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SUDDENLY There Was A Multitude



One of the principal focuses of today's theologians has been an attempt to resolve the dilemma of God's seeming absence in everyday affairs.  To many it certainly seems like He's aloof, if He's there at all.  Why is God so silent?  Why does He allow so much suffering and moral evil?  Is faith all we will ever have to go on?  These sorts of questions are well-tailored to our postmodern, naturalistic, 21st-century mindsets.  To most, even many within the Christian faith itself, it seems that religion is a man-made concoction.  Perhaps God exists, they say, but that's not something we can really know.  That's something to discover when we die.  Maybe Heaven exists.  Maybe everyone makes it.  Or maybe there's nothing after we've flatlined.

From a theological perspective, we do have to struggle with what appears to be, to some, God's 2,000-year hiatus from visibly interfering in the affairs of man.

Yet in terms of biblical history, God's seeming absence is the exception to the rule.  For most of history prior to the present Age of the Church, God was sending global floods, talking through bushes, parting seas, roaming about in the midst of His people as the Messenger of YHWH, speaking through real prophets, and performing a myriad of miracles.

While we take it on faith that God is ever-present and continually active in our lives though we can't see Him, in the grand scheme of things, God's "normal" is to walk among us (in fact, He was walking around in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve sinned).  This present eon in which we live is unusually quiet; it's a 2,000-year test of faith to determine who will believe without seeing.

God has given the ultimate gift—and it really is a gift: total pardon from sin, the promise of our own resurrection, and eternal life with God.  It's freely available to all who would be humble enough to receive it.  The gift was presented to wretched mankind in the unlikeliest of forms—a tiny, helpless, quivering child.

Despite the lyrics of one of our favorite Christmas hymns, the night in which this gift was presented was anything but silent, because God, once again, showed up.  Visibly.  Clearly.  Many atheists ask, "If God exists, why doesn't He just show Himself?"  Let them know... HE DID.

And there were shepherds in the same region, lodging in the field and keeping the night-watches over their flock, and behold, a messenger of the LORD stood over them, and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and they feared [with] a great fear.  And the messenger said to them, “Do not fear, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be to all the people, because today in the city of David a Savior was born to you, who is Christ the LORD!  And this [is] the sign to you: you will find a Baby wrapped up, lying in the manger.”  And suddenly there came with the messenger a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, “Glory in the highest to God, and on earth peace, among men—good will!”  And it came to pass, when the messengers were gone away from them to the heavens, that the men, the shepherds, said to one another, “We may indeed go over to Beth-Lehem and see this thing that has come to pass, that the LORD made known to us!”  And they came, having hurried, and found both Mary, and Joseph, and the Baby lying in the manger, and having seen, they made known abroad concerning the saying spoken to them concerning the Child.  And all who heard [it] wondered concerning the things spoken to them by the shepherds; and Mary was preserving all these things, pondering [them] in her heart; and the shepherds turned back, glorifying and praising God for all those things they heard and saw, as it was spoken to them.
—Luke 2:8–20 (LSV*)




Those still clinging tightly to their faith will soon be richly rewarded, for the LORD will split the heavens once again as He did some 2,000 years ago on that otherwise still and normal night.  Those humble souls who trust in our most humble Savior, will be whisked away into God's presence and the presence of the heavenly multitude that preached good tidings all those centuries ago.  And in the presence of God is fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11).  God is anything but normal, and this present normalcy will not persist much longer.

Christmas has actually lost much of its meaning over the centuries.  We certainly do look back toward Christ's first advent and remember the greatest of gifts that was given, but Christmas should be just as much about Christ's second advent when He will return to take His Church home, judge the world in righteousness, and set all things right.  As a matter of fact, you might be surprised to learn that some of the most famous Christmas hymns are actually not about the first advent at all.  Isaac Watts' Joy to the World from 1719 is a prime example:

Joy to the world; the LORD is come;
Let earth receive her King:
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground:
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness;
And wonders of His love

And the 8th century hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel:

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, o Israel

O come, Thou Day-Spring
Come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, o Israel

O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home
Make safe the way that leads on high
And close the path to misery
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, o Israel

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height
In ancient times did’st give the Law
In cloud, and majesty and awe
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, o Israel

As we remember what God did for us all those centuries ago, don't forget that we're looking forward in hope to what God is literally and visibly about to do in our own time.  Let earth receive her King.

~MARANATHA~


*Scripture excerpts come from the Literal Standard Version

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92 comments:

  1. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. - Psalm 40:3

    and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. - Revelation 14:3

    And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

    Maranatha!

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    1. Beautiful. I can't wait to be singing that song. Hopefully I'll have a singing voice in Heaven (:

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    2. The story surrounding the birth of Christ is actually a picture of the Rapture of the church. The whole story actually gives the timing of the rapture. It might not give the exact day and hour, but it gives a very clear time frame.

      Luke Chapter 2 gives the account of the birth of Christ and the story of the Shepherds. There is no account of the three Magi in Luke Chapter 2.

      Matthew Chapter 2 gives the account of the birth of Christ and the story of the Three Magi. There is no account of the Shepherds in Matthew chapter 2.

      Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the SIGN to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
      Luke 2:10‭-‬12 NKJV

      The sign that the Shepherd's received was that they would find a newborn baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a Manger.

      At the same time, the three Magi received the sign of the Star of Bethlehem that appeared in the east and in which they followed, first to Jerusalem, and then to Bethlehem. These two groups of people received their respective signs at the same time, at the very moment that Jesus was born.

      Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.
      Matthew 2:1‭, ‬7 NKJV

      In this account Herod was diligently inquiring of the Wiseman exactly when the star. Because he was trying to determine when the child was born.

      And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
      Matthew 2:11 NKJV

      By the time the three Magi came to Bethlehem, Jesus was at least two years and 3 months old.
      We note from this passage that they didn't come to the stable to see a newborn baby, they came into the house and found the young child with Mary his mother.

      Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
      Matthew 2:16 NKJV

      Herod knew how old the child was because he had determined his age by talking to the Wisemen and diligently inquiring when the star had appeared which signified the moment of his birth

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    3. Now this is how all of this ties in with the Revelation 12 sign of September 23rd 2017 and the day in which we are living right now.

      We know that the three major characters of the Revelation 12 sign have dual representation.

      The woman first represented Mary, giving birth to Jesus and in modern days represents the nation of Israel which gave birth to the body of Christ. The woman giving birth was portrayed by the constellation Virgo, the virgin.

      The male child first represented Jesus and now represents the body of Christ. The male child of course was portrayed by the planet Jupiter.

      The Great Red Dragon represented Herod who tried to destroy the male child and now the great red dragon represents Satan along with the Antichrist and the Beast system who will try to destroy the body of Christ.

      Just like Jesus when he was 2 years old was forcefully and violently snatched out of Harm's Way (harpazo) by Joseph as he fled into Egypt with the child and his mother, so, in the same way, the male child represented by the body of Christ being birthed, portrayed by the Revelation 12 sign, will be forcefully and violently snatched out of Harm's Way (harpazo) and caught up to the throne of God. (raptured)

      At the time that I write this post it's Christmas. At Christmas 2019 it is 2 years and 3 months past the Revelation 12 sign which signified the birth of the male child.

      Just like Jesus was snatched out Of Harm's Way sometime between his second and third birthday when he was 2 years old, I believe that the church will be also be snatched out of Harm's Way sometime between it's second and third birthday signified by the Revelation 12 sign.

      If this type and Shadow holds true we must be raptured before September 23rd of 2020.

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  2. Just found this: The Psalms of David do not end at #150, The Psalms of David end at Psalms 72 (see end off the Psalm!) And Psalm 72 is all about? THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF OUR LORD!! For those of you who follow numerology, see what can be done with the number 72!! I just had to tell someone :)

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    1. Israel's 72nd anniversary is this Spring...

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  3. The topic of this post is rather timely, so far as the 2,000 years of unusual quiet. I’m beginning to wonder how much more Godly quiet I can stand, while the never ending rancor and savagery ticks on. Sorry, I probably shouldn’t be posting at all, and especially not here. I can’t imagine that anything I have to say will be welcome. After about 50 years as a Born Again, I no longer feel kinship with most evangelicals, and 99% of the reason is political. Think about that, if you will please. My God doesn’t need propping up by this or any other government, or its manifestly ill chief. But he’s YOUR “protector”, spokesperson and flagship. Think about that. Think REAL hard. Let it soak in. His entire persona is now indelibly linked with yours. The world now entirely associates him with us and our God. Now think about it some more. Come on, don’t be shy. We’re all adults here.

    See, I told you no one would want to hear what I have to say. But it goes much deeper than that. This can be, and often is a trying if not horrible time of year for some of us. For some of us it’s a weeks long, spotlighted, hyper-emphasized and forced reflection upon all that’s been lost. Every bit of it, with no real capacity to bring anything back. We try to remain faithful, and usually do. And then there’s that 2,000 year silence, and it just goes on and on. One can’t help wondering if one has been foolish, and it’s all just rhymes and high-minded allegory. Maybe I’ll die of advanced age, staring up at the sky like the politically uncool fool that I am.

    Maybe a chorus of Silent Night would cue well here. But there is no silence, just the jackhammering of rhetoric, too often delivered by “messengers of peace”.

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    1. 10 He was in the world, and the
      world was made through him, yet
      the world did not know him.

      11 He came to his own, and his
      own people did not receive him.

      12 But to all who did receive
      him, who believed in his name,
      he gave the right to become
      children of God,

      13 who were born, not of
      blood nor of the will of the
      flesh nor of the will of man,
      but of God.

      14 And the Word became flesh
      and dwelt among us, and we
      have seen his glory, glory as
      of the only Son from the Father
      full of grace and truth.

      (John 1:10-13 ESV)


      As it was then it is still so today. Wandering eyes are given many gods to follow -- each according to the desires of the beholder. To those of us who know and hear His voice?

      There is but One.

      His name is Jesus.


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    2. Nony, it’s sad that you don’t see President Trump the way many of us do. We see a man who has done more for Israel than all our past Presidents combined. A President who just signed an EO that will strip leftist colleges of the federal money they love so much if they don’t deal with the vicious anti-Semitism on their campuses. A President humble enough to let everyone who has asked if they can pray for him do so in front of the world, including Pastor Andrew Brunson, one of many Christians the President has rescued from hostile countries. I see a President so brilliant that he has created the greatest economy we have ever had and which benefits the entire world. I see 7 million jobs available and no one to take them because now they’re working after the dream wrecker left the White House.

      I could go on and on with his massive list of accomplishments, including putting over 180 conservatives on the Federal bench and leftists just love litigating what they can’t legislate. Let’s see how that goes for them now.

      Maybe it’s because we know God can use any vessel He chooses to accomplish His purposes on earth. Flaws and all.

      Maybe we didn’t want an abortion loving godless witch in the White House.

      It’s a badge of honor for me to be associated with President Trump.

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    3. And if you think God has been silent then it’s because you haven’t been listening. Seek Him with all your heart and you will find Him. Guaranteed.

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    4. Every saved person will have done something wrong, some terrible wrongs, but be forgiven... Even me... Even you...

      God uses the foolishness of this world to shame the wise... and those who think themselves above others, or more saintly delude themselves...

      So our 'manifestly ill' leader is flawed... just like everyone else? Happy to have him, because if God's grace is enough for him, it's definitely enough for everyone else. If he's anything, he is that rock that fell upon the feet of the statue Nebuchadnezzer saw and destroyed the whole thing... Though I suspect that Jesus is the real fulfillment of that prophecy. Trump's just a foreshadowing of it perhaps...

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  4. My heart goes out to you anonymous. My prayer is that you see past all that the world is full of, and see the love, the joy, the glory of our precious Lord Jesus, who died for us and is preparing heaven for us. The last two thousand years may be quiet for the miracles of the past, but experiencing the presence of God is miracle enough for me. He is real. He is not silent. He is sometimes quiet, but not silent. Sometimes hard to see, but his forgiveness is so very real. That is enough to give us the joy of this season. May the eyes of your heart see it anew.

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  5. Anon...I don't know your name, but mine is Stan. I am a very hard sell...show me type. Never have I heard audibly Gods voice as some have, but there is no doubt I have heard Him spiritually talk to me with occurrences way beyond chance of coincidence. I doubt I have enough words or patience to convey enough words to even start convincing you.

    All I can say is offer a sincere prayer to God, to have Him bless you with a sign that only to you is known to be beyond coincidence. That is exactly what I did several years ago. I am an astronomy buff, and a Christian for 50 of my 65 years. I just never had a single doubt of Gods existence when I would gaze at the grandeur of His creation.
    One evening after seeing a very close Venus/Jupiter conjunction, and still in awe of observings Gods universe, I said the deepest heartfelt prayer to God to show me a sign in the heavens. It was the most sincere prayer ever uttered out of my lips that brought actual tears on my cheeks. With my soul as security against my next statement....that prayer was answered that night. I had just started reading my Bible after decades of tossing it back on my nightstand in disgust with God for not understanding all its arcane language. If God wants me to read in His book, He will have to make start understanding it.

    I would not condone such a flippant attitude, and by all secular and spiritual reasons , that attitude should have just continued till I was buried.

    But I had one verse stuck in my head...Genesis 1:14...about the lights in the heavens being for signs, and seasons, days and years. Ok...I can understand seasons, days and years...but what about as for signs?

    Back to that very very close conjunction of Venus/Jupiter that summer evening several years ago.I then was prompted to utter my most heartfelt sincere prayer from my lips....to show me something in the heavens that was a genuine sign that would crack my hard sell show me shell.

    I started reading in Revelation chapter 12. I NEVER had read much in my Bible and never touched the chapter ever. But this lady in the sun? Moon at her feet? Crown of 12 stars? That sounded like an astronomical event. Soon I was reading all about this September 23rd, 2017 event that was still two years away.

    I was convinced it was way beyond coincedence all the alignments that had to be mechanically orchestrated in the heavens, by a God I did believe in, but now had a strong connection to the Bibke with my hard sell type.

    I always however looked at it as a genuine divine warning sign place well ahead of trouble ahead...instead of the bridge is out right at the sign.

    But this answer to my prayer has blessed me with studying Gods word like nothing I had ever dug into in my life. My world of flying my own turbine powered helicopter that I built in my stair shop over a 3 year period soon became strangely dim in the light of my new found Bible studies. God was so speaking to me spiritually, that I did the unthinkable and sold my helicopter. My wife thought I had lost it and actually stopped the first sale of it. It took another year of convincing her that my most valued physical item on the earth was indeed going to be sold. I havent regretted it since. Instead of hovering over Gods green earth in my helicopter, I now hover over His word , realizing I am the green one.

    Oh, we are to be the minority in the world. More so each year, and this reinforces how deadly true Gods word is. Someday you will have no doubt as He will be acting very forcefully. But do not be discouraged. I thoroughly am blessed with feeling His presence.

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    1. Amen, Stan my brother. Amen!

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    2. Beautiful testimony Brother Stan. Love that.

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    3. Thank you Stan, for your beautiful post.

      Christmas Eve, two years ago, I was deeply grieving the unexpected passing of my beloved father. Here is my miracle.

      My father was the kindest, funniest, and most generous person I know. He was not a Christian. Matter of fact, he was a "science minded, hard sell, show me type."

      In the weeks and months leading up to his death, we were having conversations about the things going on in the world: Trump, Israel being reborn as a nation in 1948, and most importantly Jesus. He told me he wanted to believe. That some of the things I was saying to him, his mother said to him the night before she died. I didn't have a chance to ask specifically what she said because we were interrupted. So, I made a mental note to ask him at a later time. Unfortunately, I was never able to ask him. But....

      In my grief, I asked the Lord for confirmation that my father was with him. I was also pondering the rapture and asked the Lord for confirmation of 1 Thessalonians 4:15. So, I asked for a sign. I thought, I don't want it to be too common, like seeing a bird or a squirrel. A bald eagle popped into my head and so I asked for that. I went to bed that night and prayed again. Christmas morning, I opened the garage door to let the dogs out. As soon as I walked out, I saw something out of the corner of my eye, and looked up. It was a magnificent bald eagle lofting in the wind directly above me in the driveway. Just to give you an idea of how close it was - it was a one story house and the eagle was just above the roof line. The Lord lifted my grief that day. Sure, I still get sad sometimes, but He reminded me that he's in control of even the tiniest details of our lives. Psalm 91:4 has taken on an entirely new meaning for me. "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge."

      I encourage anyone who is feeling disconnected from the Lord, to sincerely cry out to him. He will answer you.

      Thank you Gary for all the work you do on this site.

      Pastor Rich, sometimes I feel like I'm not doing enough for the Lord in regards to witnessing. Thank you for reminding me that it's not about us, it's about the Holy Spirit working through us. And that we just need to plant seeds and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.

      Merry Christmas!

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    4. Jill...When you mentioned bald eagle...my hair stood up on the back of my neck. You would not believe the miraculous bald eagle story that I am sharing with pictures that can back it up. I could type the story , but it wont do it justice unless I show the pictures to back it up. Unbelievable coincidences with a bald eagle starting the day after my dad passed away in October 2014. I am not worthy to have had this happen to.

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    5. Pastor Rich and Gary....Glad you appreciated my input. We have a lot in common.

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    7. Jill, You are most welcome! May we all glorify God with our personal story.

      Stan, Thank you so much for sharing your story. Indeed, we have so very much in common.

      All, Once I had a great concern, even fear, regarding someone I was ministering to. I suspect a certain (bad) thing may be true about them and went to the LORD in prayer concerning my fear. I asked Him for a sign of confirmation but didn't specify what the sign should be. Instead I was silent and listened for the sign He would give.

      The LORD said He would show me a deer as confirmation.

      This happened late at night as I was driving. Less than a minute after being told the sign would be a deer, I came over a rise to find a multi-point buck standing in the middle of the road. The deer was no hazard to me and calmly walked off the roadway as I slowed and passed by.

      This isn't the only time He has spoken to my wife and I like this.

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    8. I would like to share my eagle story. Let me start with just a recent event happening on Illinois State Rt. 9 ...just west of Paxton, Il. That is where my stair shop is that God has blessed me with enough skills to make a very nice living building curved stairways. I had an ash tree die in front of my stairshop...just 40 feet from the state highway. I had this CRAZY idea to publically carve something out of this dead tree. Crazy in that I never ever carved anything in my life, and with a chainsaw?
      So, here I am ready to start carving on my eagle late September. I knelt down on the floor and asked God to guide my hands on that chainsaw, cause "I ain't no carver".
      I had a very overwhelming aura of confidence sweep over me. I went out to the 7 foot tall tree stump around 7:00 am...set up a walk plank around it and started carving out my eagle. I told myself..."Just remove what is NOT an eagle!"

      I started carving and after half an hour of very over cautious knotching with my chainsaw, I could feel I was being helped. My confidence grew larger as that stump shrank smaller. By 9:00 I heard a car honk. By 10:00 am, more cars were honking! I just had a very rough squared off eagle started, but it was recognizable as the silhouette of a bald eagle. I thanked God for answering my prayers to guide my hands, and a tear was going down my cheek behind my safety goggles and earmuffs as woodchips were making a fountain pattern and laying on the ground. I quit carving after 5 hours...and went home telling my wife how many people were honking, and now stopping by and talking to me...complete strangers, and local people that have known me all my life. The next day I resumed my carving , and the honks increased exponentially as the chips fell away leaving a beautiful, with all glory going to God...bald eagle! My plans changed. I now decided to paint it. I prayed for guidance here also. Now I had a semi truck driver slow down, and with a clinched fist... jabbed it strong arm style out his window. and with a deep gnarly vouce..bellowed out..."yahh".... He conveyed so much emotion, I was overwhelmed as I high 5'd him as he drove off.
      It grew on me and now I had to put an American Flag behind it. After that, I HAD to light that flag, so now I am burying an underground 110 volt wire to power up some spotlights. I ended up making a white wooden cross that sits on top of the flag..."One nation..under God"...was my reasoning here.

      Well now this thing is getting attention, media, etc...and I am invited to be a keynote speaker to address a summer crowd next year telling what motivated me to carve that eagle. This long post is just the opening statement and culmination of eagle events that started the day after my dad of 93 years passed away in 2014.

      Let me end this "teaser" with this. While carving this eagle that stands over 6 ft. tall...I had scores of vehicles honking, waving, screaming out "God bless you"..etc...and had many pull in and talk to me. I had one guy come out and directly ask me.."What motivated you to carve that eagle?" I told him I was extremely motivated, and needed that motivation along with a prayer to God to guide my hands. I asked him if he wanted to hear the short version, or the long one. He replied..." Oh, I have time to hear the long version."

      So, with an interrupted 15 minutes of telling my eagle coincidences that started 5 years ago , starting with the day after my dad passed away in October 2014, he had tears rolling down his cheeks that mirrored my own.
      What on earth could have motivated me to carve that eagle?.

      Gary, I humbly ask your permission to one time allow me to send to you my eagle story, to have it's own chapter in your magnificent forum. If you grant this to me, I would include photos to go along with the story. It will take me awhile to finger peck out my story on my cellphone, but I feel it will be a blessing to all. If you care not to do this, I totally understand.

      Stan

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    10. What an amazing story, I would love to see a pictures! Btw... I was born and raised in Illinois (Peoria). I moved out to Oregon seven years ago to be closer to family. Prior to that, I lived in Champaign-Urbana and know exactly where Paxton is! 😁

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    11. Stan, you could create a blog and include the link in this thread. There are a number of free ones you can use that also allow you to add pictures (blogger, weebley, wix are a couple of examples).

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    12. Jill....I have built many curved stairways in Champaign, Il. The last two years I built stairways for the Kappa Delta sorority and the Delta Zeta sorority on the University of Illinois campus.

      What motivated me to carve my eagle is the story I would love to share with the world. As far as actually carving it...I attribute it all to 1 Corinthians 4:7...All skills, motivation, etc..come from God, and if any of us think we do it on our own....then we are wrongfully boasting about it.

      But I would love to share what eagle events 5 years ago motivated me to carve my eagle.

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    13. Stan - your testimony is wonderful! Not unlike my own in that the Lord took my dried up and dead heart, revived it by revealing to me the Great Sign! I share this story in the discussion portion of the site.
      I am equally excited to hear the rest of your eagle story with pictures.

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  6. The politics of the last 3 years has really hurt the testimony of the Church and damaged the faith of many. Mark Galli was so right.

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    3. An article published on Rapture Ready titled, Christianity Today Does Not Speak For Me: By Grant Phillips very, very effectively addresses the above comment concerning Mr. Galli and thoughts akin to it.

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  7. On the wee morning of July 29, 2018 I saw this guy sitting on a rock beckoning me to come over. All around me was a mess, things were falling from the sky and it seemed like everything had utterly gone crazy. At the time, my girlfriend and I were confused on what was happening. So I walked towards the man and he asked me one question, "Are you married?" and I answered "No". Then he proceeded to say "Be done soon". I had no idea what he meant.

    He then asked if my girlfriend and I would like to come into his bus so he could drive us away from that wilderness where things seemed to have completely gone haywire.
    We responded to the affirmative. So we got in the bus and he started driving us towards a rock face at a fairly good clip and neither did he slow down.

    As we got closer and closer to the rock face I started thinking, is he going to off us off? But just before we hit the rock face he issued a command and the side of the rock opened up like a door and the bus got in and there we were hidden inside of it along with other people I didn't know.

    I then woke up and immediately realized I had seen Jesus in my dream.

    It was a dream unlike any other, I couldn't reject what I had dreamt. Even though I had dreamt this, I still didn't turn away from my ways, I loved sin too much. Then as 2018 wore off, I begun to look at creation itself, the Fibonacci sequence, and phi (1.618) aka nature's divine formula and the more I looked into this the more I got drawn in to reconnect with God. Around October 2018, I shut my Facebook down, and proposed to my girlfriend.

    I didn't even understand what was happening any more, but it is as if I had taken on this new trajectory in life. Then in Dec 2018, I begun to read the bible from the very first chapter to the end. I knew I wouldn't understand it all but I also knew I couldn't possibly remain the same once I read it.

    As I read it sequentially chapter by chapter, periodically I would skip ahead to a chapter in the new testament. Then one Saturday morning on the Januray of 2019, I begun reading the book of Romans. Then I read about how the Jews are blind to the gospel  for our sake (till the fullness of the gentiles had come in) and how Jesus had given himself for us. At that point it all came alive to me and realized why truly Jesus died for us and I cried and cried like a child. The Holy Spirit took the veil off my eyes and at that Instance, I accepted Christ and my ways begun to change and walking with him daily now.

    Though I saw Christ in my dream, that didn't prompt me to change, but when I read the word  I could not resist the saving grace. This incident in my life confirmed the Hebrews 4:12 verse ( For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword)

    It's has been a historic 2019 for me, the Lord has revealed lots and I am still in awe of the filth he cleaned me out off and his persistence to save me from my follishness. This is my testimony of how God found me.

    May you all be blessed in Christ Jesus, and stay in the word daily.

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    1. AWESOME! Be blessed brother in Christ

      Maybe the 'delay' in His return is for people just like you. People who are on the edge of their eternal destiny

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  8. Thank you brother in Jesus Christ for your testimony! God is so great and sovereign and he still saves souls from hell. Glory to Yeshua who died and rose for each of us sinners! I love my Heavenly Father and my wonderful Savior! MARANATHA!!! Carole

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  9. Anonymous,
    The devil as they say is in the DETAILS, the seeming little things.
    Except it's NOT the devil per se, it's GOD.
    As much as you'll let Him, He is actively involved in YOUR life.
    Romans 8:28
    I've never had a BIG splashy showy miracle occur - that I'm aware of.
    But, I know God is there for ME.
    That He cares about what I do with my life as well as what I care about about -
    including all the nitty gritty little things that may not mean something to someone else,
    but matter to me personally.
    Even STOOPID stuff like computers not coming on and work to be done,
    lost dogs (LOTS of dog stuff), colicy horses,
    and a 25 year old furnace that still works!
    He answers because I ask.
    Not like some magic genie in a bottle,
    but like the Heavenly Father that He is who cares for His children.
    Of which, I am humbled and grateful to be one.
    The world can get you down - there's a LOT going on today.
    It's a bit of a conundrum really.
    IF I were not aware of what was happening from a Biblical perspective,
    I'd be freaking out and very likely depressed as well.
    But, GOD SAID these things would happen,
    so I KNOW I can TRUST HIM to handle it.
    I may not like what is happening (I don't),
    but I am not overly concerned about today's events.
    MY concern is more for the unsaved and the effect this world has on them!
    It's a matter of focus - are you looking at events from a worldly perspective
    or through God's Word?
    * * * * *
    My favorite Christmas carol is Mary's Boy Child.
    It pretty much covers it.
    "... and man will live forever more,
    because of Christmas Day."
    Merry Christmas!

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  10. I really would like to believe for sure that the Rev. 12 sign as described actually occurred on Sept.23rd 2017 but I still have nagging doubts about it.

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    1. It was an arrangement in the sky that reminded us collectively of a verse in the Bible. It caused a lot of study, historical digging, and many hearts to get ready. And if it wasn't in the Bible, that arrangement would have came and gone with no one even thinking about it. I would say that God's word did not return void here. Many believed even more strongly because it happened, along with other things...

      And that's why I believe it was what it says on the tin. Part of His plan. Now we just await whatever this sign was pointing towards. He tells us things ahead of time so that it will strengthen our faith when they happen... not necessarily so we can predict things, but to be ready instead.

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    2. I think I understand your doubts. I am also someone who does not always have strong faith. The sign is absolutely real. What is also special is that certainly in 2019, there were several signs in the sun about Revelation 12. In November the sign in the sun of Revelation 12: 4b and 5 could be seen. For me this is proof that God has a plan to prepare us step by step for the rapture, which is getting closer. All this coincides with the time in which we now live: the political chaos in Israel, the growing hostilities of Iran, Turkey and Russia, the political unrest in the USA, the apostasy of many Christians, a world religion of the Pope and the developments of AI. Keep courage and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.

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  11. “Therefore behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them.’ For I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers.” Jeremiah 16:14-15 (and again in Jeremiah 23:7-8).

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  12. So many of us are looking for a sign. A physical sign that what the Bible says is true. That it's all not just some fairytale. A product of a fertile imagination. The Jews of Jesus' day wanted a sign and a sign was given to them. The sign of Jonah.

    The great sign of Revelation 12 is very real. It is unique and fits the Biblical profile of requiring faith to believe. (Matthew 16:15 ESV) records Jesus saying,

    "But who do you say that I am?"


    Either we believe or we don't. You have to decide for yourself. For me it began as a simple belief that God was real and that His love for me was true. Shortly thereafter, His Spirit overshadowed me in a very powerful and specific way. I wish I could describe it -- it was amazing, enveloping and overwhelming. Beautiful.

    Today, the LORD is ever present in our home. We feel Him in the smallest of details in our lives, in how He cares for us, teaches us and sets the path before us. But it has been a walk -- a very personal one.

    The LORD is faithful. Even though we falter and fail. God never fails.

    His love and mercy endure forever.

    Merry Christmas all, and to all a good night!

    Grace and peace to you, one and all,


    Pastor Rich




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  13. My reservations about my belief in the Rev.12 sign are due to this.
    1. There is actually a very small section of scripture that is addressed directly to us in our time period- the age of grace. This administration began on the day of Pentecost, replacing the previous law administration.
    The part of the Bible that is written directly to us the Body of Christ for doctrine, reproof and correction are Pauls epistles to the Christian church.
    Romans-II Thessalonians.

    2. In Rev. 1:4 John writes that the book is written to the 7 churches. Many use this to say that its directed at us. It is not. The word for church in the greek is 'Eklesia' which simply means a called out group of individuals. In Acts 19:32 the word assembly is translated from the same word Eklesia. If you read the context it is not talking about Christians it is referring to idol worshippers/ a mob who were angry at Paul for trying to turn the people away from the Goddess Diana. The church referred to in Rev.1:4 is not written to born again believers because we will be gone. After the rapture the grace administration will end and the administration of law will return. Which means that the terms of salvation will revert back to the way it was before Pentecost. No one will be getting born again during the tribulation. It will be by works.
    3. I will conclude that im sure how to explain Rev. 12. Im not convinced that John was describing an actual astronomical event, it could just be a vision. A similar vision was described in Genesis. There is clearly evidence that someone is getting "harpazoed" I just dont think it is describing our departure. I think its referring to another group during the tribulation.
    This is just another opinion folks.
    The Rev 12 sign as it applies to us just doesnt work for me.

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    1. Many things in scripture seem written to multiple groups. I've heard it explained as 30, 60, 100 fullfillments... That first we see something that somewhat resembles what is being written, then another thing that makes it more obvious or we even think was the fullfillment. Then finally we get the entire fullment which is harder to deny.

      The Rev 12 'sign' as it were seems to be one of these kind of prophecies. According to astronomy software, there has been similar arrangements of these particular stars and planets in the past. John was a fisherman, so he was educated in astronomy as that is how many of them navigated their boats. So when he wrote this arrangement he had seen in his vision down, probably not knowing how rare it was. That it would happen precisely as he described it has such odds as to be divinely inspired... if we will have faith in it.

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    2. Anon, I pray you and all here enjoyed a blessed Christmas.

      Yesterday we saw another typhoon ravage the Philippines as a "ring of fire" solar eclipse traversed the Islamic nations of the earth. More signs? Perhaps. I have come to call them, "contractions".

      Just because you believe something doesn't mean it's true. Just as not believing doesn't mean it's not true. By faith in Christ we are all given a wonderful teacher, a heavenly counsellor to walk with us and guide us in all truth. We are all given to disciple and mentor another as well. For some of us that means we are the student -- for others we teach. But no matter what, we are given to dig deep both individually and as a body into God's word.

      I noted 2 Timothy as a letter from Paul is outside the domain of what you shared as, "addressed directly to us in our time period". In Paul's letter to Timothy, shared here from the Greek, he writes,

      3.16 ALL SCRIPTURE [IS] GOD BREATHED AND USEFUL FOR TEACHING, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR TRAINING - IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

      3.17 THAT PROFICIENT MAY BE THE OF GOD MAN FOR EVERY GOOD WORK HAVING BEEN EQUIPPED.

      (2 Timothy 3:16-17 GNT)


      God's words, His inspired instruction recorded by Paul here in the Greek, are rather specific. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching. I would invite you to prayerfully explore the meaning of that from as many angles and perspectives as you can find.

      I would even encourage you to get with others even if from a non-denominational church in a small group setting to explore this. See who the LORD leads you to in a journey asking the BIG questions and see where He takes you.

      You could be in for the adventure of a lifetime.

      Blessings, always,


      PR

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    3. Nothing earth shattering here Anon, but one question I would ask of you if you havent considered it is WHY? Why did this very Sign (a Great Sign) occur in the stars exactly as depicted in Rev 12, if God did not intend for us (those eagerly awaiting His return) to see it? He organized this stellar alignment to occur exactly on Sept 23/24, 2017. This was not placed there by Satan or random chance.

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    4. Keeping in mind that,

      1. The sign (star) that signalled the Magi was for them and those who were watching

      2. The sign (Bethlehm Star) that marked Christ's nativity was for all to see

      3. The great sign (R12S) is for us to see


      Why?

      The Magi were looking for a sign. They were the watchmen of their day. The Bethlehem Star could not be missed. It was hung in the heavens for all to see. Anyone with eyes on a cloudless night could see it clearly even as it approached.

      But the great sign of Revelation 12 is for us. It was seen by John and recorded that we would know what to watch for. In this case it is a sign hidden in the Sun. The R12S as we call it was not directly visible. It was ONLY visible using software as a whole.

      The fact that the celestial alignment of the week following Saturday, September 23, 2017 was only observable through modern technology is a pretty strong indicator that it is a sign for us.

      John knew about it because God showed it to him. We know about it for the same reason...because God showed it to us. Like the Magi before us, we knew/know what to look for.

      ...and those aren't the only signs left for us to find/see.

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    5. Pastor Rich, Blessings. Location, location, location, i.e. context, context, context. When peeling away the layers of an onion, and the next appears, what do we expect to find? More onion, a layer, spec. And after? The same, and so on. When peeling away the Details Of Christ And His Revelation, Every Layer Will Reveal Christ; Wisdom; Context, amen. 1 Corinthians 14:33 Maranatha!

      Delete
    6. P.S. Sorry, but gotta. I would posit a tweak to your post:

      The Magi awaited the sign for which they watched.

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    8. The Magi awaited a Sign,
      For which they were Watching.
      We’ve Stumbled upon a Sign,
      That Waited for us.

      In this Moment of Wonder,
      Reflect and ponder,
      That This Magi Clockmaker,
      Is He, Whom We Trust.

      Ezekiel 1:16

      --Ji 2019

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  14. Romans 15:4 says that things written aforetime are for our learning. When Pentecost happened an entirely new program began spiritually. All things written in the O.T. up to Pentecost are written for our learning not for doctrine. Failing to understand what parts of the Bible are written to us as modern day Christians has caused great confusion. The O.T. talked about the suffering and the glory of our Lord.
    The glory part was held in abeyance at Pentecost. We have been living in a 2000 yr. parentheses known as the mystery which Paul talks about. Our time period was not known by the O.T. prophets nor was it known by the devil and even Jesus didnt know.
    Im not making up stuff, this is all in the church epistles.
    The book of Revelation is the continuance of the O.T. describing the glory of the Lord at his return and the set-up of the millenial kingdom described by Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and others.

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    1. The "hope" discussed in (Romans 15:4) is that of our salvation (Jesus) to come and in Him and through Him everlasting life. It is to Him, through Him, by Him and for Him that we endure. Biblical instruction is the teaching of this truth and was/is laid-out from the beginning to end of both NT and OT.

      All scripture is given to us for this purpose. It is given that we may follow, learn, teach and realize just how impossible it is for us to keep even the most basic tenant of daily life.

      Don't eat from the tree in the middle of the garden.

      Because of that we are given to books of laws that we can't keep.

      But Jesus can. He did and He does!

      Forever.

      And that is what the whole story is about.

      Jesus.

      ...and that's the part for me!

      : )

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  15. Nonsense...the O.T. isnt written to you 'Pastor'. Are you keeping the law?
    You isolate one word of a scripture and make a teaching of it? Thats exactly why 95% of well meaning Christians remain uninformed.
    A bunch of pompous, religious gobbeldegook. What theological cemetary did you graduate from?

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    1. Really? Am I keeping the law?

      That's the point. Nobody can. That applies to all mankind and is the point of the Book of the Law. Just one more way that the OT was written for you and I.

      Jesus kept the law for us.

      Yes, I isolate one word of a scripture and make a teaching of it. Absolutely when you take into account original languages, meanings, applications, etc. You're darn right I do that. I also teach the overarching themes of the Bible and how it all interconnects.

      One more thing. May I remind you of UNSEALED.ORG commenting policy,

      Quoting,

      "Commenting policy:

      The contributors at Unsealed believe in open and free discourse and in keeping with that belief want to allow readers to comment and share varying and opposing views. However, the nature of freedom is that abusive people take advantage of it to harm others. As Believers we won't turn a blind eye to trolling or abusive behavior. Racist, antisemitic, obscene, spam, or particularly invalidating or goading comments will be deleted without warning and repeated violators will be banned."


      You routinely violate this policy in one form or another. I would ask you to temper your comments accordingly.

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    2. So true, the Old Testament is full of truth about the nature of God, of sinful man, and so much more. There's so much we wouldn't know about these topics if we used scissors to cut out the Old Testament (and apparently most of the New Testament, as a previous commenter seems to believe). The Grace Age church has the whole Bible for a reason, after all.

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    3. Revealing bit of terrible temper in your comment to Pastor Rich. If you are truly grounded in truth then you would be truly grounded in love and we know that love does not respond harshly like this. I suggest you calm down and rethink your position of how your heart is oriented to treating people. Pastor Rich is speaking gently and does so as he instructs. That is the mark of a Holy Spirit led person. Maybe you are stressed and lost your control, but non-the-less once you come to your senses you should repent unless you really don't understand what being the truth is about.

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    4. Umm... Love.... does sometimes respond harshly...

      Love personified : "You brood of vipers! How will you escape the judgement of hell?"
      Love personified : "And he fashioned a whip of cords and drove out the moneychangers, flipping tables."
      Love personified : 'Get behind me Satan!' directly to one of His own desciples...

      If you come into the sheep pen acting like a wolf, you can expect the shepherd to drive you out... and if you won't be driven out, he will probably kill you for the sake of his flock. Pastor Rich is showing his love by giving you a warning instead of outright banning you. I humbly suggest that in the spirit of peace, you consider this...

      Delete

  16. Hello family in Jesus Christ, for those who know the constellations and the celestial signs, (Pastor Rich) can someone tell me what he thinks of this information in the link that I send you please? The link comes from Steve Fletcher222 Thanks in advance! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz-f9IqK5ms Carole

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    1. Hi Carole, I watched Steve's video and dug into his hypothesis. Keep in mind I do not know Steve and I am not a subscriber. I am looking at this with an open mind and digging on his presentation v facts that I can verify.

      At 00:39-sec Steve said, "In the same region of the sky, there are seven planets all together."

      Actually, there are five planets clustered together,

      1. Venus
      2. Saturn
      3. Jupiter
      4. Mercury
      5. Mars

      Are they arrayed like a menorah? Well the king planet (Jupiter) is in the middle of it all but the traditional Hanukkah menorah has nine (9) branches while the Temple menorah has seven (7). Only five (5) planets are visible to the naked eye. (At least mine!)

      Not enough planets for a menorah if counting visible bodies.

      On first glance I'm not in agreement with Steve although I believe we just saw some "contractions" between the annular "ring of fire" eclipse that traversed from Saudi Arabia to Guam (US) and typhoon Phanfone that just tore-up the Philippines yesterday. Scenes of the rising eclipse were really weird.

      Here are links to these stories,

      Universe Today: Our Guide to the December 26th Annular ‘Ring of Fire’ Eclipse

      Death toll rises to 28 and thousands take refuge in Philippines after Christmas Eve typhoon

      If anything, this sign reminds me of (Matthew 2:13-15 ESV). I believe that the Magi arrived in Bethlehem on 12/25/1 BC and that what we today call Christmas was indeed the day that the kings from the east presented their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (If anyone wants the story behind why I believe this just say the word and I'll post on that topic).

      I will look at this more during my devotional time in the AM.



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    2. Thank you Pastor Rich! I appreciate! God bless you! Carole

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    3. Don't watch the stars, watch the country of Israel. Watch for the signing of a covenant.

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    4. Jesus said that when we saw the beginnings of these things to look up... for our redemption draws nigh... We may not see the deal signed depending on what we are doing at the time. People at work don't get to hear news until they go home after all...

      Delete

  17. Please excuse me Pastor Rich for the error in your name which is not in capital letters
    Carole

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  19. One of the reasons I like this site is that we do have the opportunity for commentary.
    I learn a LOT from the articles, but as much from others as well.
    Gary, et al, you KNOW you are a blessing and so very much appreciated.
    But Pastor Rich and other regular commentators have become a part of this site with their posts as well - to them, thank you.
    * * * *
    You know you're on a true Christian site when you PRAY for those with obvious issues, rather than posting an insult - just sayin'

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  21. Gary
    "Israel's 72nd anniversary is this Spring..."
    Ah...Another piece of the puzzle, the spring time feasts' .
    Gregg

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  22. At https://eschatologytoday.blogspot.com/2019/12/global-sitrep-e2-19-harpazo-part-ii.html "Global SITREP E2-19: The Harpazo Part II":

    "Update 25 December 2019: As a reminder, the prophetic times we consider on Eschatology Today are of two distinct calendars. Mixing the two is erroneous and very confusing. In explanation, let's just say that prior to the Harpazo, in our current Romans 11:25 "times of the gentiles" time, time is counted on the 365-day Gregorian calendar. In the post-Harpazo world the Bible is clear (Revelation 11:1-3) that the 360-day Hebrew calendar will be in effect, hence the 2,520 days comprising the 70th week of years, or the two 1,260 days halves (times, time and half a time) delinating the Thlipsis (Tribulation and ministry of the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem at the 3rd Temple) from the Megas Thlipsis (Great Tribulation).

    The difference between the Gregorian and the Hebrew calendar with respect to Psalm 90:10 (i.e. form 70 to 80 years) is 350 to 400 days, or about a full Gregorian calendar year. Since no man can know the day or the hour, doing such mathematical calculations is essentially fruitless - we are already deep within the season. The tangible, physical thing that Eschatology Today watches for, prior to being caught up, is a sudden and drastic change in the current status of the Temple Mount. As can be seen in the linked Scripture above, and as discussed here previously, the 3rd Temple will be standing and in operation on day one of the Two Witnesses ministry. Maybe we'll see this, maybe we won't, time is that short."

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    1. Hi Moin ;

      Can you tell me where it says that the 3rd Temple will be standing prior to the 2 Witnesses ministry ? The 2 Witnesses will minister for 1260 days during the 1st half of the Tribulation. We know that the Temple must be complete prior to the AOD.

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  23. Paul Dawson wrote: What if Kaduri's prophecy actually meant the Gentile Rosh Hashanna.That being New Years Eve?
    Kaduri reportedly wrote in And He Swore to Isaac, a "hidden book" that was recently found in the Kabbalistic school of Nahalat Yitzhak, that "On the eve of the year 5780, the year of corrections, there will not be a government in Israel for an extended period and the various camps will be quarrel much without a decision on either side, and then, on Rosh Hashana itself, they will fight in heaven, the holy side against the side of evil, and G-d and His entourage will decide between them. And this is all I can say, and from here I swore not to reveal more secrets and hidden things."


    For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles come in.
    Rom 11:25

    Since the rapture of the church is primarily for the Gentiles in Christ, why should it happen on a Jewish holiday?

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    1. Can you really trust Kaduri???

      'Blessed is he that is not ashamed of Me'.

      Why did this man tell his followers to reveal it 1 year after his death? If he really met the Messiah, shout it from the rooftops while you're alive. What's the deal with this secrecy and mysticism? Who knows what entities he saw in the night?

      He was a Kabbalist and an alchemist.

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    2. It is not a good idea to follow occultists.

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  24. We are a few days away from entering the decade of the 2nd coming, I feel.

    As for Trumper, it's almost as if the man was put there to get this train moving into the 70th week of Daniel. Several important things happen next year.

    1. Great Britain exiting the European Union
    2. Israel's elections in March
    3. Our election in November
    4. The deal of the century

    Is it possible he will want to present the deal BEFORE November to give him more fuel for his campaign?

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  25. Hey 'Pastor' you didnt address one thing that I commented on except for one word of scripture. Hope. I invite you all to think about what I wrote prior to 'Pastor' riches weak rebuttal to to the fact that the entire bible is in fact not written to us. We live in the age of the sacred secret. The Apostle Paul called it the mystery. If you all think im full of it. Open your bible and get concordance and prove me wrong. As far as loosing my temper, your damn right im pissed off. Im angry at how successful the enemy has been at distorting the truth. And before you chastise me for cursing. The word piss is in the O.T.





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    1. Even if you feel parts of the Bible aren't addressed directly to you... if you accept Paul's writings, he told us to study... That means all of it and then some probably... If Paul was raised from the dead today, with the gift of tongues to understand us all, would he recognize his own doctrines?

      Even if we are not under the law, there are some great expressions for how to love others in the Old Testament, and many were mentioned by Paul and other apostles. A lot of the cleanliness statutes make scientific sense now that we're able to see the microscopic world...

      Love one another. I think this is all we are really being asked to do. Just treat others as we want to be treated. This means what Jesus said... Be merciful to receive mercy. None of us know it all, so I am forgiving to those who don't seem to know what I know. Often I find they know something I don't and we both learn from the exchange.

      Personally, I can't wait for the Lord Jesus' return so He can give us all a proper education. I feel like we have so much wrong... and that is why I believe He made the comment, 'When the Son of man returns, will He find faith in the world?' I think Paul said it as well, 'A form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof...'

      We all need help... We all need Jesus... Even so, come Lord Jesus...

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    2. THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

      I like to boil things down to basic components. When it comes to scripture I especially like to go with the words of Jesus. Jesus' words come directly from the Father so I/we have no need to look for a higher authority.

      We all know the story of the Greatest Commandment,

      37 Jesus said to them,
      "'You shall love the LORD
      your God with all your heart,
      with all your soul, and with
      all your mind.'"

      (Matthew 22:37 NKJV)


      Jesus points the Pharisees to the Book of the Law (Torah/Bible),

      5 "You shall love the LORD your
      God with all your heart, with all
      your soul, and with all your
      strength."

      (Deuteronomy 5:6 NKJV)


      The Torah (Bible) commands the People of Israel to inscribe words of the Torah upon their doors in (Deuteronomy 6 and 11). One way this is expressed is in fixing a mezuzah on your doorpost. Each mezuzah has a parchment scroll encapsulated within and written on it,

      4 Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the
      LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your
      God with all your heart and with all your
      soul and with all your might. 6 Take to
      heart these instructions with which I charge
      you this day. Impress them upon your children.
      Recite them when you stay at home and when
      you are away, when you lie down and when you
      get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and
      let them serve as a symbol on your forehead;
      inscribe them on the doorposts of your house
      and on your gates.

      (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 TNK)


      That's what is Biblically commanded by God to Israel through Moses. The mezuzah is a very Jewish tradition which extends to the Talmud.

      This is what Jesus is quoting and it is given to a very Jewish audience. Jesus continues his answer to the Pharisees,

      38 "This is the first and great
      commandment."

      39 "And the second is like it:
      'You shall love your neighbor
      as yourself.'

      40 "On these two commandments
      hang all the Law and the
      Prophets."

      (Matthew 22:38-40 NKJV)


      Jesus just said something HUGE, "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Meaning, this is the MOST important thing. Miss this, you miss the whole point.

      Okay, now turn your Bible to (Galatians 5:14),

      14 For all the law is fulfilled in
      one word, even in this: "You shall
      love your neighbor as yourself."

      (Galatians 5:14 NKJV)

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    3. THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT (Continued)

      Now correct me if I'm wrong but Paul a ROMAN CITIZEN, a JEW and a PHARISEE who was a teacher of the Book of the Law to Israel turned Christian, now quotes JESUS who quotes GOD from the Book of the Law (Torah). Paul restates Christ's answer to the Pharisee lawyer which is in itself a quote taken directly from Deuteronomy.

      "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

      Where did they get it from?

      18 You shall not take vengeance
      or bear a grudge against your
      countrymen. Love your fellow
      as yourself: I am the LORD.

      (Leviticus 19:18 TNK)


      If you want that from the King James,

      18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear
      any grudge against the children of
      thy people, but thou shalt love thy
      neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

      (Leviticus 19:18 KJV)


      So, if only Romans through 2 Thessalonians is written to "us" as you say Anon, why is it that Paul quotes Jesus, quoting Moses, quoting God's commandment which is given as all the Law and the Prophets? A commandment given to all Israel to observe via the mezuzah?

      There is a straight line to Torah from Paul to the Father and it goes through Christ Jesus. The Father's command to Israel includes us today regarding putting Him first. Jesus ties this command with that given by God in Leviticus which Paul reiterates as well. Does it mean we have to put a mezuzah at our door? No, but I do! Why? Because I love the LORD and this is one way I express it. Remember faith, hope and love? Which is greater?

      Paul knew the Law better than most men on earth at that point in his ministry and points us right back to the Book of the Law for how we are to treat one another.

      Hint! Hint!!

      We are given this commandment in the OT and the NT. It is a statue given to the children of Israel and to the Church by Christ Himself through no less than Luke (Gentile), Matthew (Jew) and Paul (Roman). Should it shock us that such a thing be meant for BOTH Jews and Gentiles? Not at all!

      Paul records in his letter to the Romans,

      12 For there is no distinction
      between Jew and Greek, for the
      same Lord over all is rich to all
      who call upon Him.

      13 For "whoever calls on the
      name of the LORD shall be saved."

      (Romans 10:12-13 NKJV)


      ...and WHERE DID PAUL GET THAT FROM?


      32 "And it shall come to pass
      that whoever calls on the name
      of the LORD shall be saved."

      (Joel 2:32 NKJV)

      Delete
    4. Footnote: Please forgive any/all typos. It's way past my bedtime and it's been a long-long day.

      "(Deuteronomy 5:6 NKJV)" above should be "(Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJV)"

      Delete
  26. Pastor Rich,

    Thank you so much for your wise words related to the Word and your insights into how things are converging towards the end of the Age of Grace.

    I have been saddened by how much evil happens in the world, but more so this last week of 2019. It's not been an easy year socially as many more shootings, acts of violence, and corruption have taken place (just look at the 8+ attacks on Jews in NYC and the surrounding suburbs this Hanukkah season). Like others on this site, I've been eagerly anticipating the Rapture and the Second Coming to close out the suffering in this world.

    Over the years, I've heard people give opinions on end times matters here and there, but nothing serious. This year, however, I have learned more than I ever thought I would about it all:

    The length of a biblical generation, as told by Psalm 90:10 (70-80 years)
    How the length of that generation related to the potential timing of the 7-year tribulation and second coming (israel reborn in 1948, therefore 2028 being the latest time in this scenario -7 years = 2021 as an upper reach for the rapture)
    The significance of the revelation 12 sign and what that potentially means
    The eclipses across the US (8/21/17 and the future one on 4/8/24)
    Trump's role in prophecy and his friendship and support with Israel
    Israel's 2 failed elections thus far and a third one happening in march
    The jewish calendar and holidays, and how the feasts play a role in prophecy, with the last three feasts possibly signaling when the RR & Second Coming may occur
    The approximate creation of earth (between 3,972- 3,967 BC), the 7,000 year theory (6,000 of human rule + 1,000 years of christ's millennial kingdom), and the approximate 2,000 year time periods (2K from Adam to Abraham, 2K from Abraham to Christ, 2K from Christ to the end of the Age of Grace)
    The 490 - 7 = 483 years of Daniel's Seventy Weeks, and when that took place (approx 445 bc - 32/33 ad, when jesus entered jerusalem)
    The Deal of the Century and whether that's the peace treaty with israel to be strengthened by the antichrist, plus the 3rd temple and how that plays into the last 7 years,
    Brexit....
    All the birth pangs and the insane weather and earth changes happenings

    I could go on, but as you can see, I've studied up a lot on this, and Unsealed has played a part in that.

    While I am eagerly awaiting being with the Lord forever and ever, I can't help but have my doubts about whether any of the things I mentioned about really point to anything. The way my mind works, it all makes perfect sense how those numbers and dates may signal a very imminent return of Christ. However, for all the people who are awaiting the end of this again to happen in the next decade (the 2020s), and I am sure hoping for that as well, there are plenty of other Christians I've talked with who say none of this should be interpreted at all, or they say we'll be here for the tribulation, or the return of Christ can't happen in our lifetime (I'm a millennial between the ages of 25-35, and I have been told to enjoy the 50-60 years of my life because I'll still be here that long), I get discouraged thinking it was all for naught and we've misinterpreted all of this.

    Any encouragement you can provide, maybe even additional links to study, would be greatly appreciated. I'm really encouraged but discouraged all at the same time, if that makes sense.

    And thank you again for all you've shared with us and your encouragement. Have a very happy new year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You speak of a familiar path! One I've been living on as well.

      We're all in the same boat and I face the same criticism and descenting opinions even from brothers and sisters in Christ. That's okay.

      The LORD Himself is our greatest source of encouragement and your time in the word and with Him in prayer are the single best way to engage your faith when alone. We also have the fellowship of the saints. (What we are doing here at UNSEALED.ORG) This is another indispensable source of encouragement. A church body that speaks to us, small groups, missional communities, missions, ministries all help connect us in meaningful ways that encourage and strengthen our faith. Consider that love in action.

      I think it is good to share ideas and test what we know. Our constant asking of questions and pressing the Bible for truths not only strengthen our faith but prove again the veracity of Scripture.

      Being a father of three sons here on earth I cannot help but see the RR as waiting out a birth. We know the child is coming but when? It's hard to tell false labour from the real thing. How will we know? If we are given time to prepare we may know, but if not? The child comes suddenly when you're not expecting it.

      Awaiting death is much the same. What may look like a final breath is followed by a long silence only to be broken by another laboured breath. In any case, we can see the season but lack certainty to the moment to come.

      I think that is the way it will be for us. We will continue to see the signs and know seasons to be watchful -- but when the moment comes it will be in the twinkling of an eye. So fast as a matter of fact, we may barely be aware of what's happening as we turn to look and realize we are not as we once were.

      We will have been changed. Forever.

      No matter when the RR happens, we are given a promise -- the Holy Spirit. We are not alone and will never be alone whether we pray in solitude or in small groups or during worship.

      We are the Body of Christ -- our eternity began the day we said, "Yes!" In a very real sense of the word, we are already in His presence. Time is the path we walk along the way to the place we call Home.

      Blessings to you and yours in 2020 and beyond,


      PR

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
  27. Thank you for sharing those! Encouraging indeed!

    ReplyDelete


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