May 29, 2009

The SIGNS of the End-Time

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, KNOW that it is near [real beginning of previous verses]—at the doors” (Matthew 24:32-34; Luke 21:29-32)

“The Soon-Coming Harvest of the Firstfruits”

Dear Brethren,

This coming Sunday is the commanded observance of the Feast of Firstfruits-Pentecost-Feast of Weeks for God’s Church.

This Festival pictures a select group of people who have been called by God through Jesus Christ to be harvested upon His return to this earth which is pictured by the Feast of Trumpets.

This is a time many of us have looked forward to over many years. And it is now virtually in sight—just a very few short years and then the Wonderful World of Tomorrow that will be ruled by Jesus Christ!

Well over 100,000 faithful members of God’s Church, including the prophets of the Old Testament (Hebrews 11:4-40), and apostles of the New Testament, are among those to be counted among the Firstfruits, who are presently sleeping in their resting places, but went to sleep knowing their future was secure.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, BUT HAVING SEEN THEM AFAR OFF, were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland” (Hebrews 11:13-14).

Then there are those of this era who are also waiting for the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets when everyone whose names will remain in the Book of life, will awaken from their short sleep in their graves, and together with those living at that time, will be changed and rise to meet Jesus Christ in this earth’s atmosphere as Spirit Beings—members of God’s Divine Family!

A TIME WHEN ALL OF THE FIRSTFRUITS OF GOD’S FAMILY WILL HAVE COME TOGETHER TO MEET CHRIST AND SO WILL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD (I Thessalonians 4:17-18).

One Must Have a Continuous Vision

Those who remained faithful through the very hard and trying times in their lives did so because of the continuous vision of the future world to come that will be ruled by God, though it was very far off in years for them.

The names of the heroes and heroines of old that are mentioned in the faith chapter of Hebrews 11, begins with the mention of Abel who pleased the LORD. And it carries through with the mention of Enoch and Noah. Next it names Abraham.

What is said about Abraham could sum up why all of those famous people remained faithful to God though most suffered terrible deaths at the hands of the tools of Satan the devil:

By FAITH Abraham OBEYED when he was called to go out to the place which he would AFTERWARD receive as an inheritance. And he went out, NOT KNOWING where he was going. By FAITH he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, THE HEIRS with him of the same promise, FOR HE WAITED FOR THE CITY WHICH HAS FOUNDATIONS, WHOSE BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD (Hebrews 11:8-10; Revelation 21:14).

End-time prophecies reveal those of us who yet live in this age are facing some very terrible and trying times in the very near future. For those accounted worthy to go to the place of safety will be living, as did Abraham, in countries foreign to us for a short duration of time.

To survive we must keep the continuous vision of all that Jesus Christ has made known to us of His coming new world and His promises of our part in it.

To lose it is to possibly perish like so many have in past ages and also in our time. Scripture makes this clearly known to us:

“Where there is no vision the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law” (Proverbs 29:18).

The Feast of Firstfruits

We must seriously think with praise and heartfelt thanksgiving to our wonderful and caring God and Jesus Christ for the awesome and wonderful calling and selection we have been given to be actually numbered among the heroes and heroines of the Firstfruits.

The Jewish People

In contrast— when we read of the more religiously-minded Jewish people, and read of their zeal to observe this Day, how much more should we be moved to seriously ponder its meaning while coming with great rejoicing before God and Jesus Christ?

From the Internet

Sivan 5, 5769 / Thursday, May. 28 '09

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“Tens of thousands are expected to visit the Western Wall for Friday morning dawn prayers (see below), in honour of the holiday of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. Many of them will have spent the night engrossed in Torah study.

The holiday of Shavuot has undergone a transition in Israel over recent decades. For a long while, it was widely commemorated by the secular public as an agricultural holiday of First Fruits, in accordance with the Biblical command to bring the first harvested produce to Jerusalem. In later years, the custom of eating dairy products on Shavuot was emphasized, with dairy recipes prominently featured on TV, radio and newspapers, as well as various statistics and features relating to cheese milk and other dairy products.

In the past two or three years, however, another feature of Shavuot – traditionally, the most important one – has begun to take centre stage once again: Torah study, in honour of the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai to the Jewish People on this day 3,321 years ago.

As early as two years ago, an article by on the “Panim” Jewish Renaissance group – an umbrella organization for all Jewish organizations working to enhance Jewish identity in the spirit of pluralism – stated, “The traditional study of Torah throughout Shavuot night until dawn has become so popular that it looks like cheese will no longer be the only secular symbol of the holiday.”

All-night Torah study on Shavuot, a custom that has long been restricted to synagogues and yeshivas, has now spread to community centres and other public places in towns throughout Israel – and not only in the religious sector.

At the Cinematek in Sderot, for instance, rabbis will lead discussion groups on topics such as “The Book of Ruth: Our Relation to the Foreigner,” prayer for secular Jews, the Ten Commandments, and the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov.

In preparation for the upcoming holiday of Shavuot, a group of Jews gathered from all over Israel to clean and renovate the Tomb of Ruth and Jesse (Yishai). Ruth, a Moabite princess who was determined to become a Jewess and in fact became the great-grandmother of King David, is remembered during the holiday, with the Scroll of Ruth being read in synagogues around the world.”

The Church of God

At this present time there is yet A REMNANT of the Church of God who has been blessed with the true knowledge and understanding of this very special Day:

“Even so, then, at this present time THERE IS A REMNANT according to the ELECTION OF GRACE . . . Israel has NOT obtained what it seeks; BUT the elect have obtained it” (Romans 11:5, 7).

How thankful are we collectively and individually to be counted among those who make up the remnant of the elect? And, further, to have the promise of soon being among the full number of those who are now sleeping, and of those who yet live— the Firstfruits as pictured by this very special Day— soon to be harvested by Jesus Christ at His coming.

Something for all of us to think about – and then come before God and Christ with great praise and thanksgiving this coming Sunday, May 31, 2009.

“You shall REJOICE before the LORD your God . . . and you shall REMEMBER that you were A SLAVE IN EGYPT, and you shall be careful to OBSERVE these statutes” (Deuteronomy 16:11-12).

Your brother and servant in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Don Billingsley

http://bodyofchristonline.us/     http://cog-ff.com     http://www.ezekielwatchman.org/   http://worldnewsbulletin.com

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