Heaven and Earth Speak
Luke 21:5-27 NIV
Signs of the End of the Age
5Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6"As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down."
7"Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"
8He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, I am he, and, The time is near. Do not follow them. 9When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."
10Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12"But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13This will result in your being witnesses to them. 14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17All men will hate you because of me. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By standing firm you will gain life.
20"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Listen to these recent headlines and news stories.
1 Million Mexicans hit by flood. Nov 2/07
22 Million people in North Korea facing famine Oct 18/07
5 Million in Burma facing famine. Oct 18/07
AIDS has killed around 7 million agricultural workers since 1985 in the 25 hardest-hit countries, mostly in east and southern Africa, where AIDS-related illnesses could kill 16 million more before 2020, 31 Oct 07
29 October, 2007 The Prophet Of Climate Change: James Lovelock
One of the most eminent scientists of our time says that global warming is irreversible and that more than 6 billion people will perish by the end of the century.
Rachel Carson wrote. 11 October, 2007.
We find ourselves teetering on the edge of a global crisis that is being exacerbated by climate change, which is shrinking glaciers and raising sea levels.
Nibiru Also known as The Twelfth Planet or Planet X, some are warning that this wandering body is quickly nearing the Earth - and could cause global devastation.
The anomalous body was first spotted in 1983 by IRAS (Infrared Astronomical Satellite), according to news stories. The Washington Post reported:
Andy Lloyd isnt as pessimistic - or at least his calculations are different. Since he speculates that Nibiru was actually the Star of Bethlehem seen about 2,000 years ago.
1. The UNPRECEDENTED SOLAR ACTIVITY we are experiencing now in the middle of what should be the minimum part of the solar cycle. This is primarily due to the electromagnetic interaction with these objects.
2. So-called global warming is really climate change tied primarily to the Suns solar cycles. Mars is experiencing it now too.
3. MAJOR CATASTROPHIC EARTH CHANGES is the MOST SIGNIFICANT ISSUE. This has occurred accompanying previous passages and approaches of Planet X, Wormwood or Nibiru identified the world over through various flood stories, worldwide ecological evidence, and archaeological artifacts and detailed records from ancient civilizations. And during its current approach major earth changes have already begun.
And, of course, the much-analyzed Mayan calendar is said to set the "end of the world" in December, 2012.
Dec. 7, 2005 - Scientists have been monitoring a 390-meter wide asteroid for many months now, and have revised the the odds of it colliding with Earth from a 1 in 300 chance to a 1 in 37 chance.
Apophis asteroid was placed at four out of 10 on the Torino scale - a measure of the threat posed by an NEO where 10 is a certain collision which could cause a global catastrophe. This was the highest of any asteroid in recorded history.
They have named the asteroid Apophis, from the Egyptian mythological spirit of evil and destruction, a demon that was determined to plunge the world into eternal darkness. They are asking governments to make plans now to divert its orbit.
Source:Guardian - U.K.
So you thought you came to church to hear the good news? Well you will hear it but lets not ignore what is being said all around us about the time we live in concerning the heavens and the earth.
This is kind of an easy message to preach since the evidence is physical and not philosophical in nature.
Everyone can attest to the fact that our weather seems to be changing and as a result we are experiencing unparalleled disasters of near Biblical proportions or are they in fact just that; Biblical?
This is what I felt I need to bring to your attention as we gather in this pre-Advent season. You see we are about to celebrate Advent and it is a wonderful scriptural account which you all know very well.
But do you know the progression of events that will announce the Second Advent and return of the Lord?
We need to stop here and pause as we contemplate Gods timetable as it relates to the church and the nation of Israel.
These events are recorded and repeated in Matthew, Mark and Luke. It would seem that the debate about accepting them as literal or as historical could still be argued.
In 2007 we sit at a unique place in Church history. Our world is in near panic about Global warming due to fossil fuel consumption. But is that the real culprit or is Global warming a cover story meant to hide something far more ominous?
Whatever is happening to our world has resulted in the focused attention of all of its inhabitants. We seem to sense that something big is coming.
Some suggest that if a so called planet X is approaching it could cause disruptions to the earths magnetic poles and shift the earth from its current axis.
Such an event would cause the tectonic plates of earth to shift wildly causing massive earthquakes, tsunamis and tidal waves of gargantuan proportions.
Since this kind of event would be equivalent to the events seen in the movie Armageddon or the movie The Day After people believe that the worlds governments may not be forth coming about such a global catastrophe.
It is assumed that world governments would have a cover story to keep the masses calm and to keep the worlds financial markets, and existing systems in check. Some postulate that the Global warming accusation is just such a cover story.
Others point to the ancient history of the Sumerian people who first chronicled this planet X known to them as Nibiru and which is recorded in their clay tablets in cuneiform text recorded around 3000 BC.
According to that text this planet X is coming again around 2012 which also coincides with the Mayan calendar that ends on December 21st, 2012 suggesting the end of time as we know it or as the Maya knew it.
A disturbing fact is that many civilizations that predate ours make reference to this Winged Planet Nibiru but by many names.
They all claim it will act out as previously suggested by altering the earth itself. These cultures give it a different name but by way of character scholars believe they are all talking about the same planet.
History records many names for Planet X. The Sumerians called it the 12th planet or Nibiru (translates into; planet of passing). The Babylonians and Mesopotamians called it Marduk, The King of The Heavens and The Great Heavenly Body. The ancient Hebrews referred to it as the Winged Globe because of its long orbit high among the stars. The Greeks called it Nemesis. (Its most telling name)
Prophets have named it The Blue Star, The Red Star, The Fiery Messenger, and The Comet of Doom among others. No matter what the name used, its the same object that has the same effects before and during its passage of earth. The Sumerians also had a name for its approximate 3600-year orbit (A Shar). The ancient Hindu astronomers named Treta Yuga (3600 years) and the destruction it causes Kali Yuga.
In any event this heavenly object may bring about hell on earth or it may be just another doomsday story that passes quietly into the night just as the moon passes over us.
The point of all this is that we like the Wise men of Ancient Time need to look up and we need to look into our bibles and be ready for the second coming of Jesus Christ. We like they must be willing to pack our intellectual bags and cross from our homeland into the night while we follow Gods beacon for the ages. For we who live in 2007 that beacon that shines brighter than all the nights stars is the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Travel with me and we will seek to discover Him all over again. What we learn may bring us to our knees in worship or in desperation as we realize Jesus is the worlds only hope in these last days.
(2 Thess 2:3) Dont let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
- (1 Tim 4:1) The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
