoons when God finished with them.  Revival broke out in the most unlikely place--in captivity a thousand miles from home.  God did such a work that many gentiles became Jewish proselytes and began to serve the Only Wise God.  

Sometimes we limit the omnipotence of God.  We feel that our generation is just too sinful for God to move or save.  I have heard people pray that way.  I have prayed that way, "God just clear out the demonic forces and we can have revival."  Why does God have to clear out the devils to do anything?  Since when is God limited in power by what Hell is doing?  Does the devil have the capacity to hinder God's plans?  Does God have to have godly men in positions of authority before He can bless the world?  That is pretty weak if so!  Yet the Bible tells us of an omniscient and omnipresent God that likes to work a work right in the face of His enemy so the Almighty can watch Satan's jaw drop when that enemy realizes he was played!  God uses Satan's own actions against him to effect the divine will.  

No, God is God!  He is not wringing his hands or cringing at what Satan is doing now or what will be doing in the future.  He is not in heaven's ready room trying to anticipate the next advance of Hell.  He is not in a corner writhing in fear that men are getting more rebellious and sinful.  He is not frightened to inactivity because many in the church are not following Him with all their heart or walking in the power and authority He gave them.  He is God, and He is right now working His plan that in the end will honor and glorify Jesus Christ.  He is doing a work in the face of all opposition and really could care less what the devil tries.  His power is unimaginable, and His knowledge of the enemies plans is unparalleled.  Even Satan doesn't even know what despicable plan he and his minions will try next,  BUT GOD ALREADY KNOWS!  Not only does He already know but He has molded it into the outcome to make that fallen cherub look like a fool in front of the angelic host and all humanity. He is Almighty and His plans are never frustrated.  He has never ever sensed that emotion--frustration.  (See the text below)  

Sure, things look chaotic.  Wickedness seems to be the rule of the day.  Godlessness is at an all time high, while values and morals are at an all time low.  In the midst of it all there is God.  He is behind the scenes seemingly unnoticed and unnamed just like being unmentioned in the book of Esther.  In the midst of all of this sin and Hell's finest attempts to destroy, God is planning something that will bring about a similar statement, "and many people of the world came to Christ."  Just trust and believe and you will be found as a part of the plans.  Even if you feel insignificant and forgotten as surely Esther must have after losing her parents and being part of a humiliated, captured people far from home, God is attracted to those who are weak by the world's standards.  He uses the meek to bring about His great plans and promises they will one day inherit the earth.  He uses what the world deems as fragile, futile, forgotten, and frail to do a new thing and bless all!  How powerful is that?

"They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial..."
Isaiah 14:16-20a

Israel and the Middle East








General: Coalition Forces Strike Additional Qaddafi Defenses - FoxNews.com  Of course--all the world has ganged up on him.  Please don't misunderstand me!  I am not a Gaddafi fan.  He is an evil tyrant.  It may be that God is up to His purposes again.  When the world gangs up on Israel similarly and gets the Almighty's slap down, I am sure folks will take notice!

As In The Days Of Noah--Godlessness In The Last Days

Sex Toys, Restraints, Bible Among Evidence in Texas Kidnapping Case - FoxNews.com  This article bothered me.  Why was it mentioned that He had a Bible?  He wasn't using it in the assault.  It is not like the Bible is a rare book.  I am sure that the majority of the houses in the US have Bibles so it is not news if one is found in a perverts house.  No!  I am afraid that this is a not so subtle attack on Christianity!

NH Court Upholds Order to Send Homeschooled Girl to Public School, Christian News, The Christian Post  I have said it before--one of the first pieces of legislation calling for compulsory education in the US was Ye Olde Deluder Satan Act of 1647.  Those "overly religious" Puritans wanted kids to be schooled in Christianity--how dare they defy today's inept judges?  This is another not so subtle attack on Christ and His church!  Wake up sleepy heads--you are heading towards grave persecution!




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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Unified Destruction

And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Zechariah 12:9

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
Joel 3:2

Are we seeing a foretaste of the fulfillment of these verses?  It seems all of the world is focused on events in the Middle East.  Today's news about air strikes in Libya is actually a foreboding warning of the terrible events the prophets of both Testaments warned about.  As was mentioned a few days ago in a post called "Globalization", those unawares are being taught to think globally nearly daily.  The news of a UN ratified no fly zone makes me wonder if this same thing will soon take place against tiny Israel.  Unlike Moammar Gadhafi, Israel has the Almighty LORD of Hosts commanding their defense.  It would be a futile and foolish mistake even if all of the nations of the world gathered themselves together.  Isaiah truly understood this as he wrote, "Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing" (40:15).  

Every area of life will come under the one world government.  From the cradle to the grave, the anti-Christ's policies will control mankind.  Even the problem of playground bullies would be monitored by the world governmental agencies.  I know!  That seems like a silly topic.  Or is it?  Did you notice the world outcry against bullying in just the last two weeks?  




Before I go on, Bullying is a serious problem.  I have seen the effects that bullying has on children from years in public education.  It is a situation that needs attention.  Yet, when did the playground bully become a world concern?  It certainly has never been of international consideration before.  That is the point!  Even something that normally was a local problem can fall under the watchful eye of the entire world in moments.  The above video was found on news sites worldwide and has caused a firestorm of political attention and news room chatter.  

Take this to Libya, why are we helping to install a new government?  Why is the UN vote about military action seen as necessary?  Sooner or later the UN will be voting about the legitimacy of other local governments until men realize that there needs to be one single unified world body of government.  You are seeing its birth pains now.  The world community is involved in Japan, the Middle East, and even the local playground.  You are seeing the formation of a biblically prophesied world government in the making.  

The straw that will break the back of this unification is the attempt to uproot the covenant land away from those whom God Himself has given it too.  Soon, and very soon the world will understand Isaiah's statement about the nations being a drop in the bucket.  Israel, who is constantly asked to cede land to terrorists, is only 8,019 square miles.  The land of the earth is 197,359,320.7 square miles.  Israel is only around 0.01% of the earth's total land mass.  The David and Goliath story has nothing on this.  Israel is only a tiny fraction of the world yet it is the center of all the world's attention.  Surely, if all of the world joined against this blip called Israel, the outcome is sure!  Right!  Wrong!  Hidden behind this tiny nation is an Omnipresent God who is greater than man's feeble mind can comprehend.  It is this all powerful, and everywhere present God who protects Israel with unconditional covenant promises.  



The day will come when the world will unite against God.  It many ways, it has happened already.  The surprise will come when all of the world realizes that they are powerless against the Holy One!  That little red dot of a nation in the following picture will prove to be unconquerable.  It is not because of her righteousness or worthiness, but because El SHADDAI Himself protects her for His own name and His divine purposes.  Look carefully at the news.  I think you will begin to notice the world uniting.  More specifically, I think you will see it uniting against this tiny nation.  If you watch carefully and prayerfully enough, I think you will also see the world preparing itself for under unified destruction.  The stone which the builders rejected shall soon strike and fill the whole world and those kingdoms will come crashing to the ground.  From the crash will rise one righteous government, but it is that small babe of Bethlehem who sits in the place of universal authority.  Jesus is that stone!  


Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Daniel 2:34-35

Israel and the Middle East-God's Prophetic Timepiece










Hamas to Israel: Don't test us - Israel News, Ynetnews  Hamas--Don't test the LORD.  I know--you will soon because of your hard heart and we will see you squashed like flies and embarrassed!

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Friday, March 18, 2011

It Will Come To Nought

Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
John 12:9-11
Religion--man's pathetic attempt to please God with offerings of his own choosing.  It did not work in the beginning when Cain offered an unacceptable sacrifice that was the result of pride in his own labor.  It will not work today either.  Religion does not work.  It is the enemy of Christ and the apex of human pride.  Religion is what nailed Jesus to the cross, what led the religious leaders of Jesus' day to try and eradicate all evidence of His teaching and power, and why His church is suffering worldwide at the hands of men's lies.  It will never work because man cannot be his own savior.  There is only one acceptable means and He was prophesied about and shines above the masses of humanity as no other.  He is God, yet  He is man.  He is the bridge between heaven and earth--Jesus!  

The plan seemed to make sense.  Get rid of Jesus and this new sect will go away.  Get rid of Lazarus and people will forget about the miracles.  Kill His followers, destroy His teachings, hunt down every last Christian and we can prove that God is not among them.  Has it worked?  The harder the first century church was persecuted, the more it grew.  The greater the pressure from the next 10 Roman Emperors, the greater the outspread of truth.  Men and women (like Perpetua, a nursing mother, killed in March of 203 or Stephen, the first Christian martyr) stepped up to gladly give their lives as martyrs--witnesses-- since they had found the only acceptable means to the Father--Jesus Christ.  He who worked miracles, taught with authority, laid down his life as a sin offering, and who could not even be held down by death itself had done what they could not do by any means.  He did what religion could not do--give free access to heaven by grace through faith.  It took eternal blood to wash away the eternal crimes against the throne of He who inhabits eternity.  By the way, the plan to stop His church did not work!  It came to nought.

We see religion again waging an unholy war against the body of Christ.  Since it can't produce evidence of its viability, it kills to stay in existence.  It brainwashes and humiliates and relies on law at the point of a sword because it cannot reproduce the precious influence of the Holy Spirit.  It does not have a sinless Savior, but a man that robbed and marauded, and that had multiple wives with one being a mere child of 9.  It does not have the ability to propagate itself on the merits of God's love, acceptance, and forgiveness or a vicarious, atoning sacrifice, so it kills all who reject it with a strange dependence on hate, violence, and bloodshed.  It cannot explain an empty grave, so it fills multiple graves with those who have seen the living Savior lest revival and truth break out in the land it controls with rifle and bomb.  It can kill the body but cannot touch the soul.  Yet, it kills its own members and forever destroys the souls of its followers.  Without prophecy, power from above, miracles, signs and wonders, and that all important sin cleansing blood it does just as Cain did--kills the righteous due to jealousy.  Like Cain, its followers will be shocked to see that their efforts did not appease the righteousness of God.  It opposes God because the LORD will not accept its putrid sacrifices.  All men's attempts to reach Heaven by their own merit are nothing but the stinking work of corrupted flesh and an abomination to the very plan of redemption of God it Christ.


Religion is destined to failure.  There is coming a day soon when all that is false--whether it calls itself Christian or some other name--will be destroyed forever and forgotten.  Those who by faith accept the sacrifice that God himself ordained on their behalf will be forever blessed in the presence of their Great King.  That King is soon coming.  He will avenge Himself of those who will not repent and who molest His bride!


Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people,...And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Acts 5:34a & 38-39


Christian Persecution


Ethiopia in Crisis
Persecution of Christians upped in Ethiopia (OneNewsNow.com)
Ethiopia PM blames Muslim sect over church attacks | Top News | Reuters
Ethiopia : 4000 Christians displaced, one killed
Jimma University Muslim students stand with Christians against extremism - Jimma Times
Thousands of Ethiopian Christians in need after fleeing violence | Christian News on Christian Today
Pakistani Christian Villagers Come Under ‘Wrath’ of Local Muslims and Police
Malaysian Christians Accuse Government Of Defacing Bibles « Eurasia Review
69 Churches Razed in Ethiopia, 10,000 Christians Displaced


Israel and the Middle East


Uruguay Recognizes PA State, France: "Not Yet"
Al Jazeera Forum: Arab revolts herald a new world order *****
Malaysia: Equipment Headed to Iran Suspected to Make Nuclear Weapons - FoxNews.com
Zealots slam UK’s 1st Muslim Miss Universe entrant
Iranian film: Invade Israel to usher in Muslim 'messiah'  It definitely will come to nought!
Iran launches rocket with monkey doll into space - Israel News, Ynetnews
Libya: We will hit civilian targets in response to foreign attack - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News


End Time Technology


Human GPS Microchipping: Embrace it or ban it?

       
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Get Your Thoughts In Order--Finality

The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.
Zephaniah 3:13-15

Redemption.  All that God does has one purpose--redemption.  The Book of Zephaniah, like most of the other prophetic books, has awesome and terrible judgments described in it.  Do you want to be here when every bird and fish dies?  Would you want to see a time described as, "...a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers" (1:15-16)?  Why does God send such strong and absolute judgment?  It is about redemption.

Sin mars our relationship with God and attaches the heart of humans to that which is temporal and fleeting.  In an effort to redeem some, God sends punishment designed to get us to pay attention.  Sadly, most do not stop to consider eternity.  They do not look to the God of grace and mercy for help.  They love darkness rather than light.  However, there is always a remnant.  It is the remnant that God is seeking.  Each trouble sent on the world is designed to get some to look to the Redeemer.   

God is protecting Israel with a strong hand.  He will soon defend Israel from an onslaught by their neighbors that will cause all of the world to take notice.  Though many may suffer, a remnant will survive.  He has covenant promises to accomplish given to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.  He will raise up a Savior to sit on David's--His father's--throne.  Yet, David said of this Son that he was his Lord.  "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool" (Psalm 110:1).  Only Yeshua ha'Mashyiach fulfills this verse.   He will perform that which He has promised.  A remnant of Israel will be sanctified and enter the Reign of Y'shua Messiah!  

Those who accept the Messiah now are Zephaniah.  The name means, "the LORD has hidden."  Do you want to be Zephaniah?  Do you wish to fulfill this verse, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3)?  Call to Him.  There is still time.  You too can be hidden in Him before the dark days of trouble catch the world.  The judgments will become greater and more frequent.  Turn to Him today!   

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

Israel and the Middle East







As in the Days of Noah--Godlessness in the Last Days






   
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Monday, March 14, 2011

Get Your Thoughts In Order--Half Hearted Service

Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God. Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
Zephaniah 3:1-4

The people of Judah, God's witness for that generation, were having some serious problems in their relationship with Adonai.  Zephaniah reveals three areas where their service was out of sync with a proper witness for those trusting in the Lord.  Years of godless leaders in the political, religious, and business sectors had left them with an improper view of God and a half hearted faith.  God's concern in these areas is very evident in both chapters 1 and 3.  He would have no lukewarm service.  As many know, God will have all of your heart or none of it.  


Their compromised devotion is most noted in this verse where God denounces, "them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham" (1:5).  Malcham--also translated Moloch--was a Caanite idol to whom followers sacrificed their children.  In essence, chapter 1:4-6 shows the split allegiance found throughout the land.  The roof of God's holy temple had an observatory for worship of the celestial bodies.  Others were worshipping Ba'al, a fertility god, right in the house of God.  


Many looked for reform not in a repentant heart and full fledged return to the LORD, but they pinned their hopes on the leaders of the nation.  The two prior kings had both made alliances with the wicked Assyrians rather than turn to God for divine leadership.  While the current king, Josiah, would lead a great revival, repentance may not have pierced them clear to the soul.  God wanted a people to repent and turn to Him completely and he would bring godly leadership. The LORD was so tired of this attraction to the world's leadership that he said, "I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel" (1:8b)


Others were so caught up in their worldly wealth that they thought of little else.  Much of their worship, then, was to mollify God for blessings of field, home, and market.  "Give us more, God and we will shout a few more Hallelujahs", seemed to be the message they were sending.  Since money was their god, the living God promised judgment, "for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off"  (1:11b)    


It is always easy to point an accusatory finger at someone else, isn't it?  However, it appears that we need to see the beam in our own eyes.  The church is in need of sincere repentance. We are equally as mixed up in and there are scores of godless pastors and members of congregations across this land that are trying to mix up a simple gospel.  Jesus did not stutter when he claimed to be the one and only acceptable means to the Father.  I am sure that He is not too pleased with the amount of paganism and false religion brought into organizations bearing His name.  Look at the following photo as proof.  Rather than seek to repent of sin and leave it at the cross, many are excusing it in the name of a false view of God's love.  



Not only are many attempting to amalgamate other "religious" concepts, but many in the church are living in outright sin.  Divorce is rampant in "Christian" circles.  Homosexuality is seen by some a a viable option to a heterosexual scripturally ordained marriage.  Some even sacrifice their unwanted children at the altar of abortion as if God doesn't mind.  If someone is confronted about error even in a loving manner as is prescribed in the New Testament, they pull out the same card the Sodomites used on Lot, "Don't judge me."  Rather than deal with the sin at the cross, they run to another church carrying the same wrong from fellowship to fellowship.  These are always the signs of worship of another god.  It is the idol of self at the altar of pleasure.  Repent!  

Well, at least we are not caught up in trusting in politicians and public personalities to reform our nation.  I mean no God fearing man or woman would align themselves with unbelievers to bring about revival in the land.  We would not let "Assyria" dictate how we ought to live for God.  Right!  Maybe you should think again. Ouch!  Strike two.


Hopefully, we are not too trusting in the uncertain riches of this world!  There is no reason to even try to expose this heresy--it is rampant everywhere in pulpits across this nation.  God's church is being fleeced by charlatans. Strike three.


It may be time for some searching to go on.  You can ask God to search your heart for anything wayward.  Or God will do the searching Himself!  Either way, there is a time of searching that will soon take place.  You need to ask what will be found in that search.  Will you be found in Christ wholeheartedly or found to be a half hearted worldling? 

 "And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil."   
 Zephaniah 1:12

  
Earthquakes in Diverse Places  
The sin of Aachan affected all of the nation of Israel.  The sin of a government can also affect a whole land.  When nations choose to aid the enemies of God, they bring reproach upon  their land.   God has been sending stronger and stronger judgments on the land for its treatment of Israel and their treatment of His church.  He has redemptive purpose for Israel and He will keep his word to Abraham as far as his covenant with them.   Notice that in the days prior to the earthquake that the nation of japan was aiding the PA with huge sums of cash for water treatment facilities and food.  


  Japan Donates 32.5 mln USD for PNA Projects


Palestine News & Info Agency - WAFA


asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：POINT OF VIEW/ Lukman Faily: Arab world in transition looks to Japan - English


Israel and the Middle East


Lieberman: Hamas can take over West Bank - Israel News, Ynetnews


DEBKAfile, Political Analysis, Espionage, Terrorism, Security


Hamas ordered five Israelis murdered following secret Islamist Khartoum parley 


US 'deeply concerned' by new settlement construction


Itamar Massacre Fails to Change Obama’s Anti-Settlement Policy - Politics & Gov't - Israel News - Israel National News
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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Get Your Thoughts In Order--Engraved Invitations

"Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel."
Zephaniah 1:7-8

Have you ever given a back-yard barbecue? Maybe you have hosted some sort of banquet or dinner party?  Then I am sure that you have noticed that there are two classes of people in relation to your meal.  There are those who are invited and then there are those who are not.  Would it be any different with the Lord?  Zephaniah houses much of his work in the context of a sacrifice feast.  Strange!

Nearly all of the commentaries and study helps referenced through the years make light of this allusion to a feast.  However, nearly all of them have God as inviting guests and then "sacrificing" them.  That doesn't seem too hospitable.  Possibly, there is another thought here.  The word for "hath bid", qadash, has the following meaning: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.  Again, many commentaries see God as sanctifying the world for a sacrifice.  If his guests are the sanctified offering who then is enjoying what the Lord has prepared?  It seems that there may be two groups involved in the LORD's sacrifice also--the invited and the uninvited.

Remember Zephaniah 2:3?  It was a part of the text that this whole series started on.  It says, "Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger."  Surely those hidden in Christ are those who are separated (sanctified) for the dinner feast.   Maybe God is saying that there are those uninvited who feel they deserve a place at the table of the Lord?  Yet, God chose to invite the meek, humble, and righteous clothed in the imputed righteousness of YHWH Tsidkenue--the LORD our Righteousness.  

Let's get straight to the point.  Zephaniah seems to explain a sudden hiding--a rapture. Those hidden are separated from the world which is being prepared as the sacrifice.  While God's wrath is poured out His hidden ones are gathered together feasting in the presence of the LORD.  Their invitations to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb were given with engraved invitations.  They were engraved in the bloody, nail scarred hands of Jesus Christ.  Are you ready?  God's day of sacrifice is quickly approaching.



The signs of the Marriage Feast and a trumpet blast are all around us.  John McTernan (whose blog is linked to the right) pointed out many of the disasters we have recently faced.  These are news events that I have been following as well.  China is facing its worst drought in history with major crop loss. New Zealand just had a major city destroyed by a series of earthquakes since September. The Arab nations are spinning in chaos. Australia has had the worst flooding in its recorded history with huge crop loss. Gas prices are skyrocketing giving ominous warnings of a possible deepening economic crisis. Many Middle Eastern countries are on the verge of war. The streets of the US are in an uproar over unions. Russian fields are ablaze with thirty percent of their crops lost. Now Japan has been hit by a cataclysmic earthquake that threatens to destroy their economy that is in worse shape than ours. Finally, we have just entered a solar maximum period that some experts feel could devastate our electrical grid with one massive flare and ensuing solar wave. This has all has happened in the last few months. Are you looking up?


Earthquakes in Diverse Places
I mentioned that I was not going to post Thursday.  If you remember, I wrote on impending disaster as God tries to wake us up and get our attention.  This was one of several statements from that post made hours before the destruction of Japan, "I was not going to post today, but world news and God's prompting is leading me to share some thoughts about the nations of the world being judged......Truly the nations of the world have aligned themselves against the LORD and His Christ.  We will soon see many more judgments against the world as the rebellion intensifies." When I wrote that I did not know that the nation of Japan was to be hit with a historic and devastating earthquake just hours later.  

 Quake moved Japan coast 8 feet; shifted Earth's axis - CNN.com


Rescuers scramble to save lives as aftershocks jolt Japan - CNN.com


YouTube - Incredible HD Footage of Japan Tsunami


Explosion Occurs at Japanese Nuclear Plant While Quake, Tsunami Death Toll Rises - FoxNews.com


Godlessness and Apostasy in the Last Days


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Gay Male Secretary for the White House - NYTimes.com


Megan Quinn: Visiting minister separates Jesus from Christ - Boulder Daily Camera


Hollywood's War On America Eurasia Review


Indiana Church Behind Provocative Sex Billboard - FoxNews.com  How about a strong focus on winning the lost?  ???????


AFA Threatens Boycott if ABC Airs 'Good Christian B*tches', Christian News, The Christian Post


Israel and the Middle East


MK Danon to Netanyahu: Do Not Cede Land to Arabs - Politics & Gov't - Israel News - Israel National News


Jean-Jacques Jihad - Andrew C. McCarthy - National Review Online


Syria Wants Libya's UNHRC seat


Sen. Graham Wants Intel Chief Gone After He Claims Russia, China Pose 'Mortal' Threat - FoxNews.com


Netanyahu blames Palestinian incitement for Itamar attack
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