A WORD OF POETIC JUSTICE FOR OUR LORD JESUS IN HIS GLORY

 This insightful poem continues to nourish me with the hope of Christ and the person that he truly is. I am blessed to have been able to write it down with such clarity.  For I believe it also ministers to the heart of the reader and prepares us for the great soon coming day of our Lord's return in poetic form.  While it also delivers a stark warning of the fullness of what the Cross means in all it's pain and glory! Your comments are welcome. 

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CROSS

There’s something amiss when the creation resist

all that the Creator stands for.

As I gaze at the cross...it reflects a world lost

With Christ knocking on every Door.

Man thinking himself good...Did that which he thought he should.

With charges of blasphemy and plenty of religiosity

Refused to believe the Word...being filled with animosity.

Delivering the Lord to the Court of courts.

And so the trial did promptly begin.

He was alone, having not a character witness nor even a friend.

And when the judge could find no law against him.

Washing his hands, I’m sure he did what he can...

All...except free this sinless man.

Guilty...Guilty was the outcry from the crowd!

And the Law that was ...became no law at all and yet....God smiled!

So there our Savior laid with out stretched arms. 

Demonstrating His love despite the harm.

And while every man is born in sin...

The injustice we profess don't compare to the injustice he was placed in.

There’s something amiss when the creation resist..

All that the Creator stands for even now....like then. 

But an empty Tomb was God’s reward for a work well done. 

Not to be hid the Lord shoned forth His only Son. 

For Jesus showed His love toward all mankind.

And now there is life after death in only His Name you will find!

But......Let the other side of the cross speak also.

That what and who we are has surely been exposed.

For in God’s love so openly displayed....

We did show our wretchedness  that day.

And God’s Law of Love resoundly defeated...

Our law of justice which we misdeeded. 

Our anger truly showed only to see the peace of God flow.

And our fearfulness for no reason illuminated God’s love for all seasons.

The Cross is the meeting place for all of this....

And believe it or not, the Creator let the creation insist!

So let us remember the wisdom the Cross is meant to bring.

God has a day for justice that righteousness being fairness ought ring.

For the other side of the cross speaks well of his return.

Sitting on the right hand side of the Father...this he earned!

But there are yet those who chose not to believe...

Like doubting Thomas...They say “not by faith but by sight must I see!”

But blessed are those who believe and have not seen!

For no more is God a mystery and neither is he a dream.

For you see.....Grace and Mercy has been born out of Injustice.

And it is the other side of the cross which gives us this message.

That our way of justice means nothing when Truth demands His Return.

For this is why the Word declares the Earth shall burn

And we who are caught up in His Rapture shall bear witness..

Revealing the Other Side of the Cross was a lesson that went Unlearned!

Copyright @Gregory Booker

God's Right to Fulfill the Promised Land

Below is a comment I made on a discussion board concerning  Israel right to the Promised Land. It's scriptural  information concerning God's promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is clear that God made the declaration and it ought to be clear he is still going to perform it for them.  It is quite contradictory for us as Christians to not see this promise that God is ready to fulfill in a way and on a scope totally unable to be grasp when Israel was elected over 3,000 years ago. I personally do not know where to draw God's line on the political front which is always hot news in the Middle East.  But I come to realize it is God's word which has declared it and it is based on the burden the Jews had to endure being elected by God.

 What moved me to write the article below is because a gentile christian  thinks the Church is the true Jews and there is no more promise land nationally speaking. Hence Israel has no recourse for their actions.  I responded with a historical account and the everlasting covenant God established thru Abraham.  When all is said and done it isn't Israel that made the promise,it is God who made it and it was unconditional. The only missing component was when. 

My dissertation to her comments are the following: 

.....There is still a biblical Jewish line in effect because of God's power of election. There is still a physical blood line for the inheritance that runs thru the 12 Tribes of Jacob who is the younger of the twins. Esau does not have an inheritance it was sold and God gave it to the younger. Abraham was told by God to agree with Sarah who wanted Hagar and her son Ishmael, the first son of Abraham out of the house. For the Lord told Abraham in Genesis 21: 12 "And God said unto Abraham; Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad and because of the bondwoman. In all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice, for in Isaac shall thy seed be called." 

Isaac birthed the twins from the same woman of course Rebekah, his second wife and in Genesis ch 25:23 "And the Lord said unto her (Rebekah); two nations are in thy womb and two manner of people shall be seperated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people and the elder shall serve the younger" in verse 34 "Esau despised his birthright" and sold it to Jacob. 

Gen 28:41 "And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing that his father blessed him. Then Esau said in his heart, the days of mourning for my father are at hand , then will I slay my brother Jacob. Jacob wrestled with God and had his name changed to Israel. Jacob "Israel" birthed the 12 twelves sons/ tribes that becomes God anointed line for the messiah to come. This same group becomes the greater population of Israel the nation. God in his word dictates this lineage as the election. The devil uses flesh and blood to resist God on every hand of the move of God.

Abraham remarried after Sarah died and birthed even more sons and daughters but none were chosen specifically as Jacob was. There is no significance about being the siblings of Abraham...none whatsoever. It is historical honesty on the part of God to tell us the life of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...both the good and the not so good. It carries little spiritual relevance on it's own. The most critical fact is God is revealing that Jacob is the line for the messiah and the line for the building up of a nation to come.  Clearly there are other offsprings of Abraham but it is God who elects not men who contend night and day with God's election all the while ignoring the grace given to all other nations during this time and through out the ages!! Israel was elected but also had a higher standard to live up to because of it. God had them document their successes and every bit of their failures for ultimately our example of how to relate to the God of all of us. It is an awesome plan by God with the blood, sweat and tears of the Jews shown without bias. 

As a gentile Christian I and we are adopted into the family of Abraham by our faith in Christ who is a descendant of Abraham through the tribe of Judah.  My adoption does not overrule the Jewish lineage which God has continued to keep in tact through out the ages any more than an earthly father adoption of another child does not overrule his own children by blood. They both partake of the promises and the inheritance and neither ought to be jealous of the other! But there is the rub, my friends! When all is said and done God has every right to give what he wants to whom he wants. And His Word has already spoken it. The mystery was not if but when God would deliver.  

As an adopted child of the same God, who was not elected to bear such a burden,  I am just honored to be a part of the family of God by faith.  Invited for worship and under the throne of His grace in Jesus name. For in Romans Ch 11 it is also the declaration of the Holy Spirit that Zion the Deliverer shall come and turn away ungodliness (unfairness....unrighteousness) from Israel. God is preparing to perform Grace and favor for His elected when the unbelief of the world magnifies itself to come down even into the Valley of Jehoshaphat to destroy them. This is the location of the Battle of Armageddon, my brethren and it's just a matter of who side we are on.  

As Christians, let us have our eyes opened to this reality lest many fail God as was done on Calvary's Hill. Let us hold no envy, jealousy neither conceit nor is it about being boastful of ourselves but humble   in our adopted role because God used the election of Israel to be an example for the Church and our lives has been blessed because of it. As a result, their burden ought to be lifted and their promise ought to fulfilled. A crucified savior was no surprise to God for the beauty of it became grace to the Church. Now it is time to lift the burden of  a people and nation he used and it is truly God's right to do it. 

Let the Church Be in Prayer

 From Psalms 109:1-5 "Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise; for the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me. They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They compassed me about also with words of hatred and fought against me without cause. For my love they are mine adversaries; but I give myself to prayer. And they have rewarded me with evil for good and hatred for my love."

This a psalms by King David expressing his love for God and his fellowman and how he is often met with discontent and hatred for it. If you replaced the nouns with the word christians it would highlight our same predicament as we seek to praise God and reach out to others. The strong yet unwarranted anti- christian atmosphere is prevalent everywhere. It is most pronounce as same-sex marital rights spearheads the charge against us as discriminatory and downright unloving. This is not just a USA issue, it is a world drive for equality which is pressing on many nations in an area of human life unprecedented . Today in the news, Russia itself is grappling with it's momentum and key policy changes in such a stoic nation sits on Putin's desk.

As believers in Christ we really don't have any enemies because we are called to love our enemies and to live in peace sharing the good news of the gospel for salvation sake. It seems we are being targeted without just cause and hated though for many of us our desire is to love others in order to bring others to that marvelous hope in Christ. We work our salvation trembling in the reverence, not the fear of our God and seeking his direction as we give him our praise.

As I read  Psalms 109 this morning, it struck me deeply spirit to Spirit, the Church predicament.  The Church position has been to love the sinner but hate the sin. In hating the sin what is really being said is that the sin represent poison to the success of salvation and renders nullifies it. The basic principle is our sins of which none are to be excused must be confessed and turned away from. The church should be doing this in love and not in anger or with a condemning attitude but sometimes we do. David says "For my love they are mine adversaries" and that is what it seems we have received which is a stiff rebuke. Christians are being seen as discriminatory and the media and special interest groups come at us without a just cause. Waiting for one mistake in our biblical perspective. It seems we are being rewarded with our good by being called judgmental and without love for our fellow man. 

But what did David do as he was frustrated by the negative opinions of others concerning his love for them? He gave himself over to prayer. He did not fight them or force his God on them with a cry for revenge. David felt something for them and knew vengeance was the Lord's not his. And so must we. We must continue to pray for our strength to endure the rejection and yet pray that the adversaries receive the love of God thru Jesus Christ and have so much more than what little they have gained among themselves. Prayer also brought peace to David for in Philipians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving and let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Let the churches give themselves over to prayer for without we ay take matters in our own hands and in anger sin more.

Blessing and Curse of Democracy: A Christian Perspective

The most basic tenet of democracy is the freedom of choice or the right to choose. If it is limited to Christianity only, then in democracy's truest form, it becomes no more democracy. And therein lies the problem with it's basic form of governance. It is a system that allows itself to be govern by majority rule. In reality, it does not matter what the original founders principles in regards to the constitution were. Though they were good and sound christian ideals, they were endorsing principles of democracy with no exception even for religious practice. That was then and democracy continues but with a new impetus of immigrants as it citizens and therefore being under democratic rule have every right to reflect their ideals. These ideals are becoming the greater majority with even the beliefs (or lack of beliefs) of traditional citizens who are not following christian bible based standards per se.

In other words, democracy is doing just fine. Now the battle is on "Mar's Hill" as apostle Paul fought for the souls of them in Ephesus ( I believe). Our battle surely dwells on Capitol Hill as well as every other state hill in our country. Change is everywhere! Prayer in school was never a mandate but was simply a by product of faith  within the hearts of it's citizens. Being demonstrated and quite effective as a majority among it's people in advancing the Kingdom of God. Now prayer is a mandate being allowed under the legal act of the law. A form of legalism that will not nearly be as effective as by the heart. Now it appears, democracy is legalizing christianity as well as other religions due to the multiple representations that exist. It seems only fair because when you realize it is really democracy at work. From a christian viewpoint ( born again mainstream faith), the crack in it's armor is beginning to show as all forms of governance by man do have.

To be candid, as a christian our destiny isn't about saving our country, it's about advancing the Kingdom of God for that great day! It is God who builds a nation and it is God who will bring it down! In the midst of all of that transistioning it is my duty to know His will and to defend the faith which doesn't always guarantee the saving of a piece of dirt. For Abraham had to leave his Ur of Chaldees....and Hebrews had to leave their Egypt...and many of us came to America leaving something behind with few regrets! Perhaps our time to leave is approaching and the only place to go is to be caught up! 

I believe democracy will work like never before to the disappointment of Christians who firmly lean on the Bible. I consider it a time of purging and a sign of the times which God Himself may be giving up to this world system a reprobate mind and USA is no exception as we examine end time doctrine. What led me to write this article was a question was asked should we as christians pray along side Satanists? Personally, I don't see any difference between satanists and "other faiths" except for extremist with bolder defiance in the face of God. They all operate with unbelief of Christ divinity. But for the record as a born again believer in Christ, I choose not to pray alongside the camp because my choice of words will surely ruffle their feathers. However, I will come to defend my faith and declare my hope in Christ which will give them opportunity for salvation as apostle Paul did on Mar's Hill. Concerning the democratic process, I agree with the adversary that on this soil satanist also have their rights and while I vote to disagree on their agenda I also seek to live in peace with my fellow man as scripture advises.

God's Prophetic Word Searches Our Heart

The rapture will be a gift of Deliverance to men and women who look for the coming and appearing of the Lord Jesus as their treasure and it will also be an Awakening to the doubting and unbelieving men and women who treasure those things on earth. They will know their error and become the "tribulation saints" as well as many others as declared in the Book of Revelations. The Grace of God will still be in operation but under a different administration. The opportunity for heaven will still be available but instead of thru the Church by faith, it will be available thru the preaching of 144,000 Jewish men called divinely by God. Faith will then have all the facts needed to expose with each passing day as describe in the book of Revelations...God's reality. What truth is and where it sits....in Jerusalem in the person of Christ!! Still many will defy and such is the Battle of Armageddon!!

Most of the world will come under the rule of the Antichrist advancing his agenda with an ultimatum using fear. Personally, I believe, the Antichrist will scare more people into heaven than under any other scenario and God knows it....that's the higher purpose of his wisdom because of the human heart being so preoccupied with the things of this world. There is far more scripture to support a pretrib hope in Christ than any other stated. One of the key purposes for the rapture is to comfort the people with it which apostle Paul advises us to use this doctrine for. "Therefore comfort one another with these words" he declares. There is no comfort in becoming a tribulation saint though I am willing to die for my faith in Christ. And there is no one to rapture but perhaps the fewest of numbers if it is to occur at mid or certainly post tribe season. It would certainly be a contradiction and a sad joke for such a hope to not be realized when it counts the most.

There is a difference between suffering for our faith in the normal process of human failure versus being under the wrath of God as divinely written in the Book of Revelations prepared for judgement of the highest order and intensity. Our leading world governments and nations could collapse and we all could be a part of that disciplining for a season which has happened many times past. Jesus issues a stern warning to church members left behind saying "I never knew you" ...in other words they used his name but it was for their purposes not for His glorification. Jesus spoke but they had other plans with the gospel. There is a falling away within the community of churches that is surely before us and a catching up of the remnant who will remember their first love and hope on Him still.......

The Word of God cuts both ways, dividing even between bone and marrow, soul and spirit with a twin edge sword. Cutting in to cut out the selfish mindset of so many in churches. I know plenty of "details" about God's prophetic word and none of it brings one to salvation. It is the heart that needs to be touched by the prophetic word thru the reality of what God is doing and why. Israel is God's tool for preaching righteousness once again because so many in the church are self righteous or shall we say like a "Pharisee". Protecting themselves despite what God is doing to promote Himself!! It is the way that Jesus is returning that rubs so many the wrong way much to their own loss.  Wasn't that the problem when He first came? Maranatha......In Christ love.

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First the Jew.....Now the Gentile Such is God's Fairness Principle

Romans CH 11 says more than most of us realize. The chapter is often called the Olive Tree parable but in verse 27 God calls it a covenant "For this is my covenant with them (Israel), when I (the Lord) take away their sins". Before this in verse 26 God declares "And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written" Zion the Deliverer will come and turn away ungodliness". And there are more verses in Old and New Testament that refer to a great act of deliverance for Israel. 

For clarity sake, salvation and redemption are two different modes of operation and yet can be quite similar in performance. We know our salvation comes in Jesus Christ and I agree scripture states there is no distinction between Jew or Gentile or any other category in this regard. Despite this, God's word continues to proclaim a unique event for this nation. The problem that I see however, is that many christians are failing to realize that God still has an act of redemption for Israel as Romans Ch 11 clearly states. So when it comes to redemption which is the process of rescue or recovering from what was lost. It also refers to seek back from ransom that which was taken. We must be prepared for a fuller understanding of God's word as the Holy Spirit speaks through the apostle Paul. 

Romans CH 11 isn't just about salvation but a process of national redemption because "all Israel will be saved". During this process, as the chapter closes, God turns away ungodliness from the gates of the nation of Israel. What does this mean for christians? Without going into detail, the classification of Gentile is simply everybody else who is not Jewish. We must remember there are plenty of gentiles in the world who choose not to accept Christ and downright refuse. Unfortunately even in Christianity there are doctrine that have issues as well that are in opposition to what Romans Ch 11 proclamation declares. But we serve the God of Israel and just maybe when of born again believers in Christ are raptured, national Israel will remain on Earth. Alone and desperate for solutions to survive against an onslaught of discontent and even hatred as we see in the Middle East. Indeed the city of Jerusalem is a cup of trembling! 

The problem with gentile christians is the inability of many to acknowledge our side of being the problem!! You and I might see that which is spiritual but when I look at USA and World news, clearly blindness and a stiffnecked mentality is in part on the gentile side also and the churches are no exception considering the great divide we see with theologies that differ from the Word of the Living God. 

The doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ is about a hope that lies deep in our hearts and it should be a constant desire to look for his appearing. To some degree has been that way through out Christianity. But now, I see so much biblical potential (facts) for fulfillment before my eyes and and yet churches are caught up in day to day drama with so many of it's members not hoping for Christ at all. There is always the remnant but when looking at it institutionally I see little faith and little expectation just a lot of legal dogma and self righteous mindset. I believe Romans Ch 11 is detailing for us who do see by faith the heart of the problem on the gentile side of the fence in the prophetic realm. 

There is Daniel CH 9....Matthew Ch 24 and Romans Ch 11 which Time itself cannot seem to eradicate. Romans Ch 11 reveals to us the heart of the problem to us as Gentiles because the Holy Spirit is giving wisdom about the world of unbelievers and there are plenty who refute Israel's restoration as a biblical fulfillment. There is a cutting away of the gentiles and a regrafting back in Israel and it is happening in our generation. And so it is done as we see the apostasy forewarned by apostle Paul of a falling away within the churches. Even the endorsement of major denominations of gay clergy in the house of the Lord.  

We must remember, Gentiles were never put to the test like Israel was concerning who Jesus was? It seems unfair that they had that burden but not your people or mine or anybody else's. Perhaps the shoe is now being placed on the other foot and we aren't wearing it very well either. Proving by the Word of God that there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile concerning error in judgement as well. Perhaps that's why Israel must be saved in that day...at last. Are we reading the Bible to see by faith this biblical reality as Israel was required to see and accept Christ when he first came? Scripture is declaring in Romans CH 11 that Christ, who is Zion the Deliverer, will yet be their Messiah and the glory will belong to God and God only as He turns away ungodliness from Jacob. 

I see this based on faith and by the confirmation of the Holy Spirit it seems so fair and righteous. The Church ought to be seeing by faith and not just by sight or human knowledge? The church silence on this redemptive process among their own congregations is pervasive because of it's own jealousies and biases which is the very thing God has warned us about. We have become like old wineskin with an unwillingness to eat the meat of the gospel which in our generation has the new wine of Israel before us after 1900 years of non existence. Knowledge has been refused and wisdom we do cast out! I close with this final thought: Since Christ was Israel's test for hearing the word of God, the question I ask is could God be using Israel to test the world and their ability to hear as well and the churches are no exception? 

To me it makes perfect sense despite my human need for self- preservation, it is God who truly preserves us with eternal provisions! I conclude that Romans CH 11 is far more than a parable. It must be recognize for what God calls it and that is a covenant. A covenant is a formal and binding agreement and in this case unconditional. It also can be declared as a promise and pledge to do something at a point and time. This pledge of deliverance is to Israel and it's speak of a future event yet to come. It may have been "hid" by blooming of the Church and distorted by doctrines of doubt due to the distance of time but it is still a covenant in waiting. And so after all the years, perhaps the time has come. 

In closing, I advise all to find a quiet place and read this chapter for your own spiritual growth and see the cutting away and now the regrafting back in of Israel in our generation. Israel is the
root of the tree which represent the christian faith. Hold the Bible and you will see the Root! It's their blood, sweat and tears right on up to Calvary Hills's recorded by men under the power of God for the Churches benefit in knowing the true God. There is a final blessing yet for Israel despite their blindness to date for certainly their is blindness on t he Gentile nations as well and we as Christians better be prepared to walk with the Lord in performing His redemption of them in that day. May these words bless you and yours to know the season and may they also be a profit to your ministry.

God’s Giving Without Measure End’s The Birdfight Among Men

Amazing how God can reveals things to you when you least expect it. I had decided to go out for lunch and went to one of my favorite places Pei Wei. I ordered my meal and decided to eat outside in the patio area. While waiting for the waiter to bring my order, I saw a woman walk across the parking lot and she saw me with a glance as she walk into the restaurant.  A few minutes later, she appeared on the patio and with all the empty tables around sat at the table directly in my line of sight and she sat in the chair which faced me. This was a direct line of sight, eye to eye, which I thought was unusual for a seating selection with plenty of more private seating available by the curbside tables. 

After sitting, within a minute she spoke small talk about feeding the birds that were nearing the tables. Small wrens were looking for food and perhaps were expecting me to give them some food since my order had just arrived. During the small talk I mentioned that if I toss the food we could be flooded with birds.  Finally, her order came and she prayed over her food and begin to eat. Mainly, due to her comments I decided to toss a few grains of rice to the birds.  And I do mean a few grains because technically you could count how many I tossed on the ground. The birds came within seconds and suddenly birdfights were in the making among the birds over what little there was. 

I noticed the lady had the very same meal I had, it was identical in everyway which is not easy to do at Pei Wei’s because of the different sides you can choose. After speaking with the waiter, a few minutes later the waiter brought to her table an extra side order of rice which was quite a large portion. As I watched her, the lady took one scoop of rice for herself and then threw what was left over the railing on the sidewalk. It was a huge portion of rice for the birds forcing anyone walking on the sidewalk to step around it. Without a further word she finished her lunch and promptly left. 

As I watched the birds go at the rice, there was no birdfight. What appeared to be a big mess on the sidewalk was instead a provision set aside for one of God’s creatures. It also seem to be relaying a truth to me about the gift of giving.  I had tossed a few grains of rice when I had so many to give even if it was just a tablespoon worth. On the other hand,  she gave without measure to the birds and the fighting was over.  

It was peculiar how all this happened and it required of me to perhaps examine myself and my giving to others not just birds.  Surprisingly though, that was not the case. Later in the week a thought came upon me concerning this event that brought closure concerning the provisions of God.  It was more about the prophetic significance of two world systems one of promise and one in the present. God was speaking that while the multitude of men are preparing for war in the Valley of Jehoshaphat for so few miles of land known as Israel, God is preparing to give to all who believe in Him in the person of Christ a New Jerusalem. For believers there is to come mansions of many rooms including provisions that has no end. The inner voice summed it up as God’s promises to the Church is for the purpose of ending the “birdfight” for the things of this world for those who choose to wait on the Lord. 

As I observe the battle to yet come over so little for the things of this world, scritpure’s says vengenace will be the Lord’s in the valley of decision.  But to His Church we will be set on a hill due to our faith and hope in Jesus whose giving without measure has been deomstrated on the Calvary Hill.  For it is written in  in  Revelations 21:2-7 “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new! Then he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.  He said to me: It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.” I am at rest in Him and lay down my arms for in me the birdfight is over, therefore be content and at rest in the Hope of a Kingdom to Come. 

Comforted by Hope in Christ..Such is the Rapture

As one who believes in a Pre Tribulation rapture, I lean heavily on 1Thess 4:13-18 which continues into ch 5: 1- 3 which reads "But of the times and seasons you have no need that I should write to you. For you know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say "Peace and safety" then sudden destruction comes upon them etc....". I feel this is the season when the Rapture shall occur. It appears to be at a time of great exaltation of peace at last among the nations and certainly between Israel and the Arab nations. This would indicate that the Church is here to see this climatic event or at least the potential for it's fulfillment. For the Church it ought to seal the deal that the "season and times" of the nearness of Christ return is upon us. He will be at the door ready to take up those who have believed by faith in Him.

I do believe that before the treaty is signed that a collapsed world economy, including North America, could erupt. And that could test our faith without us having to actually be in the tribulation period. It is a collapsed situation that could bring about desperate solutions, by any means necessary, with new leaders and their ideas brought on board from around the world and certainly in the Middle East. It is God's call when He will turn things over to the Antichrist due to a world of unbelief.

The problem I see with the Church in the tribulation period, such as mid and post tribulation, is I just don't see many survivors to be raptured. When I think of the "elect", they appear to be to those who are specifically anointed by God for a specific purpose. The Seven year judgement of God in the Book of Revelation still demonstrate his wonderful grace in operation but with a different administration at work. Instead of Gentiles preaching the gospel, God is using men of Jewish descent. One group that is elected so to speak is the 144,000 sealed Jewish ministers. Another group elected are the 2 witnesses in Jerusalem. This is God's grace at work after the Church is raptured and the gospel continues. The 'tribulations saints" will become believers during this time but will not be empowered to lead the cause but die to it! I don't see scripture considering them elect but that they are to be blessed for their courageous conversion under extreme duress.

God gives us enough facts to have faith but never enough facts to live without faith. Prophecy is a work of art the way our Lord has written it down for us and the church is commanded to covet prophecy. The word covet in scripture is almost universally thought of as a prerequisite to idolatry. Coveting is an act of worshiping something other than God but it is written in  1Corinthians 14:39 "Wherefore  my brethren covet to prophesy and forbid not the speaking of tongues".  For us to see so much of God's written word moving before us after so long of a time is a testament to the God we serve. None of us will get the total picture because we see things vaguely like through a dark glass. 

Now it is 2,000 years later since apostle Paul wrote those words. The question I ask is can we see better through the dark glass now? If it's any consolation, I am beginning to see what lies on the other side of the glass bottle. Hindsight is helping to give me 20/20 vision and the Holy Spirit by the words of scripture is confirming so and yet it is still by faith and not by knowledge. God revelations concerning endtimes advises us to covet prophecy to avoid potential for error in judgement. God's doctrine of being caught up gives up hope if we want to believe it. But blessed are those who believe and have not seen the Christ but do hear his Voice by studying the scriptures and looking for Christ appearing. After all the years, we are indeed comforted by the hope of the Rapture as apostle Paul said it was written to do in 1Thess 4:18 "comfort one another with these words"......words of hope and deliverance!!

The Door to God Requires Us to Knock!

REFLECTION AND CONTEMPLATION TO SEEK HIM:

1. Matthew 7:7 & Luke 11:9 “Ask and it will be given to you ; seek and ye shall find; knock and the door will be opened”.  Let us reflect upon the meaning and use of a “prayer word”. 

        Prayer is the appointed means for obtaining what we need. It is an act of humility and honor toward the God who we ascribe our very existence to. The Lord want us to come and declare our need and desires to Him for he will hear us...always.  Even though scripture declares God also knows our needs before we ask them.  Why then does He advise us to still knock? Perhaps, God does not want us to take him for granted.  He wants us to acknowledge who he is in our lives and that we depend on him for our needs and he can supply us our wants. Communication is what God wants from us and this is vital for our sustenance in Him to be effectual. 

       Whenever we knock on any earthly door we hope someone answers. Prior to approaching the door, I have prepared myself to visit and I took time to present myself in an acceptable way. I took time and expense to go to that destination. Of which, I am also seeking to communicate something to the person on the other side of the door. It should be no different with the God we serve.  In asking God for something we ought to prepare ourselves to commune with him through preparation and this is what prayer is for.  It is an act of preparation to hear from God and he deserves our attention to detail before we knock.  

       My prayer word is knocking on the door of God.  I want to come in and commune with Him. The door exist because of our sin nature but by exercising faith, and knocking on God’s door, with the blood of Jesus covering us, God promises he will open it and invite us in. He will hear our concerns and the desires of our heart and most important, you will get to hear from God. 

      Prayer is so vital to the Christian life and knocking on His Door is our way of acknowledging God has a destination where He dwells with a Door and we are willing to put forth the extra effort of reaching out to Him.  Despite it’s closure which separate us due to our sin nature God hasn't sealed it shut with a do not disturb sign.  Our Lord Jesus has given us the way to God by cleansing us in preparation and provided His Spirit to lead us the God's Door by instruction. I have learned that when the Door is opened it is the God of my life that is all I really need and to commune is the greatest gift of all. Such is prayer which knocks on the heart of God. 

  "In all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer and believing, Ye shall receive...." Matt 21:22

Let it not be that we have not because we ask not....a failure to communicate!  

Article by Gregory Booker