Business as Usual

I listen to some of the prophecy teachers, and I have noticed a couple of things.

Many of them have books to sell. Others are pushing a kind of prepper mentality. They are affiliates for survival food and implements.

I find this annoying because I want my teachers to tell me something that will edify me and not line their own pockets. I understand that is becoming a rare thing in any school at any level. As a Christian with the gift of teaching, this makes me sad. It shouldn't be that people are deceived in the name of Jesus for the sake of money.

If you think that things are bad enough in the world that you need to stock up on food and water, you may be right. If North Korea starts flinging bombs around, it might be an excellent idea. If riots are coming to a town near you, by all means be ready to shelter in place.

If however, you think that you need to stock up to survive the Tribulation period - and if you believe Jesus will take us out of here and you are watching for Him - don't bother.

Here's what Jesus Himself said:

37As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at thecoming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Matt 24: 37-38 Berean Study Bible

27People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. 28It was the same in the days of Lot: People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.… 
Luke17:27-29 Berean Study Bible

Please note that it was business as usual up until the moment of the disaster. There was no warning like the collapse of the social structure or economic failure. The warnings came from the men speaking God's word - Noah and Lot both warned people that they needed to listen to God. None of the people did. Only those who were paying attention to God and were ready to move at God's word were saved. 

So take this to heart:

The Return of the Son of Man
(Matthew 24:26-31; Mark 13:24-27)

25There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. 26Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21 NIV

When they BEGIN to happen, watch.

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

Jesus' First and Second Coming

Over the last number of Sunday school classes, I have been tracing Jesus' family from Adam and Eve through Abraham and David's family.  We've finally arrived at Jesus' first coming.

Yesterday, I went through the prophecies in the Old Testament that are so familiar even to people who only show up for church on Christmas.

Jesus would:

crush the serpent's head  Gen 3:15
be a blessing to the whole world    Gen 18:18
be born of a virgin  Is 7:14
be born in Bethlehem   Micah 5:2
go to Egypt for a time  Hosea 11:1
be raised in the Galilee  Is 9:1-2
be betrayed by a friend Ps 41:9
be sold for thirty pieces of silver Zec 11:12
      which would be returned and used to purchase the potter's field   Zec 11:13
suffer for us   Ps 22   Is 53
die for us      Ps 22    Is 53
die among evil people   Is 53:12
be buried in a rich man's tomb    Is 53:9
be raised from the dead.       Ps 16:10

I've heard it used as an argument that Jesus fulfilled all of the prophecies about the Messiah on purpose so that He would look like a messiah to anyone who was paying attention.

Please note how many of these prophecies would have been completely beyond His control if he were an ordinary human.  No one picks their parents.  No one chooses their place of birth or where they live before they reach a viable age to live on their own.  No one willingly arranges to be crucified.  While we can pick a cemetery plot today, and it was even done back in Jesus' day what with family tombs and all, Jesus was nowhere near His family's usual place of interment if they had one.  He did not have a say in where He was buried.  No ordinary human decides to raise from the dead three days after they are put in a tomb.

There is a vivid description of crucifixion in Psalm 22 which was written hundreds of years before that particular form of torture was invented.  The same psalm says that Jesus' clothes would be divided by gambling. 

Therefore, since Jesus fulfilled every prophecy about His first coming, He will certainly fulfill every one of the prophecies about His second coming. 

The last few lines in the Bible say:

"I am coming soon."

To which the heartfelt response is:

"Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."

God bless us all,

Kathi