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February
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Monday, February 29, 2016
John 21:25
And there are also many
other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written
every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the
books that should be written. Amen.
For further study - John 21:12-25
To me this is an exciting passage of scripture for a number of reasons. The time is after the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the location is the shores of the Sea of Galilee, which is one of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Israel.
The disciples had been out fishing, verses 3-11,
while the risen Saviour, Jesus Christ was on the shore actually
cooking, preparing a meal for His disciples. I love His invitation to
the disciples, "Come and dine", verse 12.
The opportunity to sit and have a meal with Jesus, the Messiah, would be
such a blessing. One day we will join Him at the "Marriage Supper of
the Lamb", what a day that will be for all of us who love Him.
There is a very interesting conversation that goes on between Jesus and
Peter that gives us instructions for our own lives, if we appropriate
this exhortation found in verses 15-17.
As we eavesdrop on the conversation we hear Jesus ask Peter three times
if he, as a disciple of Christ, really loved Him. Each time Peter
responded with, "Thou knowest I love thee".
The Lord's response to Peter was then for Him to "feed, My lambs", the
ones that Jesus had given salvation. The exhortation from Jesus is, "If
you love me, go work with those I have given eternal life". And as was
the case with Peter, we will help them grow in their relationship with
the Lord.
Another very interesting passage is the next part of the Lord's conversation with Peter, verses 18-24. In essence, Jesus says to Peter, that His trusted disciple, verse 18, would get old before he died.
Maybe at first glance you don't notice anything about this statement;
however, as I thought about the fact that Jesus told Peter he would get
old before he died meant that the Rapture could not have happened until
after Peter's death.
A study of Acts reveals that Peter, along with the other disciples,
believed that Jesus might come back to earth, after His ascension, at
any moment. The truth be known, Jesus could not Rapture Peter out of
this world, he was to die in old age.
What's exciting is that Peter worked as if the Lord could come at any
moment and He went out with the other disciples and turned the world
"upside down", Acts 17:6.
The personal application for us is that today, Jesus could call us at
"any moment" to join Him in the air at the Rapture of the Church. We
must follow Peter's example and go out and turn the world "right side
up," it's already "upside down".
One more thought before we leave this passage, look at verse 25. All that Jesus did was not recorded for us to read in this book or any other book, only what He knew we needed to know.
The reason it was not written was that there is not a library, or even
the world, that could contain all the books that should have been
written about Jesus Christ. What a life Jesus lived.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help
me Lord to be faithful to read Your Word so I can "feed Your lambs" as I
also feed myself and await Your shout to join You in the air.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
John 17:24
Father, I will that
they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may
behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before
the foundation of the world.
For further study - John 17:1-26
Today's portion of scripture from the Gospel of John is the record of the "Lord's Prayer". But you may say, I thought the prayer, "Our Father which art in heaven", Matthew 6:9-13, was the "Lord's Prayer".
Actually the Matthew passage is the "Disciple's Prayer," the prayer that
Jesus taught His disciples to pray. It's the model prayer for all of
our prayers.
The extended reading for our devotional today, John 17,
is the "Lord's Prayer". It is the prayer that Jesus made to the Father
on His way to the Garden of Gethsemane, right after the "Last Supper",
the evening before Jesus would be crucified in Jerusalem the next
afternoon.
It is a prayer worth reading over and over again. There are so many
Biblical truths that we can glean from these twenty-six verses. As is
the case always, I can only point out a few of these blessed truths or
principles that we can, and must, appropriate for ourselves.
Verses 1-3 tell
us that Jesus is the "way", the only way to "life eternal", the One
that God the Father sent to give us this "life eternal".
On the evening just before He would be crucified, the next day, Jesus
told the Father that He, the Son, had come to the point of the "finished
work," He had been sent to do in this world, verse 4.
We also get a glimpse of the Lord's "intercessory ministry" as He prays
to God for those of us who are His children, through salvation, verses 6-10.
The prayers of Jesus, to His Father, were for the Father to "keep us",
in the world. This is a world we will live in until He calls us up to be
with Him at the Rapture, or we die and go to be with Him, verses 11-12.
We are reminded that though "we are still in this world, we are not of this world", verses 15-16. The Lord's Prayer for us is that we be kept from evil, verse 15. Verse 17 tells us how we can be "set apart", sanctified, in this word through His Word which is truth.
We see that as the Father sent Jesus into this world on a mission, we
are also sent, by Jesus, into the world on a mission. I love verse 24. The Lord's Prayer to the Father is that those of us who are saved will be with Jesus, where He is, at this time.
This is a prayer that will be answered at the Rapture of the Church when
we who are Christians will be caught up to be with Him in answer to the
Lord's Prayer. I don't know about you but I can hardly wait for that to
happen.
The Rapture could happen today, the Lord's Prayers could be answered today. Keep looking up, it could well be today.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank
you Lord for Your prayers on my behalf and for Your intercessory
ministry today. I await the day that Your prayer for me to be where You
are will be answered as well, maybe today.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
John 16:13
Howbeit when he, the
Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall
not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he
speak: and he will shew you things to come.
For further study - John 16:1-15
Today I have chosen a very practical portion of scripture for our devotional reading, a passage that is practical and prophetic.
John 16 takes place at the end of the "Passover Seder" that Jesus and His disciples were observing the night before Jesus would be crucified the next afternoon at 3:00pm on the day of "Passover".
Jesus was still teaching His disciples at the meal before His arrest,
followed by the night of beating and Crucifixion the next day. He was
also trying to comfort and encourage His disciples, these men who had
traveled with Jesus for the last 3 1/2 years leading up to "Passion
Week". These men were very anxious not knowing what would happen to
them.
Jesus had told them that He was going to be crucified. For the last six
months before the Lord's death the disciples were aware of what would
happen to Jesus but fearful of what might befall them.
Jesus told them that it was actually expedient that He must die, "go away," verse 7,
because if He did not depart the earth the "Comforter" would not come
to them. Using the term "Comforter", Jesus was referring to the third
person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit, verse 8, would "reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment". Verses 12-14 give
us much insight into the ministry of the Holy Spirit, which is somewhat
different than what the world thinks that ministry is today.
Jesus said that He must depart so that then the Holy Spirit would be
able to come. Don't misunderstand, the Holy Spirit is "omnipresent", He
is always present, but the Lord was referring to the new, unique
ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 13 says
that the Holy Spirit "shall not speak of Himself ". Any activity that
would attract attention to the Holy Spirit is not of God, according to
Jesus. Verse 14 says that the Holy Spirit's ministry is to glorify Jesus, "He should glorify Me".
No one should ever praise the Holy Spirit for what He, the Holy Spirit,
has done. The Holy Spirit should not speak of Himself but only "glorify
Jesus". There is another ministry for the Holy Spirit according to
Jesus. Jesus said, verse 12 that "He had many things to tell us but we may not be able to bare them".
Therefore, Jesus must go so He can send the Holy Spirit to "guide us into all truth", verse 13, and "to show us things to come".
I often tell those who hear me preach and say that I have given them so
much information they don't know if they can assimilate it into their
brain, I tell them that it's in their brain, having entered through
their "ear gate" by listening to me, and that the Holy Spirit will teach
them the prophetic truths of God's Word.
What a blessed thing that Jesus did for us, not only His death, burial
and resurrection that gives us eternal life, but His sending of the Holy
Spirit to teach us "things to come".
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank
you Jesus for sending us the Holy Spirit to teach us things to come.
Allow the knowledge of these prophetic truths to help us live our lives
as we await Your soon return.
Friday, February 26, 2016
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you,
my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let
not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
For further study - John 14:1-31
As I was selecting the passage for our devotional reading today, I looked at John 14 and realized it was all so good, I decided to use the entire chapter for our extended reading.
There is such great truth in the whole chapter. In this devotional I'll
share several highlights and I am sure you could add other great
highlights, if you were writing the devotional.
Notice that our key verse and the first verse of John 14 both
have the phrase, "Let not your heart be troubled". As you read these
two verses you must remember the circumstances surrounding this chapter.
Jesus was with His disciples in an "upper room" and had been celebrating
the "Passover Seder", the time when the Jews annually rehearse the
story of the Exodus and would have a meal similar to the one their
forefathers would have had on the first Passover Seder.
It was the meal of lamb, the "Passover Lamb", and "unleavened bread",
along with "bitter herbs" the three ingredients called for in scripture.
These foodstuffs were to remind the Jewish people of what took place
some 1,500 years before that night recorded in John 14.
The next afternoon Jesus Christ would be crucified on Passover at 3:00
PM, in the last part of the Jewish day, which concluded at sundown. The
disciples must have been having anxiety attacks not knowing what would,
or could happen to them when Jesus was crucified.
The Lord comforts them with His words, "Let not your heart be troubled".
Our key verse adds, "neither let it be afraid". This is, as well, the
Lord's words of comfort for us even today when we face troublesome
times.
The Lord also told them that when He went away, the Father would send the "Comforter", the Holy Spirit, verses 16 & 26.
Jesus said the "Comforter" would not only comfort them but also teach
them all things and bring all things to their remembrance that He had
taught them.
This is another very practical promise for us today. The Lord began His
comforting exhortation with the promise that He was going into the
heavenlies to prepare a place for those of us who are a "prepared
people", believers in Christ, Christians.
This promise also contained the promise of His coming back to get them,
and us, and then to go with Him to that "prepared place". By the way,
this passage is not talking about the Second Coming but instead it's the
first mention of the Rapture.
At the Second Coming we return to Earth with Jesus, riding white horses, Revelation 19 & Zechariah 14, to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. This passage says, "I will come again and receive you unto Myself", verse 3.
The passage is not describing the Second Coming, but is describing the
Rapture, the time when we respond to His shout to enter the heavenlies
to be with Him forevermore.
Remember, the disciples were very anxious that night, this new truth
must have gone right over their heads. It would be around twenty-five
years later before the Apostle Paul would make it very clear about the
Rapture, I Thessalonians 4:13-18.
This is the first mention of the Rapture in scripture, and our Lord made
the promise that it would happen, thus it will happen. The truth is
that the Rapture could happen at any moment. There is not one prophecy
that must be fulfilled before the Rapture. All prophecies remaining to
be fulfilled happen after the rapture.
Keep looking up... It could be today.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank
you Lord for the promise of the rapture, help me to be prepared, pure
and productive until I hear Your shout to join You in the heavenlies.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
John 13:19
Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
For further study - John 13:1-20
John records the account of the "Passover Seder" that took place the evening before Christ would be crucified the next afternoon. The "Passover Seder" was an annual event, a Jewish feast day, that the Lord gave to the Jewish people.
In fact, it was the first of the seven Jewish feast days as recorded in Leviticus 23.
The Passover was to be celebrated on an annual basis from the time of
the very first Passover that took place the night of the "Exodus".
Exodus 12 records
the first Passover and in that chapter the Lord tells, commands, the
Jews to rehearse the story of the "Exodus" and to have the "Passover
Seder" meal with the family every year, Exodus 12:14.
In this account of the "Passover Seder" the writer, John the Apostle,
records the Lord washing the feet of the disciples. The Lord came to the
Apostle Peter to wash His feet and Peter objected, verses 6-8.
There is a very interesting phrase used by Peter, verse 8.
Peter tells the Lord that He, "shall never wash his feet". In essence
Peter was saying, "not so Lord" which Peter would do three times in his
life, Matthew 16:22, in this passage and when told to go to the Gentiles with the gospel message, Acts 10:14.
Peter said to the Lord three times, "Not so Lord". You know it is
impossible to use that phrase, "Not so Lord". If indeed Jesus Christ is
"Lord", you cannot say, "Not so". If you say, "Not so", then Jesus is
not Lord.
Jesus was demonstrating to His disciples, who He had been training for
three years, how to be humble and to lead, as a "servant". The best kind
of leader in the world and in the church is one who leads by serving.
This passage describes a very special evening that would remind those
Jewish disciples at the table of the time of the Passover, that very
first Passover almost 1,500 years before the meal Jesus had with His
disciples that night.
The lamb that they ate at the meal represented the "Passover lamb" whose
blood had been used to paint the "doorpost" of the homes in Egypt on
the night of the first "Passover".
The next afternoon, about eighteen hours later, Jesus would become our
"Passover lamb" when He would be sacrificed to provide for our
salvation.
Please note one more item in this passage, verse 19.
The Lord Jesus Christ tells His very worried disciples that He was
telling them what was going to happen before it happened, so that when
it did come to pass they would know, and believe, that He was who He
said He was and would, and could do what He said He would do, as well.
This is the "essence of prophecy", we can rest assured that He is the
Messiah because He has given us prophetic truth, and in fact, laid out a
scenario of what will happen in the future. In current events we can
see the "stage being set" for these prophecies to be fulfilled.
That's what Bible prophecy does, it gives us the evidence that He is the
One who does what He says He can do, and will do, according to His
prophetic Word. That also gives us assurance, a blessed assurance, of
the reality of an all mighty, powerful, prophecy-fulfilling holy God.
Therefore, we should everyday be looking for Him to call us up into the
heavenlies to be with Him forever more at the Rapture, which could
happen today. Keep looking up.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank
you Lord for being who You said You are and doing what You said You
would do. And we look forward to the future and Your promises to be
fulfilled, as well.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
John 2:11
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
For further study - John 2:1-12
The portion for our reading today is the record of the very first miracle that Jesus Christ did during His three and a half years of ministry. He healed the lame, restored sight to the blind, cast demons out of people, and even raised the dead. However, the first miracle was the making of wine out of water for the wedding guests at a wedding that He and His disciples were attending.
There is much I want to share with you from this passage of Scripture. Notice the comment in John 2:1 that on the "third day of the wedding" Jesus came with His disciples to a gathering that His mother was attending. It is referring to the "7-day feast" that follows the marriage ceremony of a Jewish couple. Even today, Jewish families celebrate the new marriage of their loved ones or friends for this 7-day period.
That will also be the case at the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb", Revelation 19:7-9, when, for 7 years, Christians, the "Bride", married to Jesus Christ, the "Bridegroom", will celebrate in the heavens that wedding. By the way, that is the reason the wine had run out for the guests. There were more that showed up than the father of the bride had expected.
The text tells us that the mother of Jesus asked Him to make "wine out of water". The truth is, that what Jesus did was not for the convenience of the wedding guests. He did no miracle for convenience but, instead, to confirm His Messianic claims. This is the case here also. I will prove that from the text in a moment.
But first, look at what actually happened. Jesus told His disciples to
fill the 6 water pots full of water - but notice that they were special
water pots. John 2:6 says "they were for the purifying of the Jews".
In other words, these pots had water with "ashes of the red heifer" in
them. This ashen water was for purifying the Jews, for making them pure
after being desecrated.
As we look to the future from this point in history in John 2,
we know that the "blood of Jesus" makes us pure, not ashes of a red
heifer in water. Jesus, with this miracle, took back the "red heifer
ordinance", Numbers 19, the purification process for all who come unto Him, thus, water to wine with the wine, as always, symbolic of "His blood".
Remember I said no miracle for "convenience" but for ''confirmation". The miracle in John 2:11 was the first He did to manifest His glory, so that His disciples believed on Him.
One final thought, the next temple does need a red heifer and its ashes
because it is not Messiah's Temple but the temple of the Antichrist.
There is now a red heifer ready to fulfill that need.
Please also remember, the building of the next temple will not begin until after the Rapture. With all the preparations made for that next temple and the Jews wanting to start construction on that temple right now, it seems very likely that the Rapture is about to happen. Keep looking up, it could be today.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you, Lord, for Your word that records the events of Your life which confirm Your Messianic claims.
Please also remember, the building of the next temple will not begin until after the Rapture. With all the preparations made for that next temple and the Jews wanting to start construction on that temple right now, it seems very likely that the Rapture is about to happen. Keep looking up, it could be today.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you, Lord, for Your word that records the events of Your life which confirm Your Messianic claims.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
John 1:14
And the Word was made
flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
For further study - John 1:1-14
These 14 verses in the first chapter of the Gospel of John are some of the most profound words written in the scriptures. This explanation of the characteristics of the God-head is as good as any to be found anywhere in the world.
The truth found in these verses could well be expanded into volumes on
the subjects of God, the creation, the Son, His incarnation, His grace,
His truth and so much more.
I hope as you read through these verses, and any portion of scripture we
suggest you read for your devotions, that you will spend some time
prayerfully considering the awesomeness of His word. So far in this
devotional thought, I have used the word, "word" only once.
If you read the passage first and then my thoughts, you have already
read "word" several times. The "Word" is the person of Jesus Christ who
was with God in the very beginning and even before that, He has always
been.
May I suggest that John 1:1 is the oldest verse in the Bible - even older than Genesis 1:1. Genesis 1:1 describes what Jesus did in the beginning - He created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, verse 3.
But, of course, before that first creative act of bringing the world
into existence, there was the God-head, God the Father, God the Holy
Spirit, and God the Son - the "Word".
The first prophetic passage that looks forward to the coming of a
Messiah was given by the Lord to Adam and Eve and tells of a "saviour"
to come, Genesis 3:15. That prophecy was fulfilled when the "Word" was made flesh and dwelt among man on the earth, verse 14.
As it relates to "prophecy", John 1:14 is the record of the fulfillment of that 6,000 year old "prophecy". The great truth of this passage is that we know who the Creator was, it was the "Word", verse 3, Jesus Christ. With that understanding, we can rest assured that the one who created all that there is can also tell us the future for all that is found in creation.
As it relates to "prophecy", John 1:14 is the record of the fulfillment of that 6,000 year old "prophecy". The great truth of this passage is that we know who the Creator was, it was the "Word", verse 3, Jesus Christ. With that understanding, we can rest assured that the one who created all that there is can also tell us the future for all that is found in creation.
What a blessed assurance. Since this prophecy was fulfilled then we can
rest assured any other prophecy He gives will also come to pass. Praise
His name, the Word.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to understand His word for today and the future.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to understand His word for today and the future.
Monday, February 22, 2016
Luke 24:6
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee.
This portion of Luke 24 that I have selected for today’s devotional reading is a record of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as recorded by Dr. Luke. This event in history is the cornerstone of our faith due to the fact that Jesus Christ had to raise from the dead to prove He was who He said He was.
His resurrection is also proof that He can do what He said He would do, at this time in history and in the future. Jesus Christ died to take away our sin and rose from the dead to prove He was the one qualified to do that.
I could write a lot about the resurrection from this passage but I want
to point you to several verses and share with you what may be some new
thoughts for you to consider. Verses 4 to 6 are the portion of the text that I’m referring to for your consideration.
When the "Mary’s" arrived at the grave sight, verses 1-3,
they found the "stone rolled away from the sepulcher". They even
entered the burial sight and did not see the body of Jesus. The body was
gone.
These ladies, also saw "two men in shining garments" standing near the
burial sight. As the women stood there "perplexed" the two men spoke to
them saying, "He is not here, but is risen", verse 6.
These two "men" had witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the only
"eye witnesses" to the resurrection. They then gave testimony of what
had happened to these ladies that had come to minister at the grave
site of Jesus.
It is interesting to me that there were also "two men" watching Jesus
ascend into heaven, as recorded in another book that Dr Luke wrote to
reveal the activities of Jesus. The book of Acts records the events of
that day when Jesus went to heaven as His disciples watched Him go to
"His Father’s house".
Notice that in the account of the Lord’s return to heaven, after His resurrection, Acts 1:9-11, there were also "two men" standing by watching, verse 10. These men told those gathered there on the Mount of Olives that as He had gone to heaven, He would return to Earth someday.
I bring these two events, with "two men" in attendance at both, to your
attention to have you consider that these "two men" are most likely the
"Two Witnesses" of Revelation 11 who will have a three and one half year ministry from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Remember, a "witness" gives testimony of what he saw. During the
Tribulation Period to come the "two witnesses" will be preaching and
there will be many people that come to salvation through Jesus Christ, a
result of His resurrection.
The message of the Two Witnesses during the Tribulation, at least the
first of the seven years, will be that Jesus resurrected from the dead
and He is coming again. That’s the "gospel of the kingdom" that will be
preached to the whole world, Matthew 24:14, before Jesus comes back to Earth.
One of those witnesses will be Elijah, Malachi 4:5.
I rejoice every time they sing at church the song, "We are living in
the days of Elijah". I do believe that we are living in "those days".
These "days" will be those that will follow the Rapture of the Church.
Remember, before the Tribulation, the time period of the ministry of the
"Two Witnesses", Jesus will shout for us to join Him in the heavens and
that day could be today…. So keep looking up.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Dear
Lord help me to realize that we are living in the "days of Elijah" and
live, expecting Jesus to call us up to heaven at any moment.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Luke 21:24
And they shall fall by
the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations:
and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of
the Gentiles be fulfilled.
For further study - Luke 21:20-28
Once again we go to the "well" of the "Olivet Discourse" for a "prophetic prospective" that applies to our day as well as to the day Jesus spoke these words on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and Dr Luke recorded them for us so that we might be able to read and learn from this passage, today.
Verses 5 and 6 of Luke 21 are parallel verses to both Matthew 24:1-3 and Mark 13:1-3.
Jesus, while teaching on the Temple Mount on Monday afternoon of
"Passion Week", made an astounding statement as He walked from the
Temple, through the Eastern Gate, across the Kidron Valley and onto the
Mount of Olives.
Jesus looked back at the "twenty-one story" Temple shining brightly on
the Jerusalem horizon, because of the gold on this worship center, and
the Lord made a prediction that one day in the near future there would
not be a stone standing upon a stone on this majestic Temple.
The disciples gathered quickly around Jesus to ask Him more about His
statement concerning the Temple. In the record of the "Olivet Discourse"
filed in Matthew 24 Jesus does not respond to the question of the disciples as to when His prophecy would be fulfilled.
However, in our devotional reading for today, Luke records what the Lord
told the disciples about the destruction of this Temple. In Luke 21:5-28 you have Luke's version of the entire "Olivet Discourse".
In verses 20-24 you have the answer to the disciples question about when the Temple would be destroyed. Jesus said, verse 20,
that when they saw "armies" gathered around Jerusalem that would be a
"significant sign" as to when the Temple's destruction would take place.
Jesus told the disciples that when they did see the "warning signs" to "flee to the mountains",verse 21.
In the context of historic fact about the Roman Army who surrounded
Jerusalem and the Temple for three years we can see how things unfolded.
General Titus gave the order to destroy the Temple and this mighty Roman
Army followed through on that infamous day in 70 AD. I believe the Jews
in 70 AD fled to "Masada" a "fortress stronghold" built by Herod the
Great at the southwestern corner of the Dead Sea.
I make this statement because of verse 24.
This verse gives us information about what happened the day the Temple
was destroyed and literally ripped apart, stone by stone with no stone
remaining upon another as the Roman Army finished their destructive
work.
By the way, the prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled almost forty years to the day after the Lord gave this prophecy. Notice verse 24 again, it is detailing how when the Temple was destroyed the Jews were scattered to the nations of the world.
Then another prophecy about Jerusalem appears. The prophecy is that the
Temple Mount will be "trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of
the Gentiles be fulfilled". "Gentiles", the United States, European
Union, the United Nations, Arab Nations and all Gentile nations of the
world who play a role in having control of the city of Jerusalem today
and in particular the Temple Mount.
These Gentiles will continue to do so until Jesus comes back to Jerusalem and destroys the "Gentile world powers". The stage is set for this prophecy to be fulfilled. Remember, the Rapture happens first and then these prophecies are fulfilled.
By the way, the Rapture could happen today!
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help
me to understand Your prophetic warnings and to then apply them to my
life as I live expectantly awaiting Your return, even so come quickly,
Lord Jesus.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Luke 19:42
Saying, If thou hadst
known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto
thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
For further study - Luke 19:41-48
Our key verse has a relationship with the ancient Jewish prophet Daniel and his writings, which I will get to in a moment. Let me set the scene for you as you read the extended portion of our devotional.
The previous thirteen verses, verses 28-40,
are a description of the Lord's "Triumphal Entry" into the city of
Jerusalem and onto the Temple Mount. The people who had rejected the
Lord now welcomed Him into the city as a ruling King.
It is interesting to note the response of the Pharisee, verse 39,
and what Jesus had to say to them as they complained to the Lord of all
the commotion by His disciples, asking Jesus to rebuke His disciples.
Jesus responded with, if He had shut up those who welcomed Him the
"stones would have cried out for Him".
Verses 45 and 46 reveal
the "priestly" attitude of Jesus against the money-changers in the
Temple. He rebuked these money-changers and threw them out of the
Temple. In verses 47 and 48 we see Jesus the "prophet", the teacher who taught in the Temple complex the people who were attentive to hearing Him.
But now back to our key, verse 42.
Jesus was very moved when He stood atop the Mount of Olives overlooking
the Temple Mount in the city of Jerusalem. Luke wrote that "Jesus wept"
over what He saw, a needy people who had rejected their Messiah.
Then Jesus said that on this day of His "Triumphal Entry" the people failed to receive the One described in Daniel's prophecy, Daniel 9:25-26.
An in-depth study of this prophetic passage in Daniel would show that
this day when Jesus entered Jerusalem, He was doing so on the day Daniel
predicted it would happen.
Daniel's prophecy indicates that from the decree by Artaxerxes, Nehemiah 2,
to allow Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the streets and
walls of the city, which took place April of 445BC, until the day,
Saturday, in April 30AD when Jesus made His Triumphal Entry, could be
figured out to the exact day (see my audio series, "The Daniel Papers").
The day Jesus stood there was that day predicted, not the day before or
the day after. Jesus got to Jerusalem on the exact day it was foretold
for Him to be there. The people of Jerusalem had not read Daniel's
prophecy. They did not recognize He was to be there in Jerusalem at that
time.
This is also the case with us today. We can determine where we are in
God's "prophetic time" by studying His "prophetic word". We must study
the prophetic Word of God to recognize when Jesus is coming back. It
could be today!
What is meant by, "it could be today", is not referring to the Second
Coming but the Rapture, when Jesus calls us up to meet Him in the "air".
Everything is ready for the Rapture to take place, right now. There is
not one prophecy that must be fulfilled before the Rapture, all prophecy
yet to be fulfilled will be after the Rapture. Indeed, it could be
today.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help
me to understand, dear Lord, Your prophetic Word so that I can
recognize the days I am living in and help me to live in light of that
understanding.
Friday, February 19, 2016
Luke 17:28
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
For further study - Luke 17:22-37
This passage in Luke 17 is another of those conversations that Jesus had with His disciples and one of the times when He would be teaching them prophecy. In this message the Lord uses some of the same information as used either before, or that he would use later in His teachings.
Notice verse 26, where our Lord speaks of the "Days of Noah" as He will, chronologically, later, in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
By the way, the last of this chapter helps to explain about those who
were "taken" in these prophetic passages in Matthew, Mark and Luke.
In verses 34-36 Dr
Luke records the words of Jesus about those who would be "taken". If
you don't understand that in this passage Jesus is speaking of His
Second Coming, and not the Rapture, you will get mixed up
eschatologically.
At the Rapture those who are Christians will be "taken" into the
heavenlies to join Jesus, forever. However, when a passage is referring
to the Second Coming the ones "taken" are the ones who go to "judgment"
and the ones "left" will "rule and reign" with Christ in His Kingdom to
come.
To better understand this principle Jesus gives us the last verse in Luke 17. When asked where the people would be "taken" the Lord said, to "where the eagles be gathered together", verse 37.
In that context, you may want to read Job 39:27-30 which explains that where the "eagles gather together is a place of judgment". Therefore, those "taken" in Matthew 24, Mark 13,Luke 17 and 21 are all taken to judgment.
The ones "left" are the ones who will join Jesus to rule and reign. At
the Rapture, a different event from the Second Coming, separated by at
least seven years, the ones "taken" are the Christians.
Before we leave this passage, notice verse 28.
The Lord had mentioned the "Days of Noah" which took place 4,500 years
ago. In His mention of the "Days of Lot", these days were 4,000 years
ago, days after the worldwide flood.
Interestingly, the "Days of Noah" were days when angels, the "sons of
God" had a sexual relationship with the "daughters of men", Genesis 6:1-4 and Jude 6 and 7 .
The "days of Lot" also referred to the Jude passage, which was a time
when the people, "gave themselves over to fornication", at Sodom and
Gomorrah. Today it is referred to as homosexuality. I prefer the
Biblical terminology, "sodomy", men, sexually with men and woman
sexually with woman.
Because of this "sodomy" God destroyed the civilization of Sodom and
Gomorrah. Today "sodomy" is allowed throughout all of society by
educational, governmental and even religious leaders.
God does not hate "sodomites", the person, but "sodomy", the act. Jesus
said when you see this type of "un-Godly sexual behavior" and see it as
very prevalent in our society, that is a time when He could return to
the earth.
We are living in those days. Jesus is coming and it could be in the "days" like the "days of Lot". Keep looking up!
PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord,
give me a Godly love for sodomites so that I can lead them to Jesus
Christ as their Savior, and help me to be aware of the days of Your
coming.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Luke 16:22
And it came to pass,
that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's
bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
For further study - Luke 16:19-31
In the devotional passage found in the Gospel of Luke that we are reading for today, I chose verse 22 as our key verse because of the great truth it reveals for those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ, Christians.
Notice, at death, what happens to us as believers. God dispatches
"angels" to come gather us up and take us into the presence of the Lord.
We don't die "alone", angels are there to comfort us for the journey
into His presence.
What a blessed thought for us as we face that time, that time we will all face unless the Rapture should come first. I must be honest, I would much rather the Rapture happen first, and may it happen today.
What a blessed thought for us as we face that time, that time we will all face unless the Rapture should come first. I must be honest, I would much rather the Rapture happen first, and may it happen today.
The rest of our reading for today details the characteristics of the
eternal hell, the "lake of fire" that has been prepared for the devil
and his angels, Matthew 25:41. I know this passage is referring to "hades" which is the place of departed human spirits between death and resurrection.
It is now the place for all lost ones until the Great White Throne Judgment, Revelation 20:11-15. However, "hades", hell, has the same conditions as the "lake of fire".
Verse 23 says it’s a place of "torment", "where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched", Mark 9:44. It's also a place of "thirst", verse 24. One single drop of water, not a gallon jug, tea glass or spoonful, just one tiny drop of water would "cool the tongue".
Verse 25 reveals that there will be "thinking" in the eternal "lake of fire". Those who make the choice to reject Jesus Christ and follow the lie of Satan will "think" forever, of every sermon, song and solicitation of the gospel he or she has ever heard. The "thinking" will last forever.
Verse 23 says it’s a place of "torment", "where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched", Mark 9:44. It's also a place of "thirst", verse 24. One single drop of water, not a gallon jug, tea glass or spoonful, just one tiny drop of water would "cool the tongue".
Verse 25 reveals that there will be "thinking" in the eternal "lake of fire". Those who make the choice to reject Jesus Christ and follow the lie of Satan will "think" forever, of every sermon, song and solicitation of the gospel he or she has ever heard. The "thinking" will last forever.
Those are the "conditions" for "hades" and also the eternal "lake of
fire". The "constraint" of this place is that all who end up going there
will only be released to appear before Jesus Christ at the Great White
Throne Judgment, Revelation 20:13, only to be cast into the "lake of fire", forever, Revelation 20:15.
Finally, notice the "compassion" of the rich man in "hades". He wanted
to return to life, so that he could tell his brothers of the "judgment"
to come if they rejected Jesus Christ. We need to understand the
realities of hell and its eternal judgments, then we would have the
compassion that we need for our loved ones, friends and the lost people
of this world.
The times we live in today seem to indicate the soon coming of the Lord
Jesus Christ. This urgency should motivate us to go forth to win the
lost to Jesus so that they escape the "eternal fires" of hell.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Dear Lord, give me the compassion of the rich man in "hades", a compassion for the lost, as I come to better understand the conditions and constraints of the "lake of fire".
PRAYER THOUGHT: Dear Lord, give me the compassion of the rich man in "hades", a compassion for the lost, as I come to better understand the conditions and constraints of the "lake of fire".
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Luke 4:8
And Jesus answered and
said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt
worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
For further study - Luke 4:1-13
In each passage of Scripture I discuss with you in our daily devotion, I endeavor to point out some very practical principles that will help each of us in our Christian experience. This will be the case today as well.
I also will point out prophetic passages and help you to look to the
future for the fulfillment of these passages. Today, we will do that
before we finish our thoughts about this passage.
There are some great practical principles found in these 13 verses of
our reading. Notice that the Devil comes to tempt Jesus in a time of
seeming weakness. Our Lord was 40 days in the wilderness going without
food. The Devil is right there beside Him to put the Lord to the test in
three different approaches.
First, the Devil tries the physical. The Lord has not eaten and the
Devil challenges Him to turn the stone into bread. Jesus said to the
Devil, the Word of God is more important than eating. One cannot live by
only satisfying the physical need for food.
Then the Devil offers Jesus the kingdoms of this world. At this point,
the Lord tells Satan to get behind Him, a method of resisting the
Devil, James 4:7.
The third challenge was for Jesus to jump from the high spot of the temple into the arms of the angels who were to protect Him, Psalm 91:11-12. Notice the Devil even used the Scriptures to tempt Jesus. The Lord responded and told the Devil he was not allowed to tempt the Lord,Deuteronomy 6:16.
The third challenge was for Jesus to jump from the high spot of the temple into the arms of the angels who were to protect Him, Psalm 91:11-12. Notice the Devil even used the Scriptures to tempt Jesus. The Lord responded and told the Devil he was not allowed to tempt the Lord,Deuteronomy 6:16.
The other great truth, a very practical truth found in this passage, is
the fact that the Lord responded each time to the Devil by quoting
Scripture, verse 4, verse 8, and verse 12.
Our defense against the Devil is the Word of God. We need to have it in
our hearts and minds so well that we can respond to the Devil's testing
by quoting Scripture.
Now let’s look at the prophetic significance of the passage. Notice that
the Devil said to Jesus that he had the "kingdoms of this world" and
the power to give the kingdoms of this world to our Lord. Under the
sovereignty of God, the Devil does have control of the "kingdoms of this
world" at this time in history.
In reality, the Devil has had the "kingdoms of this world" since Genesis 3, the fall of man. He will have those kingdoms until the Lord returns and sets up His Kingdom given to Him by God the Father, Daniel 7:13-14.
From that point on, Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
Satan will be bound for the first 1,000 years of the Lord's Kingdom
reign, Revelation 21:3, and then thrown into the Lake of Fire, Revelation 20:7-10 for eternity.
The "king of this present world", Satan, will be defeated and imprisoned
by the King of all Kings, Jesus Christ. That time in history is drawing
closer every day.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me, dear Lord, to learn and know the Word of God so that I will be able to use it when the testing comes to me.
PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me, dear Lord, to learn and know the Word of God so that I will be able to use it when the testing comes to me.
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