Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. Joel 1:15.
The prophecies which the great I AM has given in His word, uniting link after link in the chain of events, from eternity in the past to eternity in the future, tell us where we are today in the procession of the ages, and what may be expected in the time to come. All that prophecy has foretold as coming to pass, until the present time, has been traced on the pages of history, and we may be assured that all which is yet to come will be fulfilled in its order.
Today the signs of the times declare that we are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Everything in our world is in agitation. Before our eyes is fulfilling the Saviour’s prophecy of the events to precede His coming: “Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. . . . Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”
The present is a time of overwhelming interest to all living. Rulers and statesmen, men who occupy positions of trust and authority, thinking men and women of all classes, have their attention fixed upon the events taking place about us. They are watching the relations that exist among the nations. They observe the intensity that is taking possession of every earthly element, and they recognize that something great and decisive is about to take place–that the world is on the verge of a stupendous crisis.
The Bible, and the Bible only, gives a correct view of these things. Here are revealed the great final scenes in the history of our world, . . . the sound of their approach causing the earth to tremble and men’s hearts to fail them for fear.
Today men and nations are being tested by the plummet in the hand of Him who makes no mistake. All are by their own choice deciding their destiny, and God is overruling all for the accomplishment of His purposes.
Christians should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise, and this preparation they should make by diligently studying the word of God and striving to conform their lives to its precepts.
Maranatha p. 68
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for the meeting that should take place this week regarding D’s future. Pray God will guide in all. L
—–Please pray for the following evangelistic efforts. Diane —· Chinle, AZ (Jul 15 – Aug 11) Navajo Indian Reservation, Pastor Charlie Whitehorse is preaching. —· Grand Island, NE (Jul 26 – Aug 2) Jorge Zelaya speaker —· Winter Haven, FL (Jul 28 – Aug 1) VBS Program – that the Lord will bless us with kids from our community to learn more about His love. — · Portland, OR (Jul 31 – Aug 3) Dr. Ron Clouzet will present a series on Christian Apologetics · Jackson, TN (Aug 1 – 3) — Maranatha Church Prayer Weekend Summit, Elder Benjamin P. Browne. Past Immediate President of South Central Conference weekend Speaker.
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Dear Friends,
Often brothers and sisters do not get along well. Thankfully, that is not the case with my three children. Ronnie Jay and Esther Marie have always been especially close. Five days after his third birthday, she was born. I had been afraid that he would be jealous, but that was not the case. Ronnie Jay was delighted and wanted to hold and cuddle her. He just beamed with happiness. From that moment, a special friendship developed between them.
As Esther Marie grew and was able to play, Ronnie Jay’s joy knew no bounds. They were constant companions. They had wonderful times together throughout their life. When she got a little older and I would tell her to pick up her toys, Ronnie Jay would pick them up for her. If I told her to clean her room, he would do it for her because he loved her so much. Like all children, Esther Marie would sometimes disobey and had to be punished. Ronnie Jay would beg me not to punish her and offer to take her punishment. Of course, I did not grant him his request, but I marveled at his love for his sister.
Greater love than the love between my two youngest children, is the love of Our Dear Saviour, Who “loves us with an everlasting love” and freely volunteered to take our punishment. Jer 31:3 Think of it! The Great Ruler of the Universe, the One equal with the Father, left all of the glories of Heaven, “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” Phil 2:5-10
The One Whom all Heaven adored humbled Himself and lived a life of constant self-denial, a life of service, a life of humility. From the time of His birth, the Romans tried to destroy Him. The priests and rulers plotted to kill Him, although they could not until the right time had come. Daniel prophesied, “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself…And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease” Daniel 9:26,27 What an important prophetic week that was! For three and a half years, our Dear Saviour walked through the land preaching “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt 3:2 He “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God [His Father] was with him.” Acts 10:38 Then, in the midst of the week, He laid down his life for us, that we might have live eternally in His glorious kingdom. What love! What wonderful love!
May we love Him Who first loved us, turn away from the things of this world which will soon pass away, and accept His great sacrifice. 1 John 4:19 May we serve Him with our whole heart and soul and mind and strength putting Him first in everything. Luke 10:27 May we do always those things that please Him Who gave His life for us that we might dwell with Him eternally.
Rose