The Lord's Return Pt 3 - Abraham Accord

Trusting God requires us not placing limits on what that trust covers. We are not allowed to decide what God can do or will do, how He will do it or when. We can’t restrict Him only to involvement in certain aspects of our lives and not others. He is Lord over all, without hindrance.

Isa 46:9-11 Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, 'My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure'… Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it. 

That being the case, whatever happens between now and Jesus’ return is covered under things for which God has planned and we must trust Him. Nothing is going to happen that surprises Him or catches Him unprepared.

So, we can say along with David: Ps 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.

The upheaval associated with the End Times is completely within the scope of God being God and Him working out the plans He has for us. We don’t need to be afraid. He has ultimate control. What we need to do is learn now to trust Him in small details so we will be more comfortable trusting Him with things much greater as He closes out this present age.

Last week we discovered the Jewish expression Olam Hazeh – the present age. It’s the time frame from when Adam was created until the Messiah comes and brings in the final judgment. They calculate it using the six days of creation from Genesis 1, each day representing a thousand years. And by their calendar this is the year 5781.

We did the math. From Adam to Noah was 1656 years and from Noah to Abraham was 390 which is 2046 years. From Abraham to David is approximately 1000 years, David to Jesus another 1000 years. Then, from Jesus to now is around 2000 years. The total being almost 6000 years.

Is that important? Perhaps. It brings the Jewish understanding of God’s intentions in line with what many Christians believe today. That Jesus or to the Jewish mind, the Messiah, is coming soon. For us it is the Second Coming. For religious Jews it’s the First. Both believing that coming will be followed by a thousand years of peace.

Remember that the majority of Israel is secular and has no understanding or anticipation of the coming of a Messiah. Their concept of peace is only what can be created in agreements with other nations. But Scripture says any peace they work out will be short-lived. Ultimate peace will only come after Jesus returns.

It is ironic, however, that with the upheaval predicted in Scripture, the desire for Peace would still play a vital role in the End Times.

In a messianic section of Isaiah, Isaiah wrote: Isa 55:11-3 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, and instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, and it will be a memorial to the LORD, for an everlasting sign which will not be cut off." 

It is a promise of peace to come, but in what realm? The current earthly realm when Isaiah wrote was in turmoil. The Assyrians were coming to take Israel captive. And since then, lasting peace has yet to come, so it must be after the earthly realm is over.

Peace has always been a fragile hope for the Jews because it’s been based on the temporary absence of conflict. Historically, peace came after the resolution of war. Yet, within that fragile hope rests the expectation of a day when their Messiah will remove all their enemies and give them lasting peace.

And yet, peace agreements are still sought with the very peoples who are bent on destroying Israel. It’s the old saying: keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Until this week, Israel had had agreements for diplomatic relations with only two Arab countries, Egypt and Jordan, neither of which lasted. On Tuesday a strategic agreement was signed with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, two Arab countries on the outer edge of the Saudi Peninsula. Since the previous agreements have been violated and discarded, why is this one different?

It’s called the Abraham Accord Peace Agreement. “It is designed to enhance the cause of peace, stability and prosperity in relationship between Israel and eventually the Middle East as a whole. The parties undertake to foster mutual understanding, respect, co-existence and a culture of peace between their societies in the spirit of their common ancestor, Abraham, and the new era of peace and friendly relations ushered in by this treaty.”

By choosing the name Abraham, the agreement acknowledges that the real problem in the Middle East is a Biblical one. There has always been and always will be discord between Israel and the Arab world. Lasting peace is impossible because discord is a family tradition based on the problem between two brothers. I doubt the Arabs and Jews know this today, much like the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s fighting for years with most of them not knowing why.

Prime Minister Netanyahu pointed out how these historic accords will bless the Middle East. “Because this peace will eventually expand to include other Arab states, and ultimately it can end the Arab–Israeli conflict once and for all.” What is the Arab-Israeli conflict?

Gen 16:1-5 Now Sarai, Abram's wife had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife. He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight. And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me." 

Gen 21:8-13 The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. Therefore she said to Abraham, "Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac." The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son. But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named. And of the son of the maid I will make a nation also, because he is your descendant." 

Gen 25:16-18 These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages, and by their camps; twelve princes according to their tribes. These are the years of the life of Ishmael, one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. They settled from Havilah to Shur which is east of Egypt as one goes toward Assyria; he settled in defiance of all his relatives. 

From there two sons take two different roads away from their common ancestry to Abraham. One following a path of divine purpose, the other wandering down the path of rejection.

Gen 21:9-11 Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. Therefore she said to Abraham, "Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac." The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son. 

The bitterness of rejection and the stigma associated with being driven away from his father and their home created animosity that has festered ever since. Though the original reason no longer matters, the sentiment of hatred against the other son of Abraham continues by the descendants of Ishmael. Watching the other son prosper has created bitter jealousy in the Arabs.

Now, the ultimate question is, should Israel expect lasting peace with the Arabs within this present world? The prophecies say no (short term maybe but not lasting peace) and they reaffirm that genuine peace will only come after Jesus returns.

The Arab-Israeli Conflict begins with the outer conflict, maintained by mob hysteria aimed at a common enemy, from nations raised to hate Israel. And then there is inner conflict – conflict of being torn between staying with the traditional hatred or doing what’s best for the nation.

Treaties may lessen and even stop outer conflict but unless the inner conflict comes into play, something will knock the lid off of that agreement and turmoil will return.

When we were in Israel a couple of years ago, our Israeli guide pointed to signs on a fence. He said in Hebrew it says mine field, caution, no admittance, keep out. In Arabic it said, Picnic area. The Jews have hated the Arabs as much as the Arabs have hated the Jews. Agreements don’t stop hatred, only hold it in check.

Making an agreement is the only hope for even temporary peace though neither side wants to make any concessions. What’s unique in this agreement, there are no concessions on the table, only cooperation. That cooperation will hold, until one side fails to comply with the words of the agreement.

Ps 12:2 They speak falsehood to one another; with flattering lips and with a double heart they speak. 

It’s like we did as kids, make a promise with our fingers crossed behind our back.

Alliances shift the balance of power. And places peace on a thin wire of cooperation.

So how does the coming of Jesus factor in with this or any agreement Israel makes with other nations?

Paul said: 1Thess 5:2-3 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. 

Any time a peace treaty is established with Israel it should raise our antennae.

Matt 24:6-11 You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 

When Jesus spoke these words, they were still under the Old Covenant. The New doesn’t begin until His death. He’s talking about the Jews, telling them of the turmoil to come and warning them about false prophets.

Jeremiah spoke of false prophets predicting a false outcome. Jer 8:11 They heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace. 

The scope of this peace for the Middle East is very limited. Only three nations signed the accord so far. Trump is currently seeking to align other Arab nations also to sign. But now only Israel, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have agreed to normalize relations, lift travel restrictions, and do business together. However, on the same day the peace deal was signed, rockets were fired on Israel. Palestinian leaders called the agreements a “stab in the back.” Hamas condemned the accords as “not worth the paper they were written on.” The president of the Palestinian Authority has threatened that “millions of fighters” would attack Jerusalem and Israeli settlements “shall all be destroyed.”

Why can’t Israel just be left alone and everyone else just tend to their own business?  It’s not in their DNA to do so.

The scorpion and the frog – it’s just my nature.

Not only is conflict in the nature of both the Arabs and the Israelis, lasting peace is not in God’s plan for how He will bring about the end. That will require wrath being poured out, a final battle, the earth and heavens destroyed and a new earth and new heavens created. But none of that will happen until after Jesus returns.

How should all of this affect us?

Luke 21:25-28 There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." 

All we see should raise our eyes to Heaven. In fact, any alliance or any rise in conflict in the Middle East should raise our eyes to Heaven. Though conflict discourages us and makes us look at the problems, God’ says, let what you see cause you to look up instead.

God’s will use this:

• To get our attention
• To make us seek Him.
• To remove things that distract us.
• To sharpen our focus
• To enlarge our faith to trust Him.

Crisis typically turns our attention to God.

Typically, we read it as: Jer 29:11 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 

From a literal translation it reads: I know what I weave together, to give you an expected end, after I have tied all the loose strands together.

Tapestry – chaos on one side. Beauty and purpose on the other that won’t make sense until after it’s done.

TAKEAWAYS:

1. Be glad for Israel anytime they negotiate peace with an Arab country.
2. Any peace is better than ongoing hostility.
3. But realize whatever peace is achieved is temporary and takes us one step closer to the End.
4. So, look up. The Climax of our redemption is coming soon.

The Lord's Return Pt 2 - Olah Hazeh

 When I grew up the focus on End Times was about the wrath of God. How God would judge the earth, separate the saved from the lost into Heaven and Hell, burn up the earth and start all over with a new heaven and new earth. We’d study the seals to be opened, the bowls of wrath to be poured out and the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

We even sang an old gospel song: Jesus is coming soon morning or night or noon. Many will meet their doom. Trumpets will sound. Such a happy little song…

But the thought of many meeting their doom didn’t set well with me. I know that’s what will happen, but the reality of God’s wrath isn’t something I could get excited about. I always look to Jer 29:11 I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.

Our hope for the future isn’t built on God’s wrath but His goodness. But what if God’s goodness comes wrapped up in something bad? What happens to our hope then?

There’s a common proverb when a hurricane is coming: hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

·       To have hope for a good result, while simultaneously getting ready for a negative outcome.

·       Having a positive attitude, but making sure you are ready for disaster.

My dad tried to use that on me when I went to college. My calling was to preach and I wanted to prepare, so I got my B.A. in Bible. But he wanted me to get a “secular” degree instead, to have something to fall back on if preaching didn’t work out. His was a plan that placed confidence in something I could do if God didn’t come through for me. It anticipated failure rather than success.

What may work in a strategic plan for hurricanes creates a pessimistic outlook for life. At some point we just need to burn the ships and march forward. In 1519, Cortes led an expedition of 600 Spanish soldiers into Mexico. To make sure their focus was on the road ahead and not some escape plan in case things went wrong, he had the men gather on the shore and watch the ships destroyed. It was all in, no matter what.

When it comes to trusting God for the future, regardless of what that future holds, we must be all in, no matter what. Illness can’t override that trust. Accidents can’t override that trust. Death cannot override that trust. Whatever happens between now and Jesus coming can’t override that trust.

But Hope for the best and prepare for the worst is to spend our time preparing for failure rather than success.

When the Lord is working out His plans there is no failure to prepare for. His ways are always best. We may go through bad to get to that best, but we never count on the bad as the final outcome. We count on the good God has planned even up until the end. That’s our hope.

Preparing for the worst is an easy trap to fall into when we hear of wars and rumors of wars or in our case: riots, disease and a fearful November.

Whether these things lead us to the return of the Lord or merely move us closer to it, the Return of Jesus is a good thing. It’s not bad or scary unless you are among those left behind. The end of the world is going to be rough but we’ll be gone before the wrath of God is poured out through the final judgments.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 

Rom 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 

Col 3:6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 

Eph 2:3-6 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 

Rom 5:9-10 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 

When the Lord returns and gathers up those who belong to Him – what we call the rapture – this separation of lost from saved, know that that distinction has already been made in Heaven. It will happen in an instant because the Lord knows who are His.

Jesus said: Matt 24:27 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. 

The suddenness of His coming will capture us away before we can prepare ourselves.  In fact, the Rapture isn’t something you can prepare for, except to be certain of your salvation before it happens. When the Trumpet sounds, you won’t be saying on the way up, “Wait, wait I forgot my phone.”

Jesus’ return was a compelling desire of First Century Christians. Their cry was, “Maranantha!” Come, Lord Jesus. Though some wanted to shut down their lives and just sit and wait, Paul stressed that they keep alert, ready at any moment while they lived each moment to the glory of God. That’s what we do. It’s out there, it’s coming, but that’s not my concern. My concern is living today to honor God. How?

Not fearing, though things get fearful. Not worrying, though I have no solutions. Not panicking, though every fiber in me wants to run away. Living to honor God. We don’t wait until we hear the trumpet to try and adjust our lives to honoring Him.

Jesus said: Acts 1:7 It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; He also said Matt 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 

Paul added to that: 1Thess 5:1-6 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace [from riots] and safety [from covid]!" [or peace and safety from the promises of a peace treaty as Daniel prophesied] then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 

It will come upon us suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child. Interesting reference Paul makes.

Unless a baby is delivered by Cesarian Section, nobody knows the exact moment the baby will be born. You know it’s coming. The signs are all there. The birth pangs have begun. But you can’t point to the specific instant it will happen. In the same way, God has kept us from knowing when Jesus will return. And because we feel the pangs and see what’s going on every day, we know it will be soon, yet we still don’t know when.

Mark 13:7-8 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. 

The Jewish Talmud says there are Ten Birth Pangs to the Messiah’s coming.

1.      Jews must return to Israel and the desert will blossom. That has been going on since 1948.

2.     World will be in a state of complete segregation and degradation.

3.     Without moral values.

a.     When wealth is taken away – none suffer

b.     When health is taken away – some suffer

c.     When character is taken away – all suffer

4.     Truth will decrease and lies will prevail.

5.     Fewer wise righteous persons.

6.     Many Jews will give up hope of redemption, which means they no longer anticipate the Messiah to come.

7.     Young will treat Old with disrespect.

8.     Learning will be rejected because people will desire a life of ease. Bible will become an unknown book.

9.     Whole world will turn against Israel. The recent agreements with Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, Kosovo and now Bahrain have caused great stirring among Russian and the Muslim communities but much delight in Israel and the US.

10.  Jews will fight each other. Religious vs secular

I found myself naïve when I discovered most Jews were not religious.

Only 38 percent of the world-wide Jewish population considers itself religious, while 54% sees itself as non-religious or secular and 2% categorizes itself as atheist. Which means 56% define themselves as secular Jews, with a commitment to the value of being a Jew but not having the commitment to Jewish values according to Jewish religious traditions. Yet, God has plans for Israel that will come into play after the church is removed. (More on that next week.)

But religious Jews have an expectation the Messiah is yet to come. I looked into this and found there is a Jewish timeline they are following. Let’s explore that by going back to the beginning:

Gen 1:1-3 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said let there be…and Creation began.

It’s at that point opinions vary in describing what happened next and how long it took for it to happen.

There are some who believe God created all that exists in six 24-hour days. It’s called the Young Earth Theory. That the earth is only 6000 years old. Then there are Old Earth proponents who say those days were time frames with a much longer distance between events. Who’s right?

The question is: Was the introduction in Genesis a historical account or a summary that placed creation completely into God’s hands? Peter did say: 2Pet 3:8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. Of course, his context is the return of the Lord, but would that not apply in all of God’s doings? Even in prophetic language a day represents a year.

Neither position honors God more nor does either one dishonor Him. They both begin with the same statement: In the beginning God created. Just don’t fall into the heresy of Evolution, by saying God started it and then let evolution take it from there. That’s Deism, that God set everything in motion and now just sits back and watches it run. No, He created with purpose and design. If there is any change or adaptation of any creature, God pre-programed that into their DNA at the beginning.

But since we’re using the creation as a connection with Jewish understandings of the Messiah coming, how does the time frame factor in?

It’s true the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah. So, to them, He is still yet to come. It is interesting, however, that there is growing anticipation with many in the Jewish community that the Messiah may be coming soon. For the past several years they have reassembled the priestly order and Levites to learn the practices of sacrifice. But one vital ingredient essential to cleansing the priests to be able to perform the sacrifice as well as cleanse the implements needed for those sacrifices hasn’t been available – the ashes of a red heifer.

Several heifers have been born in Israel this century, but none has met all the requirements mentioned in the Bible, until August 2018. A calf that was born then fits the criteria. She is a red heifer and is now two years of age with no more than two black hairs on her entire body and without any blemish. Because she meets the qualifications, many faithful Jews believe this calf moves them closer to rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem, reinstalling the sacrificial system, ushering in the coming of the Messiah and then bringing about the final judgment.

What’s also interesting is how the creation of Adam plays a part in this timeline.

In the Talmud there is: Olam Hazeh – which means this present world. We might use the word extant or in the existence of, like when you look on a gravestone and see the beginning date but not ending date. That person is still extant, still in existence. Olam Hazeh is the current existence of the world.

To the Jews, this present world is scheduled to endure for 6000 years. Its time began the moment Adam became a living soul and extends to the coming of the Messiah.

The Jewish calendar says this is the year 5780. This Friday, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, it will be 5781. That number is counted from the creation of Adam and Eve. How do they come up with that?

Gen 5:4-12 Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died. Seth lived one hundred and five years, and became the father of Enosh. Then Seth lived eight hundred and seven years after he became the father of Enosh, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years, and he died. Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan. Then Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years after he became the father of Kenan, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years, and he died. Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalalel. 

Keep following that genealogy and then add up all the numbers for how old the dad was when he had the son and how old that son was that had his son, you come up with 1656 years from Adam to Noah. Those who want Adam to have been created much further back in time say Moses skipped generations, that these are just the more important ones mentioned. However, reading the text literally leaves no room for that. So, Adam to Noah 1656 years.

Gen 5:32 Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 

Gen 11:10-16 These are the records of the generations of Shem. Shem was one hundred years old, and became the father of Arpachshad two years after the flood; and Shem lived five hundred years after he became the father of Arpachshad, and he had other sons and daughters. Arpachshad lived thirty-five years, and became the father of Shelah; and Arpachshad lived four hundred and three years after he became the father of Shelah, and he had other sons and daughters. Shelah lived thirty years, and became the father of Eber; and Shelah lived four hundred and three years after he became the father of Eber, and he had other sons and daughters. Eber lived thirty-four years, and became the father of Peleg; 

Keep going and soon you come to: Gen 11:24-26 Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and became the father of Terah; and Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years after he became the father of Terah, and he had other sons and daughters. Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. 

From Adam to Noah is 1656 years. Then from Noah to Abraham is 390 years, which altogether is 2046.

Abraham to David is around 1000. David to Jesus is another 1000, which averages out to be right at 4000 years from Adam to Jesus. Since Jesus, add another 2000 years and you’re at 6000.

So, why all of this? The Jews have Adam being created 5780 years ago. Their Olam Hazeh – this present age – is scheduled to last only 6000 years. Because none of the dates are specific enough to accurately say this is the year 5780, we are in the range of their final days as well. Next week we’ll take this a step further.

TAKEAWAYS:

1.      We will never know the day the Lord will return.

2.     Because of that, we must first make sure of our salvation, then live each day to the glory of God.

3.     More is happening now that at any time in history to say Jesus will return soon.

4.     So, we say: “Maranantha! Come, Lord Jesus!”

 

Our hope isn’t in the future. Our hope is in the One who has planned out the future.

The Lord's Return Pt 1

Franklin Graham is a highly spiritual and politically connected man of God. More so than his father, Franklin has brought his political concerns to the church, leading the call to mobilize the church to prayer for our country. This past week he was asked about recent developments. He said, “The storm is coming. You are going to see Christians attacked. You’re going to see churches closed. And you’re going to see a real hatred expressed toward people of faith.” [A week ago, in Portland, an Antifa rioter stalked and killed a man who was identified among the Patriot Prayers, a group of Christians trying to stop the violence.]

Proof of how what he said is impacting Graham personally came from a petition being circulated by a left-leaning Christian group called Faithful America. The petition is entitled: Tell Samaritan's Purse: Franklin Graham's Hateful, Pro-Trump Politics Are Ruining Your Credibility. It demands Samaritan's Purse remove him from his positions as President and CEO because he prayed at the Republican Nation Convention last week. To date over 14,000 have signed the petition.

He said that socialism will shut down the church by telling it what it can and can’t do. We say, “No way. Read the First Amendment.” And look at how they are restricting churches during Covid.

The Governor of Nevada announced this past week that restaurants and bars could reopen and gave new restrictions to do so. He said they could have up to 50% capacity unless they are having religious services. Then they could only have 50 people.

A recent article estimates that 1 out of 5 churches will not survive their state’s Covid restrictions. That’s twenty percent of churches closing because they can no longer afford to remain open.

Until recently, I’ve never been highly inspired to spend much time speaking about the End times nor the Lord’s return. Partly because it didn’t seem pressing. Things I felt needed to happen hadn’t. Until now. Things have started pushing my buttons.

At the first of this year, before Covid, we worked through a series on End Times where it became obvious these are the Times of the great falling away. Then March came and the world as we knew it nearly collapsed. A virus impacted us in ways we’d never seen before, and as a result, bits of Hell began breaking loose. Organized and financed riots started up, bent on destruction. And the church came under attack.

Back when the nations of Israel and Judah were crumbling under the attack from the Assyrians and the Babylonians, God designated men to warn the people. All of the prophetic books of the OT were written before or during those two exiles. The closer they got to being taken captive, God intensified the warnings of what was coming.

I’m hearing prophecies today from pastors who are having dreams and visions saying, “Brace yourself. Worse things are on the way. Things are going to get worse before they can get better.”

I’ve never placed much stock in dreams and visions, but several prophecies having the same message has caught my ear. I do remember Corrie Ten Boom back in the 80s saying she had a dream in which she was told she’d live to see the Lord’s return. It didn’t happen. I thought if anyone would get it right Corrie would. So, my stock in dreams as God’s final communication device went down.

But there is a Bible prophecy related what’s going on: Joel 2:28-31 It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 

Now, Peter connected that prophecy with Pentecost. Acts 2:14-16 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: 

But not all that Peter quoted from Joel was fulfilled that day. This was the beginning of a work of the Lord that had multiple applications. The one we’re most familiar with would carry the Church through to the End. This being what Joel said, according to Peter, was the beginning of the New Covenant and the remarkable indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This New Covenant would define the era of the Gentiles being saved.

Rom 11:25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 

A partial hardening meant some Jews would embrace Jesus as their Savior/Messiah but not in large numbers. That will come later.

Rom 11:12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! 

There yet remains a great fulfillment anticipated for the Jews after the door closes for the Gentiles.

According to Joel, what began this new work of God, as seen at Pentecost, has more to be fulfilled. That could be what’s going on.

Many of these dreams and visions point to November being a crisis time in America. We are already engaged in a limited-scale civil war with groups of paid anarchists destroying certain cities with the government of those cities looking the other way.

Then there is the Presidential election November 3^rd. Hillary Clinton has told Joe Biden publicly not to concede the election under any circumstances. She said “This is going to drag out, and eventually, I do believe [Biden] will win, if we don't give an inch and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is." "We've got to have a massive legal operation, and I know the Biden campaign is working on that."

Which means they anticipate losing but have already decided not to accept the vote and challenge it in court in an attempt to drag the second term of the Trump presidency down as they did the first, smearing it as illegitimate. That’s what’s behind the mail-in ballots. A NYT op-ed article said that an all-out war will begin unless Biden wins by a landslide. I’m not sure if that was insider information, a hope so by the author, a scare-tactic to influence voters or a warning of things to come.

Why am I telling you this? When we were in Galveston, my granddaughter got hit by a wave and said, “I didn’t see that one coming.” We’re standing in the gulf. Waves are coming in one after another. Why would you not expect a wave to hit you?” If we read our Bibles, we cannot say, “I didn’t see any of this coming.” It’s clear things must get worse before they can get better, so, today starts a series of warnings. Not that the Lord will return any minute (though that is possible) but that things are drawing to an end. It’s on the way. Whether it’s this November or November four years from now or twenty years from now, it’s on the way.

Now, associated with His return are the spiritual battles where Satan and his minions ramp up their evil work. They will come like waves on the beach, one after another. It is the Church’s job to stand in the gap, praying our nation through these dangerous scenarios until the Lord returns.

So, with these being the End Times, how does the Lord’s Second Coming factor in?

2Thess 2:1-6 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 

The End Times is the time preceding the Lord’s return. The Lord’s return has been described as both terrible and glorious. Depends on which side of the equation we’re on. For those who don’t know the Lord it will be terrible. For those who know Him, glorious.

Paul said this man of lawlessness, an undefined embodiment of evil, is being restrained until the end and will be revealed at that time. Many believe what restrains him is the church. That as long as the church remains on the earth there is a spiritual force holding back this evil one who is coming (and in my opinion is already here, just not revealed yet).

John joins the discussion: 1John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 

The last hour started at the beginning of the church. Since then there have been and always will be those who manifest the spirit of the antichrist against the church. Any attempt to remove God from life and reject Jesus is antichrist. Even the religiously liberal attempts to downplay the necessity of the Lord fit into this category. 1John 2:22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 

But Paul’s next statement makes us believe there is also someone or something that stands in the way.

2Thess 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 

The He who now restrains could be the Holy Spirit and the he who is taken out of the way could be the church or perhaps a person or an angel that is standing in the way of Satan’s ultimate attack. But when whatever or whoever is removed, all of Hell will then break loose.

Daniel pulled back the curtain to show us what goes on in that spiritual realm. Dan 10:12-13 Then [Gabriel] said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 

There is a realm of activity we cannot see affecting things we can see. But God has a network of forces to resist the power of evil. Whatever that force is, it is resisting the man of lawlessness and standing in Satan’s way. When God takes away what holds him back, the evil one will be revealed. Why is He holding it back? Though we’re in the End Times, it isn’t time for the end yet.

Paul said “Remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now.”

I wish he would have told them again so we’d have that information. It would be helpful to better be aware. But, again, this will remain one of those mysteries God knows we can’t handle. That’s why the Revelation is such a difficult book to understand. God has kept certain specifics guarded. Why? Because it changes our focus from the goodness of God to His wrath. Our hope isn’t built on God’s wrath but His goodness.

TAKEAWAYS:

1. Things are never as bad as they can get.
2. We cannot judge the goodness of God by what we see.
3. We count on the goodness of God in spite of what we see.
4. Never judge the moment by taking one slice of time; keep it all in context.
5. Trust in the God who works His plans from eternity to take care of today.