prophecy – MessageWeek

War is Here

Reflecting on the recent coronavirus pandemic, recalling the lockdowns, fear-mongering, Chinese culpability and the general eroding of democratic freedom, the question arises as to what lies just ahead! Did this pestilence resemble one of the prophetic horsemen of the Apocalypse? Is there another metaphoric horseman about to ride?

There is reasonably good evidence to believe that we are on the precipice of drastic change. Where are we now on the doomsday clock? Is it now only one second to midnight? Is the long-awaited bridegroom coming? Are his wedding guests awake and ready?

Of course, these questions in themselves are just metaphors of a much greater scenario. As much as the term “Armageddon” is a metaphor for the last, climatic battle between evil and good, we would still do well to listen carefully to what is happening on our watch. The prophets spoke of it with great urgency. Jesus gave deeper insights as to what it would look like, then and now. Additionally, today, the Holy Spirit tells us of those “things yet to come.”

Against all the precedents of history, a homeland for the Jewish people was formed in 1948. Many in the diaspora returned to make new, innovative, and vision-driven lives. The “times of the Gentiles” spoken of in scripture had finally been fulfilled. All this and more are a precursor to the end times, as prophesied in the book of Daniel, when “many would run to and fro, and when knowledge would increase.”

The wars in 1967 and 1973 against Israel were surprisingly short, given the huge odds against them. Few can adequately explain the logistical victory by the Israelis when faced by numerous Arab armies. Today, we are again back in the battle field. At almost 200 days of war since the Hamas massacre on October 7^th 2023, the battle lines are being drawn between Iran and its proxies, and Israel and its ailing allies. Chinese and Russian warships have quietly positioned themselves in strategic waters around the Middle East, as have American and European vessels before them. New players, such as Hezbollah and the Houthis are dangerously wont to fire their missiles creating havoc and uncertainty. And as of this week, Iran is promising retaliatory strikes against Israel, matching their tiring rhetoric of destroying both Israel and the USA.

Why might this be of concern to you and me? Why should we care? Simply because in the prophetic insights, the city of Jerusalem sits tenuously at the centre of the Biblical narrative. It is the city of the Great King. The gospel message emanated from there. And Jesus apparently will visibly return to Jerusalem. It is the “cup of trembling for all nations” as spoken by ancient seers, including Jeremiah and Zechariah.

Now, the speculation is rife that Iran may attack Israel within the next 48 hours. Anticipation it is, with many would-be modern prophets and political analysists having a feast amidst tantalising titbits of verified and unverified information to keep the armchair netzines glued to their screens. The first casualty of war, of course, is truth! Others, in contrast, simply ignore the bodes of war and immerse themselves in the distraction of entertainment, the world of sport, and even their work.

War is coming. Will not end in annihilation? Absolutely not. At the darkest point, another and final trumpet will herald the promised coming and revealing of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amidst glory, resurrection, and the promised cup of consummation, Jesus’ words as recorded in the Book of Revelation tells us not only “of things to come,” but warns us through the coming days to light our lamps and listen carefully to what the Spirit of God says.

Looking Ahead

How do we adequately prepare for what’s ahead – either the immediate future or the long-term horizon view? It is without doubt that those who have a Biblically-based broad-brushstroke narrative and trajectory of “certain hope” focused on Jesus are in a good place to pioneer whatever lies ahead.

We believe that we’re created in God’s image and likeness. We believe that life, therefore, has meaning and purpose. In other words, that suffering also has some kind of larger, transcendent context. We identify as God’s offspring, His children. We cherish that we’re loved so much, and often marvel that such a great price has been paid in our redemption (in Jesus). We hold dear that Jesus is coming again, in glory, might and power. And, from those scriptures, we also become cognisant that His coming will be preceded by a time “that has never happened before nor will ever happen again”.

We can easily become immersed, for example, in the descriptive narrative throughout Matthew 24 and Luke 21, as well as ponder the rich imagery throughout Revelation, each contributing to a broad-brushstroke array of the events at the end of this age and the heralding of the new.

The Lord has revealed just enough for us to know and all that we need for today. Of course, none of us particularly relish facing what appear to be increasingly difficult times. Here we’re comforted by Jesus words:

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous.”

“In this world you will have tribulation,” says Jesus, “but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”

The notion of suffering for Christ begins with Jesus’ teachings and proceeds throughout the apostolic letters. The question, of course, is how are we ever going to adequately negotiate these times – given that the past 70 or so years in the West at least since World War 2 has been relatively peaceful, abundantly prosperous, full of opportunity, with generally good health services, a stable economy, and parliaments that still affirm the Bible before each session? Many have become complacent, beguiled by ungodly ideologies. Our society that grew from its Judaic-Christian roots is now in the throes of accelerated, declining change.

When Jesus said, “As in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man,” he referred to a previous age known by its extreme violence, sexual depravity and social malevolence. Thus, “the Days of Noah” are also synonymous with a great “reset”.

God thus simply flushed away all the wickedness, and through this baptism of water, started again. And, at the brightness of Jesus’ coming, begins another “GREAT RESET”: Return, Reset, Resurrection followed by an age of Righteousness. But all this is preceded by “birth pains”.

So, here’s the question: How are you and I (or our children and grandchildren) ever going to be adequately prepared to face all this yet “unwritten” but certain interim future?

The good news is, that as we abide in Christ and His words are intrinsic to our narrative, our future trajectory is not uncertain. We are victors in Christ!

How does this happen? God prepares and equips us over many years and through all kinds of circumstances, like He has done throughout history. For example, Joseph was prepared through unjust and arduous suffering before he attained the pinnacle of leadership in Egypt. Imagine languishing in prison for many years at the behest of a lying, promiscuous woman!

Likewise, Moses was prepared for his life’s calling, first in the courts of Pharaoh, then in the wilderness for decades, before his life’s mission and purpose became apparent.

David the unknown shepherd boy had his first fights with a lion and then a bear, before embracing a calling to leadership, replete with ensuing battles and many epic struggles.

Jesus equipped and mentored his closest followers for over three years to take on the biggest job of all – in the midst of Roman cruelty and oppression. It’s terrifying to contemplate how many crucifixions those disciples may have witnessed before they saw Jesus go that same fate?

God equips us all before he allows us to step into “future history”. Jesus so many times exhibited a stunningly accurate foretelling of the immediate as well as long-term future. He said to Peter with unwavering confidence: “Satan has asked for you. But I have prayed for you and when you have turned…” the corner in this.

When Jesus called his disciples, he said, “I will make you…” There were no shortcuts to what Jesus had in mind. God knows who we’re becoming, and we need to trust His handiwork. It is the Lord’s work and all is of His making. Gold and silver are refined by fire; Jesus is building His church, and he’s not using sticks and straw. Our part is to remain available and faithful – looking indeed to a future that is gloriously brighter than we may dimly envisage today.

666

Thanking God for His providence over many decades, slowly heading along the path Christ is leading. As a result, and I trust that this is true for most of us sojourners, the desired outcome is that we all have a testimony – our own unique story of joy and sadness, struggle and gain, even temptation and courage! What’s your story? Do you have one?

We’ve been telling the same story by video for some 22 years now. The chief protagonist is Jesus. The scene is corruption, decay, wickedness amidst smoldering promise and hope. It’s a battle between good and evil, truth and compromise, light and dark.

This week we uploaded our 666th gospel film. Like those streets that don’t have a number 13 (preferring instead a 11B letterbox number), the number 666 has it’s own connotations and symbolism. So, how might we manage this conundrum? Number the video as 665B, or plunge right in and tell it like it is?

Presented by Pastor John Klassek

Mystery of Glory

The wonder and mystery of the central gospel message, salvation in Christ, is conveyed throughout the pages of the Bible using poetry, prophecy, prose, preaching, praise and parable.

When perusing the scriptures, we may find ourselves wondering about the heavenly dimension where Jesus has, for the time being, returned. How do we then grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ while he is in heaven? How do we comprehend all that Jesus asks us to believe? Why are there only a few glimpses into the heavenly dimension by so few prophets? Like a well-written story, we hunger for more details about this promised “glory”.

Unlike those in ages past who mostly accepted the mystery of life, our era of scientific rationalism wants to dissect everything into manageable bytes. However, the lesson that we must learn is finding satisfaction in the “mystery” element � being content that ultimately, in due course, we will understand and experience our awaiting hope of glory. We cannot begin to comprehend the details of what exists beyond time, space and matter! We also learn from the parable that we�re not the “potter” but rather the “clay”.

Thus, as hard as we often try, we simply fail to comprehend the depth and height and greatness of the glory revealed in the heavenly � past, present and future � even when such glimpses are generously made available. A good example that comes to mind is found in Matthew�s gospel account.

Of the twelve, Jesus took just three of his closest disciples, Peter, John and James, into the wilderness and atop a remote mountain. And there, in the isolation of that pristine environment, Jesus allowed them, suddenly in vision, to gain a glimpse of a heavenly dimension. Known as the Transfiguration, the disciples momentarily saw Jesus glorified shining “brighter than the sun”, and with him in conversation were two others whom they immediately recognised as Moses and Elijah � prophets from antiquity who were deceased long ago!

Yes, these were two of greatest men in Hebrew history: Moses who was instrumental in the giving of the Law, and yes, there was Elijah, the quintessential and epitome of all the prophets! So, what was this vision all about? Just as the disciples were grappling with and trying to comprehend what they were experiencing, a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5)

How would you have responded to such a heavenly, other-dimensional experience? Would you have fared any better than Peter who, for example, as the most outspoken of the disciples, without hesitating suggested that they build three cubby houses to accommodate Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Of course, this definitely wasn�t what the vision demanded � we immediately sense the folly of trying to create booths to “accommodate” the heavenly. Peter profoundly misread this situation and as a result profoundly misspoke!

What about John and James? We don�t know much about their reaction from this account except that they either fell down in great fear or simply fainted. Many years later, however, in the Revelation vision that Jesus gave to John, John became so overwhelmed by what he saw and heard that he inappropriately prostrated in worship before the angelic messenger � an idolatrous act for which he was promptly rebuked. Most prophets, including Isaiah, Daniel and Ezekiel, trembled and often fainted when confronted with a glimpse into the heavenly dimension.

Thankfully and understandably today, we are largely shielded from such other-dimensional experiences, partly because we cannot cope with them, and, as Jesus taught, even if someone were to miraculously rise from the dead it still would be insufficient to convince an unbelieving heart. (Luke 16:31)

God wants us to remember, however, that like an unborn baby, we�re still not yet equipped to embrace the resurrected, fully-glorified rebirth splendour promised to us, when we will see our Heavenly Father face to face!

This explains why, when God came as the incarnate Jesus, he mostly taught using basic, easy-to-understand parables rooted in first century fishing, domestic livelihood and agriculture that local villagers could understand. Today, God continues to convey his will and purpose throughout the scriptures, telling of this glory through: Poetry using rhythm and rhyme; Prophecy foretelling and forth-telling; Prose given letter by letter, word by word; Preaching sermons long and short; Praise in the Psalms and glimpses of angelic worship; and only as Jesus could, Parables that are metaphors of a greater reality.

Thus, somehow engrossed in awe and wonder, we too must become content in the mystery that words in this life simply�fail to�accommodate. As Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans (8:23, 26 paraphrased): “All creation yearns for the revealing of the sons of God… and the Spirit in us affirms this in �groans� that words cannot express.”

Cherish the mystery, be content in the wonder, and believe in Jesus and all that he tells us.

By John Klassek

What was Jesus telling John?

Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulphur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed-by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.

(Revelation 9:14-18 NKJV)

What was Jesus telling John in this vision? Is this a warning for our generation? Or is this simply an allegorical bit of mumbo-jumbo, safe to ignore and open to ridicule?

Might we be wise to heed Jesus on this one? Is this a prophetic picture of what is brewing near the Euphrates River today, ditto, Iran? Is the tension on the Korean peninsula part of this equation?

“Fire, smoke and brimstone” sounds like thermo-nuclear war, doesn’t it!