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It's been two weeks since we had a prophecy update, and during that time there were a
number of things that happened in spite of me calling all of the world leaders,
telling them to hold off for a couple of weeks, and they don't listen. Oh, well. But
from the Islamic State terrorist attack in Belgium, to the nuclear summit, and
everything in between
I suppose you could say that once again it's been a busy couple of weeks on the
calendar of Bible prophecy. However, prophetic events were once again sadly
eclipsed in this on two fronts. The first of which was of course the presidential
election, and the second which was the political correctness which is seemingly
waxing worse by the day. Here's an example of that:
The New York Post yesterday published an article in which they reported that the
white house had censored the French President for saying quote Islamist
terrorism Let me quote from the article: President Obama is so paranoid about
linking terrorists to the Muslim faith that when French president Francois
Hollande used the phrase "Islamist terrorism" at a meeting in Washington,
White House officials posted their official press video with the audio of
the words cut out completely. The eight minute clip was posted on the White
House website and showed Hollande discussing the global terror threat at a
nuclear security summit meeting with Obama and advisers Thursday. The White
House's transcript of the event
shows the French leader declaring at the 4:49 minute mark that the roots of
terrorism, Islamist terrorism is in Syria and Iraq; but rather than include
Hollande's remarks in its entirety, the Obama administration posted footage in
which his interpreters English translation of the words Islamist
terrorism was missing. They later denied that it was deliberate, citing a glitch,
technologically in the audio. Really? Really? Be that as it may, it was the
recent report that a replica of the temple of Baal will be built in New York,
as well as London on April 19th, that captured the attention of a number of
people this last week. I was just inundated with emails and comments and
posts requesting comments on this, and that's what I'm going to do for the
remainder of our time together today. Actually was after an interview with Jim
Markell for an upcoming radio broadcast that I decided to take the time to vet
some of the articles about this stunning news of this temple of Baal. As I've
mentioned prior, I'm a huge fan of Jan Markell; and I was really honored to be on
her program, which I believe God is really using in a mighty way. And while
I'm at it I wanted to share some really exciting news: this last week I was able
to book Amir Tsarfati. He's going to be here August fourth, which is our Thursday
night midweek, and August 7th which is
Sunday morning for both services. I asked him to commit to you know having
him here, and so he's going to be here and he's going to give me more time than
anybody else while he's here. So this is my Jewish brother in Christ from Israel as
I've mentioned before. He's a Bible prophecy teacher, and you can actually
download his "Behold Israel" app, mobile app. And I encourage, if you're not
following Jan Markell or Amir, you can do so on Twitter. They're also on Facebook as
well.
Well, that said I need to address what I believe will have serious ramifications
for this nation. On Friday, Charisma News published an article titled "Temple of
Baal in New York is Going Up Just Before Baal's Biggest Day Of The Year". In it they
asked, and this is a rhetorical question: "Is it just a coincidence that
reproductions of the forty eight-foot tall arched that stood in front of the
temple of Baal in Palmyra Syria are going to be put up in Times Square in
New York City, and in Trafalgar Square in London exactly 13 days before Baal's
biggest day of the year. In the occult world 13 is the number of rebellion, and
these arches are going to be put on display
precisely 13 days prior to the major occult holiday of Beltane which is on May
first?" They go on to quote a book from 1995 entitled “Circle of Intrigue,
concerning the significance of these
date to Satanists. "According to the Satanic Calendar of High Holy Days, April
19 inaugurates a period of blood sacrifice to the Beast, culminating in
he Grand Climax on May 1st each year. May 1st (May Day), of course, is celebrated
in Red Square in Moscow each year by a huge parade and spectacle. It was also
on May 1, 1776 in Bavaria that Adam Weishaupt founded the Order of the Illuminati,
and it was May 1st when the ancient Druids honored their great Sun God and
Goddess with an uninhibited festival complete with initiations, sex ***,
drunken revelry, and human sacrifice." By the way, this article as well as others
that I had time to vet, thoroughly document events that took place on April
19 throughout history, and subsequently on may first 13 days late. For those of
you who are with us for our Thursday night Bible study in the Old Testament,
you're keenly aware of who Baal is. On Thursday nights we go through the Bible
book by book and chapter by chapter verse by verse, and we started in Genesis,
we're now in Second Kings. And this after completing first kings, where we learned
about the prophet Elijah's contest with the profits of Baal. We have the
account of what happened in First Kings 18, which I would argue is of profound
prophetic significance for us today, and I'm hoping you'll bear with me as I
explain how that is, and why that is.
Kindly allow me to give you first the back story, so as to better explain why
it is that I believe this to be a word fitly spoken for us in the United States
of America today. During the evil reign of Ahab and his infamous wife Jezebel,
a wicked, wicked woman. Israel hade been fully given over to the satanic worship
of Baal. And that's where the prophet Elijah comes on the stage, and God calls
him to confront Ahab concerning he and Jezebel leading Israel away from
God, and into the worship of Baal.
We pick it up in verse 17 of First Kings 18. It says, 'Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah,
that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” ' Isn't just
like how it is for us today. The Christians are the ones that are the
problem.
We're the ones that caused the trouble. 'And he answered, “I have not troubled
Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken
the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals. Now therefore, send
and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty
prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” So Ahab
sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount
Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between
two opinions? ' I want you to hang on to that question, we're going to come back to that. 'If
the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”
But the people answered him not a word. I suppose at this point you could say: game
on, as it were.
Because what follows is the famous contest between God and Baal. Actually
it gets somewhat humorous when the prophets of Baal, who go first recieve no answer from Baal,
who they prayed to to call fire down to consume the sacrifice there on the altar.
And this when Baal was known to be the God of lightning and thunder. So
surely if he's the God of lightning, he can bring fire down. And he was also the
God of rain, which oh, by the way there had been a famine in the land. There was no
rain. Well Elijah starts mocking them, saying, listen you guys maybe he's busy; maybe your god is busy.
Maybe he's sleeping. Maybe he's taking a nap. Maybe he's on vacation and he just can't
hear you. He's just gone. He's not there. And this is where...I just a love...you know God's
got a sense of humor. Just look at yourself in the mirror and that'll be a
reminder that God has a sense of humor. Elijah mocks them and says to them maybe
he is relieving himself. That's the New King James' way of saying he's in the
bathroom. Maybe your god is in the bathroom and you can't hear you. Well verse
28, their response to Elijah mocking them is that they cry louder, and get this,
they 'cut themselves as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood
gushed out of
them.' You know today cutting is alive and well, for lack of a better way of saying
it. And this is where it gets it's roots; this is where it comes from. 'And', verse 29
'when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the
evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.'
I'm pretty sure you know what happens next, so suffice it to say Elijah steps
in and immediately calls fire down from heaven. And we're told that the fire of
the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice. And not just a sacrifice, the
wood, the stones, the dust, and we're told that it even licked up the water that
Elijah had them pour on the sacrifice before the fire was called down . In verse
39 of Chapter 18 we're told, 'Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their
faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!” 40 And Elijah said to
them,
“Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them;
and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.' Okay
here's where I'm going with this. Just as Israel had forsaken the commandments of
the Lord and followed Baal. So to is that what's happening today. And
specifically here in the United States of America, which sadly has forsaken the
true and living God and followed the false gods. This morning in our prayer
meeting Donna handed me on a Honolulu
Star Bulletin newspaper article from yesterday
titled; 'Sex and Satan Pop Up in Atheists School Pamphlets". This is in Denver
Colorado. Let me just read a brief excerpt. "It sounds like on an April
Fool's joke but it's not. Atheists provided pamphlets on topics like sex in
the Bible; problems with the ten commandments; and a satanic activity book
to middle and high school students in rural Colorado district on Friday. The
result of a fight between Delta County Schools and critics over whether it
should continue to let everyone from little league
organizers to the Gideons distribute literature in schools. And, I'll just read one
more sentence: the Freedom From Religion Foundation is behind the literature.
Freedom from religion? You mind if I just kinda rewind my sermon back to first
Corinthians; about how it's not God's will that any should perish, but that all
should come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ; that God did not create
hell for man; that God does not send anybody to hell. They send themselves to hell.
God will never force himself on anybody. Freedom from religion? God
doesn't force himself on people who don't want anything to do with him. I
would argue that we need look no further than to the current condition of this
nation to see just how bad it is, and how bad it is fast becoming. I don't know if you've
heard of the statistics, but I was born in the year 1962, don't do the math.
That's why I keep telling you I can't wait for my new body. And that's
just so happened to be the year that they outlawed prayer in public schools.
Did you know that prior to 1962 the United States of America had a national
surplus, instead of a national debt. How's that? Some of you younger people know
nothing of this. But prior to 1962 the United States of America was so
prospered and so blessed that instead of a debt nationally, we had a surplus nationally.
Fast forward to 2016, 53 going on 54 years later, and the reason I know
that is because that's what I'm going to be this year. It's 54 years later and the
United States now is, and this does not include unfunded liabilities, but well
nigh 20 trillion with a T dollars in debt. I made the comment on Jan
Markell's radio broadcast that I believe that we in america today are enjoying the
residual blessing of generations prior who love God and walked with God, for men
and women of God; and also because there was a time in this nation where we
blessed Israel and God in turn blessed us, because we blessed Israel. Not only have
we turned our back on God, we've turned our back on God's people,
Israel. And I believe this is the consequence of it, and were it not for
the Christians, who I believe are staying the hand of God's judgment, this nation
has no idea what would happen. You know, we talked about how Christians are the
problem. You know we're the salt. You know what salt does, right? Salt stings and preserves, and
light blinds ,,especially if it's really dark. We're the salt and the light, and
we sting the unbeliever, in this unbelieving world. And they can't wait to
get rid of us. They can't wait to get rid of us. Well you know they're going to get
what they asked for. And when they do they're gonna realize they're going to
realize that when the restrainer, the Holy Spirit is taken out, and the rapture
of the church takes place; all hell is going to break loose.
Quite frankly, the United States of America has not seen anything yet. America has
not seen anything yet.
Now the question becomes if God judged Israel for following Baal, then wouldn't it
stand to reason that God will judge America too? I suppose the bigger question
is a so much that God will judge America, but when God will judge America. I believe
that the heavy hand of God's judgment is already on this, the once most blessed
and greatest nation on earth. Last week we were in second Kings chapter nine,
where the prophecy concerning Jezebel's judgment was finally meted out. It took
place some fourteen years after the death of Ahab. A lot of us were really looking
forward to it.
Jezebel died Thursday night in Second Kings
chapter nine. A great study. I say that with a sanctified sarcasm. By the way God finally meted out
judgment on this wicked, wicked woman. Now I point this out because Ahab, who was
the wickedest king in the history of Israel. He reigned 22 years prior,
which means that it happened Jezebel collectively ruled for 36 years. We did
the math on Thursday night. That will be nine four-year terms,
thirty-six years, to put it into perspective; where God allowed wickedness
and evil to seemingly prosper unchecked before he brought judgment. but he brought
judgment. Let me say it this way, judgment is coming. It's not a matter of if, it's a
matter of when, and how soon. To me this is a textbook case of, as one said, the
wheels of God's justice turning very slowly, but also grinding exceedingly
fine. In other words, though it may seem that God delays in bringing about
his just judgment, and it is a just judgment, there will come a day when he
does. and I'll take it a step further and contend that that day is sooner than any
of us think. Wow pastor, you're just a fear monger.
Well you know what, my Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom. Maybe that's what is needed.
Maybe there's no fear of God in the eyes of man. The proverbs also say that: to
fear the Lord is to hate evil evil. I've been accused of hating the president
United States. I don't hate the president of the united states. I hate the evil that has come from
the president of the united states. Why? Because I fear God. I fear God. It cannot continue on unchecked.
Perhaps you'll indulge me in closing. I want to read Peter's second epistle, which i
think would be a-pro-pos. He explains why it is that God's delays are not gods
denials. Yes God delays. God seemingly allows evil to prosper. But just because
he delays in judging, does not mean judgment will be denied. Second Peter
tells us why. Verse 3 chapter 3, 'Above all, you must understand that in the last
days
scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.'
Oh my goodness. Does that not describe the United States of America today?
Christians are on the receiving end of scoffing and mocking especially when it
comes to our belief in the soon return of Jesus Christ. We're the laughing stock,
of the country. 'They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our
ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But
they deliberately forget', this is a conscious decision on their part, this is
deliberate, 'they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came
into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.' In other words,
the evolutionists, deliberate, who teach that it was from the goo, to the zoo, to
you. That takes more faith than creation, doesn't it?
My son and I were talking about this year the night. We're going through the
book of Proverbs and I said to him, I said, it takes more faith to believe in
evolution than it takes to believe in creation; to believe that just some
cosmic, you know by some cosmic chance, we came to be. That's faith. That's
faith. 'By these waters', Peter goes on to write, 'also the world of that time was
deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are
reserved for fire, being kept', and here it is, 'for the day of judgment and
destruction of the ungodly. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With
the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The
Lord', and here it, 'is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand
slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but
everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire,
and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you
to be?' He's going to answer it.
'You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God
and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the
heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his
promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where
righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to
this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.'
Are you at peace with Him today? Are you write with Him today. If you're not right
with Him today. You need to get right with Him today, not tomorrow, today.
Let's pray.
Loving Heavenly Father, for anyone who might be in this church today that
doesn't know You, has never called upon you; or for anyone who might be watching
this by some other means that doesn't know You, is not right with You, and not
ready for You; I pray that today would be the day of their salvation. That they
would not delay any longer, but they would choose this day whom they're going to
serve and pass from death unto life, and be born again of the Holy Spirit. Lord
thank You, in Jesus' name. Amen. Why don't you all stand. On the first Sunday of each
month we partake together of the Lord's table. And if you're able to stay we'd
certainly encourage you to do so. If you have to leave, we understand. But we're
going to have you, as the worship team leads us in song, come up and get the
elements. They're packed together, and we have three tables. Two on the side, one here in the
front. And take the elements. Take them back to your seats, and then take your seat, and
then wait so we can partake together. So go ahead and come on up.
In Luke's gospel, the 22nd Chapter, we have the account of what we affectionately called "The Last Supper".
And Luke by the Holy Spirit writes, 'When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles
reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this
Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it
finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and
said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again
of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread,
gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for
you; do this in remembrance of me.” If you'll take the packaging and peel back
the top part you'll find the bread there, and just hold onto it for a moment.
What we hold in our hands is a symbol of the body of Christ that was broken for
us in our stead. The significance of the body of Christ being broken is such that
it is a fulfillment of the Passover prophecy. And by passover prophecy I mean
that in the Exodus, the Israelites were to take a lamb; and they were to
inspect that lamb for four days to make sure that it was without spot, without
blemish. That's the exact amount of time that Jesus was on trial, four days. And then if that
lamb was found to be without spot or without blemish, they would then slay
that lamb; and shed that lamb's blood, break the skin, not the bones, the skin
shedding the blood of that lamb. And they would take that blood and they would put
it on the doorpost of their house, by the way, in the shape of a cross, so that the
angel of death would pass over them. That's the Passover prophecy, and Jesus
is the fulfillment of the Passover prophecy. Paul writing to the Corinthians
says, he is our Passover lamb. He was the only one that could fulfil that prophecy.
And talking about the resurrection we would not be partaking together of this were
it not for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So as we partake, we do so in
remembrance of Him, and what He did for us. In that He died for us, and paid in
full for us for all of our sins. So as we partake we're saying: Lord thank You, I
do this in remembrance of You, for Your body
broken for me. Would you partake with me?
Lord thank You for giving us this to do in remembrance of You. Lord it's so easy for us in this day and age to get
caught up in the busyness of life, the cares in the affairs of this life. And
when we come together to the communion table it re-centers us, and
calibrates us,
and focuses us on You and what You did; and Lord for that we cannot thank You enough, in Jesus's name.
Luke goes on to write, 'In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new
covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.' You can take the rest of the packaging
and peal it back you'll have the cup and again just hold on to it. This is a
symbol of the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed in our stead. The Bible says
that there's no remission of sin, removing of sin, cleansing of sin
without the shedding of blood. Now in the Old Testament they only had their sin
covered, kaphar in the Hebrew. Well because of the new covenant, and the cup of the new
covenant in his blood; it's no longer just covered but removed. And Isaiah says, that
our sins are removed as far as the east is from the west. Not the north from the
south;
that's not that far. You're going to come back around full circle, but east to west...And
he remembers them no more. You know that means, every sin, every sin. Oh, but pastor
you don't know what I did. Listen with all due respect, in love I really don't
want to know, but the Lord knows. And I assure you on the authority of God's
word that it did not catch him off guard or take Him by surprise. Never imagine God
in heaven going (slaps head), I can''t believe he did that.
I told you till I'm blue in the face, how many times. Yeah, but Pastor I keep doing it. Well think about this:
when Peter asked Jesus, so Lord how many times exactly should we forgive our brother who sins against us,
seven. You know, there's got to be a limit. There's got to be that one time when they sin
against me, that's the last time, that's it! Then Jesus said, no seventy times seven. In other words stop
counting. Now if Jesus would say to us: forgive them indefinitely. And as many
times as they sinned against you forgive them; how much more will our Heavenly
Father forgive us. Do not let the enemy build upon that infrastructure of guilt
and condemnation, because Romans 8:1 promises that: there is therefore now no
condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. And this is a remembrance
of that. There is no sin that is beyond the forgiveness of God. There is no sin
that is beyond a cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ. What we're partaking
of together today is a reminder that we are justified. You know what justified means? It's
just if I'd never sinned. How cool is that, just if I'd never sinned. Would you partake with me?
And once you do please stand.
Loving Heavenly Father again we thank You for sending Your only begotten Son
to die for us, pay in full for us; that whosoever would believe in Him would
not perish in hell for all eternity, but have everlasting life with You in heaven.
Lord thank You, in Jesus' name, Amen, and Amen
God bless you have a great Christ centered week. If we don't see on Thursday
we'll see Lord you willing next Sunday.