An Urgent Message for the Watchfolk | Zeus Mossbender
We all agree that we can know the season of the Lord's return. It seems clear that the feast days are important to understanding the end times as well... But Paul contends that we may be focusing too much on these feasts. If they were corrupted 700 years ago (as the Bible states), how can we rely on them now to point us to exact days?
With the above in mind, The Lord laid the following message on our brother Paul's heart the other day. I thought the message was important and asked him to send me a transcript of his words from his video to make it easier for us all to "stew on them for a little while". See below...
AN URGENT MESSAGE FOR THE WATCHFOLK
As we all continue to WATCH FROM OUR WALLS, let us prayerfully read, and consider the following passages of Scripture...
Isaiah 1:13-14
Amos 5:21
In Isaiah (1:13-14) WE are being told LOUDLY & CLEARLY that YAHWEH HATES - YES, HATES - the New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies. The ALMIGHTY OF HOSTS goes on to say that these "feasts" are TROUBLE to Him. NOW, if they are TROUBLE to HIM, WHY IN THE NAME OF HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON WOULD WE USE THEM AS GUIDES IN TRYING TO DISCERN EVENTS WITH REGARD TO ESCHATOLOGY?!
In Amos (5:21) WE are being told LOUDLY & CLEARLY that YAHWEH DESPISES - YES, DESPISES - YOUR feast days & YOUR sacred assemblies. This confirms that MAN ALTERED YAHWEH'S MOEDIM TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE NO LONGER WHAT YAHWEH INTENDED THEM TO BE, THUS HE DESPISES THEM...AND CONTINUES TO DO SO TO THIS VERY DAY!! SO, IN LIGHT OF THIS, DO WE MAKE USE OF THAT WHICH OUR ELOHIM DESPISES WHEN TRYING TO DISCERN EVENTS WITH REGARD TO THE TIME OF THE END?!
IN ALL HONESTY, CAN IT BE IMAGINED WITH ANY CREDULITY AT ALL, THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL - WHO WE KNOW BELIEVED WHOLEHEARTEDY THAT THE NETCHATEF/HARPAZO/RAPTURE WOULD HAPPEN IN HIS LIFETIME - WAS ACTIVELY TRYING TO DETERMINE WHEN SOME RABBI WAS GOING TO BLOW A HORN?!
NOWHERE IN THE APOSTLE PAUL’S WRITINGS DO WE SEE HIM PRONOUNCE THAT ANY PARTICULAR MOED IS CONDITIONAL TO THE TIMING OF THE NETCHATEF/HARPAZO/RAPTURE. IF ANY OF THE MOEDIM ARE AUTHENTICALLY CONDITIONAL TO THE TIMING OF THE RAPTURE, AND THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS DERELICT IN MAKING THAT KNOWN, WHAT OTHER INFORMATION FROM HIM WOULD BE SUSPECT?
THIS APOSTLE PAUL - AS A PHARISEE'S PHARISEE - KNEW FULL WELL HOW CORRUPT AND MANINPULATED THE ORDINANCES WITH REGARD TO THE MOEDIM HAD BECOME. THERE IS NO WAY HE, OR ANY OF YESHUA'S TALMIDIM WOULD HAVE BEEN USING THESE "FEAST DAYS" AS A WAY TO GAUGE THE COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF THEIR MASTER, ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE THAT YESHUA DID NOT ASCEND UNTO THE FATHER ON A FEAST DAY!
IN FACT, THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE THIS UNTO THE BELIEVERS IN GALATIA (4:9-11):
It should in no wise be difficult for us to discern that when Yeshua told His talmidim that they could not know specific days and/or hours with regard to eschatological events - whether He was discussing the Netchatef/Harpazo/Rapture or not - He was simply conveying to them the simple fact that MAN in his idiotic insistence on MANipulating the times & ordinances of His Father, would render it impossible to adequately pinpoint ANY particular event!
WE HAVE ALREADY CONSULTED ISAIAH & AMOS WITH REGARD TO THIS TOPIC, BUT THE PROPHET JEREMIAH WAS IN NO WISE MUTE WHEN HE WROTE THE FOLLOWING (Jeremiah 8:7-9):
That which we have been given in Jeremiah 8:7-9 should serve to encourage us this day beyond all measure, because it confirms to us that when it comes to properly understanding the times & ordinances of Elohim there is only one thing that we can count on, and that is ELOHIM!! He uses the knowledge of the birds of the air to point out that CREATION knows the TIMES & ORDINANCES better than man ever could or will this side of Eternity. AND it also confirms that with regard to discerning the events of the END, there is no greater source than the SIGNS IN THE SUN, IN THE MOON, AND IN THE STARS! Abba's luminaries cannot in any way, shape, or form be subject to "the false pen of the scribe."
As Watchfolk we are never going to be successful in discerning the glorious and miraculous times & ordinances of Elohim by attempting to decipher the "weak and beggarly" calendars & clocks of carnal man. Also, we will never be properly sanctified if all we look for in the SIGNS IN THE SUN, IN THE MOON, AND IN THE STARS is a way to determine how much longer we must bear living in this fallen world. The GREAT SIGN OF REVELATION 12:1-2 was truly PROPHETIC, and PROPHETIC in more ways than we can ever know right now, but what is the TRUE definition of PROPHECY? We find it in the Apostle Paul's first letter to the Corinthian Saints (1 Corinthians 14:3):
Now, there is nothing more TRUE than the fact that the celestial formation that appeared in the shamayim on 9/23/17 literally displayed the words of REV. 12:1-2, but it is contended here that it also fulfilled an even more important prophecy; one that epitomizes EDIFICATION, EXHORTATION, and especially COMFORT:
AMEN & MARANATHA!
With the above in mind, The Lord laid the following message on our brother Paul's heart the other day. I thought the message was important and asked him to send me a transcript of his words from his video to make it easier for us all to "stew on them for a little while". See below...
AN URGENT MESSAGE FOR THE WATCHFOLK
As we all continue to WATCH FROM OUR WALLS, let us prayerfully read, and consider the following passages of Scripture...
Isaiah 1:13-14
Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies - I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.
Amos 5:21
“I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies.”ISAIAH & AMOS WERE CONTEMPORARIES. THEY LIVED AROUND 700 YEARS BEFORE YESHUA, AND AS YESHUA DID IN HIS DAY, THEY WARNED THE PEOPLE THAT THE RELIGIOUS PRACTISES WITH REGARD TO THE FEAST DAYS (MOEDIM) WERE UTTERLY CORRUPT. THEIR WRITINGS, AND THE RECORDED WORDS OF YESHUA IN THE GOSPELS ARE WARNING US IN THIS DAY AS WELL; DO NOT MAKE USE OF, OR RELY ON THESE TRADITIONS OF MEN. THEY WILL PROVE ONLY TO BE BLIND GUIDES. KEEP IN MIND THAT WHAT IS CONTENDED HERE IS THIS: IT IS WHAT MAN HAS DONE TO THE MOEDIM THAT HAS CAUSED THIS PROBLEM, NOT THE MOEDIM INSTITUTED BY ELOHIM IN THEIR ORIGINL FORM. THAT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING, BUT SADLY IT DOES HAVE TO BE SAID.
In Isaiah (1:13-14) WE are being told LOUDLY & CLEARLY that YAHWEH HATES - YES, HATES - the New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies. The ALMIGHTY OF HOSTS goes on to say that these "feasts" are TROUBLE to Him. NOW, if they are TROUBLE to HIM, WHY IN THE NAME OF HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON WOULD WE USE THEM AS GUIDES IN TRYING TO DISCERN EVENTS WITH REGARD TO ESCHATOLOGY?!
In Amos (5:21) WE are being told LOUDLY & CLEARLY that YAHWEH DESPISES - YES, DESPISES - YOUR feast days & YOUR sacred assemblies. This confirms that MAN ALTERED YAHWEH'S MOEDIM TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE NO LONGER WHAT YAHWEH INTENDED THEM TO BE, THUS HE DESPISES THEM...AND CONTINUES TO DO SO TO THIS VERY DAY!! SO, IN LIGHT OF THIS, DO WE MAKE USE OF THAT WHICH OUR ELOHIM DESPISES WHEN TRYING TO DISCERN EVENTS WITH REGARD TO THE TIME OF THE END?!
IN ALL HONESTY, CAN IT BE IMAGINED WITH ANY CREDULITY AT ALL, THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL - WHO WE KNOW BELIEVED WHOLEHEARTEDY THAT THE NETCHATEF/HARPAZO/RAPTURE WOULD HAPPEN IN HIS LIFETIME - WAS ACTIVELY TRYING TO DETERMINE WHEN SOME RABBI WAS GOING TO BLOW A HORN?!
NOWHERE IN THE APOSTLE PAUL’S WRITINGS DO WE SEE HIM PRONOUNCE THAT ANY PARTICULAR MOED IS CONDITIONAL TO THE TIMING OF THE NETCHATEF/HARPAZO/RAPTURE. IF ANY OF THE MOEDIM ARE AUTHENTICALLY CONDITIONAL TO THE TIMING OF THE RAPTURE, AND THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS DERELICT IN MAKING THAT KNOWN, WHAT OTHER INFORMATION FROM HIM WOULD BE SUSPECT?
THIS APOSTLE PAUL - AS A PHARISEE'S PHARISEE - KNEW FULL WELL HOW CORRUPT AND MANINPULATED THE ORDINANCES WITH REGARD TO THE MOEDIM HAD BECOME. THERE IS NO WAY HE, OR ANY OF YESHUA'S TALMIDIM WOULD HAVE BEEN USING THESE "FEAST DAYS" AS A WAY TO GAUGE THE COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF THEIR MASTER, ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE THAT YESHUA DID NOT ASCEND UNTO THE FATHER ON A FEAST DAY!
IN FACT, THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE THIS UNTO THE BELIEVERS IN GALATIA (4:9-11):
But now after you have known Elohim or rather are known by Elohim how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.Even considering that as Watchfolk we do not "observe" these feasts, we still turn to what Paul calls "weak & beggarly" in our research, giving quarter to that which our Elohim "hates", and "despises".
It should in no wise be difficult for us to discern that when Yeshua told His talmidim that they could not know specific days and/or hours with regard to eschatological events - whether He was discussing the Netchatef/Harpazo/Rapture or not - He was simply conveying to them the simple fact that MAN in his idiotic insistence on MANipulating the times & ordinances of His Father, would render it impossible to adequately pinpoint ANY particular event!
WE HAVE ALREADY CONSULTED ISAIAH & AMOS WITH REGARD TO THIS TOPIC, BUT THE PROPHET JEREMIAH WAS IN NO WISE MUTE WHEN HE WROTE THE FOLLOWING (Jeremiah 8:7-9):
“Even the stork in the shamayim Knows her appointed times; And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow Observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of Yahweh. 8 “How can you say, ‘We are wise, And the law of Yahweh is with us’? Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood. 9 The wise men are ashamed, They are dismayed and taken. Behold, they have rejected the word of Yahwe; So what wisdom do they have?
That which we have been given in Jeremiah 8:7-9 should serve to encourage us this day beyond all measure, because it confirms to us that when it comes to properly understanding the times & ordinances of Elohim there is only one thing that we can count on, and that is ELOHIM!! He uses the knowledge of the birds of the air to point out that CREATION knows the TIMES & ORDINANCES better than man ever could or will this side of Eternity. AND it also confirms that with regard to discerning the events of the END, there is no greater source than the SIGNS IN THE SUN, IN THE MOON, AND IN THE STARS! Abba's luminaries cannot in any way, shape, or form be subject to "the false pen of the scribe."
As Watchfolk we are never going to be successful in discerning the glorious and miraculous times & ordinances of Elohim by attempting to decipher the "weak and beggarly" calendars & clocks of carnal man. Also, we will never be properly sanctified if all we look for in the SIGNS IN THE SUN, IN THE MOON, AND IN THE STARS is a way to determine how much longer we must bear living in this fallen world. The GREAT SIGN OF REVELATION 12:1-2 was truly PROPHETIC, and PROPHETIC in more ways than we can ever know right now, but what is the TRUE definition of PROPHECY? We find it in the Apostle Paul's first letter to the Corinthian Saints (1 Corinthians 14:3):
But he who prophecies speaks edification, exhortation, and comfort to men.Now regardless of what man says that the GREAT SIGN of REVELATION 12:1-2 fulfilled, or did not fulfill with regard to actual END TIME events, one thing is certain; for those who have the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the hearts to discern, it unequivocally fulfilled the words of Paul presented above, because above all else, this GREAT SIGN was given as a GIFT to EDIFY, EXHORT, and especially COMFORT!
Now, there is nothing more TRUE than the fact that the celestial formation that appeared in the shamayim on 9/23/17 literally displayed the words of REV. 12:1-2, but it is contended here that it also fulfilled an even more important prophecy; one that epitomizes EDIFICATION, EXHORTATION, and especially COMFORT:
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid; for Yahweh your Elohim, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”Deuteronomy 31:6
AMEN & MARANATHA!
Hummm, didn't Yeshua keep the feast while here on earth? If they were hated by Elohim, why would He keep them?
ReplyDeleteExactly. God instituted the feasts so how could He hate them? This has been totally misinterpreted. God hated their feast days because they, the people, were committing idolatry and sinning. He told Israel to keep the Feasts forever. 3 of the feasts will be kept throughout the millennium. This movie suggest we should ignore God's plan of salvation which is mapped out in the prophetic model of the Feasts, the blueprint of his work towards redemption, because Israel were misbehaving. I disagree.
DeletePaul are you Revelation12dotcom? I just wanted to thank you for your videos! I have enjoyed them and been blessed by them.
DeleteHi Erin, yes, thanks and glad you enjoyed them. :-)
DeletePaul, the only Feast required during the Millennium is listed in "the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of Tabernacles" Zech 14:18
Deletefirst paragraph....
DeleteKEEP IN MIND THAT WHAT IS CONTENDED HERE IS THIS: IT IS WHAT MAN HAS DONE TO THE MOEDIM THAT HAS CAUSED THIS PROBLEM, NOT THE MOEDIM INSTITUTED BY ELOHIM IN THEIR ORIGINL FORM. THAT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING, BUT SADLY IT DOES HAVE TO BE SAID.
Thank you Brad! People are actually asking why I think Abba hates the Moon! Folks are also commenting about context. It is very odd how many people are under the impression that in 2017 Isaiah & Amos would recant what they wrote? Someone on my channel commented, "In both the Isaiah and Amos passages, we are told He hates the feast days and sacrifices because the people observing them were completely sinful, corrupt, and worshiping false gods. It was their evilness and disobedience that cause everything they did to be an abomination to the Lord." Has something changed in 2017? What has led folks to believe that Isaiah & Amos would somehow change their thoughts and think, "BOY!! 2017 has really proven to be a year of finally getting back to how Abba would like the people to keep the Moedim PRAISE ADONAI!!" If people believe that things are getting better with regard to how the Feasts are kept...well...never mind. Also, about the Blood Moons: What most folks don't think about is that the Lunar Eclipse that led us to the knowledge of the Tetrads was not on a Feast Day. To get our attention about the Blood Moons, which led to many learning about the Rev. 12 Sign, Abba used a non-Feast day. Once again, thank you for understanding that it is not the TRUE Feasts that are the problem. ABBA UP...at any moment!!
DeleteHoward,
Delete[Zec 14:16 KJV] 16 And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
[Eze 45:21 KJV] 21 In the first [month], in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.
Tabernacles,
Passover
Unleavened
Oh :) It’s Pual’s turn! Good question. Considering the context, it is not that YHVH would be hating His own Appointed Times or Feasts with His People but consider how He phrases it….’your Feasts and New Moons’, etc. Here lies the problem. It was and became all about ‘them’, not the LORD. It is so easy for us to just turn the LORD’s holy things into just mindless ecclesiastical rituals, empty of true appreciate for what they stand for.
ReplyDeleteIn my assessment, Jesus observed all the Feasts to be first of all the example, the standard and on our behalf. Consider this question to you…Did Jesus need to be baptized? No. That act is a public ritual of one’s demonstration of inward repentance from sin and a new commitment to the LORD. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus was taking our place, the true Lamb of GOD and our perfect substitute! I hope that brings some perspective to this study.
Lu
...I wonder if in Paul's and Zeus' studies, this is exactly what the LORD may have taught us regarding the Rev 12 Sign in that it became all about 'us'? ...To an extent of course as I know all those Rev 12 Researchers had/have the best intentions and Christ in sight.
DeleteBlessings.
Could be, but can we be faulted for just wanting to go home? Maybe, for there is lots of work to be done.....many souls lost, and more falling away as we speak!
DeleteAre the feasts over yet? ;-)
DeleteLu Vega -
DeleteI have to disagree with you. Nowhere did I see a spirit of "it's all about me" where the Rev. 12 sign studies are concerned. However, if you're speaking from a personal perspective as it relates to you in your own private studies, then of course that is something private between you and God
On the contrary, I saw a beautiful awakening in the Body of Christ as a result of all the hard work done by the Watchmen. It all pointed to Jesus, it all glorified the Lord.
Personally, I think the whole thing was used by God to do a lot of shaking and sifting. In fact, Daniel 12:10 very much comes to mind.
Hello mksmith,
DeleteThank you for the question. Yes, there was and is a whole lot of other occurrences that took place and have taken place, some public, some private all along the journey and it has been a long one for me. I was careful to quality my statement as ‘to an extent’. The whole Rev 12 Revelation took a life of its own and I am sure not all had or were able to see all the different people/sources that wrote or made vids about it as the movement and revelation exploded. Case in point, me! Not many realized about my work/research on it, and so on. I agree with you on the second part and that it is what I have also tried to stress that this Sign was and is a wake-up call for sure; and much needed. A verse comes to mind when Jesus was presented at the Temple and it was foretold that this One ‘would cause the rise and fall of many and would essential be an offense and be spoken against.’
I would say the Sign has done a pretty good job, or rightly so as you state, this is of the LORD. I do differ in perspective only from, yes my point of reference in what I saw that -to an extent. I am not sure if you have a website on such a topic but as one who does and for a long time and how many have followed my work, with and without agreement, I can’t tell you of how many emails of hurt people there are because of it also. That is just what I wanted to bring to the forefront of our Community, that many are deeply hurt and distressed. So I do believe that there is that ‘other side of the coin’ that perhaps other may not be aware of. Again, the Rev 12 Sign became a hysteria, ok but to an extent…qualifier here… it became –in some cases, the focus and it is not just my own private interpretation but others have pointed out this as well here. I hope this gives more context. It is hard to make out sometimes what we really want to say or are trying to in 1 or 2 sentence replies.
The heavens are accurate and there is a conjunction on Shabbat erev Tabernacles. People looking at crop cycles and trying to figure out if there are calendar boo boos are going to land up with big nothing burgers. The 2014/2015 blood moons, the eclipse on Elul and the Rev12 sign happened exactly how they were supposed to and when they were supposed to. Do people suddenly think that God has given up accuracy? He is absolutely sovereign in the affairs of man i.e. all affairs of man including calendars!
ReplyDeleteSo the blood moons are accurate, but the feast days are not? So the blood moons landing on feasts days that are not accurate feast days means??? This is exhausting, but I'm still looking up with anticipation as we are always getting closer to the Lord coming to meet us in the clouds.
DeleteThe Hebrew calendar is accurate, the blood moons falling on the feast days proved this, the Feasts days are accurate and the timeline of God's plan is accurate. The feasts are going to be fulfilled according to God's timeline and not man's understanding of it. When this is done, with hindsight we will look back and go "AHA!" The reason why people are so upset is because they had an idea in their heads which they held onto dogmatically (Rosh Hashanah rapture) and they are not prepared to let it go and focus on what is ahead. Let us not forget the literally hundreds of things we have seen converging into this sign and most importantly the date we are at with regards to Israel - about to turn 70. God did not do what He did in the past so as not to fulfill His prophetic model of things in the future. His promise is that He is an unchanging God. He did them in the past so we would know how He will do them in the future.
DeleteThe feasts are not over yet and it is perfectly reasonable that Tabernacles will be fulfilled. Man Tabernacles with God. To suggest that we should ignore the Feasts is to imply that Gods Word has returned void, the Feasts were really for nothing and that large sections of doctrine have become obsolete, which is far from the truth. In fact, it is more likely that we are catching up with understanding them properly. We are called to seek the scriptures daily to see which things are true. So... let's wait for Tabernacles ...
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeletePaul!
DeleteGood stuff. Although this is Zeus’ vid and post, the vids from Paul in the prior posting, is an example of how we are searching, asking and testing from totally different angles on the same subject of the Feasts, awesome! I have to say that your logic resonates in my Spirit pertaining to the order of the lighting of the menorah in relation to the possible Rapture, but am cautiously apprehensive. I am a natural skeptic as it is anyway. The main reason why is that the great graphic of the menorah caught my attention.
As order of the lighting is made, from the right to left to have as Paul suggests could be the Rapture on the Last and Great Day of Sukkot? Ok, let us wait. Fair enough. It did catch my attention in that the order thus ends with the Feast of Trumpets that in my diagram and assessment is when Jesus returns. I believe that perhaps, IF it would be the case, then the Rapture could be a sort of ‘prophetic pivot point’ as the Feast would or could synchronize both the Rapture to a possible Feast then, at this time.
The Feast of Sukkot is one of my favorites types and shadows because it does appear to parallel the 7 days to the 7 coming years of the Tribulation when the Bride is summonsed to the ‘Celestial Booth’ or Chuppah as depicted in Isaiah 26. I do however believe that once Jesus does arguable return of the Feast of Trumpets, the subsequent order of the chronological ones would follow, perhaps.
Agree 100% Lu. My contention is this, in the same way that the Roman Catholic Church's historical behavior has sullied the Word of God, the dirty container is separate from the pure water of truth, but nevertheless makes the water seem polluted to the person who considers drinking it. Israel's behavior on the Feasts is totally exclusive from the Feasts themselves. Eschatology has everything to do with the feasts, so whilst I respect the person who made the video's viewpoint I can't agree with grey and murky area being left in between. What God hates is not His own Word but the perverting of the purpose, as you stated more gracefully than I did. The Feasts are nothing but a blessing.
DeleteI agree with all your points made, Paul D. I could not have said it better myself.
DeleteThe appointed times of Yahweh are for all generations. Because men made them into something He hates has nothing to do with His Appointed Times.
DeleteAs a scroll is revealed so has been the order of events to date. Patience will bring us home...
Rejoice for seven days...and then The Last Day will come.
If not...I will watch on and wait in
patience. Shalom!
I am not one who believes the rapture has to happen on a feast day. However, if they are no longer important to God, and indeed even despises them, then why was Christ crucified on Passover precisely at the moment lambs were slain at the temple? Why was Christ ( the Bread of Life) in a tomb on the feast of Unleavened Bread? Why did He rise from the dead on the Feast of Firstfruits ? Why would the remaining fall feasts not have a fulfillment as well?
ReplyDeleteAnd if , as Paul (ZeusMossbender) says, signs in the sun and the moon and the stars are the most reliable and least corruptible way of discerning the coming of the Lord, then what about the blood moons of 2014 & 2015?
Are we suppose to regard them as important harbingers while at the same time pretend to disregard the fact they land on Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles two years in a row?
I think we should just understand that if we act like Israel did at that time, and worship idols, and all kinds of sin abounding, make the appointed times about us, and not Elohim, then as all sin, he hates. So for lack of confusion for myself, and many others I have spoken with, we all must study for ourselves and rightly divide the Word of Truth, I think this is a time when the Father and the Son are saying, depend on me, personally, study for yourselves, let the Ruach HaKodesh lead you into all truth, we as humans, no matter how hard we try are looking through a glass dim. We must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, as much as I love seeing what Elohim shares with others, I must remember he shares with me too, and in these last days there is much controversy over scripture, let's get back to our personal relationship with Him!
DeleteHere is what was happening:
ReplyDeleteAmos 2:6-8
(6) Thus says the LORD:
" For three transgressions of Israel, and for four,
I will not turn away its punishment,
Because they sell the righteous for silver,
And the poor for a pair of sandals.
(7) They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor,
And pervert the way of the humble.
A man and his father go in to the same girl,
To defile My holy name.
(8) They lie down by every altar on clothes taken in pledge,
And drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.
Here was the result:
As Israel's destruction neared, conditions worsened drastically. The courts were totally corrupt with the judges in collusion with the lawyers, selling their verdicts to the highest bidder! Amos says, "Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time" (Amos 5:13). God advises that the best thing to do was to remain silent and go on with one's life because one could not get a good judgment from the judges! The best thing to do was to settle out of court, if possible.
All the while this corruption ran rampant in Israel, people were worshipping God in droves! A high percentage of the people attended services and kept the festivals. They pilgrimaged to the centers of religion in Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba where the people kept the feasts. The commentators concede Israel may still have been keeping some of the holy days of God.
Notice what God says:
I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings [worship] and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. (Amos 5:21-23)
God hated their feasts, their offerings, and their singing in His name. The wording indicates nausea! Compare this to Revelation 3:16.
So is THIS what the watchmen did: elevate themselves instead of Christ? Just looking for self-centered easy escapism rapture instead of truly longing for Jesus to return from deep of their hearts? So THIS is now everything here is being interpreted now?
ReplyDeleteAnnabel,
DeleteBeautiful name by the way. I can not speak for Zeus but if I may interject a possible perspective. Allow me to infer a bit of what happens in a psychosis. I am not a clinical psychologist but do have one of my Masters in Counseling and other things. The reason I want to use this analogy is that in part and to a degree the Rev 12 Sign Community sort of experience and suffered a ‘death’. What we are seeing in many forms how in the fallout is the 5 degrees of grieving of a death. Some are angry, others are sad, other depressed, others are more determined, etc.
My point is that we need to work it all out, all together now for the benefit of us all, not only the Rev 12 Community specifically but those looking in and wondering, what is going on?! The Sign was not given to anyone specifically as I truly believe it was given to the Body and it is the Body’s responsibility to deal with it, the good, the bad and the ugly. Yes, to a degree there was a spirit of, ‘hey it was me that discovered it first’…, ‘no I did’, and so on. Let’s hear each other out, take it to the LORD in prayer and as Brad has stated and others appropriately, we are in this together and as any family, we will argue but in the end we need to come together in maintaining the Unity of the Spirit.
I hope this helps. Segnungen!
Lu -
DeleteYou said, "Yes, to a degree there was a spirit of, ‘hey it was me that discovered it first’…, ‘no I did’, and so on. "
Again -- you're referencing something I truly haven't seen.... Am I missing something?? Is this something that happened in private conversations between you & other watchmen? Because I certainly haven't seen this.
mksmith,
Delete:) Yes, you missed some-things. I think personally you are blessed by not having had to see them or such information/dispositions. So, yes I am referencing somethings you have not come across as no doubt others haven’t either. In some cases it was in private conversations, etc. At this point, it is crossing over into the personal and I would more than willing to discuss this further with you if you contact me from the links provided.
Blessings to you.
Lu
Lu dear brother I am happy to hear that you're not a psychologist because it seems enough to me my own earthly father was one of them so I am very familiar to all those godless theories and I do react somewhat 'allergic' to the atheist Freudian crap they spread around (in church as well, sadly as their explanations and theories have entered and mixed with Christian faith). They're all completely lost. My father as well.
DeleteOn the other hand, my question would have been the same as of mksmith as yes I got aware of some pride within the body (male brethren mostly!) but not too much really to call it a serious problem. But now you answered this already to him above. Thank you! Much love and stay blessed, hold tight onto Christ only, never trust any psychologists view. These are evolutionary atheists in fact. NOTHING of theirs is worth considering anyhow, trust me. Bless you Jesus! :)
Annabel,
DeleteWow, I am very impressed. You KNOW the real background of psychology and Freud. I have been working in a University environment for about 20 years now and am privileged to be here by the LORD’s enabling to help direct our best and brightest to Jesus. I can tell you from 1st hand experience that each year, each generation is worse, not becoming better mentally speaking. Although my University graduates more ‘Psychology’ Major than any other major, our waiting time for our students to see a Psychologist in our Psychological Services Department is 2 weeks! We average about 2-3 suicides a year, the degree of depression is alarming. If at best, the evolutionary, rightly attributed method and theories of Psychology as you state can ‘take us apart’ but it can NEVER but us back together! No disrespect to any that might by Psychologist by profession and are Christian.
Only Jesus can and does do that for us. I am reminded of the Gadarene Demoniac, praise the LORD. Jesus came to restore and heal also our mind. I am sorry about your father but I also see it with the Psychology Professors here. It is so ironic that ‘Psychology’ is the study of the ‘soul’ -the psyche, yet most deny its existence and spiritual aspect or our humanity and how we are created as a triune being as reflected in the GOD-Head …just wanted to share that with you and to pray for me as we followers of Jesus on American universities are a target and want us silenced and out of the decision making process.
Lu dear brother TY again for your kind reply. Please accept my apologies to defend "sola scriptura" here and to claim that in fact NO ONE can be psychologist AND true Christian at the same time. This is absolutely (!) contradictory because this would mean you have an atheist that follows Jesus in the Holy Spirit. Stay strong in faith and if you will be silenced by the world so be it (e.g. losing your job or being forced to quit - well the martyrs even put their lives on starke you know!). You're not alone then, I have shared the gospel in a rehab clinic for psychosomatics too and was then forced to quit after 3 years of preaching as a chamber maid. This is not my business to cling onto a certain workplace but to understand it as my duty to preach the WHOLE word sincere and UNCORRUPTED and not making ANY compromise with worldly ungodly psychology which is through and through detestable and evil. There's truly NOTHING accept able about it. Not even using any terms or intellectual concept. It is from SATAN a 100%. God will help you to not compromise and ever protect you in doing so, even if He might one day tell you to dust off your feet and walk on. Never mind your business but always HIS (Matthew 6:33). Stay blessed!
DeleteFirstly, God was rightly angry at the people, who relied on the outward trappings of their 'religion', having substituted the letter of the Law for Himself. Their hearts were in the wrong place and still are. This is also a picture of the apostate church. Nothing is wrong with the Feast Days, or with what God intended to foreshadow with them. Is 1:2-6 shows this..."Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth:
ReplyDeletefor the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters:
they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment...". This word applies only to those making the same error. To apply these verses as suggested, you must apply this one too. vs 15, "And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear...". You are not suggesting that we stop praying! Or Amos 5:23, "Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols". Should we stop singing? Yes, we must be relying on the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Some may have thought themselves 'prophets', and some may have been smug in their 'revelations'. But, this is how we are corrected. This is how we learn to hold what we 'know' loosely. We hear each other and submit what resonates of the Word back to the Lord and He leads and guides...layer upon layer, here a little, there a little. His ways are above our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts. No one, not you in this article, or me in this response, has all of it. A prophet will speak the Word of God and will point continually to the Lord, not to himself, and not to his teaching, his doctrine, his work, or his 'service'. A prophet will edify the church, expose sin, and provide Light for the way, by the Word of God poured forth. Seers are not necessarily prophets. A person may have a genuine 'gift' and hear God, but like Balaam, have their own agenda. There's WAY too much drivel out there. Presumption and fantasy rule the day. Beware the gainsaying of Korah all you who desire to be known as 'prophets of the Lord'. The bottom line is a vital, living connection to God. The method will not work now any more than it did in Isaiah's day. Maybe we should all re-read Jer 23, ask the Lord for His forgiveness as it applies and love one another, remembering that some of these things are only just now being revealed.
With all the research, I continue to petition Abba to tell us how it is that the early church would choose to be silent about the Moedim being conditional with regard to the timing of the Netchatef/Harpazo/Rapture.
DeleteYeah, it wasn't the feast that were corrupt but man's heart. Jesus fulfilled the feasts so is He forced into something that He despises and that He Himself setup?
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm missing something....
I really think that in hind-sight (a little late now) everything is going to be extremely exact, to fulfill the law, the signs, the feasts, the festivals....we have no idea the depth!
Tom
Honestly, when I saw and read this my heart sank a little. I have enjoyed this blog and the info provided concerning the end times for a while now and I was so encouraged that more Christian's were looking more deeply at the feasts and seeing the significance and the beauty therein. So to read this article was so sad to me. Christians are so quick to take these verses out of context. Both instances, in Isaiah and Amos, you have to look at the context of who the prophets are talking to and how they are living their lives. If you read the chapters and surrounding verses you see that these people have gone astray...these are not people keeping Yahwehs feasts with a pure and right heart. Yahweh (in both passages) doesn't even call them His feasts (because that's what they are if you read at the beginning of Lev 23) ...he says "your feasts" because they have no resemblance to the ones he instructed for them to observe. They were immersed in idolatry and pagan worship and whatever feast/festival they were keeping was not honoring to him. Of course he is going to hate this!!! They are worshipping other gods and their hearts are far from His!!! The Galatians 4: 10 verse is also not understood correctly! Paul is speaking to people coming OUT of pagan customs and traditions "Formerly when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God- how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles?" Right here he tells us that these people were going back to paganism because that's what they were used to. The special days and months and seasons and years mentioned here is not referring to the feasts as described in the Torah. It was the pagan customs Paul is warning them not to return to!! I so hope people begin to see the beauty in these feasts and begin to celebrate them in their own homes. Our Father loves them and gave them to us to enrich us and teach us so much about him and to point us to his son, Yeshua. Shalom.
ReplyDeleteHi Lauren,
DeleteThanks for your heartfelt comment. I appreciate your visiting this site the past few months and my hope is that this comment would help your heart un-sink... : )
I am in a unique position to see many sides of this Rev12 story play out so let me share something from my heart... There are so many people on this site who genuinely Love Jesus, recognize the hugeness of the Rev12 Sign, yet have differing views on other peripheral things (such as the importance of the feasts or which feasts are important). The enemy would LOVE to use these differing views to cause division... to cause hearts to sink and hopes to lessen. We can't let that happen.
Please don't let that happen. We are siblings in Christ. We all love Him. He loves us all. This site is just a online newspaper of sorts... I try to share multiple viewpoints to spur on discussion and thought... I give my editorials sure, but I trust you guys to discern as well. We may not agree with all we read here, but it should at least cause us to think (like it did for you in your post).
Often times I find reading differing views cause us to study deeper and then confirm our views even more. If tabernacles is fulfilled in the coming week or so with the catching away, then fantastic!!!! But if it's not, wouldn't we all at least like to be aware of viewpoints from fellow brethren that point to the possibility of the rapture happening on any day and not tied to a feast? Wouldn't that give us hope and comfort as well?
It sounds to me like the Tabernacles has some potential. I am very expectant that we will see more and more happen in the coming days and weeks (Lord willing). But I don't know for sure. Think about it, we aren't even 2 weeks removed form the Great Sign and some many of our hearts already quite restless as we wait.... some are discouraged, mourning, second-guessing, some are running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Lu's comment above about the stages of grief hit home for me... but I really do not think we should not be grieving at all! Despite the current wait, we are living in amazing times!
Noah waited. Abraham waited. Esther waited. David waited. Paul waited. John waited. Believers for the past 2000 years have waited.... and now we see a sign yet we are surprised to be waiting. I fully admit that I have been up and down some since 9/23 as well... yet I land on this. I truly believe our Good Father led us to this sign.
If He led us here he has a big reason for doing so.
He is not one to let us down...
He may let us squabble among ourselves here for a bit, only proving all the more that without Him we are nothing. But in the end He will step in and part the sea just like He did for the squabbling Israelites many years ago. It's always best to avoid squabbling amongst ourselves to wait on Him to do so and instead use that energy to press into Him...
He will deliver us....of that there is little doubt. But He will do it in His own perfect and magnificent way in His own perfect and magnificent timing.
Until that moment we must still our hearts and wait patiently for him to act.
Psalm 37:7 NLT
That's what I'm trying to do and it has helped me. I hope it helps you too. Much love to you sister... until we meet together in the air! : )
Yes Brad. I have been mulling the Exodus over this evening. They got to the Red Sea...OMG, we're trapped, then once across, saw the Egyptians coming after them...OMG, what are we gonna do now, then no water, then no food. As if a Pillar of fire and the pillar of clouds going before them wasn't enough. Moses must have been pulling his hair out. What I know is we are right on schedule. Every piece of the puzzle has fit together perfectly, but that last corner has to come together and those pieces will fit perfectly as well. Amazing things have occurred and are occurring in the heavens. I know for certain that I am not the same and there is no going back to where I was before the shout of that Rev. 12 sign. Something happened that separated my heart and those of the Body from the things of this world. We know that next miracle is coming and I believe Paul is right. The feasts and the heavens are in sync. And Zeuss is right that He will take us at His discretion. We just need to be ready to move out at any moment. I pray that none of you watchmen will second guess yourselves. You have done the job you were given and done it well. Moses was doing his when the murmuring finally got to him and he struck that Rock twice. Please keep leading us just like you have been. I need it and so do all of these other brothers and sisters and we all need to realize that ya'll are operating on faith just like the rest of us. Onward to the Promise Land.
DeleteOh, and just a little musing about the onset of Tabernacles: it is 45 days from the 8/21 Eclipse. That just happens to the number of preservation in Biblical mathematics but I read Psalm 45, esp. vs 10-17 and my heart did a little jump. It is also 12 days from the sign which is the number for priesthood and/or perfection. Coincidence... no word in the Hebrew for that as they say. Just know we're almost there.
DeleteI so agree with you Sheila.
DeleteI feel like this is similar to the many places where God tells His people, "I don't want your sacrifice and burnt offerings," He wanted love, knowledge (Hosea 6:6), obedience (1Samuel 15:22), mercy (Matt. 9:13).... He didn't need them to burn a cow for Him; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He can burn all the cows or whatever He wants. It wasn't about THAT.
ReplyDeleteOr when Jesus said, "the sabbath is made for man, not man for the sabbath." Again, they were missing the point of the thing God set up for THEM and their good and their understanding of Him and making it a burden instead.
The feasts also got convoluted by men and turned from a blessing and a method of bringing us closer to Him into something else. I have three little boys so I hear President Business from The Lego Movie - "You wrecked it! You just wrecked it!" (Poor analogy because God isn't the bad guy, but Hollywood being corrupt, that's probably how they'd want to portray God...but anyway!)
I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't think that for God it was ever about just *doing the stuff*. The stuff all had a meaning and a purpose and we totally missed it, misinterpreted it, changed the meaning, and THAT is what God hates. Look what happened to Moses because he hit a rock instead of speaking to it.
Good thing He sent Jesus, because we needed Him BADLY!
Stacy
Hi Stacy. Apparently some of us are being poked with some Exodus reminders today. Hmmm....:)
DeleteAmen Lauren & Stacy.
ReplyDeleteHow can anyone see God as anything but merciful, loving and patient when reading through the Bible? Mankind has bungled it from the time of Adam until today. Even though He spells it out and draws pictures for us, we continue to bungle it... and He continues to be merciful, loving and patient.
Amen.
DeleteHoward,
DeleteIf Revelation is chronological as you claim, then you disprove your own belief. Chronologically, Ch 4 happens BEFORE Ch 10 (where you claim the rapture occurs).
Rev 4:1
After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, a voice as of a TRUMPET speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter.
Revelation is chronological in certain chapters, and other chapters cover the entire time frames (Ch 11-13....the ones where you cite one verse and assert that verse as the ONLY subject covered by those chapters). Seriously...you need to stop, just stop. I know you won't, so each time you post your craziness, I'll be there to refute it. The Lord has placed you on my heart for some reason. I've watched Brad TRY to engage you in civil loving debate, but you respond with rhetoric about snails, the wrong color of blue being used in curtains of the pharisees, 6 pointed stars of molech, etc, etc, etc.....stop. I know you won't though.
Jesus died on the cross for all of us...His blood covers ALL of our sins. Even those people that wear the wrong color of blue, or have the wrong eschatological interpretation.
"And he opened the 8th seal, and lo he did look upon all them that had the wrong color of blue about them, and those that did let their curtains wax exceeding with the wrong color of blue. And he did cast them out into the outer darkness where there was weeping and great gnashing of teeth" That's not in the Bible...at least not mine.
My friend, step into the FULL grace of Christ. His blood covers all colors, all signs (6 pointed star of Molech or whatever). Stop this nonsense. We are closer than any of us realize, and when I read your posts, I think of Matt 23:24 "...you strain a gnat and swallow a camel". I fear you are relying on your interpretation over the blood of Christ for your salvation.
Is 64:6 - Our works are but filthy rags.
Same old story, this time with an extended ending and questions in between:
ReplyDelete---
A man had two daughters. They lived in a trailer park that, frankly, had seen better times. One day the man said, "I'm going to find us a better place to live. You girls take care of things here while I'm gone."
Late one night he returned and was greeted with joy by his younger daughter who had spent her days checking the phone for messages and sitting by the window watching for any sign of his return.
"Where's your sister?" he asked.
"I don't know," she replied. "She hasn't been watching with me."
So the man went in the house and found his older daughter climbing out of bed, a little groggy, startled awake by the sound of his truck coming up the drive.
"What have you been doing?" he asked.
"Well, the first thing I did was clean up the yard," she said. "I sold all those broken machines as scrap metal. Then I planted some flowers. They're really pretty; you'll be able to see them in the morning. After that I emptied out all the closets and had a yard sale. Then I dusted, vacuumed, and washed the windows. Today I did the shopping and cleaned the bathroom. Here's the money from the scrap metal and the yard sale. Can I fix you something to eat?"
---
1. Which daughter, do you think, "took care of things" while her master was away?
2. Which daughter, do you think, found the waiting time pass more quickly?
3. Which daughter, do you think, suffered less trauma from "false alarms"?
---
Later, the daughters find themselves standing before a great white throne with their lives stretched out behind them. The Judge, seated on the throne, leans a little left and right to more clearly view the stories. After a while, He purses His lips and says, "So. If We give you girls eternal life and unlimited resources, We can expect more of the same?"
---
4. Which daughter, do you think, should be trusted with "eternal life and unlimited resources"?
5. (rhetorical, no reply necessary) Would the above stories carry more weight with any of you if I made a YouTube video and said that the Lord gave them to me in a dream, when in fact I simply "dreamed them up"?
It seems your insinuating that the one daughter is less worthy because she isn't engaged in works, so are you saying that anyone on this site is unworthy because we are looking for His return? Are you saying that anyone on this site is derelict in their day to day life because we are watching? I understand from your example that you feel we should be productive with this life (I agree btw), but are you saying that it isn't possible to balance that with watching for our Lord's return?
DeleteIn your point #4 above, are you saying that the one daughter that didn't engage in works should be denied eternal life? Are you saying she should face eternal separation from her father because she watched for his return instead of planting flowers?
Luke 10:38-42 - Martha was engaged in work & complained about her sister who was spending her time with Jesus. Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better part & it would not be taken from her.
Luke 18:11-13 - "The pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people---robbers, evildoers, adulterers----or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner." The focus is clearly on the pharisee and his works.
Who do you think was justified....Jesus tells us in v. 14
Luke 18:11:14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves (look what I did) will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Luke 15:11-32 - The parable of the prodigal son. The younger son disobeyed and departed his father, but he eventually came to the end of himself & relied on his father's grace. The older son was bitter at his father because he relied on his works. He saw his relationship as dependent on his compliance and works....never fully realizing his position with his father.
If you're saying, occupy and be faithful until He comes, I agree. If you're saying that one will be justified over the other because they were more industrious while the other was watching, I disagree. In your real world example, yes maybe the father has reason to reward one and not the other, but I don't believe a real world example necessarily transfers to the eternal.
If you're drawing a parallel between the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30), that has to do with spiritual gifts not works. In that case, maybe the younger daughter's gift is to be more in tune with her father, and to watch for his return? 1 Cor 12:21 talks about the various parts of the body of Christ. "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!"
Maybe the younger sister was gifted with being the eyes?
If I have misunderstood the intent of your story, I apologize, but it sounds like a works based, earn your salvation, type of teaching. If that's the message, I don't agree with it. If I have misunderstood, please let me know. Blessings
Hi DJ. My response to this analogy is that there is a time to be like Martha, working away, and a time to be like Mary, who just wanted to sit at the Lord's feet and listen. When Martha complained, what did Jesus have to say? Mary had chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:40-42.
DeleteAt a time such as this, I personally want to be listening very closely to what He is revealing to us. The church has (or should have been taking care of business the past 2 millennia. Now it's time to look up, listen and be in awe. He is about to take care of the remaining days. Blessings to you and yours.
Hey Lance. Looks like we were on the same page again this morning. Did I read somewhere that you are an Aussie?
DeleteNo ma'am...I'm your neighbor here in Texas.
DeleteGo figure. I am definitely an old Texas grandma but I asked because you sound a lot like some of my husband's Aussie friends who truly love the Lord but don't mind sharing their great sense of humor. I've always thought true Texans and true Aussies have a kindred spirit, especially when they share the love of Christ. Glad to know you're a neighbor, tho. I have tried to figure out how to pray for Howard and his alter egos but it's hard because there is a tough spirit, or spirits I should say, that seem bound and determined to pick apart the gospel of Christ that Paul is so adamant about in Gal. 1:8-9. I don't know if it's possible at this point but I do hope if he is just a misled or oppressed person, that bondage will be broken and quickly. Keeping' an eye on this Texas sky, Brother Lance!
DeleteDJ, that was such a good illustration and reminder that we can’t be idle while we eagerly await for His return. Because we are human, it can be our tendency to be so caught up in our deep longing for His arrival that we can lose sight of the work that still needs to be done. Thank you for that. May I very lovingly and respectfully add to your illustration?
DeleteIn this scene you painted also exists other tenants of the park. They were enemies of the father and wanted to hurt and drag down his daughters. They would accuse the daughter of stealing those machines, make accusations of their behavior, the landlord would make fatiguing restrictions on where or how much work the daughter could do. She was becoming tired and weary and began to lose hope in her father’s return. Her sister, who was watching and straining for any messages from their father, would encourage her sister with the message the father left saying he was making progress and reminding them he would be coming soon. The sister would give her weary sibling hope when she would be given a sign that her father could be seen on the horizon. It gave her renewed strength and vigor to keep working for her father while she carried out her service to her loving dad.
Paul told us to encourage each other, to not give up doing good, especially to the brethren. While we should never be idle as we stand looking up at the sky, may I suggest that those who are straining for a glimpse of His return are also busy about the Father’s work and contributing as the Father has gifted them? After all, those who are watching for and love His coming also receive a crown. Your admonishment is lovingly accepted as truth. Mine is only offered in the same spirit. I’m encouraged by yours, and I pray you are encouraged by mine. I link arms with you as we serve Him together. YSIC
Thank you all for your replies. I will try to answer all your questions now.
DeleteLance asks, Are you saying that anyone on this site is unworthy because we are looking for His return?
DJ replies: Nope.
Lance asks, Are you saying that anyone on this site is derelict in their day to day life because we are watching?
DJ replies: Nope.
Lance asks, Are you saying that it isn't possible to balance that with watching for our Lord's return?
DJ replies: Nope. In fact, I'm saying that BALANCE is the critical thing. To paraphrase Eccl 3: "A time to be like Martha, a time to me like Mary, a time to be a little of both." The secret of life, like the secret to telling a good joke, is TIMING.
Lance asks, Are you saying that the one daughter that didn't engage in works should be denied eternal life?
DJ replies: Nope. I like to think both daughters are saved by grace through faith, not works --
otherwise we'd be faced with an eternity of boasting from the busy girl.
Lance asks, Are you saying she should face eternal separation from her father because she watched for his return instead of planting flowers?
DJ replies: "Nope. But I am saying that if I was that father (forget the analogy now, and just put yourself in the place of that father on earth), I'd be much happier with what the busy girl did than what the watching girl did. And I'd put the busy girl in charge of the new place once we got there.
Lance says, Martha was engaged in work & complained about her sister who was spending her time with Jesus. Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better part & it would not be taken from her.
DJ replies, Doesn't apply in this story. Martha and Mary weren't waiting for Jesus, He was right there, teaching, and Martha was ignoring Him. Bad timing, not bad works.
Lance says, If you're saying, occupy and be faithful until He comes, I agree.
DJ replies, How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Lance says, If you're saying that one will be justified over the other because they were more industrious while the other was watching, I disagree.
DJ replies, I'm not saying that because it's not a question of justification; it's a question of "promotion": Which daughter would you put over ten cities in the Kingdom?
Lance says, In your real world example, yes maybe the father has reason to reward one and not the other, but I don't believe a real world example necessarily transfers to the eternal.
DJ replies, God's ways are higher than our ways, but not utterly different. Real is real, here and there, now and then.
Lance says, Maybe the younger daughter's gift is to be more in tune with her father, and to watch for his return? 1 Cor 12:21 talks about the various parts of the body of Christ. "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!" Maybe the younger sister was gifted with being the eyes?
DJ replies, Touche! Good one. But eyes aren't there only to watch; they are there to help the hands get things done. A tree is know by it's fruits. When watching helps get things done, I'm all for it. When watching generates nothing but disappointment and more watching, it's little more than spiritual masturbation.
Lance concludes, If I have misunderstood the intent of your story, I apologize, but it sounds like a works based, earn your salvation, type of teaching. If that's the message, I don't agree with it. If I have misunderstood, please let me know.
DJ replies, I think you've at least partly misunderstood. But then Martin Luther wanted to throw the book of James into the river, so you're not alone. We are saved by grace through faith, not by works. Unless, of course, we're talking about Jesus' works. "The Covenant of Grace is the Covenant of Works kept for the elect by Jesus Christ."
Lance says, Blessings
DJ replies, Ditto.
Now Ellen asks, May I very lovingly and respectfully add to your illustration?
DeleteDJ replies, Sorry, no. It will only confuse the discussion, because it won't be clear whether we're talking about the original or the modified story. I agree that there's more to be said along the lines that you suggest, but those things should be said in a separate "thread".
The story is about healthy spiritual living. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Too little of a good thing is a bad thing. And there's something to be said for the old aphorism, "A watched pot never boils." When you're on a trip and the kids in the back seat keep yapping, "Are we there yet?" what do you tell them to do? Watch harder? I think not.
DeleteDJ asks, "When you're on a trip and the kids in the back seat keep yapping, "Are we there yet?" what do you tell them to do? Watch harder? I think not."
DeleteLance says:
You don't kick them out of the car either. Nor do you withhold rewards from them, or tell them 'No, now go back to work". You give them more info. To pass the time, some will go to sleep, some will pre-occupy themselves with activities, and some will stare out the window watching for road signs and thinking about what they're going to do when they get there.
I think that is what's going on here....people are asking 'Are we there yet??' Perfect analogy btw. Interestingly enough, you mentioned one of my favorite books...James. James 4:2 "...you have not because you ask not." I believe people are coming to sites like this one to discuss signs & events that are leading to His soon return....and ask "Are we there yet?" Matt 7:7 encourages us to keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking...etc.
When you post a teaching, you have to expect that some of the more dense types (this guy) will need to ask questions. I thought you were saying that one daughter would be more worthy than the other daughter because of her works. I understand that you're not saying that now...you said you were referring to promotion. I still do not think you can judge Heavenly worth by viewing Earthly actions.
Lance asks, Are you saying that it isn't possible to balance that with watching for our Lord's return?
DJ replies: "Nope. But I am saying that if I was that father (forget the analogy now, and just put yourself in the place of that father on earth), I'd be much happier with what the busy girl did than what the watching girl did. And I'd put the busy girl in charge of the new place once we got there.
I don't think we can know how God is going to evaluate another. I don't think you're saying that either, but by the same token, I don't think we can say one person's work is less valuable than another.
Anyway, I take you at your word that your MAIN point was balance in our watch. And all the people that didn't sell everything and go sit on rooftops waiting for the rapture said, AMEN!!
Blessings
Also, I didn't really understand where you were going with the Martin Luther thing. His main issue with the RCC was that we are saved by faith in Christ, not by works, and I think you've slighted him by linking the two of us.....I'm no Martin Luther.
DeleteAmen to all you said Sheila!
DeleteAmen.
DeleteLance says, When you post a teaching, you have to expect that some of the more dense types (this guy) will need to ask questions. I thought you were saying that one daughter would be more worthy than the other daughter because of her works.
DeleteDJ replies: I hope that's cleared up now. I was simply saying that the busy girl will be HAPPIER and HEALTHIER than the other while she waits. The time will pass more quickly for her, she won't be as disappointed by false alarms, and she'll have some tangible evidence of her faith to offer her master when he returns. After all, he did say to "take care of things" (and not just watch) while he was gone. Faith, without works, is dead, right?
This song, I think, stikes a good balance:
http://godlychristianmusic.com/music/play2.aspx?id=3012&type=song.mp3
DJ,
DeleteI understand where you're coming from, and I think you nailed it with balance. The faith without works things can be a contentious issue as well. It is well covered in James. For me, the "faith without works" paradigm is this. If you have faith in God, you will take certain actions. The faith part comes first, then action, then God shows up. "Faith without works" is putting one's faith into action...having the faith to take an action and rely on God for the rest.
James 2:14-26 goes into great detail. I told you James is one of my favorite books...this is why. I used to think I had to do things (good works) to show that I was right with God...act a certain way....present my works as acceptable, so I'm hypersensitive to anything that "smells' like it's works based.
James 2:21-22 "Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did."
In offering his son Isaac, Abraham placed his faith in action when he turned his only son over to God. It's easy to say you have faith, it's a totally different thing to put it into action and raise a blade over your child. To me, THAT is what is meant by faith without works.
There are multiple other examples through the Bible, but the common denominator is that the person is required to take an action first, then rely on God for the result...thereby, demonstrating a "lively" faith. Challenging/testing God.....that's another story. We have brains for a reason. When I drive, I hold the steering will. I don't sing "Jesus take the wheel" as my car goes careening off of the highway. = )
Will we do good things (volunteer, serve, etc, etc)? Absolutely, we should out of obedience to Christ, but our works do not necessarily mean we have ever put our faith into action (which would therefore make it a dead faith) For me understanding the difference between works & putting your faith into action was one of those "Aha" moments.
Who recorded the song? Yes, I think it says it pretty well!
Blessings brother!
Lance says, The faith part comes first, then action, then God shows up. "Faith without works" is putting one's faith into action...having the faith to take an action and rely on God for the rest.
DeleteDJ replies, Amen!
Lance continues, For me understanding the difference between works & putting your faith into action was one of those "Aha" moments.
DJ replies, Me too. Amen!
Lance asks, Who recorded the song? Yes, I think it says it pretty well!
DJ replies, I did, way back in January of 1982 -- about six years before I discovered Edgar Whisenant's "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988." So you can see I've been waiting and watching a very long time.
Speaking of faith vs works, I was born and raised a Roman Catholic. I think you might get a kick out of my "escape" song entitled "Scrambled Eggs and Toast":
http://godlychristianmusic.com/music/play2.aspx?id=3019&type=song.mp3
And if you want a nice musical summary of exactly what I believe, laced with longings for the Rapture, try another of my songs entitled, "I Believe":
http://godlychristianmusic.com/music/play2.aspx?id=3027&type=song.mp3
My real name is Gerry Rzeppa. I'm posting here as DJ only because I have a Google account under that name and I couldn't figure out how to post under my real name (which doesn't have a Google account). D. J. Lasinger is an anagram for J. D. Salinger, a pseudonym I chose when I wrote a raunchy "Catcher in the Rye" style book to help today's lost teens talk to their parents about sex, drugs, and rock & roll (among other things).
If you want to write me directly, my email address is gerry.rzeppa@pobox.com
Good stuff Gerry! Man...you've definitely been watching and waiting patiently! I look forward to checking out your other tracks....blessings & soon I pray brother!
DeleteThanks for the reply, DJ. I completely agree there has to be balance. I hope you know I meant no disrespect or rebuke, just adding a thought. If that was not clear, please forgive any presumption on my part. I shall bow out, but have learned much from your exchanges with Lance. I thank you both. Blessings.
DeleteEllen says, I hope you know I meant no disrespect or rebuke, just adding a thought. If that was not clear, please forgive any presumption on my part.
DeleteDJ replies, No need for forgiveness because no offense taken, my sister.
Ellen continues, I shall bow out...
DJ replies, No need to bow out, either. But it would be much more convenient for me to communicate directly so I don't have to type in this little box and have to leave out the pictures that bring my little stories to life.
Ellen also says, I completely agree there has to be balance.
DJ replies: I woke up this morning thinking about the Apostle Paul's words in Philippians 1:21-23, which I think illustrate that BALANCE beautifully:
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die [or get raptured] is gain... I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you."
In other words, the spiritually healthy Christian knows that it is far better to depart and be with Christ, but at the same time wants to stay to serve Him here, so nothing is left undone.
I have a remarkable personal testimony along these lines, but it is best told with pictures (that I can't post here). So if you (or anyone else) wants to know why "I'm in a straight betwixt two" -- why I'd love to be taken up this minute, but would also like to see the rapture delayed for at least another ten years -- write me directly (gerry.rzeppa@pobox.com).
Like others already mentioned above, first of all the 7 Festivals of Lev23 are GODs not men. Sinful man simply CANNOT corrupt what is Gods as it STILL stays perfect in concept and order. He only can corrupt the MEANING and UNDERSTANDING of it what he eagerly did as far as we know.
ReplyDeleteConcerning myself, I may be a bit disappointed if rapture doesn't fall on a Feast day now but then I do owe that to my own misinterpretation and lack of understanding. I STILL do know that I am saved and Jesus will fetch me anyway at any time (John 14:2). It's not my business to tell God how to do His job as He's always perfect and I am not. Who am I to be His counselor? But in the meantime I have spent time fruitfully while digging into His word like perhaps never before together with dear brethren each of them precious to the LORD and that's alone worth all the work as I truly believe God is rejoicing about this together with all the host of angels (1 Peter 1:12)!
After all, I will now personally set more focus on Rev12:2-4 (Israel / Middle East birth pangs and Planet X system approaching) as both are indeed developing fast currently. Verse 5 is only AFTER this to happen in order so perhaps we were a bit hasty in conclusions out of great anticipation. Blessings to all of you, much love! :)
Annabel,
DeleteI believe so that the description of the beast-system/Antichrist/Satan in verses 3 and 4 (also adding a reference to what Satan did, bringing a third of the angels into rebellion against God) is a bit of a switch between the topics. The Church will be raptured before the *actors* of verses 3 and 4 " are coming onto the scene", even if prophetic developments are progressing on these areas too.
Oh yes of course Nora, fully agreed! :) It's just that the heavenlies also depict the earthlies... Matthew 6:10 but here "another SIGN IN THE heavens" is described which also MUST be alike the first "great" one built of planetary objects. Nevertheless, fully agreed on Satan as spiritual concept breaking loose on earth after we're gone! Blessings, Dear!
DeleteBlessings to you too, Annabel! :-)
DeleteWhile wondering whether the whole feast day assumption was flawed, leading to the whole wrong speculation of the rapture happening on Sep 21, 23 , etc.... and while contemplating the general sense of despair and disappointment over the fact that nothing happened on those days, I was reminded of the apostles after Jesus ascended to heaven. He told them to wait in Jerusalem for the Helper. I note that He did not tell them when or for how long. They just waited. This parallels where we are now. So we just wait without knowing when or for how long. Interestingly, of all the days possible, the Holy Spirit chose the day of Pentecost to come! Does this have any significance? I don't know. Maybe, just maybe, we should not throw out the feast day assumption entirely.
ReplyDeleteWhile keeping in mind that the Lord hates how His appointed times, the Jewish feasts are "conducted", I believe so that the Blood Moon tetrads’ appearance on exact Jewish feast days wasn't a coincidence, the Lord made it that way and that must mean something. The rapture might happen on a feast day or it might not, I don’t think we could be 100% sure about either option. (At least currently that’s how I see these things.)
ReplyDeleteWe should keep watching, waiting and seeking the Lord concerning all these things.
DeleteJust a thought, but we know that the Jews are still looking for who they believe to be their Messiah, not recognizing the one true Messiah, Jesus Christ, Yeshua Hamashiach. So in celebrating the feasts as they are today it is with the wrong motives as it was when Isaiah and Amos were referenced. Even though they are keeping the feasts days it is to follow the Messiah they believe is to come not to the one true Messiah that has already fulfilled the first 4 feasts. For those of us now who are searching the scriptures and seeking help from each other we are looking for the return of our Messiah, Jesus Christ. Just asking could this be why God may hate the feasts days the Jews are celebrating in our day and time?
ReplyDeleteI think you're clearly onto something here! :) I think so too...
DeleteSome interesting thoughts on the fullfillment of the fall feasts:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFspjnBGUOQ&t=4s
(*Thoughts* as ideas/possibilities.)
DeleteThis article greatly saddened me. To say this is an "important message" and that "the Lord laid this message on Paul's heart" is a grave concern to me. I believe a message was laid on Paul's heart. But I do also believe that it was not well heard, translated, understood, and presented back for our consumption. There are many biblical flaws with the interpretations put forth in this article. Many of them have already been mentioned by others so I won't regurgitate them here. The Feasts of God are clearly intact from beginning to end as multiple passages and examples throughout scripture.
ReplyDeleteCertainly, how to honor God though the feasts, the exact timing, etc. are open to question. And certainly God was not happy with what was taking place. But the message this article produces is just as guilty as the original problem that God was having in the passages quoted by this article. A lack of understanding of God's Feasts.
We must have some discernment. This article / video did not demonstrate discernment. Neither did the decision to post it on this page as an "important message".
I did not receive what Paul did from the Lord. But perhaps a proper interpretation of the word would have been more inline with this: "You (the body) do not understand my feasts, the timing, or the proper interpretation of them. Therefore you (the body) have not honored me in the way you are looking at them now. Do not assume rapture and other events based on something you do not understand. Instead, seek my face and ask for understanding."
Very similar in words - but not at all the same message.
Please notice what I have not said in this post - I have not called into question the sincerity of Brad or Paul. I have not called into question that both are doing the work of the Lord. I have not even called into question that they have heard from the Lord.
I am simply saying, the interpretation presented to the body is not scriptural in the least. The Feasts are established and kept by the Lord and will be for many years into he future as scripture clearly teaches and Jesus clearly confirmed.
Very generous of you. I'm angry. Most of these people are baby Christians at best. This is unconscionable just to save face. No biggy. Got it wrong. Move on to 2018.
DeleteSilent Knight, I thank you for boldly yet appropriately expressing what you did. I am yet another witness agreeing this article IS unscriptural (the Lord did not lead me to watch the video), and therefore is NOT an important message to the Body of Christ.
DeleteThis error aside, Brad, we are sooo grateful for your ministry here. Blessings to all the brethren seeking the Lord at all times.
There is still so much to be studying/watching for.
ReplyDelete1.) The Rev 12 sign happened
2.) Since the August 21 Eclipse (Largest Flooding Hurricane Harvey in US history, Largest Atlantic Hurricane Irma in history, Largest forest fires in history on the west coast (?) I know in LA per the news, now, largest mass murder in history.................all in USA). All since August 21st.
3.) Dates...........1897/1917/1947/1967/2017...........there is a pattern
4.) Israel became a nation almost 70 years ago (Nov '47 or May '48......depends on your point of view)......per our Lord. "that generation shall not pass till all things be fulfilled".
5.) The spiraling moral decline in the world. (Want to know what the next generation is like? Ask a teacher)
The Rev 12 sign was a component of the whole process (I believe a big component because John stated a "great " sign (Great = Mega).
I appreciate all the hard work these brothers and sisters in Christ have and continue to do.
I can say for a fact that I have gotten "back on the narrow path" and I am trying to live a life that will not grieve the precious Holy Spirit.
(Steve)
This is getting more bizarre by the day. Grow up people. He didn't come back this year. Next year in Jerusalem !!!!! On Yom Teruah !!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHe hates double mindedness. The feasts are FOREVER
ReplyDelete