Posts Tagged ‘ Prophecy ’
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100:5, ESV
God did not need us.
But He created us, even knowing how we would treat Him.
But He told us in the Garden of Eden that He had a plan to save us, and one day He will make all things new.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5 ESV
Christian believer: we are not all called to be Prophets, as Jeremiah, but God set up from eternity that we should go to the world and declare the Gospel for our Great Prophet and saving Lord Jesus.
Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord .
Zechariah 2:10, ESV
Heaven is not some ethereal place where we will live forever.
Christ shall establish His Kingdom on the new Earth, and we will live with God and He with us in this renewed world!
Find the wisdom that never changes with the thoughts on Proverbs found at Proverbial Thought!
So, almost three and a half years ago I wrote about Global Warming, and the aspect of God’s wrath being poured out on sinful humanity toward the end of the world.
This post is looking at things from a slightly different perspective.
Recently, the International Panel on Climate Change released their updated report on the state of the climate. The US and France were quick to lead the charge on the importance of acting on this information and fighting global warming quickly.
The main argument is that humans are the main culprit for catastrophic global climate change.
And, at least to a point, I agree:
As I alluded to about three and a half years ago, it all started with a simple act by humans:
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Genesis 3:6, NIVAnswersInGenesis.org, 2003, As shown in A is for Adam (one of the best children’s books on Genesis)
The only thing Adam (and through him, Eve) was told not to do was eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (2:17).
The Bible goes on to tell us that the perfect climate and fertile ground would become more hostile and unwieldy.
We messed it all up, and each of us is responsible for our sin. This is why we will see God’s wrath poured out (as mentioned in my previous post).
However, we also read these words from Paul:
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned . . . For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
Romans 5:12, 17
And this points to the end:
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Revelation 21:1-8
Tune in to the voice of Wisdom at Proverbial Thought!
I was sitting in my preaching class this past week, and the conversation started tracking a certain way. It got me to thinking about something.
I love that song!
Have you had conversations about some of your favorite songs? I am sure you have.
Perhaps sometimes you start trying to sing a song but you cannot remember either the tune, the words, or both. You desperately want someone to tell you the name of that song!
How would you feel if someone simply told you the track number of that song? Would you find that helpful?
Usually, we do not refer to songs by their number (with exceptions for music like “Piano Concerto Number Five” or “No. 9” … extra points if you can give me names to go with those!) Occasionally we may know when someone says “Oh, that was track four of that album.”
Typically, the response we get (and want) is the title of the song. We may even find the lyrics rushing to our mind at the mention of the title.
We are often okay with the recitation of the first line of the song or the chorus.
My God, My God
The funny thing is, we have become so accustomed to labeling things in the Bible by number that is almost all we know anything by anymore.
Perhaps if we read the Bible as much as we really should, we would recognize references in the New Testament to passages in the Old Testament.
For example, when Jesus was hanging on the cross, it would have been much easier on all of us who were not raised Jewish if He had said “Go look up Psalm 22.”
Instead, He did what many of us would do when we are in some situation: He quoted lyrics.
Think about: how many times have you been doing something and song lyrics popped into your head that seemed to fit the situation?
Now imagine you are the Son of God, and you want people to understand something about you?
When Jesus said, “My God, My God, why have your forsaken me?” He was not suggesting that the Father had abandoned the Son. He was saying, “Hurry, someone read Psalm 22!”
Read it:
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me.
15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.16 Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver me from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.22 I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord
and he rules over the nations.29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!
Did you notice that all of the bolded sections describe the crucifixion, and this Psalm declares the greatness of God and His salvation.
This not only shows how Jesus fulfilled prophecy and the Law, but it shows the importance of the Old Testament.
We may not always refer to things as has always been done, but we are not too different from those in the past.
We may use numbers to refer to ancient songs, but we are better prepared to understand the connection between them and the gospel message.
Now, join me in Track 119, a psalm of praise to God for His Word!
Once again, I remind you to get some wisdom from those inspired by God’s wisdom over at Proverbial Thought.
There was a man who was called by God to speak out against the wrongs and injustices in his nation.
He spoke out against the nation turning away from God to follow its own lusts. He spoke out against the rising violence. He spoke out against the rise in crime. He spoke out against the rise of disrespect for parents. He spoke out against the lies of the government leaders as well as the religious leaders. He spoke out against the partnership of those leaders with different religions and hostile governments.
While this could be someone from any moment in the past fifty years in pretty much any part of the world, you probably already guessed that this person is in the Bible.
The First Adulterous Wife
Hosea was told by God to take a wife who was little more than a prostitute. Even though Hosea and Gomer had three children together – a son, a daughter, and another son – Gomer began to live and sleep with another man.
When things began to go badly for Gomer and she found herself on the auction block as a slave, God told Hosea “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.” (Hosea 3:1) Hosea essentially paid his entire savings to buy his adulterous wife from prostitution and slavery.
The message was and is clear: Just like Gomer, Israel had sinned by turning from God to the false gods of other nations. They neglected their relationship with God, they neglected their children and parents, and they neglected common decency.
God’s punishment for these sins was exile. But God loves His people.
He brought the nation, at that time divided in two, back to the Promised Land as a united people.
Beyond that, and this is where the Christian Church comes in, God sent His own Son as payment for the sins of not only Israel but of the whole world! In essence, God sacrificed Himself in payment for the sin we are all guilty of committing: worshiping anything other than God!
Another Adulterous Wife
If only those who believe the truth of God sending Jesus Christ to die for our sins never strayed!
If you look around our world today, especially within the Western World of Europe and North America, there is much corruption.
Leave governments out of this. Except for the mini-nation of Vatican City, national governments are not of God. He may have established the governments of the world for this time (Romans 13:1), but they do not govern the matters of God. They govern the matters of people. (Regardless of what most of the world and the Conservative Right say of the United States of America, it is not a Christian nation.)
Read the newspapers and watch the news on TV. Hardly a week goes by without hearing of some sex scandal, controversy, or fraud from some church or denomination. Many congregations, leaders, and denominations choose to work more with governments and other religions than with other congregations, leaders, and denominations. Many compromise their beliefs to appease the masses, the government, other religions, or simply passing fads or ideas.
Looking around today seems to show a Church which has left its Groom (Christ) to have relations with those who do not believe in or even mock the God of the Universe.
God’s Love
Even with all of the sins the people within the Church of our Lord continue to commit, He still loves her.
His Bride continues to allow many sins to be committed in His name, but I think there are good reasons He has not brought the same judgment on the Church as He did on Israel.
For starters, His faithful are still loving the least of these and showing God’s love.
Among those who rob God are those who give more than their fair share.
Among those who compromise their bodies are those who remain chaste and pure.
Among those who compromise their beliefs are those who remain steadfast in faith.
Secondly, God holds back His wrath because of His promises.
He has promised that His wrath was poured out on His Son.
He has promised that His wrath is not for His faithful.
He has promised that He will wait until He separates His faithful from the world.
Lastly, God holds back His wrath because of His love.
If God is not willing that anyone should perish (2 Peter 3:9), would He not give us time to repent, to choose His love in our hearts?
Hear the Truth and Turn
We each, in our own time, sin against God, yet He so desires to be with us that He died on a cross for our forgiveness and waits to destroy the world until His proper time.
As Peter said:
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
2 Peter 3:10-15
Let us not worry about the sins going on around us in the name of the Lord. Instead, let us focus on our own relationship with God. In the process, God working in our lives will either cause guilt leading to repentance or guilt leading to further sin.
In any event, we are to remain pure to God to the glory of God.
I consider this work a work in progress.
It can be considered a Christmas poem. It can be considered a piece on the Gospel. It can be considered a prophetic word.
In any event, it fits this week leading into Christmas, and it is a good reminder after the events in Connecticut and around the world this past week.
A couple of weeks ago, I shared some thoughts on the two people, Simeon and Anna the Prophetess, who were waiting for the Messiah and saw Him in their old age. My thoughts concluded (indeed, centered around) expecting the soon return of the Messiah Jesus.
The entire reason for Jesus Coming to Earth was to save us from our sins and bring us into a right relationship with God. His return will be to finish the entire process, by bringing the physical up to speed with the spiritual, and bringing about ultimate peace on Earth for ever and ever.
It was easy for Jesus’ followers to forget His promise of coming back to life, and their new-found hope was a very pleasant surprise later at the resurrection of Jesus.
Because of His resurrection, we are able to give all of our troubles to Him, and we must remind ourselves of His soon return.
Now, see if you can find where I share each of these in this poem:
Seeing Salvation
They waited for years,
worshiping God daily in prayer.
God ever feeling more near,
as they awaited His Answer.As their twilight years waned,
dutifully keeping their stations,
in came a couple with a babe.
They knew they were seeing Salvation. (Luke 2:21-38)They walked with Him for years,
gladly hearing what He taught.
Now they only had tears,
with their Lord dying on a cross.As their hope began to wane,
the women came with a proclamation.
The Lord was alive again!
Their faith was restored at seeing Salvation. (Matthew 28:1-10, Luke 24:1-12)We live for many years,
wandering all over this earth.
We have troubles and fears,
wondering if we have any worth.As our strength begins to wane,
there is hope in each situation.
We must turn to the Lamb who was slain.
Our souls are renewed in seeing Salvation.There are not too many years,
this world will soon be decimated.
For God-lovers are jeered,
while sin and pride are celebrated.After His long-suffering has waned,
His wrath will pour out on the nations.
Yet we will be reborn in His Name,
when we finally are seeing Salvation. (Revelation)
We must remember that all people are seeking redemption.
Some seek it and must wait.
Some are swept up and almost miss it.
Some find it out of their pain.
All people one day will see the Redeemer bringing redemption to all of Creation.
At Christmas, we must remember that God loved us enough to save. He came to us, born as a baby. He lived a perfect life, and died as the only acceptable sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. He seeks us out, and will one glorious day return to claim His redeemed and redeem all of Creation.
That is the true promise of Christmas. Peace on Earth will only come at the final consummation. When we pray for peace on Earth, we are asking for Jesus to come and save us all, people and Creation!
Perhaps you remember five months ago all of the hype over Harold Camping and the impending rapture he calculated from the evidence in the Bible would occur on May 21. I made some comments on the whole affair here, here (tongue-in-cheek) and here.
Well, this week brings about part two of his prediction. You see, Harold explained that on May 21st God’s work of salvation came to an end, that the Holy Spirit was pulled from world (except believers, of course). No one else can be saved (be led to Christ). Instead, the final rapture in which the Elect (those who are saved) are taken up to meet Christ is the air takes place at the exact same time as the final judgement and destruction of Creation. This is all to happen …
This Friday, October 21st (2011, if you are confused on which “this Friday” I mean).
I have covered this topic before, as referenced above.
You know, if he is right about this date, amillenniallists have it all right (except the date. That is Harold Camping). On the other hand, if Harold has been right all along, then premillennialists are more right. I personally do not think postmillennialism has any basis in truth at all, but I will be friends with you even if you do think it has any basis in truth at all.
After that little rabbit-trail …
Can I get any comments? What do you think: Is the world coming to an end this weekend, or do we have more time? Or are we possibly disappearing before Friday?
Or do you think God has a rather hilarious sense of humor and will use this Friday to end everything as we know it to really shock Harry Camping … and everyone else?
I do not really mean one hundred percent right (and do you find it the least bit ironic I am using the word “right” with someone on the political left? I kind of did!), but what if his basic premise – the Earth is warming and humanity is largely responsible – is correct?
Two things spurred this question: 1) David Jeremiah‘s daily broadcasted sermons have been covering Matthew 24-25 and talking about the End Times, and 2) Mark over at 3-Fold-Cord asked if Billy Joel was right.
So, think about it: for those of us who hold to the teaching that Adam and Eve’s sin is what brought about pain, chaos, and death, this would make sense. Read Revelation 8:7:
The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
Revelation is all about God’s wrath for our sin. Therefore we can say we caused Global Warming … or Climate Change or whatever it is being called today. The Bible tells us things will get quite warm here.
I kept today’s post short and sweet. What do you think? Are we truly responsible for our planet warming? Does this mean there is literally nothing we can do to change the course?
The movie The Adjustment Bureau taps into a Secular Theology understanding of eschatology. The basic premise is that God has been controlling history all along, but eventually we will get to a point where we are able to stand on our own and make our own informed decisions. Essentially, God works Himself out of His job.
First of all, that does not really jibe biblically.
Some may disagree that it speaks to the End Times before Christ returns, but many agree that Matthew 24 speaks about that time in which our Lord says,
“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24:22, NIV)
There are several passages that speak to the end like this.
My question today is this:
Could He indeed be giving humanity more control of their destiny?
Now, before you jump straight into declaring me a heretic or blasphemer, consider some points of interest.
God is not giving up control, He is merely allowing us to make more of our own decisions in how history unfolds.
God is not making the bad things we do to ourselves and our planet happen, rather He does not intervene as much as He may have in the past. In The Adjustment Bureau, one of the “angels” says the last time “The Boss” allowed humanity to control their destiny was in 1914, and we nearly annihilated ourselves with World War I. He sent His people back in to help us. Instead of saying “World War I was God giving us more control and we failed,” perhaps there is truth that He did give us more control over events. He did step in to keep us from annihilating ourselves.
However, God intervenes to make sure we do not annihilate ourselves before all of His plans have been fulfilled. He allows us to have some control so that we gradually prove His truth that we cannot function (properly) without Him. He allows us control, in other words, to speed along His return. The more control we have, the worse things get over all. After things get so bad that mankind’s “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” He will step in finally. Christ will return to set up His Kingdom once and for all. (We can debate whether or not there is a literal millennium later)
What do you think? Is God allowing us more freedom in our choices to usher in the End? Am I being heretical? Or does this idea help explain why it seems things are truly getting worse in our world in spite of all our advances in technology, medicine, and knowledge?
a simple man of God 