WHAT ARE WE TO DO IN THIS END TIME? WHAT ACTIONS SHOULD WE TAKE?

The prophet Jeremiah is pouring out his heart about all he has gone through as a servant of His God Yehovah. There are a lot of things we can glean from what he has written if we have ears to hear and eyes to see. Just as Eric Chang has said, ears open to hear the word of Yehovah and spiritually see what they are telling us!

Lamentations 3:19-42, 49-51:

The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss, Yet, I still dare to hope when I remember this:

The faithful – steadfast love of Yehovah never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin fresh each morning. I say to myself, “Yehovah is my inheritance therefore, I will hope in Him!”

Yehovah is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from Yehovah. And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of His discipline:

Let those sit alone in silence beneath Yehovah’s demands. Let them lie face down in the dust, for there will be hope at last. Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them and accept the insults of their enemies. [Jesus uses these words to show how we should act in love toward our neighbor, regardless of how they treat us]

For no one is abandoned by Yehovah forever. Though He brings grief [correction], He also shows compassion, because of the greatness of His unfailing love. For He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.

If people crush underfoot all the prisoners of the land, if they deprive others of their rights in defiance of the Most High, if they twist justice in the courts doesn’t Yehovah see all these things? [We can understand these words clearly because the things described are taking place all around us today]

Who can command things to happen without Yehovah’s permission? Does not the Most High send both calamity and good? Then why should we, mere humans, complain when we are punished for our sins? Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to Yehovah. Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven and say. “We have sinned and rebelled and you have not forgiven us.” [This sounds like what Paul tell us in his writings, but in our case, Yehovah forgives us when we ask Him for forgiveness for our sins, for falling short of the mark, because of the sin-offering sacrifice of His uniquely begotten son, Jesus]

You have engulfed us with your anger, chased us down, and slaughtered us without mercy. You have hidden yourself in a cloud so our prayers cannot reach you. You have discarded us as refuse and garbage among the nations. “All our enemies have spoken out against us. We are filled with fear, for we are trapped, devastated, and ruined.” [This is the condition of a multitude of Jews – Israel to this day]

Notice: Tears stream from my eyes because of the destruction of my people! My tears flow endlessly; they will not stop until Yehovah looks down from heaven and sees. My heart is breaking over the fate of all the women of Jerusalem.

Do we shed tears over that we see what is happening to people close to us and all around the world, who are spiritually blind because Satan has indeed deceived the whole world [Revelation 12:9]?

Do we cry out for Yehovah, our God, and Father to draw close to all our brothers and sisters who are undergoing suffering, persecution, and being put in prison for believing and trusting in Him for deliverance?

Do we ask Yehovah to give us the courage and persevering commitment to hold fast to all He has given us to do until the end of our lives or the end of this age?

Today is the day of salvation! This age is coming to an end very soon. Are we preparing ourselves by God’s enabling power to stand fast to what is coming? Without our God and Father’s enabling power working in us and through us we will be helpless to withstand what is soon coming.

This Covid 19 pandemic is just the beginning of the sorrows that are coming. What we see is taking place in this world now is just the beginning of the turmoil among the nations that are to follow!

Act now, for “Now is the day of salvation!” [2 Corinthians 6:2]

SACRED SANCTUARY OF OUR GOD AND FATHER YEHOVAH

Discerning the Naos - Hieron Distinction

Stephen, the first martyr of the Faith, at the end of his powerful defense, declared, "The Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands" (Acts 7:48). Needless to say, this greatly upset those who were devoted to such physical structures, along with the many human traditions, rituals, and regulations that came to be associated with such temples and cathedrals. But, Stephen was right. God has chosen to make His habitation within His people.

Like Stephen, the apostle Paul understood this truth quite well, making it a part of his sermon in the midst of the Areopagus in Athens: "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands" (Acts 17:24).

King Solomon grasped this truth: "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built" (1 Kings 8:27).

At the end of the prophecy of Isaiah, we find the following spoken by God Himself: "Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool: What Temple can you build for me as good as that? My hand has made both earth and skies, and they are mine. Yet I will look with pity on the man who has a humble and a contrite heart, who trembles at my word" (Isaiah 66:1-2).

The strong implication here is that when God casts His eye upon His creation, looking for a habitation, He is not drawn to temples; He is drawn to receptive hearts!

Many Christians look at huge Christian church structures thinking that in these structures they will encounter God; yet, if they would simply cast their gaze inward, they would find His true dwelling place: the sanctuary of our heart! It is here He dwells if we will just open our hearts to Him and allow Him entrance!

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).

The desire of each of us should be "that the Messiah may dwell in our hearts through faith" (Ephesians 3:17). 

Dr. Kenneth Wuest, in volume one of his classic Word Studies from the Greek New Testament, points out that the word "dwell" (katoikesai) means "to settle down and be at home." Dr. Wuest writes, "The expanded translation is: 'that the Messiah might finally settle down and feel completely at home in your hearts.'

This at-home-ness of the lord Jesus in the heart of the saint is 'through faith.'" Where is the "habitation" of our Lord? Where is the "temple"? Where is the "sanctuary"? It is within us; it is NOT within any physical structure made by human hands.

The apostle Paul, on several occasions, makes this very point: "Do you not know that you are a sanctuary of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are" (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

"Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit which is in you, that you have from God, and that you are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19).

"What agreement has the sanctuary of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, 'I will dwell in them and walk among them." (2 Corinthians 6:16).

We, both Jews and Gentiles, are being built into a holy structure on a spiritual foundation with the Messiah as our cornerstone, "in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy sanctuary in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:21-22).

What many people may not realize is that none of these words translated "temple" in these passages [which I have corrected] is the Greek word "hieron" (which is the word for "temple").

Rather, in each of these texts, it is the Greek word "naos" (which is the word for "sanctuary").

One should also be aware that Paul is making use of both singulars and plurals in these texts: i.e., in some places, he is talking of our individual physical bodies as the dwelling of the Lord, while in other places he is speaking of the corporate body of believers (the called-out Assembly of Yehovah - God).

Many disciples may be rather surprised to learn that the Greek word "hieron" (temple), which appears some 71 times in the pages of the New Testament writings, only appears one time outside of the four Gospels and Acts. That one time is in 1 Corinthians 9:13, "Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share with the altar?" The other 70 occurrences of this Greek word are in Matthew (11 times), Mark (9 times), Luke (14 times), John (11 times), and Acts (25 times).

"Hieron" appears nowhere else in the New Covenant writings! 

Why is this important? 

Let's look in the book of Revelation:

Anyone with a Greek concordance can easily verify, is that the Greek word for "temple" ("hieron") never appears in Revelation.

Every word that is rendered "temple" by many of our English translations is actually the Greek word "naos" ("sanctuary"), which appears 16 times in the book of Revelation.

These two words, however, do not convey the same meaning, and to render each of them by a single English word has led to a good deal of confusion over the years.

Simply stated, "hieron" ("temple") refers to the entire complex of buildings and grounds that comprise this facility, while "naos" ("sanctuary") refers only to that innermost area (the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place) which was off-limits to all but a few, and in which God met a man (the high priest) on special occasions.

The Greek scholar W. E. Vine wrote, "The noun hieron signifies the entire building with its precincts as distinct from the naos, the inner sanctuary; apart from the Gospels and Acts, hieron is mentioned only in 1 Corinthians 9:13. Hieron is never used figuratively" [Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, p. 115].

Dr. Joseph Thayer concurs: "Naos in the Septuagint is used of the temple at Jerusalem, but only of the sacred edifice (or sanctuary) itself, consisting of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. In classical Greek naos is used as the sanctuary or cell of a temple, where the image of the god was placed, which is to be distinguished from 'to hieron', the whole temple, the entire consecrated enclosure; this distinction is observed in the Bible!" [Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 422]. "Hieron and Naos differ, in that the former designates the whole compass of the sacred enclosure, embracing the entire aggregate of buildings, balconies, porticos, courts (viz. that of the men or Israelites, that of the women, that of the priests), belonging to the temple; the latter (naos) designates the sacred edifice properly called (sanctuary), consisting of two parts, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies (which was entered only on the great day of atonement by the high priest alone)" [Thayer, p. 299].

Dr. Gerhard Kittel observes that the Greek word naos is derived from the Greek term naio, meaning "to dwell; to inhabit," and that it denoted to the pagans "the abode of the gods." Therefore, this inner area was where deity dwelt among men. "Naos is, then, the dwelling of the deity. ... It is the sanctuary in the strict sense as compared with the broader term hieron" [Kittel's Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 4, p. 880].

This understanding of the naos is the "abode of deity" goes along well with Paul's use of this Greek word in the passages cited above. With the coming of the new covenant, the abode of our God shifted from an institutional setting to an individual setting; from a place to a people.

God indwells His people, both individually (the physical body) and collectively (the body of believers: i.e., the called-out Assembly).

The material shadows have been replaced by the spiritual Substance! The types have faded away in the presence of Reality. "Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary" (Hebrews 9:1, NIV). These were temporary, however, and were only "applied until the time of the new order" (Hebrews 9:10, NIV).

It wasn't 70 A.D. when the temple and its many courts and rituals and priests and sacrifices became obsolete. That happened with the resurrection and ascension of the Messiah, and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost.

70 A.D. was just the "casting aside" of what had already (decades before) been spiritually removed as the habitation of Yehovah - God and the "service of worship" of this new "kingdom of priests" (who were both Jew and Gentile, male and female).

WE, therefore ... you and I ... as new creations in the Messiah are individually and collectively the NAOS of God Almighty, just as Paul declares in his use of this term. Paul's focus in his writings is not on the "temple," it is on the "sanctuary." We are indwelt; we are the habitat of our God; we are priests in His service, under His great High Priest Jesus!

"The NT teaches that the believer's body is, in a real sense, a sanctuary of God" [Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, vol. 2, p. 1518]. "In all the NT sayings which treat of the significance of the temple, which use the image of the temple to denote the new relationship to God-given in, and which transfer the image to the community, the term is naos rather than hieron. This is not without significance!" [Dr. Gerhard Kittel, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 3, p. 246].

That the community of believers "is itself the naos is a belief common to the whole of the NT witness" [ibid, p. 247]. I love the way the Lord wraps up His revelation to John, and it is a fitting close to this study: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying:

'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. ... I did not see a naos in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its naos" (Revelation 21:1-3, 22). The entire universe itself will have been absorbed into the eternal Holy of Holies, the abode of the One who fills all in all. And with our Savior who paved the way through the veil into the everlasting Sanctuary, we shall forever dwell in that abode where only righteousness and holiness abound. "In that final state there is properly 'no sanctuary' (Revelation 21:22), for God and the Lamb 'are the sanctuary.' All is there hallowed by the Divine Presence; all is sanctuary!!" [Easton's Bible Dictionary, e-Sword]. Lord, hasten that day!

Written by Al Maxey and edited by Bruce Lyon

THAT PROPHET

Notice the questions that the leaders of Israel asked John the Baptist:

John 1:19-27: This was John's answer when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" John didn't refuse to answer. He told them clearly, "I'm not the Messiah." They asked him, "Well, are you, Elijah?" John answered, "No, I'm not." Then they asked, "Are you the prophet?" John replied, "No."

So they asked him, "Who are you? Tell us so that we can take an answer back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" John said, "I'm a voice crying out in the desert, 'Make the way for the Lord -  Yehovah straight,' as the prophet Isaiah said."

Some of those who had been sent were Pharisees.

They asked John, "Why do you baptize if you're not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?"

John answered them, "I baptize with water. Someone you don't know is standing among you. He's the one who comes after me. I am not worthy to untie his sandal strap."

John was pointing to the one who was prophesied to come as THAT PROPHET AND THE MESSIAH.

We know that after Jesus was baptized by John in the River Jordan he began a ministry that clearly showed that he was THAT PROPHET AND God’s anointed one, THE MESSIAH!

Notice Matthew 5: where Jesus is giving to Israel New Covenant instructions acting as THAT PROPHET that Moses said would come, a man like unto him:

Deuteronomy 18:15-18: Yehovah your God will send you A PROPHET, an Israelite like me. You must listen to him. This is what you asked Yehovah your God to give you on the day of the assembly at Mount Horeb. You said, "We never want to hear the voice of Yehovah our God or see this raging fire again. If we do, we'll die!" Yehovah told me, "What they've said is good. So I will send them a prophet, an Israelite like you. I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. Whoever refuses to listen to the words THAT PROPHET speaks in my name will answer to me.

Notice:

Acts 3:22-23: For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A PROPHET shall the Lord -Yehovah your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every person, who will not hear THAT PROPHET, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Acts 7:37: This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A PROPHET shall the Lord - Yehovah your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall you hear.

Now let’s return to Matthew chapter 5 and see the new covenant instructions – Torah, Jesus is giving to Israel to understand and obey.

Matthew 5:1-33: When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them:

"Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

blessed are those who mourn. They will be comforted.

Blessed are those who are gentle. They will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God's approval. They will be satisfied.

blessed are those who show mercy. They will be treated mercifully.

Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure. They will see God.

Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called God's children.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven! The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.

"You are salt for the earth. But if the salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.

"You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lampstand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house. in the same way, let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.

"Don't ever think that I came to set aside Moses' Teachings or the Prophets. I didn't come to set them aside but to make them come true. I can guarantee this truth: Until the earth and the heavens disappear, neither a period nor a comma will disappear from Moses' Teachings before everything has come true.

So whoever sets aside any command that seems unimportant and teaches others to do the same will be unimportant in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever does and teaches what the commands say will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

I can guarantee that unless you live a life that has God's approval and does it more faithfully than the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Never murder. Whoever murders will answer for it in court.' But I can guarantee that whoever is angry with another believer will answer for it in court. Whoever calls another believer an insulting name will answer for it in the highest court. Whoever calls another believer a fool will answer for it in the lake of fire.

"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember there that another believer has something against you, leave your gift at the altar. First, go away and make peace with that person. Then come back and offer your gift.

"Make peace quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. Otherwise, he will hand you over to the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.

I can guarantee this truth: You will never get out until you pay every penny of your fine.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Never commit adultery.' But I can guarantee that whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery in his heart.

"So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it thrown into the lake of fire.

And if your right-hand leads you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it go into the lake of fire.

"It has also been said: 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice.' But I can guarantee that any man who divorces his wife for any reason other than unfaithfulness makes her look as though she has committed adultery. Whoever marries a woman divorced in this way makes himself look as though he has committed adultery.

"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Never break your oath, but give to the Lord - Yehovah what you swore in an oath to give him.' But I tell you don't swear an oath at all. Don't swear an oath by heaven, which is God's throne, or by the earth, which is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, which is the city of the great King. And don't swear an oath by your head. After all, you cannot make one hair black or white. Simply say yes or no. Anything more than that comes from the evil one.

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to oppose an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your other cheek to him as well. If someone wants to sue you in order to take your shirt, let him have your coat too. If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don't turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' But I tell you this: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. In this way, you show that you are children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on people whether they are good or evil. He lets rain fall on them whether they are just or unjust. If you love those who love you, do you deserve a reward? Even the tax collectors do that! Are you doing anything remarkable if you welcome only your friends? Everyone does that! That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Continue Matthew 6:1-34:

"Be careful not to do your good works in public in order to attract attention. If you do, your Father in heaven will not reward you. So when you give to the poor, don't announce it with trumpet fanfare. This is what hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets in order to be praised by people. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward. When you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your contributions privately. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.

“When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites. They like to stand in synagogues and on street corners to pray so that everyone can see them. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward. When you pray, go to your room and close the door. Pray privately to your Father who is with you. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you. “When you pray, don’t ramble like heathens who think they’ll be heard if they talk a lot. Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, let your name be kept holy. Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Give us our daily bread today. Forgive us as we forgive others. Don’t allow us to be tempted. Instead, rescue us from the evil one.

“If you forgive the failures of others, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failures.

“When you fast, stop looking sad like hypocrites. They put on sad faces to make it obvious that they’re fasting. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward. When you fast, wash your face and comb your hair. Then your fasting won’t be obvious. Instead, it will be obvious to your Father who is with you in private. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.

“Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal. Your heart will be where your treasure is.

"The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is unclouded, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light in you is darkness, how dark it will be!

“No one can serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth. “So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes?  “Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying? “And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith? “Don’t ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them.

First, seek the kingship/kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. “So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Continue Matthew 7:1-29:

"Stop judging so that you will not be judged." Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied to you. So why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer's eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to another believer, 'Let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,' when you have a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First, remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer's eye.

"Don't give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls to pigs. Otherwise, they will trample them and then tear you to pieces.

"Ask, and you will receive. Search and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

"If your child asks you for bread, would any of you give him a stone? Or if your child asks for a fish, would you give him a snake? Even though you're evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?

"Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you. That is [the meaning of] Moses' Teachings and the Prophets.

"Enter through the narrow gate because the gate and road that lead to destruction are wide. Many enter through the wide gate. But the narrow gate and the road that lead to life are full of trouble. Only a few people find the narrow gate.

"Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts, they are vicious wolves. You will know them by what they produce."

People don't pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit. Any tree that fails to produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into a fire. So you will know them by what they produce.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven - God, but only the person who does what my Father in heaven wants.

Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and authority of your name?'

Then I will tell them publicly, 'I've never known you. Get away from me, you evil people.'

"Therefore, everyone who hears what I say and obeys it will be like a wise person who built a house on the rock. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.

"Everyone who hears what I say but doesn't obey it will be like a foolish person who built a house on sand. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and struck that house. It collapsed, and the result was a total disaster."

When Jesus finished this speech, the crowds were amazed at his teachings. Unlike their scribes, he taught them with authority. [The authority of THAT PROPHET that was prophesied to come – Deuteronomy 18:15]

Notice the following John 7:37-46: On the last and most important day of the festival [of Tabernacles – Booths], Jesus was standing [in the temple courtyard]. He said loudly:

"Whoever is thirsty must come to me to drink. As Scripture says, 'Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.'"

Jesus said this about the Spirit, which his believers would receive. The Spirit was not yet evident, as it would be after Jesus had been glorified.

After some of the crowd heard Jesus say these words, they said, "This man is certainly THE PROPHET."

Other people said, "This man is THE MESSIAH."

Still, other people asked, "How can the Messiah come from Galilee? Doesn't Scripture say that the Messiah will come from the descendants of David and from the village of Bethlehem, where David lived?"

So the people were divided because of Jesus.

Some of them wanted to arrest him, but they couldn't. When the temple guards returned, the chief priests and Pharisees asked them, "Why didn't you bring Jesus?" The temple guards answered, "No human has ever spoken like this man."

An amazing testimony that Jesus was THAT PROPHET AND THE MESSIAH!

Proof Jesus gave to Israel that he was the Messiah

Matthew 8:3-4: And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said unto him, See you tell no man; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Why did Jesus tell the man healed of leprosy to show himself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded as a testimony unto them [the priests]

The reason was to show them that he was the Messiah, for up until that time no one had ever been healed of leprosy, no one!

Now we know that Israel’s leaders and many of the people of Israel rejected the teachings of Jesus and thus rejected him as THAT PROPHET that was prophesied to come and the coming one that all the Old Testament saints looked for, THE MESSIAH.

However, many did believe that he was that Prophet and the Messiah but were afraid to say so for fear that the Pharisees would have them cast our of the synagogue. After the resurrection and as a result of the words that Peter spoke to Israel on the day of Pentecost many believed and were baptized and became new creations in the lord Messiah Jesus will to obey all the word their God Yehovah had given to Jesus to give to them.

At the time of their baptism, they were grafted into the true Israel of Yehovah. All those who rejected Jesus as their Messiah became branches that were broken off of the olive tree – Israel that Paul speaks about in Romans 11th chapter.

Now at this time in history all Jews and Gentiles who have walked into the waters of baptism dying to self in the process come out of the water as new creations in the lord Messiah Jesus, receiving the Spirit of the only true God Yehovah and the spirit of His son Jesus.

They also have been grafted into the true Israel of God. Also we know that as the result of their baptism have been placed as sons in the household of God.

We also know that those in the Messiah Jesus have been bought and paid for by his blood that he shed when he became a sin-offering sacrifice and as such are the slaves of Jesus who acting as the agent of God means we are the slaves of God.

So we die to self in order to live, we become slaves of God and sons of God at the same time and become brothers and sisters to the lord Messiah Jesus.

What an amazing result of God’s grace toward all those who are His!

Now we are to go forth doing the good works he has called us to do to bring glory to His name Yehovah.

In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul, having said that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works, goes on to say, “For we are His workmanship, created in the Messiah Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (v.10).

Why did God make of us a new creation in the Messiah?

So that we may be “created in the Messiah Jesus for good works”! Good works are what God created us for. And He foreordained “that we should walk in them” IN ORDER TO GLORIFY HIM. These works are produced by “His power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20; Colossians 1:29).

Jesus our Lord “gave himself for us [as a sin-offering sacrifice], that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for himself his own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14, NKJV).

A BELIEVER'S RESPONSE TO PROPHECY

When a prophet comes with a message of warning, often people want the prophet to give them specific advice about what to do in response. At times, God gives the prophet a word; but more often, it is up to every man of God to take the word into account for his own family. Just as a pastor has stewardship of the church, a man of God is to give an account of his own family.

Joseph heard God say to store up food for the season to come (see Genesis 41). Moses heard God say to receive gifts from the Egyptians for their journey (see Exodus12). We can also hear from our God and Father Yehovah about our situation. Sheep do hear the shepherd’s voice. Jesus will not only guide his people and comfort his flock but will also give them boldness and a heart to serve those troubled by afflictions.

The wisdom of Paul in his letter to the Ephesians speaks most to what we need. “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord - Yehovah is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:15-18, NKJV).

We must listen intently to the word of God, and act upon what He tells us to do. We must evaluate our own lives. Are we sitting on the fence? This is not the time for compromise or close affiliation with this world. Partying in the house of an Egyptian on the night of the Passover is definitely not a good idea.

There is not a time when it is most important to be wholeheartedly committed to walking in faith obedience before our God and Father Yehovah than at this present time!

A prophet once came to Paul and prophesied that if he went to Jerusalem he would be bound and put in prison. The prophet was faithful to give his word; it was up to Paul to hear from God about how to deal with that warning. Paul still decided to go to Jerusalem. He was willing to risk his life for the gospel (see Acts 21). Some will hear a prophet’s warning and seek their own safety. Others will hear and search out a place to serve where people will need their spiritual strength and compassion.

In these days of trouble, there is an opportunity for us to call out to those outside the gate.

Shrinking behind a double-locked door or fleeing to a rural farm does our unbelieving neighbor no good!

Our desires should be the same as the Messiah Jesus: to preach and publish the good news message in order that all men will have a choice to flee from the wrath that is coming, and choose to follow him on the narrow path that leads to salvation - deliverance. Now is the time of salvation! Choose life!

Written by David Wilkerson (1931-2011) and added to and edited by Bruce Lyon

AN URGENT MESSAGE

I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to friends and to church leaders we have met all over the world. An earth-shattering calamity is about to happen. It is going to be so frightening that we are all going to tremble, even the godliest among us. We are under God’s wrath. In the psalms, it is written, “For look! The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:2-3, NKJV).

In Psalm 11:6, David warns, “Upon the wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.” This is a righteous judgment, just as in the judgments of Sodom and in Noah’s generation.

The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.’” (Jeremiah 18:11). Instead of repenting, though, “They said, ‘That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will everyone obey the dictates of his evil heart.’” (Jeremiah 18:12).

God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations, but what about God’s people? What shall the righteous do?

For our spiritual reaction, we have options. This is outlined in Psalm 11. We can “flee like a bird to a mountain” (v. 1); or do as the psalmist did: “In Yehovah, I put my trust” (v. 1) because “He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright” (v. 7).

Notice: Psalm 91:1-11:

 He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of YEHOVAH, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover you with his feathers, and under His wings, you shall trust: His truth shall be your shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;  nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes you shall behold and see the reward of the wicked Because you have made YEHOVAH, who is your refuge, even the Most High, your habitation; there shall no evil come upon you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.

Indeed if Yehovah our God is for us, who can stand against us.

I will say to my soul, “No need to run. No need to hide. This is God’s righteous work. I will behold our God and our Father Yehovah on his throne with His eye of loving-kindness, watching over every step I take. I will trust that He will deliver His people even through floods, fires, and calamities of all kinds.”

I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off. I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose.

Written by David Wilkerson (1931-1911), edited by Bruce Lyon

Truly David Wilkerson was a man of God and this warning he has given ought to be regarded seriously by all of us who are living in these end times!

When we see Israel sign a seven-year treaty with the leader of the ten Muslim nations that surround Israel we will know that there are only 7 years left before God's wrath is poured out on the nations, and after that event, the return of the lord Messiah Jesus to take his place on the throne of David at Zion.

With that being said we ought to be telling everyone "Now is the day of salvation" Deliver yourself now from destruction by committing yourself to love Yehovah God with all you being and loving your neighbor as yourself, walking with a committed faith to obey all the words that Yehovah gave to His uniquely begotten Son to give to us.

We as new creations in the lord Messiah are to be a witness and a testimony to the nations, sending forth the message about the soon coming Kingship/Kingdom of God - Yehovah.

May our God and Father Yehovah give us the strength and power to live up to His calling!

Your brother in the lord Messiah

Bruce Lyon

WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS WASHING THE FEET OF THE DISCIPLES?

Jesus washing the feet of the disciples was done to show them that those whom are leaders in the called-out Assembly are not to act as lords over their fellow believers, but to serve them with a foot-washing attitude, be willing to wash a fellow believers feet if that is what it takes to bring them closer to the lord Jesus Messiah.

We, in the lord Jesus are priests, unto his God and our God Yehovah, and we are to act as he did on this earth. Jesus always served those he came in contact with in an attitude of love, even when he spoke in judgment against what some religious leader were doing wrong it was always done in love and as a servant of his God and Father and in loving service to them also.

The greatest of all he said will be the one who acts with a servant attitude and always serves others the way he did toward others. What a beautiful example we have in Jesus and how thankful we should be that what has been written in the N.T. is for us to live by and follow as the sons of God, children of Abraham believing all that God has revealed to us as he did! May we all take upon ourselves the servant attitude of mind that Jesus had and has now as our High Priest and Paracletos.

Phillipians 2:5....let this mind be in you that is also in the anointed one Jesus,

Romans 12:2: and be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what is the will of God — the good, and acceptable, and perfect.

Phillipians 2:3: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others as better than themselves.

1 Peter 3:8: Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

If we could love our brothers and sister as God has shown how much He loves us by giving His son to be a sin-offering sacrifice in order that we could be reconciled to Him and have all our sins forgiven. Precious grace poured out on us who had nothing in us that would cause Him to act in the wonderful gracious way He has toward us who deserved nothing but death.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FEAR YEHOVAH - GOD?

Psalm 111:10: The fear of YEHOVAH is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.

Pr 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

A more meaningful and accurate translation of Psalm 111:10 would be: To deeply revere Yehovah is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: his praise endures forever.

Proverbs 9:10: To have a deep reverence for Yehovah is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Reverence, Ecclesiastes 12:13: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Reverence, have a deep abiding respect toward God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

God doesn't call upon us to come to Him as terrified of His awesome power, no indeed, he calls upon us to come to him as we ought to come before our physical father with a deep respect for who they are.

Yehovah is our God and our Father and as such we should have a deep and abiding reverence for His greatness and awesome power which He exercises toward us in infinite grace and steadfast love. He does not want us to have an abject fear of him, but to love him and revere Him as hopefully we do toward our own physical father.

Notice what Jesus says in Luke 12:7: But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Can we imagine that God has such an interest in those who are His, that He knows and can number all the hairs on our head? Amazing closeness. We need to realize the awesome presence of our God and Father is with us continually in all we say, think and do, because of His indwelling spirit in us. We are indeed Temples of the living God individually because of His spirit that indwells us! Knowing this ought to command deep and abiding reverence for Him in our walk on the path He has given us to walk upon, a narrow path but one that leads to age upon age-lasting life. When we walk according to the spirit that He has given to us to guide us we show forth our deep and abiding reverence for our Father and our God Yehovah. May He continue according to His awesome and wonderful Grace to give us all we need to properly show our deep and abiding reverence toward Him.

Indeed, in the final analysis, it is all of Him and nothing of ourselves. He never asks anything from us that He is not willing to provide us with the means to do what He has asked of us. Halil Yah - Praise Yahovah!

WHAT CONSEQUENCES DID CONSTANTINE'S REFORMS HAVE ON THE EARLY CHURCH?

Constantine was not a Christian by any stretch of anyone's imagination. He committed horrible acts of atrocity against members of his own family and on his opponents. He used the Christian religion as a vehicle to unify his empire and in so doing corrupted it in the process. He held off being baptized until his dying hour. Kind of like covering your bets if you are a gambler. His whole life he worshipped the sun god and paid homage to other pagan religions.

From the time that he presided over the Council of Nicea the christian religion ceased to be broadcast the message that God gave to His son Jesus to give to the world through his disciples, etc. Christianity became a mixture of Greek philosophical ideas and pagan influence, i.e. which we experience to-day in keeping Christmas - Christ's Mass on December 25, a day that was kept by pagan religions in worship of the sun, etc. Easter - Ishtar was substituted for Passover as the time to observe the lord's death and resurrection - if one wants to recognize the proper day to keep the time of the resurrection of Jesus is falls on the first day following the Sabbath that occurs after Passover. Any Jewish calendar will give you the proper first day of the week to recognize Jesus resurrection!

After Constantine the Jewish origins of Christianity were ignored or put on the back burner, replaced by Greek philosophic influences. So for the most part except for a few faithful believers most of Christendom fell under this false influence and became corrupt. Those who remained faithful were persecuted and had to go into hiding to save themselves.

Not long after the Council of Nicea anyone who didn't follow what was given in the creed sanctioned by the Christian Church that developed; were under the penalty of death. Imagine, a church supposedly founded on the teaching of the lord Jesus persecuting people and forcing them to believe a certain creed on the penalty of death for refusing to do so. This is diametrically opposite of everything that Jesus represented to his disciples and to those who believe in the only True God, Yehovah and in His uniquely begotten son Jesus. There is no way that Jesus would sanction putting someone to death for refusing to follow his teachings and commands. Indeed, by their fruits you shall know them.

God will judge those who refuse to be totally committed to walking according to His will. and have refused the message He gave to His son to give to the world, when they are resurrected to the White Throne Judgment. To sanction the death of anyone by a so-called Christian Church is really to deny the lord Jesus the Messiah and commit an act that if not repented of will guarantee those who do so to come under the penalty of the second death - to be caste into the lake of fire and be destroyed.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE GOD?

We are to love God as part of the creed of the lord Jesus:

Mark 12:29-30: Hear, O Israel; YHVH - Yahovah our God is one Lord:

And you shall love YHVH - Yahovah your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none another commandment greater than these.

Abraham Lincoln was asked why he didn't attend or belong to a church, and his answer was if they put the words of Mark 12:20-30 on their entryway and the people who go to that church practice the words of Mark 12:20-30, he would go to that church.

Now how do we love God? We do so as followers of His beloved son Jesus by keeping the commandment and words He gave to Jesus to give to us.

Exodus 20:6: And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Deuteronomy 5:10: And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

John 14:15: If you love me, keep my commandments.

John 14:21: He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.

John 15:10: If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.

This is what faith-obedience is all about, these are the works produced by faith that James was talking about.

Notice what Jesus says: John 17:8: For I have given unto them the words which You gave me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from You, and they have believed that You did send me.

John 14:10: Believe you not that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, He does the works.

John 3:34: For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure unto him.

John 12:49: For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father Who sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

So to love God is to do all that He has given us to do through His beloved uniquely begotten son Jesus. All that Jesus commands us to do, like "seek you first the kingdom of God" Mat:6:33, etc., "love one another", etc.

When we love our neighbor as ourselves we show love to the Father because He is love and enables us to love others, because whatever He commands us to do, He enables us to be able to do!

Halil Yah - Praise God!

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SAID "ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE"?

Jesus said we are to ask and we will receive, knock and the door shall be opened for you, seek and you will find..... all these are an outline of how we are to approach our God and our Father through the lord Jesus requesting those things that we have need of according to His will. God knows the end result as to what is best for us and we need to understand that when we don't get what we ask for, or a door isn't opened or what we are seeking isn't immediately forthcoming, it is because God knows what is best for us and the best time for us to receive them.

That being said, if we ask Him for forgiveness, or to help us increase in faith or to have more of His spirit to overcome our natural inclinations and to do combat with the influences of this world, those are always given immediately if ask for in faith. Our God and Father truly deals with us as His little children and is always looking out for our best interest, leading us to the coming new age life in His coming Kingdom where we will co-inherit and co-rule with His beloved son Jesus.

From personal experience my God and Father has always given me what I have need of spiritually, physically, and emotionally. All that I have has come from His loving hand. The peace of mind I have knowing that He has my back and no harm can come to me unless He allows is a great blessing. As our physical fathers strove to keep us safe and secure and lead us to go the right way; our God and Father does so much more for us. What amazing grace to know that our God and Father has given to us His beloved son to guide us along the narrow path that leads to life in the coming new age and acts as our High Priest and our advocate before the throne of his God and ours, his Father and our. If God is for us, who can stand against us!

WHAT IS THE CURSE OF THE LAW?

It is what happens when one cannot obey all that the law of Moses requires. James says if you break one point of the law you have broken all of it. The law was given to show that man cannot do anything to gain salvation outside of looking to the lord Jesus the anointed one.

Galatians 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus the anointed onet, even we have believed in Jesus the anointed one, that we might be justified by the faith of the anointed one, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 3:10: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

No man has kept the works of the law perfectly except the lord Jesus the anointed one, all others failed to do so.

Galatians 3:13: The anointed one hat redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:

Great mercy and wonderful grace!

Why was the law given?

Galatians 3:19: Wherefore then serves the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed [God's anointed One] should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Notice Galatians 3:22-25: But the scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus the anointed one might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterward be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto the anointed one, that we might be justified [declared not guilty before God's throne] by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

What are we to do now?

Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith the anointed one has made us free, and don't become entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

What amazing grace our God has provided for us in His beloved son Jesus!