The Day of the LORD
"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the LORD calls. "For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land."
(Joel 2:28-3:2)Through the Prophet Joel we hear the Lord's condemnation against the enemies of Israel which "divided up My land." You might take notice that God calls it His land. You might also consider what has occurred over the last several years in Israel with land give backs. It was Ehud Barak who campaigned on a united Israel and an undivided Jerusalem: "Israel is united around the united Jerusalem, and no one can divide the nation on this matter, "Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel, period!" Today, Barak is offering Arafat control over the Temple Mount, all of the Old City except the Jewish Quarter, and most of the neighborhoods in East Jerusalem.
However, Barak, whose name means "to kneel", has kneeled to the Palestinians and given God's land to Israel's avowed enemies -- even the city of Jerusalem, which Jesus wept over because they did not recognize the time of their visitation, is up for grabs.
But it is not enough. The Palestinian and Hamas charters still clearly call for the eradication of Israel. This is their goal and they will not rest until they have accomplished it. It is the existence of Israel that is the issue. Israel's enemies are continuing to posture for war. The latest reports from the Middle East indicate that Iraq has now mobilized two divisions along the Syrian border. This indicates the increased cooperation between Syria, Iraq, and Iran and purportedly has not escaped the attention of the new Secretary of Defense Colin Powell. The US military presence has been increased in the area, and the US is very closely monitoring Iraqi movements.
Tom Cooper, staff writer for the Jerusalem Christian Review, indicates that the potential for a conflict is growing every day. He says: "I know I am putting my head out pretty far on the old chopping block, but Clinton is still not out of office, and if a conflict does arise, he will cease the opportunity to suspend the constitution and remain in office in a heartbeat. And war in the Middle East can break out in an hours time."
This is not the time to stop praying for President Elect Bush's installation as President.
Now back to Joel and the events leading up to the Day of the Lord. God tells us through Joel
"that at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations."The captives of Judah and Jerusalem are back in the land. After thousands of years in the diaspera, as discussed in the article "The Fig Tree Blossoms" (
http://prophecyandcurrentevents.com/thglory/invade02.htm), Israel and Jerusalem were "reborn" on the exact dates predicted by the Scriptures. This means, according to Jesus, that the generation that was alive in 1948 will not pass away before Jesus returns to planet earth.Israel was reborn against incredible odds, exactly as the Bible predicted. And today, just as the Bible predicts, the nations of the world are drawing near to touch the apple of God's eye. In fact, the whole world continues to turn against Israel -- just as the Lord declared thousands of years before through the Prophet Zechariah; and that includes the United States. It is my personal belief that it is only America's blessing of Israel (Genesis 12:3) that has caused God's FINAL judgement to be delayed as the blood of 40 million innocents is crying out for vengeance. Once America fully turns against Israel, then the curse of Genesis 12:3 will be pronounced. America is already under God's chastisement and God is continuing to plead with America for repentance with ever-increasing natural disasters upon this land. It may be that un-repentent America's ultimate judgement will be that depicted in the Bible as the judgement of "Mystery Babylon" whose total destruction will come in one hour (See "America under Judgement" -
http://prophecyandcurrentevents.com/thglory/up082500.htm).
Our generation, the generation that has seen the Fig Tree blossom, is also seeing the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy.
"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days."
God tells that His judgement will be "at that time." What time? At the time He regathers the Jews to Israel as we have just discussed, but the Lord further defines "that time" in the preceeding verses of Joel:
We are clearly living in a day when the "prophetic" is being restored to the "church". The Lord has truly poured out His Spirit, a Spirit of Prophecy, as many have been raised up to prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions. The Lord said through Amos that :
"Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
The Lord has promised through Amos that He will do nothing, and nothing, means nothing -- unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. The Lord has revealed much through the logos Word of God -- which in and of itself is more then one third prophetic. But in this day He has also poured out His Spirit on His children to prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions, so we could be prepared for what is coming upon the earth.
In this day, the Lion of the tribe of Judah is indeed roaring and events on the earth are taking place at break neck speed as the world and America races towards its prophetic destiny with the Lord.
"And I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. And he had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. And when he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them." And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets."
(Rev 10:1-7)The Lion of the tribe of Judah has roared, the Seven Thunders are about to utter their voices, and the mystery of God is soon to be finished.
What mystery?
One mystery that shall be revealed is that concerning "The Man of Lawlessness:"
"Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
(2 Thes 2:1-12)We see in this portion of text that "that Day" (what day? - the Day of the Lord) shall not come unless "the falling away" comes first, and the man of sin is revealed -- the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Soon this mystery will be revealed when the "anti-christ" declares himself to be God and demands worship. But before that happens, he will appear on the world scene as the "Man of Peace." He will be embraced by the Jews as their messiah. The jewish expectation of the messiah, today, is no longer based on Biblical qualifications (See "Is Jesus really the Son of God and the Promised Messiah?" -
http://prophecyandcurrentevents.com/thglory/chrismas.htm)."The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
(2 Thes 2:9-12)But before the Day of the Lord, not only will the anti-christ be revealed, but we are told that the "falling away" must also occur. Are we seeing the falling away today? Is the majority of "the church" on fire for Jesus? Or has the church grown luke-warm and even Cold?
"So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth."
(Rev 3:16)It is clear to this author that a clear separation of the wheat and the tares has begun to emerge over the last few years as evil has become more and more vocal, exalting itself against the people of God -- abortion, homosexuality, sexual decadence declaring that good is evil and evil is good:
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man! Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend like dust; because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel."
(Isa 5:20-24)Judgement is coming for God is not mocked and he who sows to the wind shall reap the whirlwind. The Day of the Lord is growing close and it is a Day of destruction.
"Consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as destruction from the Almighty. Is not the food cut off before our eyes, joy and gladness from the house of our God? The seed grain shrivels under the clods, storehouses are in shambles; barns are broken down, for the grain has withered. How the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are restless, because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep suffer your punishment. O LORD, to You I cry out; for fire has devoured the open pastures, and a flame has burned all the trees of the field. The beasts of the field also cry out to You, for the water brooks are dried up, and fire has devoured the open pastures."
(Joel 1:14-20)Is God pleading for repentance?
As of Sep 25,2000, there were 79,751 fires in the United States alone which had burned 6,837,462 acres. It was projected at that time that over 8 million acres will be burned off in 2000 in America alone! Forest fires were raging out of control world-wide.
During the year 2000, major droughts have plagued 18 States. Some water tables have dropped 30 feet: Georgia is in its third straight year of severe drought as is North Carolina. Texas broke drought records since the "dust bowl", huge hail, and now flooding. ‘Swarms of locusts’ are eating up crops and trees. Insects, floods, and drought destroyed millions of acres of crops in Kansas, North Carolina, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, California, Idaho, Montana, Missouri, Florida, and Iowa were being dried up and burned off this year. There have been tree blights, rotting diseases, severe drought, severe cold, and blizzards, massive hail storms, ranging from golf ball to grapefruit in size, devastating insects are taking a massive toll across U.S. The "West Nile Virus" threatened the North East this year. Tornadoes, hurricanes, and violent storms have continued. CNN reported this year that "Fishing stocks everywhere are now suffering and some species are endangered or even extinct. Four years ago a drastic reductions in Cod, Red Snapper, Sea Bass, Herring, Salmon, and Halibut was noted." In addition, billions of fish" have been killed (some by poison) around the world (50 million in Hurricane Andrew). Millions of dead fish are coming up on world’s seashores. The "Black Sea" kill was catastrophic, and scientists are puzzled to what caused it. Several beaches closed for sewage and oil spills (7/2000). Chemicals and toxic poisons have polluted many water supplies. On October 31st it was reported that 6,000 tons of toxic waste was on one freighter that hsank into English Channel. The stage is being set for world-wide famine as predicted in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ -- it will get worse.
If you have been reading this website over the years, it should be clear to you that there has been a marked increase in natural disasters in America (as well as world-wide). Nita Johnson, a prophetess of God, sees them continuing (
http://prophecyandcurrentevents.com/thglory/nita1200.htm)In Expect the Unexpected! - Part 4, we discussed dying Sea life - A Sign of Judgement?
http://prophecyandcurrentevents.com/thglory/up102500.htm.What did Joel see prior to the Day of the Lord? Blood and pillars of smoke!
"And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke."
(Joel 2:30)Dying Sea life, dying cattle, dying people -- Blood! And in the midst fire and pillars of smoke. See
http://prophecyandcurrentevents.com/thglory/amup0816.htm - America is Burning. Also see "Expect the Unexpected! - Part 1." Since this article was drafted, we are continuing to see a marked increase in both earthquakes and volcanic activity world-wide (http://prophecyandcurrentevents.com/thglory/up091400.htm) as Joel's prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes. It is possible that the fact that Joel saw pillars (plural) of smoke that this could indicate simultaneous volconic explosions (perhaps set off or accompanied by massive earthquakes) throughout the World. As it has been reported many times, the "Ring of Fire" has entered an extremely active phase -- and reports of volvanic and seismic activity are accelerating.On Monday, Dec 18, 2000, one of the world's biggest volcanoes, Popocatepetl, Exploded. It was its most powerful eruption in at least 400 years. By Monday night, the volcano appeared to have quieted. But experts said the apparent calm was a more dangerous sign than the rumbling and belching of previous days. The calm before the storm. The building pressure, they said, could result in a dangerous eruption. The volcano "is like a pressure cooker without the hole for the steam," Interior Minister Santiago Creel explained. "It could lead to a situation the likes of which we've never seen." Oscar Navarro, the federal government's director of civil protection, said the size of the lava plug had mushroomed to 490 million cubic feet, all in just 19 hours. By comparison, he said, the last time the volcano had a notable eruption, in 1997, the plug was only 210 million cubic feet and that took over a year's time just to form the 210. Michael Sheridan, an expert on Popocatepetl at the University at Buffalo, said magma is building inside one of the volcano's chambers, creating pressure on the mountain's south side. If the pressure continues to build, it could create cracks in the mountain, allowing lava to seep out, or it could prompt an eruption like ``a champagne bottle that keeps overflowing,'' he said. ``My opinion has been since the beginning that this should be considered the world's most dangerous volcano,'' he said.
Such volcanic explosions, coupled with fire (either forest fires of nuclear -- and nuclear explosons would further destroy the ozone layer as well) would throw up so much smoke that the "the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD," just as Joel foresaw.
There have also been many signs in the heavens over the last few years -- including an unprecedented number of "Blood-red" moons (Is God speaking?), near misses by asteroids, cosmic explosions of unimaginable power, the thinning of the ozone layer, and much more. The audio "Signs in the Heavens" (
http://prophecyandcurrentevents.com/thglory/signheav.htm) highlights some of the many signs in the heavens that are an harbinger of the Day of the Lord. In addition, in "Expect the Unexpected - Part 3 - Ozone - A Sign in the Heavenlies" (http://prophecyandcurrentevents.com/thglory/up092500.htm) the severity of the problem with ozone is discussed. This problem has gotten so bad, that Chileans are getting sunburns in as little as seven minutes. As the ozone layer shrinks, such occurrences will become more frequent in other, more populous areas, damaging local economies, destroying sea life, causing skin cancer, and damaging livestock. Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa will be facing ozone-related problems as the ozone "hole" continues to expand. Eventually, the ozone problem could be a fulfillment of the predictions found in the Book of the Revelation:"The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him."
(Rev 16:8-9)As incredible as it sounds, even in the midst of the "Bowl" judgements depicted in Revelation, still mankind did not repent. It is not God's desire to bring judgement, what God wants is repentance. However, because of rampant sin, God once had to destroy the whole world (save eight) in the Flood of Noah.
And because of unrepented sin and a failure to receive God's free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, men and women, perhaps your friends and neighbors, your relatives and co-workers, will face the same fate as the Devil as they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire:
"And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."
(Revelation 20:15)"And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
(Rev 21:6-8)We are all going to live forever, the only choice we have in the matter is our eternal destination -- in heaven with a loving God who loved you so much that he allowed His only begotten Son (Jesus) to die the most excruciating death invented by man for your sins (See "Crucify Him" -
http://prophecyandcurrentevents.com/thglory/crucify.htm) so you could have that wonderful eternal life with Him, or, in Hell with Satan who only wants to kill, maim, and destroy, FOREVER.The choice is yours. The Day of the Lord is fast approaching. If you refuse God's free gift of salvation, it will be your choice to go to hell, not God's choice as He is not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance and eternal life.
How to Be Saved Through Jesus
Consider these things!
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Cor 6:9-10)
The Return of the Lord grows closer day by day. Choose this day whom you will serve, for no man may serve two masters. You are either hot or cold and if lukewarm, the Lord will spew you out of His mouth. Are you yearning for His return? Are your lamps filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit as a witness to a lost and dying world or will you be left behind only to ultimately be denied access to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb and eternity in heaven.
Your eternal destiny hangs in the balance. Therefore, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without murmuring and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
"Put off everything that easily entangles, forgive that your Father in heaven may forgive you, and love your neighbor as your self. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
(John 13:35)Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Purify yourselves daily by the reading of the Word. Jesus is returning for a Holy and Spotless Church. ``Today is the day of salvation for many who are perishing; their tomorrow shall not see my return in glory to judge the living and the dead. Today is the day of their salvation." Don't delay. Time is short. You have no guarantee that you will even see tomorrow. If you die without receiving Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your eternal destiny is fixed.
``It is now the hour to awake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith.'' (Rom 13:11)
As we see the signs of His return drawing close, what manner of holy life should we be living? Remember that Jesus is returning for a Holy and Spotless Bride. Whether His return is today or 10 years from now is irrelevant since eternity is only a heart beat away for any of us. So choose this day whom you will serve, ask the Holy Spirit to search you to see if there be any iniquity in you, and then call upon Jesus your Deliverer. He is faithful for forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unfaithfulness.
"Watch and pray, therefore, that you would be counted worthy to escape the judgment that is coming upon the earth and be able to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).
Maranatha!
How to Be Saved Through Jesus
11/25/2000 - Middle East Situation Continues to deteriorate - Ezekiel 38 positioning continuing
Ezekiel 38 - Are we getting closer? (11/10/2000)
Ezekiel 38 positioning is continuing (10/10/2000)
Ezekiel 38 - One Step Closer (8/7/2000)
The Invasion of Israel - Part 1
The Invasion of Israel - Part 2
The Invasion of Israel - Part 3
The Invasion of Israel - Part 4
The Invasion of Israel - Part 5
The Invasion of Israel - Part 6
The Invasion of Israel - Part 7
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