The Valley of Vision

Isa 22:5

For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.

When you commit to follow on into an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, you must realize that you are entering the valley of vision, and accept His chastening readily. When the day of trouble arrives, the aspects of iniquity within one's soul rise quickly to the surface as the Lord exposes them. If you have continually submitted to His correction there will be no perplexity, as the Holy Spirit will guide you through the shaping process into the image of Christ. You won't be found trying to hide in the valley of vision when He breaks down the walls of idolatry, and you won't be found crying for help to any false gods atop the mountains. No matter how it seems or what it feels like, when the Lord tears apart things in your life, His goal is always restoration and empowerment. As it is written,

Jeremiah 1:10

See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

See also The Image of the Invisible God; God’s Promise: Restitution of Peace; Run With the Vision

Related Scriptures: Isaiah 22:1-25; Job 5:17-27; Romans 8:1-39; Nahum 1:7-8 ; Hebrews 12:1-29

A Nail in a Sure Place

Isaiah 22:23

And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.

The only sure place to dwell is the secret place of the most high God, and His is the only place that is sure and certain. We are fastened there by Jesus Christ. When the Roman soldiers fastened Him to His cross they used three nails, a constant reminder of our triune God who is One LORD. It is only through the cross that we can approach the throne of God and rest in surety, knowing that no man can pluck us out of His hand. We cannot even come to the Father but by the blood of Jesus Christ, for He is the nail in the sure place.

See also Pluck Out; The Lord and Harpazo

Related Scriptures: Isaiah 22:1-25; Psalm 91:1-16; Hebrews 4:1-16

High Places

Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

This verse is the only reference to the high places in the New Testament. The Old Testament practice of worshipping idols occurred in the high places, and now it occurs in the hearts of men who are lifted up in greed and serving the dark spiritual forces of wickedness. The Lord will deal with all those who have heaped up treasures for the last days, while they defraud the laborers. As the day of the Lord approaches, it is especially important to focus on the spiritual wickedness that is the object of our struggle, and not to get caught up with the flesh and blood battles that are intended to ensnare us with offence. The Lord is listening to the cries of the righteous, and He is taking note. As it is written,

The cries of them which have reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

See also Be Made Righteousness In Him; Withstand in the Evil Day; Elijah and Restoration

Related Scriptures: James 5:1-12; 1Thessalonians 5:1-28; Psalm 34:1-22

The Treader of Grapes

Amos 9:13

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.

In order for the LORD to bring this prophecy to pass, He must first deal with rampant worldwide sin. When Christ comes as the treader of grapes, the wicked of this earth will be fuel for His winepress. The harvest will have ripened on both edges of the sword of the Spirit, and the wrath of God will melt all the hills, even as the righteous receive the outpouring of the sweet wine. This is His perfect way, and it is only hard to understand when people do not want to acknowledge their sin, and when they resort to blaming God to try to justify themselves. He is not interested in being politically correct, or socially inclusive, or whatever other humanist terminology the wicked employ to water down and corrupt every moral absolute that God ordained. No, He is not fooled nor moved by any of this, as it is written,

Deuteronomy 32:4

He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.

See also To Build and to Plant; Christ: The Breastplate of Righteousness; What Is the Chaff to the Wheat?

Related Scriptures: Amos 9:1-15; Revelation 19:11-16; Isaiah 49:1-26; Jeremiah 25:27-33

Scepter of Righteousness

Hebrews 1:8-9

But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.

Anointed with the oil of gladness, and calling us His friends, for He has made known to us what the Father has shown Him.  It is time to rejoice, both now and forever!

Related Scriptures: John 15:7-17; Hebrews 8:1-2; Ephesians 2:4-10.

The Lord and Harpazo

Thirteen Aspects of the Rapture.

Take your inheritance in the kingdom of heaven by force.
Stand against the world system trying to force its mold upon your life.
Look to the Lord, and He will forcefully remove you from dissension and affliction.
These three things are the rapture.

Hang on to the Word in your heart lest the devil come to catch it away.
Hang on to your relationship with the Chief Shepherd,

lest the wolf come to catch you away from His fold.
Be baptized in the Holy Spirit and filled to the full with Him each day;
And the Lord will catch you away into the position He has for you on earth.
These three things are the rapture.

Rest in the hands of Jesus Christ the Lord, and no man can pluck you out of His hand.
Rest in the arms of your heavenly Father, the Ancient of Days:
He is well able to hold on to you in His hand, and no man can pluck you out of His hand.

The Spirit has sealed you unto the day of redemption.

These three Persons are the rapture.

Dwell in the Vine and wait for the vision, and be caught up with whatever He says to do.
Be so caught up with the love of Christ Jesus that you will meet Him in the air when He calls.
Rest assured in Him, knowing that He has prepared you a place on His throne with Him.
These three truths are the rapture.

Be occupied daily only with the fear of the LORD, and He will rescue you from the fire of His wrath.
This one thing I know,
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
On the other side of His blood is the rapture.
____________________________________________

As blood bought believers, we are engaged in the most important conflict ever: the battle between God and Satan, between good and evil, between the heavenly realm of light and the forces of spiritual darkness. Our commander, the Lord of hosts, has already determined the outcome, which He sealed through the death on the cross, the burial, and resurrection of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. In turn, we determine our position in this battle by faith in Jesus Christ, and this act guarantees the outcome in our own life by the seal of the Holy Spirit of promise. After this gift we must strive for the prize. There are crowns laid up for those who run the race with endurance while working the works of God. We must execute the battle plan of the Father of spirits.

See also A Vesture Dipped in Blood; The Blood of the Passover Lamb; Dark Speeches

Related Scriptures: Matthew 11:12; Matthew 13:19; John 6:15; John 10:12; John 10:28-29; Acts 8:39; Acts 23:10; 2 Corinthians 12:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Jude 1:23; Revelation 12:5

Pulling Out (Harpazo, Part 5 of 5)

The rapture is not a term that is found anywhere in the Bible, it is a concept invented by man to conceive of the Greek word harpazo. This word has five meanings spread across thirteen different Scriptures, so it is my intent here to let the Spirit lead into a deeper understanding of this word, and thereby a greater understanding of the concept of the rapture.

Jude 1:23

And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Here we see the final act of God's redemptive process: pulling out (harpazo) of the fire those who must be saved with fear. Their garments are defiled by the works of the flesh, and they are alarmed by the possibility that they may not escape the flames. This could well be the lukewarm church, spewed out of the mouth of the Lord and left behind at the rapture. If so, they will have to endure dire hardship and persecution without the benefit of the indwelling Holy Spirit in order to escape. The Lord makes a distinction between these, whose very garments of self-righteous works are to be hated, and those who are saved by a heartfelt response to His compassion. As it is written,

Hebrews 6:1-3

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.

Now that we have reviewed all thirteen of the harpazo verses, we can begin to pull this all together for a more thorough understanding, from every angle, of the concept of the rapture. Here is a synopsis of the five meanings and their implications:

1.  take by force - seizing, especially with dire urgency (Matthew 11:12; John 6:15; Acts 23:10)

2.  catch away - to take out of the grasp of, to transport instantly (Matthew 13:19; John 10:12; Acts 8:39)

3.  pluck out - to snatch or pull away from, especially by a rapid jerking motion (John 10:28-29)

4.  catch up - translated, removed from a lower state to a higher one (2 Corinthians 12:2,4; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 12:5)

5.  pull out - to rescue from danger or peril, especially those who are unable to do so on their own (Jude 1:23)

The Spirit has ministered a set of verses to post separately that will summarize this study, and bring the whole word of the Lord to bear on how we should view the many aspects of harpazo. This will help us to gain a deeper understanding of the various forms of the rapture. Follow along tomorrow as He speaks through The Lord and Harpazo, The thirteen raptures.

See also Jericho Mindset; The Third Part Through the Fire; Walking Through the Fire

Related Scriptures: Jude 1:1-25

Caught Up (Harpazo, Part 4 of 5)

The rapture is not a term that is found anywhere in the Bible, it is a concept invented by man to conceive of the Greek word harpazo. This word has five meanings spread across thirteen different Scriptures, so it is my intent here to let the Spirit lead into a deeper understanding of this word, and thereby a greater understanding of the concept of the rapture.

2 Corinthians 12:2-4

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Paul describes his visions of heaven as being so realistic that he left it to God to determine whether they were spiritual experiences, or physical experiences, or both. He describes being caught up (harpazo) to paradise where he heard "unspeakable" words. Perhaps he witnessed the angelic hosts singing in tongues before the throne of God. The revelations were of such awesome magnitude that a demonic spirit was sent to afflict Paul in direct opposition. The Lord allowed this to continue as a constant reminder that His spiritual strength is sufficient to overcome every physical, mental or emotional affliction.

1 Thessalonians 4:17

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Here is the verse that focuses all the other meanings of harpazo. This is the objective of the revelation of Jesus Christ: to reap the rewards of His sacrifice on the cross by raising up all those who have believed in their hearts that He is Lord and that He was raised from the dead and will resurrect those who believe. Immediately after the Lord was resurrected there was a procession of raised saints through the streets of Jerusalem, visible proof that He was the firstborn among MANY brethren. Paradise, the compartment of hell where the righteous dead were reserved until that moment, was snatched from the grasp of the devil and relocated as Christ led captivity captive. Satan had positioned himself for what he believed to be the ultimate defeat of God's purpose and plan, yet now he stood by helplessly as this glorious cascade of scriptural fulfillment buried him in a wave of righteousness. The next harpazo verse is a vivid description of Satan's intentions and God's glorious intervention:

Revelation 12:5

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne.

In the form of a red dragon and with a sweep of his tail, Satan snapped up the angels who were foolish enough to follow him and cast them down to the earth, as one third of the angelic hosts now were under his command. He and his army had spent every moment of the ages since they rebelled against God trying to prevent the birth of the Messiah, and this portion of Scripture describes their defeat as Christ is caught up (harpazo) to God. Contrary to his evil scheme to devour God's Son, Christ is now seated at the right hand of God and Satan will be cast down into the deepest depths of eternity, sealed in the burning lake of fire forever.

With just one more verse to go, we have a clearer picture of the full implications of the term harpazo and the concept of the rapture. In this posting we see that it is the catching up (harpazo) of various prophets, men of God, and Christ Himself to heaven, either for revelation or rescue. It is a tool that God uses to impart spiritual visions to His people and to perform His perfect will when circumstances seem hopeless. It is a tool of communion also, a form of direct communication that God uses to bypass His enemies. It is both a glorious demonstration of God's sovereignty and His ability to conceal His intentions from the destructive forces of Satan, the fallen angels, and other dark forces gathered in the world. As it is written,

Ephesians 1:9-10

Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him...

See also Run With the Vision; He Will Raise Us Up; Salvation and Strength

Related Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18; Revelation 12:1-17

Pluck Out (Harpazo, Part 3 of 5)

The rapture is not a term that is found anywhere in the Bible, it is a concept invented by man to conceive of the Greek word harpazo. This word has five meanings spread across thirteen different Scriptures, so it is my intent here to let the Spirit lead into a deeper understanding of this word, and thereby a greater understanding of the concept of the rapture.

John 10:28-29

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand.

This is one of the most revealing harpazo passages. The dual nature of this meaning is powerful. It is the nature of the promise of the Father, that as we receive the free gift of His grace through His Son Jesus Christ unto salvation by His shed blood on the cross, we are firmly held in the hand of both Jesus and the Father. Therefore no man is able to pluck us out (harpazo) of their hands. To complete the picture, we have the indwelling presence of the Lord in our hearts in the Person of the Holy Spirit, our Comforter identical to Jesus and who does not speak of Himself but accomplishes the will of God based upon His spoken Word, and who is the seal of His promise unto the day of redemption when He will deliver all believers from the grasp of the enemy.

All three members of the Godhead have sworn their covenant with the one who believes in Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. The trinity of God, in complex unity (echad), has promised to catch us up (harpazo) from the wrath to come. As it is written,

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ

See also Latter and Former Rain; Walking With God Through the Blood

Related Scriptures: John 10:1-42; John 14:1-31

Catch Away (Harpazo, Part 2 of 5)

The rapture is not a term that is found anywhere in the Bible, it is a concept invented by man to conceive of the Greek word harpazo. This word has five meanings spread across thirteen different Scriptures, so it is my intent here to let the Spirit lead into a deeper understanding of this word, and thereby a greater understanding of the concept of the rapture.

Matthew 13:19

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

If you stand passively by the wayside to receive the Word of God, it will not penetrate your heart, and the devil will most certainly come to catch it away before it takes root. You must actively pursue a deeper understanding of the Word, feeding on it night and day, in order for the Holy Spirit to effectively change you into the image of Christ. This verse illuminates the work of Satan: he is urgently desperate to catch away (harpazo) the Word, for he knows its mighty transforming power once it takes hold in the heart of man.

John 10:12

But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Jesus warned here of the hireling, who leads the sheep into danger because he does not care for them, and then runs away when the wolf appears to catch them (harpazo) and scatter them. This is the rapture of the antichrist, who lulls lukewarm believers to sleep as he slips the snare around their souls. Be sober, be vigilant: your enemy knows how to impersonate light. You have need of keen spiritual discernment, and you should always be trying the spirits.

Acts 8:39

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

When the Holy Spirit moves upon the soul of a man whom God has called to a sovereign purpose, there is a mighty flow of revelatory outpouring. Here we see the Holy Spirit wooing an Ethiopian eunuch with Isaiah 53 while simultaneously positioning Philip for a divine appointment with him. The Ethiopian is so powerfully moved by the Spirit of God that he knows to ask for baptism, boldly proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Afterward Philip is caught away (harpazo) as soon as they come up out of the water, moved on to his next assignment by the Holy Spirit.

The instances of catching away (harpazo) described in these verses illustrate two opposites. First, the evil device used by Satan to catch away the word of God and then believers. Secondly, the instrument God uses to position believers for His purposes. As the rapture approaches, believers need to be firmly rooted and grounded in God's Word, to ensure that their shepherd is following the Good Shepherd, and to make themselves available when God moves to position them supernaturally. And remember, as it is written,

Take heed that no man deceive you.

 

See also Dividing (and Divided By)the Word; Smite the Shepherd; Receiving Our Inheritance

Related Scriptures: Matthew 13:10-23; John 10:1-18; Acts 8:26-40

Take By Force (Harpazo, Part 1 of 5)

The rapture is not a term that is found anywhere in the Bible, it is a concept invented by man to conceive of the Greek word harpazo. This word has five meanings spread across thirteen different Scriptures, so it is my intent here to let the Spirit lead into a deeper understanding of this word, and thereby a greater understanding of the concept of the rapture.

Matthew 11:12

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Those who actively seek the kingdom of heaven and His Christ will lay hands on it with dynamic energy, seizing their blood bought place in the realm of the sky. This taking of the kingdom by force (harpazo) is initiated by repentance, which is the act of turning from the violence against God of this world system and walking vigorously in the opposite direction. When you truly walk with Christ in this present age you will undoubtedly suffer violent persecution in one form or another: physically, emotionally, or spiritually. Harpazo will remove you from the sources of persecution to the safety of the kingdom of heaven.

John 6:15

When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone.

When the people witnessed the miracle of the loaves and fishes, they believed that Jesus was the prophet that was to come into the world. Knowing their thoughts, and that they would try to take Him by force (harpazo) before the time of His appointed Kingdom, He removed Himself from the situation. Jesus Christ was endued with the full authority of God by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and was able at all times to deliver Himself from any situation that was not a part of God’s plan and purpose.

Act 23:10

And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

When conflict arose between Paul and the council of the high priest regarding the resurrection, tempers flared and the Roman captain ordered his soldiers to take Paul by force (harpazo) from the midst of the assembly. God had already arranged for his deliverance so Paul could continue on with his witness of the Gospel.

In each of these examples, we see a violent disturbance surrounding believers and the kingdom, and their removal from the midst by use of force. Harpazo will be a forceful removal of believers from the midst of the outright rebellion against God that is sweeping the earth even as we speak. It will be the ultimate military extraction of the body of Christ, taken by force in a split second from the midst of this crooked and perverse generation. Afterward, violent turmoil will envelop the world as it plunges headlong into seven years of the deepest darkness ever imaginable, when the Antichrist and his tyrannical world system rises to encompass the earth during Daniel’s seventieth week. Examine every doctrine in the light of God's word, and be ready for harpazo. As it is written,

Take heed that no man deceive you.

See also The Realm of the Sky; From the Four Winds; Watch Ye Therefore

Related Scriptures: Matthew 11:7-15; John 6:1-15; Acts 23:1-11; 1Thessalonians 4:1-18

Did Not Our Heart Burn?

Luke 24:32

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?

The disciples on the way to Emmaus did not recognize the risen Saviour as He taught of Himself from Moses through the prophets. First they communed together and reasoned, and then He communed with them and revealed. First He opened the Scriptures, and then He opened their eyes as He broke bread. Jesus Himself drew near.

When a teacher is anointed by Christ, Jesus Himself draws near, and the hearts of believers are filled with a hunger and thirst for more. When the flames of knowledge are kindled in the heart, only the Holy Spirit waters of wisdom and understanding can satisfy the soul. The Scriptures are opened and rivers of living water begin pouring out of the belly of an obedient disciple of God. Immerse yourself in the Word daily to receive the baptism of a burning heart for the Lord Jesus Christ, and may the Holy Spirit minister to you and through you, from Deep Himself to the depth of your spirit. As it is written,

John 7:38

He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

See also Deep Calls Unto Deep; Living Stones; Run With the Vision

Related Scriptures: Luke 24:13-53; Isaiah 58:5-14; John 7:37-53

Warn Every One

Act 20:29-31

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

The most powerful and deadly assault against the Church during these end times is deception.  Christ warned of this throughout the Olivet discourse, with direct or indirect references to guard against deceit seven times.  An eighth reference describes the same condition in the world as in the days of Noah, when the people refused to heed the warnings Noah spoke by the Holy Spirit and continued in their unrepentant state.  God, in His covenant keeping faithfulness which endures forever, has sworn never to destroy the earth by flood again.  Indeed, it is the very perversity of fallen mankind’s own wickedness that is sweeping the earth like a tsunami now, threatening to eliminate even those in the church who fail to listen to the Holy Spirit in these perilous times.  The writing is on the wall to heed the wake-up call!

Jesus says it this way:

“Behold, I have told you before.”

See also To Build and To Plant; The Promise of His Coming; Prayer for Israel: Time of Trouble

Related Scriptures: Matthew 24:1-51; Hebrews 11:6-7; 2Peter 2:1-22

Watch Ye Therefore

Luke 21:35-36

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

Prophetic events are unfolding at a heightened pace, signaling that the end of the age is close.  The Lord cautioned us to be vigilant, so as not to be caught unawares at the coming of the day of the Lord.  It shall come as a snare to those who are not paying attention: to unbelievers certainly, but also to believers who have fallen asleep or have let themselves be overly burdened by the cares of this present world.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.  Watch the Word that He has given you.  Take authority over the forces of darkness around you and cast them out.  Pray day and night according to His divine direction.  He is risen, and He is coming in power and great glory.  Praise the Lord!

See also The Realm of the Sky; The Word Shall Judge; The Promise of His Coming

Related Scriptures: Luke 10:1-24; Matthew 24:1-51; Matthew 25:1-13; Matthew 28:18-20

Walk in the Day

John 11:9-10

Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

Walk in the light of the revelation He has given you.  Regardless of where He sends you and whatever dangers you may face, be obedient to perform His will.  Prepare your soul for warfare and affliction in these end times, for the battle is raging as the tribulation night approaches.  As dark as the darkness seems now, when the restraint of the Holy Spirit is removed there will be gross, deep darkness over the people as they stumble into eternity.  If any man be in Christ, as a new creation he is not of the night, for He is the Light by which we walk into our ordained destiny.

See also Working in the Day; Out of the Midst of the Fire

Related Scriptures: Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 5:1-21; Philippians 3:1-21; 2Thessalonians 2:1-17

He Commands the Locusts

2 Chronicles 7:13-14

If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people; If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The locusts that currently threaten the crops in the Negev Desert of Israel are an ominous sign of the times. The Lord left no doubt in the Scripture above and others that if He sends drought, or locusts, or pestilence, repentance is the only proper response to receive forgiveness. Just as Solomon had requested in his prayer to dedicate the temple and to rededicate the nation, the LORD promises to hear our prayers when we respond appropriately to Him. The glory of the LORD filled the temple in response to Solomon's prayer, just as it will fall on the nation of Israel and fill their collective heart when they abandon the arm of the flesh, repent from dead works, and turn and seek Him. Another locust swarm will gather against them like a cloud to cover the land: the nations of the earth rising up against the Lord and His chosen people, as prophesied by the LORD in Ezekiel chapter 38. Yet, when they finally embrace the Son of Man as Messiah, He has promised to heal them and their land forever. As it is written,

Jeremiah 32:41 KJV

Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with My whole heart and with My whole soul.

See also Pray for the Peace; The Spirit of Slumber; The Testimony of Jesus

Related Scriptures: Jeremiah 17:1-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-68; Isaiah 33:2-6; Isaiah 40:21-31; 2 Chronicles 6:1-42; 2 Chronicles 7:1-18; Ezekiel 38:1-23

The Appointed Weeks of the Harvest

Jeremiah 5:24

Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in His season: He reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

According to the response to Daniel’s prayer, the LORD God has determined seventy weeks upon His people: to put an end to disobedience, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for evil, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. These are six very specific purposes that will be accomplished through the tribulation, and the remnant of Israel will be snatched from the fire and delivered into the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. As the church is engrafted into Israel in the spirit, it is essential that every believer receive these six purposes accomplished in their hearts, in order to avoid the tribulation and be raptured by the Lord prior to His second coming. Here is what He strongly warned about these perilous times, “Take heed that no man deceive you.”

See also Prophesy the Breath of Life; The Promise of His Coming

Related Scriptures: Daniel 9:1-27; Zephaniah 3:1-20; Romans 9:15-33; Matthew 24:1-51

Depart From Evil

Proverbs 16:6 KJV

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

When the Lord manifests Himself, His starting point is a combination of mercy and truth. He exercises His mercy, which is the root of His chesed love, because of His covenant keeping faithfulness. His merciful nature reaches out, temporarily overlooking the required judgment for sin, to present you with the truth about yourself. The fear of the Lord is the only right response: this rewards His mercy with repentance. Take a long look at the hard truth He reveals in the mirror of His Spirit, and totally depart from evil. This is the highway straight to His heart, as it is written:

Proverbs 16:17 KJV

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

See also Deep Calls Unto Deep; The True Tabernacle

Related Scriptures: Job 28:26-28; Psalm 34:1-22; Proverbs 3:1-35

Finger of God

Luke 11:20 KJV

But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

The works of the hands of man are barriers between the souls of men and the miracles of God. Pharoah witnessed many mighty works of God, but the Almighty knew that Pharoah's soul was wrapped up in his own vain works; therefore his heart was hardened. Even Pharoah's own magicians testified to him that he witnessed the finger of God, but still his heart was hardened.

When Moses received the law, written in stone tablets by the finger of God; impatience had already led the children of Israel astray, to go after false gods. When the Pharisees witnessed the works of Jesus in casting out devils, their souls were blinded too, as they were wrapped up in their own interpretations of the law (Torah).

Here we can trace the roots of blasphemy, for we can see that spiritual darkness cries out against the Spirit of God moving upon the face of the waters of broken humanity. Those whose hearts are soft and pliable to God receive the miraculous results of one brief touch of the finger of God. May the results be multiplied a hundredfold in hearts of flesh, in Jesus' name.

See also Revealed Unto Children; Through the Midst

Related Scriptures: Exodus 8:16-19; Deuteronomy 9:1-21; Matthew 12:22-37

The Coming of the Lord Draws Near

James 5:7-8

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Jesus Christ sowed His life on earth as a seed, that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. When a farmer plants his crops he knows that, with the right conditions of soil and water, patience will bring him the harvest according to the seed sown. God Almighty knows that He will reap many sons from the redemptive sacrifice that his Son made on the cross. He also is looking to us, the children that He has drawn to Him, to patiently cultivate and establish our hearts in the knowledge of His coming. Now more than ever before, we should be looking to that blessed hope moment by moment, and maturing into our position in the body of Christ. The glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ draws near.

See also Fallen Corn of Wheat; Firstborn From the Dead

Related Scriptures: John 12:23-36; Romans 8:28-39; Colossians 2:6-15; 2Thessalonians 2:13-17; Titus 2:1-15

Grace Unto the Humble

James 4:6

But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Friendship with the things of the world leads away from the things of God; ultimately it leads to self reliance, pride, and outward rebellion. The Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of creation, and His example for mankind is humble submission to the Father. The mysteries of God are written into the world by the Holy Spirit, and humility is the path to His heart and the unraveling of these mysteries in the spirit. Pride turns the mind inward on itself; humility turns it outward toward God.

See also Christ: The Architect of Souls

Related Scriptures: 2Peter 1:1-11; 1John 2:15-25; Matthew 18:1-11; Mark 4:11-34