June 23rd, 2009

In 7 days we will be at ascension day, May 21, 2009.

What is Ascension Day?
Ascension Day marks the last appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection.
Why is it called Ascension Day?
The name 'ascension' comes from the accounts in the Bible in Mark's Gospel and Luke's Gospel that tell of Jesus being taken up into heaven - he ascended.

May 31, 2009 is pentecost

WHAT IS PENTECOST?
Pentecost is the great festival that marks the birth of the Christian church by the power of the Holy Spirit.

WHAT HAPPENED ON PENTECOST?
Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the twelve apostles, Jesus' mother and family, and many other of His disciples gathered together in Jerusalem for the Jewish harvest festival that was celebrated on the fiftieth day of Passover. While they were indoors praying, a sound like that of a rushing wind filled the house and tongues of fire descended and rested over each of their heads. This was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on human flesh promised by God through the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-29). The disciples were suddenly empowered to proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ. They went out into the streets of Jerusalem and began preaching to the crowds gathered for the festival. Not only did the disciples preach with boldness and vigor, but by a miracle of the Holy Spirit they spoke in the native languages of the people present, many who had come from all corners of the Roman Empire. This created a sensation. The apostle Peter seized the moment and addressed the crowd, preaching to them about Jesus' death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. The result was that about three thousand converts were baptized that day. (You can read the Biblical account of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-41).

When we consider what is going to happen at the time of the escape, that we will go through an open door in heaven( rev4:1)..in the air, aeros (luke 17:37)...those in flight to be where the body is (rev 5) occuring as part of the removal of the restrainer 2Thess 2:7 (light restrains darkness.. the church is salt and light)..the days ahead of us take on increased significance.

Does "ascension" parallel being caught up in the air on our way to heaven? Sure it does. Does the day of pentecost when the church was infused bodily by the Holy Spirit have significance when we see a day coming when the removal of the church, the true body will be kind of a reversal of what happened on the day of pentecost, that is, a turning back to the days before pentecost to pick up where the Lord left off with Israel? Read the book of revelation for yourself. The true church was "sealed" with the promised Holy Spirit when he entered into the church bodily: 1 Cor 1: 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. With that said, are you wondering why the Lord "seals" the servants of God AGAIN differently during the time of Jacob's trouble? Revelation 7:3 Saying, ... 'Do not injure the land, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we may seal the servants of our God upon their foreheads.'

Do you see that? The true church is sealed TODAY and yet another "sealing" will take place right after the time of Jacob's trouble begins in Rev 6. Why? Those who were sealed are no longer here, otherwise there would be no need to "seal the servants of our God upon their foreheads."

This "other" sealing of our Lord's servants is another proof that we the true church will have already escaped before the time of Jacob's trouble. We are sealed today. The removal of todays "sealed" servants will require another "sealing" and that is what we see in Rev 7.

So we have "ascension" day combined with pentecost just before June 23, 2009 which is exactly 3.5 years from the Dec 21, 2012 day that everyone expects to really big, really bad day or general period of time.

I have been reading about groups of people expected to be "disappearing" in the near future. I have read comments like this from Gerald Celente of the trends research institute:

"At this time we are not forecasting a war. However, the trends in play are ominous," Celente concluded. "While we cannot pinpoint precisely when the 'Bailout Bubble' will burst, we are certain it will. When it does, it should be understood that a major war could follow."

What does this all add up to? Disappearances? War? Ascension day? Penecost? All words that have something or other to do with the next month or two. 30-60 days. With that said, let me remind you that we who are watching and ready every day have no need to pinpoint any particular day, we are always watching and ready. I bring these things to your attention today to encourage you to be doing what you already know you should be doing. Be a wise virgin, be watching and ready. Part of our readiness is remembering Lot's wife, don't make the mistake she made. Why is it that the Lord brought that particular warning to my mind just here recently? Well, if the Lord does come back for us in the very near future, we'd need to remember that warning along with every other warning our Lord gave to his servants concerning these very days.

The Lord always warns first, always. We just covered over the past days how we know both Noah and Lot were given a "heads up" just before they went into the ark and out of Sodom. We are told that on the day "one is taken one is left" don't look back like Lot's wife did, don't go back to your house to get anything, don't return from the field when you hear that cry "the bridegroom is coming."

Every word from the Lords mouth is to be taken seriously. The warnings were not given to be taken lightly. We are to hang onto every word of the Lord with every fiber of muscle we have, with every ounce of strength. Tremble at the word of God, that means take it VERY seriously.

Isaiah 66:2 ... into being," declares the LORD. I will pay attention to those who are humble and sorry [for their sins] and who tremble at my word.

Forget what men taught you, remember what the Lord is speaking to you today by reading and heeding every word written in your bibles. Let the Holy Spirit in, listen to his voice. Repent, humble yourselves and GET READY because we might get the call today.

Endlessly debating with skeptics and naysayers in chat rooms and forums will not move you one inch closer to the open door that's about to appear in heaven. Your intimate "first love" of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the word of God will get you there. Seek his face today. I don't know how much time we have left. Be ready, be watching..TODAY and everyday till our Lord shows up.

grace and peace