What If?
What if 2018 should prove to be the year of the greatest rescue ever!
There he goes again, I can hear some readers thinking, but, no, I have learned not to speculate on what God has laid down in His Great Plan for the world. All we can really know is that events are spiraling out of control and all the signs are just as the Lord Jesus Christ foretold when the disciples enquired about the signs of the end of the world and His Coming. (Matthew 24).
For example, Thomson Reuters, the world’s largest international multimedia news agency, reported in late November that Russian President Vladimir Putin has seemingly put his country on a war footing by telling businesses that they should be ready to switch production to military needs at any time. They are getting ready for the two invasions prophesied by Ezekiel 38. China is rapidly getting on a war footing with a massive build-up of military strength. North Korea’s nuclear rage is aimed not only at the west but South Korea. The Middle East is becoming a more dangerous adversary to the West as the weeks and months pass by. America has seen the hawk replace the dove as massive spending has boosted its military. Just an example is the UK Sun recent article that records, “In a show of force, America has been deploying troops in Asia and the Pacific over the past few months – prompting experts to say nuclear war is “no longer unthinkable””. In the western nations, in addition to the millions of good people from the nations of the world seeking peace and a new home, we have also imported the invisible enemy, who will rise up when they are called upon.
No, there is little doubt that all the signs of the last great battle are coming together and there is little on the horizon to suggest it can be curtailed. The signs of Matthew 24 have nearly all come to pass, and the dire prophecies of the long-ago prophets are surfacing as never before.
As frightening as the scenario sounds, it has to be, if events are unfolding as the Bible reveals.
My colleague, Holly Mills, often quotes Isaiah 26:20 for comfort, “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast”. The noted late Bible scholar, Howard B. Rand, relates this as a warning to God’s people. And it is a warning, Mr. Rand, wrote, because of the warning of the previous verse, “And the earth shall cast out the dead”, he asked us to understand this verse in conjunction with the Smith and Goodspeed translation, “And the earth will bring the shades to birth”. Mr. Rand pointed out that the Hebrew word translated “dead” or “shades” is Rephaim and thus spirits, malignant and evil, are to become manifest in this day”.
Let’s read what Mr. Rand has to say about this scenario. He begins by quoting Isaiah 26:21, “For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” (Isa. 26: 20-21.) Well, the signals are demonstrating that this judgment is at hand. Crimes of cruelty and all forms of oppression will be fully revealed in the Israel lands and all responsible will be judged – including those who fail(ed) to administer justice and equity. Before judgment time, the shades or fearful ones will put in an appearance in ever-increasing numbers, these evil ones, or, Rephaim.
In fact, they are indeed making their appearance, though at the moment very few in True Israel are aware of this fact or of their identity. [But, I suspect that the Biblical verse “By their fruits ye shall know them” shines a light for some to understand] But the fact that some are aware of the Rephaim is another sign, added to many, that judgment is drawing near. Even nearer is the resurrection and translation.
I really like Mr. Rand’s closing remarks on this subject, He wrote, “It is a glorious time in which to be living, at least for those who know and understand all this and are spiritually ready for the coming revelation of His presence and the glorious fulfillment of our expectations – the coming summons to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb”.
Readers, do you get the sense that something big is up for this year of 2018. Standing here in the opening month of the year, one has to wonder if there are any signs we can hang our hat on. Sometimes I dwell on Daniel 7:9; I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire”. I start thinking of the Babylonian succession of kings, that began with Nebuchadnezzar in 607BC. The three major kings whose thrones were thrown down were the Russian Tsar on April 29, 1918, Wilhelm II of Germany on November 9th, 1918 and Charles I, the Austrian Emperor, who resigned on November 11, 1918. 100 years ago! And of course, as I’ve written before, the number 100 holds a very special meaning. Evangelist Ed. F. Vallowe gives us so much food for thought in his book, “Biblical Mathematics”. He wrote: ONE HUNDRED is the number that stands for GOD’S ELECTION OF GRACE, or THE CHILDREN OF PROMISE.
The number ONE HUNDRED is connected with Isaac’s sowing and reaping, and GOD’s blessing.
Isaac, a child of promise, was born when his father was a HUNDRED years old. “And Abram was an HUNDRED years old when his son Isaac was born unto him (Genesis 21:5)
Isaac was a type of the children of promise, or promised seed. “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” (Galatians 4:28) “In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, they which are children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” (Romans 9:7-8)
The number ONE HUNDRED is connected with Isaac’s sowing and reaping, and GOD’s blessing. “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an HUNDRED fold: and the Lord BLESSED him. (Genesis 26:12)
Isaac received this HUNDRED FOLD in the harvest time. In His parable about the tares Jesus said, “The harvest is the end of the world.” (Matthew 13:39) Then the Lord will gather His wheat (harvest) into His barn. (Matthew 13:30) This reaping will be at the end of the Kingdom age.
Jesus likened those whom He would save unto an HUNDRED sheep, gathered into a fold. “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? If a man have an HUNDRED sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?” (Matthew 18:11-12)
He said, “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be ONE FOLD and ONE HUNDRED”. (John 10:16) By this Jesus compares His OWN to SHEEP, which shall be gathered into ONE FOLD. In the parable in Matthew 18:11-12 He used an HUNDRED sheep to illustrate those whom He would save.
So, Readers, 2018 may or may not be a significant year. But did we enter into the final years of our punishment under the Esau Dominion when we went to war in Iraq in 2003, under the pretence they possessed weapons of mass destruction? Was it was the beginning of more control, more bondage and less freedom for True Israel? And now, 15 years later, we enter 2018! Vallowe wrote that 15 stands for “Rest”. We certainly need it. Another great Bible scholar and numbers expert, E.W. Bullinger, says “15” specifically refers to acts wrought by the energy of Divine Grace. I’ll take either one, how about you?
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow; our past, present and future. Let me close by sharing a short poem I wrote about our destiny.
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Tis an exciting New Year we come upon today
A time to reflect upon our centuries-long journey
What was it like to be in the throng of Israelites
As they crossed the Red Sea and into the promised land
Too soon their love and gratitude to God dwindled
And turned they from His wonderful recipe for life
So, banished they were from their wayward ways
To lands across Europe and ultimately, the world
Many hardships followed them to their new homes
Still, God gave forgiveness through the Blood of Christ
And when the Man of Sin gave way to the Reformation
True Israel received the gift of unsurpassed greatness
But Israelites again grew weary of God’s sweet Laws
And a falling away picked up tempo as decades passed
Coupled with the dominion promised Esau long ago
Freedoms lost as bondage returned in a myriad of ways
Some say tomorrow is but another day, but it’s not
Cause the climax is coming when Gog and all its hordes
Sweeps down upon all Israel lands to take a spoil
Only prayers of Israelites herald Jesus’ great rescue
Thus, begins ushering in the thousand-year Millennium
The reign of Christ over Christians in Eden-like conditions
Years of peace as the Kingdom is brought to perfection
A return to God, as He and our Jesus becomes all in all
