Category Archives: Christianity

The rabbi’s note, the PM’s death and the angel’s word – part 1

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What do last month’s death of Ariel Sharon, previous Prime Minister of Israel – a sealed note on a revelation to that country’s leading rabbi, Yitzak Kaduri, that was kept for the first anniversary of his own death 8 years earlier – and Gabriel’s prophetic word to Jesus’ mother 2,000 years previously – all have in common?

A Matter of Timing

‘To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck what’s planted…’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)

That wisdom would apply not only to the connections between the above three persons but also to today’s blog. Note I didn’t write, ‘to the three persons’ lives’. Of course it does relate to that but, I’d submit, it also applies to their prophetic common denominator!

[Aside: interesting to note the preceding verse 2:26 begins, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight…]

Days before last Christmas I was struck by one of the main verses always featured in the festivities – something angel Gabriel said to young Mary, as blogged a few weeks ago (here). That post considers the prophetic and creative nature of his words brought direct from The Almighty. It closes by promising to explain the relevance of Gabriel’s prophecy of Jesus’ kingship to a vision received by rabbi Kaduri.  Prior to that continuation, I suggested readers may like to read a brief blog on Jewish expectation of a saviour, or messiah.

Good as the promise is and with first paragraphs already drafted, I didn’t get around to finishing it in view of other topical material and home priorities.

In fact, it seems the time just wasn’t right. The unintentional delay opened up a window of opportunity for a confirmation to come along that I was on the right track. It must have been the Lord’s doing – and it’s good to know I wasn’t off-beam or had gone off at a tangent!

Now, in writing about it, I believe He’s pointing me to relevant scriptures and bringing  further insights…bring it on Lord!  I trust you will bear with my building upon what started out as a brief flash of inspiration – it all hangs together.

[Am reminded this is Jewish year 5774 (The Open Door) and what I’ve described above is like entering that doorway and noticing what’s at hand, then looking all around when  past the threshold. Also, on checking this draft I hadn’t thought to write ‘flash’ but now recollect seeing several in the sky just before waking today. The last and brightest flash filled the whole sky and I thought it could be the lightning of Jesus’ return in glory.]

SO, back to what Gabriel said:

Gabriel’s Declaration

After reading out Luke 2 at a carol service I wanted to check the first chapter. There, part of what Gabriel said popped up off my Bible’s page and ‘hit me between the eyes’! And it buzzed in my brain for days, nay weeks, afterwards!

It was one of those ‘aha!’ moments when a scriptural insight strikes like a lightning bolt. Since childhood I’d heard of Jesus Christ as ‘King of the Jews’ many times. But this time a new understanding took me by surprise.  More was yet to come about that prophecy recounted in the first part “I am Gabriel, …”. But what set everything off was distinctly different to what I wrote about in there. To recap:

In speaking to Mary, Gabriel told her about conceiving a child and giving him a specific name. And he went on to state what Jesus would become, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end…”.

An Insight

Suddenly, I realised the phrase underlined above meant Jesus would become the king of all descendants of the ancient Israelites, and the Jews in particular. But far more than that – Jesus has always been King of the Jews.

It hit me hard that in The Almighty’s sight, the crucified saviour of all Jews and Gentiles has been ‘King of Jacob’s descendants’ ever since His life on earth.  Although not enthroned, proclaimed, recognised and reigning as such, none of that makes any difference as far as Yeshua Ha-Mashiach (Jesus the Christ) is concerned.

That is, He regards each and every Jew as one of His subjects and loves each of them – from His birth and throughout 2,000 years of rejection, and then to His return to reign and into the future ‘forever’…which is what I’m about to focus upon.

But the people’s leaders didn’t want to acknowledge that fact. They saw the northern rabbi from Galilee of the Gentiles as a dire threat because the populace had watched Him bring dead Lazarus out of his tomb alive, and thus believed in Him and may become followers.

In council with chief priests and Pharisees over how to prevent the Romans quelling the inevitable disturbance, high priest Caiaphas rebuked his fellows, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish”.  A negative political stance, it was nevertheless a prophetical utterance. Jesus’ disciple John explains that peculiarity as, and making this the latest ‘whack on the forehead’.:

Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. (Emphasis mine)

[Note: John was known to the high priest and recorded his above presumption about the Romans taking away their temple and nation. Caiaphas warned Pontius Pilate  against releasing Jesus and accused him of acting against Caesar. So, the continued reliance on the term ‘King’ by the Jews is key in the decision to crucify Him.  See John 11:45-57 and 18-19. Also, let’s not forget the magi came seeking Jesus as ‘King of the Jews’, which disturbed king Herod.]

Gospel accounts state Pilate was reluctant to order Jesus’ execution and then caved in to pressure from Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, who all wanted Him dead. Thus, it’s easy to assume Pilate pacified them in order to avoid disturbances when Jerusalem was packed with pilgrims. However, the fact Herod Agrippa was the Judean monarch, as vassal of the emperor, indicates the Jews’ claim about Jesus, which Jesus did not deny, was similar to a charge of treason.

Therefore, Pilate had the reason for the death sentence affixed to the execution stake, or cross, namely ‘I.N.R.I’, which means ‘Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews’.

In so doing, Pilate unwittingly validated what the angel had declared in a message from the Throne of God. (The second he’d been assigned to deliver and declare with all the creative power of prophecy, as discussed in my earlier post.)

Regrettably, throughout its history the Church has been no better in its treatment of those who refused to recognise Jesus as their real Messiah. Until Emperor Constantine’s reign the Roman church financially supported churches in the Holy Land led by ‘desposyni’; that is, ‘The Lord’s blood-kindred’. However, this brotherly provision ceased after a dispute with Pope Sylvester. Under the new emperor the church in Rome became officially recognised and established with power across the empire.

Son of David

Although Gabriel hadn’t explicitly described Mary’s future child as ‘King of the Jews’, that’s what ‘the throne of his father David’ implies.  And reference to Jesus as reigning over ‘the house of Jacob’ means He would be not only king of the tribe of Judah but also of the other eleven tribes descended from Jacob.

David had ruled 1,000 years earlier and unified Judah and the other eleven tribes, or Israel. Collectively they were known as ‘Bene Ya’aqob’, Sons of Jacob, also as ‘Bene Yisrael’ from his new name after having wrestled like a soldier with the Lord, or an angel – Yisrael, or ‘Prince with God’. (See Genesis 32, interlinear)

As a nation-state once again exists in the ancient land God promised to descendants of Abraham then that title of kingship applies to modern Israel too! In other words, Jesus is that nation’s unrecognised and unseen King, but Who is destined to rule and reign in the flesh, as proclaimed by the ancient prophets and himself during His last Passover meal.

Furthermore, as John explains, Caiaphas’ prophecy refers not only to Jesus giving His life for the Jews but also for other people. Also that Jesus would gather together from all over the world, uniting all who believe in God the Father, no matter whether Jew or Gentile.

Is this stupendous prophetic plan of action being fulfilled in our lifetime?  That possibility will be considered in part 2…

Update 4 Dec 2014 – that second part remained unwritten but, as in the first section’s header, it was really a ‘matter of time’. What I intended writing has been overtaken by events, as reported on 26th November in Israel Today – see Arabs and Jews unite to agree only solution to Israel-Palestine issue.

Thoughts on ‘Rethinking Genesis’

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T.E. Hanna’s paper published on his blog, to which my covering note links, is interesting reading. He deals with claims  that Moses appropriated creation myths of Egypt and Mesopotamia for writing Genesis. He argues that, rather than adopting mythologies of the surrounding ancient East, Hebrew cosmology was written as a criticism of them as well as emphasising not only the God of Israel’s nature but also His superiority over other religions.

I’m not attempting a review of Hanna’s paper The Egyptian Cosmology of Genesis, but wish to share a few thoughts after having referred to Genesis as the scriptural grounds for prophesying into Time (see “I am Gabriel, who stands in the Presence of God”). See also his comments below to the following:

Hanna cites several scholars opinions, one of which is similar to what’s been mentioned several times in our church. That is, after having overcome the magical powers of the priests against Moses, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob directed each plague of Egypt specifically against a particular deity in the pantheon of gods.  That is, the God of Israel dethroned them!

How Genesis Differs and is Superior

In view of my old, dead life having been connected with a brotherhood claiming descent from ancient Egypt, I was aware of the similarity of the Memphite cosmogony to that of Genesis. (Personal outline here.) Therefore, it was interesting to read Hanna stating,

Here, we find the creator-god Ptah bringing the world into existence out of nothing, and by means of verbal command.

He stresses the importance of noting this speech doesn’t involve an invocation to higher magical powers and “draws to the forefront the superiority of this creator-god”. Hanna summarises,

…Three profound similarities – creation out of nothing, speaking as the means of creation and the rejection of magic pointing to divine superiority – were completely unique to Egypt and Israel.

He stresses they are not the only similarities for the priests of ‘Sun City’ (Heliopolis) had a cosmogony involving ‘chaos gods’ comprising a ‘tohu bohu’ of formless, empty chaotic darkness – and a breath!  Thus, both cultures considered that creation brought order out of chaos, but it would be inaccurate to assume and conclude, “the author of Genesis merely took existing religious imagery and re-packaged it”.

According to the Egyptian creation myths,

The natural world was not brought into existence by the creation of different elements such as the sun, moon, or sea. Rather, this world was brought into existence by the birth of various deities who, in turn, embodied these elements. Thus, Ptah did not speak and the sun appeared; rather, Ptah spoke and the sun-god was born.  In contrast to this:

The God of Israel existed in transcendence from His creation.  He spoke, and order came into the world.  His creative act was not a birthing of other gods; instead, it was simply the bringing forth of natural phenomena. Thus, the God of Israel is not only shown to be superior, but shown to be solitary. In stark contrast to the polytheism of Egypt, the Genesis narrative lays out the supremacy of Israel’s monotheism.

Also, there are other significant differences, for example:

  • the order of creation differed with Light before sun and moon makes the creator distinct from them.
  • caring for images of gods was obligatory in Egypt, but Israel rejected all idols.
  • humanity is intentionally created in God’s image to reflect His glory.

Mesopotamian Influence

I’m surprised that Hanna doesn’t make any reference to the probable transmission of ancestral history, knowledge and traditions down through the patriarchal chain from at least Abraham, if not Noah, which the Hebrew slaves in Egypt must have known.

Instead, he attempts a cursory nod to similarities between Genesis and the Babylonian epics in noting the strong early influence of the Asiatic Hyksos people. He cites scholars as thinking that the reign of the Hyksos opened the door for Jacob and his large family. Also, the later expulsion of the Hyksos may account for the fact of a new king “who did not know of Joseph”.

Also, the huge effect of the Godly significance of Hebrew, its meanings and application in scripture is not considered at all. In fact, it relates to the Egyptian concept of ‘breath’, not only as being infused into mankind but also and importantly in connection with The Word of God.  I’m learning about Hebrew and so its recognition would be welcome, but perhaps the young theologian may cover this aspect another time.

Nevertheless, his short paper on The Egyptian Cosmology of Genesis is recommended reading.

Further Reading:

  1. Prophesy TO 2014
  2. Talking to Time seems to work
  3. Is the ‘Hand of God’ a Sign for these times?
  4. I am Gabriel, who stands in the Presence of God
  5. Thoughts on ‘Rethinking Genesis’ (this post, now read discussion).
  6. Surprise! New things! The invisible world is the pattern for the visible

 

“We must stand up for Middle East’s persecuted Christians.” A must-read column.

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Yes, but why the M-East, because it’s also happening across most Muslim nations from Africa to Indonesia AND is a Muslim-declared religious war in Nigeria! AND why is the US media so silent on this? Could it be because of who and what is aiding and abetting these atrocities?

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

crossThis morning I want to encourage you to read a well-written and important column by Johnnie Moore, a professor of religion and Senior Vice President of Liberty University, on the plight of Christians in the Middle East today.

Also, here’s an interviewMoore did on Fox News discussing the issue, saying the “Arab Spring has become the Christian Winter.”

—————————-

We must stand up for Middle East’s persecuted Christians

By Johnnie Moore

(the following are excerpts — to read the full column, please click here.)

Christianity began in the East, not the West, yet today Christians in the East are enduring an all-out-assault by Islamic terrorists, while Christians in the West live their lives largely oblivious to it all. This has to change.

This is no imaginary persecution; in Syria alone there have been reports of kidnappings, Christian communities intentionally displaced by militants and, worst of all, shootings and…

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On the significance of Turkey’s turn-around

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Yesterday’s news and announcement on this blog merits a brief explanation. As an ‘alert’, it was dashed off because I was about to close down for dinner but decided to quickly check ‘before-the-media’ news.

In fact, my short window on-line yesterday went in congratulating a friend on his political blog’s news. I mentioned that prophetic material in Ezekiel 38 is increasingly relevant. (As already disclosed, that topic had cropped up in my afternoon meeting.) Hence, my astonishment at reading the news from Debka – I was amazed that what I’d spoken of and referred to in writing had become news on that day!!

Why is this news of Turkey’s prime minster turning against Washington important?

erdogan_iran_visit28_1_14If not the first, Tayyip Erdogan was one of the foreign leaders whom Barack Obama called very soon after taking office. After attending the G20 Summit in London, then with NATO in Strasburg and with the EU in Prague, President Obama went to Istanbul and Ankara on 7th April 2009, “to send a message to the world” (per White House transcript). In making a major speech to the Turkish Parliament on the Middle East, Obama wooed Turkey as “a critical ally”.  [Is it a coincidence that Turkey soon moved from being a military ally of Israel to exhibiting great hostility, doubtless encouraged by POTUS’ own inclinations? – see Rewind re. Turkey.]

Two Arabic stations carried Obama’s speech live and Associated Press reported:

Making his first visit to a Muslim nation as president and calling for a greater partnership with the Islamic world in an address to the Turkish parliament, Obama called the country an important U.S. ally in many areas, including the fight against terrorism. He devoted much of his speech to urging a greater bond between Americans and Muslims, portraying terrorist groups such as al Qaida as extremists who did not represent the vast majority of Muslims.

“Let me say this as clearly as I can,” Obama said. “The United States is not and never will be at war with Islam. In fact, our partnership with the Muslim world is critical … in rolling back a fringe ideology that people of all faiths reject.

[Emphases Koenig’s Eye View From The White House, April 9th 2009]

But Bill Koenig, White House journalist, made this prophetically accurate observation:

This will be an incentive for the enemies of the United States to keep going, believing the U.S. has no fortitude to fight, and that they are winning. [Bang on! Emphasis mine]

It was Obama’s opening salvo in moving the goal-posts and he developed his earlier claims during the tour that the US and Europe must change its attitude to the Muslim world. [From thence he went on to cause consternation in bowing to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.]

Two months later, the broadside fired in his Cairo speech made his lack of historical and political accuracy abundantly clear to informed observers. In encouraging a move towards principles of western democracy and welcoming the Muslim Brotherhood he sent an even clearer signal that American policy was now taking an about-turn.

The rest is history and confirms the bankruptcy of American foreign policy with the  consequential geo-strategic re-alignment of the whole Middle-East. Iran has beaten the US hands down in nuclear negotiations and, after the fiasco over Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations can no longer trust Obama. Therefore, Russia is now taking advantage of the political vacuum in that region.

Therefore, after a close relationship with Prime Minister Erdogan from the outset of his presidency, the Turk’s turning away from Washington to Tehran is highly significant. This is especially so when we recall Turkey had major differences with Iran over Syria. [See Reuters’ article below for detailed update.]

OR, could Obama have instructed Erdogan to make it up with Iran? Or even to get in so POTUS could have a personal ‘take’ on the Iranians? I wonder…

As prophesied over 2,500 years ago, these peoples are coming together, not in any loose confederation, but in a political and military alliance under Russian dominance!!

EXCEEDINGLY INTERESTING TIMES!  The words of the Lord given to His prophet Ezekiel accurately forecasted modern political developments in the region around the tiny state of Israel.

How say you, my reader?

UPDATED 31 Jan: Turkey & Iran – conflict of interest?

Further reading:

Newsmix – on Palestinians – on Anglicans

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Seasoned watchers of today’s political fulfilment of Biblical prophecies will appreciate the following that came to my attention over the weekend. In spite of the increasing mayhem and madness, events seem to be progressing in accord with the Lord’s achieving His purposes.  Headlines are mine not the media’s:

PALESTINIANS JOIN THE ‘EZEKIEL ALLIANCE-AXIS’

So-called ‘peace talks’ being engineered by the US Secretary of State Kerry’s almost manic shuttle-negotiations have always been regarded as doomed to failure by well-informed watchers, especially in the light of America’s abysmal loss of credibility. In Friday’s exclusive report Palestinian leader turns to Putin for Palestinian State etc., DEBKAfile concludes with a most telling insight as follows (emphases mine):

‘…Moscow has already proved it can get away with busting international sanctions by concluding a $1.5 bn contract with Tehran for the purchase of half a million barrels of Iranian oil a day, without incurring a word of complaint from Washington.

‘Two weeks later, Putin and Abbas have acted together to wreck a painstaking US diplomatic initiative actively partnered by Israel for a negotiated peace accord with the Palestinians. They have left John Kerry and Binyamin Netanyahu holding an empty shell. Nabil Shaath, a Palestinian Fatah veteran, could not have put the situation more bluntly when he said Thursday night that it was time to “end the American monopoly on peacemaking, after Washington had proved incapable of imposing agreements on Israel.”

‘Russian tactics for Syria and Iran had proved effective, he said, and there was no reason why Moscow could not perform the same function on the Israeli-Palestinian track. The Palestinians have clearly opted to follow the examples of other Middle East leaders, ranging from Iran… Syria… Saudi… Egyptian… in making tracks, overtly or covertly, to Moscow. They are opening the door for Russia to fill the void left by American disengagement from region under the Obama administration.’

In the light of rapidly changing geo-strategic influences across the whole Middle-East, who may now dare disbelieve the Word of the Living Lord God to his prophets? For example, consider what he delivered through Ezekiel about that anti-Israel coalition under the words addressed to Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38 refers), which I write about as The Ezekiel Alliance/Axis. The latter may be the better description and should you desire some background information read Koinonia Institute’s Strategic Tends Update, The Treacherous Trio of Ezekiel 38 – Part 1 (Turkey) – Part 2 (Iran) – Part 3 (Russia). Although published some years ago, these briefings provide useful insights.

Also, Daniel Pipes has recently written about Iran gaining a foothold on the Arabian Peninsula in National Review Online.

BLOGGER URGES ANGLICANS TO ‘WAKE UP!’

Out of his deep interest and concern for the Church of England Gillan Scott has written a solid consideration upon growth in that denomination.  Its content has generated quite a debate and so I recommend those readers who took an interest in my recent remarks on apostasy within the Anglican church to take time to peruse The Church of England still needs to wake up and smell the coffee over church growth.

Netanyahu calls Israel “epicenter” of innovation at World Economic Forum in Davos. Cites Bible as a reason for Israel’s strength.

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Joel’s report is interesting in tandem with Daniel Pipe’s article in Washington Times citing the Middle East as ‘The sick man of the world’.  He writes, “…two examples point to a larger conclusion: maladies run so deep in the Middle East (minus remarkable Israel) that outside powers cannot remedy them” and then provides a quick summary of catastrophic failures of the Muslim Middle East.

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

netanyahu-DavosSo often there are war or rumors of wars to report from the Middle East. But this week Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a fascinating speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. It was chock full of good news.

You can read it here, or watch it here.

Several elements caught my attention.

  • One: Netanyahu said “Israel is the epicenter of world innovation right now.”
  • Two: The Prime Minister cited the Bible as one of the reason’s for the strength of the Jewish people and the Israeli economy.
  • Three: He gave interesting examples of Israeli innovation — including how scarce water resources has inspired Israelis to develop the world’s most advance technologies for re-using water, and how scarce agricultural land has inspired Israelis to learn how to get more milk out of every cow (“Whose cows produce the most milk? Don’t guess: it’s Israel. It’s a computerized cow. Every ‘moo’ is…

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Coming Revival, a Second Vision

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Click for link to first vision

Tony's avatarMy Dreams and Visions

I had a second vision after the one I posted yesterday. In this vision I saw what I will call a miniature battlefield which I believe to be different geographic regions of the world. The battlefield replica  laid flat I am guessing on a table. I also saw a hand with a a bunch of miniature flags in it. These looked like small pennants. As flags were placed on the battlefield replica, I noticed that each one had a number on it. The number on the flag was facing the one putting it there and only He could see it. I am guessing that there was a sequential order to the placement of the flags that was not for humans to know. I am guessing that each flag represented battles and victories. When the hand that held the flag would place the flag on the battlefield replica I would the…

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Rethinking Genesis

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T E HannaReaders who love to delve and checked out my recent claims on Genesis will be interested in an email received today about ancient cosmologies. Theologian T.E. Hanna is examining the religio-cultural influences of the ancient ‘cradle’ of civilisation upon the Hebrews and the Bible’s origin. He blogs,

A RECURRING criticism of the creation narratives in Genesis 1 and 2 point to the overwhelming similiarities between them and the surrounding cultural myths of the Ancient Near East.

In Rethinking Genesis, T.E. briefly refers to historians’ claims of Moses appropriating Mesopotamian and Egyptian creation myths for writing Genesis. I agree with his line of reasoning in asking if the purpose of the opening chapters of Genesis is to teach not about earth and humanity, but about God?

This argument is made in a research paper available to readers of his blog. He argues that, rather than adopting the mythologies of the surrounding ancient East, the Hebrew cosmologies were written as a criticism of them. As theological education for an emerging Israelite nation, the purpose of these narratives was to emphasize the nature of the God of Israel in contrast to the surrounding polytheism, while also conveying His superiority over competing religions.

If you love to delve then visit Of Dust and Kings, read what he and his readers say and, if interested, consider downloading the PDF of The Cosmology of Genesis 1.

Also, please read discussion with TE Hanna in Thoughts on ‘Rethinking Genesis’ >>

“I am Gabriel, who stands in the Presence of God…”

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The angelic being’s introduction of himself is familiar from Christmas scriptures. Yet I propose to connect his messages with the concept of prophesying into Time, especially regarding the Holy Spirit – and with an intriguing prophecy for Jewish people today.

Angelic Announcements

This post’s title is from Gabriel’s response to an elderly priest’s disbelief, to which I refer below. Several months later Gabriel was sent to a betrothed teenager, as depicted in 1898 by Henry Ossawa Tanner in Annunciation (click image for gallery). Her visitor greeted her,

“Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

It wasn’t so much the surprise of an invisible spirit becoming visible that troubled her, as what he’d said and how it was said. But this messenger then reassured her,

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Although not disbelieving what he’d said, the young lady posed a logical question because she was a virgin, “How can this be since I know not any man?” So Gabriel explained,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”

At this Mary responded laudably, “Behold the maid-servant of the Lord. Let it be according to your word”.

How different was the young maid’s acceptance of this decree about her own future to that of Zacharias when Gabriel had visited him a few months earlier. Apparently, Mary hadn’t heard about what had happened. Otherwise, there would have been no need for Gabriel to have confided the news of that first miraculous conception.

So what went wrong for her cousin’s husband?

Zacharias had the once-in-a-lifetime privilege of burning incense in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. In view of its performance being in the Holiest of Holies, this duty was done by drawing lots rather than by a rota from many teams of priests.

Whilst Zacharias was officiating, an invisible, supra-natural spirit subtly scintillated at the side of the altar. It proved to be a holy messenger – an archangel, so some believe. He brought news of the future mission of a mightily powerful man of God – the priest’s own son!  But Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were childless for she was well past child-bearing age!

However, their prayers for a baby were to be answered and the angel prophesied this special one would be filled with God’s Holy Spirit from before his birth!  It isn’t any wonder the priest was in disbelief! When he asked, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years” , the angel’s response was most emphatic,

“I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” (emphasis added) 

If you’re unfamiliar with physician Luke’s investigation into those encounters with Gabriel and what happened when the two cousins met, and to Zacharias too, I’d recommend reading his full account here, by courtesy of BibleGateway.com.

[Perhaps confirmation of my having drafted the above came at yesterday’s house group? We studied Romans 7 and the cousins were mentioned as examples of those who adhere to righteousness rather than living enslaved to sin and death. Thank you Mieke!]

Points to Ponder

Those accounts are particularly interesting in connection with speaking into the future, as summarised in Prophesy TO 2014 and Talking to Time seems to work!

Prophesying is speaking forth the mind and counsel of the Lord God, as communicated to an individual. Therefore, it’s a declaration that cannot be known by natural means – a direct revelation from God. [For more see An Introduction to Prophecy.]

Now let’s examine Gabriel’s announcements in the light of John Kilpatrick’s message, as outlined in my recent posts:

1.  In that last quotation, Gabriel issued a decree that happened immediately but which had a limited duration. That is, he spoke into Time by prophesying, did he not? Right away the priest became dumb until he was released from the decree’s power when the baby came to be named months later.

My underscoring of “my words…will be fulfilled in their own time” indicates New Testament support for ‘talking into Time’. Gabriel’s words brought from God were not only welcome news but also, and far more importantly, announcements on earth of declarations that had been issued in heaven. They’re excellent examples of oral statements of God’s will and are thus prophetic and creative, in we can understand from the Word of the Lord given to prophet Isaiah (Isa 55:11 – emphasis mine):

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Thus, what God speaks not only through His holy prophets but also through His angelic spirits who minister to His people, as well as through His Son, is sure to happen sooner or later.

2. From the principles of Genesis 1 the power of divine and human speech is creative, . The presence of Holy Spirit is necessary to bring about a divinely created manifestation. A Hebrew understanding of ‘over’, or ‘hovering’, in Genesis 1:2 is that Holy Spirit was next to or immediately adjoining what was about to be acted upon – all that was required to start the process was a spoken word.

Therefore, when Gabriel spoke to Zacharias the combined action of his words and the Holy Spirit fully rejuvenated his wife’s body. She was no longer barren but could carry and bring a child to birth normally. And even in her womb Holy Spirit was present to make baby John respond to the sound of Jesus’ mother’s voice!! (Luke 1:39-41)

The same happened when Gabriel spoke to Mary. The ‘overshadowing’ power of the Most High that he referred to carries the same meaning as that of ‘hovering’ in Genesis. Being of the Holy Spirit, the same creative power that was ‘In the Beginning’ brought about an ‘immaculate’ conception after the angel’s prophetic announcement. That is, it would not happen until a decree, a spoken announcement, had been delivered and received. Once again Gabriel had spoken into Time – into the next nine months!

3. The creative application of Gabriel’s prophetic description of Jesus’ kingship and its relevance to a possible prophecy given to the late rabbi Kaduri warrants consideration in another post. Read about him meanwhile in Who are the Jewish people expecting?

Continued in > The rabbi’s note, the PM’s death and the angel’s word – Part 1

Further Reading:

  1. Prophesy TO 2014
  2. Talking to Time seems to work
  3. Is the ‘Hand of God’ a Sign for these times?
  4. I am Gabriel, who stands in the Presence of God (this post)
  5. Thoughts on ‘Rethinking Genesis’ (with discussion).
  6. Surprise! New things! The invisible world is the pattern for the visible

Coming Revival

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Praise the Lord for blessing you with this my friend. It would confirm what several others have intimated in recent years.

Tony's avatarMy Dreams and Visions

I had a night vision on 01/22/2014. In this vision I saw people on the streets. I saw people being prayed for and coming up out of wheel chairs. I saw others, with people gathered around them, preaching the gospel. What I did not see and perhaps this was the most significant part of the dream is the fact that the people preaching and healing in the streets had no faces. . In other words, theses were ordinary people without big names and ministries. Celebrities have names and faces we recognize and tend to therefore idolize The second thing in the dream that I found significant is the fact that this was not going on in a building but rather in the streets and in the outdoors. Remember, “the Word became flesh and dwelt(tented) among us. In a building you are sheltered from the elements and can isolate yourself.  One…

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Is the ‘Hand of God’ a Sign for these Times?

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One of this morning’s emails brought this new photo from NASA. It’s so right for what I was about to write.

Click on the photo for details and here for a commentary on history.  Early photos of this pulsar nebular showed ‘fingers’ only but this latest  shows a ‘fist’ as well, maybe hinting at the contrast between God’s open and closed, or holy, aspects. Or this  could suggest what He’s previously retained as a ‘mystery’ is now being revealed?

You may think I’m stretching serendipity, or happy coincidence, to absurd lengths in my stating this image fits well into what’s happened after I wrote about prophecy, especially on the need for discernment and risk-talking to catch God’s timing for any situation. (See remark at + in Prophecies for 2014 and subsequent post on Talking to Time…).

All that together with an amazing revelation in connection with helping a new friend and an ancient hymn clearly indicates He’s trying to get my/our attention – as though waving a hand in the sky!  And it even involves the ‘invisible bridge over the Pond’!!

Even if ‘over the top’, it brings an interesting insight into the validity of the prophetical gifting with an excellent example of several individuals moving as the Spirit directs towards one purpose (see John 3:8).

But let me start with this morning’s other thought-provoking instance of serendipity:

The Hymn

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform – the opening lines and tune to William Cowper’s famous hymn have been humming in the back of my mind as a result of a recent communication.  The full lyrics with brief background may be read here, but my memory of what I’d heard in school assemblies many decades ago couldn’t recall its last line. Was it something like ‘the Lord will make the action fine’, or was it ‘plain’?  And does it hint at ‘time’, or could this be to draw my attention to divine intent?

Although then antagonistic of Anglicanism as well as other churches, as the account of my schooldays makes plain, those assemblies were the only way I was introduced to the  great English hymns. Their sentiments were most uplifting but antiquated wording would puzzle me and that ‘action’ reference was one – and it had resurfaced, popping up from the depths of my personal past; which again is to do with time! 

Therefore, let me share the ‘God-incident’ that blessed me in this research. The hymn’s last 4-line verse reads as below but those words about action/time didn’t stop rattling around in the brainbox. So I searched using ‘original’ for any variant of wording – guess what?  The hymn was originally entitled Light Shining Out of Darkness, from which two more lines have been added by contemporary musician Jeremy Riddle to his version of the last verse:

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

In His own time,
In His own way.

I was astounded at what a persistent inner nudge had kept me digging for and found! Thank you Lord. [The other phrase, ‘action fine’ closes a verse in poet George Herbert’s ‘alchemical’ Teach Me, My God and King, which I’d often muse upon as a child.]

An Anglican Apostasy?

Over this New Year’s first weekend I read about a trial to ‘dumb-down’ the liturgy for Christenings, as reported in the Telegraph and lambasted by ‘His Grace Archbishop Cranmer’ in Is the Church of England ashamed to preach Christ crucified?  This is all because it’s supposed that today people don’t understand what ‘sin’ means or that Satan exists. So namby-pamby clerics wish to pander to the unsaved instead of teaching them or telling them what the Gospel actually means. They need to follow the example of the Baptist Churches wherein the minister teaches briefly about the Gospel and our obedience to Jesus’ instruction to be baptised.

Baptism is to make a personal statement of belief in, and our public identification with, Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. Also, as at mine and every adult baptism I’ve witnessed, it’s believers opportunity to attest personally to His grace by  testifying to how they came into salvation. (See Romans 6 for incisive scripture.)

Rankled as I was about that news of silly Anglicans tinkering with the heart of Christian belief, I tried not to be distracted away from what I intended to write upon my return to blogging after the holiday season. Upon waking up that Tuesday the thought dropped into mind that many Anglicans are heeding and anointed in the Holy Spirit and trying to move that church forward. Thus admonished, my irritation ceased immediately and the first email of a multitude I later opened was…

A Plea for Help, and a Revelation

NB: to maintain confidentiality the characters are given pseudonyms: ‘Bernard’ (after the founder of a renowned monastic order); ‘Mark’ (after an associate of the Apostles); ‘Paul’ (after the apostle who taught about the gift of prophecy and foretold the future as led by Holy Spirit, as did others).

Bernard’s email asked if I could advise about how to handle a weighty vision about the Church that he’d received as he didn’t know anyone familiar with the prophetic or having more experience than his own. I recalled my feelings after an awesome open vision when it was then hard to find any leader who could help me with it. So I gave a link to my account and, as I felt led, to one from 1993 about a future sifting of the Church.

Later that Tuesday I got an email from Tony in Tucson (over ‘the Pond’) asking if I’d heard about the nonsense over Anglican baptism. I sensed it may be a tangential   connection with Bernard’s material which, I was to learn later, is similar to some of Tony’s dreams of Church. Thus this email was timely and confirmatory!

The next day Bernard provided details of the vision and said he’s recently moved to an Anglican church. It was good to hear its leadership are open to the Holy Spirit and that he’s in training for ordination in ministry. So, I’m pleased he’s in a sound place.

As my Anglican contacts are very few I wondered who Bernard could contact for advice and mentoring and Paul’s name popped into mind right away. I realised I should sound out my Anglican friend Mark in view of his extensive circle of friends in leadership. But I wasn’t able to contact him.

Hassle with an electronic payment on Saturday morning delayed my getting a paper. So I briskly strode into the local supermarket but took an unplanned diversion to get ham. A few people by the deli counter were dispersing as I inserted myself between them – then I heard Mark’s voice as he and his wife walked away!

Neither of us had noticed one another, AND their presence was unusual because they live in another town!!  So we chatted as he enthused about a book he’s reading. It’s on developments in the Church and, in view of his connection with Justin Welby and other leaders, he’ll be recommending God Is Back. No doubt he’d picked it up on his latest sojourn over ‘the pond’.  But I was keen to ask about my new friend’s need.

“Do Anglicans have a recognised office of prophet or someone who can properly handle prophetic material and advise on it?” I asked. Mark replied, “Oh yes – Paul…. He looks at all correspondence personally and considers words and visions carefully.”

Upon my writing about this to Bernard his immediate response was of astonishment,

“My spirit leapt somewhat upon reading that as I have a history with Paul – when I was…he came to me as a stranger rather remarkably and prophesied over me , inviting me into ordination and speaking significantly to me about my future. This seems right to me that he is the contact you had in mind.”

I was stunned to read this – amazed and in praise once again at how wonderfully God moves in the lives of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. As William Cowper unerringly testified towards the close of his life:

1. God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

2. Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

3. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

4. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

5. His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

6. Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

Selah – Amen

Further Reading:

  1. Prophesy TO 2014
  2. Talking to Time seems to work
  3. Is the ‘Hand of God’ a Sign for these times? (above)
  4. I am Gabriel, who stands in the Presence of God
  5. Thoughts on ‘Rethinking Genesis’ (with discussion).
  6. Surprise! New things! The invisible world is the pattern for the visible

[Image credits: NASA and Endless Bridge by Evgeni Denev, Freedigitalphotos.net]

 

Talking to Time seems to work!

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Only upon watching You Are Not a Victim of Fate again with a ‘young’ believer and talking about how that could be applied to her situation, did we realise what we had already addressed for this month has changed for the better!  (One item was the time-critical juxta-positioning of a house/business move which had halted, or was about to fall apart, and an arranged major surgery that would greatly restrict physical ability for moving. So it’s increasingly dicey with passage of time.)

I want to consider the previous post Prophesy TO 2014 further – especially for scriptural stalwarts who may object to Pastor Kilpatrick’s supposition that we can speak into and affect time. As in my reply to Tony’s comment upon that post, the central – even pivotal – point in this claim, as in all prophecy is submission to the Lord’s will and holiness and our speaking with clean lips, not a deceitful tongue, for…

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. [Psalm 24: NKJV]

The pastoral letters of Apostles Peter and Paul, especially Jesus’ brother James, warn us to avoid all ungodly speech.

Some objections

Let me answer some possible, albeit valid, objections that critics may raise;

  1. Hebrews 2 doesn’t mean ordinary people for it’s about the ‘Son of Man’ (ie Jesus)
  2. Where’s the scriptural authority for Christians to talk to nature?

1st – Yes, the whole passage is about Jesus but it quotes one of King David’s psalms and as that is recognised as inspired by Holy Spirit then Revd Kilpatrick is quite correct in referring to Psalm 8 alone as the premise of his thesis. Critics may respond that the author of Hebrews makes the meaning of its closing verse quite conditional and, thus, it has not only been omitted but also taken out of context in by the pastor. It reads:

Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. 9 What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” [Hebrews 2 NLT – emphasis mine]

But the second chapter of Hebrews goes on to say,

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying…

This is from New King James Version, which draws attention to these benefits of being one with Christ with a sub-header ‘Bringing many sons to glory’. After several splendid chapters about the identity and mission of the Jewish Messiah, or King of The Jews, we read this explanation in the culminating truths of chapter 10:

11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before….

Therefore, the full passage actually endorses and augments John Kilpatrick’s teaching because, although using the psalm as referring to the ‘Son of Man’ or Messiah, the letter to Jewish believers focuses upon how Jesus has brought them to the fullness of their faith; ‘perfected forever’. In his account of the Good News Jesus’ closest disciple, John writes about believers’ ‘right to become Sons (children) of God’!  (John 1:12)

That must surely mean Christians should be able to do what Jesus did in the power of the Holy Spirit, does it not?

Talking to nature and time

As an ordained minister, John Kilpatrick cited the following examples in support of what he’d heard from the Holy Spirit about speaking to the year:

  • Jesus speaking to the storm at sea and its subsequent calm
  • Elijah’s blessing to conceive and bear through full-term to proper birth upon his Shulamite ‘landlady’ and her husband
  • Ezekiel’s commands to masses of bones to come together as skeletons and to gain all necessary muscles, organs and flesh and to the air for them to breathe.

He prefaced these with,

“Holy Spirit told me to speak into the year. He said sow into the year, not just with finances, but sow into the year with words of faith…and I’ve learned one thing it’s if you don’t speak to things then things will treat you as a victim of fate…Sow what you desire to bring it forth!”

Therefore, he spoke about all these matters from the viewpoint of our needing to know and apply these principles because we are called to be a kings and priests of God. And let us not forget that this pastor has the exceptional privilege of being used by God to host two long visitations of His Presence since 1995.  Consequently, we would be well advised to consider this teaching carefully.

The prime practical passage John used was Genesis 1 which states how God created by means of the combined action of the Holy Spirit and His spoken word. Therefore, we should do likewise and this means we need to be walking with the Holy Spirit in close relationship with our heavenly Father in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus. It was this sound and detailed teaching which led into the closing implementation of these principles. Hence, my recommendation of this exceptional video to my brother and sisters in the Lord. (John’s message starts at 1:37:45 into the service.)

Some evidence

In addition to the above, our local fellowship has already been practising commanding weather and on several occasions recently observed changes, especially in the down-grading of last weekend’s approaching storm systems.  I recall hearing Heidi Baker at the 2012 Revival Alliance conference speak of having diverted a monsoon heading for Mozambique, and this was confirmed by our pastor who had been in Durban at the time. She reported the meteorologists as being unable to explain why their predicted path for the monsoon had not materialised!  Praise the Lord!

So it certainly appears in our experience that there’s empirical support for a Biblical  approach to speaking to nature – including time.

ALSO, see this blog’s On Engaging Time and John Kilpatrick Ministries’ Voice Activated.

Further Reading:

  1. Prophesy TO 2014
  2. Talking to Time seems to work (this post)
  3. Is the ‘Hand of God’ a Sign for these times?
  4. I am Gabriel, who stands in the Presence of God
  5. Thoughts on ‘Rethinking Genesis’ (with discussion).
  6. Surprise! New things! The invisible world is the pattern for the visible

[Scripture quotations are courtesy of BibleGateway.com]

Prophesy TO 2014

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Far over ‘the pond’ from Britain and deep in ‘Dixie’, close to the Gulf of Mexico, a man of native American stock lay awake in the early hours of New Year’s Eve. Lying eyes open, hands behind head, he wondered “What’s 2014 gonna bring?” and pondered its possibilities. But the Holy Spirit was tracking this pastor’s  mental meanderings and interrupted them to command:

“You are not a victim of fate. You don’t wonder what the year will bring, you tell it what to bring!”

When the pastor told his large congregation about this last Sunday, 5th January, they erupted enthusiastically. Before going on to implement his teaching on this at the close of service, Holy Spirit summarised it as, “Set your year with your mouth!”.

After reading Bridge over ‘The Pond’ and Prophecies for 2014 you may realise how the entire session amazed us as we watched it ‘live’ on the first Sunday of 2014. My report cannot do justice to this exceptional teaching, which may be an example, or fulfilment, of one part of a bullet-point prophecy heard only 6 hours earlier at our UK church, viz:

  • A new understanding about how to receive and give prophetic understanding.

TJohnK 214_logohis preacher was conveying a new instruction from a revelation he’d received from the Lord about applying prophecy. That is, not the usual way of delivering what’s on His Mind by speaking prophetically straight into the heart of a matter, or revealing truths about a person and thus edifying them, or about the Lord’s action plans.

Pastor had heard from the Lord about how to use prophecy as specific creative words.

To my mind, it’s a logical extension of the power of the spoken word when God created everything, as told at the start of the Bible; And God said. “Let there be light”  (Genesis 1) and amplified in the simplicity of the Gospel according to John; In the beginning was the Word... (John 1). Also, men and women are creative because we’re made in God’s image.

Pastor had opened his teaching not upon either of those scriptures but on one where the psalmist was inspired that mankind was created ‘a little lower than the angels’.:

“What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him?
7 You have made him a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And set him over the works of Your hands.
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

In quoting this from the Letter to the Hebrews the pastor stressed that ‘all’ means ALL, which implies it must include time. As better phrased in the Living Bible translation, it means ‘Nothing is left out’, as here:

…And you have put him in complete charge of everything there is. Nothing is left out.”

In view of my interest in time’s non-linear, cyclic nature (more here and cycles tag) I was wrapt in attention.  John’s later explanation of how we can transcend time and cover past, present and future by means of faith brought yet another link with our local church’s morning service!  (Ie. where our minister had spoken about a ‘Year of faith’.)

Pastor John repeated our pastor Lindi’s oft-repeated remarks about acceleration, that everything’s happening so quickly. He believes, “Holy Spirit has took (sic) the knob of time and turned it up!”

He spoke about ordinary matters and events now moving at an increasing pace and that in the Bible there’s still so much to be fulfilled that the sand is running so quickly out of the hourglass. On this he said the Lord’s saying,

“I’m going to do a ‘hurried-up’ work!”

This is similar in intent, if not exactly in meaning, as another point in our bullet-point prophecies:

  • Also since last August, the heavens are opening up faster.

This teaching is so significant for every Christian to grasp about what the Lord is doing at this time that I cannot recommend it highly enough for your study. And you can join in with a practical activation where the audience (local and worldwide) speaks as led by the Holy Spirit into personal situations for 2014.

To follow this exceptionally encouraging session click on above image of John Kilpatrick or on http://churchofhispresence.org/media/player/media/you-are-not-a-victim-of-fate/video/. His message starts at 1:37:45, which may be found by clicking half way along the progress bar and clicking the pause/play button.

After listening to Pastor Kilpatrick for over 3 years this must be his best ever!  For more on this please read:

  1. Talking to Time seems to work
  2. Is the ‘Hand of God’ a Sign for these times?
  3. I am Gabriel, who stands in the Presence of God
  4. Thoughts on ‘Rethinking Genesis’ (with discussion)
  5. Surprise! New things! The invisible world is the pattern for the visible

Be mightily blessed in Jesus’ name, my friend.

[Image credit: Endless Bridge by Evgeni Denev, Freedigitalphotos.net]

Putting off the old, putting on the new

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Thanks Gillan and may your New Year be even more exciting than the old. J John’s message reflects in a Christian mirror that of the current Jewish year’s prophetical meaning, as outlined in The door into the ‘New Season’ is open. Both emphasise the importance of making changes for new opportunities that God is already opening up.

A Blessed Christmas to everyone

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Have a ‘Mega-merry’ Christmas, as may be inferred from the OT Hebrew word ashar (Strong’s #833, as in Proverbs 31:28 on the virtuous wife), meaning

‘happy, blessed, prosperous, successful, from original root ‘be straight, upright’.’

Better still is New Testament Greek’s makarios (Strong’s #3107), which means

‘from root mak, indicating large, or of long duration…happy, supremely blessed, a condition in which congratulations are in order. It is a grace word that expresses the special joys and satisfaction granted the person who experiences salvation.’

This ‘Blessed’ is used in The Beatitudes, or the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in Matthew 5. (From NKJV New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Exec ed. Dr Jack Hayford)

Be blessed in listening to this superb voice and violin…

Thank you Peter and Rosamund for this clip.

‘Radiant Majesty’

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Nina’s reference to a trumpet fanfare, actually two,  heralding the Queen’s arrival, followed by her majesty’s entrance to an assembly of invited guests, brought an interesting insight from scripture which I’ll share later.

However, Nina went on to compare that event with the majesty of The King of Kings and asked how we think we will respond to being before The Almighty King of Kings.  Immediately after Nina finished speaking, Viv Dawes  ascended onto the stage to sing sublimely in adoration of Him as follows.:

Radiant Majesty divine

Seated on Your glorious throne

We worship, honour and adore Your perfect holiness.

.

Brilliant light shines with Your power

Burning flame, Your holy fire

Your Glory, Majesty And Holiness outshines the sun.

.

A rainbow halo surrounds You

Majesty shining in Glory

Eyes like flame, Face shines with brilliance

Feet as bronze, refined in a furnace.

.

Radiant Majesty sublime

Seated on Your glorious throne

The First and Last – Living One for ever and for evermore.

The inspiration for these words came to Mair Thorburn without any knowledge of what Nina had prepared months previously on the subject of God’s majesty. Radiant Majesty was completed on 6th September 2013 and is reproduced with Mair’s kind consent.

It’s marvellous how the Lord inspires people with similar messages. I agree with Mair’s opinion that it’s a bit like thousands of years ago when individuals separately heard and wrote the same words from the Lord and which were to become holy scripture.

The above song is best appreciated in accompaniment to the tune that was in her mind  during inspiration: the introductory bars to Benedictus from Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for peace. Hit the play button and read, or sing, those words in time to the music.:


Pause for reflection

A couple of scriptural points are noteworthy in Nina’s comparison of the Queen’s entry with that of His Majesty. It wasn’t so much the fact that royal protocol requires respect and focussed personal attention upon Her Majesty, for everyone’s gaze turns to catch sight of and follow her, and all ears strain for every word, to make sure nothing gets missed. So too, ourselves in His exceptionally awesome presence.

No, it was more the remarks about a trumpet fanfare that gave food for thought over a couple of references in Paul’s letters. On the face of it they may seem unrelated, but not so. One is about the resurrection of the dead and the other is on Jesus Christ’s return.  In concluding his eloquent explanation of believers’ victory over death, Paul writes to the early church in Corinth,

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Cor 15:50-52 per Bible Gateway)

In a letter to another Greek church (Salonika) he goes into finer detail given by Jesus about what’s to happen next:

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. Therefore, comfort one another with these words. (1 Thess 4:15-18 per Bible Gateway)

My reader, be blessed as you contemplate these insights…and let the Lord bring more.

Senior MPs tell the Government to do more to prevent the persecution of Christians globally

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This, along with Richard Parkhouse’s comment about Prayer for Parliament, is most informative after learning about the concerns of Muslim leaders here and in Egypt, Kenya and other Muslim nations (as in my earlier post).

Acclaimed mini-series ‘The Bible’ starts on UK TV this Saturday

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Channel 5 is to broadcast the first feature-length episode of this acclaimed mini-series on Saturday 30th November at 9.00 pm – the eve of First Sunday in Advent.

More details on Channel 5 – this programme is billed as ‘breath-taking in scope and scale’ in its portrayal of major stories from the scriptures. Powerful performances, exotic locations, action-packed re-enactments and state-of-the-art CGI bring to life miracles,  iconic characters and tales of faith and courage from Genesis through to Revelation.

As a ‘blockbuster’, the series promises to be much grander than even Cecil B De Milles’ spectacular epic-film The Ten Commandments, which etched a mental image into many millions that Moses had possibly looked like Charlton Heston!

Be mightily blessed as you watch and may you be inspired to find out what it’s all about. But better than seeing is getting a grip on the Bible, digging hands-on into its thick, rich pages and checking it all out direct with its Author. In hearing from Him it’s not at all so impossible for Him to point out special scriptures for you personally in making passages stand out as though in 3-D!  After all, it’s the Best Instruction Before Leaving Earth!

You can see the Kingdom of God too, but you must be born again. (per producer’s website tweet)

UK Minister and other Muslims alarmed over persecution of Christians

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Could the wide tide of atrocities committed by Islamists wanting to return the world to the Dark Ages be on the turn?  Maybe many moderates are so appalled by what’s being done in the name of their god that they will be encouraged to make changes, perhaps even a long overdue ‘reformation’ of Islam? [See footnotes 1 and 2.]

Last weekend, I was given hope that change may be on its way by three instances of  Muslims being outraged at their co-religionists’ hatred of Christians. One came from the UK’s first Minister for Faith and senior minister in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Baroness Warsi [3]. I will consider this further and with a possible prophetic connection in another post.

Another came through contacts of Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of the Barnabas Fund, which supports Christians suffering discrimination and persecution in Muslim nations. Born of a Muslim family, his expertise in racial issues and pioneering approach within British churches and extensive knowledge on terrorism led him into advising the police and army on security issues (see biography).  He’s also worked in Iraq with Canon Andrew White, renowned across the Middle East for his reconciliation work with Muslim and Jewish leaders in Israel, Egypt and Iraq (website and books).

The third was found within an article by Dr Sadek Raouf Ebeid, an Egyptian Air Force Officer, about the Muslim Brotherhood’s activities in Egypt. In a roundabout way let’s consider this first:

Egypt

It’s important to recall that Muslim protesters in Cairo were shielded during their prayers by Christians, mainly Copts. Apparently, the favour was returned on another occasion. (I became aware of the first claim through a local contact but some evidence for the second may be conflicting, as in this account.)

In view of the intense suffering of the Coptic Church at the hands of Islamists, and my reference to a leading source of its extremism at Al Azhar University (here), Dr Ebeid is very instructive about later changes [full details at 4].

He filed a complaint with Egypt’s Attorney General against Malik Obama (older half-brother of Barack Obama), accusing him of supporting terrorism in Egypt and for his involvement in managing a Sudanese terrorist connection to the Muslim Brotherhood. The official response to his application was very prompt which, he writes,

“Did not surprise me (because it) indicated that this case resonated well with the feelings of the majority of moderate Muslims in the Arab world. One has to admit that there are two distinct understandings of Islam.

“A moderate, peaceful understanding of Islam that is lead (sic) by the Egyptian Grand Sheikh of Al Azhar, Dr. Ahmed el-Tayeb, an Egyptian Sheikh, who has studied philosophy in Paris and is currently the head of Al Azhar Mosque. I am proud to be the first to nominate el-Tayeb for the Nobel peace prize, for his role in spreading the moderate understanding of Islam, referred to in Arabic as “Al Islam Al Wasati”.

“The majority of the thirty-three million Egyptians who flooded the streets of Egypt in June 2013 were predominantly moderate Muslims.”

He continues,

“…any objective historian will admit (the event) was a human earthquake…that shook the ground of the Middle East, taking the Arab world out of the dark ages and into the Arab renaissance.

“More than ever, Egyptians adhered to the moderate version of Islam, (Al Islam Al Wasati)…symbolized by the Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb. He was the man whom the military Generals in Egypt consulted with and whose blessings were obtained,  while etching into stone, the post-revolution road map.

“In contrast to the earlier teachings of Egypt’s deposed president Morsi, who was recorded in 2010, saying that Arabs need to nurse their children on hatred of the Jews, Egypt’s pending constitution has a third amendment guaranteeing the right of Jews to practice their faith in Egypt.”

That implies the same should be accorded to the Copts and which may be expected as official policy, as in Mubarak’s days.

Kenya, Pakistan & Iraq

Dr Sookhdeo opens his latest blog [5] as follows:

As shocking acts of Islamic terrorism continue to fill our news bulletins, it is extremely heart-warming for me to see that Muslim leaders throughout the world are now speaking out against those who are using violence in the name of Islam. (Emphasis added)

In citing atrocities in Kenya, Pakistan, Iraq and London he recounts the brave work of many moderates in unequivocally condemning maniacs who use Islam as an excuse for anti-human barbarity (my words). He writes,

On Kenya,

“Adan Wachu, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, said that the wanton and indiscriminate killing of innocent men, women and children goes against all Islamic teachings and tenets. He said that the county’s religious leaders were working together to counter violent extremism…”

On Somalia,

“In an unprecedented step, Somali Islamic scholars issued in September a fatwa denouncing (al-Shabaab). At a conference in Mogadishu convened by the Somali government, which is itself strongly Islamic, around 160 Somali religious scholars condemned al-Shabaab’s use of violence and concluded that it was not a legitimate Islamic organisation…”

On Pakistan,

“Allama Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, leader of (Pakistan’s) Ulema Council, a body of leading Muslim scholars, said that killing innocent people violates the tenets of Islam…Ordinary Pakistani Muslims have also demonstrated solidarity with their Christian compatriots by joining human chains around churches in a movement organised by Pakistan for All, a group that campaigns against attacks on minorities…”

On Iraq, ,

“Marking the third anniversary of the deadliest attack on Iraqi Christians since the 2003 US-led invasion, both Sunni and Shia Muslims gathered on 31 October outside the church in Baghdad that was besieged by an al-Qaeda front group in 2010. They lit candles and held up banners appealing for Christians to stay in the country…”

On the UK,

“It is no small matter for moderate Muslims to take a stand over Islamist violence. They are putting their own safety at risk, as being Muslim does not protect them from becoming targets. In fact, the threat to a number of prominent British Muslims who condemned the killing of Drummer Lee Rigby is so great that they are now under police protection…” 

He names and admires four individuals in writing, “Despite the threats against them, the Muslim targets have remained resolute in speaking out against violent extremism.

In concluding, Dr Sookhdeo makes a Call for change.:

“…actions speak louder than words and it is time for moderate Muslims everywhere to heed the call of Aijaz Zaka Syed, a Muslim commentator on Middle East and South Asia affairs….whom he cites,

We may go on righteously protesting that this has nothing to do with faith. But like it or not, such reasoning does not cut it. The world judges us by who we are, not by what we claim to be. If we stand for peace and salvation, our lives must attest to it and our actions must show it. It is as simple as that. [6]

I cannot but concur with that commentator’s full article and Dr Sookhdeo’s exhortation,

One thing that Christians can do is support these brave Muslim leaders who are taking a stance against the violence that is claiming the lives of so many Muslims and non-Muslims. We can support them with our prayers and our friendship and by lending our voices to their courageous campaign.

Perhaps the vast majority of Muslims are now finding their co-religionists’ actions utterly repugnant. Perhaps they may realise the root issue is a spiritual one and be blessed by  personal revelations of Jesus Christ? I pray they find, as many thousands have already done, He is eager to show Himself and that He’s far more than a prophet…

To be continued…

Further Reading:

  1. Daniel Pipes: Can Islam Be Reformed?
  2. Item 1 subsequently debated here and here.
  3. Sayeeda Warsi: Extremists are driving Christians out of their homelands. We must act. Also see God and Politics in the UK
  4. Sadek Ebeid MD: Moderate Muslims vs. Obama Brothers
  5. Patrick Sookhdeo: Muslims take a stand against Islamist violence
  6. Aijaz Syed: With friends like these, Islam needs no enemies

Could Obama restore Christianity?

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Preposterous as that question seems, this guest post by T.E. Hanna complements the previous item about religio-political stirrings on this side of the ‘pond’.  Readers of long standing are aware of my reservations about POTUS’ claims as a fellow believer. (I recall the inordinate, idolatrous adulation given upon his first election. Incredibly one writer regarded him as C-in-C Theologian!!)  Yet, scripture and Christian leaders point out, as here, he needs our prayers…Lord, grant president Obama a Damascus Road encounter and full baptism in your Holy Spirit.

T.E. puts challenging and pertinent, provocative points which, in my humble opinion, merit careful consideration by American believers.:

HOW BARACK OBAMA IS RESTORING CHRISTIANITY

Author TE HannaHold on. Put the stones down for just a moment. Hear me out.

So you’re a fan of Obama? Fine. Not a fan? Still fine. I’m not particularly interested in political affiliation. I’m far more caught up in the need for the Christian body to reclaim its place as influencers of our nation at a cultural level rather than a political one. And let’s be honest… we’re not exactly making track records in that department.

In the face of our waning cultural influence, followers of Jesus increasingly rally to reclaim a “Christian nation” by working to pass pseudo-Christian legislation and thereby impose the illusion of a Christian presence. We do this, however, without ever really engaging the hearts and minds of individuals where the real influence of the Messiah comes to dwell. This is the problem: we don’t become a Christian nation by teaching people to “act Christian” as a form of civic obedience. We become a Christian nation by reaching the men and women of our communities with the life-altering presence of Christ.

In that regard, Obama is helping us more than we realize.

We Face A Rival Theology

One of the greatest challenges we face in recovering our Christian influence is in the way that the culture of our churches has merged nationalism with Christian theology. We engage the problems of our world very differently when we approach it from a nationalist mindset than we do when we approach it from the perspective of a culturally subversive community that functions as the front lines of a kingdom-not-of-this-world. At the root of this is what we might call a “competing eschatology”.

To quote Old Testament scholar Dr. Peter Enns:

Eschatology means: “We have brought you to where things are as they should be. You are at the place where you can now–finally–have reason to hope. Trust in us. Fear not.” Eschatology means the pinnacle of true humanity, where wrongs are righted, all is at peace, and the human drama comes to its fullest expression.

A nationalist eschatology adopts the utopian vision of government and seeks to bring about this grand pinnacle through the right means of legislation and leadership. It imbues humanity with hope through cultivating trust in those who lead and feeding us the ever-elusive promise of “progress”. In a nationalist eschatology, we place our faith and hope in the system and, if the system is broken, we place our hope in the righting of that system. In the current trend of Christian nationalism, we have bled our theology into this rival promise, looking to that same system to bring about the “utopia” of Christian transformation.

But Ours Is A Divine Narrative

Unfortunately, this rival eschatology is just that: a rival. As seductive as it is, it undermines the Christian hope passed down to us throughout history and embedded within the pages of God’s sweeping narrative of scripture. The Great Story we find ourselves in the midst of is not a story of powerful governments drawing humanity along to an ever brighter future. In fact, the pages of scripture unfold to tell us of a people at the outskirts of civilization, a nation constantly under the dominion of the powerful empire. It speaks to us of a promised messiah, the very being of God himself, who announces a heavenly kingdom before being crucified by an earthly one.

It teaches us of a heavenly calling to an earthly citizenry, the slow cultivation of a community of people who transformed an empire despite existing under that very empire’s persecuting power. It whispers to us of a God who works from the margins and engages the worldly systems through a transformed gathering of His children. It reminds us that to change our world, we must live as those whose citizenship lies beyond the soil upon which we tread.

Our eschatology does not look to presidents or kings. It looks upon the crucified Lord, King of the Jews, and King of all Kings. It looks to the coming heavenly kingdom, a kingdom not of this world.

Obama Reminds Us Who We Are

Regardless where one stands in their view of our president, we cannot help but look with dismay upon the past several months. In the course of this year alone we have faced the prospect of yet another war, the shutdown of our government, and the divisive controversy over healthcare. We have peeled back the curtain, stared the promise of nationalism in the face, and found it wanting. Despite efforts to the contrary, the Obama administration has exposed the vacuousness of the nationalist ideal. I love our nation, but it is not in government that we place our hope. It is in Jesus.

Today (Monday) we celebrate our veterans. We honor and recognize the men and women who fought to retain for us our precious freedom. We can honor them by using that freedom, not by turning to the empty promises of a rival eschatology, but by freely living as the men and women of God who model a different way; a Jesus way. In the midst of our nation, we are still foreigners, emissaries of a heavenly kingdom that is bursting forth all around us. We can yield ourselves to that kingdom, or we can yield ourselves to this one.

Only one truly offers us hope for humanity’s future.