The Sower, Seed & Soil: A Study of those who will go to Heaven

I have spent the past 8 months studying God's word, and what Jesus says is a disciple of Him. Eight months is a good deal of time to stud scripture to understand what Jesus taught in 3 1/2 years to His disciples. I have been blessed that my teacher on the class was a man that I admire, who has a passion for Jesus, and came to the faith through the Old Testament. And I am grateful that he is a man who wanted to teach a class that was of quality not matter the quantity of students. On the best day, there were 5 students, and the lowest, his wife and I were the only one's in attendance. And I feel that on those two occasions where his wife and I were his only pupils, the conversation and studying went to an even deeper level. I am blessed by this couple, I see them as friends, mentors, as family.

Now to what he taught, what I learned, and the truths everyone needs to face.

The attendance in heaven is going to be shocking, in two ways.

1. The people who go there will be shocked by who is there.
2. The people who go there will be shocked by who is NOT there.

The study I was apart of outlined: the call, cost, commitment, and the comissioning of the disciples. Jesus outlined a process to His disciples that they were to use to make more disciples to fulfill the Great Comission (Matthew 28:19-20).

I want to start with verse 16 though. Scripture should be read in context, not just picked at.

Matthew 28:16-20 (NASB)

¹⁶ But the eleven (in spite of deceptive Judas) disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. ¹⁷ When they (the eleven) saw Him, they (the eleven) worshiped (prostrated before Him) Him; but some (at least two) were doubtful (did a double take; unbelief at what they saw). ¹⁸ And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, (imperfect tense) “All authority (ability, strength, power to do God’s will) has been given (one event with result into the future) to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go (COMMAND – as you go) therefore (because of the authority) and make (COMMAND – molding, manufacturing, process) disciples of all the nations (no one is omitted), baptizing (emersion of life) them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (under the authority of the trinity), ²⁰ teaching (instruct personally) them to observe (living, keep, obey, act) all that I commanded (pay attention) you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (forever, end of time).”

This process, it is what God intended for all Christians/disciples to follow. And by the way, those are one in the same. A disciple is a Christian, and a Christian is a disciple. If you answer the personal call that brings you out of the darkness, and choose to pay the price of following Christ, and endure to the end (Matthew 10:22;24:13) you are a disciple of Christ.

The truth is though, most people who walk to the front of a church worship room and say they have given their life over to Christ, will not endure to the end. And by most, I say with confidence 72% of "professing" believers are not disciples of Christ (I will explain later in this post where I get this number from). They do not take the time to invest in God's word, to know what God has instructed His believers to do (live, act, believe), and when life gets tough they give up on "faith" because it is easier. And this is clearly outlined in at least two portions of scripture:

1. Parable of the Soil: Matthew 13:3-12; Mark 4:3-9; Luke 8: 5-8
2. The letters to the Seven Churches: Revelation 2 & 3

The Wisdom of the Parable of the Soil

Matthew 13:3-12 (NASB)

3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. 8 And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

Mark 4:3-9 (NASB)

3 “Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. 6 And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” 9 And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 8:5-8 (NASB)

5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. 8 Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

By reading these three portions of scripture, we learn that there are four types of soil. If you have spent any length of time in a church service, more than likely you have heard a sermon on "What Type of Soil Do You Want to be!" The problem with these sermons, is they miss the mark, not entirely, but unfortunately, in a crucial way. Most pastor's in my own experience use this topic as a sermon on salvation to the lost. But that was not the target audience. The soil is in the church. This goes back to when I mentioned "professing" believers. The parable of the soil is a picture of those in the little "c" church (your local community churches). Not everyone in your local church is a possessor of saving & sanctifying faith. Unfortunately, the parable of the soil tells us that those in the local church are 75% lost; 25% saved. Truths about the parable: Sower is God the Father, Seed is the Word of God, and the soil is you and me. Of the three, the only one that changes is you and me. We have a choice to be lost or to be saved. Here is the break down of the four soils:

• The seed that fell beside the road.
• World system
• Has heard the Word of God
• Birds - occupation, recreation, family, money
• Might not even a a professor, but the soil is dry (not good for growing)
• DIAGNOSIS: LOST
• The seed that fell in the rocky places.
• Professor's for sure
• In the little "c" church, but is not in the big "c" Church (body of Christ)
• Bad fruit
• Judas, of the original 12
• DIAGNOSIS: LOST
• The seed that fell among the thorns.
• Professor
• Not sanctified
• No fruit
• Chokes
• Unsaved
• Has a visible appearance of fruit/flower - is deceiving
• Most of the little "c" church
• Largest portion of soil in the church
• DIAGNOSIS: LOST
• The seed that fell among on good soil.
• Possessor
• Good Fruit\
• Sanctifying faith
• Will endure to the end
• DIAGNOSIS: SAVED

Friends, brothers & sisters in Christ, we have a mission field literally in our House. The recently departed Reverend Billy Graham was once quoted as saying, "At least 50% of those sitting in church pews are lost." The parable of the soil shows us that number is closer to 75% - and God's word tell us that.

Now, let's wrap up with the Letter's to the Seven Churches from Revelation 2 & 3. I won't outline the Scripture here, I have shared that previously: Revelation: Letters to the Seven Churches

But a quick summary will suffice for what I want to talk about.

Church #1 - Ephesus Revelation 2:1-7

• Description of Christ - Holds 7 stars in right hand/ Walks among the 7 golden lampstands
• Commendation - Poverty (but rich), blasphemy of the false, some in prison, tested
• Reproof - V4 - Bu this I have against you that you have left your first love. Jesus is their first love, duty w/o devotion.
• Warning/Instruction - Repent, do your first deeds, from where you have fallen. 
• Promise to Overcomers - Crown of life,not hurt by the 2nd death

Church #2 - Smyrna Revelation 2:8-11

• Description of Christ -1st and last was dead, come to life (V8)
• Commendation - V9 - I know your tribulation (& poverty) but you are rich. FAITHFUL
• Reproof - NONE
• Warning/Instruction - V10 - Be faithful unto death
• Promise to Overcomers - V10 - Crown of V11 - Life, not hurt by the 2nd death

Church #3 - Pergamum Revelation 2:12-17

• Description of Christ -V12 - The One who has the sharp two edged sword.
• Commendation - Hold fast to My name. Did not deny My faith.
• Reproof - Tolerating the teaching of Baalm. Eat things sacrificed to idols. Some hold to the teaching of the Nicolatians. 
• Warning/Instruction - Repent or I will make ware against you. Jude/2 Peter
• Promise to Overcomers - Hidden manna White stone, new name

Church #4 - Thyatira Revelation 2:18-29

• Description of Christ - Son of God. Eyes like a flame of fire. His feet are like burnished bronze
• Commendation - Deeds, love, faith, service/perseverance. Greater than at first.
• Reproof - Tolerate Jezebel - prophetess - leads astray - immorality lust , idol, sacrifice, seduction
• Warning/Instruction - Hold fast until His return. REPENT
• Promise to Overcomers - Authority over nations. The morning star - possess.

Church #5 - Sardis Revelation 3:1-6

• Description of Christ - Has 7 spirits of God and the 7 stars
• Commendation - Have a name and are alive
• Reproof - Dead. About to die. Works are incomplete.
• Warning/Instruction - Remember what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent.
• Promise to Overcomers - Walk with Him in white garments, name not erased from the book of life. Name confessed before the Father and His angels.

Church #6 - Philadelphia Revelation 3:7- 13

• Description of Christ - Holy, True, has key of David, who opens and no one will shut. Shuts and no one will open.
• Commendation - FAITHFULNESS
• Reproof - NONE
• Warning/Instruction - NONE
• Promise to Overcomers - An open door. Deliverance from Great Tribulation. Permanent place in the Temple of God. A new name.

Church #7 - Laodicea Revelation 3:14-22

• Description of Christ - The Amen, faithful, and true witness. Beginning of the creation of God
• Commendation - NONE - NOT EVEN ONE
• Reproof - Neither cold/hot: LUKEWARM Say rich and wealthy and need nothing, but are wretched, miserable, poor,blind and naked
• Warning/Instruction - Buy gold refined by/from Jews to be rich, white garments to not be naked, Eye salve to see. Be zealous & repent.
• Promise to Overcomers - Sit with Him on His throne.

Only 2 of the 7 churches were given no reproofs: Our Savior, Jesus Christ, held nothing against Smyrna and Philadelphia. And if you look at the map above, you see that the seven churches were close to each other. They knew of each other, and could influence each other. 5 of the 7 made a choice to not follow the steps of Smyrna and Philadelphia. And therefore, Jesus gave them commands that had consequences: rewards or penalties for obedience. The letters are written to the churches, and the churches are portraits of the church across the globe today. Every little "c" church fits one of the seven descriptions. Do the math, only 28% of churches are doing what Jesus told His to disciples to do. That statistic is heartbreaking. So many in the churches today are lost, by choice, and they are influencing those around them in the pews. Possessors are in short supply. There are few doing the work of seed planting for the harvest that is to come. 

Those of us that make up the 28% must not lose heart, must continue on, be strong, and endure to the end....death of these mortal bodies or the rapture of them unto Heaven. Keep planting the seed. 

I leave you with one more image to consider. The current of the world system that we are born into naturally leads to hell - death, eternally separated from God the Father. To be a possessor, a disciple,

you have to go against the current, which takes endurance, that Holy Spirit provides. At the top of the image is the gate to Heaven. You recall in the parable of the Narrow/ Wide Gate, few will enter by the Narrow. That is an understatement. Think of that gate as a capillary, which only allows one cell through at a time. That is the gate to Heaven, guarded by Jesus Christ. He only allows one person at a time to enter, and He decides who enters. The most highly exclusive destination.

Remember, Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB)

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

If we do not endure, we are not disciples of Jesus Christ. And everyone who is not His disciple is going to hell. The gates to which are wide open, inclusive (takes anyone), and are never satisfied.

If you would like to know more on the course I took, it will be offered again, and I will share, with pleasure, that information.

Fifty Shades of Red

Confession: As a tween I was introduced to romance novels. I am talking about Julia Garwood, Danielle Steel, Nora Roberts and the like. Books very similar to the daytime soap operas on the standard channels. No where near appropriate for a 10-13 year old to read. I was a ferocious reader (still am to a degree) and could read 3 to 4 a week.

Now, romance novels were not the only books I read, I read Little Women, Jane Eyre, Edgar Allen Poe, and many others. So a varied assortment, but should I have read the romance novels? As an adult, looking back, the answer is absolutely no. The books I read very easily effected my perspective on romance, sex, and relationships. The books, with their fictional story lines, some highly improbable, with unrealistic outcomes changed how I viewed life. Will I allow my daughter to read such books while she is in my house? No, not at all. 

2011, the year that the first book of the Fifty Shades trilogy came out. My husband and I were married. I remember the book came out while I was in the midst of a ladies bible study group at church. The book came up after our main session while we were split into small groups. Amongst my group of varied ladies (backgrounds, education, age, stage of life) not a single one of us wanted to read the book, and in fact many of us were appalled. 

Were we being prudes? Maybe. But what had us appalled was the number of God fearing women we knew who were fanning over the book. Mothers, Bible study leaders, women we respected -  were excited about this book trilogy. A trilogy based on debased sexual perversions, that glorifies sexual/mental abuse, and highlights an ungodly/immoral relationship.

Many of us asked amongst our selves, and to the ladies who were excited about the books this question: what is the difference between the trilogy and porn? To those we asked, many thought we were being overly dramatic, that there was no connection. Porn they said was degrading to women, and nasty men watched it. They got very defensive and deflective. But there is no difference. Both porn and that trilogy degrade women, make light of the foundation God implemented for sex, and changes how the individual partaking in its message views romance/sex/life.

As with our culture, if a book goes against God, glorifies an "alternative lifestyle" and is successful monetarily, movies are made! Just recently the third movie was released and has been a roaring success according to the media news outlets. It has had a $33 million launch and is a box office success. 

What does this say about our society? That fact that these books and movies are so successful does not speak well about the moral temperature of our culture and society. 

Ladies if you have read this trilogy and seen these movies, I HOPE and PRAY that the Holy Spirit convicts you and you become Fifty Shades of RED! Be embarrassed. God created sex, He knows what is best and how it works best: within a marriage, built on the foundation of faith. God knows how love works, He created it and defined it!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails

And also remember this, God's plan for marriage:
Ephesians 5: 22-33 (Marriage Like Christ and the Church)

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.


25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

Ladies, we are the moral lighthouse of our homes. We have a heavy influence on our children and their upbringing. Our children see what we do, and what we do is what they will do. Let that sink in on every level - how you dress, how you eat, how you serve, how you spend your leisure time. Women with daughters, I feel this is even more so relevant to us. Our daughters want to be us (at least my 5 year old does a this point). She wants to dress like me, do her hair like me, she asks to wear my lip stain - she wants to be my mini me. How I act in front of her, what activities I partake in, she is soaking in like a sponge. Our sons are influenced by us also, but their father will be the bigger influence in their actions and ambitions. Women usually are the glue that holds their families together, or tears it apart. 

Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands

Let us all be the wise woman.

Praying for a Hard Person in the Call for Life

Do you know this woman? Do you know who she is? What her profession is?

Cecile Richards

If you are apart of the pro-life movement, or even follow it remotely, you know who she is. 
Cecile Richards. Since 2006 she has been the president of Planned Parenthood. Later this year she plans to step down from that position. Now that does sound like a reason to celebrate, especially if it meant that Planned Parenthood was finally shut down. But alas, no she is stepping down to further her ambitions as a writer. Her book, "Make Trouble," has the tag line of, "Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead."

I do not like who this woman is or what she "stands" for. I believe it is an absolute sign of the depravity and fallenness of this world when a woman leads an organization known for murdering millions of babies before birth. Thirteen months ago my husband and I lost a child, just weeks after finding out we had conceived. That time was hard. We cried, I yelled, I begged, I prayed, I pleaded with God - save Charli. It was not to be. Barely 3 weeks after discovering we were pregant with #3, we lost our sweet baby. And we have mourned - not always the prettiest or even the nicest, but thirteen months later, we have come out stronger together. As much as I could, I fought to save that life, that baby.

If you are friends with me personally, or follow the Facebook page for this blog (link), you know that a week ago, my husband and I found out that once again we are expecting #4. I am just barely 5 1/2 weeks pregnant, but pregnant is pregnant. Something my OB noted on the medical portal has irked me, "Very early pregnant." Maybe the hormones (which are doubling like they need to) have me sensitive, but "early" pregnant? That seems like double speak to me. I am sorry, but you are either pregnant or you are not. Not just a little pregnant or a lot pregnant. Pregnancy is an absolute. Yes you are. Or no you are not.

The woman above, she thinks, no, believes to her core, that I have every right to get rid of this child if:

• it is not convenient to have a baby right now
• to call my baby a lump of cells if the notion of aborting a "baby"is offensive
• if there is something "genetically" wrong with my fetus, by all means get rid of it
• that what I am carrying inside me isn't a baby, it is a lump of cells, or at most a fetus, but not a human being worth the dignity of having someone fight for it.

She is a mother and that baffles me to the core. How can a woman who has children fight for women to murder their own? 

I digress. I am not here to judge her, that is God's job. My job and your job is to pray for her. But not only her. She is stepping down from the butcher shop. She is going to be replaced. People have been selected to head the committee to replace her. My conviction is that her replacement will be more depraved, more inhuman than she could even imagine. Evil doesn't tame its self, evil doesn't dilute it's poison, it ramps it up. Evil spreads like cockroaches. 

Since Roe v. Wade (1973) over 50 million babies have been murdered. The blood of our land has been polluted by the murder of our young. They are crying for justice, and some day soon God will avenge them. Until then, until the Rapture, you and I need to pray. But not just for our friends, community, pastor's, loved one's. We need to pray for people like Cecile Richards and those like her. 

Matthew 5:43-48  (NASB)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

If you are pro-life, a defender of God's creation, Satan and his ilk, those he uses for his wickedness will persecute you. Mrs. Richards was recently reported as saying, in response to President Trump wanting protections for Christians apposed to abortion who are in the medical field, she wants them to not have any protection, but be forced to give the abortions.

Brothers and Sisters, join me in prayer. We need to pray for the unborn, for the women who are at risk of manipulation of murdering their own child, pray for the individuals who are on the committee to replace Mrs. Richards, pray for her. Let heart's be changed, lives be saved. I leave you with some verses to pray for the situation at hand.

• 1 John 4:4 Dear children, you belong to God. So you have won the victory over these people, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 
• 2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen
• Proverbs 1:33-34 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,
• Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger. you and guard you from the evil one.
• Proverbs 12:21 No harm comes to the godly, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
• Ecclesiastes 8:5 Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
• Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
• Psalm 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
• Psalm 9:9-10 The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you.
• Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Something about a Daughter

Us after Sunday rest 2/4/2018

My daughter is 5 years old, going on 30. It is scary, let me tell you. Raising a girl in this generation has my heart skipping beats quite often. Her life is so much different than what mine was at her age. She has more security, a better foundation in faith, a solid home life, and a plethora of family and friends that are pouring into her.

She has friends, so many friends, boys and girls. She is a delight. Life with her is not dull. She is into dolls, princesses, bugs, coloring, and reading. She is a delight. And headstrong too! Molding her into the godly woman Christ intends for her to be is trying at times. It is not a simple one prayer and done. It is a constant molding. She is clay on a potters wheel, and my husbands hands and I are shaping her the best we can. I am glad I am not at this alone. That her teachers, our friends, our family, our community are working together, praying together to help her. I am proud of who she is becoming. I really am.



She said, "Mommy I drew you."




New Year, New Chapters

Wow, how are already in February. This year is going by quickly, as each year seems to do.

This year has brought about more changes for our family. My wonderful husband graduated from the Police Academy a little over a week and a half ago. A year long process, application to graduation is complete. Now he is pursuing a career that God steered him to. He is still in a training phase, but it is hands on, on the job. He is suited up and serving. To say we are proud of him, is an understatement.


2018: The Year Ahead

Dear Brother & Sister's in Christ,

Happy New Year! And may God Bless you in the year ahead.

- - - - - - - 

I wrote the above right at the turn of the New Year, and have pretty much been stumped as to what to share with you. Now I know.

The past several years, our church has invited Dr. R.T. Kendall (of Westminster Chapel fame) to preach in January. He never disappoints, his sermons are inspiring, his  humor contagious. His 2018 visit did not break that mold. He preached both sermons today, a.m. and p.m., And while this morning was phenomenal about the conscious and unconscious presence of God in our lives, I want to focus and share with you the verse that guided his preaching tonight.

Philippians 1:12 (KJV)
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

This verse, as he shared it was inspiring and convicting. Paul is the author of Philippians, and what preceded was that he wanted to go to Jerusalem, and everyone was against him doing so. Upon doing so a real mess occurred, and he ended up in Rome. Where he was able to share to Caeser the gospel.

Was he right to go? Should he have listened to the others?

The point: IT DOESN'T MATTER!

What does matter, is that the gospel was furthered. And that is ultimately what we need to focus on. Are our lives furthering the gospel? If so, then good, if not, why not? You know the great commission in Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB)

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

We are to make disciples of all nations, you make disciples by sharing the gospel, then nurturing in the new believer all that Christ commands in the gospels. The point of our existence is to share and live the gospel, therefore bringing glory, honor, and worship to our LORD.

So as you go into 2018, whatever circumstance you may be facing, whatever decisions are looming, go forward, making sure to further the gospel.

FUTURE: Ezekiel 38 & 39

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. My family had a great time. My children were over abundantly gifted - their recently purged rooms are a bit full again. The Christmas decorations have come down. Family has returned home. And looking forward is a new year. Celebrations, return work/school, very cold weather (possibly snow again!).

There is a degree of certainty and uncertainty in the year to come. We anticipate:

• my husband graduating from the police academy
• paying off as many bills as possible
• fixing our fence and electrical issues
• all of us getting a year old

The questions we have going into the year ahead:

• how far Brock will go in the department
• how our church will continue to grow beyond the walls of the building
• will our children accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior (pretty sure Abigail is close)
• will the LORD return this year

On November 29, 1947 the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 181, which formally established a Jewish nation in the land.  War broke out immediately between Jews and Palestinians, which culminated in the establishment of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948. On this date, Israel was re-established as a nation.

Let us look at the parable of the Fig Tree: Matthew 24: 32-41

32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

There is general agreement that the Parable of the Fig Tree that Jesus told His disciples in His Olivet Discourse was a prophecy of the rebirth of Israel because the fig tree represents national Israel in Scripture.

• 1 Kings 4:25
• Jeremiah 24:5 
• Hosea 9:10
• Matthew 21:18-20
• Mark 11:12-14
• Luke 3:7-9, 13:6-9 
• John 1:47-49  

The immediate context of the parable was the Time of Jacob's Trouble, also known as the Tribulation. In other words, the generation that sees Israel reborn and the fig tree "put out its leaves" is the same generation that will see the completion of the Tribulation and the return of Jesus Christ.

The fig tree withered during Jesus' first coming because the nation rejected their Messiah. The Jewish people put to death their own King:

• Matthew 27:37
• Mark 15:2
• John 19:19
• Acts 2:36

Verse 34 of Matthew 24 says this generation will not pass away. A biblical generation is 70 years, and we are coming upon that this coming May. If you have read my blog for some time, you know I believe we are in the very last seconds of the Church Age. I believe and yearn for the return of my Savior, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel - God with us. I have studied Revelation, and know that His return for His bride is glorious for her (the Church), but that it triggers a minimum of 7 years of wrath, judgement, and woe on those who have not accepted Him. And that makes me mourn. For only God, Yaweh, knows that hearts of man, and knows who will be raptured and who will remain. There is grace in the time of Seals, Trumpets, & Bowls, salvation can be had, but at a much heavier price than in all times before.

But recently I became aware of a prophecy that must take place first, before the Church hears the trumpet call and is united with her Groom. There will be a war. All nations will turn against Israel, all. The stage has been set with the Trump administration. He is challenging every nation that doesn't stand with Israel, calling them out. North Korea is unstable (the nation and its leader) and is war of words with our President, which everyone believes will spill over onto the world stage. 

I believe that those that stand with Israel will be wiped out, or so decimated that they will be unable to defend Israel, who will then be attacked. 

But, Israel will not be defeated in this attack. The leaders of that attack though, will suffer loss unlike any other. Ezekiel 38 & 39 outline this war, and the outcome. This scripture has not come to pass yet. The prophecy will happen I believe in the months to come. Please read it below, see what is to come, and prepare your hearts. Friends the Church will be on earth for this, but I believe after this war, sometime soon after, the trumpet will call, and the bride will see her Groom.

Ezekiel 38 (NASB)

Prophecy about Gog and Future Invasion of Israel
38 And the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. 4 I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords; 5 Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you.

7 “Be prepared, and prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. 8 After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come into the land that is restored from the sword, whose inhabitants have been gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel which had been a continual waste; but its people were brought out from the nations, and they are living securely, all of them. 9 You will go up, you will come like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you.”

10 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan, 11 and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, 12 to capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world.’ 13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will say to you, ‘Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil?’”’

14 “Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it? 15 You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army; 16 and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.”

17 ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? 18 It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” declares the Lord God, “that My fury will mount up in My anger. 19 In My zeal and in My blazing wrath I declare that on that day there will surely be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20 The fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground. 21 I will call for a sword against him on all My mountains,” declares the Lord God. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 With pestilence and with blood I will enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire and brimstone. 23 I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the Lord.”’

Ezekiel 39 (NASB)

Prophecy against Gog—Invaders Destroyed
39 “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal; 2 and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. 3 I will strike your bow from your left hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand. 4 You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field. 5 You will fall on the [d]open field; for it is I who have spoken,” declares the Lord God. 6 “And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the Lord.

7 “My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. 8 Behold, it is coming and it shall be done,” declares the Lord God. “That is the day of which I have spoken.

9 “Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them. 10 They will not take wood from the field or gather firewood from the forests, for they will make fires with the weapons; and they will take the spoil of those who despoiled them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them,” declares the Lord God.

11 “On that day I will give Gog a burial ground there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea, and it will block off those who would pass by. So they will bury Gog there with all his horde, and they will call it the valley of Hamon-gog. 12 For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land. 13 Even all the people of the land will bury them; and it will be to their renown on the day that I glorify Myself,” declares the Lord God. 14 “They will set apart men who will constantly pass through the land, burying those who were passing through, even those left on the surface of the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will make a search. 15 As those who pass through the land pass through and anyone sees a man’s bone, then he will set up a marker by it until the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamon-gog. 16 And even the name of the city will be Hamonah. So they will cleanse the land.”’

17 “As for you, son of man, thus says the Lord God, ‘Speak to every kind of bird and to every beast of the field, “Assemble and come, gather from every side to My sacrifice which I am going to sacrifice for you, as a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh and drink blood. 18 You will eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, as though they were rams, lambs, goats and bulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan. 19 So you will eat fat until you are glutted, and drink blood until you are drunk, from My sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. 20 You will be glutted at My table with horses and charioteers, with mighty men and all the men of war,” declares the Lord God.

21 “And I will set My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgment which I have executed and My hand which I have laid on them. 22 And the house of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God from that day onward. 23 The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity because they acted treacherously against Me, and I hid My face from them; so I gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and all of them fell by the sword. 24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them.”’”

Israel Restored
25 Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name. 26 They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid. 27 When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall be sanctified through them in the sight of the many nations. 28 Then they will know that I am the Lord their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer. 29 I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.

Once last thing, if you have time, I recommend you read this book. 

Epicenter 2.0 by Joel Rosenberg

I found it a great book on what has happened in the middle east for the past decade and what is still to come. If you have followed me for some time, you know that I am a fan of Joel Rosenberg. Him and Anne Graham Lotz have a phenomenal series on the Book of Joel that you can find on YouTube (search harbingers).

God Bless & Happy New Year friends.