An Hour and An End - Pt. 5 (Prophetic Signs)

Could we be living in the VERY last years, months, days?

From a Biblical point of view, it would appear so. However, God's time is much different than ours. Things transpire, changing other things, all the time. The children of Israel were supposed to be freed from Egypt and go directly to the promised land and yet…

Heb 3:16  For who, when they heard, did provoke? nay, did not all they that came out of Egypt by Moses?

Heb 3:17  And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

Heb 3:18  And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient?

Heb 3:19  And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.

They didn't all go directly into the promised land, did they? No, they did not.

Again, Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his family were taken out and given a chance to live and yet, Lot's wife looked back. She could have been saved too, but she looked back.

The flood, Noah didn't have to have the only family saved and yet none other believed, none other found grace in God's eyes.

Jonah going to Nineveh, Nineveh was going to be destroyed and yet...they repented and were saved.

Do you see, things happen and things change.

God has a plan and has given prophetic signs. Every one of those signs will have come to pass before Christ comes.  When the signs come to pass and the results of those signs take place are all done according as God plans AS things happen. 

Could Christ have come sooner? 

Could the children of Israel freed from Egypt have gone into the promised land before forty years?

Could Nineveh have not repented?

Could Lot's wife not looked back?

Could more of those families before the flood have found grace in God's eyes?

If we say NO, then we are saying that there truly is NO power of choice.

We all have that power of choosing, and the power of collective choice as a group as well. 

Consequences for actions take place all the time… so when we understand that things happen as we are told, but not necessarily how we imagine, we have to know that all these signs will be fulfilled and we must watch - understanding that our personal probation could be up at any moment, and the entire world's probation could be up very, very soon.

Let's read more from 'An Hour and An End' by Elder William Grotheer and by the grace of our LORD understand more of His truth. 

*******

p 19 -- Chapter V11 -- Data of History and 1980

The prophecy of Jesus recorded in Luke 21:24 indicates that the ending of the times of the Gentiles or nations is a brief but definable period of time.

Luke used the idiom - achri hou - translated by our word, "until." (See p. 8) We have focused on events which marked the beginning of the brief period in 1967; now we turn our attention to an event in 1980 which marked the CLOSE OF THIS PERIOD, and some other events which preceded this date that are also interrelated in the overall picture of prophecy.

There was no way to tell in 1967 just how long this period of time would be, since we are not dealing with a time prophecy which foretells in advance how much time must elapse till the next event, such as the 1260 days or the 2300 days.

This prophecy concerns events, and when the event does occur, we can say - "This is it!"

In 1967 a man had a religious experience which had an effect on the course of history in 1979. Jeffrey Hart in a syndicated column dated May 7, 1976 (Oroville, California, Mercury Register), writing on "Carter and Religion" stated: -       ' " In 1967, ' says Carter, 'I had a profound religious experience that changed my life."'

This obscure, mediocre Governor of Georgia had by 1979 been catapulted into the White House. There on October 6, 1979, President Jimmy Carter welcomed Pope John Paul II with these words: -       I welcome you to the White House the symbolic home of all our people. On behalf of every American of every faith I also welcome you into our nation's heart. God bless you for coming to our country. We are proud to have you here. - (RNS, Oct. 8, 1979, p. 1)

Here was a man, a Southern Baptist by confession, whose religious devotion was such that he taught Sunday school while serving as President of the United States, who in 1967 had such a "profound religious experience" that his life was changed, who now twelve years later as head of the American government reaches across the gulf and clasps hands with the reigning head of the Papacy. (See Exhibit #6) This was done on behalf of "every American of every faith."

Religious News Service (RNS) observes that the reception for the Pope was possibly the largest ever held in the White House. Over 10,000 invitations were issued. At this reception were gathered representatives of all three branches of the American government - executive, legislative, and judicial. "At the conclusion of the reception the pope surprised the audience by saying, 'the pope wants to bless you -- with the permission of the president of the United States."' (Ibid., p.2) Carter made no objections, neither did any other officially appointed or elected leader of government. Ellen White had declared in 1891: -       It is at the time of national apostasy, when, acting on the policy of Satan, the rulers of the land will rank themselves on the side of the man of sin - it is then the measure of guilt is full; the national apostasy is the signal for national ruin. (GC Bulletin, Vol. 4, #19, p. 259)

You will observe that when "the rulers of the land" - not just the president - rank themselves on "the side of the man of sin," in accordance with "the policy of Satan," that God marks it as "national apostasy." Within weeks, American prestige suffered the most humiliating defeat of its 200 year history - the insult at Teheran - and

p 20 -- Carter could do nothing to alter the situation; he was completely ineffective. The blessing of the pope had turned into a curse.

Another series of events were taking place during the final year of the Carter administration. These events involved Jerusalem.

As early as the second session of the United Nations (Nov. 29, 1947), the General Assembly had approved a resolution on Palestine.

This resolution was re-affirmed in two following sessions (Dec. 11, 1948; Dec. 9, 1949). On April 14, 1950, the Trusteeship Council approved a "special statute" based on the General Assembly's decisions. This envisaged a setting up of a "corpus separatum" for Jerusalem and the surrounding area to be administered by the Council.

This "territorial internationalization" of Jerusalem was never put into effect due to the 1948 conflict when Israel was reborn as a nation with the division of the city, the Arabs retaining control of "old" Jerusalem. 1967 changed this picture; still the capital of Israel remained at Tel Aviv.

On June 30, 1980, the Charge d'Affaires of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See asked that a Text of the Papal position on Jerusalem as published in Osservatore Romano be circulated as a document of the Security Council. This was duly done on the orders of the President of Council as document S/14032. (See Exhibit #7) The Papal position called for putting into effect the "special statute" formulated by the Trustee Council in 1950.

Three months earlier, the Egyptian parliament called for the establishment of Jerusalem as the seat of the Palestine autonomous authority. The government of Israel considered this as a "flagrant, unprovoked interference" in their internal affairs. The Israeli parliament - the Knesset - responded by adopting a Private Member's Bill - Basic Law: Jerusalem - on July 30, 1980. This law declared - "Jerusalem united in its entirety is the capital of Israel." It is to be "the seat of the President of the State, the Knesset, the Government and the Supreme Court." (See Exhibit #8)

This action on the part of the Knesset set the limiting date required by the idiomatic expression used in Luke 21:24. In 1967, the Israeli armies reoccupied Jerusalem - the Jerusalem of which Jesus spoke, the "old" city - and the end of the period of the times of the Gentiles began.

In 1980, the entire government of Israel was transferred from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem declared by law as "united in its entirety."

This completed the fulfillment of the times of the Gentiles or nations.

If the prophecy of Jesus means anything, it means at least, the nations of earth are no longer under the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit, and Satan is now permitted to work his will in gathering them together for the final confrontation at the place called in the Hebrew tongue - Har-Magedon (Har Mo'ed) - Mount of the Congregation. (Rev. 16:16 RV; Isa. 14:13)

Since 1980, events have moved swiftly toward "the battle of the great day of God Almighty."

Carter was followed by Ronald Reagan. During his administration, the United States officially recognized the Vatican and exchanged ambassadors.

This was done with the aid and counsel of "the voice of Protestantism" - Billy Graham. Church and State noted based on a report in the Chicago Sun-Times "that evangelist Billy Graham helped to lay the political groundwork for the U.S.-Holy See diplomatic exchange." The article continued: -        The evangelist was asked by former National Security Advisor William Clark [a Catholic] to assess the reaction of evangelicals to the diplomatic adventure. Graham contacted such leaders as Jerry Falwell of the Moral Majority, the Rev. Pat Robinson of the Christian Broadcasting Network, the Rev. Billy Melvin of the National Association of Evangelicals, the Rev. David Hubbard, president of Fuller Theological Seminary, and the Rev. Gilbert Beers of Christianity Today.

In a seven-page letter last spring, Graham advised that moderate evangelicals would present few problems, especially if the Vatican were recognized purely in a political way and without religious

p 21 -- implications. Graham predicted that Falwell would be in a difficult position because his Moral Majority constituency reportedly includes both Catholics and conservative Protestants. The evangelist noted, however, that "some people (like Jerry Falwell) could be persuaded to keep quiet on the issue."

"I honestly don't know what I personally would recommend that the president do," Graham wrote. He added that Reagan "would need to cover his political bases" and bring into the picture "people who might cause him trouble - Jews, Catholic Bishop's Committee, National Council (of churches), etc." (March, 1984, p. 7)

It should be observed Graham suggested the plan be put as a "political" recognition of Vatican State rather than a "religious" recognition of the Holy See. This was to suggest a deception to accomplish a desired end. Less than 110 acres of land is hardly justification for diplomatic recognition by the United States.

It was the Papacy which the United States recognized!

Both the legislative and executive branches of the government affirmed the action.

The way in which this issue was put through Congress - the almost total and callous disregard for the opposition by both the legislative and executive branches of the United States government - should tell us something. No longer are the "angels" holding "the four winds" as was done in every previous confrontation. The times of the nations are fulfilled.

The Papacy has again expressed its policy toward Jerusalem. On Good Friday, April 20, 1984, Pope John Paul II issued an Apostolic Letter called, "Redemptionis Anno." In this letter, he stated - "Jerusalem stands out as a symbol of coming together, or union, and of universal peace for the human family."

He called for peace as the fruit of redemption, and because of this peace, it -       makes Jerusalem the living sign of the great ideal of unity, of brotherhood and of agreements among peoples according to the illuminating words of the Book of Isaiah: "Many peoples shall come and say: Come let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." (Is. 2:3) (See Exhibit #9)

There remains but ONE more prophetic sign involving Jerusalem before the end.

It reads:       And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain (Jerusalem, Dan. 9:16); yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:45)

Papal policy indicates that this is its objective and desire.

The Word of God indicates that when this happens, THE NEXT MAJOR EVENT is the close of all human probation: "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people." (Daniel 12:1)

We have arrived at the end. This generation shall not pass away till all things are fulfilled.

*******

More on this tomorrow, all by the grace of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!

In HIS LOVE!

An Hour and An End - Pt. 4 (Prophetic Signs)

History and the signs.

We have to know history if we are to know past signs.

The first prophecy seminar I ever went to really hit home when the revelation of prophecy's truth was revealed in our very own history.  So many times prophecies unfolding. Proof beyond doubt of God's reality, God's truths.  He doesn't ask us to believe in total blindness. Yes, there is a step of faith that HAS to be made, but God has given us an amazing amount of prophecies with history fulfillment.  We'd be foolish not to look at everything available to us.

These last few days we've been discussing the signs Jesus gave to us for the last days.

We discussed Jerusalem and the 'times of the gentiles' being fulfilled.  Today we're going to continue that study by  reading more of Elder William Grotheer's article- 'An Hour and An End'.

By the grace of God we'll have our hearts and minds open to ALL His truth!  Please, Lord, bless us, help us, keep us, know us!

*******

p 16 -- Chapter VI -- Data of History and 1967

In 1975, a section of The Reader's Digest was devoted to articles on Jerusalem, and peace in the Middle East.

One of these was captioned - "Jerusalem -- Too Holy For Its Own Good." The author, David Reed, wrote: -       A stone wall, rising starkly in the Walled City, figures strongly in Israel's adamancy over not wanting to give up East Jerusalem. This is the Western Wall, a fragment of the western rampart of the platform on which the First Temple of King Solomon and the Second Temple of King Herod stood. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70, when the Jews were driven into diaspora, or dispersion. Throughout 19 centuries of diaspora, the wall or the memory of it, served as a spiritual beacon and a symbol of a lost homeland to Jews the world over. During this time, Passover and Yom Kippur services ended with the incantation in Hebrew: "Next year in Jerusalem." ...

When the British withdrew from Palestine in 1948, and Jews and the Arabs fought for the control of the state, the Jews managed to hold West Jerusalem and proclaimed it the capital of the new state of Israel. Yet, tantalizingly, the Western Wall remained just beyond reach. Jordon annexed East Jerusalem as well as the West Bank of the River Jordon, a territory that surrounds the city on three sides. For 19 years, a no-man's-land separated the two sectors, and the Jordanians refused to allow Jews to worship at the Western Wall.

When war came in 1967, Israel urged Jordan's King Hussein to stay out of it, promising, in return, not to attack Jordon. But, egged on by Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser and other Arabs, Hussein sent artillery shells crashing into West Jerusalem. Israeli soldiers counterattacked, and poured into the Walled City. Their religious fervor was such that many headed directly for the Western Wall, where they paused to pray. For the first time in 19 centuries. the wall was under Jewish control. (March, 1975, p. 132)

This gives concisely the events and Jewish feeling connected with the retaking of Old Jerusalem in 1967. It signalled the first step in the fulfillment of the prophecy of Jesus, marking the beginning of the closing of "the time of visitation" for the Gentiles, or nations. Beyond this actual event which Jesus gave as the "sign" when the times of the nations would begin to be fulfilled, a number of other happenings in the religious world occurred which marks 1967 as a significant date.

One is the Catholic Charismatic Movement. "Catholic Sociologist Andrew Greely estimates that two million Catholics have attended charismatic meetings." (Christianity Today (CT), June 6, 1975, p. 45) This same journal reports: -      Pentecost Sunday, 1975, will live in church history as the day when the charismatic movement in the Catholic Church arrived in St. Peter's with full force. During the pontifical mass presided over by Pope Paul VI on May 18, the sound of tongues and charismatic singing filled the massive nave of the ancient mother church of Roman Catholicism. ...

The conference which in previous years had met at Notre Dame University, convened in Rome in conjunction with the Holy Year proclaimed by Pope Paul. The theme was the same as the Holy Year "Renewal and Reconciliation." Participants came from over sixty nations representing more than one million Catholic charismatics in several thousand prayer groups. Several Protestant Pentecostal and charismatic leaders also attended as "official ecumenical observers."

Conference sessions were held on the outskirts of Rome in a large tent over the catacombs of St. Callixtus, a meeting and burial place for early Christian martyrs. ...

On Pentecost Sunday, the conference moved to St. Peter's for the mass celebrated by Pope Paul.

p 17 -- Although the charismatics were a minority in the throngs who filled the church and the square outside, their presence was apparent as the mass progressed. Spontaneous singing of the charismatic anthem "Alleluia" competed with the pipe organ at the beginning and the end of the service. At the consecration of the host, a soft murmur of "singing in the Spirit" (chanting in harmony in glossolalia) filled the cathedral. While the Pope continued the mass, hands were raised in praise, and at one point, a priest fell to his knees and asked to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Several persons laid hands on him and prayed quietly. ...

The climax of the conference came at St. Peter's on Monday, May 19, in a mass conducted by Cardinal Suenens, who was assisted by twelve bishops and more than 800 priests. This was the first specifically charismatic service ever held in St. Peter's. Suenens delivered his sermon in typically Pentecostal style. The cathedral reverberated with the shouted responses to his "hallelujahs." Such Pentecostal choruses as "Spirit of the Living God" and "Alleluia" were sung with hands upraised. Several times the well-filled basilica resounded with singing in the Spirit. ...

At the close of the mass, Pope Paul arrived to give special greetings to the conferees. As he entered, the congregation broke into cheers and applause. Most of his message was given in French, with short summaries in Spanish and English... At the end of his prepared text, the Pope broke into impromptu remarks in his native Italian. Reflecting on his encyclical on joy that was proclaimed the day before, he exhorted the charismatics to share their joy with the world. The conference erupted in applause as the Pope ended with, "Glory to the Lord, hallelujah!" Before he exited, the Pope embraced and kissed Cardinal Suenens and greeted about twenty leading charismatics. Many wept openly. ...

According to Catholic theologian Kilian McDonnell of Minnesota. it was a "triumphant day," while to Balthasar Fisher of Trier University, Germany, the meeting was "historical - of enormous importance." To Protestant Pentecostal spokesman David du Plessis, it was "the greatest charismatic and ecumenical event in history."

Cardinal Suenens summed up the feelings - and hopes - of many when he declared that by his actions and warm words of approval, "the Pope opened his arms and heart to the charismatic renewal." (Ibid., pp. 45-46)

However, the bottom line of this Catholic charismatic breakthrough in 1975 was reported in CT, June 22, 1973: -       On the surface, the big story is still the movement's phenomenal growth. From its beginning among a handful of mostly young persons at a retreat in 1967 on Duquesne University campus in Pittsburgh, it now encircles the earth. (p. 37)

When one perceives the charismatic movement as a manifestation of the working of the power of Satan, the event at Duquesne University, and the date - 1967 becomes significant. Here is an outward display of demoniac power in angelic garb moving into the Catholic church, the government of which, prophecy indicates will figure so largely in the final scenes of this world's history. This is not saying that such power has not resided in the Papacy since its inception as indicated in prophecy (Rev. 13:2; II Thess. 2:9), but does serve as a sign heralding the time for such manifestations in the devil's final movement to deceive the world. (Rev. 16:13-14)   1

Turning to another event, we find that 1967 marked the 450th Anniversary of Protestantism. The World Book Encyclopedia made this observation: -       World Protestantism celebrated its 450th anniversary in 1967 and encountered some of its most troublesome issues in history. Most Protestants consider October 31, 1517, as the symbolic beginning of the Reformation. On that day, Martin Luther issued his Ninety-Five Theses criticizing the Roman Catholic Church and pointing toward a fresh understanding of God's grace. In October, 1967, Protestants gathered - quite often with Roman Catholics - in countries throughout the world, to recall that event. (1968 Year Book, p. 468)

1 -- Revelation pictures Satan under the symbol of a "dragon" or "serpent" (Rev. 12:9; 20:2) In Rev. 16:13-14, the symbol changes to "like frogs" - an animal which catches its prey with its tongue.

p 18 -- From the same encyclopedia under the topic - "Eastern Influence" - an interesting summary was given of the introduction of Eastern philosophy into Western thinking. The summary stated:       Finally, news of non-Western religion came to the West in 1967 through the efforts of individuals and groups that might be described as commuters between value systems. The "hippie" phenomenon, which reached a peak in midsummer, was an example. Hippies turned to Zen Buddhism, the Vedas, the writings of Rabbi Hillel, and the teachings of Jesus, implying that these could provide meaning for a non-violent generation. The Beatles were the best known of the celebrities who turned to Eastern Religion as they sought "transcendental meditation" through contact with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, their chosen spiritual leader. Timothy Leary advocated a religion based not only on mind-expanding drugs like LSD, but also on literary resources of Eastern religion. (Ibid., p. 476)

Through the prophet Isaiah, God spoke concerning "the last days" in which a people professing His name would prefer a "law" going forth from Jerusalem rather than accepting what He had already proclaimed from Mt. Sinai. This people would be "replenished from the east." (Isa. 2:2-6)

Another happening which marks 1967 is a mix between religious elements and the toy industry. John Godwin in his Occult America describes it thus: -       The year 1967 was a historic milestone for the United States toy industry. In that year Americans ditched their longest -standing favorite among board games, and elevated Ouija boards to its place. Since then approximately ten million of these boards have been sold, making them a $50,000,000 business and assuring that a basic minimum of 20 million Americans have played with them.

I picked out a fairly random lot of thirty dedicated Ouija players and asked them if they could tell me where the game originated and what the name meant. Most of them, as it turned out, believed that it was a Far Eastern device, its origins lost in antiquity, its title meaning something or other in either Chinese, Hindi, or Korean. One lone individualist held out for Hebrew, another had it on authority of her card-reading girlfriend that Ouija meant "spirit" in either Sanskrit or Persian.

The fact is that the Ouija board was invented and patented in 1892 by one William Fuld of Baltimore, Maryland. At first he and his brother called the contraption Mystifying Oracle, but found the label too long and hit on a combination of the French and German word for "yes" as an alternative. Until 1966 the boards were made exclusively by the Fuld family's Southern Toy Company. Then Parker Brothers - who also manufacture Monopoly - bought the rights. To their astonishment the new acquisition outsold their No. 1 hit from the word go!

There was of course, a certain amount of sales push behind it. Ads - "Give One to a Friend" - in magazines, and a crescendo ditty, "Hey, Ouija, we needja" blasted over various rock-orientated radio stations. There was a war in Vietnam, confirming the pattern noted during both World Wars and Korea that Ouija boards always sell better in wartime. But the current dizzying surge is the result of a totally unexpected market combination. The usual wives, mothers, and sweethearts of service men were joined by millions of teenagers, right down to the thirteen-year-old level, who had never previously shown much interest in these gadgets. And while the involvement of servicemen's relatives had obvious reasons, the sudden enthusiasm of the teeners remains a mystery - even to Parker Brothers. (p. 272)

Even as the charismatic movement with its overtones of Spiritism garbed in angelic light, signals the arrival of the final manifestation of Satanic power to deceive, so also does the emergence of the raw spiritistic Ouija board signal the same thing - the time for the marvelous working of Satan. Both made a rebirth in the same year that the sign Jesus gave, concerning the times of the Gentiles, began to be fulfilled - 1967!

*******

Facts.

These are facts.

Some might shout that they are mere coincidences, or say that things are being read into other things that aren't there. A lot of time people will tear things apart because they want to remain blind, they refuse to see.  Blindness is comfortable when it comes to people not wanting to see their own faults, their own call to face judgment.  Yes, face judgment.

I'm not an old time preacher who is going to shout hellfire and damnation, I'm not. I'm just me, an ordinary average person who is going to shout that WE ARE ALL GOING TO FACE JUDGEMENT. 

When the probation hour is up every person will have had their eternal fate decided.  The living and the dead. 

God's HOLY Word tells us this--

2Ti 4:1  I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom

God's words, not mine!

Like it or not, we will be judged.  Are we Christ's or not?

Please LORD, let us be YOURS!

Please!

Let us be YOURS.

All by YOUR GRACE and MERCY, YOUR LOVE!

More tomorrow by the grace of God.

An Hour and An End - Pt. 3 (Prophetic Signs)

Are these the last days?

To answer that with certainty would mean I was saying I know something the Bible says is impossible to know.

Mat_24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth NO man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

However, we are told by our Savior to WATCH and PRAY because we don't know.

What are we watching and praying for?

We are watching for our Savior and praying we will be His.

We are given signs and told that we know when a fig tree puts forth shoots that summer is nigh. 

We MUST watch for the signs and we will KNOW Christ's return is near.

No, we don't know the exact time of it, but we can know when it is near. 

Let's read more of William Grotheer's study- An Hour and An End.

By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may we come to all truth, may we study and know all we need to know to be prepared. 

*******

p 14 -- Chapter V-- "This Generation Shall Not Pass Away"

Jesus outlined three major events which were to take place between His resurrection and His second coming.

These events were to serve as signs to His followers at the given time of their fulfillment.

First, as has been noted, Jerusalem was to be surrounded by armies. This would be the sign for the Christians to flee the city and its environs.

Then came the signs in the heavens - the sun darkened, the moon not giving its light, and the stars falling from heaven. This marked the beginning of the period of the revelation of the Son of man - first in judgment, then His coming as King of kings.

Finally Jerusalem was to be freed from domination by the Gentiles, thus marking the close of the times of the Gentiles, and the beginning of the distress of nations.

We have yet to look closely at what this means to us who are living in the time when this prophecy has been fulfilled.

After completing the enumeration of these signs and certain details concerning them, Jesus stated to His disciples: - Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. Luke 21:32-33

Each generation, in which these major events as prophesied occurred, perceived itself as living in the end of time. This doesn't exempt even the generation living prior to the destruction of Jerusalem.

The Early Church -- When Paul wrote his first epistle to the church at Thessalonica, he described the coming of Christ and the first resurrection. (I Thess. 4:16-19) While they were to be comforted by the hope of the resurrection, they were also warned to take heed that the day not overtake them "as a thief." (5:4) These new converts became convinced that the second coming of Christ would be in their day. Paul then had to write a second letter telling them that certain things were first to take place before the event. (II Thess. 2:3) Nevertheless, he noted that "the mystery of iniquity doth already work." (2:7) The message comes through - "Not just now, but not too far away."

In his prison epistle to the church at Colosse, Paul told them, "not to be moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature under heaven." (1:23) That hope of the gospel included what Paul in his letter to Titus called "that blessed hope, [even] the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." (2:13) In describing the extent of the proclamation - "to every creature which is under heaven" - Paul is alluding in concept to the words of Jesus when giving the signs of His return. Jesus said the gospel of the kingdom would "be preached as a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:14) Paul wrote this had been done. His essay to the Hebrews begins with the concept that God "in these last days" has spoken to us in a Son. (1:2) The early Christians thought of themselves as living in the end times - and it was to be the end time for the Jewish nation/church.

The fact dare not be overlooked that the Christians who saw the event which Jesus

p 15 -- had prophesied for that generation - Jerusalem surrounded by alien armies - lived to see the event to which it was connected, fulfilled - the destruction of the city. The Roman armies under Cestius surrounded the city in 66 A.D., and then suddenly withdrew. In a little less than four years - 70 A.D. - the Roman legions under Titus returned, captured and burned the city. Jesus' words did not pass away; they were fulfilled!

A Diagram of This Period

The Cross ----------------------------------------------------- 66 A.D.---------------- 70 A.D. 

___|________________________________________|______________|_____

The Second Major Sign -- The second major sign was to be seen in the heavens. These collective signs in the sun, moon and stars occurred during the period of 1780-1833.

Following this period, there was a worldwide stir concerning the coming of Christ. The followers of William Miller and finally Miller himself proclaimed that Christ would come October 22, 1844. Joseph Wolff heralded the message of Christ's soon return throughout the Near East. Other voices were raised in England, and in Sweden, young children moved by the Holy Spirit proclaimed the near return of Jesus.

Again the fact comes through - the generation who saw the last sign in the heavens, and who heard the proclamation that they were living in what was perceived to be the end times, also lived to hear the message concerning the event to which the signs given by Jesus directed mankind - His final ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary, the beginning of the period of the revelation of the Son of man.

A Diagram of This Period

May 19, 1780 -----------------------------Nov. 13, 1833 ------------------------ Oct. 22, 1844

___|________________________________|______________________|_____

The Final Sign -- We come now to the final major sign of His prophetic discourse, the sign which would signal that the times of the Gentiles had been fulfilled.

This has been fulfilled in this generation before the eyes of the whole world. Thus this generation which has seen the event which fulfilled the prophecy of Jesus will not pass away till all is completed and Jesus returns the second time. We have reached the end of time.

A Diagram of This Period

1948 ----------------- --1967 ------------ 1980 --------Dan. 11:45 --------- SECOND COMING

___|________________|_________|_________|___________________|_____

As we next turn our attention to the data which surrounds and supports the prophecy of the closing times of the Gentiles, we shall see that all prophecies concerning the end time are moving to their final climax. Well would it be for us to carefully ponder the words of Jesus as He brought His prophetic discourse to a close. Take your Bibles and read prayerfully His words in Luke 21:34-36.

Luk 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

Luk 21:35  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

More tomorrow by the grace of our GOD!

May we read and understand, truly understand!

All in HIS LOVE!

An Hour and An End - Pt. 3 (Prophetic Signs)

Yesterday we studied the signs concerning the city- Jerusalem, mentioned by Jesus in His prophetic  discourse in Matt. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. 

Today we are going to study the signs in the sun, moon, and stars…

By the grace of God may we study His truth and by the wisdom He gives us may we understand. May we gain all the knowledge we need to be known by Him as we watch and pray as He told us to.

Please, Lord, we are not worthy and we know it is only by Your ceaseless mercy and grace that we can have hope of the eternity You promised us through the gospel You came and preached to us, the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.

Open our hearts and our minds to all Your truth, Lord, please! 

*******

Chapter IV -- "The Revelation of the Son of Man"

Signs in the Heavens -- Luke quoted Jesus as saying - "There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars." (21:25)

In discussing the sign which would warn His followers of the destruction of Jerusalem, Jesus called their attention to the book of Daniel, the prophet. (Matt. 24:15)

Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Also in the book of Daniel is revealed a judgment to precede Jesus' "coming and the end of the world." (Matt. 24:3)

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Daniel was shown the scenes in the heavens when "the judgment was set and the books were opened." (Dan. 7:9-10)

In another vision, the hour when this judgment would commence was stated in prophetic time - "Unto two thousand and three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." (Dan. 8:14)

This time period would reach to 1844. Prior to the culmination of this prophetic period, the signs in the heavens foretold by Jesus DID occur.

On May 19, 1780, the sun was darkened and the moon did not give its light. (Matt. 24:29)

Mat 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken

 This extraordinary darkness began about 10 a.m. in the morning and continued past midnight. Covering the whole of the New England States, the reports of this sign which Jesus gave are to be found in the records and historical journals of that area.

Observers near Boston reported that by 11:30 a.m., the darkness had become so intense that "in a room with three windows, twenty-four panes each, all open toward the southeast and south, large print could not be read by persons with good eyes." (Boston Gazette and Country Journal, May 29, 1780)

This same report noted that "in the time of the greatest darkness some of the dunghill fowls went to their roost. Cocks crowed in answer to one another as they commonly do at night. Woodcocks, which are night birds, whistled as they do only in the dark. Frogs peeped. In short, there was the appearance of midnight at noon day." (Emphasis theirs)

"The darkness the following evening was probably as gross as ever has been observed since the Almighty fiat gave birth to light," so wrote Dr. Samuel Tenney in a letter dated, Exeter, NH, December, 1785. (Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Vol. 1, 1792) Tenney continued by saying: - I could not help but conceiving at the time, that if every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable shades, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete. A sheet of white paper held within a few inches of the eyes was equally invisible with the blackest velvet.

Fifty-three years after the Dark Day, the stars of heaven fell (Matt. 24:29).

Mat 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken

The record reads: - On the night of November 12-13, 1833, a tempest of falling stars broke over the earth. North America bore the brunt of the pelting. From the Gulf of Mexico to Halifax, until day light with some difficulty put an end to the display, the sky was scored in every direction with shining tracks and illuminated with majestic fireballs. (Agnes M. Clerke, History of Astronomy in the Nineteenth Century, p. 328)

The significance of these events was noted by Ellen G. White in the Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. IV, in the chapter before her account of William Miller. She wrote: - While unconscious of their condition and their peril, the church and the world were rapidly approaching the most solemn and momentous period of earth's history, - the period of the revelation

p 12 -- of the Son of man. Already had the signs which Christ himself had promised, - the sun clothed in darkness by day and the moon by night, - declared His coming soon. (p. 195, emphasis mine)

The Period of the Revelation of the Son of Man - This period of time - not a single event - is marked by three manifestations of Jesus as the Son of man. At the time "the judgment was set, and the books opened," Daniel also beheld, in his continuing night vision, "one like the Son of man" coming "with the clouds of heaven" to the Ancient of days. He was given "dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him." (Dan. 7:13-14)

The Son of man, as High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek, is involved in the judgment. (Heb. 9:27-28) When on earth, He told the caviling Jews that "the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." He also told them why - "The Father ... hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man." (John 5:22, 26-27)

Since all must appear "before the judgment seat of Christ" in the record of their life's deeds (II Cor. 5:10),

2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

It is assuring to know that One who has been touched with the "feelings of our infirmities" will plead our case and execute the decision. (Heb. 4:15)

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 Wonderful is the promise given that he who heeds the words of the Son of man, and believes on Him who had sent Him - the Ancient of days - "shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24) This understanding of the revelation of the Son of man helps us to relate better to the other two manifestations of the Son of man.

Our hope of glory - when the kingdom received by the Son of man from the Ancient of days is "given to the people of the saints of the most High" (Dan. 7:27) - is dependent upon Christ being formed within us; in other words, "Christ in you the hope of glory." (Col. 1:27)

All who "come unto God by Him," Jesus is able to save "to the uttermost ... seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25)

This "uttermost" revelation of God in man, as was manifest in the Son of man, results from Christ's final atonement in the Most Holy place of the Heavenly Sanctuary. Then "the earnest expectation" for which the whole creation has been waiting will be realized in "the manifestation of the sons of God." (Rom. 8:19)

Isaiah relates this manifestation of the sons of God with the signs in the heavens. He wrote - "The stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine." (Isa. 13:10)

Then the prophet pictures the time when God will "shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, in the day of His fierce anger." (13:13)

The final wrath of God is filled full in the Seven Last Plagues which are poured out when the intercession of the Son of man is completed. (Rev. 15:1, 8) However, between the signs in the heavens and the final wrath of God, Isaiah pictures His objective - "I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir." (Isa. 13:12)

This is also what Paul tells us is to be at "the manifestation of the sons of God," for he wrote - "For whom [God] did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son." (Rom. 8:29)

With the fulfillment of His work as Son of man before the Ancient of days, and the completion of His revelation in the 144,000 resultant from His final atonement, the long awaited "hope of the ages" will transpire. The Son of man will come in the clouds of heaven to reap the harvest of earth. Picturing this scene after describing the messages of the Three Angels, John wrote: -

And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud sat one like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy sickle, and reap: for

p 13 -- the time is come for Thee to reap: for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. (Rev. 14:14-16)

The "period of the revelation of the Son of man" beginning in 1844 will continue through to His coming in the clouds of heaven.

He is manifest as the Son of man in His work as High Priest in the Most Holy place of the Heavenly Sanctuary; He is revealed as the Son of man in the lives of those in whom the final atonement is accomplished; and He comes as the Son of man to take into His everlasting kingdom those given to Him by the Ancient of days.

The Period in Diagram

1844 -----------------------------------------Close of Probation  ---------------------- 2nd Advent  

|_(1)___________________________|_(2)_________________(3)_|

(1) Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; John 5:22, 27

(2) Isaiah 13:10-13; Romans 8:19, 29-30; Colossians 1:27

(3) Revelation 14:14-16

NOTE: Jesus in giving the signs in the heavens - the sun and moon darkened; the stars falling - was directing attention to events that would transpire in heaven.

The final activity of God in the resolution of the sin problem was to begin.

Where sin began, the final atonement must be made.

Jesus' other sign concerned an event on earth by which men could know the distress of nations had begun.

The final scenes of the sin drama on earth would commence. Thus the last two major signs Jesus gave His disciples on the slopes of Olivet directed the attention of men first to the beginning of the final ministry in Heaven, and then to events to occur on earth that man might know the heavenly ministry was drawing to a close.

*******

Again… 1844 seems like a long time ago in a lot of perspectives, yet in others it's not that long ago.

In the eyes of God time is different, we've discussed this before so I'm not going to get into it again.

We have to know that what we are dealing with is something beyond the scope of our full comprehension falling into the realm of a great MYSTERY.

Ending sin.

Ending the world as we know it.

The final verdict for all.

Eternity. We are dealing with eternity and this isn't something that we should ever expect would be over quickly.

Do we want the suffering to end? YES!

Do we want an end to sin? YES!

But we must have faith that our Father God knows what He's doing and His timing will be perfect, not delayed.

The signs are there, most of the signs have already come to pass, a failure to recognize this would mean jeopardizing our own eternal lives.  We can't be waiting for signs that have passed just because we want to believe we will have those signs so we can get ourselves ready, really ready. We need to be prepared NOW, not after a sign.  Those living in the very end times will NOT be able to use those last signs as a signal to get ready for Christ's return.  We cannot, we DARE NOT wait to truly accept Christ as our Savior.  The signs we are to watch for now are signaling the very end of all human probation- the dead and the living and if we are not ready now when we HEAR HIS VOICE, we will NEVER be ready.

Heb 3:7  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

Heb 3:8  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

Heb 3:9  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

Heb 3:10  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

Heb 3:11  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

Heb 3:12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Heb 3:14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Heb 3:15  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Heb 3:16  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

Heb 3:17  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

Heb 3:18  And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

Heb 3:19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Please, Lord, help us be ready! We would be Yours!

More tomorrow on the signs, all by the GRACE and MERCY of our LORD JESUS CHRIST!

In HIS LOVE!

An Hour and An End - Pt. 2 (Prophetic Signs)

This study of prophetic signs was done by a very scholarly man with years and years of experience. Please pray before you read and ask God for enlightenment. We need to know the truth and only the truth. 

Please, don't read this if you aren't interested in taking your time and really study. Too many want to be entertained as they read. They want excitement, they want the 'wow' factor, they want something to captivate them and hold their attention. If this is what you want then maybe you don't want to study to understand… remember this--

2Ti_2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

A workman. We really need to work as we are studying. Most people know that studying something by the very nature of having to study it, means you are diligently learning about that thing. If you study for a test you are studying to gain and retain knowledge. We have to study to gain and retain knowledge of our Lord and Savior. 

So please, don't read this expecting entertainment, read it expecting truth.

*

Luk 21:24  And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Luk 21:25  And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring

'An Hour and An End.'    Written by Elder William Grotheer  Adventist Laymen's Foundation.

p 7 -- Chapter III -- An Analysis of Luke 21:24-25

"The Distress of Nations" --

Verses 24 and 25 of Luke 21 are closely associated together. The KJV tends to obscure this close relationship.

In both verses, the English words, "Gentiles" and "nations" are translated from the SAME Greek word. Using the word - nations - in each instance, these verses would read - "And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the nations (eqnwn), until the times of the nations (eqnwn) be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon earth distress of nations (eqnwn), with perplexity."

 In other words, the ending of "the times of the Gentiles," or nations is closely associated with "the distress of nations, with perplexity."

The Greek word for "distress" is Vunoch which means "imprisoned, in the narrows, or straits." The added phrase - "with perplexity" (en aporia) conveys the picture of nations unable to meet the demands placed upon them financially, or the inability to solve the monetary stress. (See The Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament by Moulton & Milligan, both articles, aporew & aporia)

It is an interesting fact that the same year which marked the closing period of the times of the Gentiles - 1967 - is also the year which marked the beginning of the financial woes of the nations.

In a Special Issue (July 4, 1974) of Myers' Finance & Energy, C. V. Myers wrote: [Gordon Tether in the London Financial Times (June 28, 1974) noted Myers as being "the well-known Canadian financial expert."] - It has now been established over the course of the last seven years - since 1967 - that there is nothing in this world the international monetary authorities can do to stem the advance of gold, or to stem the collapse of inflation - or to avoid the enormous deflation - the global liquidity crunch - and the resulting depressions. Don't doubt this. The monetary morons have demonstrated it to you time and again. Fail! Fail! Fail!

For seven years things have gone from bad to worse; the US$ has been devalued; inflation has undermined world confidence in money; and now the bankruptcies come.(pp. 2-3)

Again in 1975, Myers wrote: -- From all that I have observed of international [monetary] conferences since 1967 I do not believe that any conference is going to come up with any workable answer. It seems that the situation will just continue to deteriorate.

Only six months ago we heard every monetary authority in the world shouting, "either we lick inflation or we are doomed. This is the battle of the century." President Ford said, we have a war, and we intend to fight this war against inflation. The way he is fighting the war against inflation is to add a $70 to $100 billion deficit to the U.S. budget. What happened to all the dire predictions of the result of inflation?

All brains are stunned. They see no answer - so now they begin to think no answer is necessary. Or at least they have decided there is no use thinking about it at all. Therefore, I can only see as the end product, as I have repeatedly said in these letters - and especially after attending the big world meetings of IMF - the answer is a total collapse.

Either the countries will have to go back to a system which will stabilize the money, such as gold - or the social order, not only of the United States, but of all the industrial world, will disintegrate, and from the enormous confusion new governments will arise after much suffering and

p 8 -- bloodshed, starvation and horror. Those governments would be dictatorships.

Recently D'Estaing observed: "The world is unhappy. It is unhappy because it doesn't know where it is going, and because it senses that if it knew, it would discover that it was heading for disaster. ... The crisis the world knows today will be a long one. It is not a passing difficulty. It is actually the recognition of permanent change." (Ibid., March 11, 1975, pp. 1-2)

In the May 24, 1976 issue of his financial letter, Myers again cites the year 1967 as the base year for the beginning of the monetary perplexities which have gripped the nations since then. He wrote - "An enormous war has been going on between the forces of paper and the forces of gold since 1967 when SDR's were first proposed." Then he lists a "score card" in the battle between gold and the paper, Special Drawing Rights:

(1)   The IMF recommendation of Special Drawing Rights in 1967.

(2)   The IMF official acceptance of SDR's, 1969, and the creation of 9.5 billion SDR's during 1970, 1971, and 1972.

(3)   Nixon's break with gold, August, 1971, and the end of the world monetary system devised at Bretton Woods.

(4)   The IMF decision to sell 25 million ounces of gold at 16 auctions over the next two years - thus depleting the international money system of important gold reserves. (p. 1; see Exhibit #4)

In a letter dated, April 23, 1976, Myers noted - "Gold is to money what DEITY is to religion. Without a deity the moral code disappears. Without gold the morality of money disappears: Morality because money loses its store of value, and the man who sweated and worked has lost the fruits of his labor, and that is immoral." In Newsweek (June 19, 1978, p. 21) in an article on the tax revolt, the writer noted "Since 1967, the value of the dollar has declined 47.6 percent, and the average American working family is now barely better off in real dollars than it was a decade ago."

 The connection between the sign Jesus gave to mark the conclusion of the times of the Gentiles or nations, and the beginning of the "distress of nations" is INESCAPABLE. The fact that we are living in this very time should cause us to do some very serious thinking.

The Word - "Until" -- Twenty times in his Gospel and in the book of Acts, Luke uses the Greek word, acri or acriV, which is translated, "until."

However, in Luke 21:24, and in two places in Acts, the word is combined with the relative, 'ou, making it an idiomatic expression, achri hou. To understand the force of this expression as far as, Luke 21:24 is concerned, we need to take time to observe its use in the book of Acts.

The first instance of its use in Acts is in Chapter 7. The verse in context reads: - But when the time of promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, till (achri hou) another king arose, which knew not Joseph. The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. In which time Moses was born. (17-20a)

It should be observed that these verses indicate a "time" when the promise "drew nigh" and the children of Israel "grew and multiplied in Egypt, till a king arose" who with his counselors initiated a genocide program. This program did not begin immediately and it covered a period of time. In fact, Moses was born in that "time." Here the idiom is used to indicate a definable period of time by occurring events.

We find the same indication in the second use of the idiom in Acts 27:33. Paul was on his way to Rome. Adverse weather conditions had made the voyage extremely hazardous. To Paul it was revealed that they would be "cast upon a certain island." All on board had fasted for fourteen days, and when it appeared they were approaching

p 9 -- land, Paul advised that they should "take some food." Luke writes that Paul gave this counsel to all on board "while (achri hou) the day was coming on." From the time the first faint light on the eastern horizon heralds the coming dawn until the sun arises dispelling all darkness, the day is coming on -  A BRIEF BUT DEFINABLE PERIOD OF TIME.

In 1967, the armies of Israel recaptured the Old City of Jerusalem, yet the capitol remained at Tel Aviv.

In 1980, the Knesset declared a united Jerusalem the Capitol of all Israel.

The period which marked the CLOSING of the times of the Gentiles can be clearly defined.

*

The "Times" of the Gentiles -

 Not only does Luke present the prophecy of Jesus concerning the fate of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., in the discourse as given on the Mount of Olives; but also in describing the Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem a few days prior, he quotes Jesus saying concerning the city - "Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee around, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee: for they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time (kairon) of thy visitation." (Luke 19: 43-44) This picture is merely an enlargement of what Luke quotes Jesus as saying on the Mount of Olives - "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies" (21:20) making it a sign for His followers. In other words, when Jerusalem was destroyed it had had its day of grace - its time of visitation.

It is in this setting then, that Luke reports the words of Jesus stating that the Gentiles would also have ALLOTTED TIMES(kairoi), and that a certain event would mark the closing of those times. Even as in the case of the Jewish nation, it does not mean that all Gentiles will be converted even as all the Jews were not "converted" to Jesus, the Messiah.

The force of the concept is the same as stated in Matthew - "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (24:14) The sign that will mark the time when the witness has been preached "unto all nations (Gentiles)" has to do with events connected with Jerusalem's history.

 In this case, it is the time when the city is no longer under the control of the Gentiles.

There is a distinct parallel in the closing of the time of the Jewish nation/church and the closing of the times of the Gentiles.

According to the prophecy given to Daniel, "seventy" weeks of years were set aside for them.

In the final week, Jesus came with His last appeal to the chosen people. During His ministry, He cleansed the Temple twice but was UNABLE to change the course of the religious leadership. The mid-point of that final week of years was marked by the crucifixion of Jesus. It closed with the stoning of Stephen in 34 A.D.

Yet time lingered for the individual Jew who worshiped in the synagogues throughout the Roman Empire. There they had the opportunity to decide whether they would accept the decision of their hierarchy concerning Jesus' claim as the Messiah, or whether they would accept the Gospel that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the fulfillment of the promises given to them under the covenant.

Then followed the literal destruction of Jerusalem, in whose fate, "we may behold the doom of a world that has rejected God's mercy and trampled upon His law." (GC, p. 36)

Jesus gave us as a prophecy by which we may know when "the time of visitation" is completed for the nations.

Mercy still lingers for the individual. But soon to follow is the "wrath" of God poured out without mercy, WE STAND IN TIME BETWEEN THESE TWO EVENTS.

*

"Trodden Down" -

The word translated, "trodden down" is a present participle of the Greek verb, pateo.

p 10 -- The force of the present tense in Greek indicates that Jerusalem is to be continuously trodden down till the times of the Gentiles be filled full.

This has been true.

In 70 A.D., Titus desolated the city, but in putting down the revolt of the Jews in 132 A.D. led by Bar Kochba, Hadrian desolated it even more so. The city was ploughed over after its recapture in 134 A.D. From that day till 1967, ONLY GENTILE powers controlled Jerusalem.

The Greek verb, pateo according to Thayer's Lexicon, means "to tread under foot,

trample on, i.e. treat with insult and contempt: to desecrate the holy city by

devastation and outrage." Arndt &Gingrich in their lexicon (A Greek-English Lexicon

of the New Testament, p. 640) defines the verb thus: "tread, trample of the

undisciplined swarming of a victorious army through a conquered city. Its heedlessness, which acknowledges no limits, causes pateo to take on the concepts 'mistreat, abuse."' These definitions describe exactly what Jesus said would be the fate of the city in "the days of vengeance, that all things that are written may be fulfilled."

(Luke 21:22) Continuously from the days of vengeance begun by Titus completed by

Hadrian, Jerusalem has been under Gentile domination and would continue so till the

times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Moulton & Milligan cite contemporary use of this Greek root word in The Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament. One source reads - "to tread (patesai) the crops in the sand." The substantive use was noted in the clause - "One who treads (patetes) grapes with their feet." (p. 498)

From a detailed study of Luke 21:24-25, the conclusion cannot be avoided that we have seen fulfilled before our very eyes a prophecy of Jesus, even as our spiritual forefathers saw the fulfillment of the other signs which Jesus gave - "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars." (Luke 21:25) To the significance of these signs, we shall devote the next chapter.

*******

End excerpt.

The truth-  Jerusalem was under Gentile control from 70AD until 1980AD.

1980.

1,910 years of being trodden down.

The prophecy was fulfilled and it was fulfilled in a way that we cannot deny it, not if we study and God's word in light of history.

We look at Jerusalem, the city- Jerusalem, and we know that it has a special place in prophecy and history. We know that there will be a NEW Jerusalem that will come down OUT of heaven--

Rev_21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Jerusalem forever symbolic of God's city.

Jerusalem  trodden down upon earth for almost two thousand years, and then once again it was in the hands of those who are not gentiles, but Jews.   The Jewish people control Jerusalem and today there is a battle over retaining that control. Regardless of what transpires we know that as a sign, Jerusalem has played its part.  People who are watching the signs know that this sign is letting us know that Jesus' return is closer then ever before.

More tomorrow all by the GRACE of our LORD>

Please, pray...pray...pray!

May God help us to comprehend, to study, to know, to learn and to understand how all of this affects our lives.

We live in the last days.

Are we Christ's?  If we are not Christ's then we are Satan's.

Please let us be YOURS Christ Jesus our Savior, let us be known by YOU!

All through YOUR LOVE! Always!