I’m grateful to my good friend Neil Mackereth for this paper. I’ve known him since his stimulating summer-time evening courses several years ago in Winchester Vineyard Church. The appendices to this will follow in my series of End-Times Briefings.
SIMPLICITY
Jesus said: “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” John 12:32 NIV (other versions say “I, if I be lifted up ……..”) Continue reading
A couple of hours ago Veronika published this from our dear brother:
“Today I bring yet another striking, in-depth interpretation to the dream I submitted to you all yesterday…my good friend and co-labourer Prophet Abel Praise submits some revelation for the purposes of prayer. ENJOY!!!”
DREAM INTERPRETATION…; “THE GOLDEN REVOLVING DOOR OF THE AGES AND OF ETERNAL DESTINY…AND THE HOUR GLASS OF THE END-TIME HARVEST…!!
‘Oh such great honor that The LORD grants us eyes to see and pours out HIS Spirit that we may discern what The Spirit Of The LORD is saying that we may know how to march in this hour.
‘The profound calling this prophetic dream brings us at this time is a call to contend for; recover; and administer the time-gates; or better put; the prayer-watches assigned to us in this hour; as that is how we will effectively partner with The LORD in birthing in time and eternity; being the earth and the heavens under the jurisdictions we are assigned in this hour; the predestined counsels of great awakening; revivals, victories harvest and advance into territories; the Kingdom is destined to make in this season. Continue reading
Now we examine one of the sparkling gems, a radiant diamond, found in the treasure trove of Unlocking the Biblical Watch of Messiah’s Return. First a brief recap:
The Invisible Hand, Victor Dunstan (Megiddo Press 1984)
As at the close of Briefing 7, Victor Dunstan’s reference to three dates, or Time periods of differing length, given in the 12th chapter of Daniel point to 1917, 1948 and 1992, is derived from Dr Grattan Guinness’ mathematical work. Subsequently, three ‘interlude’ posts tell how Jonathan R Hill has taken that work further in two books. Amongst a veritable plethora of biblical topics and scriptures he examines in-depth the role of ‘The Wonderful Numberer’ – Daniel’s chief supra-natural informant.
In his ‘Introduction’ to Unlocking the Biblical Watch of Messiah’s Return, Jonathan echoes Chuck Missler’s frustration, as quoted in Briefing 5, by noting:
“So many in the Body of Christ are ambivalent towards the Lord’s mandate to watch, but the Lord wants the church to awake! Messiah’s words to the sleeping Peter are the Lord’s words to His living body, who are currently on the earth at the end of this age: “Could you not watch with Me for one hour?” (Matt 26:40 NKJV)
This is followed by, and I’m grateful to Jonathan for his kindly permitting publication (emphases mine):
‘DANIEL’S VISIONS
‘Daniel was privileged to receive extraordinary visions which were sealed until the ‘time of the end’ when many will run ‘to and fro’ and knowledge will increase. An apt description of our current world when knowledge and data are readily available via the internet.
Daniel 12:4 (NKJV) – “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
‘The prophetic words of the Book of Daniel were sealed until the ‘time of the end’ – confirmed again later in the same chapter (Daniel 12):
Daniel 12:9-10 (NKJV) – And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed ’til the time of the end”. 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
‘Daniel’s ‘time of the end’ is now.
‘Earlier in the Book of Daniel a ‘when’ question was asked, regarding the desolation of the Temple in Jerusalem. The question was asked to someone called the ‘Wonderful Numberer’ [19]. The questioner (the ‘holy one’) clearly knew that the ‘Wonderful Numberer’ had the answer to the ‘when’ question.
Daniel 8:13 (YLT) – “And I hear a certain holy one speaking, and a certain holy one said to the wonderful numberer who is speaking: ‘Until when [is] the vision of the continual [sacrifice], and of the transgression, an astonishment, to make both sanctuary and host a treading down?’”
‘As will be seen [20], the wisdom of the ‘Wonderful Numberer’, who answered the ‘when’ question, is part of the ‘understanding’ sealed until the ‘time of the end’, when the ‘wise’ will understand. Moreover, the ‘Wonderful Numberer’ will be shown to hold the ‘Key of David’ [21] – the significance of which will be examined in detail [22].’
‘[19] The Hebrew word for ‘Wonderful Numberer’ in Daniel 8:13 is ‘Palmoni’ (Hebrew ‘לפלמוני’ – Strong’s number 6422) and is only found once in all scripture . It is a ‘contracted’ word and contains the elements of two Hebrew words. The first is ‘pele’ and the other is ‘ma-na’. The Hebrew word ‘pele’ means ‘wonderful’ (see Isaiah 9:6) and the word ‘ma-na’ means ‘numbered’ (see Daniel 5:25-26). So, this contracted Hebrew word ‘Palmoni’ literally means ‘Wonderful Numberer’”. Taken from F.C. Gilbert’s book, Practical Lessons for the Church of Today, pp. 606-608, published by The Review in 1902.
Gill’s Exposition states: ‘another angel said to him that spoke, whose name is unknown, only called such a one, or ‘Palmoni’, which some render ‘the wonderful numberer’ or ‘the numberer of secrets’ or ‘that has all secrets numbered’; and apply it to Christ, whose name is ‘Pele’, wonderful; the eternal Word of God, that is in the bosom of the Father, and knows all secrets, and the number of times and seasons, how long they will last; what created angels know not, he does; and therefore they apply to him for instruction and knowledge in hidden things.
The ‘Wonderful Numberer’ is found in few translations yet many commentaries acknowledge this translation including Albert Barne’s Commentary, John Gill’s Exposition, Geneva Study Bible, Calvin’s Commentary, John Trapp’s Complete Commentary, Matthew Poole’s Annotations, Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and E. W. Bullinger’s Companion Notes. (See StudyLight.org Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary Daniel 8:13)
‘[20] See chapter ‘Numbers, Triangles and Pyramids in Scripture’ and section ‘The ‘Wonderful Numberer’ as the Seventh Pyramid’.
‘[21] See chapter ‘Tools of the Watch’ and section ‘The Key of David’.
‘[22] See chapter ‘Tools of the Watch’ and section ‘The ‘Wonderful Numberer’ Holds the Key of David’.’ [Isaiah 22:22 << THAT NUMBER AGAIN! – RB]
Daniel 8:13-21 [Scripture For All Interlinear OT Hebrew]
NB: reference at note 19 to Jesus as knowing hidden things, ie ‘mysteries’, per recent post Kingdom Mysteries – Jesus Points to Mathematics (originally posted 6 April 2018).
Now let’s take a peek at some of my many tabbed pages: Continue reading
In our considering principles behind use of numbers and associated basic mathematics in the Bible, my catching up with the following news is timely – I’m pleased to learn that author Jonathan R. Hill is finding his researches also connect into Time!
Here’s the proofreaders’ clear recommendation circulated for Jonathan’s new book:
‘In this new book Jonathan reinforces the straightforward, but profound, mathematical principles of triangular and pyramid numbers and how they help reveal and reinforce wonderful truths in the Bible, using the numerical equivalents for the letters in each word in the original Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible.
‘These principles were initially studied in his first book (on The Sign Miracles of John – RB: as herein) and the results were fascinating, revealing important concepts that are relevant for both the Church and Israel in these end times. They now lay a strong foundation for this ‘Biblical Watch for Messiah’s Return’. These numbers are used in the studies themselves and help us to understand the types involved, and also the time periods that connect the important events that are highlighted.
‘Also included in this book are details of and revelations about the Jubilee Cycle, the important and ‘high’ numbers that there are in Scripture (like ‘120’), the time of day of Christ’s resurrection, the reason Anna had to wait 84 years to see the Messiah, the importance of the Balfour Declaration in 1917, the Armistice in 1918, the World Economic Conference of 1933, the 9/11 attack in 2001, the rescue of the Chilean miners in 2010 and even Brexit!
‘Jonathan also shows how the ‘Key of David’ gives ‘understanding’ in God’s presence and what ‘leaven’ means for the Church today.
‘It truly is a book which explores and explains the concepts that are needed to study, and ‘watch’ for, Messiah’s (Jesus’) return at the Rapture for his Bride, the Church.
‘This book is, in my opinion, the most important Christian book for the Church in the first quarter of this 21st Century.
‘May I encourage you to order a copy (and also the previous one on the Sign Miracles, if you’ve not already got it) and be blessed?
‘Jonathan’s website JR Hill – Books has links to buy both books and also his ‘New Watch Events’ page.
‘I have read both books out loud to Pat (as we have been proof-reading them). We have found that reading them to each other has really helped us both to understand the truths and the concepts they contain, and they truly leave us with hope for the future.
‘We commend this teaching to you.
‘Many blessings’
‘Keith and Pat’
Next, we learn the identity of one of Daniel’s sources as his ‘Wonderful Numberer’ >>
[First posted 6 April 2018 as A Post-Resurrection Miracle as a ‘Mystery’ Now Revealed]
His disciples came to Jesus and said, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” and He replied, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him (and her) more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore, I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand…” (Matthew 13:10-13 NKJV)
Definition: ‘Mystery’, Greek musterion (moos-tay-ree-on; Strongs #3466). From mueo, “to initiate into the mysteries”, hence a secret known only to the initiated, something hidden requiring special revelation. In the NT the word denotes something that people could never know by their own understanding and that demands a revelation from God. The secret thoughts, plans and dispensations of God remain hidden from unregenerate mankind, but are revealed to all believers. In non-biblical Greek musterion is knowledge withheld, concealed or silenced. In biblical Greek it is truth revealed (Col 1:26). NT musterion focuses upon Christ’s sinless life, atoning death, powerful resurrection and dynamic ascension.’ [New Spirit-Filled Study Bible]
The above, ancient meaning of ‘mystery’ is rarely understood and appreciated, even by those solidly grounded in scripture. As told in my testimony, my pre-Christian life got immersed in that esoteric knowledge, and so I’m experienced in this matter and can attest that the difference between that discipline and holy revelations from the Almighty is like the contrast between His Light and the devil’s darkness.
In our examining End-times we’ve completed 7 briefings, beginning with scriptures on the who, why, when and what of watching followed by an eschatologist’s challenge, a pastor’s vision and (my pre-Christian) unbeliever’s confrontation with the Bible and events!
Being the 8th Briefing, the next will begin another cycle and visit unusual scripture before venturing into others’ valuable insights. An interlude spent on three previous posts will help our understanding of what’s ahead.:
In mid-September 2016, as told here, a mathematician was writing about his favourite formula whilst I was reading about the very same thing buried deep in holy writ!
A multitude of times I’ve noticed crazy coincidences cropping up to give confirmation and more instruction upon certain topics, as though the Lord’s got His hammer and hitting me between the eyes to get my attention! This ‘God-incident‘ is the most extraordinary so far coming almost ‘simultaneously’ from both a secular, scientific standpoint and two fundamental scriptures.
Click image for details
An anniversary-cum-birthday holiday brought me opportunity to read a book at long last after a non-stop busy Summer. So I grabbed a couple from my pile, one of which, Unlocking the Sign Miracles of John by Jonathan R Hill, seemed on the lines of what I’d heard John Kilpatrick saying about the ‘sign miracles’ in the Gospel of John.
Flicking through it I noticed many references to the ‘Consummation of the Age’ (including chapter on its ‘mathematical foundation’), the ‘end-time’ prophetical significance of those miracles, as well as typologies, numerical aspects of Hebrew and Greek alphabets and calculations of time periods. Now, I take the last with a pinch of salt as they need careful checking, but am willing to consider and weigh new, even radical, concepts that don’t contradict scripture.
The book is based upon the work of Arthur Ware in The Restored Vision and quotes from Dr Grattan Guinness’ Light For The Last Days (whom another author quoted in seminal book The Invisible Hand, as told in End-Times Briefing 7). I’m aware of the ancient practice of substituting letters of original Hebrew and Greek alphabets with their ordinal (sequential) value and standard designated values known as gematria, which Hill uses. His book is annotated with cross-references throughout.
Without further ado, here are some introductory points and copies of a few specific pages to read carefully (enlarge for ease of reading):
‘But God does not stop with types, as each letter of the two original languages of the Bible, Hebrew for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament, encapsulates a numerical value. Words and collections of sequential words have a mathematical identity which, therefore, extends the surface narrative. Any agreement between this underlying numerical pattern and the surface meaning or doctrine, affixes considerable authenticity to the text…Only a personable supernatural God could inject such intrinsic connectivity within a book written in two languages with different alphabets, by multiple authors and across two millennia‘ (emphasis mine).
‘The only reference in the (NT) to individual letters is actually in John’s Gospel – ‘And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never studied?” John 7:15 NKJV (page 20).
‘The existence of a relationship between the surface meaning of the text, the type and the underlying mathematical value has long been known in Jewish Rabbinic tradition’ – see Wiki Pardes (Jewish Exegesis) (page 160).
Page 38: ‘…Before returning to the details of the progression of seven days, one more scientific digression is to be considered. A simple ratio of letters to words in Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 yields the following fundamental mathematical constants seen in figure 4’ – continues below (NB: especially note first footnote):
Upon returning home on the closing days of September and opening the accumulation of email, I soon read a notification of new post sent the preceding weekend from Joseph at Rationalising the Universe, the early part of which reads:
‘Today I write a short post about something close to my own heart; and to so many others in the field of mathematics which is the notion of mathematical beauty. That is, deriving aesthetic satisfaction from mathematical work (which in my opinion is on a level far above any painting, sculpture or photograph can ever achieve). There is no one defined notion of mathematical beauty; as with the more regular notion of of human beauty there often is a general consensus but it is down to personal taste. Here I summarise some areas in which mathematics in my eyes is at its most beautiful.
‘In this area I take a commonly cited example of Euler’s formula, which was showered with praise by the late great Richard Feynman, who used to refer to the formula as “our jewel”. Let me first present the general version of the formula…’
(He explains formula linking trigonometrical with the exponential form and when ‘x’ takes the value of ‘pi’ it becomes the Euler’s identity, as in Hill’s book above):
‘That is incredibly powerful mathematics summarised in a short, elegant looking formula which revels so much. To me this is incredibly beautiful…’
I was left utterly ‘God-smacked’!
So, next we’ll check Jesus’ mathematical miracle…
How a New Age follower got hooked into the Bible’s prophecies.
A unique take from die-hard anti-Christian confronted by facts in non-Christian book!
As an ex-unbeliever rescued by Jesus Christ in person and ‘born-again’ by Holy Spirit into life everlasting through His sinless blood, I reiterate Chuck Missler’s concern:
“You may not believe what the Bible says, but what’s utterly astonishing is that so very many claim to believe in Jesus yet have no grasp of the idea Christ is to literally return and rule!”
The aim of these Briefings is to help my readers be better informed and thus grasp that truth. If an ardently anti-church guy deeply involved in New Age teachings, who viewed ‘Bible-bashers’ as bigots, could grasp and keep hold of this mind-blowing stuff, then how much easier is it for believers in Jesus to fully appreciate these things?
So, come on a revelatory journey with me: Continue reading
This linked article by Nelson Walters brings an informative theological nuance to help in our consideration of the Who, Why, When and What of Watching:
“Watch” is Jesus’ most frequent command for Christians to prepare for the end times. What does “watch” mean? What exactly are we to do when we “watch?” We are beginning a short series on the topic of watching and being watchful in the end times. WATCH AND IMMINENCE I have heard it said by pretribulation…
Continue reading via What Does “Watch” Mean? — The Gospel In The End Times
So far we’ve considered the Who, Why and When we’re to watch. Now to the rationale of this blog, as stated in its title’s strap-line, ‘Looking for the signs of Jesus’ return’ and we examine what Jesus told us to look out for:
WHAT?
Omitting those which apply to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70, here’s a selection of signs stated in the first Gospel (Mark 13), augmented by Matthew (chapter 24) and Luke (chapters 17 & 21) plus insertion of Paul’s first and follow-up letters to believers in Salonika, to whom he stressed the origin of his teaching; ‘For this we say to you by the word of the Lord…’
Jesus said, “Take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
Details from The Apocalypse, the book recording ‘the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants’ penned by His apostle John, will follow later.
Not necessarily! I’m not of the alarmist brigade because, in my humble opinion, Jesus is coming back for a bride who’s ‘made herself ready’, which I understand to be a church that has been restored to move fully in the ‘greater works’ – one that has arisen with the glory of the Lord appearing over her and piercing the ‘thick darkness covering the peoples’ (see Revelation 19.7, Acts 3.21, John 14.12 and Isaiah 60.1-2). YET, it may be just over the horizon!
There’s clear indications this preparation is already happening through many ministries. Jesus did say, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16.18).
On praying to our Heavenly Father, He instructed us to petition, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” (Matt 6:10).
The Lord’s Kingdom rule has yet to come in its fullness so, in my opinion, a reworking – even a significant sifting or pruning – may be necessary as the Lord finishes building his Church and believers make themselves ready for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Next, we’ll briefly consider theological nuances of the meaning of ‘watching’…
[Scripture taken from the New King James Version; copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. used by permission. All rights reserved.]
Continuing the reasons for watching for the End-times, we consider when that might happen:
WHEN?
Jesus’ major End-time teaching was given soon after leaving the Temple with some of His disciples and having foretold its complete destruction, which was to happen about 40 years later after the infamous Roman siege of Jerusalem.
When He went and sat on the nearby Mount of Olives, two sets of brothers (Peter & Andrew, James & John) asked Him to expand upon that prophecy, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?” (seee Mark 13, Luke 21, Matthew 24).
He answered in some depth, and by examination of the details we can conclude that not only does Jesus describe later events in that First Century but also those of a much later time, one yet to come but which is now at the door! So Jesus did, but didn’t, tell them precisely ‘when’!
In talking of that far future time however, He tells them a parable about the appearing of leaves on a fig tree – which many believe refers to the establishment of the Jewish state of Israel.:
“So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it (or ‘He’) is near – at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place..But of that day and hour no-one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is…Watch therefore…I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:28-37 NKJV emphasis mine)
Other passages of the New Testament imply that He, or Holy Spirit, subsequently gave those leading disciples, and Saul of Tarsus who became Apostle Paul, further insights on the approximate timing of those signs, as below:
After Jesus’ Ascension into heaven Peter, when teaching in the Temple, called people to,
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of His holy prophets since time began…” (Acts 3:19-21 – my emphasis.)
So there’s a huge contribution followers of Christ have yet to make across all spheres of society towards such restoration – we’ve hardly started; not to mention both human and demonic opposition – but however do we restore ‘all things’? We must conclude that only The Almighty is able to bring about the ‘restoration of ‘all things’ – and doubtless in the manner Zecharia prophesied to governor Zerubbabel:
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit”, says the Lord of hosts. (Zech 4:6 NKJV)
Although we need to beware of false prophets, Acts 3:21 implies that the Lord will keep His prophets informed of His intentions in bringing this about (Amos 3:7). Hence the important relevance of contemporary prophecy.
We know from Acts and accounts in Paul’s Epistles that this Apostle to the Gentiles was blessed with visions of and revelations from Jesus Himself as, for example, in the main scripture quoted by ‘pre-Tribbers’:
‘For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
‘For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.’ (1Thess 4:15-17 NKJV)‘But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor 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. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.’ (1Thess 5:1-5 NKJV – emphases added)
Maybe it’s as well the Palestinian leaders have been defiantly intransigent over the so-called ‘peace plan’ with Israel and, like Iran and Hezbollah, want to wipe Israel off the face of the map! Even so, let’s keep watching!
NB: the theme of UN’s Year 2017-18 is ‘Together for Peace, Dignity, Safety & Respect For All’, as outlined in Three Prophetic Jigsaw Pieces.
Next, we include Paul’s later explanation so click 3 below for what we’re watching for…
In view of current events it’s time to reconsider the End-times foretold in the Holy Bible with a series of brief overviews, followed by others’ recent insights.
First, we revisit the mini-series published in February 2018 and lodged in the main menu for reference purposes. It was preceded by a couple of re-blogs referring to one of eight possible eschatological scenarios – a pre-Tribulation Rapture – and, together with a theological blog’s discussion, I was prompted to expand upon one of this blog’s earliest entries – ‘Why Watch?’
Now, let’s consider the ‘Who, Why, When and What’ of our watching:
WHO?
You, me and everyone, especially those who believe in and follow Jesus Christ – HE is the WHO and thus the basic reason we should be watching. If you’re not familiar with His life, ministry and status, or with the fact we can be in a close, loving relationship with Him, then dip into this blog’s brief outline at Do You Know Jesus?
WHY?
For me, a totally unexpected and very spectacular, life-changing event in 1989 made watching very personal and connected into relevant, directive scripture. Then in 2008, wanting to check Jesus’ parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13, I opened my Bible and IT EXPLODED! and I heard
“This is ALL about to be fulfilled!”
Thus impelled in February 2009 I began emailing friends and church leaders on current events and prophecy with The Endgame Is Now In Play, wherein I wrote:
‘Jesus urged His disciples to look out for and observe signs of the times. Regarding their questions about His return at the end of this Age, the earliest Gospel account has Jesus stressing 7 times, “Watch…be alert…on your guard“ (Mark 13). Matthew 24 reports Jesus saying 4 times, “Watch…and when you see…” followed by the parables of the burglar (Jesus coming “like a thief in the night”) and of the virgins > “Don’t be caught napping!” [Is the Church still asleep?] Luke’s account has, “Be always on the watch…” (Luke 21:36 and chapter 12 (NIV) has sections on watchfulness and interpreting the times. In each Gospel Jesus commands, “Learn the lesson of the fig tree…”. Also, the Apostles went on to give more indicators (Acts 3:20-1, Hebrews 12:26-7, 2 Peter 3, 2 Timothy 3 and the first and second letters to the Thessalonians).’
It’s claimed that for every OT prophecy about Jesus Christ’s birth and life there’s seven to eight times as many about His eventual return or ‘Parousia’, also called ‘The Second Advent’ or ‘Second Coming’. I’m of the opinion the likelihood of that event in our lifetime is rapidly increasing !
Jesus stressed the great importance of His return. Eg, His instruction to the four who’d been with Him from the outset of His mission is given at Mark 13:33-37 (NKJV):
“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
“Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – lest, coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping! And what I say to you, I say to all, ‘Watch!’.”
That’s why I’m watching and, believer or not, you too are included, as is implicit in Jesus’ admonition: “I say to ALL…“
So, watching for Him is and always has been THE ‘inclusive’ activity – and one with divine warrant!
How Can We Be Sure?
You may object and say, “But even if that’s an accurate quotation it’s only guesswork”. That is, prophecies don’t always come to pass. In answer and in synopsis only, I offer the following key to foretelling the future.:
We’re privileged to learn what Almighty God has decided is to happen. He shared his plans with a select number of ancient sages, or prophets, over a long period that started 29 centuries ago, and several centuries before Christ. Amidst extensive instructions He told the prophet Isaiah:
“For I am God and there is no other, I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand and I shall do all My pleasure’…” (Isaiah 46:9-10 NKJV)
In fact, some years before Isaiah the first of the ‘writing prophets’ had received a distinct word about God’s intention to divulge His plans. This is recorded in Amos’ scroll at the seventh verse of the third chapter (in modern notation):
“Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
Next, we learn when we’re to be watching for whatever’s coming, so click 2 below…
The Lord God has given Me
The tongue of the learned,
That I should know how to speak
A word in season to him who is weary.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.
(Isaiah 50:4 NKJV, courtesy BibleGateway)
Awakening early Saturday – 30th May, the in-between Shavuot-Pentecost day – I found my spirit buzzing excitedly over Messianic scholar Dr Fruchtenbaum’s brief exposition on Shavuot, aka Pentecost. I’d re-read it last thing Friday and scribbled an introduction for re-blogging it next day, if I may get a half-hour online.
Of Jesus’ followers, 120 disciples/apostles were ‘born-again’ and baptised in the Holy Spirit and fire, thus bringing the church of Jesus Christ into existence.
I submit: the learned doctor’s thesis is foundational to current prophecies on the church-changing importance of Pentecost 2020. Moreover, my early-morning musing brought the following notion, which I’d like prophetically gifted readers to weigh. First, a bit of background:
Since last year I’ve been asking the Lord to deal with the growing apostasy and put His spirit of holy fear into reprobate church leaders. The ‘dragon’ found a way to close down all churches worldwide by sending the ‘Chinese flu’ and, for the first time in history since the original Passover in ancient Egypt, all Jews and Christians are behind locked doors because of a plague during their holiest festivals; Passover, Good Friday, Resurrection Sunday – and 50 days later the situation at Pentecost remains unchanged.
I remonstrated with and asked the Lord, “Is today’s Church the one you started building to become Your Bride; the one you said the gates of hell shall not prevail against? Lord, the snake has slithered into its holy precincts unchallenged; even welcomed by some!”
Then a few months ago we were delighted to learn of a pastor who moves strongly in the Holy Spirit’s gift of prophecy, whom the Lord told to resign from leadership and then to watch how He – Jesus Christ – builds His Church today!!!
With all that in mind, plus challenging an author who, self-admittedly not a prophet, is adamant he knows what God is doing – which includes not blessing The UK Blessing and similar ‘siren songs’! – this dropped into mind upon waking Saturday morn..:
With church buildings shut according to civil law, the bride of Christ is locked away as though entombed – like the first disciples were after Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and during prayer-period leading into Shavuot. That is, her body stopped functioning in the natural but the Lord has arranged for her to be revived with Holy Spirit’s power, just like at His Resurrection!
Therefore, today’s churches are going through a ‘death’ and ‘resurrection’ to prepare those who ardently desire Jesus for a new life; one empowered to fulfill His mission.
That is, I believe we’re about to witness the Bride of Christ’s Resurrection in preparation for His Return…!!! This means a radical change within church-goers to move out and do the ‘Greater Works’ (John 14:12) in the ripening global Harvest.
In that morning’s shared devotional reading from Sanctuary – Moments in His Presence, the author David Strutt tells of a couple of reminder cards pinned above his desk, one of which is Isaiah 50 and thus confirmed my minutes-before musing. David quotes that verse:
‘…He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to listen as a disciple‘ and continues, ‘If you are being taught by the Lord, you are His disciple. I often repeat this verse to myself on waking, long before i get to my desk. I commend it to you as a way of life – it is true. It is the word of the Lord to you.’
This God-arranged ‘coincidence’ appears in Veronika West’s personal vision published that same day, 30th May, which I didn’t read ’til getting back online today! (click here)
The renowned Messianic scholar provides solid teaching that’s given me another totally unexpected and delightful double ‘God-incidence’ – First: Dr Arnold’s description of the new ministry of Spirit baptism as being essential to the Church’s existence, confirms my case made during debate this week with an author claiming healing by Holy Spirit’s power is “subjective and thus not exegetical,” despite medical evidence to the contrary! – Second: appreciate the inclusion of parable of wheat and tares as it also relates to the End-times harvest, and my checking of which led to my hearing the Lord’s voice on the fulfillment of scripture, thereby kick-starting my writing on prophecy (see The End-game Is Now In Play).
I pray that you may hear what the Lord is saying through Dr Fruchtenbaum’s post…
By Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum – Shavuot is the fourth holy season on the Jewish calendar. Among the Jewish people, it is also known as the Feast of Weeks. Among most Gentile believers today, the season is known as Pentecost.[1] A. The Biblical Observance Shavuot is a one-day festival. It is unique in that it was […]
Continued at > Shavuot – The Feast of Weeks – Pentecost — Ariel Ministries Publications
Thank you to Elaine Venning for this paper and I’d add that this year’s Passover was a unique repeat of the first Passover when people were locked away during plague. So too, will this Pentecost be unique because believers have been locked out of churches and thus waiting upon the Lord in their homes and internet meetings, wherein we’ve witnessed the Holy Spirit being repeatedly active – similarly to when Jesus breathed upon His disciples in their locked meetings before Pentecost (John 20:22 – again!)
A TALE OF TWO PENTECOSTS and HOW GOD VISITS HIS PEOPLE
Our feast day of Pentecost falls on 31st May 2020 when we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and so the birth of the Church. Two days before (Friday) is the Jewish feast of the same name. That celebrates the conclusion of the Passover season with recalling the giving of the Ten Commandments and the Torah. The Jews calculate the passing years from this time and for them this is 5780. We do the same, taking our year, now 2020, from the approximate year of Jesus’ birth.
We serve the same God. Both feasts remember how God comes down from heaven to visit His people. He comes as Word and as Spirit. The first time the people of Israel were gathered together on the mountain where they heard a loud trumpet sound and experienced the smoke as of a furnace. The second time, violent wind and tongues of fire descended upon each person present. The parallels are very striking.
Sadly, a little later some of the sons of Israel turned back to idolatry. With the fear of the Lord fresh upon them, the Levites acted to uphold the holiness of God using brute force resulting in the killing of 3,000 Hebrews – see Exodus 32 v 28. Was it a coincidence when the Spirit filled disciples spilled out onto the streets of Jerusalem 3,000 people were baptised in the Spirit to become believers?
Most of these people had come to Jerusalem for the Torah-appointed feast of Pentecost also known as ‘Shavuot’ or the Feast of Weeks. It is the second of three harvest feasts where the men of Israel were required to come to Jerusalem. That year they and their families came from across the known world – see Acts 2. Many would have been devout pilgrims bent on observing all that God commanded – Deuteronomy 16:16.
A key offering in this Feast is that of two loaves of bread made with finest wheat and leaven given in a wave offering. Scholars say this is an act of remembrance representing the Old Testament Covenant that God established with His peoples and was made on the two tablets upon which the Ten Commandments were chiselled. It has also been seen as a prophetic fore-telling of the New Testament Covenant as well.
With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in this the New Covenant God makes, both Jew and Gentile are brought together, as in His mercy the Father fulfils the exchange Jesus purchased for those who accept His blood sacrifice with the taking away of our sins and the giving to us of His own righteousness. Thereby, God allows us to become His own dear children.
In both, God is drawing near to His people Himself and is making us Holy. He has done this by firmly making the Resurrected Jesus to be the cornerstone upon which everything holds together, the one new man, the second Adam – see Ephesians 2.
5780/2020 is double blessing time, the importance of Word and Spirit coming to God’s people. It is when the great harvest of souls can be expected to start with the fresh empowering of God’s people. It is the herald of a new age of wonders and miracles.
Like the Jews at this time we can benefit from reading the book of Ruth with its beautiful story of mercy. The harvest comes in loving kindness, with its tale of surprise acceptance and redemption.
Let us do all that He asks of us. Prepare to be witnesses!
As the Taize chant says, “wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Keep watch, take heart”.
Click here to read Parts I and II with brief background to these posts >
THE BATTLEGROUND HAS SHIFTED III: THE ANCIENT BATTLEFIELD OF THE PROMISED LAND
We are the generation that crossed into the promised land; but the wars on the way to the promised land are pale in comparison to what is in the promise. The temptation and battles that cohabiting with demonic ideologies bring leave one in a long-stretch tug-of-war.
The Scriptures shows us how their failure to wipe out demonic structures in the land became their greatest undoing. In a moment in time, a righteous king will emerge and lead unto victories; and they would have rest for a season; and afterwards another king would come who would do injustice and service the perverse altars and they would be besieged in their land for a longer period of time; and this tug of war continued for so long a time, much longer than the sum of times they spent in Egypt and on the way to the promise.
The promised land is an ancient battlefield; it has been the call from the beginning; and is the destination; it is the land destined to rule over other lands, but a greater challenge is being besieged even in the promised land; a place destined to be a place of rest. We are the generation crossing into the ancient battlefield of the promise; the battlefield has shifted. For nations exiting national councils and covenants that have been a strong yoke; the battlefield has shifted; to dwell in safety; we must labor to pull down strongholds that exists in the land; establish the righteous covenant to The LORDSHIP OF JESUS; that we may gain rest and be fed with milk and honey.
THE BATTLEGROUNDS HAVE SHIFTED IV: THE HOMELANDS, THE HIGHWAYS AND THE PALACES
Most times when we consider places of warfare the mind wanders far away; to popular highways in the city, entrance gates of cities; governmental buildings; but very little do people consider the very location of their home as a map in contest !
The LORD through Moses had wrought a great warfare in Egypt; contending at the palace; shaking significant hotspots in the city; but the one that broke many doors at once; was the final plague; and it was the one directed to the first-born, as seen in Exodus 11:1. The most significant part of this was the fact that the first-born served either as priests or heirs to the family priesthood that serviced the family altars that had idols seated in their homes. So it was first a strike against the idols and perverse altars within the map of the homelands; and an eventual striking out the priests to these idols of the homelands that broke Egypt; and Israel obtained from these homelands such great transfer of wealth.
Inheriting the promise land gives us similar picture; this time The LORD Commanded Joshua as seen in Judges 2; that they must throw down the perverse altars of those that had been in the land; and just as we had seen in Egypt; both those in the palaces and the highways; and those in the homelands were to be contended against. This is what Gideon did that stirred the breakthrough; he advanced to gain. The battlefield has shifted; have you discerned the spiritual state of your homeland? and have you established the covenant of The LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST?
For like Gideon; we must pull down the strongholds in the homelands if we must march through the walls of Jericho to capture the palaces and the highways.
Espied on Facebook home-page this exceptional insight into the counterfeiter by dear Steve Hepden at the beginning of an eventful day. It fits so well as a lead-in to another at the top of my emails and just can’t get it off my mind. Also tallies with my short series on the strategies of our adversary and accuser. May you be blessed too…
Son of The Father or son of the father?
In my study and research for the chapter ‘Abba Father,’ I came across something at the very end of Jesus’ life: that Satan used to deceive the people, and humiliate and destroy Jesus. At Passover, there was a custom, which gave the Jews the choice to release a prisoner. Pontius Pilate used this to appease them in an effort to keep the peace. The two men Pilate offered to the people were Barabbas and Jesus.
Barabbas was a ‘freedom fighter,’ an insurrectionist, part of a revolutionary movement, and he with others were in prison because they had committed murder in the uprising, Mark 15:6-15. Amazingly Jesus was actually accused of participating in similar activities when He was before the Roman authorities. As far as Pilate was concerned, Jesus had done nothing wrong. He knew that Jesus was not a criminal, but he didn’t know who He was.
Was the choice of Jesus in contrast to Barabbas no accident, or was it premeditated, and malevolent?
These are two Messianic figures with a choice between one who led an armed struggle, and took life to gain a better life with a promise of freedom and a new kingdom; and then the mysterious Jesus who also promised freedom and a new Kingdom, but who talked about laying down your life as the way to gain life.
Pilate had no option but to put it to the people as he was under such pressure. It was a no-win situation, as the people began to chant ‘give us Barabbas,’ and soon it became a frenzied shout due to the crowd psychology of the few stirring up the many. It reached a peak when the mob assumed the guilt of Jesus’ death and said, “Let his blood be on us and on our children,” Matt 27:25. As we know the consequences were severe.
Look at the meaning of Barabbas’ name. His last name, Barabbas, means son (bar) of the father (abba). Jesus had always referred to himself as the Son of the Father. Barabbas’ first name was significant too. Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Matt 27:17, NIV.
Amazingly Barabbas’ first name was Jesus. So you see Jesus son of the father opposing Jesus Son of the Father! Two people with the same name!
It is important that we see this event as Satanic malevolence as the father of lies, John 8:44, deceiving and confusing the people with a counterfeit Messiah. Satan’s purpose was to rob Jesus of His identity by stealing His name, as well as His status as Son. Is this another attempt at the ‘final solution’? Jesus knew He could have asked His Father to put at His disposal the legions of angels that were watching since Gethsemane, Matt 26:53, but He didn’t, He did the better thing, and let Satan have his way. We know why……
What about our choice? Are we going to let Satan undermine our relationship with Abba Father, steal our inheritance as Abba’s children, plunder our identity, or our right to call God “Abba,” because we would lose our capacity to commune and communicate with Him with affection and intimacy?
No…..!
There’s no such thing as ‘coincidence,’ especially for those walking-in-the-Spirit when we realise such events are ‘God-incidents’, as though the Lord is giving messages by His GPS, or ‘Global Prophecy Signalling’ system. When we start putting it all together we can easily see that prophecies and insights are pieces of His invisible jigsaw puzzle that takes shape before us showing aspects and perspectives upon a HUGE Heavenly Blueprint – even a road-map, as Abel Praise found.
So here are the pieces for the 47th such instance, which is interesting number as 1947 was the year of Smith-Wigglesworth’s prophecy of a major move of the Holy Spirit in Britain, as well as being my birth-year. The picture on these 47th signals or pieces is of The Church:
A week ago today, Thursday 7th May, pastor Thomas emails me as follows:
‘Dear Richard – Greetings, hope you are doing well. Been a long time and it truly is an amazing time we are in.
‘The Lord gave me a word for the global church and I believe it is a major confirmation of some of the prophecies we have received. Felt to share with you as we truly are on verge of greatest awakening ever.
‘Would be great if you could raise awareness and share with others as I believe it is key for the church just now. I believe it would be a major blessing for your readers and help them prepare for this historic moment that we have all longed for.
Blessings, Thomas
He then provides the intro to URGENT WORD FOR THE GLOBAL CHURCH
‘Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
‘I urge you to take the time to read this word which I believe to be one of the most urgent for the body of Christ in many years. We live in an unprecedented time where believer and unbelievers are trying to understand where we are and where we are going. This word has not been released lightly and is not simply another word or prophecy, but direction from the Lord that will help prepare us for the history changing moment right in front of us.
‘What is ahead is greater than the Reformation and will have a bigger impact than that. This will be a reformation of the world as we know it, not just a doctrine within Christianity. Most of the world believe this pandemic is the defining moment of 2020 and indeed recent history – it is not! It is about to fade into a low background noise and a mere footnote of history compared to what God is about to do. Our Almighty, Eternal God can never be triumphed over by a disease.
‘So I urge you to prepare and open your heart as we are on the precipice of one of the defining moments in history similar to Noah’s flood, Israel being delivered from Egypt and other historical milestones…’ (continue reading at link’s SECOND paragraph)
Immediately, I’m struck by Thomas referring specifically to the Lord as ‘Our Almighty, Eternal God’, which is how I addressed Him when enquiring about the origin of the pandemic, as told here. And so I follow the link and, finding it’s a lengthy read, I print a hard-copy for reading at leisure over the weekend.
I CANNOT RECOMMEND HIGHLY ENOUGH YOUR PRINTING AND VERY CAREFULLY STUDYING AND WEIGHING THIS URGENT WORD
My hard-copy is covered in highlighter pen as so many points are personally poignant. I may share them soon.
AND I FIND THAT OUR ‘GPS’ WEEKEND FEATURES SIGNIFICANTLY!! Although published on Z3News.com a week ago today, Thomas writes therein (underline mine),
‘..on 1st of May, I had the most unique spiritual experience of my life. I woke from sleep and felt something like a spiritual lightning go through my being. There was a momentary spiritual battle and then I suddenly knew and declared out loud: “The Greatest Outpouring and Harvest in history is about to happen”. It was the clearest God has ever spoken to me in my entire life…’
Upon re-reading this early last Sunday morning I noticed Thomas’ reference to ‘We are going from outbreak to Out-Bread – where the experience of Jesus as the Bread of Life will multiply across the earth.’ Before we rise for the day we break bread and pray from Keep Praying & Bless – amazed to read Sunday’s decree: “I Am The Bread Of Life!”
THEREFORE, I GOT ‘GOD-INCIDENTAL’ CONFIRMATION OF THIS DOCUMENT!
May you be thoroughly blessed…
Before we look at the actual scriptures referred to in the previous part about the current contagion being “man-made”, especially relating to the ‘Mark of the Beast’, it’s useful to present those that are my foundation for following Jesus Christ as the Lord of my life:
Foundational Discipleship
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.“ (John 14:23-26 NKJV)
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all 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. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” (John 17:20-23 NKJV)
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-8 NKJV)
Discipleship re. Prophecy/Deliverance
Having practised deliverance ministry and prophecy, I’m of the opinion that ALL Matthew chapter 7 is applicable to the latter; especially verses 1-2 on judging others, 15-23 on true and false prophets and entry to heaven, 24-27 on building upon the Rock.
Moreover, I’m well aware of the judgements the Lord brought upon His chosen people for not only straying from His ordinances, given as they are for their well-being and protection, but also for rebelling against Him by turning to worship false gods. [Paper collated by Joel Rosenberg, What does the Bible teach about pestilence, plagues & global pandemics? refers.]
Here’s a tidy-up from my jottings, ‘End of March (in lock-down for UK) Thoughts’ :
IS GLOBAL PANDEMIC FROM GOD’S HAND?
The Almighty or ‘El Shaddai, ‘ according to rabbinical tradition, means ‘God of utter ruin and destruction Who can do anything’.
Rev 13:7…’no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.’
Instructions for avoiding virus-contaminated surfaces when shopping state it is best to use cashless-payment, instead of handling cash or touching card machines: ie, wave a hand instead of part with cash or tapping buttons!
Therefore, if this pandemic is from the hand of God, it means He is in cahoots with satan and enabling its strategy to introduce a cashless society described in Rev 13:7..!!!
1 Peter 4:17…For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Matt 13:24-30… He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
Rev 2-3…Jesus’ letters to the 7 churches warns sinners therein of the need to repent, or else face judgement and extraction as well as the removal of His lampstand therefrom.
ALL three passages clearly imply unrepentant sinners and apostates within churches will be judged first, before other believers and the as-yet-unsaved general public.
WHY have the blatantly apostate leaders of churches who permit same-sex marriage and twisting of scriptures not died from this pandemic? If it’s time for these passages to be put into effect then the Church should be judged and leaders repent and turn, or die.
Amos 3:7… Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
I was unaware of any prophets hearing specifically about a global pandemic before it started in China. (I’d noted Veronika West’s of April 2019 about plague in USA.) Therefore, I took note of Dr Sharon Stone’s explanation of what she heard upon seeking the Lord on this matter in early March, “This plague is before its time and it is illegal.”
Sid Roth’s Coronavirus and the End-times on 19th March featured Emma Stark and Tracy Cooke, which drew discussion at Prophetic Releasers for UK Revival. However, it was too long for me to spare the time but I noticed it began with Tracy talking about a dream of being in the Wuhan lab and seeing US politicians. As blogged a couple of weeks later in Visions of Spiritual ‘Atomic Bomb’, I returned to the video because Emma’s contribution had been recommended by a pastor to whom her vision applied.
I wasn’t, therefore, persuaded by unsubstantiated claims of the virus being engineered at a laboratory, but was open to the possibility. This is why I did not exclude it from all the various scenarios I put to The Almighty on 23rd March, as told in the previous post. Hence my surprise at hearing the Lord’s immediate response to my asking if the pandemic is from Him – “No, it is man-made.”
There’s another connotation to ‘man-made’ other than engineered: it can be a consequence of our unrepented, sinful activities because they give satan legal rights of access to interfere with our lives. We thus move ourselves from under the Lord’s blood covering and protection.
Maybe Jesus was mindful of that state-of-play when saying:
Matt 24:4-8 (‘The Signs of the Times and End of the Age’) Jesus..said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for [a]all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, [b]pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
This passage states what natural and human activities/events will happen in the future, but there’s no indication that they’ll come direct from the hand of God.
Yet, the time must come when He will, of necessity, humble humanity to its knees in repentance before His holy glory.
Matthew 24:6-8 in Greek (Scripture4all: click image for link)
Johnny’s article in full as promised in previous post…
WATCHING
Another three weeks! The last three were enough; now we have to suffer another 21 days (minimum) of social isolation and lockdown. Even the strongest of us will surely begin to flag; there are only so many tasks to perform, rooms to clean, phone calls to make, books to read, walks to explore and TV programmes to watch. So what are we going to do?
In my last article, I wrote about waiting, and making it a positive thing rather than just a period to endure. But watching and waiting are often spoken together. Parents will often tell their children to “Wait and See,” with the clear implication that something important (usually good) is going to happen soon. And we always refer to night watchmen, not night waiters! Times of waiting should always be approached with patience and with the expectation that something good is going to happen or that something bad may be prevented by watching. So, in the Bible waiting is often synonymous with watching. The same Greek word is used in the New Testament for both keeping awake and for spiritual alertness, in other words, watching. We need to become good “watchers.”
So, how can we make sure that this time of waiting can be positive rather than frustrating? The Bible tells us: “be on your guard; stand firm in the faith” (1 Corinthians 16 v 13). It is very easy to be negative about your circumstances, to allow your mind to drift into possible future scenarios. “Will I catch the dreaded Covid-19?” “How will I ever manage to pay the bills, put up with the kids for another month, or find another job when this is over?”
The Bible can help us here. Instead of dwelling on circumstances in fear or frustration, we can turn our thoughts away from ourselves to God’s peace and purposes in our lives. Psalm 130 verse 5 states, “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.”
This turns our situation on its head; instead of fear there is peace, instead of doubt there is faith and instead of frustration there is hope. This time of waiting can become a time of watching instead, looking to see what God can do and wants to do in your life rather than trying to sort it all out yourself. Watching means that we trust God to work in and through our lives to accomplish what he wants to do. Isaiah 30 verse 18 tells us that “the Lord longs to be gracious to you ….blessed are all who wait for him.” The old hymn Great Is Your Faithfulness is actually a quotation from Lamentations 3 verses 22-24. Why not look it up and see how it can apply to you?
Let’s all become watchers rather than just waiters!
Richard's Watch 