Click to join the conversation with over 500,000 Pentecostal believers and scholars
Click to get our FREE MOBILE APP and stay connected
| PentecostalTheology.com
(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)
In reading the Word of God from Genesis on through the Old Testament to Malachi, an obvious fact (in an ocean of obvious facts) becomes evident:
Whether read as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, a complete (so-called) atheist, or anywhere in between, the same obvious fact becomes… well… an obvious fact.
There are a lot of years encompassed in the panorama of human history up until the birth of Jesus and then up to His burial.
Somewhere on the order of 4,030 years, it is said. I include Jesus’ burial in this frame of reference even though that record is clearly part of the Gospel accounts, but it is key to the point of this article.
This article is not intended to be an accurate assessment of the historical timeline. That would require a level of study not intended here.
It is made clear in the Old Testament record that God the Father did not (as some people like to think) leave events to “chance” or “happenstance” and withdraw from His creation in order to “see what will happen.” He knows what will happen.
In fact, He, and He alone, will determine what happens.
Before we continue to the crux of this article, let’s take a little side trip to examine a couple of lessons the Lord taught me about His plans and the execution of them.
In 2012 I took a trip to Israel with some brothers and sisters from my church and some from another. It was a bit of a whirlwind tour as it encompassed 10 days and was very busy and very wonderful. During those semi-hectic 10 days, my life would be changed and my respect for the Sovereign Lord and His presence throughout History firmly cemented to my heart and soul. To this, I can only say, Hallelujah!
However, the real life-changing event the Lord would show me after I got home.
There were three places where we went that stuck in my mind more so than any others.
One was the location of Jesus’ crucifixion. There are two different locations that are typically the object of attention relative to this event. The Stone of Unction in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where it is said that the body of the Lord was laid when taken down from the cross.
The second: Golgotha, where the face of a skull is clearly identifiable and the correct location of the Crucifixion, in my estimation. But as we will soon see, my estimation, or anyone else’s for that matter, can actually, after a fashion, serve as a stumbling block to a true understanding of the Power and Nature of our most Glorious God.
Thirdly, the shore of the Sea of Galilee, where it is recorded that the Lord Jesus was cooking fish over a campfire and where Peter jumped overboard when he recognized the Lord.
Good old Peter.
If you have ever been or plan to go to Israel, you will find that it can be a little challenging to keep all the locations, events, and details straight. Some of these details (in terms of specific locations) can be subject to speculation as many have become “tourist-ified”!
Nevertheless, there is a felt presence of the Spirit of God most everywhere you go.
After we returned home, I was exhausted, and I slept until 10 am the next morning. After I woke and was lying in bed, my mind was rejoicing in all the things and places I saw, and I was thanking the Lord for His blessing. I had finally seen the land where the Lord of Glory walked and, more importantly, will walk again.
Where God will set the soles of His Feet! Wow!
That is when He spoke to me in my spirit in the most loving way imaginable. He indicated to me that none of the things I saw – the exact locations or any of that – mattered. Instead, He wanted me to remember the WHO, the WHAT, and the WHY.
- WHO paid that terrible price in order to make a Way to be forgiven by our Holy, Righteous and Perfect God.
- WHAT happened regardless of the exact location, and WHY did it happen.
This is what I want you to focus on and remember, He indicated to me.
I wept at the love He showed to me, and I have kept my focus on what He showed me ever since.
This little side trip, I think, matters both for the importance of pointing out what truly matters and to lend emphasis to the real intent of this article.
It was many Millennia from the time God created the world until the Death and Burial of Jesus Christ, and the fact that God provided prophets over the course of time is proof that He was (and still is) actively bringing about His plan for humankind. God does not view time as we finite humans do, although He understands how we view time and provided us with understanding that He is aware of this.
“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9).
Likewise, the prophets were given future revelation for our benefit, and they faithfully passed it on even though they could not understand it.
As I said previously, there are a lot of years encompassed in the panorama of human history up until the birth of Jesus and then up to His burial. Somewhere on the order of 4,030 years! That is a long, long time for us.
It is not a long time for God Almighty.
After all that “time,” in just THREE DAYS, God executed the part of His plan for Redemption that left absolutely no doubt that He is the Sovereign and Only God.
With the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, God made it undeniably clear that He is the God He claims to be.
He did it on His Timing, Wisdom, and Power. After 4,000+ years: in THREE DAYS, every aspect of the future of human history and life was changed forever!
God’s prophecy, given to Moses and recorded way back in Genesis 3:15, would be completed in just THREE DAYS!
“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15).
Satan did indeed “bruise His heel.” Jesus was murdered and was buried, and it looked like all was lost.
Then just THREE DAYS later, Jesus rose from the grave, and the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 was fulfilled. After more than 4,000 years, Satan’s head was indeed crushed by the Lord of Creation.
“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure” (Isaiah 46:9-10).
Whether you are a Christian and part of the family of God or an unbeliever, I pray you will give careful consideration to the Crux of this article.
My friends. There is another execution of His plan for redemption, and it is, I believe, coming very soon.
This next intervention by God the Father will not take 3 days. It will occur in the “twinkling of an eye.” In a nanosecond of time, God Almighty will enact the next phase of His plan.
The Rapture of the true, Christ-honoring, worshipping and following church will end the Age of Grace where one is able to be saved from the consequences of their sin by simply asking for it in the name of Jesus Christ. Please see the special message at the end of this article to find out what that involves.
“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).
This is not some futile mental exercise for weak and fragile minds. It is the Word of God, and it is made more certain by the exact fulfillment of those things that were once future prophecy but are now past history.
“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).
To my brothers and sisters who are already a part of the family of God through Jesus’ Saving Grace: Stay strong and trust in God’s timing as our family continues to grow.
God will execute right on time – His time.
To any unbelievers who may be reading this: In a nanosecond of time, the door will be closed on the age of Grace, and the unleashing of hell on earth will commence shortly thereafter. God has been warning since the first century after Jesus’ return to heaven that He will execute judgment on an unbelieving, rebellious world. Please don’t make the mistake of choosing to reject His warning call.
God further makes it clear that His actions cannot be undone once executed.
“Indeed, before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?” (Isaiah 43:13).
If you feel convicted, I plead with you to heed this call:
“For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
God will not force anyone to repent against their own free will. The choice of your eternal destination is wholly in your hands. It is worth pointing out that the intuitive understanding that humans have of that destination if they reject Christ is already understood. Some may deny that. Not a wise decision.
“For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20).
For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life:
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. It requires that you come before God on His terms.
And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
- No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
- No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
- Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
John 5:24: “Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life.”
There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics, or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.
The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God with all your heart, He will hear you. “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com
The post In Just 3 Days, Then, in the Blink of an Eye :: By Dave Hubley appeared first on Rapture Ready.
