Falling Apart or Falling into Place?

What a year 2020 has been.

Fires, locus, plagues, lockdowns, civil unrest, in the USA it's an election year and now their is a spot to be filled with the SCOTUS with the death of RBG. I saw the following meme yesterday and had to laugh, because, well in 2020 we all need to laugh more.

I keep trying to figure out what this all means, reading scriptures, listening to sermons. I'm not saying I have the answer, but I am saying I believe the return of Jesus Christ to call the church home is imminent. I have come to love that word, imminent. Pastor Farag does too, and he says when he hears the word imminent he thinks "any minute." Oh I believe he is right. The return is imminent, the return is any minute!

Maranatha!!

Right now it feels like we are living on the cusp. But of what? I feel that there is a fork in the road for all of humanity:

1. One direction is the LORD's return, the rapture of the church, and then the Wrath of God poured out on the nations to get the attention of the Jewish people that their Messiah came 2000(ish) years ago.
2. The second, a spiritual revival in the world. The rapture and tribulation are held off, because, "if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB

That is where I see us at. And honestly, I am not sure #2 is truly viable anymore. With all the prophetic events concerning Israel that have occurred, Article: Israel and Prophecy, I strongly believe option 1 is where we are at. "But God..."

• Genesis 8:1 - But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.
• Genesis 31:42 - If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.
• Genesis 31:7 - Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me.
• Genesis 50:20 - You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives... (This is a new favorite verse of mine).

As I have stated before (here, here, and here), I see humanity as it was in the days of Noah. Noah. Such an example for us. Do you know, that prior to the Flood, it had never rained on earth? Everyone thought him crazy because what he was talking about was something none of them had ever heard/experienced. But he believed God was going to do what He said He was going to do, so he built an ark, and gathered two of every kind of animal, and prepared his family.

I believe God is allowing all that has happened in 2020 (fires, locust, plagues, unrest, etc.) because it is setting the stage for the Time of Jacob's Trouble. While we see life falling apart, I believe God is allowing all the events, people, and ideas to fall into place for the Tribulation. And this is what I want to focus on with this post. If you are a Christian, take comfort in the fact that everything that is happening is indicative of the end times, meaning we are so close to the Rapture. 

Call me different, strange, odd...I have been labeled all three and more for how I view humanity and scripture. Having studied the Book of Joel, I have learned that we are to take current world events, and lay the scriptures over them, and if we do, we will see God's hand at work. That is what Joel the prophet did. He read the scriptures, looked at the world around Him and saw God at work and did what God called him to do.

Anyhoo, I do spend time thinking of what will happen at the Rapture, and what the world will be like during the Tribulation. I play the scenarios through my head, and basically merge the movies from Hollywood, and you get what will happen. I came across this video (link) a few days ago, and this jives with what I imagine will happen at the point of the Rapture. Think about our world. 1/2 slumbers while 1/2 is awake, theoretically. In this modern life, it seems like life never sleeps.

• a person(saved) is in surgery, doctor (unsaved) is operating - BLINK - there is no one to operate on
• a plane is flying across the Atlantic/across the country - pilot and 1/4 of the passengers are believers - BLINK - plane take a nose dive, people are freaking out because people are missing, plane is falling - major disaster ensues -if over water, people drown if unable to get out, or stuck in life rafts waiting for rescue unaware that the world is in chaos, and who knows when they will be rescued. If over land, mass destruction, fire, great harm to person and property.
• mom(unsaved) is going about life (at the park pushing a stroller, driving in a car, sitting in the rocking chair) with her newborn - BLINK - baby is gone - mom goes crazy trying to understand where here precious baby has gone, literally right out of her arms.
• woman(unsaved) is 9 months pregnant, in delivery, pushing, doctor and nurse are directing her (both saved) - BLINK - she is alone, stomach flat - No baby. No doctor. No nurse.
• an assistant pastor is at his desk meeting with the head pastor of his church - talking how he questions if he is saved, he isn't sure - BLINK - the pastor, and ministry assistants are gone. The assistant pastor knows what happened, that he was a fraud for years, and he knows what is about to occur.

Folks, the 7 year tribulation is going to horrible. The literal WRATH of God is poured out on the earth. But the seconds, minutes, moments immediately following the Rapture - there is going to be so much anguish, heartache, regret, remorse, pain, chaos, and destruction.

I think of what is currently going on in our country. Elections are looming. Seats are up for grabs. The President is up for re-election, and now President Trump has selected his nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG). His suggested replacement is Amy Coney Barrett. From my stand point, she seems amazing, a champion for life, a defender of faith and family. But those are Christian positives, and many on the extreme left reject all those qualities. So now we get to see the circus show of her confirmation - I pray that it is nothing like Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's hearings. I agree with many political pundits, we cannot have an eight seat court with this election. There must be 9 Justices on the bench before the election on November 3.

But God...He is in control, and if there is not, well while that looks like America falling apart even more, maybe its the set up of something bigger falling into place.

Let's talk about the children. I work in education, at the private school level.

We are in week 8 of our school year, the end of the first quarter is next week. We have taken precautions, there is extra cleaning, plenty of hand sanitizer, people are masked up, and so far, we are doing good. Our school nurses are working double time it seems, evaluating students, making calls to homes. This school year has been unlike any other. I have had conversations with individuals who have worked in education 26 years, 35 years, and they all say the same thing - they have never experienced anything like this. 

Thankfully, only 13% of our students are doing distance/virtual learning. We started out with closer to 20%, and for a small school, that is huge. We are so grateful that we are able to be open, our students can be at school to learn, and while things are different, there is a comfort in the sense of normalcy of coming to school Monday through Friday. But not every student is having this opportunity. Every state, city, county is doing things differently. Many school districts, especially public, are doing only virtual learning. The date to return to in-person is looming for many, but the vibe many public school teachers feel is that their districts are going to push for longer time at home with the virtual learning. 

This is a major disservice to our students. There are school districts that are fighting back and recalling all students back to campus link. So many students are failing, or the ability to do their work at home is restricted (lack of internet, family/home distractions, not enough tech devices). But then I think of Louisiana. Six weeks ago Hurricane Laura struck and brought complete devastation to the state. There is still no power or internet in many parishes. link And in the next 24 hours, Hurricane Delta (yes we went from the standard alphabet to the Greek alphabet in naming our hurricanes) is going to make landfall on a very similar tract as Laura did. We have gotten calls (south of the city of Houston) from families in Louisiana inquiring if we have spots available. Many are saying their students have been out of school since March, never started this school year, and now with the devastation and lack of internet, they have no clue when their kids will be back in school for an education.

Like I said, every state, city, county, district is doing things differently. But the end result is this - kids are suffering. Their education especially, and mental health even (but that is a topic for another conversation on another day). Now let's look at this through the lens of the Rapture and the Tribulation. Saved children and children who have yet to reach the age of accountability will be caught up in the Rapture. So when the Church is called home, for the most part, there will be no children on earth. Maybe pre-teens and for sure teens, and anyone who has the mental mindset to know what sin is will be left. But babies, toddlers, young children - they will be in Glory with all the saints who realized they were sinners in need of a Savior, and that Jesus is that person. This is going to effect two industries in particular, in two different ways, but essentially put both out of business, for a while at least:

• the abortion industry
• early childhood education

I firmly believe that pregnant women, if not saved at the time of the Rapture, will have empty wombs in that twinkling of an eye. And in the chaos that will follow, it is going to be some time before couples get "busy" and pregnancies' happen again. But eventually they will - but in the tween time, Planned Parenthood will be shut down. What a ironical tragedy that it will take the complete removal of children to accomplish this. But know this, they will return during the Tribulation, and will probably go right back to their barbaric practices.

Any unsaved teachers in daycares, preschools, and early child grades will find themselves without employment following the Rapture. All services will be in chaos, but without students they will have no one to teach. Those in early childhood education, who are left behind, will probably never go back to their profession. School districts that are sticking to virtual learning are realizing they need less people, and I think this is giving many public schools (which are leftist indoctrination centers) a trial run for the Tribulation. Not that they know this is what they are getting. Secondary school teachers (JH and HS and collegiate) those will have students to teach. But with the chaos of millions of missing people, the destruction from falling planes, unnamed trains and cars, etc - it will be a while before class time is thought about. But the Anti-Christ is to strengthen a "peace" treaty that will already be known, as the Tribulation does not start the minute the Rapture has happened. There will be a break, but how long is not known. So a sense of "normal" will be brought about, and I can assume schooling will continue - but what it will look like, well I think education in a COVID-19 era gives us an idea. Kids are going to be glued to technology to learn, and with the Church gone, the most extreme curriculums will be used. (some examples link, link, link). But folks, this won't even last all that long - once the seals, trumpets and bowls are poured out, people will be focused on survival. 

I want you to consider John 3:18 (NASB), "18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

 My boss broke this scripture down in our monthly staff meeting and helped us to realize that in this world there truly are 2 types of people - and its not based on gender, sex, race, nationality or any other description you can think of. God qualifies people in these 2 categories only - those who believe, and those who do not.

Believe what you ask? 

Read the last part of verse 18 again, "in the name of the only begotten Son of God" - JESUS! 

And folks, once the Tribulation starts, it will still be those two categories. People will come to faith in Jesus during the Tribulation, but it is going to be hard, in fact it could be even deadly for someone to accept Jesus. Believers in the Tribulation period will be hunted, persecuted, beheaded even. Many will have to go into hiding to try and survive. Many will survive until the Second Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ and they will go into the Millennial Kingdom. But many will die:

Revelation 6:9 NASB

The Fifth Seal—Martyrs

9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;

Revelation 14:13 NASB

13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

Revelation 20:4 NASB

4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of [a]their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

And then their will be the unbelievers:

Revelation 6:12-17 NASB

The Sixth Seal—Terror

12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Revelation 19:17-18 NASB

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”

Revelation 21:8 NASB

8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

That is a lot to process. So though it looks like everything is falling apart right now, maybe consider that everything is falling into place, in God's perfect timing, and in His perfect plan. 

Prepare: The Storm is Coming

A storm is coming.

Literally, we are preparing for soon Hurricane Laura. Within the next 24 hours we will have possible category 3 or 4 strength winds, and a storm surge. Thankfully Marco did not become an event for us late last week. But let me tell you, 2 storm systems hitting area at one times screams "birth pains" to me - and many other fellow believers.

We have prepped as well as we can. We have supplies, we have brought the plants and toys into the garage. We have boards on the ready to put on the windows if we need to. And we have a plan on where to go if we lose power. 

Thanks to technology we knew the storm could be an issue as far back as August 16th - 9 days ago. That is amazing - we saw it form off the coast of Africa and have been able to keep an eye on it, take steps to be ready, and now here we are. 

In light of current world events and all that is going on I want to draw a parallel to another storm.One that will last 7 years. Friends, the Time of Jacob's trouble is soon. And all people, who have rejected Jesus, or not accepted Him fully will face a time unlike any other. I want us to consider Habakkuk 1:5 (NASB):

“Look among the nations! Observe!

Be astonished! Wonder!

Because I am doing something in your days—

You would not believe if you were told.

I have been blessed to study the Bible via the Precept Upon Precept style for a good 5 years now. Started off in the Book of Revelation, then moved onto the Kings and Prophet Series. That has included 1 & 2 Kings/Chronicles, and many of the minor prophets books. The past few weeks we have study the 3 chapter book of Habakkuk, 56 verses. And wow, what a book. I have enjoyed studying prophecy because many times there was a near application and a future application. Habakkuk is such a book. Habakkuk was disgusted with the wickedness in Judea, and called out to the Lord. These 56 verses are the conversation the prophet had with the LORD, the LORD's response and the warning for us all. What God told Habakkuk was to happen was so astonishing, that even being told, he, Habakkuk would not believe it. God used a pagan nation to bring about judgement on His people, to turn their hearts back to Him. And what a pagan nation it was. The Chaldeans, which were Babylonians. They were their own idol, boasted in their own strength, seemed to have supernatural abilities, 100% deplorable, cannibalism, and pure wickedness towards those who they overtook. 

So back to the storms....Because of modern technology we are not being caught unaware by Hurricane Laura. 120 years ago, the storm of 1900 hit Galveston, TX. 100 people died. It has been described as the worst storm in American History. Back then people didn't know they were in a hurricane until after it hit and destroyed their lives.

Whether you like weathermen or not, they do play an important role in our lives. One that I watch made an observation the other day that was enlightening. 

"For everyone complaining about changes in the forecast for Marco, keep in mind today’s 5-Day forecast is as accurate as a 1-Day forecast in 1980. Let that sink in. We’ve come a long way."

As time has gone on, our warnings have become more accurate, and more timely. We have more time to prepare.

Friends, God's word has done the same. The Bible is filled with the warnings of what will happen on and to the earth before the Tribulation. Jesus gave us a warning in Matthew 24.

Matthew 24

The Beginning of the Birth Pangs

Jesus left the Temple and went away. As he did so, his disciples came and pointed out the Temple buildings to him. 2 ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘and you see all these things? I’m telling you the truth: not one stone will be left standing upon another. All of them will be thrown down.’

3 As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately.

‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that you are going to appear as king, and that the end of the age is upon us?’

4 ‘Watch out,’ replied Jesus. ‘Don’t let anyone deceive you. 5 You see, there will be several who will come along, using my name, telling you “I’m the Messiah!” They will fool lots of people. 6 You’re going to hear about wars, actual wars and rumoured ones; make sure you don’t get alarmed. This has got to happen, but it doesn’t mean the end is coming yet. 7 Nations will rise against one another, and kingdoms against each other. There will be famines and earthquakes here and there. 8 All this is just the start of the birthpangs.

9 ‘Then they will hand you over to be tortured, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then several will find the going too hard, and they will betray each other and hate each other. 11 Many false prophets will arise, and they will deceive plenty of people. 12 And because lawlessness will be on the increase, many will find their love growing cold. 13 But the one who lasts out to the end will be delivered. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom must be announced to the whole world, as a witness to all the nations. Then the end will come.’

The Desolating Sacrilege

15 ‘So when you see “the sacrilege that desolates”, as Daniel the prophet put it, “standing in the holy place” (the reader should understand), 16 then those who are in Judaea should take to their heels and run to the mountains. 17 If you’re up on your roof, don’t go down into the house to get things out. 18 If you’re in the fields, don’t go back to pick up your cloak. 19 It’s going to be terrible for pregnant and nursing women during those days. 20 Pray that it won’t be winter when you have to run away, or for that matter a sabbath. 21 Yes: there’s going to be such great suffering then as has never been since the start of the world until now – no, and won’t ever be again. 22 And if those days had not been shortened, nobody at all would have been rescued. But for the sake of God’s chosen ones those days will be shortened.

23 ‘Then if anyone says to you, “Look! Here is the Messiah!” or “Look! There he is!”, don’t believe them. 24 False messiahs will arise, you see, and false prophets too. They will provide great signs and portents, so as to deceive even God’s chosen ones, if that were possible. 25 Remember, I’m telling you this beforehand!

26 ‘So if someone says to you, “Look! He’s out in the wilderness”, don’t go out. If they say, “Look, he’s in the inner room”, don’t believe them. 27 You see, the royal appearing of the son of man will be like the lightning that comes from the East and flashes across to the West. 28 Where the carcass is, there the vultures will gather.’

The Coming of the Son of Man

29 ‘Straight away,’ Jesus continued, ‘after the suffering that those days will bring,

The sun will turn to darkness,

and the moon won’t give its light;

the stars will fall from heaven,

and the powers of heaven will shake.

30 ‘And then the sign of the son of man will appear in heaven; then all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see “the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven” with power and great glory. 31 He will send off his messengers with a great trumpet-blast, and they will collect his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 ‘Learn the hidden meaning from the fig tree. When its branch begins to sprout, and to push out its leaves, then you know that summer is nearly there. 33 So with you: when you see all these things, you will know that it is near, at the very gates. 34 I’m telling you the truth: this generation won’t be gone before all these things happen. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never, ever disappear.’

The Unexpected Coming

36 ‘Nobody knows what day or time this will happen,’ Jesus went on. ‘The angels in heaven don’t know it, and nor does the son; only the father knows. 37 You see, the royal appearing of the son of man will be like the days of Noah.

38 ‘What does that mean? Well, in those days, before the flood, they were eating and drinking, they were getting married and giving children in marriage, right up to the day when Noah went into the ark. 39 They didn’t know about it until the flood came and swept them all away. That’s what it’ll be like at the royal appearing of the son of man.

40 ‘On that day there will be two people working in the field. One will be taken, the other will be left. 41 There will be two women grinding corn in the mill. One will be taken, the other will be left.

42 ‘So keep alert! You don’t know what day your master will come. 43 But bear this in mind: if the householder had known what time of night the burglar was going to come, he would have stayed awake and wouldn’t have let his house get broken into. 44 So you too must be ready! The son of man is coming at a time you don’t expect.’

The Wise and Wicked Slaves

45 ‘So,’ Jesus went on, ‘who then is the trustworthy and sensible slave, the one the master will set over his household, so that he will give them their meals at the right time? 46 Blessings on the servant whom the master, when he comes, finds doing just that. 47 I’m telling you the truth: he’ll promote him to be over all his belongings. 48 But if the wicked slave says in his heart, “My master’s taking his time”, 49 and starts to beat the other slaves, and to feast and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that slave will come on a day he doesn’t expect, and at a time he doesn’t know. 51 He will cut him in two, and put him along with the hypocrites, where people will weep and grind their teeth.’

I will finish by saying, we are running out of time to prepare for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. What are you doing to ensure that as many can will be caught up from the wrath to come? Let the urgency you have prepared your home be mimicked in your kingdom work. As you reached out to the elderly you know to see if they needed supplies, or boards put on their windows - seek them out and ask them if they have a personal relationship with Jesus.

We know, roughly, when the storm will hit us tomorrow. None of know when Jesus will return. We have signs, and we need to be ready. Stay safe friends. Be secure in Jesus.

God and Government Authority

I heard an amazing sermon last week on God and Government Authority.

Pastor Nathan Cothen is the Pastor for Calvary Baptist Church in Beaumont, TX - just a short one hour drive from where I live. I listen to him most afternoons on my way home, local station 100.7 FM. He preaches God's word, and in unapologetic about it.  He is one of my favorite pastors to listen to these days.

Their Day in Court - Sermon Audio

If you are able, please listen to the sermon. Below are my notes that I took when I had a chance to re-listen. 

Their Day in Court

Acts 4:13-22

Trouble: Government says "No" and we say "Yes" to GOD

What are believers to do when the laws of the state are in conflict with the laws of God?

Acts 4:13-22 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Threat and Release

13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 

15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 

16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 

17 But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” 

18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 

19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 

20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 

21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 

22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Guilty - Peter and John

• healing a cripple (a miracle)
• speaking truth

Charges not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

Jesus to Pilate, night before crucifixion - "You would have no authority over me if it were not given to you from above."

Natural Revelation - everyone deep in their heart knows there is a God (Romans 1).

Nobody who thinks he is a god wants to hear about sin.

Verdict - The Sanhedrin wanted to kill Peter and John but too many were watching. So for the time, told them to shut up.

PROBLEM - Sanhedrin told them to stop preaching about Jesus, and Jesus told them to preach Jesus no matter what!

Romans 13:1-7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Be Subject to Government

13 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 

2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 

5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 

7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

How do we deal with when God says one thing and man says another?

• Does God put in place irreligious governments? Yes. He uses even those who do not bow to Him, as agents of restraint and unregenerate men to keep some semblance of order in the world.

God & Government Authority

What ranks what place? Is the state above authority? No. GOD is!

3 Categories:

1.Agreement
        When everyone agrees.

        Even in non-Christian societies, have some general guidelines (Hindu, Communist, etc) they all say on "paper" - 

            - murder is wrong

            - rape is bad

            - lying is an offense (sworn in at court)

Remember - all truth is God's truth.

John 14:6 - "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."

On the BIG stuff, there is generally agreement, no problem, all on the same page.

2. Aggravation

        Not Morally or Biblically wrong, just irritate you.

            - IRS - take your money and do not ask you waht should be done with it.

                     - we may disagree with them and their policies - it is not immoral or Biblically wrong - so                         we all pay our taxes

            - Motor Cycle vs. Car

                    - in a motor cycle

                        no helmet

                        no doors

                        no seat belt

                    Perfectly Legal

                    - in a car - roughly 6,000 pounds can get a ticket for not wearing a seat-belt

3. Abomination

• God says one thing and government says another. 
• 2 sub types
• Gov. says "yes" & we (Christians) say "No"
• i.e. 1973 ROE v. Wade
• Prior to this God and Gov. said no to abortion.
• If there is any good news, when evil people are allowed to do evil things, and we says no, they cannot flog us, put us in jail, or kill us.

Where we run into trouble is when...

• Gov says "no" and we say "yes to God.
• God said to do it, not only did He say to do it, but we are under compulsion to do it.

What then?

3 answers

1. Obey God - Don't even need to pray it. When the two are in conflict, we are going to obey God.
2. Accept what comes (man up!) (don't organize an army)
1. Peter was in jail twice.
1. 1 time freed
2. 2nd time crucified

Why was it God's will to miraculously free him one time, an angel escorting him out of the city and next time he goes in, its God's will for him to be crucified?

What do both of these have in common?

Glorifying God

• Enhance the reputation of Jesus Christ
• and we as believers in Jesus Christ signed on the dotted line that we no longer live but die to ourselves and live for Jesus Christ.

Pastor Cothen -

"I don't mind dying for Christ, its the flogging. Dying for Christ is relatively easy, being in prison for heat speech, which is three (3) things away from happening in this country. Me being in prison, for hate crimes ir right around the corner. Hate speech . If you have any grit, you too."

Do what the original disciples did - we suffer.

    3. Watch

            Do you know what did Saul in? Holy Spirit was bringing a number of things against him. But, at the end of Chapter 7 of Acts, "stoning Stephen, to death, in total innocence, they laid their clothing at the feet of the man named Saul, who had told them to do it.

You know what breaks people inside? Watching innocent people suffer, unless you are a total mental case, it will break you watching innocent people suffer, because of your corruption. It is what turned the Roman Empires into the Christian world order. He'll do it again, but He has to have people ready to man up, and do what He says, which is obey Him and accept whatever comes and watch because what God chooses to do with it - that is His business.

Romans 8:28 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

When we follow "obey, accept, watch & know" we may be delivered on this side or in heaven. His will, will be accomplished and we will hear....

Matthew 25:23 New King James Version (NKJV)

23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

And that is what it means to be a Christian.

Sermons To Watch Concerning Pentacost

Dear friends,

I hope you will take the time to watch these 3 videos. Brother Chad reveals some connections in scripture that I find very enlightening.

And in light of what the world is going through currently, I found tremendous peace as his outlined the scritpures. Please read his disclaimer before watching.

J.S.

Disclaimer: I am not saying the rapture of the Church will occur this year in 2020 ( it very well could), and I am not saying the rapture of the Church must occur on the Feast of Pentecost. This is simply a study. However out of all 7 feasts of the Lord...I believe Pentecost without a doubt paints one of the most beautiful pictures of the pre tribulation rapture of the Church. This year on the Gregorian Calendar Pentecost falls on Sunday, May 31, 2020. Other calendars have it in late May- early June time frame.

The way you should live your life is in constant expectation as if today could be the day Jesus comes for His Church...but at the same time occupying if it's years from now ( I believe Jesus is at the door ). Keep watching with me. Keep looking up! Jesus is coming soon!

Video #1

Video #2

Video #3

The day and age we are in...

Life has changed. It does not matter where you live, which of the 7 continents you live on, your life has changed in ways that many of never could have even imagined. Thoughts currently:

• If you had told me 2 weeks ago that churches in America would shut their doors to gathering, I would have laughed.
• If you would have told me 2 weeks ago that there would be lines outside grocery stores in an effort to curb mass hoarding, I would have laughed.
• If you would have told me that San Francisco would be in lock down, I would have reminded you that the homeless population is to great for it to work.
• If you would have told me 2 weeks ago that a majority of the schools in America would be closed, and teachers providing lessons from home, I would have told you that you are crazy.

Yet, here we are.

Church Cancellations

Houston Area School Closings

San Francisco Required to Stay Home

SF Gov: Stay Home

HEB and Walmart Change Hours

I remember in early January hearing about this virus in a part of China that I had never heard of. And if not for this virus, I probably never would have heard of Wuhan, or learn how to spell/pronounce it.

And even as the weeks went by, and seeing the virus spread to Europe, and seeing China lock down its society, I don't think I ever thought it would come to America. Even after it did hit the shores of America, I don't think I rationalized it spreading like it has, and as fast as it has. Add in the media parroting that it is just like the flu - I kept pondering why were people freaking out.

We all know China is communist, and if you have ever studied any history you know that:

Communism = No rights, No opinions, Much oppression

So seeing Communist China take draconian measures against their own people is not out of step with who they are as a country/government. It did prompt me to pray more for the people of China, as their already questionable quality of life was drastically changed even more. 

But then Italy....

Lock down of all citizens, their healthcare infrastructure crumbling from the burden, over 35,000 cases confirmed, with over 3,000 deaths. This made me realize that maybe something bigger is going on. In my regular shopping I picked up some extra rice, the next size up on toilet paper from what I usually buy, an extra box of my kids favorite snacks. I have been doing this now for a few weeks. And honestly, I live on the Gulf Coast of Texas, hurricane season is knocking at the door, so if nothing comes of the virus, I will be prepared a bit early...I thought to myself.

Then came Spring Break.

We stayed home, had a staycation, because we have been faithfully working to pay off debt. My kids knew no different, I sent them outside to play, we read, my daughter learned to use her rubber-band loom (and we are all now sporting some fabulous creations). Wednesday night we went to church, but that is when this virus started to change us in noticeable ways. Instead of meeting in our chapel, a more intimate setting for the smaller service we hold weekly, we met in our very large worship center. Doors were open so people didn't have to touch them. And notes were posted about stepped up cleaning practices, and please use the available hand sanitizer that is available.

The news media started informing us each state having confirmed cases, then the deaths.

The next day schools started talking about not being open the next week. Then it became action, many schools would close the week after Spring Break in hopes to stop the spread of CoVID-19. My own place of employment followed suit, and we had to implement distance learning. All while this is going on, cases of the virus hit every state but West Virginia, which 2 days ago confirmed its first case. 

Our church then announced no in person services, all church functions and events cancelled for the immediate future. Many churches have followed suit. I am thankful we live in the day and age we do, this past Sunday I was able to steam online and hear my Pastor preach out of Psalm 46.

Psalm 46  (NASB)

God the Refuge of His People.

For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah,set to Alamoth. A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change

And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;

3 Though its waters roar and foam,

Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

The holy dwelling places of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;

He raised His voice, the earth melted.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,

Who has wrought desolations in the earth.

9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;

He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;

He burns the chariots with fire.

10 “Cease striving and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

And the closures are now beyond a week. Many schools are closing through April 10th. The governor of Texas just mandated all schools (public/private) to switch to remote learning through April 3. Restaurants/Bars - dine in closed, carry out/delivery only. Gyms (which my husband owns one) now must close.

I cannot even say month by month or week by week life is changing. These past few weeks show that by the hour your life can change. I referred 3 people this morning to my husband's gym, and now we are having to lock the door.

To say these are uncertain times would be the biggest understatement.

BUT

God is control. God has a plan. God has a way. God loves us.

None of this caught God unaware.

What all is going on, God is allowing. For many, many years He has been trying to get the attention of everyone:

• to the unbeliever, He wants them to believe
• to the believer, He wants to grow their faith
• to the leaders, follow Him
• to the husband, love his wife as Christ loves the church

Folks, lets be nice. Let's pray for each other. Check on your neighbors. Give each other a break, be supportive.

Maybe turn the news off. Be mindful of what you read/share online. It is in times like these that many false messages spread - they do more harm then good. As believers, just remember, we are in the hands of the Father, and we cannot be snatched from His hand. EVER!

I leave you with some scriptures from God's word:

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Matthew 6:34  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you;my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Psalm 55:22  Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 34:10b Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Thoughts...

This is not going to as well thought out as I like to usually post. But so many revelations, ideas, and scriptures have to come to me lately, and I feel that I must share.

I feel I give this "disclaimer" often, but I want you to know where my heart is. I have looked at current world events through the lens of scripture (Joel, Isaiah, Daniel, Revelation, James, John, 1/2/3 John), and what I see is God's word fulfilled. I see that the only thing left is for the trumpet to sound.

Now think on this:

Matthew 24:37-39 (KJV)

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be

I live on the Gulf Coast and currently we are experiencing Tropical Depression Imelda. This system is worse than Hurricane Harvey from two years ago, and that is saying something. The images in my news feed are just heart breaking. But it has me thinking. What if the trumpet sounded now?

The trumpet is going to sound as we all go about life. But these days life includes all these weather issues and mayhem. So in the middle of chaos, which we are all be acclimated to, a major portion of the earth's population disappears.Right now, cars are stranded, buildings flood, stores have feet of water in them - and then the trumpet.

It is not going to be easy when the Church is gone. It's going to be devastating, and if it comes on the heels of a hurricane, tropical depression, fire, earthquake, or tornado (or a combo of these)....try and wrap your mind around that. People will be in mourning, confused, but knowing that they need supplies, but they might not be available. The world that will be is going to be ugly.

Just some thoughts as I work at a school, and parents have been calling all day checking on if we are closing, early dismissal, etc. It's a private Christian school. When the trumpet sounds, most to a majority of our school will be gone. But as an evangelical school, church membership is not required, and we know many of the parents are not believers. They are going to be calling to find out how their child is, and no one is going to answer the phone.

Chaos. Heartbreak. Devastation.

The Battle Line Has Been Drawn

If you still watch/read the news, and are a believer waiting for the trumpet call....you know that the battle line has been drawn in the sand. My news feed contains the following stories these days:

Day Care Provider Who Hanged Toddler Sentenced
Is Israel Headed for Another War
81 Year Old Man Wearing MAGA Hat Assaulted
Dems Block Born Alive Bill to Provide Medical Care to Infants Who Survive Failed Abortions
Theybies: Some Parents Raising Their Babies Gender Neutral
Anti-Abortion Movie Gets R Rating: MPAA claims decision isn't politically motivated
Couple Sues Planned Parenthood for Child Support after Failed Abortion
Measles Outbreak

With these eight headlines we have the following:

• People killing children
• War
• Hatred/violence towards an individual for their political beliefs
• Healthcare being denied to babies who survive abortion
• Parent's denying God's ordained gender
• An Anti-abortion movie being rated R - a 15 y/o can get an abortion w/o consent of a parent but cannot watch a movie against abortion unless a parent watches with them
• A toddler's parents are suing for child support because the child survived an abortion, and now the parents want money to help raise the child they did not want.
• Measles - basically eliminated now it has made a comeback. 

And honestly, even more and more stories just as horrific have popped up in my feed since I started typing this post. Mother's throwing their children off balconies, drunk drivers plowing into a grocery cart with a toddler (who died from the injuries), infanticide, LGBTQ movement pushed, transgender drag queens reading to kids in libraries.

Friends, the hour is near. The time is approaching, soon the trumpet will sound. But until then, the world is going to get uglier, more depraved, and horrific. Nothing is "off-limits" anymore, except speaking out against the depravity of sin that is being paraded about in the news, the court houses, and dare I say the churches.

The past few weeks have been so disheartening to my faith and my heart. The stories above...the fact that humanity is so depraved is not new. There is nothing new under the sun. I think what is shocking to myself and so many others is how brazenly sin/debauchery/pure evil is being promoted, displayed, paraded, and applauded. The fact that people are openly and publicly mocking God, not even shaking their fist at Him...its so much more. It is as if people are living and doing all they can to deny Him, punish those who serve Him, and...I can't put it into words. But what they are doing....its bad friends, it is bad.

But not bad enough. Because if it were enough, the trumpet would have already sounded. Which means in the weeks and months (I can't dare to think it could go on for years) to come, our world is going to fall further into this pit of brokenness and lawlessness. As horrified as we are with the news stories these days...they will get worse.

Satan is in his heyday currently. He is unrestrained. There is no other answer simply put. He has touched everything. He is in our churches. Let that sink in! If you do not believe me lets consider the following two stories that have been in the news:

Pope Sex Abuse Summit

Purity Ring Vagina Sculpture

For years, bit by bit news stories have come out about priest abusing children within the Catholic church. But here recently, it came out that even nun's were being abused by priest. The Pope was silent for a good long while, but he did finally speak out. Many parishioners within the Catholic faith are still not happy with the new proposals to fix this issue, or the fact that it took so long for information to come out. Woe unto these priests, the day of accountability before the LORD is a day they need to fear.

This second story....I use the word "church" lightly because well, lets be honest, if this "lady" truly was leading a biblical church...well that is part of the problem. there are many groups claiming them and their groups are churches, that they are representing Jesus. Friends, be careful! This lady is not promoting the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ or His teachings. That sculpture is an idol. Have we forgotten the 10 commandments? Have we forgotten what happened to Israel in the wilderness when they made the golden calf? (And don't get me started on the awards show The Oscars!).

But I want to get to the "bottom" of these stories, and the rest. Satan is going after our children. That is the final battlefield my friends. He has us adults arguing about border walls, immigration, we are distracted by gay marriage, and bakers/accountants being sued for not wanting to violate their beliefs, we are distracted by outrageous property taxes, and the national debt. We are also distracted by our TV shows and our cell phones. And our children...they are being left alone. And so the world is teaching them, is giving them attention. Satan is going after our children, and not many of us are standing up against him. We are not praying hard enough.

You ask what proof do I have of this? Look at the stories I listed above.

Infanticide - if a mother chooses to abort her child, and the child survives, that baby has no protections. The mother and doctor can decide to kill it even though the first attempt failed.

A toddler was hung by his care provider. HUNG!

Parents are raising their children as gender neutral - letting the child decide what gender they want to identify as - totally disregarding God's design, plan, and intention. 

Parents are suing Planned Parenthood for child support because the abortion they received failed. Can you imagine what that poor child will one day experience? Hearing about the case, googling his family name and seeing that his parents did not want him? I can only imagine the life that the child is living currently. Speaking of Planned Parenthood, did you see this article:

Progressive Church Plans to Open a Brewery and Donate Proceeds to Planned Parenthood

Again, I use the word church lightly in this scenario. Because a church teaching the Jesus of the Bible would not be doing this.

If you need further proof that Satan is running amok and going after our children, let me introduce you to Annie Christ.

That is not a typo, this gentleman's name is Annie Christ. Does he think he is being cute with his play on words? This man, dresses as a woman, and apparently has put on some vulgar shows for other adults, but also reads stories to little children. And not secretly! The parents willingly allowed their children to participate. 

Drag Queen Story Hour

I watched a video recently suggesting the Transgender Movement is demonically based. Looking at these pictures.....I cannot find an argument against this assessment. What I also see is an individual doing all they can to denounce God.

Okay, so you are thinking, "Well, I would never allow my child to go to such an event, we attend a church that teaches God word, we are good. Satan can't get to my children." If your children are in public school, or if you live in Minnesota - wrong. 

Abraham Lincoln

16th President

“The philosophy of the school

room in one generation will be

the philosophy of the

government in the next.”

I recently attended a convention and heard a session on the LGBTQ Movement and how it is being pushed in public schools. Here are some of the notes:

Where Did this Battle Unfold?

•Nova Classical Academy, St. Paul Minnesota

• K-12 Charter school – high academic and spiritual standards

• Excellent partnership with parents

• Parents on school board

• Fall, 2015 New Kindergarten Student Enrolled

• Gender nonconforming student – liked girl things

• To prepare students, ALL were read the book, My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis

• About her son, Dyson who loved 

Response from Parents

•Pushed back

• Exposing children to these strange gender concepts

• School Board indicated book not approved for use

Results

• Parents, Dave and Hannah Edwards - accused school of failing to protect their child’s “choices”

• Lawyers for Edwards soon involved

• Next school board meeting

• Packed with LGBT advocacy group,

Transforming Families and Gender Justice

• Transgender kids talked about “bullying”

• Protesting parents called “bigots” 

Results

• February, 2016, father demanded gender inclusion policy

• School board delayed

• Edward’s boy pulled from school

• Discrimination complaint submitted to Department of Human Rights

• Result: June 2017, Edwards family won lawsuit

• Required ‘gender inclusion policy’ for school

**FYI, Dave Edwards represents and is a trainer for Welcoming Schools, a LGBT Human Rights Campaign group

Ask yourself, "Was this a test case?"

Outcome for ALL Minnesota Schools

• Implementation through Minnesota’s Department of Education Gender Toolkit for staff training

• Nondiscriminatory dialogue and activities

• Choose own name AND clothes

• He and she removed from classroom

• Called students and scholars

• No boys basketball, No boy scouts

• No girl scouts, No girls volleyball

• Staff training required for gender inclusion

• Families could not opt out of policy

What’s missing in all of this?

• Forces everyone else to change

**Your beliefs/rights and opinions as parents don’t count

**Your choice doesn’t matter

• Where’s the inclusiveness for opposing beliefs?

• 0.6% controlling 99.4%

Want to see what they are using in classrooms to appeal to our children?

Unicorns. Usually seen as an image/idea of purity and innocence, being corrupted by Satan to confuse our children. Folks, this hits home for me. For Valentine's I worked with my 6 year old to make a unicorn box. We had so much fun, even though we argued about flower placement. I even had a shirt made to match! Then the very next day I learned about the Gender Unicorn. I am not going to get rid of the box or the shirt. But, in our household we will stay away from unicorns. If this is going to be the accepted image of the gender issue, we are going to get away from it.

Not too long ago an article came out, that in California they are gong to start teaching children about the 15 genders there now are. Did you know there were 15 genders? My Bible says there are two:

Genesis 1:27 (NASB)

27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

California Wants to Teach Kindergartners There are 15 Genders

Folks...our children are under attack. No where is safe. We cannot live in fear, but we need to pray. We need to cover our children in prayer. We need to know who their friends are, who we are leaving them with (church/sports groups), what they are watching/listening to, we need to be involved. Put your cell phone downs, turn the TV off, and get praying! Jesus has warned us:

Matthew 18:6  (NASB)

6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

The Book of Joel

What do you know of the Book of Joel? Do you know anything about the man himself? Do you know how many chapters there are in the Book of Joel?

To be honest, most people avoid, some intentionally, some without realizing, this tiny book. Why? It is about biblical prophesy. And that right there "biblical prophesy" makes people turn away from it because they think a person needs a PHD in Theology or Seminary to understand it.

I have become very familiar that last few months on the Book of Joel through a series of videos done by Anne Graham Lotz and Joel C Rosenburg on the subjects of harbingers. The series is from 2015, but the fact remains, the series fits even more so today with its message. I am going to share links to the video sessions below, but before you do, let's read the book of Joel.

Joel 1- English Standard Version (ESV)

1 The word of the Lord that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel:

An Invasion of Locusts

² Hear this, you elders;
    give ear, all inhabitants of the land!
Has such a thing happened in your days,
    or in the days of your fathers?
³ Tell your children of it,
    and let your children tell their children,
    and their children to another generation.

⁴ What the cutting locust left,
    the swarming locust has eaten.
What the swarming locust left,
    the hopping locust has eaten,
and what the hopping locust left,
    the destroying locust has eaten.

⁵ Awake, you drunkards, and weep,
    and wail, all you drinkers of wine,
because of the sweet wine,
    for it is cut off from your mouth.
⁶ For a nation has come up against my land,
    powerful and beyond number;
its teeth are lions' teeth,
    and it has the fangs of a lioness.
⁷ It has laid waste my vine
    and splintered my fig tree;
it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down;
    their branches are made white.

⁸ Lament like a virgin^[a] wearing sackcloth
    for the bridegroom of her youth.
⁹ The grain offering and the drink offering are cut off
    from the house of the Lord.
The priests mourn,
    the ministers of the Lord.
¹⁰ The fields are destroyed,
    the ground mourns,
because the grain is destroyed,
    the wine dries up,
    the oil languishes.

¹¹ Be ashamed,^[b] O tillers of the soil;
    wail, O vinedressers,
for the wheat and the barley,
    because the harvest of the field has perished.
¹² The vine dries up;
    the fig tree languishes.
Pomegranate, palm, and apple,
    all the trees of the field are dried up,
and gladness dries up
    from the children of man.

A Call to Repentance

¹³ Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests;
    wail, O ministers of the altar.
Go in, pass the night in sackcloth,
    O ministers of my God!
Because grain offering and drink offering
    are withheld from the house of your God.

¹⁴ Consecrate a fast;
    call a solemn assembly.
Gather the elders
    and all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
    and cry out to the Lord.

¹⁵ Alas for the day!
For the day of the Lord is near,
    and as destruction from the Almighty^[c] it comes.
¹⁶ Is not the food cut off
    before our eyes,
joy and gladness
    from the house of our God?

¹⁷ The seed shrivels under the clods;^[d]
    the storehouses are desolate;
the granaries are torn down
    because the grain has dried up.
¹⁸ How the beasts groan!
    The herds of cattle are perplexed
because there is no pasture for them;
    even the flocks of sheep suffer.^[e]

¹⁹ To you, O Lord, I call.
For fire has devoured
    the pastures of the wilderness,
and flame has burned
    all the trees of the field.
²⁰ Even the beasts of the field pant for you
    because the water brooks are dried up,
and fire has devoured
    the pastures of the wilderness.

Footnotes:

1. Joel 1:8 Or young woman
2. Joel 1:11 The Hebrew words for dry up and be ashamed in verses 10–12, 17 sound alike
3. Joel 1:15 Destruction sounds like the Hebrew for Almighty
4. Joel 1:17 The meaning of the Hebrew line is uncertain
5. Joel 1:18 Or are made desolate

Joel 2 - English Standard Version (ESV)

The Day of the Lord

2 Blow a trumpet in Zion;
    sound an alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
    for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near,
² a day of darkness and gloom,
    a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains
    a great and powerful people;
their like has never been before,
    nor will be again after them
    through the years of all generations.

³ Fire devours before them,
    and behind them a flame burns.
The land is like the garden of Eden before them,
    but behind them a desolate wilderness,
    and nothing escapes them.

⁴ Their appearance is like the appearance of horses,
    and like war horses they run.
⁵ As with the rumbling of chariots,
    they leap on the tops of the mountains,
like the crackling of a flame of fire
    devouring the stubble,
like a powerful army
    drawn up for battle.

⁶ Before them peoples are in anguish;
    all faces grow pale.
⁷ Like warriors they charge;
    like soldiers they scale the wall.
They march each on his way;
    they do not swerve from their paths.
⁸ They do not jostle one another;
    each marches in his path;
they burst through the weapons
    and are not halted.
⁹ They leap upon the city,
    they run upon the walls,
they climb up into the houses,
    they enter through the windows like a thief.

¹⁰ The earth quakes before them;
    the heavens tremble.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
    and the stars withdraw their shining.
¹¹ The Lord utters his voice
    before his army,
for his camp is exceedingly great;
    he who executes his word is powerful.
For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome;
    who can endure it?

Return to the Lord

¹² “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
¹³     and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
    and he relents over disaster.
¹⁴ Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
    and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
    for the Lord your God?

¹⁵ Blow the trumpet in Zion;
    consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
¹⁶     gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation;
    assemble the elders;
gather the children,
    even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
    and the bride her chamber.

¹⁷ Between the vestibule and the altar
    let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
    and make not your heritage a reproach,
    a byword among the nations.^[a]
Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?’”

The Lord Had Pity

¹⁸ Then the Lord became jealous for his land
    and had pity on his people.
¹⁹ The Lord answered and said to his people,
“Behold, I am sending to you
    grain, wine, and oil,
    and you will be satisfied;
and I will no more make you
    a reproach among the nations.

²⁰ “I will remove the northerner far from you,
    and drive him into a parched and desolate land,
his vanguard^[b] into the eastern sea,
    and his rear guard^[c] into the western sea;
the stench and foul smell of him will rise,
    for he has done great things.

²¹ “Fear not, O land;
    be glad and rejoice,
    for the Lord has done great things!
²² Fear not, you beasts of the field,
    for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
    the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

²³ “Be glad, O children of Zion,
    and rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given the early rain for your vindication;
    he has poured down for you abundant rain,
    the early and the latter rain, as before.

²⁴ “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;
    the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
²⁵ I will restore^[d] to you the years
    that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
    my great army, which I sent among you.

²⁶ “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
    and praise the name of the Lord your God,
    who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
²⁷ You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
    and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.

The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit

^28 [e] “And it shall come to pass afterward,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    your old men shall dream dreams,
    and your young men shall see visions.
²⁹ Even on the male and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

³⁰ “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. ³¹ The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. ³² And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Footnotes:

1. Joel 2:17 Or reproach, that the nations should rule over them
2. Joel 2:20 Hebrew face
3. Joel 2:20 Hebrew his end
4. Joel 2:25 Or pay back
5. Joel 2:28 Ch 3:1 in Hebrew

 

Joel 3- English Standard Version (ESV)

The Lord Judges the Nations

3 ^[a] “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, ² I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, ³ and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it.

⁴ “What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. ⁵ For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples.^{[b] 6} You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. ⁷ Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. ⁸ I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the Lord has spoken.”

⁹ Proclaim this among the nations:
Consecrate for war;^[c]
    stir up the mighty men.
Let all the men of war draw near;
    let them come up.
¹⁰ Beat your plowshares into swords,
    and your pruning hooks into spears;
    let the weak say, “I am a warrior.”

¹¹ Hasten and come,
    all you surrounding nations,
    and gather yourselves there.
Bring down your warriors, O Lord.
¹² Let the nations stir themselves up
    and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
for there I will sit to judge
    all the surrounding nations.

¹³ Put in the sickle,
    for the harvest is ripe.
Go in, tread,
    for the winepress is full.
The vats overflow,
    for their evil is great.

¹⁴ Multitudes, multitudes,
    in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
    in the valley of decision.
¹⁵ The sun and the moon are darkened,
    and the stars withdraw their shining.

¹⁶ The Lord roars from Zion,
    and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
    and the heavens and the earth quake.
But the Lord is a refuge to his people,
    a stronghold to the people of Israel.

The Glorious Future of Judah

¹⁷ “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God,
    who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
    and strangers shall never again pass through it.

¹⁸ “And in that day
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
    and the hills shall flow with milk,
and all the streambeds of Judah
    shall flow with water;
and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord
    and water the Valley of Shittim.

¹⁹ “Egypt shall become a desolation
    and Edom a desolate wilderness,
for the violence done to the people of Judah,
    because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
²⁰ But Judah shall be inhabited forever,
    and Jerusalem to all generations.
²¹ I will avenge their blood,
    blood I have not avenged,^[d]
    for the Lord dwells in Zion.”

Footnotes:

1. Joel 3:1 Ch 4:1 in Hebrew
2. Joel 3:5 Or palaces
3. Joel 3:9 Or Consecrate a war
4. Joel 3:21 Or I will acquit their bloodguilt that I have not acquitted

Here are the links to the videos:

Session One (36:58 in length)
Session Two (52:24 in length)
Session Three (54:40 in length)
Session Four (1:12:58 in length)
Session Five (1:08:15 in length)
Session Six (57:58  in length)
Session Seven (1:07:44 in length)

It will take some time, but I recommend sitting down in front of your computer, with your Bible, a notepad, pen, and a highlighter. You will not stay in the Book of Joel, you will do cross references, but you will see God's warnings clearly, and your life will be better for getting to know this wonderful Book of the Bible.