2021 Review of the Unconditional covenants made by God with Israel

February 2016 I posted, “As for the United States, again and again the POTUS and his minions fail to support Israel and actually undermine her in mockery of God’s Word. Isaiah 5:5, “And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:” So much for the hedge of protection around America. As America has done to Israel….”

We had a four year reprieve during the Trump/ Pence Administration which was very supportive of Israel. Just one accomplishment was to finally move our Embassy to Jerusalem.  Now the election of 2020, questionable as it was/ is, removed God’s Warrior Jehu from office.  

Now that we have a Biden/ Harris administration in Washington DC that some refer to an a third Obama Administration, what of Israel? At least the US Senate nearly unanimously to keep our Embassy in Jerusalem. That said, I expect that the new administration will be less than supportive of Israel.

So it is time once again to review the Four Unconditional Covenants made by God with Israel:

The Abrahamic Covenant:

 “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting  covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:7-8).

The Land Covenant:

In Genesis 15 God instructed Abram to construct an offering and then caused Abram to enter a deep sleep. God foretold of the time that the Israelites would be strangers in a land not theirs, however, when they would come out of a period of enslavement they would be given an unconditional title to land as described in verse 18 through 21. This was a unilateral land covenant granted to Abram and his descendants.

The Davidic Covenant:

Nathan the prophet told King David God’s unconditional covenant. 2 Samuel 7:12, “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.” 2 Samuel 7:16, “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.”

The Everlasting Covenant:

God promised Isaac in Genesis 26:3-4, "Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed."

Now with the current administration will we lose God’s blessing? Genesis 12:3, “ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” 

God Said “Go Close the Windows”

 Last week I was at a Gospel performance featuring Michael and Ed Cullipher. Ed sang a song that likely brought tears to even the hardest heart, “Go Close the Windows.”

As Jesus hung on the cross “Angels cried Father please stop them" and God answered "Go close the Windows." What anguish God must have felt, nevertheless, as the Suffering Messiah Jesus was to serve as the propitiation for sin. Ephesians 2:8-9, “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Jesus was the  conciliation that permitted us to stand before our  righteous God. 

 

As I listened to Mr. Cullipher I thought back several years to when Pastor Bruce talked about “The Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross.” I was inspired to look into some of the Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled while Jesus hung on that cross.

 

The following is from my earlier blog postings:

 

# 1. Forgiveness: Luke 23:34, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

Numbers 15:26, “And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.”
Psalm 22:18, “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”

#2. Salvation: Luke 23:43, “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Isaiah 40:3, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John the Baptist is often referred to as the end of The Old Testament.

#3. Relationship: John 19:26-27, “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Psalm 69:8 “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.”

#4 Abandonment: Matthew 27:46, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”

#5 Distress: John 19:28, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”

Psaml 69:20, “Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.”

#6 Reunion John 19:30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."

Psalm 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

#7 Triumph: Luke 23:46, “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

Psalm 31:5, “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” 

Tetelestai means, “It is finished.” Jesus paid the price, it is up to each of us to choose to accept or reject the gift of Grace. 

The Second Coming of the First Century Church Continued

In November of 2012 I discussed the value of being part of a small group of believers. I ended with “One final comment, small groups may very well be the future churches in America as they are in so many other countries. We can see more and more discrimination against the Christian faith and Christians even here in the United States. I would pray that rather than having to go underground, we will see great revival in the United States.”

Christian friends and several in prayer groups are hoping for a great revival in these end days. Sadly, and in my opinion, hearts seem to progressively be getting hardened to the message of the true Gospel. That said and while there is still time, we will continue to witness in this darkening world.

Many churches have either been closed down or restricted in their services due to the Conid-19 virus. Many are told no singing, no singing of praises to the Lord, seriously? There is some “opening up” but with the constant talk of mutations of the virus what does 2021 hold?

Under the Biden/ Harris administration the left now has complete control of all branches of the government as sadly it seems even the SCOTUS has moved left. Is this a “shaking of the Church,” will the capital C Church, the “Ekklesia,” the assembly of “called out ones” be going underground, is this a wake up call, a rebirth of the church at Pentecost in Acts 2.

With thanks to Church Missler, a little background on “The Life Cycle of Churches” with my added editorial comments in red:

• People-oriented Pastor – describes the church I attend when home in Arizona

• Pulpit-Oriented Pastor – the conservative Protestant church I grew up in

• Property-oriented Pastorate – describes the Protestant church I attended with my mother before she joined the Catholic Church

• Power-oriented Pastorate - Return of the Nicolaitans – in my opinion, describes the Catholic Church

• Politically-driven decay - Megachurches too many of which are falling into line with “The World”

With this politically driven decay, is there a coming of the underground church? Decades before the followers of Jesus were called Christians they met in secret, in home churches and in the case of Rome, in the catacombs. The people of the First Century Church, the "Way," likely heard about the teaching of Christ by word-of-mouth.

In the Apostolic Church one might even be taught by one of the apostles and teachings would be very close to those of Jesus. John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

What of the simplicity of Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

As for me, I seem to have the gift of discernment and am being watchful in these days of deception.

 

Second Coming of the First Century Church

 Given how PI the Church seems to be viewed by many the "Second Coming of the First Century Church" seems to be an appropriate title for this post. As often happens with me, I was sidetracked by remembering a teaching by Chuck Missler from several years ago.  Chuck provides a good history of the  persecution of the early Christian church and then goes on to talk about home churches. Again, very relevant today.

It seems that the Wuhan Virus has had a negative impact on religious freedom. Attending church is being discouraged, so the home church is a possibility. Was the First Century Church that met in catacombs in Rome is a type for present day. How close are we to underground meetings to be able share the Word of God?

For years my favorite Bible study was  a small group meeting openly winters at a camping site in the desert in a 10’ x 20’ tent on Bureau of Land Management land. There is something about studying the Word of God in the desert that makes me feel even closer to Jesus. Our Bible study leader, Jay, always  prepared thoroughly and had many references and included word studies in her teachings. Jan didn't just talk at us, we were encouraged to join in.

Even this little gathering didn't escape minor persecution. Several years ago one of the local politicians challenged Jay about holding a Bible study on BLM property. This person brought with her an air of darkness but Jay stood her ground as we had permission to meet there. We even invited her to join us, her reply was something like "You would like that wouldn't you." Yes we would have welcomed her and prayed for her salvation, however, she glared at Jay. After she left the atmosphere that had been so uplifting was weighted down by a feeling of darkness. Our little group joined hands and prayed and the atmosphere was cleared up. A preview of coming persecution? 

Sadly last year our Jay had a series of strokes and her extensive teaching are scattered among a pile of yellow legal sheets and in her confused mind. Thus ending Jay's desert Bible study.

As an aside, should we be forced to meet in small group, well, there are some advantages:

· Members of a small group seems to me to bond with each other

· The group can get into a very in depth Bible study

· Members of small groups can be very supportive of each other

· There doesn't seem to be the clicks in a small group

· Everyone is involved in the discussion

The 2020 election is tending towards a Biden/ Harris administration, however, there still are courts cases pending and the Electoral College is still to meet. Will the church be going underground if the left takes over control of our national government? Home/ underground churches have the advantage of not drawing attention as does a large church in these post Wuhan Virus days. Small groups may very well be the future churches in America as they are in so many other countries.

There is more and more discrimination against the Christian faith and Christians even here in the United States. Some state governors have restricted church attendance and even banned singing praises to the Lord. I would pray that rather than having to go underground, we will see great revival in the United States. For now, the possibility of a Biden/ Harris administration may be a shaking of the Church (capital C) a wake up call, a rebirth of the church at Pentecost in Acts 2.

Dr. Missler’s teaching on the “Once and Future Church” is available at https://store.khouse.org/products/the-once-and-future-church

Covid-19 The Great Reset

It was only through promising myself my second cup of coffee and a Tootsie Roll Pop that I could make myself attempt once more to read "Covid-19 the Great Reset" by KLAUS SCHWAB THIERRY MALLERET.

I finally made it to 20% read with many pages highlighted. One quote for example, "Jin Qi (one of China’s leading scientists) had it right when he said in April 2020: “This is very likely to be an epidemic that co-exists with humans for a long time, becomes seasonal and is sustained within human bodies.”[19]"

Also read of something called, "The Fourth Industrial Revolution (or Industry 4.0) is the ongoing automation of traditional manufacturing and industrial practices, using modern smart technology. Large-scale machine-to-machine communication (M2M) and the internet of things (IoT) are integrated for increased automation, improved communication and self-monitoring, and production of smart machines that can analyze and diagnose issues without the need for human intervention.[1]"

With my tenancy to think "Outside the Box," perhaps rather than a lightning bolt, God will use something like a solar event to create an EMP.

Is President Donald Trump God’s Modern-day Cyrus? God’s Jehu?

In 2016 there was a tremendous groundswell of Christians not only in the United States but in Israel praying for Trump to be victorious. Prayer meetings were held often through the night before the election. Donald Trump was elected President of the United States (POTUS), however, Obama still had two months to cause damage both to our country and to Israel.

Was King Cyrus a type of Donald Trump? Centuries before the birth of Jesus and more than a hundred years before King Cyrus matched into Babylon God dictated a letter to him through the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 44:28, “That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.”

Also, as prophesied, Cyrus’ military was unopposed, Isaiah 45:1, “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;”

Unlike Cyrus, Trump met with great opposition, opposition from Liberals, from Obama and his minions, a bias and often lying mainstream media, the Elicits both from without and within his own party and the Globalists.

Like Cyrus who had already conquered most of the known world, Trump is/ was a very successful businessman. Cyrus encouraged the Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Rebuilding the temple didn’t go smoothly as a wall was needed. Israel was finally given permission to rebuild the wall leading to one of the greatest prophecies of all time. Daniel 9:25, “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” A subject for another time.

The hand of God was involved in the selection of Cyrus to free the Israeli and help them to return to Israel. What is the likelihood that the hand of God was in the election of Donald Trump in 2016? Was the imperfect Donald Trump raised up “For such time as this?” I certainly think so.

Now four years and the 2018 mid-term election later, where are we? Today we have a POTUS of the type of Jehu the Warrior. Jehu helped to cleanse Israel of Idol worship, 2 Kings 10:28, “Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.” President Trump has taken a stand for Christianity. He has moved our Embassy to Jerusalem rather than kicking the can down the road like pass POTUS.

President Trump has delivered on many campaign promised and we now have a more conservative Supreme Court. President Trump has been a friend to Israel and is prolife.

 

As an aside, Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s 2017 “The Paradigm: The Ancient Blueprint That Holds the Mystery of Our Times” is quite a read. Again, very relevant to 21st Century America.

As for Jehu, recommended reading, “The Paradigm,” by Jonathan Cahn,

“The Paradigm: The Ancient Blueprint That Holds the Mystery of Our Times is, above all, the revealing of a mystery, a blueprint, an ancient paradigm, that uncannily and amazingly has everything to do with our times. It is also the revealing of a warning to a nation and a civilization concerning its present course and the ultimate end of that course.”

In  my opinion, a Biden/ Harris administration will spell the end of America as it was and could be. God raised up Donald Trump as a sort of King Cyrus/ Jehu to provide one last chance for our country to turn around. God willing President Trump will be re-elected 11/3/2020.

506-1-1-8. YHWH, the name God uses to denote His covenant relationship with Israel, is only one of the many names of God and the seven names of Jesus as given in the Book of Revelation

The many names of God relate to His attributes. These are just a few,

Adonai, El Elyon, El Olam, El Roi, El Shaddai, Elohim, Yahweh

Moving to the Church Age, God has several names of God including:

YHVH-Yireh — "YEHOVAH will provide"

YHVH-Rapha — "Yahweh that healed"

YHVH-Niss"i — "YEHOVAH our Banner"

YHVH-Shalom — "YEHOVAH our Peace"

YHVH-Ra-ah — "YEHOVAH is the Way, my Shepherd"

In the Seven Letters to the Churches in the Book of Revelation Jesus has a unique name related to each church. Each church represents a period in church history; however, all are applicable to the churches of today.

Church         The name of Jesus

Ephesus      “He that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden lampstands”

Smyrna       “The first and the last, which was dead, and is alive”

Pergamos   “He which hath the sharp sword with two edges 

Thyatira     “The Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass” 

Sardis        “He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” 

Philadelphia   “He that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth”

Laodiceans   “The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God”

Again, the seven churches represent the church through the ages. Starting with the church of Ephesus which was the apostolic church through the church of Laodicea, the lukewarm church which pretty much sums up we’re were at today.

The church of Ephesus had gotten so involved in doctrine that “thou hast left thy first love.”

The church of Smyrna, the persecuted church. There was such great persecution of the early Christians  that they were actually used as torches to light the pathways in the court of Nero.

The Church of Pergamos was the marriage between Christians and the pagan worship.  

That church of Thyatira  represented the medieval church that had that woman Jezebel, shades of the Inquisition.

The Church of Sardis was the dead church as the  incompletion of the Reformation.

The church of Philadelphia is what we the Lord would that we all were, the missionary church. This is what we all should be about, witnesses for Lord Jesus as the time is short. If you listen carefully you can almost hear the beating of the horses’ hoofs.