2ND APPROACH TO THE PROMISED LAND

Isaiah 61:2, "To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn", 

     The acceptable year of the Lord brought us His favor. Because of His preaching, it brought a Spirit of reverential Fear of God. But on the day of vegence of our God, it will bring with it wrath. And that day will be at Rapture. You will hear me talk a lot about Rapture in this blog because you and I can't improve on truth. Rapture is the next and greatest event in the history of the Church.

     This ‘day of the vengeance of our God' is so outstanding because Jesus spoke about it [Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21] and many prophets predicted it; Isaiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Joel, Obadiah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Malachi, Apostles Matthew, John, Mark, Luke and Peter and no one speaks kindly about it – it will bring darkness, not light; it will be a day of darkness and doom. Isaiah gives us a vivid picture of the events that will occur at Christ’s Second Coming – God will punish the world by fire and by His Sword…Isaiah 66:15, 16 and Apostle Paul confirms it…2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. 

     My heart leaps with joy to be part of what God is doing today. This day of reckoning will also fall on those who’ve mistreated God’s people…Obadiah 1:15. Some nations have treated us favorably, while others are hostile toward us. Look at all those mistreating God's people, Israel. God will judge all people according to the way they treat others, especially believers…Revelation 20:12, 13. Jesus talked about it in Matthew 25:31-46. As God’s final day of judgment is sure, so is His ability to save.

     Silver and gold will not be able to save you on that day, for that day will be devoured by the fire of His jealousy – a terrifying end of all the people who remain on the earth. Money is not evil in itself, but is useless to save because it warps our perspective giving us feelings of security and power. At the day of judgment, our riches will be worthless. Only Christ’s redemptive work on our behalf matters for eternity. He alone will ransom us if we believe in Him to the end. Don’t trust money, trust Christ. Change the way you think [repent] to avert this judgment. 

     Christ’s return will be sudden and terrible for those who do not believe in Him. But if we are morally clean and spiritually alert, it won’t come as a surprise. Realizing that the earth is going to be burned up…2 Peter 3:10, we should put our confidence in what is lasting and eternal and not be bound to earth and its treasures or pursuits. Do you spend more of your time pilling up possessions or striving to develop Christlike character?

     I liken Jesus' first Coming to the Israelites first aporoach to the Promised Land... Numbers Chapters 13 and 14. Lets learn from the Israelites: at the first approach to the Promised Land, Moses sent leaders to scout out the land and its people. But the scouts returned with a discouraging report, "...We came to the land to which you sent us; surely it flows with milk and honey. This is its fruit. But the people who dwell there are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; moreover, there we saw the sons of Anak [of great stature and courage]. We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are stronger than we are"... Numbers 13:27-28, 31. 

     Although Joshua and Caleb disagreed with the report of the other ten [10] scouts, the Israelites had already made up their minds and began to complain. This is what we did with the Lord Jesus' first coming. We entered the promised with one leg in the world and the other leg got busy with religion and rituals. Jesus first coming came to restore His Kingdom on earth through His Government... Isaiah 9:6, 7. The Church refused to enter this Kingdom - by 'entering' means to experience. Like the Israelites, we were condemned to wonder in the 'wilderness'. Our obedience was untimely and incomplete. 

     In Jesus return at Rapture, I liken it to the second approach to the Promised Land, the Israelites' old generation had died in the wilderness. The new generation [the saints] stand poised at the border, ready for Rapture to enter the Eternal Kingdom [Promised Land]. Like the Israelites, neighboring nations [the world] has been causing the Church to worship other gods. The Church has become worldly and the world has become churchy... can't tell the difference. Without Moses' quick action, the nation may never have entered the Promised Land. Without the return of the apostles in the Church, there's going to be a delay in Christ's return. 

    But thank God, there's a setman, a forerunner with an apostolic mandate to prepare the Church for His return. At Rapture, the King will beginning to establish His eternal Kingdom. The Church is apostolic in nature and before Jesus' return, everything in the Church must be restored to order. We have much less than 1500 days to Rapture. If you missed to experience the Kingdom of God on earth at His first coming, don't miss to enter His Eternal Kingdom.

     Maranatha!