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The Messiah’s Secret – Fulfilment of Prophesies

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The Messiah’s Secret – Fulfilment of Prophesies 

The parable of the talents is not so much about money. It’s about Jesus leaving them at his ascension and his disciples being trusted to use their God given ability (talents) to tell people about Jesus and it’s the same for us today
Verse 15, “To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.” Using our ability God’s gifts to tell people about Jesus
 
The Apprentice
Three teams to promote the Bible.

The task: each team takes one of these three Christian items to hand out: Comic strip, Christmas Cards, Book Markers.

Each person in the congregation can only receive one of these three things.

You will have only 3 minutes to complete the task.
The team that distributes the most, when the egg timer fills the lower bottle, is the winner.
Second – this team come back next week
and the third team will be fired. This team give their item to the winning team.

The parable of the Talents informs us that Jesus expects us
 to be actively contributing to the work of making Him known
in expectation of his return to the earth.

Readings: Matthew 25: 14-30. 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11
The Apprentice game was about working as a team everybody having apart to play whether in producing the handouts or in offering it to people as a gift. The gift is the message in our readings this morning it speaks of Jesus at some point in the future returning to the earth.
In the Bible we find prophesies that indicate that Jesus’ return is nearer than we think and one of those prophesies is in the process of being fulfilled .
In Luke’s gospel Jesus pointed to a time when he said, “Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21. 24 
Many Christians believe that this prophecy was fulfilled in 1967 after the 6 Day War when after Israel took over Jordan’s eastern half of the city. Israel controlling Jerusalem after a gap of 2,000 years.    

However, today many more Christians believe that this prophecy was fulfilled only in part in 1967. The times of the Gentiles continues until Jesus returns.  
Romans 11: 25, 26. “Hardening has come upon part of Israel until the full number of the Gentiles comes in, and so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, The Deliverer shall come from Zion and he shall banish ungodliness from Jacob.”                                                                                                                                       
This hardening of Israel’s heart, is their rejection of Jesus as the Christ that will persist until Jesus returns, so this is the period of time we are in now, it is linked with other prophesies that lead us to understand that Israel has to control Jerusalem until Jesus returns.
According to Zechariah Israel’s present day defence of Jerusalem is described as a great stone like the heavy stone that grinds the corn. 
 Zech 12: 2, 3. “On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it shall grievously hurt themselves.” Meaning that Israel is using a strong hand against their enemies, as we have seen over the last few years in the contention between Israel and the Palestinians.                                                                                                                                                 
Since the 1970’s there have been numerous attempts to bring a peaceful settlement between Arab, Jew and Palestinian. On Wikipedia which is an on line encyclopaedia The website ’Israeli – Palestinian peace process’  summarises the peace initiatives and treaties up to the present day: like the UN resolution 242 November 22nd 1967, The Oslo Accords, Camp David year 2,000 and the ‘Road Map’ for peace.
During this time some agreements have been made making process towards peace. The website concludes on a positive note there are people on both sides involved in Joint economic effort and development.
But prophesies indicate that Israel will find no true peace until Jesus returns
Zechariah 14: 2-4 “I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the mount of Olives.”
We are living now in the time that is leading up to where Jerusalem will be surrounded by the armies of nations and Israelis will flee to the mountains and only a remnant will remain. 
Jesus calls the church to watch, be ready for when this sign is being fulfilled.
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you know that its desolation is near.“ Luke 21: 20  
As Paul wrote we who are in the light and are awake to this prophecy. Paul assured the Christians at Thessalonica, we are not destined to be involved in this battle at Jerusalem
Paul had informed the Thessalonians that Jesus will call out his body of believers to meet with him in the air, before he returns to the Mount of Olives. This meeting is were both those who have died in faith are awakened and those who are alive, in the light, all will come together at this awesome event and meet Jesus face to face.
After this takes place when Christians are taken out from the earth, people who come to faith they will go through  the tribulation, this period of time when the tension will build up  between the nations against Jerusalem and those who come to faith during this time will suffer.
So, this is when the times of Gentiles are fulfilled, when the full number have come to faith. Jesus will return and take up the fight with the remnant of Israel and Jesus the Christ defeats the nations that will be lead by the antichrist against Jerusalem.                       

To conclude: At God’s timing Jesus will call out his church before this battle takes place and he will call when we least expect, so we must be ready, the sign of Jerusalem no longer being trodden down by the Gentiles is quite significant and so we can be sure that God will bring this prophecy to its full conclusion.

34 prophesies were fulfilled in one day, on the day of Jesus crucifixion, so we can rejoice with the angels as they watch with great anticipation as these events unfold, looking and expecting Jesus to call out his church.


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The Messiah’s Secret – The Sower “Christ in you. “ Part 6

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Evening Service Lectionary Reading 1 Corinthians 14: 12-20. Matthew 13: 10-17

The disciples asked Jesus why he addressed the crowd speaking in parables. Matthew 13: 10-17.
The parables spoke of earthly things which have heavenly meanings.
Jesus explained the parables to his disciples at the beginning of his ministry. Here in this reading Jesus pointed out that they had been given the secrets of the kingdom of Heaven, but the others listening didn’t understand as their hearts were dulled by the message coming from their leaders and teachers of the law.
This prophesy from Isaiah was fulfilled. “You shall indeed hear but never understand . . . For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing.”

The parable of ‘The Sower’ illustrated the circumstances of receptivity that the people had to the word of God in Jesus’ day. 2,000 years later and we still respond in the same way.
Below is the explanation that Jesus gave them to the parable of the sower 18-23.

“When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches it away what is sown in the heart; this is what is sown along the path. As for what was sown on the rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away As for what is sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what is sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundred fold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Matthew 13: 18-23

The Apostles before Pentecost prepared the ground for the seeds of the kingdom to be sown.
“The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1: 15
The gospel message that Jesus proclaimed on the Mount was the perfect law of God, the Beatitudes are a good example of what he taught: “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. . . . ” Matthew 5: 1-12
The gospel of preparation: to teach the kingdom of God and to heal. Luke 9:2
The disciples did not proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah. Luke 9: 20, 21.

A word I was given on 30th May 1996 was that, “The disciples were setting up the kingdom in at the beginning of Acts.” It was as I understood to be in preparation for Jesus’ return with the angels of God. Mark 8:38. 9: 1
The disciples and followers looked forward to Jesus’ return as he indicated that his coming would be in their life time.
“Truly I say to you, there is some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God has come with power.” Mark 9:1

At Pentecost the Apostles began to sow the seeds of the kingdom.
Seeds sown along the path.
At and after Pentecost the Apostles proclaimed that Jesus was the Christ. The Jews heard from Peter and John about Jesus fulfilling the prophesies that proved to them that he was the Christ. Particularly the words of Peter speaking to the crowd in Solomon’s Portico, “I know that they acted in ignorance as did their rulers.” But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.” Acts 3: 17, 18.
The people did not understand that the Christ or Messiah had to suffer and die like a criminal on a cross. They did not understand because the people had been taught from the law that the Messiah when he came would live for ever. John 12: 34.

Isaiah prophesied the suffering and death of the Messiah Chapter 53: 10, 11.
10. “Yet it pleased him to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand;
Fulfilled. It was in the plan of God that Jesus would suffer and be killed and that on the third day God would raise him from the dead.
“Jesus said, “For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was reckoned with transgressors’; for what is written about me has its fulfilment.” Luke 22: 37.

11. He shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities.”
Fulfilled. ”For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16.

Seeds sown on rocky ground
Peter loved his Saviour and knew that Jesus had forgiven him, he sowed the seeds of repentance and forgiveness, also of Jesus’ return.
Peter continued appealing to the crowd in Solomon’s Portico, “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of the Holy prophets from of old.” Acts 3: 19-21
It was a national call of repentance to the nation of Israel in order to establish through the promised descendant of King David the eternal throne and kingdom of God.

Seeds sown among thorns
Whilst Peter and John were speaking the priests and the Sadducees came with the captain of the temple guards and arrested them and put them in prison. They were accused of teaching the people and proclaiming that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead.
The good news fell upon these hearts hardened by man’s religious zeal who perhaps also feared the Jewish council. Also the priests were deaf to the prophesies concerning the death of the Messiah and seeing Jesus die on a cross which was a Roman punishment, in their eyes he had been defiled by lawless Roman men. The news of his resurrection had blinded the eyes of the Sadducees because they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Acts 4: 1, 2.

Seeds sown on good soil
Peter and John spoke out boldly at their trial, the man who had been healed at Gate Beautiful appeared in their defence. They were asked by what power and name did you do this? Empowered by the Holy Spirit Peter said, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what name this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man was standing before them well. The stone that they the builders had rejected has become the head of the corner. And there was salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4: 8-12.
The seeds that had been sown in Solomon’s Portico had produced fruit, 5,000 men believed.
As the numbers grew the believers formed a community in Jerusalem.

The parable of the sower gives an exact picture of the times we are living in today
The Christian sows the seeds of the good news of the kingdom of heaven in the paths of the world; the Devil prevents people with hardened hearts from understanding and keeping what they have heard. Also the gospel message falls on rocky ground were Christians are unsure of what they believe and as a result when their faith is tested they compromise their faith. The word sown among thorns is where the word choked by people’s preoccupation with the materialistic world and seeing only its technological discoveries as the future. However those who come to faith having received the good news with understanding, commitment and courage, as a result their contribution to the growing of the church is evident and look forward to Jesus’ coming for his church.

“Christ in you” 

Written below is a modern day parable
Our two Shetland ponies Puzzle and Shamrock

 
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Every day the first job is to go and feed the pony in the stable and the Shetlands. When they hear the door of our house open straight away they neigh and it’s a lovely greeting, if you like horses and ponies.

The explanation at the end of the blog

Jesus explained the parables to his disciples at the beginning of his ministry. Jesus pointed out that they had been given the secrets of the kingdom of Heaven.

One of the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven is Jesus’ coming for his body of believers the church.

The Lord gave me a word: Jesus having this expectation in himself of his coming, this expectation is in us, because Christ is in us.
This hope of Jesus’ coming is born in us through Jesus’ own desire to come from heaven and call out his church.

A parable that shines out like a beacon today.

Watch out for Jesus’ return
“But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed watch, for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the door-keeper to be on watch. Watch therefore-for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning – lest he comes suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to all: Watch.”
Mark 13: 32-37.

The man going on a journey – Jesus ascended into heaven
The servants – the disciples
The work – sowing the seeds of the good news of the kingdom.
The Apostles put in place the structures of the church: Bishops, Deacons, Elders, Apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kind of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12: 28. Ephesians 4: 11. 1 Timothy 3: 1,8. 5: 17.
These gifts are given to edify the whole church, to minister in the love of Christ and work with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

In our second reading Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthian church that messages were given in tongues at a meeting, but there was no interpretation of what was being said. Paul emphasised the need of interpretation of the tongues.
This gift of speaking in tongues is a language that is not the person’s own native language but a language from some where in the world, given as a gift by the Holy Spirit to that person.
At Pentecost when the disciples filled with the Holy Spirit left the upper room they went out onto the streets of Jerusalem and spoke to many people from other countries about Jesus. These people as they heard them speak to them in their own language, they were amazed. Acts 2:8
Paul preferred people to speak out prophesies so that people in the meeting could understand what was being said. 1 Corinthians 14: 12-20

The early Churches expectation of Jesus’ return.
I can just imagine John the disciple having a great anticipation of Jesus’ return. Especially when Peter’s conversation with Jesus was recorded by John, “Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who lay close to his breast at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” (Peter repeated the words that John had said at the Passover Meal.)
When Peter saw John, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remains until I come what is that to you? Follow me!” The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” John 21: 20-23
John witnessed in his gospel of the longing that Jesus bore in his heart of his return soon after Pentecost.
John hoped that Jesus would return this is so evident in Revelation Chapter 1: 1-8
John was quite old when he received the vision and wrote it down. At the very beginning of the first Chapter he records Jesus’ words: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants what, must soon take place.” “For the time is near.” “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, every one who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

John did not see Jesus return before he died. But Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

This applies to all Christians to watch for Jesus’ return.
Our daughter works abroad and she regularly comes home to spend a few days. By faith we look forward to seeing her. This expectant hope is in our hearts as we hear that she is on her way. We meet her at the airport and bring her home.
This last year 2011 she said that she was coming home in October. However, two weeks before she was due to arrive home, she emailed us to say that she would delay her visit till Christmas. Sure enough she came home at Christmas.

This state of watchfulness is the hope we have that is born in us, “Christ in you,” the hope of glory. We are watching for his coming in the clouds, for our meeting with Jesus in the air. Christians name this event as the ‘Rapture.’
“For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until his coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord he will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-18

The precise date of his coming is not known as Jesus states this in the parable, “Jesus said “Watch therefore as you do not know when the master of the house will come.”

Faith and Hope working together
Through Christ in us, we can identify with the Apostles their faith and this amazing hope of Jesus’ coming for his body of believers.
Below, Paul writing to the church at Rome, Thessalonica and Titus, Peter his letter to the Jews of the dispersion.
“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for the adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Romans 8: 23-25.

“Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12: 12

“For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming?” 1Thessalonians 2: 19.

“Awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2: 13.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”
1 Peter 1: 3, 4.

“Our Lord, Come” Greek word Maranatha Revelation 21: 20

Why has Jesus not yet called out his church?
This parable can not be taken in isolation from the rest of what Jesus taught us about his coming. We are called to watch out also for the signs of his coming.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson; as soon as the branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things, you know that he is near at the very gates.” Matthew 24: 32-35.

Chronology of events
First and second world wars. Matthew 24: 6,7.
Establishment of State of Israel in 1948. Ezekiel 20: 33-38
Six day war bringing Jerusalem under Jewish control. Luke 21: 34.
One world government. Daniel 7: 23
Ten Kingdom world rule. Daniel 7: 24
The Third temple. Daniel 9: 24-27. 2 Thessalonians 2: 3, 4.

The first three of the six have been fulfilled. The one world government followed by the ten rulers of the world I would associate with the “distress of nations in perplexity” Luke 21: 25
We are witnessing some degree of “the distress of nations in perplexity” with the situation Europe is facing with the debt crisis.

Jesus having this expectation in himself of his coming, this expectation is in us, because Christ is in us.
This hope of Jesus’ coming is born in us through Jesus’ own desire to come from heaven and call out his church.

Our two Shetland ponies Puzzle and Shamrock (modern parable)
Every day the first job is to go and feed the pony in the stable and the Shetlands. When they hear the door of our house open straight away they neigh and it’s a lovely greeting.
Explanation
I’m sure all of creation will hear and be glad to witness the call of the archangel as Jesus call’s out his body of believers. Romans 8; 20, 21

7 Seals, Hello Kitty, Horsemen of the Apocalypse, meeting in the air., pale horse and rider, Wally

The Messiah’s Secret – Opening the Scroll

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Hello Kitty asks us to look at the picture and find the things that belong to her: pencils, umbrella, bow, boots, boat and envelope.

Wally asks us to try and spot him in the picture.

Epiphany means ‘showing Jesus to us’
Let us look at the things that belong to Jesus

The shepherds gave him a lamb; the wise men gave him gifts of Gold Frankincense and Myrrh. Jesus was born a king.

The Book of Revelation 
Revelation 5: 1- 10
God our Father is seated on his throne holding in his right hand a scroll or book it is sealed with seven seals. In the R S Version of the Bible the angel is described as being strong and asked to all who were present, the twenty four elders and the four living creatures, “Who is going to open the scroll?”
The strong angel, this purposeful angel I felt was inquisitive and wanted to know what is written on the scroll. Peter wrote that the angels had longed to look into these things.
The angels longed to look into this salvation spoken of by the prophets and this angel having strength of character wanted to know what was written on this scroll. 1 Peter 1:12.

One of the elders aware of John’s concerns about the opening of the scroll, revealed to him the name of the one who could open it. “The lion of Judah, the Root of David has conquered, so that he can open the scroll with its seven seals.” 5: 5
The elder was referring to Jesus, the Lamb of God who stood among them as one that had been slain who God had resurrected from the dead, the descendant of David.

The prophesies in the Bible prove the existence of God and reveal the Messiah, Jesus.
Jacob referred to the tribe of Judah as the lion – Genesis 49: 9, 10.
Jesus was descended from the tribe of Judah – Hebrews 7: 14
The Root of Jesse – Isaiah 11: 1
Testimony to the churches, “I am the root and offspring of David.” Revelation 22: 16.

The lamb had 7 horns, 7 eyes and 7 spirits of God: the horns symbolically depicting strength and power, the eyes – the symbol of insight and illumination. the spirits of God – the discerning fire of Holy Spirit.

The Lamb took the scroll from God.
Before the scroll with its seals can be opened there are prophesies that Jesus referred to that lead up to the opening of them.
“Jesus said, “For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Christ,’ and they will lead you astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.” Matthew 24:5-7
Jesus called them ‘birth pains’ because of the growing distress that was to be brought upon on the world until, the Messiah returns with the angels and all the company of heaven. When a woman who is having a baby starts to go into labour, the contractions grow in intensity and the pain becomes more severe until the baby is born.

False Messiah’s
Extract from a ‘Study of False Messiah’s’ from the Congregation Shema Yisrael Dublin Web site.
Theudas
Theudas is mentioned in Acts 5:36. In his historical work, Antiquities, Josephus the first century Jewish historian, wrote about Theudas who, around 45 AD, influenced “the majority of the masses to take up their possessions and to follow him to the Jordan River.” He claimed that the Jordan would part for them at his command. Obviously it didn’t, and he and many of his followers paid for their foolishness with their lives.”

Judah the Galilean
Judah the Galilean is mentioned in Acts 5:37. Josephus, made reference to Judah the Galilean, stating: “Judah the Galilean told Jews about ten years before the birth of Jesus that it was shameful for them to be ‘consenting to pay tribute to the Romans and tolerating mortal masters after having God for their Lord'”. It is interesting to note that Judah apparently had a false prophet by the name of Saddok. Very likely Saddok presented himself to the people as being Elijah, who, according to Scripture, was to precede and announce the coming of the Messiah. The pattern of false messiahs having false prophets was to become all too familiar.”

Jacob Frank
In more recent times in the 1726-91 “Polish Jew Jacob Frank gained a reputation as a “prophet” having, it was thought, special powers and inspiration.”
Since the first century names of Jewish men have been recorded who have proclaimed themselves to be the Messiah. (see Congregation Shema Yisrael Web site)

We‘ve seen an escalation in warfare during the last hundred years with two world wars and an increase in earthquakes and volcanic activity. The change in weather patterns has increased the desert regions causing famine and great loss of life.

Only last year 2011 we saw the Arab Spring the civil war and disorder in some of the Middle East countries, nearly every month there was a major catastrophe; earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan, a volcanic eruption in Chilli, floods in Australia and the Bahamas and severe famine in Somalia as a result civil war.

The Prophets prophesied birth-pains and they are currently being fulfilled.
In Arnold Fruchtenbaum Book “The Footsteps of the Messiah.” Seventh Printing 1999 when he wrote it, he pointed to prophesies about future events: a civil war in Egypt, and the Middle East unrest.
“An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, every man against his brother and every man against his neighbour, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.” Isaiah 19: 1, 2.

Israel’s neighbouring Nations’ engaged in internal conflict.
“Israel in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. They were broken in pieces, nation against nation and city against city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress.” 2 Chronicles 15: 4-6

The Lord wants us to be like Nathanael to observe the prophesies that relate to his coming. John 1: 43-51
In our reading Jesus said to Nathanael “Before Philip called you I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Teacher, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Nathanael had observed that Jesus was referring to a passage of scripture in the Bible that speaks about people sitting with their neighbour under the fig tree.
“In that day, says the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbour under his vine and under his fig tree.” Zechariah 3: 8-10

Part of the ‘birth pain’ period is the increase in knowledge.
“Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12: 4.
It is true to say that most people are aware of the speed of the increase of knowledge
The advance of science which is amazing and is of great benefit to us all, but there is a down side, our planet is suffering because of the energy required to maintain the expansion.

Another ‘birth-pain’ is Apostasy
Apostasy meaning defection, departure, revolt or rebellion. A Christian who turns away from the faith. Hebrews 6: 4-6
Sadly we shall see this grow as peoples faith will be tested when they see other Christians being persecuted for their faith.

The mainstream churches believe that we are living in the ‘Times and Seasons’ when Jesus could call out his body of believers the church, for the meeting with the Lord in the air. It could happen today, tomorrow at any moment, the time of his call is nearer than we may think. 1 Thessalonians 4: 14-18

“From the fig tree learn its lesson; as soon as the branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things, you know that he is near at the very gates.” Matthew 24: 32-35.
When we hear of these things, were the birth-pains are intensifying, pray, look for Jesus’ return and pray for people to come to faith in Christ as we want them to escape the opening of the seals. Our prayers are being held in the golden bowls full of incense by the elders and the four living creatures and we have the assurance that Jesus calls out the church before the start of the tribulation. ‘Two were working in the field one was taken the other left’.
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 9 – 11.

Before the seals are opened.
All these birth-pains lead up to the severe pain of the desolating sacrilege, “When you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place.” Matthew 24: 15. 2 Thessalonians 2: 3, 4.
Jesus was referring to the antichrist, the counterfeit Messiah, standing in the temple at Jerusalem being worshipped as god.”
After the antichrist is revealed we see the start of the seven year tribulation with Jesus opening the seals, each seal is a judgment.

Over the last month I’ve read several books were the majority of the authors hold the same views on the meaning of the seals.
The first seal – the rider on the white horse carrying a bow without an arrow.
The rider is wearing a crown and he will go out to conquer and to conquer.
This person is generally thought to be the antichrist, the counterfeit Messiah, who on his first appearance is a man of peace, who will conquer the world with his answers to the worlds’ problems. The world is deceived by him. 2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12

The second seal – the red horse, its rider being permitted to take away the peace. The antichrist turns against Israel and makes war against her.

The third seal – the black horse and its rider depicts the consequences of war; there will be famine on a world-wide scale, because of the scarcity of wheat and barley. But medicines will be available as the oil and the wine are not hurt.

The fourth seal – the pale horse and its rider.
The pale horse signifies death on a massive scale, one quarter of the world’s population through war, famine and the wild animals savaging, searching for food.

Some Christians would say that already Jesus has opened some of the seals on the scroll, and they have overlapped the birth-pain period by coming before the desolating sacrilege.
We have an example of this:
In last years uprising in Egypt it was reported that the pale horse and its rider were seen riding through the rioting crowd. There is even a video of it on Youtube, the ghostly image of horse and its rider, eerily making its way through the violent scene.

This is in my view a literal interpretation that is leading many people astray. I understand through study that the horsemen of the apocalypse are imagery. Horses represent speed of which things will happen. The rider, the messenger is revealing the nature of the judgement. The seven seals are judgements which take place after Jesus has returned for his church and the unveiling of the antichrist.

The fifth seal – Christians that will be killed in wars of persecution for their faith in Jesus. These are the people who become Christians after Jesus has called out the church and tragically go through the tribulation.

The sixth seal – Earthquakes and cosmic events, meteor showers, the sun and moon blocked by the dust. People hide in caves to escape the falling debris.

Between the sixth and seventh seal the 144,000 Jews witness for Christ bringing world-wide revival. Revelation 7: 2, 3.

The present day Jehovah Witnesses are another example of overlapping into the birth-pain period.
The Jehovah Witnesses claim to be the 144,000 Jewish descendants of the tribes of Israel and that they will be the only ones in the heavenly kingdom and the majority of those who receive eternal life will be earthly subjects of the kingdom. They also claim that Jesus has already returned with his angels, invisibly in 1914.
60 years later they predicted a date on which they claimed the Day of Wrath would happen and were wrong. Our neighbour in 1975 gave up his job and went out preaching with other Jehovah witnesses that the end was nigh, that the battle of Armageddon would be all over by the autumn of 1975, and it came to nothing.
They ignore the scripture were Jesus said, ”But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13: 32.

From the book, “The Greatest MAN Who Ever Lived.” Published by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of New York, INC. The Jehovah witnesses believe that Jesus is just a man with extraordinary powers and teachings. However sincere, they do not proclaim Jesus’ divinity that he is the living God revealed in the flesh or the Trinity.

From the book, “Released from the Watch Tower,” by Valerie Tomsett “No where does the Watchtower Society mention that one must receive Christ as a personal saviour.”
Philippians 2:9-11. Romans 10: 9, 10.

The seventh seal – This seal opens a period of silence in heaven, where we read seven angels are given trumpets and were another angel is carrying a bowl filled with incense and prayers of the saints.
It is so important that we pray the prayer that the Lord Jesus taught his disciples, “The Lord’s Prayer” that has been handed down to all who follow Jesus, remembering especially the word’s,“Your kingdom come, your will be done . . . .”

The time is nearer than we think, so as we realise the reality that Jesus could call out the church at any moment our hopes are raised by the Holy Spirit, because all what Jesus and the prophets prophesied will come true.

Don’t be distracted with the world and put off accepting Jesus as your Saviour today.
The pictures below: On a number of occasions whilst I’ve been watching a game of football on TV and I’ve left the room to make a cup of tea and I’ve missed the goal that has just been scored.
I’ve lost sight of the play and missed it, so we can be distracted from continually being focused on our Lord and his business and risk missing out on the call to our meeting with Jesus in the air.