Watchman what of the night?

 

Watching the news from the Bible.

It has happened before and it is happening again.

Bible reading: - Luke 21 from the lips of the Lord Jesus.

“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you know that the time of it’s destruction has arrived. Then those in Judea must flee to the hills…………… until the age of the Gentiles comes to an end.”

And so it happened a the Lord said – AD  70, Jerusalem was destroyed including the temple. Then, for about 2000 years the land has been overrun by Gentiles. Now listen to the next prophecy of the Lord:

“And there will be strange events in the sky – signs in the sun, moon and stars. And down here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. The courage of many will falter because of the fearful fate they see coming upon the earth. The stability of the very heavens will be broken up.

Then everyone will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds with power and great glory.

When you see these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up for your salvation is near.”   (Luke 21 NLT)

 

And so it did happen, just as the Lord prophesied.

    And so it is beginning to happen, just as the Lord prophesied.

-        ‘Be alert-

-        “Pray that if possible, you may escape these horrors and stand before the Son of Man”

When studying prophecy, I suggest you start with the teaching of the Lord Jesus, then connect the Old Testament , then the teachings of Paul and the other Apostles and lastly Revelation. The ‘Believers Bible Commentary’ is very useful to know which prophecies have been fulfilled and which are yet future.

JRM

Hope in God the LORD

I found this chapter so brilliant as an expression of God at work, I felt the need to quote it all. It's first interpretation is for the chosen nation, but the truth of it includes all who trust in  the Living God.

Isaiah 26 New Living Translation (NLT)

 In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song:
Our city is strong!
    We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation.
2 Open the gates to all who are righteous;
    allow the faithful to enter.
3 You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in you,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
4 Trust in the LORD always,
    for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.
5 He humbles the proud
    and brings down the arrogant city.
    He brings it down to the dust.
6 The poor and oppressed trample it underfoot,
    and the needy walk all over it.
7 But for those who are righteous,
    the way is not steep and rough.
You are a God who does what is right,
    and you smooth out the path ahead of them.
8 LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws;
    our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.
9 In the night I search for you;
    in the morning[a] I earnestly seek you.
For only when you come to judge the earth
    will people learn what is right.
10 Your kindness to the wicked
    does not make them do good.
Although others do right, the wicked keep doing wrong
    and take no notice of the LORD’s majesty.
11 O LORD, they pay no attention to your upraised fist.
    Show them your eagerness to defend your people.
Then they will be ashamed.
    Let your fire consume your enemies.
12 LORD, you will grant us peace;
    all we have accomplished is really from you.
13 O LORD our God, others have ruled us,
    but you alone are the one we worship.
14 Those we served before are dead and gone.
    Their departed spirits will never return!
You attacked them and destroyed them,
    and they are long forgotten.
15 O LORD, you have made our nation great;
    yes, you have made us great.
You have extended our borders,
    and we give you the glory!
16 LORD, in distress we searched for you.
    We prayed beneath the burden of your discipline.
17 Just as a pregnant woman
    writhes and cries out in pain as she gives birth,
    so were we in your presence, LORD.
18 We, too, writhe in agony,
    but nothing comes of our suffering.
We have not given salvation to the earth,
    nor brought life into the world.
19 But those who die in the LORD will live;
    their bodies will rise again!
Those who sleep in the earth
    will rise up and sing for joy!
For your life-giving light will fall like dew
    on your people in the place of the dead!
20 Go home, my people,
    and lock your doors!
Hide yourselves for a little while
    until the LORD’s anger has passed.
21 Look! The LORD is coming from heaven
    to punish the people of the earth for their sins.
The earth will no longer hide those who have been killed.
    They will be brought out for all to see.

The key to the future

Who holds the key?

It is an unfortunate development of the 20^th century, that people consider themselves masters of their own destiny – in so many ways eg. Political, medical, scientific, environmental and religious. A prominent scientist said we might survive 100 years. Politicians  promise the answers to the world problems. Medical inventers endeavour to extend our lives forever.

Who holds the key?

The Lord Jesus in heaven said to John the apostle  “I am the first and the last, the living one. I died and behold I am alive forever more and I have the keys of death and hell” (Revelation 1)

HE holds the keys!   - the keys to everything, but in particular, the future destiny of all humans.

I quote Him again concerning heaven, the Father’s house.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.”  (John 14)

He is like a door opened into heaven, and all are welcome to come in through Him.

Again I quote:

“All judgement is committed unto the Son”  ( John 5)

He will have the final say!

For the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, after death is ‘to be with Christ which is far better’

For the unbeliever, death is the doorway to eternal darkness and after the judgement of the great white throne, the lake of fire forever.

How important then, that we have a true and real relationship with HIM who holds the key.

John McKee

Where to from here

As it was in the days of Noah..........

In these days of uncertainty, rumours of wars, the people are going about eating and drinking, lusting and living licentiously as if all was well. In reality the world is on the edge of moral, social, economic and international calamity.  This is just as the Lord said would happen just before the days of ‘great tribulation’. I am not into prophetic scaremongering, but it is very obvious to those with open eyes, that the world is in great turmoil very much as the Lord Jesus Christ foretold.

The other sign of the age is what Peter identified  - the people will say “Where is the promise of His coming?”   How few obey the command of the Lord Jesus - “be watchful, for you know not the day nor the hour of His coming”

For the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, the present world happenings direct us to obey the last two verses of Hebrews 12

“Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.”

May I encourage all, to refocus life in  God, giving Him the best of our time, the attention of our mind, the praise of our lips, the adoration of our hearts, the trust of faith and our best love, begotten of the Holy Spirit.

JRM

God has something better

"God provided something better for us,  that apart from us they should not be made perfect"   Hebrews 11:39

This verse seems to say -  our individual lives do matter, but the overall, long term plan of God is more significant .  God does respond to individual faith and sets the reward of faith into the jigsaw of an eternal, complete picture. God has something better than the present order. He is building a city in a better country where there will be complete fulfilment and true honour to His glorious name. 

In Hebrews chapter 11 , each person in history, and each person now has a part in His great plan.  He is the divine architect and to Him be the praise and the glory forever and ever.

Faith is just believing

what God says He will do

He will never fail us

His promises are true

If we just receive Him

His children we become

Faith is just believing

God's mighty plan gets done

Bible Prophecy

Prophetic Doctrine

I have just finished my meditations through the book of Revelation. It can be confusing, mainly because us westerners don’t use or understand the literature form. It is so important to see it as connected to the Old Testament. Because of our limitations, it is subject to misinterpretation; however it is indeed the word of God, with much blessing for all who read it.

In the search for prophetic doctrine I suggest the following :

Read the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. He taught much about the future, especially in seed form. He knew about the great tomorrow better than anyone else.

Connect the teachings of the Lord with the Old Testament. He quoted it often and made clear its authority as given by God. Care must be taken in the study of the Old Testament as to time period, context, already fulfilled, yet to be fulfilled, and the peoples/ persons involved.

The teachings of the Apostles, who were sent and commissioned by the Lord , are vital to understanding of prophecy. By the Holy Spirit they were able to expound the Lord’s teachings, and give much help on the Old Testament prophecies. As the Lord Jesus promised, the apostles would lay the foundation for ‘Christian faith’.

In  many cases the prophet did not understand all that was being spoken (or written). Such are the communications of the all knowing God. Many people interpret prophecy within the framework of their doctrinal / denominational bias. This is somewhat unavoidable; however we should seek clarity by letting the scripture interpret scripture. It is important to have some understanding of history to know what has already been fulfilled.

All prophecy connects with the Lord Jesus Christ, and His glory is the ultimate purpose.

Much speculation over the years has done much damage. Let us major on God’s majors, leaving the detail for God to work out.

The Lord Jesus has said – “I will come again”

We can truely respond – “Even so come Lord Jesus”

I would be delighted to write more on the major points of prophecy if anyone would like more. Send me an email to set me going.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

What does the future hold?

Revelation

My present meditations on the book of Revelation are focused on the principles involved.

The book is primarily about Jesus Christ

The judgements on earth are executed by Him

The end result is sure

The destination is the glory of God and the Lamb

This so relevant for us today to see the working of God in the world and prophecy as to the future.

Scientists forecast happenings for the next 50-100 years.

Politicians rise promising great things and then they are gone.

Medical care is wonderful for those who can afford it.

Weather patterns are changing with significant effects.

Alliances between countries are changing.

War machines are becoming more destructive.

2017 is a year of great uncertainty!

Is there hope for the future??

Let us ponder a book that has endured the ages:

So much of Revelation is actually a reflection of the Old Testament. (Not so much saying something new, as restating what God revealed centuries before )

Chapter 1   God describes Himself as “I am.....” This is the assurance that the God who revealed Himself to Moses is alive and well, and ready to execute the judgements of His holiness as He did in Egypt.

Chapter 4  -  “You created all things”  This is a restatement Genesis 1 where God spoke and all things came into being, and He alone has authority over it.

Chapter 5  “Worthy is the Lamb”  This new song is a reflection of Isaiah 52/53  where the one led as a lamb to the slaughter becomes the one high and lifted up. He is the executor of God’s wrath and judgements.

So this book of Revelation insists that the future is in the hand of God and of the Lamb.

Revelation 11:17 puts it so well:

“We give thanks to you, Lord God almighty

Who is, and who was,

For you have taken your great power and begun to reign.”

This answer to the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6) and Psalm 2, gives the future a clearer perspective. The present opportunity for humanity to turn from rebellion and turn to God will end. The righteous judgements against wickedness will be implemented .  God through the Lamb (Jesus Christ), will reinstate justice, righteousness, with true honour to whom it is due.

Today is the day of reconciliation:-

Isaiah 1 “ Come now and let us reason together say the Lord”

Revelation 22 “the Spirit and the bride say ‘come’, and let the one who hears say ‘come’. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take of the water of life without price.”

Psalm 2 “Blessed are all those who put their trust in HIM.”

May you read through the last book of the bible and receive the blessing promised for doing so. A glimpse of HIS glory is worth it all!

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Promises

Jeremiah – his compass in difficult times

Through Jeremiah the prophet, God promised to restore Israel as a nation e.g. Jeremiah 33.26. It was not that they were worthy of restoration, rather it was because of God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David . Ezekiel points out that God’s judgements and restorations are ‘for His own name sake’ Ezekiel 20.44

Jeremiah had an unusual message for the people of Jerusalem – “give in to the king of Babylon”. When the siege of Jerusalem was almost complete, God sent through His prophet a message of hope and restoration. In the long range view, God does not give up.

There were good reasons why Nebuchadnezzar was given the victory – one being the persistence of the Israelites, the Jews to practice idolatry. God had said:

“I must discipline you, I cannot let you go unpunished” Jeremiah 33.11.

The promise of Jehovah to destroy and restore Judah and Jerusalem was fulfilled. The temple was rebuilt along with the walls of the city.

Just as God kept His promises of judgement and His promises of restoration, so today His promises are trustworthy.

About 2000 years ago, Jesus looked at the city of Jerusalem and promised that the city and its temple would be destroyed. And it was destroyed in AD70 by Titus the Roman. The Lord Jesus also at that time made promises of hope. He promised that He would return  in power and great glory. As the former promises have been fulfilled , so will this one.

Many would say ‘Where is the promise of his coming? all things continue....’

This very attitude is an evidence that He is coming soon!

The old chorus put it very well:

‘Who is on the Lord’s side?

I trust that all my readers are ready for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1 has a very searching comment:

“The Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire inflicting vengeance on them that do not know God and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus...........................................

When He comes to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe....”

John McKee

God's wrath

The appearing of God

I suggest the greatest problem of our day is ‘ indifference’ toward God. So many act as if God does not exist. Other slighting say, ‘where is the promise of His coming?’. Most just live for themselves.

God is slow to anger, plentiful in mercy and in the age of grace, His judgements are not executed speedily. For those who read their Bible and watch world events, it would appear that He will arise very soon to execute justice and judgement, to bring in the  ‘wrath of the Lamb’.

In this twenty first century when human progress should have attained peace and prosperity for the whole world, the very opposite is occurring. God will let unbelief go to its destructive end, and then His judgements will appear. How gloomy to make such predictions. Rather how sure is His justice, how trustworthy are the prophecies of the Lord Jesus! [Matthew 24.30]

Then shall appear the Son of Man in His glory. Then God in Christ will be vindicated as the Holy One. Then will be implemented the rule of the ‘Righteous one’ and all rebellion will be crushed.[Jeremiah 23.5,6]

The Lord said ‘watch, be ready’.

John McKee