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8
Epiphany - Sunday (variable) |
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| Psalm 92; Jeremiah 7:1-7 (8-15) 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 Luke 6:39-49 |
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8
Epiphany - Monday Before Transfiguration |
| To be used after the last
Variable Sunday of Epiphany until Transfiguration |
| Psalm 99:1-5 – The Lord Reigns! “The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned upon the Cherubim; let the earth quake! The Lord is great in Zion (God's people; the Church); he is exalted over all the peoples” (Psalm 99:1-2)! Let everyone praise his great and terrible name, for he is Holy (perfect in goodness and righteousness; worthy of worship). He is the mighty king and lover of justice. He has established equity, justice and righteousness in Jacob (the patriarch whose name God changed to Israel; from whom God's people were named). “Extol the Lord our God; Worship at his footstool! Holy is he” (Psalm 99:5)! Commentary: The Ark of the Covenant was a chest containing the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments on which the Old Covenant of Law was based. The design of the Ark was given to Moses by God (Exodus 25:10-22). The ark itself was considered the footstool of God's throne. On the top of the ark were two Cherubim (winged half human, half animal creatures) facing each other, their wings forming the “mercy seat” upon which God was invisibly enthroned. The ark was kept in the holy-of-holies within the tabernacle (portable temple) and later within Solomon's temple (1 Kings 8:1-9). The holy-of-holies was where the presence of the Lord dwelt. Only the High Priest could enter, only once a year, offering a blood sacrifice for himself and the people (Hebrews 9:1-10). Jesus became the eternal high priest of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:11-28), which he initiated during the celebration of Passover, on the night of his betrayal and arrest (Matthew 26:26-28 RSV note “g”). At the moment of Jesus' death on the cross, the veil of the temple, separating the people from the holy-of-holies, was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), symbolizing that Jesus has opened a new and better way into the presence of God. Jesus' blood sacrifice on the cross cleanses all those who are willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus, so that we can become the temple of the Holy Spirit individually and collectively, by the “baptism” (gift; anointing) of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus baptizes with the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). The baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit is an individually discernible ongoing experience (Acts 19:2). Christians are by definition disciples of Jesus Christ who have been spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is by the indwelling Holy Spirit that we have personal daily fellowship with God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:21, 23). By the indwelling Holy Spirit we personally experience the love and goodness of the Lord. Jesus is Lord whether we accept him as our Lord or not. There is a day coming when everyone who has ever lived will be accountable to him for what we have done in this lifetime (John 5:28-29). In that day everyone will acknowledge him as Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). In that day it will be too late to change our eternal destiny. That day is not far off; it will happen in our lifetime. At the moment of our death, time will cease and we will immediately be at the throne of judgment. Jesus is the righteous judge, and the standard by which we will all be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord, who have trusted and obeyed Jesus, will have been spiritually “born-again” in this lifetime and will enter God's eternal kingdom in heaven. Those who have rejected Jesus, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus, will be condemned to eternal destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? |
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8
Epiphany - Tuesday
Before Transfiguration |
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| Deuteronomy 34:1-12 – Death of Moses; Israel was poised on the plain of Moab opposite Jericho to enter the Promised Land, and Moses went up to the top of Pisgah peak on Mt Nebo, where he could see the the Promised Land north to the area of Dan and Naphtali (the sea of Galilee) Ephraim and Manasseh (central Palestine) Judah to the Mediterranean coast, and south as far as the Negeb (the wilderness south of Judah), and Zoar (the south end of the Dead Sea). The Lord told Moses that this was the land he had promised to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their descendants. The Lord had allowed Moses to see the land, but Moses was not permitted to enter it. Moses died in the land of Moab as the Lord had said, and was buried in the valley in Moab opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old, but he didn't have the infirmities of old age, such as poor vision or physical weakness. For thirty days the people mourned for Moses in the plain of Moab. Moses had laid his hands on Joshua, the son of Nun, and Joshua had been filled with the Spirit of wisdom (the Holy Spirit; Numbers 27:18-23). The people of Israel obeyed Joshua and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. No prophet as great as Moses has arisen in Israel since, considering the face-to-face relationship Moses had with the Lord, and all the great signs and wonders Moses did to Pharaoh in Egypt, and in the wilderness in the sight of all Israel. Commentary: Moses was allowed to see the Promised Land from the mountaintop, but was not allowed to enter it, because Moses had brought forth water from the rock in the wilderness but failed to give the glory to God. Moses had taken credit for it himself (Numbers 20:6-12). Joshua was one of the two scouts who scouted the Promised Land forty years earlier and returned a favorable report, urging Israel to enter and take possession of the Land. The other ten scouts had given unfavorable reports. Because Israel had not obeyed God's command to enter and possess the land, they were forced to wander in the wilderness until every adult who had rebelled died in the wilderness. Moses prefigures the Messiah (Christ; both words mean “anointed” in Hebrew and Greek, respectively). Jesus is the “New Moses,” who leads us out of bondage to sin and evil in the “Egypt” of this present world order, through the wilderness of life and to the Promised Land. Joshua prefigures Christ who leads us through the “river” of physical death (without getting our “feet wet;” without being affected) and gives us possession of the eternal “Promised Land” of God's kingdom in heaven. In Old Testament times, God only had personal relationships with a few individual prophets he raised up. By God's command Moses gave the Spirit of wisdom to Joshua to complete the mission to possess the Promised Land. When Jesus began his physical ministry he was filled with the Holy Spirit at his water baptism by John as a sign that he would “baptize” with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33). Jesus taught by example the mission of the Church, which is to proclaim the Gospel of forgiveness of sin and salvation from eternal condemnation. The Church is to call people to repent and be baptized with water for cleansing in preparation to receive Jesus Christ, by the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus gives the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Jesus demonstrated the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) which he gave to his disciples: to make disciples, teaching them to trust and obey all that Jesus taught. This commission was to be carried out only after they had been “born-again” by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is the prototype and example of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Paul did not know Jesus during Jesus' physical lifetime. He was confronted by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus (Romans 8:9) on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-5). Paul repented and became obedient to Jesus (Acts 9:6-9), was discipled by a “born-again” disciple, Ananias, until Paul was spiritually “reborn” (Acts 9:10-18). Then guided and empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, he began to proclaim the Gospel (Acts 9:20-22). When the Gospel began to spread outside of Judea to Samaria, Peter and John, two of the original Apostles went to Samaria and prayed for them to receive the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit. Then they laid hands on them and the new believers received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17). Notice that “born-again” church leaders were involved in making “born-again” disciples. Otherwise they wouldn't know what the new believers were lacking. Simon (not Peter), a magician had been presenting himself as Great, and having the power of God (Acts 8:9-13). When he saw Peter and John confer the gift of the Holy Spirit upon new believers by laying their hands on them Simon wanted to buy that power for himself (Acts 8:18-19). Too much is made of the laying on of hands. The Holy Spirit is not conferred by some religious ritual. But much of the nominal Church today is like Simon the magician. They are like Moses striking the rock to bring forth water and taking credit for it for themselves. They regard themselves as possessing a religious “franchise.” They choose who to make Apostles, and their version of the Gospel to proclaim. But they have failed to become “born-again” disciples and therefore cannot make “born-again” disciples. By teaching salvation by grace (a free gift, which is true) without the requirement of obedience and discipleship (wrong), and by claiming to make disciples by ritual, they do spiritual damage to their members by discouraging them from seeking spiritual rebirth by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (see False Teachings, “Cheap Grace” and “Spiritual Rebirth,” sidebar, top right). Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? |
| 8 Epiphany - Wednesday Before Transfiguration |
| To be used after the last Variable Sunday of Epiphany until Transfiguration |
| 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 – Unveiled Gospel; “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the likeness of God” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Commentary: Some apparently accused Paul of preaching a message that was “veiled;” not understandable. His message did not seem to make sense to them. Paul replied that in their case Satan had blinded their minds to keep them seeing the truth of the Gospel. The people had asked Moses to be the mediator between God and the people, because the voice of God frightened them. Moses' face glowed supernaturally after he had been in God's presence, which was also frightening to the people. Moses proclaimed God's Word with his face uncovered so that the people would know that he had been in God's presence. Then Moses covered his face with a veil (“vail”), after he had given the people God's Word, until the next time he went into God's presence (Exodus 34:32-35). Paul used the incident of Moses' veil as an analogy for the spiritual condition of Israel: that a veil lays over the minds of unbelievers when the Old Testament scriptures are read, to keep them from seeing the glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Only by faith in Jesus is the veil taken away (2 Corinthians 3:13-16). The risen and ascended Jesus, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, opens the minds of believers to understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45; John 14:26). Jesus taught in parables, stories of common earthly experiences to teach spiritual truth, in order to make it understandable to us (John 3:10-13), but also to allow us to accept or reject his message (Matthew 13:13-15). Jesus' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Genesis 1:3, 9). Jesus also explained his parables to his disciples, but commanded them not to tell the people that he was Christ. Jesus wants each of us to be free to accept or reject him and his message for ourselves, because that is God's will and purpose for this Creation. Jesus could command, and we would have no choice but to obey. There is a day coming, when he returns on the Day of Judgment, when he will command and we will have no choice but to obey. In that day every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth (the dead) and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11). In that day it will be too late to change our eternal destiny. It isn't true that all “good” people go to heaven. Not everyone who calls themselves “Christian,” and calls Jesus “Lord” will go to heaven; only those who have trusted and obeyed God's Word, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:21-27; John 1:1-5, 14). Not everyone who dies is going to a “better place” (John 5:28-29; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). Saving “faith” is not getting whatever you believe, if you believe “hard enough.” Saving faith is trusting and obeying Jesus. It is not true that one cannot know for sure whether there is existence after death. The only people who don't know where they will spend eternity are those who are spiritually “lost” (unborn), and perishing eternally. Those who accept Jesus as Lord, who willingly choose to trust and obey Jesus, will be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), in this lifetime, by the “baptism” (“gift;” 'anointing”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The “baptism” of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible ongoing daily event; anyone who isn't certain, hasn't received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2). By the indwelling Holy Spirit “born-again” disciples have personal daily fellowship with the risen and ascended Jesus. We testify that Jesus is eternally alive. We know that because he is eternally alive we will live eternally with him (Romans 8:11). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Jesus' miracles of resurrection and his own resurrection demonstrate that there is life after physical death. Jesus raised the dead, like Lazarus, the son of the widow of Nain, and Jairus' daughter. Those miracles were intended to show that Jesus is the Lord of life (John 11:25-26), who can give life to the dead in both the physical and spiritual senses (1 Peter 4:5). Jesus promised to return to judge the living and the dead (John 5:28-29). Lazarus' resurrection is a preview of the Day of Judgment, when Jesus will summon the dead from the grave (John 5:28-29). Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? |
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8
Epiphany - Thursday Before Transfiguration |
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| Luke 9:28-36 – Transfiguration; Background: Jesus had asked his disciples who they would say that Jesus was, and Peter had replied that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah; both mean “anointed,” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively) of God. Then Jesus told them that he would suffer and be rejected by the Jewish leaders and be killed, and raised again on the third day (Luke 9:18-22). Luke: About a week later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to a mountaintop to pray. Jesus' appearance was altered as he prayed and his face was altered and his clothing became radiantly white. His disciples saw two men, Moses and Elijah, “who appeared in glory” (here meaning “brightness”) talking with Jesus, discussing Jesus' departure (physical death) from Jerusalem. Peter and the two other disciples were sleepy, but they didn't just dream this; they were awake to see Jesus' glory and Moses and Elijah with him. As the two prophets were leaving, Peter told Jesus that he was glad they had been there (to witness this event) and suggested that the disciples should build tabernacles for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah (to memorialize the experience), not really understanding what he was saying. As Peter said this a cloud overshadowed and enfolded them, causing them fear. They heard a voice from the cloud saying that Jesus was the Son and Chosen (Beloved) of the Lord (whose voice they were hearing). The voice told them to listen to Jesus. When the voice finished, they saw Jesus alone. The three disciples kept silent and told no one what they had witnessed until later (after Jesus' resurrection). Commentary: Once Jesus determined that his disciples understood who he was, he began to reveal to them his coming crucifixion and resurrection. Peter, James and John, the three disciples of Jesus' inner circle, were chosen to witness the glory of Jesus, which Jesus had before his incarnation (physical coming) and would have after his resurrection. Intense brilliance is associated with spiritual experiences. Moses' face glowed supernaturally after he had been in God's presence (Exodus 34:29-35), and Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was struck down by the bright light of the risen and ascended Jesus, on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3). Jesus is the light of the world; the light of righteousness (John 1:5; 3:19-21), divine enlightenment (John 1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12). Moses and Elijah were the two greatest prophets of the Old Testament era. Moses was considered the greatest prophet, because of the great signs he performed before Pharaoh to gain the release of the Israelites, and the great signs he performed before the Israelites during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 34:10-12; see entry for 8 Epiphany – Tuesday C). Moses was secretly buried by the Lord (Deuteronomy 34:6*). Elijah was considered the greatest of Old Testament prophets because he was taken into heaven without physically dying (2 Kings 2:1-11). Elijah was expected to return to herald the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). Jesus said that John the Baptizer was the fulfillment of that passage (Matthew 17:12-13). Moses wasn't allowed to enter the earthly Promised Land, but he entered the eternal Promised Land of God's eternal kingdom in heaven, as the testimony of Peter, James, and John on the mountain of transfiguration attests. Moses and Elijah were great prophets of Israel, but Jesus' disciples were told to listen to Jesus. The Old Testament Covenant produced Moses and Elijah, but Jesus is the mediator of the new and better Covenant of Grace through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. The erection of tabernacles was Old Covenant; Obedient trust in Jesus is New Covenant. Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? *Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, 6 n, p. 262, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962 |
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8
Epiphany - Friday Before Transfiguration |
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| Psalm 51:1-12 – Penitential Psalm Background: This psalm is ascribed to David when he had been confronted by Nathan for adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-12:14). Psalm: According to your steadfast love, have mercy upon me O Lord. Blot out my transgressions according to your abundant mercy. Wash me thoroughly and cleanse me of my sin! I acknowledge my sin and am constantly reminded of my transgression. This sin is really against you; I have done what is evil in your sight, so your judgment is justified and beyond reproach. But remember that I was conceived in sin and born in iniquity. You desire truth in our innermost selves, so teach me wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop and wash me, so that I can be whiter than snow. Let joy and gladness fill me; restore to rejoicing the bones which you have broken. “Hide your face from my sin and blot out all my iniquities” (Psalm 51:9). Create a clean heart within me, O Lord, and give me a new and upright spirit. Don't remove me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and uphold me by your willing spirit. Commentary: We must be aware of our sin in order to repent and be forgiven. David was denying his sin to himself, until God sent Nathan to confront him. Nathan was a prophet; David was king. It was risky for Nathan to confront the king and call him a sinner. We are all born in sin, because we all share in the sinful nature of Adam (Romans 5:12, 18). Sin is defined as disobedience of God's Word. God designed this creation to allow the possibility for sin, so that we would be free to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word or not. God knew that given freedom to choose, we would do our own will, rather than God's will. God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his heavenly kingdom, so he has limited this creation and we ourselves by time. God has always intended to create an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God's Word. This lifetime is our opportunity to learn to know, trust and obey God's Word, in the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word lived in human flesh in this world. We are all born into this world in sin (John 3:3, 5-8; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God's only provision for forgiveness of sin, and salvation from eternal destruction (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus has been designed into creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). We are all born physically into this world, but we are spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. Spiritual “rebirth” is by the “baptism” (gift; anointing) of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Jesus is the only way to have fellowship with God (which was broken by sin), to know divine, eternal truth (compare 1 Corinthians 1:17-25); the only way to true, eternal life (John 14:6). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? |
| 8 Epiphany - Saturday Before Transfiguration |
| To be used after the last Variable Sunday of Epiphany until Transfiguration |
| Joel 2:12-19 – Call to Repentance; Now, while there is still time, let us return to the Lord with all our hearts, with fasting, tears and sorrow. Let us truly mourn in our hearts; not just in outward appearance. The Lord our God is gracious and merciful; he is not easily angered, and his love is steadfast and abundant. He does not enjoy punishing us (John 3:17). Perhaps he will accept our offerings, and turn from his anger, giving us a blessing instead of punishing us. Sound the trumpet in Zion (Jerusalem; God's People; the Church). Prepare a holy fast unto the Lord; call God's people to a solemn assembly. Purify and gather the congregation; not only the elders, but even newlyweds and children, including nursing infants. In the inner court of the priests in the temple, may the priests intercede for the people. Let God's people be spared; let them not become a reproach, a byword among the Gentiles. Why should the nations of earth doubt that the Lord is with his people ? (When the people of God repented), the Lord became zealous for his land and had mercy on his people. The Lord promised to satisfy them with the finest grain, wine, and oil, and to remove from them their reproach among the nations. Commentary: The Bible is the historical record of God's dealing with his people, which has been written so that we can learn from their mistakes and avoid the consequences those mistakes produce (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11). Over and over, Israel went through a cycle of prosperity, then falling away from obedient trust in the Lord when times were good. So the Lord would withhold his blessings and Israel would experience troubles. Then Israel would repent and would be restored again to the fellowship and blessings of the Lord. The Northern Kingdom of the divided monarchy fell away from obedience to the Lord and into idolatry. They refused to hear the call of the prophets to return to obedient trust in the Lord until it was too late. The consequence was that the Northern Kingdom was conquered by the Assyrians in 721 B.C.. The northern ten tribes ceased to exist because of the Assyrians' policy of transfering conquered people to other conquered lands as a policy of subduing them. The Southern Kingdom witnessed the fall of the Northern Kingdom, but ignored the call of the prophets to repentance until it was too late again. Thus the Southern Kingdom was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 B.C., and the people were exiled to Babylon for seventy years, as prophesied in God's Word (Jeremiah 25:11-12). Seventy years was a virtual life sentence for adults at the time of the exile. The people who returned from exile were a renewed people, but they forgot the lessons learned in the exile and were unprepared for the coming of Messiah, Jesus Christ. God's Word is eternal and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. The Church is the new “Israel,” the new “people of God,” the new “Jerusalem” on earth. The nominal Church today, particularly in America, is in the same situation as Israel at the time of Jesus' first coming. We have the Word of God in the Bible and in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14), but we haven't remembered the lessons the history of Israel teaches. We haven't learned to heed the warnings of the prophets. The first colonists to America recognized their vulernability and need for the Lord's help. Once settled and prosperous, we fell away from dependence upon the Lord and began to follow our own will and turn to other “gods.” When this nation began to expand to the west, the pioneers again recognized their vulnerability and need for divine providence, but when they were established they again fell away and ignored the call of the prophets to repentence. America and the nominal Church have never been more in need of repentance and revival than now. The return of Jesus Christ and the Day of Judgment is imminent. Will we continue to ignore Biblical prophecy until it is too late? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)? |