Communion and Betrothal

I stumbled upon a minister in Hawaii who is a Christian of Egyptian descent. He ties the events in the Middle East with Bible prophecy.  I find his insights to be fascinating, but this particular broadcast had something extra special.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXeA61BCikc

Pastor Farag (at 55 minutes into the video) talks about the Lord's Supper from the viewpoint of the Middle Eastern perspective. Since that IS where Jesus was from, it's a viewpoint worth exploring.

In the Middle East with the arid places it contains, if you give someone bread and water, you have saved their life. They, in return, owe you their life and express that through loyalty until death.

If we look at communion in that light, God gives us bread and wine and saves our lives. Therefore, we express our thanks by devotion to Him for the rest of our lives.

Another comparison has to do with a betrothal ceremony. The Father chooses the bride. The Bridegroom accepts the choice. A ceremony is performed during which the groom breaks bread and offers it to his intended. If the bride is willing, she accepts the bread and eats it. Then they drink from the same cup of wine - a sort of pre-wedding "I do".

The next time you take communion, consider all of the layers of meaning that are represented there. Forgiveness, remembrance, loyalty, and acceptance of the proposal.

Our next meal with Him will be in person at the wedding supper of the Lamb.

I'm excited!

May God bless us all.

Kathi Linz

Happy Feast of Trumpets

May a good year be inscribed for you in the Book of Life.

God bless us all,

Kathi Linz

Syria Under Fire

I find the news headlines absolutely fascinating lately as I have studied Bible prophecy for many years.

In light of Obama saying he wants to take military action against Syria, check this one out:

A prophecy against Damascus: "See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins." Isaiah 17:1

Syria says if we attack them, they will retaliate and the first to be hit would be Israel. These people do not threaten without a complete intent to follow up on their word.
Assuming they do hit Israel, God has something in mind for them and all who ally themselves together against Israel:

1A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls.

2I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. 3Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. 4On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake^a in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.  Zechariah 14

 

The scene of war is described even more graphically in Ezekiel 38.

 

I have to wonder how soon Jesus will come back for those who love Him. It has to be during a time of peace, because Jesus said:

 

26“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. Luke 17

 

People are eating and drinking and carrying on with life as if everything were normal.

 

The Feast of Trumpets - the only unfulfilled Jewish holiday - is on September 5 this year. Congress is reconvening on September 9th to consider taking action against Syria. Obama says he may act with or without Congressional approval.

 

All the pieces are in place. I have to wonder whether the table is being set even now for the wedding supper of the Lamb.

 

Hallelujah!!

 

God bless us all,

 

Kathi Linz