The Handwriting on the Wall
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
This past Friday morning, as I pondered what the Lord desired for this message, one event dominated my heart and mind ... the newspaper headline last Friday which was "Russia Invades Ukraine." This word, "The Handwriting on the Wall," seems very important for the time in which we live. Another "interesting" event leading to this message occurred this past Sunday evening when my wife and I watched a documentary film titled "Mr. Jones." We had no idea beforehand what the film was about. It was about a British journalist who went to Ukraine in the early 1930's during Stalin's reign of the Soviet Union. Stalin had been taking all of the grain out of Ukraine, leaving the Ukranians literally to starve to death. Stalin's propaganda was that the Ukranians were prosperous. When Mr. Jones, through William Randolph Hearst's newspapers, published the truth, based on what he personally saw in Ukraine, Jones was killed by the Russians.
Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, saw the handwriting on the wall but he could neither read nor interpret it. He saw the fingers of a man's hand which wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace (Daniel 5:5-6). It filled him with fear and foreboding. His fears were well-founded! For him, the "days of recompence" were come. Daniel not only read the writing for Belshazzar but also interpreted it.
MENE, MENE means numbered, numbered. Any time any word is repeated in Scripture, it carries great emphasis. The significance is that the days of the king of Babylon were numbered and finished. TEKEL means weighed. The king of Babylon is weighed in the balance and found wanting. UPHARSIN (called PERES in Daniel 5:28) means "divided" or "broken." His kingdom was divided. Jesus said, in Matthew 12:25, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:" In the United States today we see more division than at any time since 1776. Republicans are divided against Republicans; Democrats are divided against Democrats; churches are divided against other churches; churches are divided within their own denominations; and racial biases abound. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. How can this country survive? "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN" is current events. It applies prophetically to the United States right now!
Belshazzar was the last king of Babylon. His predecessors were Nebuchadnezzar and Evil-Merodach. According to Berosus, a 3rd century BC Chaldean priest, Evil-Merodach ruled "unjustly and lewdly." The only reference in scripture to Evil-Merodach is that he befriended Jehoiachin, the evil, former king of Judah. Scripturally, Babylon consists of the economic, political, and religious components of the devil's worldly kingdom. I believe that the nation today that most closely typifies Babylon is the United States. In a speech in Turkey in 2009, President Obama said that we are no longer a Christian nation. Is it possible that those three Babylonian kings will be prophetically fulfilled by the last three Presidents of the United States? History and current events may give us a clue as to the modern-day Evil-Merodach.
Amos was a contemporary of Hosea and Jonah, followed soon afterward by Isaiah.
As such, he was the first to introduce the truth that God is no respecter of people or nations.
The most interesting aspect of what follows that verse is that the letter came to Jehoram, the king of Judah, long AFTER Elijah had been translated. Elijah saw that some things had been set in motion by Jehoram and Elijah knew the consequences that must follow, barring a sovereign intervention by the Lord, because Elijah knew the ways of the Lord. Elijah saw the handwriting on the wall.
Call the role of the prophets. Which of the Old Testament prophets did NOT see the handwriting on the wall? Moreover, the messages of the prophets are ageless and timeless, independent of any culture. It was not through the priesthood with its ritual and ceremony that God revealed Himself but through "His servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7) Ever since the Day of Pentecost, God reveals Himself through the Holy Spirit.
The August 2005 destruction from hurricane Katrina in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana, particularly in New Orleans, was, at that time, perhaps the most devastating natural event in the history of the United States. It caused at least $125 billion dollars and claimed at least 1800 lives. I sincerely doubt that President George W. Bush or members of Congress saw the significance of Katrina. They saw it only as a horrible natural disaster. Only the Lord knows how many genuine believers saw Katrina as the handwriting on the wall.
President Bush spoke about rebuilding New Orleans to restore it to the once proud city that it used to be. That, of course, required billions of taxpayer dollars. Even in the natural realm it did not seem wise to pour billions of dollars into rebuilding New Orleans unless the city was moved to higher ground. Scripture warns us against building our house on sand. The Lord may even send an even worse hurricane to destroy it again. New Orleans, like many other large cities, is full of evil, drugs, darkness, prostitutes, Mardi Gras orgies, crime of every sort, etc.
Of course, we should not expect our secular leaders to see the handwriting on the wall. They do not have eyes to see nor ears to hear nor a heart to understand that which the Lord is about. The trumpet call can be heard only in Zion, which speaks of the very elect, the remnant, the overcomers. Perhaps every professing Christian has, at one time or another, quoted the verse in
Hosea emphasizes at least seven great truths very clearly. A wise man will take heed to all of these.
1. Idolatry of any sort means the transfer of primary affection from God to some other object or person, and constitutes spiritual adultery. (Hosea 4:12; 9:1)
Those last two verses say that the Lord will keep us alive in famine IF we fear Him and hope in His mercy. Of course, we do not know HOW the Lord will keep us alive in famine, but what difference does it make? Do we really believe that? Would we rather trust ourself to store up food and water or trust the Lord to provide for us, like He said? More importantly do we fear the Lord and hope in His mercy? I assume that most of us hope in His mercy, but how many of us fear him? IF we believe that the Lord tells us to store up food and water, we need to understand that the purpose cannot be simply to preserve our own flesh for a little longer. The reason must be to help others in times of famine. If my purpose for storing food and water is simply for me, then that implies I do not believe the Lord. That is called unbelief. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Lord rained down manna every day except on their Sabbath. If anyone tried to save the manna for himself for the next day, it would breed worms, stink and rot. Further, who among us has enough space to store up 3 years of food and water? Therefore, if we store up food and water for 3 months, what will we do when that runs out?
Jesus continues, in Matthew, Chapter 24 and Verse 9 through the end of that Chapter to describe the events just before His return to earth. There is so much there that we will reserve for a separate message. Jesus said, in Matthew 24:36 that no man knows the hour or the day when He will return. In Matthew 24:32-35, Jesus also said,
"This mountain" in Verse 6 speaks of the kingdom of God. The feast in that Verse speaks of the Feast of Tabernacles. Clearly those verses have not yet been fulfilled in time but they will be fulfilled, perhaps sooner than we might expect. When Verse 6 says, "make unto all people a feast ..." that does NOT mean that all people will be "saved." There is a difference between what God makes available to men and what men receive and walk in. The parable of the great supper shows how worldly-minded men, who contemn the word of God, will be shut out of the kingdom of God.
These verses are fulfilled by events recorded in both Revelation, Chapter 7 and Revelation, Chapter 21.
Those verses speak of those professing Christians, who, for whatever combination of reasons, never made it into the Promised Land on earth. From Verse 10, all they knew was salvation. From Verse 14, they came out of great tribulation; they were not "raptured" out of or before great tribulation. Why were they crying? because they finally saw what they had missed on earth.
From Verse 4, God shall wipe away all tears. Revelation 7, Verse 17 says the same thing. I do not believe the Lord will wipe away all our tears twice. I believe that speaks of two different, separate sets of Christians. From Verse 7 of Revelation 21, those verses are written to the overcomers or the remnant. Why were they crying? out of joy that the will of God was finally done on earth and that His kingdom was established in the new heavens and earth.
The Lord is speaking in that verse to His chosen people today. Although there is room in the economy of God for many things today, priority one must be the bringing forth of the priests, the ministers of the Lord who will weep between the porch and the altar on behalf of God's chosen people (Joel 2:17). Many professing Christians today say they are interceding for His people. If that were a reality at the depth that the Lord is looking for, then the Lord might return tomorrow. We think we have a message to teach or preach, but that is not the most needful ministry in this hour. It's good if God has ordained it, but the most needful ministry, I am sure, is the ministry of intercession. Further, that intercession must be like that of Ezra, Nehemiah, and undoubtedly many others of God's servants over time. They fully identified with the will of God; they did not point their finger to the brethren who had transgressed, but they identified with the people by saying "we" have sinned, when, in fact, they had not sinned personally.
Isaiah, Chapter 58, declares the difference between a counterfeit and a true fast. That chapter also points out the difference between counterfeit and true intercession. The Bible declares many examples of when the false emerges before the true, such as the first Adam before the last Adam, Ishmael before Isaac, Esau before Jacob, etc.
One difference between true intercession, which is by the Holy Spirit, and Christian man's version of intercession is that man "points the finger" to those in the church who seem not to be walking in the Light. That is a "holier than thou" attitude. Further that indicates a lack of understanding that if one member of the body suffers, the whole body suffers.
Many years ago I attended an "intercessory conference" in another state. One of several problems was that there was no real intercession. Conclusion? ... Where are the Ezra's and Nehemiah's today?
The handwriting is on the wall. Amen.
Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, saw the handwriting on the wall but he could neither read nor interpret it. He saw the fingers of a man's hand which wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace (Daniel 5:5-6). It filled him with fear and foreboding. His fears were well-founded! For him, the "days of recompence" were come. Daniel not only read the writing for Belshazzar but also interpreted it.
Daniel 5:25-28, "And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."
MENE, MENE means numbered, numbered. Any time any word is repeated in Scripture, it carries great emphasis. The significance is that the days of the king of Babylon were numbered and finished. TEKEL means weighed. The king of Babylon is weighed in the balance and found wanting. UPHARSIN (called PERES in Daniel 5:28) means "divided" or "broken." His kingdom was divided. Jesus said, in Matthew 12:25, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:" In the United States today we see more division than at any time since 1776. Republicans are divided against Republicans; Democrats are divided against Democrats; churches are divided against other churches; churches are divided within their own denominations; and racial biases abound. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. How can this country survive? "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN" is current events. It applies prophetically to the United States right now!
Belshazzar was the last king of Babylon. His predecessors were Nebuchadnezzar and Evil-Merodach. According to Berosus, a 3rd century BC Chaldean priest, Evil-Merodach ruled "unjustly and lewdly." The only reference in scripture to Evil-Merodach is that he befriended Jehoiachin, the evil, former king of Judah. Scripturally, Babylon consists of the economic, political, and religious components of the devil's worldly kingdom. I believe that the nation today that most closely typifies Babylon is the United States. In a speech in Turkey in 2009, President Obama said that we are no longer a Christian nation. Is it possible that those three Babylonian kings will be prophetically fulfilled by the last three Presidents of the United States? History and current events may give us a clue as to the modern-day Evil-Merodach.
Amos 1:1, "The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake."
Amos was a contemporary of Hosea and Jonah, followed soon afterward by Isaiah.
Amos 7:14-15, "Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel."
From Amos 7:10-13, and several more verses in Amos chapters 3, 4 and 5, he probably ministered for the most part at Bethel, which means "house of God." What is the house of God today if it is not the church? When prophesying to Israel, Amos said, in Amos 4:4, "Come to Bethel, and transgress ..." Then, in Amos 5, verses 4 and 5, "For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought."
Back in the 1970's, there seemed to be an unspoken belief that the church or even some individual minister was our covering. The Catholic Church teaches that the way to salvation is to join them. But that lie is dispelled by Isaiah 22:8, "And He discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest." Today the house of the forest speaks of the church. Our armor or our covering is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amos saw the handwriting on the wall. He read it rightly. He said, in Amos 3:8, "The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?"
Back in the 1970's, there seemed to be an unspoken belief that the church or even some individual minister was our covering. The Catholic Church teaches that the way to salvation is to join them. But that lie is dispelled by Isaiah 22:8, "And He discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest." Today the house of the forest speaks of the church. Our armor or our covering is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amos saw the handwriting on the wall. He read it rightly. He said, in Amos 3:8, "The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?"
Amos continued, in Amos 9:8, "Behold the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth." What sinful nation did Amos refer to? the northern kingdom of Israel. Both the northern and southern kingdoms (Israel and Judah) were enjoying great prosperity and had reached new political and military heights. It was also a time of idolatry, extravagant indulgence in luxurious living, immorality, corruption of judicial procedures and oppression of the poor. Israel at that time was politically secure and spiritually smug. About 40 years earlier, Elisha had prophesied the large increase of Israel's power (2 Kings 13:17-19). More recently Jonah had prophesied her restoration to a glory not known since the days of Solomon (2 Kings 14:25). The nation felt sure, therefore, that she was in God's good graces. But prosperity increased Israel's religious and moral corruption. The Lord then sent Amos to announce that His patience was at an end.
Amos 5:24, "But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream."
Amos 6:1, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!"
The next 7 verses in Amos, Chapter 6 declare that captivity is inevitable.
Does any of that recorded in the book of Amos sound like the United States today? History repeats itself because human nature never changes. The God for whom Amos speaks is God of more than merely Israel in that day or any day. He is the Great King who rules the whole universe over all of time and eternity. Because God is all-sovereign, He holds the history and destiny of all peoples of the world in His hands. Amos was the first prophet to introduce the "day of the Lord."
Does any of that recorded in the book of Amos sound like the United States today? History repeats itself because human nature never changes. The God for whom Amos speaks is God of more than merely Israel in that day or any day. He is the Great King who rules the whole universe over all of time and eternity. Because God is all-sovereign, He holds the history and destiny of all peoples of the world in His hands. Amos was the first prophet to introduce the "day of the Lord."
Amos 5:18, "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light."
As such, he was the first to introduce the truth that God is no respecter of people or nations.
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying ...
2 Chronicles 21:12
The most interesting aspect of what follows that verse is that the letter came to Jehoram, the king of Judah, long AFTER Elijah had been translated. Elijah saw that some things had been set in motion by Jehoram and Elijah knew the consequences that must follow, barring a sovereign intervention by the Lord, because Elijah knew the ways of the Lord. Elijah saw the handwriting on the wall.
Call the role of the prophets. Which of the Old Testament prophets did NOT see the handwriting on the wall? Moreover, the messages of the prophets are ageless and timeless, independent of any culture. It was not through the priesthood with its ritual and ceremony that God revealed Himself but through "His servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7) Ever since the Day of Pentecost, God reveals Himself through the Holy Spirit.
The August 2005 destruction from hurricane Katrina in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana, particularly in New Orleans, was, at that time, perhaps the most devastating natural event in the history of the United States. It caused at least $125 billion dollars and claimed at least 1800 lives. I sincerely doubt that President George W. Bush or members of Congress saw the significance of Katrina. They saw it only as a horrible natural disaster. Only the Lord knows how many genuine believers saw Katrina as the handwriting on the wall.
President Bush spoke about rebuilding New Orleans to restore it to the once proud city that it used to be. That, of course, required billions of taxpayer dollars. Even in the natural realm it did not seem wise to pour billions of dollars into rebuilding New Orleans unless the city was moved to higher ground. Scripture warns us against building our house on sand. The Lord may even send an even worse hurricane to destroy it again. New Orleans, like many other large cities, is full of evil, drugs, darkness, prostitutes, Mardi Gras orgies, crime of every sort, etc.
Of course, we should not expect our secular leaders to see the handwriting on the wall. They do not have eyes to see nor ears to hear nor a heart to understand that which the Lord is about. The trumpet call can be heard only in Zion, which speaks of the very elect, the remnant, the overcomers. Perhaps every professing Christian has, at one time or another, quoted the verse in
1 Peter 4:17, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"
The question is, "Is it sufficient to just quote that verse?" or does the Lord require something more?
The Lord woke me up at 3:30 a.m. on September 3, 2005, several days after Katrina, and reminded me of the similarity between the New Orleans debacle and what I personally witnessed many years ago. A rather large Assembly of God Church, a few miles from where we live, after building a very large church structure, decided to add on a full-size gymnasium for their "members." Of course, they had no problem raising the money for such a venture. Most Christians are eager to pour money into almost anything that their pastor wants. All went smoothly until they started to put the roof on the gymnasium. Then the Lord sent a very strong wind and blew off many of the shingles and part of the plywood sheathing. Undoubtedly what happened next was that the pastor and the elders met together and determined what to do. I might as well have been sitting in on the meeting. They rebuked the devil and spent more money to repair the roof. Very shortly after that the Lord sent another strong wind and blew off part of the roof a second time. They never got the message! I am sure that it never entered their minds that the gymnasium was displeasing to the Lord, so they repaired the roof yet once more! The last thing I heard about that Assembly of God church was through some Christian friends of ours, who said they stopped going there when the pastor passed the collection plate four times during one service! If we persist in doing things our way, the Lord will let us do our own thing, but His blessing and presence will depart.
A complacency rests upon us as a nation which should give us considerable concern. That complacency is a result of apathy in the Church. Our resources, our wealth, our military might, our claim to democratic ideals and practices have become our boast. Like Israel of old, we assume that God is on our side and that He is bound to protect us and prosper our cause. God bless America so we can continue to do our own thing.
The Book of Hosea, like most other books in the Bible, including Isaiah, is about two things: (1) the judgment of God, which is steadfast and sure to all those who willingly and knowingly disobey Him, and (2) the love of God for His people. God's wrath can be terrible but His mercy is beyond understanding. God's love is always extended, for this is His very nature, but His forgiveness is conditioned upon the attitude and response of men. Without repentance and return there can be no forgiveness. God forgives when the conditions of forgiveness are met.
Compare Hosea's day with our own. Replace the altars of Baal with the modern idols of materialism, sensualism, secularism, humanism, religious liberalism, compromise, and mixture. We have allowed foreigners who worship other gods to live with us, mix with us, and compromise our original, true, God-centered country. Is there a call to repentance? If so, is there a positive response to that call? How long can any nation survive when the foundations are undermined by godless living? The Christian community has been out of God's order for many long years.
Hosea saw the handwriting on the wall, which spoke of judgment swift and sure, deadly and devastating. Hosea saw Israel following a path that could only end in complete destruction (Hosea 2:13, 5:7, 6:7, and many other scriptures.)
The last verse in Hosea, chapter 14 and verse 9, says,
The Lord woke me up at 3:30 a.m. on September 3, 2005, several days after Katrina, and reminded me of the similarity between the New Orleans debacle and what I personally witnessed many years ago. A rather large Assembly of God Church, a few miles from where we live, after building a very large church structure, decided to add on a full-size gymnasium for their "members." Of course, they had no problem raising the money for such a venture. Most Christians are eager to pour money into almost anything that their pastor wants. All went smoothly until they started to put the roof on the gymnasium. Then the Lord sent a very strong wind and blew off many of the shingles and part of the plywood sheathing. Undoubtedly what happened next was that the pastor and the elders met together and determined what to do. I might as well have been sitting in on the meeting. They rebuked the devil and spent more money to repair the roof. Very shortly after that the Lord sent another strong wind and blew off part of the roof a second time. They never got the message! I am sure that it never entered their minds that the gymnasium was displeasing to the Lord, so they repaired the roof yet once more! The last thing I heard about that Assembly of God church was through some Christian friends of ours, who said they stopped going there when the pastor passed the collection plate four times during one service! If we persist in doing things our way, the Lord will let us do our own thing, but His blessing and presence will depart.
A complacency rests upon us as a nation which should give us considerable concern. That complacency is a result of apathy in the Church. Our resources, our wealth, our military might, our claim to democratic ideals and practices have become our boast. Like Israel of old, we assume that God is on our side and that He is bound to protect us and prosper our cause. God bless America so we can continue to do our own thing.
The Book of Hosea, like most other books in the Bible, including Isaiah, is about two things: (1) the judgment of God, which is steadfast and sure to all those who willingly and knowingly disobey Him, and (2) the love of God for His people. God's wrath can be terrible but His mercy is beyond understanding. God's love is always extended, for this is His very nature, but His forgiveness is conditioned upon the attitude and response of men. Without repentance and return there can be no forgiveness. God forgives when the conditions of forgiveness are met.
Compare Hosea's day with our own. Replace the altars of Baal with the modern idols of materialism, sensualism, secularism, humanism, religious liberalism, compromise, and mixture. We have allowed foreigners who worship other gods to live with us, mix with us, and compromise our original, true, God-centered country. Is there a call to repentance? If so, is there a positive response to that call? How long can any nation survive when the foundations are undermined by godless living? The Christian community has been out of God's order for many long years.
Hosea saw the handwriting on the wall, which spoke of judgment swift and sure, deadly and devastating. Hosea saw Israel following a path that could only end in complete destruction (Hosea 2:13, 5:7, 6:7, and many other scriptures.)
The last verse in Hosea, chapter 14 and verse 9, says,
"Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein."
Hosea emphasizes at least seven great truths very clearly. A wise man will take heed to all of these.
1. Idolatry of any sort means the transfer of primary affection from God to some other object or person, and constitutes spiritual adultery. (Hosea 4:12; 9:1)
2. Sin carries the seeds of judgment within it and always bears fruit. No one can play with sin with impunity. (Hosea 8:7; 10:13) What is sin? Doing my own thing:
3. God punishes sin ... especially sin in the hearts of His own people. The high privilege which He has bestowed upon us demands a corresponding sense of responsibility on our part. (Hosea 4:1-6)
4. There is no easy road to forgiveness and restoration. Only sincere and wholehearted repentance can pave the way to a renewed fellowship. (Hosea 14:1-4)
5. National apostasy and idolatry will inevitably mean national disintegration and destruction. (Hosea 9:1-7)
6. God will never be satisfied with superficial, formal, external ritual. (Hosea 6:6)
7. God's heart is filled with a tender, gracious, inexhaustible love (Hosea 2:19-20; 14:4-8).
If all we receive from Amos and Hosea is a response of "That was then, but this is now," then we are like an ostrich with our head buried in the sand. The message through Amos is primarily an emphasis of God's judgment or justice and righteousness. Hosea emphasized God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Both aspects of God are contained in Amos, Hosea, Jonah, Isaiah, and other books in the Old Testament.
In Matthew, Chapter 24, Jesus talks about events which will occur in the last days.
If all we receive from Amos and Hosea is a response of "That was then, but this is now," then we are like an ostrich with our head buried in the sand. The message through Amos is primarily an emphasis of God's judgment or justice and righteousness. Hosea emphasized God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Both aspects of God are contained in Amos, Hosea, Jonah, Isaiah, and other books in the Old Testament.
In Matthew, Chapter 24, Jesus talks about events which will occur in the last days.
Matthew 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?" Jesus responded that:
1. Many shall come in His name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many.
2. There would be wars and rumors of wars.
3. There shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
Certainly, we have seen all three of those signs being fulfilled. One good brother told me that many years ago he was in a gathering of saints and a man, nicely dressed and carrying a Bible, burst into the room and said, "I am Jesus." That could not have been true for several reasons, not the least of which is that when Jesus, the living Word of God, returns, He will not be carrying a literal Bible.
Only one famine is mentioned in the New Testament, in Acts 11:28. Of course there have been many famines since then in Africa and other parts of the world. Can we have a famine in the United States? absolutely! Should we Christians prepare for a famine or other difficult times? absolutely! by doing what? by preparing our hearts spiritually. To the best of my knowledge only one time recorded in the Bible did the Lord ever tell any of His chosen people to store up food and/or water. That occasion was with Joseph in Egypt. The Lord told Joseph there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Joseph was told to store up seven years of food ... store up food for whom? Certainly not just for himself. Today if the Lord tells any believer to store up food and water, then, praise the Lord, do it! However, ...
2. There would be wars and rumors of wars.
3. There shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
Certainly, we have seen all three of those signs being fulfilled. One good brother told me that many years ago he was in a gathering of saints and a man, nicely dressed and carrying a Bible, burst into the room and said, "I am Jesus." That could not have been true for several reasons, not the least of which is that when Jesus, the living Word of God, returns, He will not be carrying a literal Bible.
Only one famine is mentioned in the New Testament, in Acts 11:28. Of course there have been many famines since then in Africa and other parts of the world. Can we have a famine in the United States? absolutely! Should we Christians prepare for a famine or other difficult times? absolutely! by doing what? by preparing our hearts spiritually. To the best of my knowledge only one time recorded in the Bible did the Lord ever tell any of His chosen people to store up food and/or water. That occasion was with Joseph in Egypt. The Lord told Joseph there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Joseph was told to store up seven years of food ... store up food for whom? Certainly not just for himself. Today if the Lord tells any believer to store up food and water, then, praise the Lord, do it! However, ...
Psalm 33:12-19.12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.13 The LORD looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men.14 From the place of His habitation He looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; He considereth all their works.16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy;19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Those last two verses say that the Lord will keep us alive in famine IF we fear Him and hope in His mercy. Of course, we do not know HOW the Lord will keep us alive in famine, but what difference does it make? Do we really believe that? Would we rather trust ourself to store up food and water or trust the Lord to provide for us, like He said? More importantly do we fear the Lord and hope in His mercy? I assume that most of us hope in His mercy, but how many of us fear him? IF we believe that the Lord tells us to store up food and water, we need to understand that the purpose cannot be simply to preserve our own flesh for a little longer. The reason must be to help others in times of famine. If my purpose for storing food and water is simply for me, then that implies I do not believe the Lord. That is called unbelief. When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the Lord rained down manna every day except on their Sabbath. If anyone tried to save the manna for himself for the next day, it would breed worms, stink and rot. Further, who among us has enough space to store up 3 years of food and water? Therefore, if we store up food and water for 3 months, what will we do when that runs out?
Jesus continues, in Matthew, Chapter 24 and Verse 9 through the end of that Chapter to describe the events just before His return to earth. There is so much there that we will reserve for a separate message. Jesus said, in Matthew 24:36 that no man knows the hour or the day when He will return. In Matthew 24:32-35, Jesus also said,
"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
Matthew 24:42-44, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."
Men have always been interested in when the Lord will return and when the world will end. I share that only to emphasize that the time is short, which is what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:29 some 1963 years ago. The handwriting is on the wall.
However, perhaps the greatest message for us in Matthew, Chapter 24 is a warning ... do not be deceived. Four times in that Chapter Jesus warns about the great deception that will arise in the last of the last days.
However, perhaps the greatest message for us in Matthew, Chapter 24 is a warning ... do not be deceived. Four times in that Chapter Jesus warns about the great deception that will arise in the last of the last days.
Matthew 24:24-25, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before."
Isaiah 25:6-8, "And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it."
"This mountain" in Verse 6 speaks of the kingdom of God. The feast in that Verse speaks of the Feast of Tabernacles. Clearly those verses have not yet been fulfilled in time but they will be fulfilled, perhaps sooner than we might expect. When Verse 6 says, "make unto all people a feast ..." that does NOT mean that all people will be "saved." There is a difference between what God makes available to men and what men receive and walk in. The parable of the great supper shows how worldly-minded men, who contemn the word of God, will be shut out of the kingdom of God.
Luke 14:15-24.15 And when one of them that sat at meat with Him heard these things, He said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.16 Then said He unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
These verses are fulfilled by events recorded in both Revelation, Chapter 7 and Revelation, Chapter 21.
Revelation 7:9-17, "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And He said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Those verses speak of those professing Christians, who, for whatever combination of reasons, never made it into the Promised Land on earth. From Verse 10, all they knew was salvation. From Verse 14, they came out of great tribulation; they were not "raptured" out of or before great tribulation. Why were they crying? because they finally saw what they had missed on earth.
Revelation 21:1-8.1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.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.3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.5 And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.6 And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
From Verse 4, God shall wipe away all tears. Revelation 7, Verse 17 says the same thing. I do not believe the Lord will wipe away all our tears twice. I believe that speaks of two different, separate sets of Christians. From Verse 7 of Revelation 21, those verses are written to the overcomers or the remnant. Why were they crying? out of joy that the will of God was finally done on earth and that His kingdom was established in the new heavens and earth.
Isaiah 22:12, "And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:"
The Lord is speaking in that verse to His chosen people today. Although there is room in the economy of God for many things today, priority one must be the bringing forth of the priests, the ministers of the Lord who will weep between the porch and the altar on behalf of God's chosen people (Joel 2:17). Many professing Christians today say they are interceding for His people. If that were a reality at the depth that the Lord is looking for, then the Lord might return tomorrow. We think we have a message to teach or preach, but that is not the most needful ministry in this hour. It's good if God has ordained it, but the most needful ministry, I am sure, is the ministry of intercession. Further, that intercession must be like that of Ezra, Nehemiah, and undoubtedly many others of God's servants over time. They fully identified with the will of God; they did not point their finger to the brethren who had transgressed, but they identified with the people by saying "we" have sinned, when, in fact, they had not sinned personally.
Isaiah, Chapter 58, declares the difference between a counterfeit and a true fast. That chapter also points out the difference between counterfeit and true intercession. The Bible declares many examples of when the false emerges before the true, such as the first Adam before the last Adam, Ishmael before Isaac, Esau before Jacob, etc.
Isaiah 58:6-9.6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
One difference between true intercession, which is by the Holy Spirit, and Christian man's version of intercession is that man "points the finger" to those in the church who seem not to be walking in the Light. That is a "holier than thou" attitude. Further that indicates a lack of understanding that if one member of the body suffers, the whole body suffers.
Ezra 9:3, 5-6.3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
Nehemiah 1:4-6, "And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven. And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love Him and observe His commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned."
Many years ago I attended an "intercessory conference" in another state. One of several problems was that there was no real intercession. Conclusion? ... Where are the Ezra's and Nehemiah's today?
Revelation 22:10-12, "And He saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."
The handwriting is on the wall. Amen.
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