In A Twinkling Of An Eye - Don't Miss The Signs

“In the Twinkling of an Eye

Don’t miss the Signs”

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

PRAYER: -

SCRIPTURES: - Luke 21:25-28, Genesis 1:14, 1 Corinthians 15:52, Jeremiah 10:2 Joel 2:30-31.

OPENING: - This past Resurrection Sunday which is also known as Easter landed on March 31 this year which was a week and a half earlier than Resurrection Sunday last year in 2023 and is the 1st time in 8 years that it hasn’t been celebrated in April. Also, the Jewish celebration of Passover this year will be celebrated in late April starting on April 22 which is over 2 weeks later than the 2023 celebration. Both (Easter) Resurrection Sunday and Passover follow a schedule that aligns with the phases of the Moon and the Sun’s position known as the lunisolar calendar and the Farmers Almanac refers to these as movable feast and are based upon the first full moon of spring. We of the Western Civilization always celebrate (Easter) Resurrection Sunday the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring which happens shortly after the first day of spring known as the vernal equinox. The earliest it can occur is March 22 and the latest is April 25 this is why we celebrate it either in March or April because it follows the moons position and really has nothing to do with the date Jesus Resurrected, Easter is a pagan holiday that was incorporated into Christianity as a way to supposedly have Christianity accepted as the official religious system. When Jesus rose from the dead is NOT EASTER. However, the last time (Easter) Resurrection Sunday fell on March 31 was in 2013 and according to the U.S. Census Bureau the next time it will fall on this date is in the year 2086 and again in 2097. Now we have an explanation as to why Easter moves back and forth between March and April.

Now you may be wondering what this has to do with the Word of God since Easter is a pagan celebration and how is it relevant to me. Well, the Bible says in Genesis 1:14 “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years”. Luke 21:25 says, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring”. When God created the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars they were to be a sign to provide for the timing of days and nights, seasons, years and in Jeremiah 10:2 God says “Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them”. This is not Astrology is a form of divination and is forbidden in the Word of God, it is the belief that the heavenly bodies control our destiny, but Astronomy which is the science used to create calendars and the sun, moon and stars should cause us to look and wonder in awe at God’s wisdom, power, and endlessness. We should use the heavens to keep track of time, seasons, and God’s covenant keeping nature.

I truly believe that as people of God, Christians, those that are expecting the Blessed Hope the Rapture must pay close attention to the potentially prophetic significance of the signs in the Heavens as well as the distress of nations upon the earth. Someone may ask why we should be concerned with the signs in the heavens. First because Psalms 19:1-2 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge” and Second because Luke 21:28 says, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” and Third because Genesis 1:14 says, “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years”.

When we look at the condition of the world today and see all the things that are going on, the political uncertainty, wars, famine, pestilences, and the love of many waxing cold, the world is on a short fuse everywhere, people killing I do not believe that they are just shear coincidences but are in fact signs, signals, and indicators that God is using to get the attention of the people because He is soon to return.

Not setting any date as to the return of Jesus but I will say that the Word of God declares that signs in the heavens will precede the Day of the Lord Luke 21:25 says, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring”. I know this is talking about the return of Christ when He comes to set up His millennial Kingdom, but I also believe that He is letting us know that He is soon to come and Rapture, Harpazo us out of here.