For All Generations

Acts 2:38-41 - Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Boy, if the time right after Jesus went to be at the right hand of the Father was considered a perverse generation, what might today be considered?

We have been forewarned from Genesis to Revelation what was, what is and what is to be. I read and hear quite often how we are in the last days before Christ returns. 

It is noted in the Bible that in these last days there will be mockers and scoffers suggesting: ...that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2Peter 3:2-4)

In a way, things do continue eras they were, yet not. We see perverseness. The last days look like this: But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God...

(2Timothy 3:1-4)

When we see the evil in the world can’t we sort of believe this? I do not think America will be great again. Sorry. That’s man’s hopeful plan. God may have another plan. Man can’t fix all the evil there is. But God can. Like in the days of Noah...But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.(Matthew 24:36-39)  Only when Christ returns and all evil is removed will there be any greatness again. And only those who have confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior will be part of that. Only those who believe His Word. Only those who put all their faith and trust in Him. 

Do you see? All the warnings. God is not a liar. God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)  His Word shows us all we need to know and do and who we need to trust. If we don’t know His Word we have no part of the good life to come. We are not good apart from Him. No good at all. We are the liars if we say we do not sin nor that any sin (according to the world) is in us. 

As the first scripture says, Jesus’ forgiveness is for all generations but not everyone will receive His gift of salvation. It just doesn’t happen because we say we know and believe in our heads this Man, Jesus. He has to become personal to each of us. We have to know we hear Him speak. We have to know His Word and the truths therein, not what the average man thinks he knows. Not what this denomination says vs. this one. Do you know the truth??

If any of this is worrisome there is still time to be relieved of this concern. Jesus does that. He’s willing any time, any day for any person willing...willing...to believe in Him over self and man. It’s got to be personal between you and Jesus. It’s not just saying you believe then living as you wish. It’s abiding in Him. In Him.

Will you gladly receive the Word? Will you gladly receive Christ and then receive truth and life and the way to God the Father? You can. Now. 

Hebrews 3:7-8,13- Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 

The Terror of the Lord

Isaiah 2:19,21 - They shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily. To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the crags of the rugged rocks, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily.

Isaiah was a prophet. He told of the judgment to come upon His people. God was frustrated and angry with Israel. They had seen His miracles, known His protection and provision over the years, but now they forgot Him. They were intent on making names for themselves, relishing in the works of their own hands, patting themselves on the back and living for self. Their stuff became their idols. They no longer looked to God as Provider.

As I read the first chapter I saw a similarity between these people and our nation, one that once was aware of the need for God, which people did not consider Him passé. God still pleads with us: "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 1:19,20)

Amidst the majority of the people (then and now) there is a remnant of believers, however. Unless the Lord of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:9) Everyone knows the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Two cities filled with sin. God told Abraham he would not destroy them if there would be even 10 righteous people...and there weren't.

I know sometimes when I write I sound critical. And people don't like to hear criticism. But sometimes it's through that criticism that something eventually hits home. Jesus spoke some harsh words Himself calling some hypocrites, blind fools, snakes and vipers. Not pleasant words at all, but the truth. When I write what God warns it may sound critical. How can anyone say that God who never changes, is always truthful, has warned us in the past and continues today is being critical. He's warning...........I pass on those warnings.

Our country has a small remnant of righteous people. Although we are headed for disastrous times, I do not believe we will be destroyed for the righteous...who still will have difficult days to go through because of the unrighteous.

As Isaiah goes on, God has him prophesy first the warning that if they put away their evil ways He will do right by them. If they do not His hand will come against those who come against Him. Isaiah 1:25,28: I will turn My hand against you, and thoroughly purge away your dross, and take away all your alloy. The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed. God will still do this today because his Word has not changed...warning first...with His goodness to them if they heed and the results of their determination not to hear His words. Just not many take the time today to know what His Word has to say.

Oh, people. Does anyone see this? We are so imitating those days. As individuals, a nation and the world. Many do not hear the words of the prophets warning of the days to come. Many might say, they were ancient people and what does that have to do with today? Many believe that life just goes on as we have known it for our short time on earth. I look at it this way...Jesus will return; why not today or tomorrow? It has to happen sometime. Shouldn't we be ready? What do you think will happen if He does? Are you ready? Do you care? You should.

The signs of the times show the great and glorious day of the Lord is coming. Scoffers are in abundance. Evil abounds compared to 60 years ago, right? Wickedness in the form of complacency and self-seeking, self-pleasure is everywhere. And there are a lot of blind people...blind because if
they could see they would recognize their sin and who wants that?

There will be a day when the terror of the Lord will come. If I must be afraid of it, so should everyone. There WILL be a day when God will show the world His glory and righteousness. It will be a terror to those not with Him, to those who have ignored Him, who have said they believed in Him yet lived as they desired thinking they had nothing to fear. When this day comes, all those things one worked so hard for, so enjoyed, so proud about, will come to nothing...left behind when the fear of God so overcomes and sends people running and hiding because God's glory is too much to bear.

I share Isaiah's warning. It is not mine. As God spelled it out then, He spells it out in no uncertain terms today. He never changes, His Word is still true. He has shown us as an example....so don't get mad at the messenger(s)! Ignorance is no excuse. Turning a blind eye or deaf ear is no excuse. God has shown us. Will you heed His warnings? Or will you laugh at what seems impossible? Isn't it He who created the heavens, earth and mankind, brought the Great Flood, was provider and protector to those who followed Him, rained judgment on those who did not, who sent His Son to die for all so we would not need to fear? Jesus is still the answer in this world. Just acknowledging Him is not enough. Knowing Him personally is. Trusting in Someone who is unseen, having faith in Him before the things we can see or feel.

Heed His warning or don't. Laugh or not. I voice not just my own opinion but that of others, which ultimately comes from God. It's up to you to make up your own mind.

For with God nothing will be impossible. Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. (Luke 1:37, Jeremiah 32:17)

Subject to Judgment

Isaiah 9:10  - "The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars." 

I have said many times the Bible is meant to show us how to live. It gives us examples from which we are to learn. It has stories from love to miracles to judgment. It presents to us signs we are to look for. I’ve mentioned we’re in the last days. I’ve shown scriptures explaining what we will see. All God’s warnings. But not warnings to harm but to turn us back to God, to trust in Him, get right with Him. I’m certainly not the only one who sees last days right before us. You can choose to believe me or not. It’s your choice. 

I finished reading The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn. A harbinger is a warning from God. I wished I’d been a faster reader. Let me first say that there have been times when I thought I was being unnecessarily critical of our country. I have felt bad that I was criticizing our own nation, and yet...  

The Harbinger is prophesy couched in fiction...with numerous factual footnotes. I have felt for a long time that there are things happening today that happened in years past in the accounts of the Bible. I’ve mentioned some of them. This author has specifically taken one ancient scripture and numerous accounts that have happened in the United States and shown how they parallel each other; how these ancient events transpired and are playing out today. It’s phenomenal. And it’s happening, actually happening, in our country! You can call it coincidence. If only one thing happened I might consider that, but there are many incidences which cannot make it coincidence.

Read the scripture again above. Read it slowly and let me explain... I won’t be able to get in to the nitty gritty of some of the details...too time consuming. I will only explain a couple issues, briefly. You will have to read the book if you have any desire to understand more deeply. Don’t be skeptical, be wise...if for no other reason than to try to prove me wrong!

The scripture above refers to Israel during a time of war against her enemies. God was trying to send a message to them because they turned away from Him and put their trust not in His strength and power to battle their enemies, but their own. In a Bible commentary by Finis Jennings Dake, this explanation of this scripture reads: In this scripture we have the defiance of the people against the judgments of God, the people saying that the bricks are thrown down, but we will build with stronger material--large hewn stones and cedars that are stronger than sycamores. In an NIV study Bible commentary this is what was written: These verses (9:10-10:4) describe Israel’s arrogance and persistent impenitence, and God’s anger and judgment against them; even in great trouble they would not humble themselves and turn to God with a contrite and broken heart.

[What’s amazing is the verses before 9:10 speak prophetically of Jesus. These verses are read yearly at Christmas. He who would be the coming Deliverer who would bring joy, peace, righteousness and justice to anyone who claimed Him as their Savior. If we believed and put our trust in Him... This all came true; we know that. So why not believe the next prophetic event in Isaiah 9:10? An understanding of Jesus, a true knowing of Him spiritually, is necessary for anyone’s future. Take heart, heed the warnings. Consider your future. Do you know Jesus? Have you received Him? Ignoring this is turning from Him, rejecting Him... This is not just about a nation, but about people.]

So, you get the picture above. Turn from God, be warned by Him, be subject to judgment if the warnings are not heeded. No Jesus, No Peace; Know Jesus, Know Peace, as a bumper sticker states.

Here’s a list of nine harbingers Cahn uncovered:

       First - The Breach (separation from on God)

       Second - The Terrorist (9/11)

       Third - The Fallen Bricks (towers came down)

       Fourth - The Tower (the proposed building of the Freedom Tower)

       Fifth - The Gazit Stone (bricks replaced by stronger stone)

       Sixth - The Sycamore (uprooted at Ground Zero)

       Seventh - The Erez Tree (replaced the sycamore, stronger)

       Eighth - The Utterance (vows made: Isaiah 9:10)

       Ninth - The Prophecy (pronouncing judgment)

Cahn specifically shows us proof, that the attacks on 9/11 play out the scripture above. Our walls were destroyed. We opted, like Israel, to rebuild, not with materials we first built with, but with stronger ones. What awaits is the judgment. (This is documented in detail in the book.) I remember hearing someone say they wanted to rebuild the WTC, but they wanted to make it even taller. Why? Why is bigger better?

There was also a tree, a sycamore to be specific, that was growing nearby at the time of the attack. A piece of the last building that came down struck that tree cutting the trunk and leaving it uprooted. It was cut down. In time another tree, as a symbol of hope (also documented by Cahn), was planted. A cedar tree was planted, one stronger than the sycamore! All of this is documented...

I remember thinking during the time after 9/11 how arrogant we sounded, that we would rebuild bigger and stronger. But then I heard many, even in the church, say otherwise, that we should be proud as a nation and I thought I was wrong. I now know differently.

Our nation, during that time of disaster, set about to manifest the very same prophetic word to Israel upon ourselves. 1Corinthians 13:1 says ...By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. Established as in bring into existence. In three specific instances after 9/11 (defiant) vows were made by Tom Daschle, John Edwards and Barak Obama in his first speech to Congress after his election. They all quoted, unknowingly, Isaiah 9:10 in the hearing of a nation and God, that we would rebuild our walls, we will recover and we will be stronger than before...to show the world who we (think we) are. Daschle and Edwards fell into disgrace shortly after the words were spoken. Just saying....

All are acts of defiance, arrogance and pride. We are placing ourselves in a greater position than God. And we are being warned today. Why would God harm innocent lives? Only He can answer that question. Why is He doing this? For our own good because He loves us. We have for too long removed Him from our nation and relied on our own strengths.

There are so many events in the book. Let me just give you one other nugget of information: The consecration of Israel took place on the Temple Mount by its leaders and later God's judgment came at the same location; consecration of America in 1789 was done in a little chapel that owned the land where Ground Zero now stands and that’s where His judgment took place on 9/11. Surprisingly, the chapel still stands. It was protected by that sycamore tree I mentioned! Is this enough of a temptation to cause you to want to read the book? Cahn describes how Wall Street was started, where, and the intricate details of it all. One amazing instance after another.

Although we might see ups and downs in this country, we cannot think for a second we are totally secure on our own. God is growing angry, but He also loves us. His Word tells us that He wishes none would perish. That is why He warns us; that is why we need to wake up and heed the warnings. If we heed the warnings we will receive blessings instead of curses. Judgment will not take place.

Our churches are guilty, we as Christians are guilty, of not putting an end to the removal of God and all He stands for. We have become complacent. We have become tolerant so as not to offend. We are allowing the removal of God by our silence. This is a sin. We will receive God’s judgment. It puts an even stronger meaning and emphasis, and which is a plea across the nation by those who understand, to the closing scripture below. What do you say? Will you take any of this to heart?

2Chronicles 7:14 - ...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

More Warnings?

James 4:6 - But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

I have written previously that the Bible is our instruction book. It was written by men through God's instruction, His words spoken to the hearts and spirits of men, the prophets. As old as the book is the words spoken then are just as important for today. It has always been part of His plan.

There are some who know without a doubt there is a connection, a tie between Israel and the United States. It’s a spiritual tie which I’m not even sure I fully understand. We have been told that those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who do not will be cursed. Is our nation going to receive a blessing or a curse for its support, or lack of, of Israel?

In a book I just finished reading called The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn, a Messianic Jew, he points out several things. It’s truth couched in fiction. Perhaps it’s Cahn’s way of getting more people interested in reading this book. I’m sure there will be many who chuckle at this man’s findings and try to say it’s only coincidence.  

I believe America has always been a plan of God’s. I’m sure some biblical expert might say the same thing and have a very excellent reason why. 

That God would use the United States for some great thing does not seem implausible. We have been used to do great things. Our greatness was because we were founded on the Word of God, the promises of God, the truth of His Word. God was the very foundation of this nation. Well, do you see the foundation crumbling? Do you see where our security has been breached? Do you also see where we are also choosing to do things in our own way and not God’s? 

I love this country but I don’t love where we’re taking ourselves and if God sees us pulling away from Him, there’s absolutely no reason for His judgment to not fall upon us. I don’t think I’m wrong in believing this. Others have been criticized for thinking this. We have always been a proud nation, but that pride once was a good thing, a patriotic thing. Nothing wrong with that. But now there is a pride emanating that is uprooting the good pride and replacing it with arrogance and defiance...against God. When we started taking God out of schools, office buildings, prayer, we starting rejecting God. When we start wanting to impose laws that would go against certain organizations’ beliefs, we are in trouble even more.

Our God is a jealous God. Webster defines jealous as intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness. God desires us as people, even as a nation, like Israel. When we turn our backs on Him we are being unfaithful to the One who sustains and protects. We all have to admit despite all the churches and “freedom” of religion, it’s not like it used to be. We have slacked off. We have allowed false preaching to enter the pulpits. We have created new churches that preach so as not to offend anyone. Jesus has been watered down. For the sake of tolerance all roads now can lead to God. 

Another thing I came across was that jealousy can bring on a change of color of the face, the rising of heat of emotions. This can be defined as zeal...an intense fervor over something dear to us. This is what God is over us! Over us! Imagine that. He loves us and He wants nothing more than to protect what is precious to Him. This goes for all people, all nations. The United States, however, has been precious to Him, like Israel. We should be so grateful for this. We should be praising Him for His love for us. He only desires for us to desire Him more. He wants us for His own and we are turning our backs. 

Instead of pushing Him aside for man’s “great and wondrous” ways, we should be humbling ourselves and seeking God as a nation for what He desires for us. We once considered ourselves “one nation under God.” Well, how’s that working out nowadays?? Where’s God role in government, in our own lives, even in some of our churches? We are wandering a path that will not be a blessing for us unless we turn back to Him.

I strongly believe God is sending out warnings to us. I have believed this for some time; some of us understand this and take notice. I'm sure, however, this goes against the grain of most individuals. God’s Word to His people 2,000 years ago can also be a guide for us today. How many times have I pointed this out? He’s the same today as He was yesterday and will be tomorrow. He never changes. So why should we think otherwise? Are we, after all, truly smarter than God?

There are warnings in the Bible for people and for nations. These warnings, like terrorist attacks, extreme weather, economic troubles, are for our good! God is looking for us to turn back to Him, to humble ourselves, to lose our arrogance and impenitence against Him. As with Israel, so with the United States, so with us as individuals. This is what makes God so huge, us so small and His Word so important. It's still so all about Him...if we choose to believe that. If we don't, well, it's our choice, our life. The biggest problems we have is our pride and arrogance to think we are better and know better than God, and to think we can live without His guidance.

In order for us to understand His plan we must have a Bible. We must understand what is in the Bible, which means we must read it. We must understand the Old Testament because it develops God’s plan for the Way of salvation in the New. It shows us Jesus in sacrifices, feasts and more. We cannot fully rely on the Church to show us these things. We cannot think that if we don’t know we are innocent bystanders. 

When you buy something with assembly instructions, you can't always put it together without first reading those instructions. How many times have any of us tried to do so without reading them? Guilty...until the frustration of defeat causes a need to better understand.

Let me just say this: America has been a blessed nation. Israel has been a blessed nation. There IS a connection. There has been pride and arrogance in both nations, whether you want to hear this or not. 

With all that said, I’m going to quit! Here’s another scripture that says the same thing as the one above. Give it some thought. God’s Word is true...and just.

Matthew 23:12 - And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. 

Consider Noah

Genesis 7:1 - Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation."

Wow. God spoke to Noah. God told him He considered him righteous. God picked the right man for the right job.

Noah was brave. He was definitely a man of faith. He heard God speak, he listened and most importantly, he obeyed. He obeyed even though others thought he was out of his mind. And look where it took him...being righteous in God's eyes.

We are living in that perverse generation the Bible tells us about. Philippians 2:15-16 surprisingly says Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children  of  God above reproach in the midst of a crooked  and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights  in the world. 

Noah went ahead with the task set before him without questioning God, without grumbling about the amount of time it would take to build an ark, without really knowing what lay ahead. He just did it. He listened daily to the commands. He obeyed God despite the people around him. He told anyone and everyone the reason for the ark and that God had called him to do this. But they scoffed. 

No one wanted to listen to Noah speak the things God had told him to warn them about. They wanted to keep their heads in the sand. As Noah and his family gathered all the animals into the ark awaiting the great flood, the others, as later mentioned in Matthew:  were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. When the waters rose and they realized their dilemma and their choice not to listen, they pleaded with Noah for safety. But it was too late. Too late.

I sort of see this with Glenn Beck! He's about as in your face about warnings as they come. The Church should be doing the same thing. We as Christians who believe we are seeing the signs, as in the days of Noah, should be vocal as well. We know what this will mean. It will mean we will be considered as nuts as Noah was. We've heard it all before...Christ says He's going to return, but I don't see it...Yeah, right!! If people don't want to hear or heed, another day will come that it, too, will be too late.

His return is a mystery to us. That's why the Bible tells us we are to be prepared now. We are not to wait until it's too late. We are to have faith and believe what God says...one being to believe in Him so you will not perish and have eternal life (John 3:16). There are few people who receive Christ and regret it later. Some walk away but I can't help but feel there is a nagging in their souls knowing they've turned their backs on God. Once you get a taste... 

We are told For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:27). All I can hope is that there will be yet another sign of sorts that will stir people into just maybe believing that God is truly in control of all things. We might be seeing the signs right now.  He could be getting ready to return. The Bible, on the other hand, talks about needing to see signs instead of just having faith. Signs are what people desire. That thing we can put our fingers on. Matthew 16:4 says An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign... The Pharisees and Saducees wanted Jesus to give them divine signs from heaven as proof He was who He said. His answer was above and He refused their request. They'd seen his healings but they wanted more. Is that what's happening today?

For Noah and his family, they experienced the loss of all life but their own and the animals they gathered. God separated them, like He still does today. He separates believers and their beliefs from those who do not want to believe. Noah and his family saw the land God had given them destroyed. Oh, the days ahead for this family. Genesis 8:1 says "then God remembered Noah and every living thing within the ark." He remembered! Not that He really forgot. He knew just what He was doing. But it was finally time for a rebuilding of this earth. Imagine the faith Noah now had in this awesome God. How could one forget what He just did?

The great flood, the waters...we are cleansed by water. Although we are told God will never cause another flood to destroy this earth, it has been suggested that fire may be the next thing that consumes...2Peter 3:7: By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. God is known as a consuming fire. But if we consider Noah and heed God's warnings and obey and trust in the Lord, like Noah we will be considered righteous and saved.

If history repeats itself, and I think we all believe this, then maybe we should pay attention to the signs today. Take a step to believe what God has told us, how examples have been set before us to heed. Receive Christ, receive wisdom, receive truth and understanding. Let's not be counted among those Jude talks about:

Jude 1:18 - ... "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires."