Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Worth repeating: NOW LEARN THIS LESSON from the fig tree...


I wrote the below 2 1/2 years ago and had it posted on my blog. I feel it bears worth repeating because I believe that the message is more urgent than ever. You can write me off as a fanatic, misinformed, lunatic Christian, but I remain just a fool for Christ and I am praying for my friends and family to take heed. I believe things on planet Earth are ramping up quickly. I urge you to pay attention to the times. Bible prophecy is being fulfilled on a regular basis now. Wars are on the increase, world economies are tanking, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters are on the rise as well as new diseases. And one of the greatest tell-tale signs is what is rising in the middle east. The Arab world is coming apart... nation coming against nation, civil unrest, and Israel's enemies want Israel annihilated. All these things have been Biblically foretold eons ago.

If you don't know the Lord Jesus Christ then please, get to know Him. He remains to be the only Way, Truth and Life. If you say you are a Christian, then look into these things with an open heart and mind.

May God give you eyes to see and ears to hear.

Much love to all.

Dave

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NOW LEARN THIS LESSON from the fig tree...

"As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." —MATTHEW 24:32-35

"While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached Him privately and said, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?" Then Jesus replied to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many. You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these events are the beginning of birth pains." —MATTHEW 24:3-8

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No, no date setting here. We are told that we cannot know the day or the hour but the season is something different. Jesus told us to be watchful. To look and listen to the times.

Back in the 70's and 80's prophecy and end times discussions were all the buzz in Christian circles. The Lord used Hal Lindsey's "Late Great Planet Earth" to draw me to Him. I was fascinated with that book and became very interested in eschatology (the study of the end times, "last things") . The year 2000 and the infamous Y2K came around, I prepared for the worst, then nothing happened. So my eschatology got put on a shelf. I swore to myself that I'd never get hyped up about end times thinking again. Well now I can't help myself. It's all just too obvious to me where things are headed.

[ Added note - July 27, 2011 - Harold Camping came along and said the rapture of the Church would happen back on May 21st, and of course it didn't happen. The only thing that did happen was that the world once again laughed at Christians. Jesus said that no man knows the hour of His return, but to pay attention to the signs of the times. We can recognize the closeness of end times by those things that have been prophesied coming to pass. I believe we are well into those "birth pangs" that Jesus spoke of. ]

Today prophecy is being fulfilled in front of our eyes. One just has to read and watch the mainstream news to see the signs. Global economic chaos, increasing tensions in the middle east, more and more threats of severe storms, earthquakes and signs in the heavens, and growing apostasy. The leaders of the world are all looking for a man to save us and are calling for a unified economic system, a one world government. This isn't fodder from some conspiracy website but it is in fact disclosed in the daily news. Meanwhile it seems that the Church is asleep at the wheel.

Where is the Body of Christ? Where is it's focus? Are we more occupied with church growth and ministries to please every pew sitting individual? Are we looking up? Are we hungering for the Lord and for His promised imminent return? The Church used to be, before it entered into the Laodicean mode.

"Peace and safety" is the mantra people are hungering for but there will not be peace until the Son of Man returns to set all things right. And if the Church doesn't wake up it will be looking for that wrong man as well. "Then He said, "Watch out that you are not deceived. "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is near.' Don't follow them."" —LUKE 21:8

[ I said before: ] No man knows the hour. The fig tree may be dormant now but summer will come and its leaves will soon appear. [ The fig tree is getting riper by the minute. ]

I'm ready to go Home. How about you?

"Even so, come Lord Jesus!"


4 comments:

  1. Dave,
    All I can say is that my spirit leaps within me at these words! I can't explain what is happening on the inside of me lately, but the awakening to/awareness of His nearness is bursting forth within me in ways that are simply not human.

    Father has me awakening to the side of the coin of how the Jews are embracing Jesus and returning to their homeland of Israel, as has been prophesied. A couple weekends ago I attended a homeschool conference not even being sure why (still not entirely sure), but I was drawn like a magnet to a particular booth set up in the exhibit hall. It was of a dear married Messianic Jewish couple who was selling their materials on how the Lord is drawing His precious Jewish children back to Him (and their land). I picked up a book that I've hardly been able to put down since then, as my heart leaps at its reading - literally, I feel like my heart beats faster.

    The book is titled "God's Promise and the Future of Israel" by Don Finto. It is riveting, in my opinion. He shows many real life examples of the Jewish homecoming that is occurring and even how it aligns with specifically prophecy that I was unaware of. When taken into consideration, along with all the other signs of our times - we are seeing "ALL THESE THINGS" happening right now in our day.

    It is none other than amazing how Father is connecting the dots for me, including bringing certain people into my path "in the fullness of time."

    Brother, you keep walking in your fanaticism - it is for reason! John the Baptist was quite the fanatic, wasn't he? The premise of the first half of the book I mentioned is (as stated in the book) "The Time Has Come."

    My favorite quote so far is "When the promise of God and the timing of God intersect, there is a 'suddenly' that causes a significant change in the world, and God begins to look for people who will participate with Him in what He is doing in that generation." His point is that we are living in a time when God's promise and timing are intersecting... again, as has happened at key points in history. It is the entire reason the Jews rejected the Messiah - they refused to see God's promise intersecting with His divine timing. That is changing before our eyes NOW!!

    Thanks for the post! Listen to what's in your heart! He dwells there!!!

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  2. Tammy.... THANK YOU!

    It is a lonely road for sure... this feeling like a lunatic for the Lord. So many deaf ears out there. I am so glad that you are seeing and hearing what we know to be the Spirit speaking to us... and many others out there. As we shared before, we do believe the Lord is busy preparing us, building us up, teaching us to depend on Him more than ever, for whatever (and whenever) may transpire.

    I will order that book! I began to well up when I read what you shared there about that couple and your encounter.

    It's so strange. I don't know how you feel, but some days I am so unmotivated to do anything but "watch." I work at home as graphic designer, so it's usually hard enough to stay disciplined! But for the most part I sense the Lord saying, "Keep working, enjoying your family and friends, loving them... while at the same time listen and watch. Take heed to My instructions and always be ready to give the Reason for the hope that is within you!"

    Here's something that has blown me away recently... doing some research into the comparison of Jesus and the Bride of Christ to the ancient Jewish wedding ceremony. Just amazing and wonderful... what appears to be intended similarities and a confirmation of what is to come:

    The Husband paid a price to the Father of the Bride for her (Jesus' sacrifice for us).

    Before the wedding the Husband promises to go away to prepare a place for her (Jesus states in John 14:3).

    At the wedding feast the Bride is LIFTED UP (like the servants in the OT lifted the Ark of the Covenant).

    After the wedding and marriage feast the Husband and Bride go away for 7 DAYS and then RETURN together.

    There's more details I'm sure, but that's what I've gleaned thus far from this. Perry Stone did this video a few years ago that talks about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj7rw0f4fII&feature=related

    So much happening so quickly. I do believe He is so close, but should be not be praying that He delay so that even more will come to know Him?

    Even so, come Lord Jesus!

    Blessing to you, Sis. May He continue to keep you strong and focused upon Him.

    Dave

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  3. Post Note: I realize how little I know, but how much I have this need to know. And I realize how much I have to let go of this need to know and rest in and live in the One who knows and knows us fully. In Him we live, move and have our being.

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  4. Post Post Note: I needed you to know that. :-)

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