wake up! don't miss the grande finale!
“Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now, is our salvation nearer than when we first believed.” (Rom 13:11)
“When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28)
Dr C. M. Ward tells of flying in a plane with a 7ft 4in basketball star. Ward asked him “When you’re told to block a player, what do you look at? His eyes, to see which way he is looking? His feet, to give you an indication as to which way he might run? The young man replied, “No, Reverend, I look at his belly button - until that moves, he ain’t goin’ nowhere!”
Jerusalem is the political and spiritual navel of the world, and until things begin to move there, we ain’t goin nowhere! My wife and I just arrived back from Israel and believe me, things are moving fast! Everywhere we looked, we could see the stage is being set religiously, militarily, economically, spiritually, and relationally [Ezekiel 38 lists Israel’s future allies and enemies] for end time events to be fulfilled. Many people we spoke to seemed to understand that the end is near, and that Israel will be centre stage. It seemed to us that the blindfold over the Jews, spoken about in Romans 11, is being lifted and there is a spirit of expectation for the return of Christ.
“Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24)
The last days really began in May 1948 when the Jews miraculously came home from the four corners of the world to establish Jerusalem as the capital of their new nation. In spite of death camps and assimilation into the nations of the world, God preserved their identity and fulfilled His Word. Why? To prove to a skeptical and doubting world that His Word is true and that “The Most High rules in the affairs of men.” (Dan 4:17) Now if God kept that promise (Amos 9:14-15), He’ll keep this one too: “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:27)
(1 Thes 5:4,9,16-23) “But you brethren are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as a thief.” “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Seven exhortations that will help us to stay awake and on fire in these dark times:
1. Vs 16 Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice
2. Vs 17 Pray without ceasing
3. Vs 18 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
4. Vs 19 Do not quench the Spirit
5. Vs 20 Do not despise prophecies
6. Vs 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good
7. Vs 22 Abstain from every form of evil
(1 Thess 5:23) “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Yours for His Glory
See you here, there, or in the air!
Dr. George Hill,
President and Founder, Victory Churches International