March 6, 2009
John to the 7 Churches, “Grace to you and peace . . . from Jesus Christ . . . who loved us and washed us from our sins IN HIS OWN BLOOD and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Behold He is coming with clouds and every eye will see Him . . .” (Revelation 1:4-7).
“The Coming of Jesus Christ is Soon!”
Dear Brethren,
Time seems to be just flying by anymore! We observe God’s Sabbath and there seems to be hardly any time at all before we are observing another Sabbath. And each Sabbath brings us ever closer to the coming of Jesus Christ back to this earth and the gathering of His saints to Him (Matthew 24:30-31).
A
nd
the vital Passover for
the observance of
all of God’s people is only six Sabbaths away. A vitally
important time in the life of each and every true member of God’s
true Church; the Passover that had its beginning with Israel in Egypt
(Exodus 12:1-14; 21-24).
The Passover is the annual time of the year to once again RENEW our covenant that was made with our Father and Jesus Christ. This was made at the time of our repentance, baptism and the receiving of God’s Holy Spirit (Act 2:38; Romans 6; Ephesians 2:1-3; Luke 22:14-20; John 6:53-54).
The news continues to make known almost on a daily basis that the national and world problems that we are very rapidly approaching the time of the Great Tribulation which will bring about the demise of the nations of Israel; and shortly thereafter will be the battle of Armageddon!
This battle will bring about the close of this age and the return of Jesus Christ.
In view of these prophesied grave problems as outlined in Matthew 24; the Book of Ezekiel; the Book of Revelation, as well as in other Books of the Bible, Jesus Christ cautioned His true people to “WATCH AND PRAY ALWAYS” that we might be counted WORTHY to escape them.
Problems that we are now seeing paving the way for the time of trouble such as has never been and never will again (Matthew 24:21-22; Daniel 12:1); they will be that bad—beyond our greatest imagination!
And even more important, we are to PRAY ALWAYS for the blessing of being able to STAND before Him in all of His majesty and glory when He returns to this earth.
Preparing as Never Before
Are we preparing now for what is just ahead of us by drawing nigh unto God in a close and warm relationship? It should be realized by one and all that Christ is our only real hope in an evil age coming to its destructive end! There is very little precious time left as Scripture makes well known.
Predictions Based on Trends
Once again please note a few of the predictions from Gerald Celente who is highly respected due to his accuracy of predictions of past events. They are also for the most part believable due to what prophecy reveals and from what we are reading and seeing from other news sources
R
T
Guest February
11, 2009, 4:40
Gerald Celente
In 2009 we’re going to see the worst economic collapse ever, the ‘Greatest Depression’, says Gerald Celente, U.S. trend forecaster. He believes it’s going to be very violent in the U.S.,
Now people are at the
edge. They’re stressed out.
Look, the Americans are the most depressed nation on the world
already. They take more antidepressant drugs than anybody, plus the
other kinds of drugs that they are taking. You’re going to see
crime levels in America that are going to rival the third world.
Welcome Mexico City. You’re going to start seeing people being
kidnapped in this country like they do in other underdeveloped
nations. So it’s going to be very violent in America.
My Comment: The Glenn Beck Program on FOX NEWS revealed that Phoenix, Arizona is in second place for kidnappings by the Drug Cartels who have established themselves in that city. Further, a map was shown of the United States where the Drug Cartels have established themselves; they are to be found in every state.
RT: You’re not exaggerating?
G.C.: I’m not exaggerating, the facts are there. I have a saying: when people lose everything and they have nothing to lose, they lose it. You’re going to see people saying, off with their heads. There’s going to be another revolution in this country.
My Comment: This is very believable due to the collapsing of the economy, the steady rise of unemployment, and the laws being proposed for higher taxation in many areas. One should know the national and state governments have no money. Whatever they have has to come from the people via taxation in one form or another.
RT: When will this revolution that you have forecasted in your Trends journal happen and what will ignite it?
G.C.: It’s going to be a tax revolt. We’re going to start seeing a tax revolt in the United States. People are one job away from losing everything. We’re seeing more and more closures, people are being laid off. People are stretched to the limits. And what do they do in New York State? Some130 new taxes are being proposed, they’re raising sales taxes. There’s going to be a tax revolt in this country from property taxes first and school taxes second. That’s what we’re going to see start to happen.
RT: Do you feel people are not hopeful that Obama will make a
difference?
G.C.: People are hopeful, they are desperate
and they are fearful. And they’ll hang on to anything. Let’s
look at the facts. A man of change, who did he bring into Washington?
You know they say by their deeds you shall know them. Let’s
look at his Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, former Robert Rubin
from the Clinton administration, the former president of the New York
Federal Reserve Bank. Change? How about Larry Summers, the former
Clinton Secretary of Treasury? I mean, I’ve been around a
long time. I never remember a newly elected president bringing in
basically the national security team from the last administration who
happens to be from another party.
_______________________________________________________________________
The End-time Prophecies
The problems are NOT going to change for the better! The reason being is that there is a CURSE on the House of Israel and there is no way short of heartfelt repentance that the monumental problems being experienced can be resolved (Leviticus 26:14-36; Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
Matthew 24 and Revelation 6 make known the severity of the times we are now entering. And when we consider where we now are it is vitally necessary that we begin drawing closer to God and Jesus Christ as never before. And the Passover provides us with that opportunity.
The Passover—2009!
There are
a very few weeks left before the commanded observance of the
Passover. A time to bring back into our memories the meaning of what
the BREAD
AND WINE
symbolizes by s
tudying
the Scriptures related to it along with the writings of God’s
late apostle (Mystery of the Ages,
pages 211-213,
The Plain Truth About Healing, 1979 publication).
Of the soon coming time of the Passover, the apostle Paul wrote:
“. . . for as often as you EAT this bread and DRINK this cup, you PROCLAIM the Lord’s death (the meaning of it as symbolized by the bread and wine – life or death meaning) till He comes” (I Corinthians 11:24-26).
The correct and proper observance of God’s Passover is vital in its meaning – life or death!
Examine Yourself Before Partaking of the Passover
“Therefore WHOEVER EATS THIS BREAD or DRINKS THIS CUP OF THE LORD in an UNWORTHY MANNER will be GUILTY of the BODY and BLOOD of the Lord. BUT let a man EXAMINE himself and so let him EAT of the BREAD and DRINK of the CUP. For he who EATS and DRINKS in AN UNWORTHY MANNER EATS and DRINKS JUDGEMENT to himself, NOT DISCERNING (understanding the meaning of the symbols that represents) the Lord’s body (I Corinthians 11:27-29).
Consider further the dire WARNING the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Book of Hebrews.
“For IF we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the TRUTH there no longer remains A SACRIFICE for sins . . . of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, COUNTED THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT by which he was SANCTIFIED (set apart) a common thing, and INSULTED the Spirit of grace. For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’ ” “The Lord will JUDGE His people. It is a FEARFUL thing to FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD” (Hebrews 10:26-29).
The apostle Paul added what was left out in the above Scripture in the sixth chapter:
“For it is IMPOSSIBLE for those who were once enlightened, and have TASTED the good word of God and the POWERS of the age to come, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit IF they fall away to RENEW them again to repentance, since they CRUCIFY again for themselves the Son of God and put him to AN OPEN SHAME,” Hebrews 6:4-6).
When these two are put together we have better understanding of those who have to die the second death. Hebrews 6 makes known there is more than just having knowledge for those to have to pay the supreme penalty.
All are Guilty of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
You and I along with all who have ever lived or ever will live of the human family had a part in the beating and crucifying to death of the true Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. The Book of Revelation portrays an image of Jesus Christ as a Lamb slain having been crucified ever ready to redeem and atone for the sins of any and everyone upon true godly repentance.
And I looked, and behold in the midst of the throne and of the 4 living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, STOOD A LAMB AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN SLAIN . . . I heard the voices of many angels . . . saying with a loud voice, “you are worthy . . . for you were slain and have redeemed men to God BY YOUR BLOOD out of every tribe and tongue, and have made them kings and priests to our God and they shall REIGN on the earth . . . worthy is the Lamb who was SLAIN to receive POWER AND RICHES AND WISDOM , AND STRENGTH AND HONOR AND GLORY AND BLESSING . . . BE TO HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE, AND TO THE LAMB, FOREVER AND EVER!” (Revelation 5:6, 9, 12-13).
Facing the Question
In view of the seriousness of partaking of the Passover in the correct manner, there is the need of examining ourselves now while there is yet a little time to repent of our sins and try hard to draw nigh to God and maintain a warm relationship with Him.
There is also the need to try and seriously think about that needed relationship when partaking of the Passover in a worthy manner that could very well dovetail together with the need of the protective care from God in the coming troubling times.
There seems to be no question about the predictions and the projected timing by Mr. Celente. However if we have that loving relationship with God then we can look forward to the protection and for the needed food and shelter. They will be supplied. There is no real question about their coming – the question is now soon?
It must also be realized that soon after those things will bring about the beginning of the Great Tribulation?
All of us dearly want to be among those who will be counted worthy in all areas; and we can be if we live our lives in a godly and righteous manner.
Even more importantly to seriously consider is whether we might be graced to be able to stand before Jesus Christ in all of His majesty and glory!
This is something to really think about now and make the needed changes—before it comes to be too late! In this brief interim of time we MUST develop and maintain a Passover attitude while preparing for its observance.
Please keep in mind where we now are in time and what is just before us!
Your
friend and servant in Christ,
Don Billingsley
http://bodyofchristonline.us/ http://cog-ff.com http://www.ezekielwatchman.org/
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