REVELATION

Last week, Beth and the boys were pizza-hungry and we headed to Mellow Mushroom.  As we waited for our order, an ear-splitting fire alarm lifted us off the seat.

The good news was there wasn't a fire; the bad news was they couldn't turn off the fire alarm.  When the noise drove us outside, a big red fire truck arrived shortly to provide great entertainment for the boys.

Warnings are good unless they are false alarms...or worse, if they are either unrecognized or ignored.

That's why the LORD told the apostle John to write down a vision that God gave him for what is ahead.  Since then,  the book of Revelation has proven to be both a warning and an encouragement for God's church for two millennia.

Often Revelation's imagery makes our imaginations explode and we want to look away.  But the words were given by God in love to prepare us for the testing that will come upon the whole earth.  Setting out His protection and His wrath, the Revelation words deserve careful study that we might unlock all that He has for us to learn.

Having just completed Revelation 11, our BSF study is halfway through the twenty-two chapters.  Here are some thoughts from our lecture notes and Scripture study:

DEJA VU, ALL OVER AGAIN.
In response to the wickedness of men, once the Lord cleansed the earth with a flood and began anew  with Noah.  When iniquity is ripe, He will repeat the process.

The apostle Paul told the men on Mars Hill that God has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising Him from he dead.

God's love is rich and full, but another of His character qualities is justice, which demands a response. The full gospel includes God's love AND His wrath.  We must repent.

WHO'S NUMBER ONE? 
God begins the Ten Commandments by requiring that He be first in our hearts.  Egyptian history has taught us that Pharaoh thought he was God, before he found out the hard way he wasn't.  Pharaoh also thought all the other Egyptian gods were God.  Again he was proven wrong as each was proven helpless against the One True God.

From Egypt's first plague (when the water turned to blood) to the end times in Revelation (when the water again will be turned to blood)...God sends judgment and mercy.

He shows MERCY by serving warning through the plagues.  The result?  The Bible records there were Egyptians who left with Israel in the exodus.  God was JUST in that He did not ignore wicked men's choice to spurn their Creator to serve the created.

WHO IS WORTHY?
In Revelation 4/5, we get to peer into heaven and see the joyous celebration and worship around the throne.

A booming angel's voice asks "Who is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals?".  John cried because no one was able, but then the Lamb of God steps up.  In a fashion emblematic of His priesthood, the Lamb ALONE is worthy to stand between God and man.

These seal judgments, the trumpet judgments, and the bowl judgments begin  the process which ushers in the return of Jesus and the remaking of the earth.

EARTH'S DEVASTATION.
As God pours out His wrath on what He has made, we can stagger under the magnitude of the famine, murder, disease, earthquakes, volcanoes, stars falling out of the sky, and the moon and sun going dark.  The demon locusts from Chapter 9 are particularly freaky.

Those who want to save the earth may have not taken into consideration that the Lord Himself will destroy it.

GOD'S PROTECTION. 
The church age ends and God faithfully calls others to explain Himself to the world.

One hundred forty-four thousand Jews are saved and given spiritual sight in multiple miraculous instances that attest to God's promise-keeping power and mercy.  They go out to serve as evangelists during the tribulation.

How else does God protect?  His sweet mercy protects us by warning us in the book of Revelation.  He sends His angels to hold back the winds in order to protect His chosen Jews.  Then God places a seal on their foreheads, showing ownership and His power to ensure their security.

Chapter 11 shows the same protection for the two witnesses who many think are Moses and Elijah.  They faithfully proclaim repentance until it is their day to die and God releases the beast from the abyss.  Then for a period of time as wicked men celebrate over their dead bodies in the street, the Lord God puts breath back into their bodies, stunning the watching world.

The All-Powerful One who gives salvation keeps us safe until our purpose for Him has been made complete.

REGIME CHANGE.  Revelation 11:15 is a shiny verse which describes the moment when God takes back what is rightfully His.  It's the moment for which WE HAVE PRAYED when we say "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven".  Handel contemplated this Revelation 11:15 verse before he wrote THE MESSIAH.  The martyrs under the altar have continually asked God for this moment so that God would come, avenge their deaths, and make things right.

IT'S THE MOMENT WHEN GOD'S KINGDOM COMES.

Of course, when you chose sides for dodgeball in third grade, you didn't choose after the game began.  So the time for salvation is now.

Believers hope when the trumpet sounds we have been removed because the destruction will be beyond anything before in human history.  In His mercy, those left may still call on God's name.  They will remain in the fray, but their eternal destiny will be intact.

SALVATION AND WRATH.
Revelation 10 speaks of an angel giving John a little book and telling him to eat it.  We know that God's words are to be taken in, so we believe this book to be the Bible.

John takes them into his mouth and they taste sweet (just as God's words are sweeter than honey).  But then as John digests them, they make his stomach sour.  That is because John is understanding that God does not save everyone.  Not everyone repents, but it troubles John that those with a stiff neck will be tormented for eternity.

The gospel is more than "God loves you".

Are you ready for judgment?  The ferocity and frequency of natural disasters are sounding alarms.  Yesterday Alaska recorded a 7.28 quake.  Last week we saw a CBS report about a coastal school in Westport, Washington which has built a "vertical evacuation shelter" to protect children against a tsunami that they expect when earth plates move and cause a big earthquake.  Scientists say a "supervolcano" @Yellowstone is overdue.

The Bible makes reference to "earth dwellers" in the Revelation.  That is not just a geographic term, but a description of people with their eyes on earth rather than heaven.  It is inconceivable to read that as the sixth trumpet blows and God's judgment falls on a third of mankind, the remaining earth dwellers will not repent.  They will not join the One Who Reigns Forever because their hardened hearts are beyond the day of grace.

Don't be an earth dweller!  Lift your eyes to heaven by reading the Revelation.  And then pay attention to the warnings God gives us because it is not in His character to give false alarms.

A warning does no good if it is ignored or unrecognized.

CHRISTMAS/NEW YEARS GREETINGS, 2015

Little girl dreaming at Macy's window in 1949.

The Cruses would like to stick our heads in with our best wishes at these last 2015 hours.

We hope your Christmas celebration was rich with family and brought all that your heart desired.

As Mike and I look back over our shoulders at the last year, we think of the many graces that the Lord has shown us.  We KNOW we don't deserve them, so it swells our  gratitude and brings tears to our eyes to think of it.

THANKFUL.  We think of God's great gifts of marriage and family, for allowing us to birth kids and then for them to marry and have grandkids that make our lives sing.  The grandgirls in Little Rock and the grandboys up here in Fayetteville give us such unbridled and enthusiastic love.

May I offer just one short Will story from last week?  He and I were in the back seat one day with Papa and Beth up front.  Not being able to contain myself, I cut my eyes over and said "Will, if you're not careful I'm gonna come over there and smother you in kisses!".  His eyes lit up and with a big grin he said "I not careful, Mimi!"

Life is good with grands.

The littles have an affinity for one another.

There were no names on tags, just character qualities for the
year.  Nate shows great perseverance in his hard work.

Hanna shows creativity, leadership, and
consideration for others.

Caroline loves and gives generously.

Lily is patient and a great Kindergarten student.

Will loves his family and is kind to others.

After the unwrap, Papa asked each grandchild "Why do we give gifts?".  Then the rest of us got a big gift as we heard their hearts.

What is it, Mimi?

Tall and short people ran through the house like banshees in a Nerf war.

NEWSWORTHY.  I guess our biggest 2015 news is that our house sold and next fall we will be residents of a retirement community in Fayetteville called Butterfield Trail Village.  Perhaps you read the story, but if not, here's the LINK.  The bulldozer showed up on 12/30 to begin construction.  

Thirty-four years ago, a group of five churches considered how to live the James verse which charges Christians to care for widows.  That's how  Butterfield was born.  Today it has grown beyond expectation to include a staff of 200 who make life easier for 400 residents on 44 acres.  

The average move-in age @BTV is 75 and neither of us can believe Mike will be 74 next March.  He may be the only resident over there who routinely climbs trees and has slain 21 piggies this year.

As we sense this season of our lives changing, we appreciate our home which has made life very pleasant.  At the same time, we look forward to saying goodbye to maintenance outside and inside.  And we hope to give our kids a gift as we go through our "stuff" and downsize so they don't have to.  If it doesn't kill me, I'm gonna be so minimized by next Christmas. 

CONCERNS.  Scripture says a lot about not fearing, but instead to trust God.  Haven't we needed that reminder this year?  Our world is colored by the fear of terrorism, making this post less happy clappy than some.  Just an objective glance at the AP's "Top Ten" stories of 2015 shows half to be about ISIS or their evil deeds.  World history shows that this is not the first time radical Islam has risen as a bloodthirsty predator.  Still, who DREAMED we would see such raw evil unleashed on civilization?  And what is our role in all of it?

God is allowing the nations to prove the glories of His righteousness.  That means...by their deeds all people earn what is coming as the next kingdom is about to be ushered in.  Never before has that Joshua verse "choose ye this day who you will serve" been more appropriate.  

WHO SHALL WE SERVE?  
Will it be law or grace?  Grace is the message of the movie "Les Miserables".  Didn't you love to see the transformation when the Bishop put the silver candlesticks into Jean Valjean's hands and caused him to feel his worth?  The law may have targeted  Valjean, but it was grace which melted his hard heart.   

That's why Islam has no power except by the sword.  Islam offers no generosity through forgiveness, and none of grace's sweet relief.  It only offers duty with no guarantees.  Then when the supply of duty-energy to "religion" exhausts, you are back at square one to getting closer to God.  Not all roads lead to heaven.  

WHAT'S AHEAD.  The Lord's timetable is His alone; He certainly hasn't shared it with Mike and I...or with anyone else.  But He does give signs and signs are everywhere. No one can deny the hole we have dug for ourselves.  If we ever needed rescuing, it's NOW as civilization's outward attack competes with the attack from within.  

The Christ Child offers a way for people to come and go with Him, but He will not force anyone to be with Him.  Meanwhile, the world is also calling.  

CORRUPTION.  The world's fragrance is decadence, and crooked choices are everywhere.  In his new movie, Leonardo DiCaprio asks us to consider the power and draw of beastiality...Glamor magazine asks us to suspend common sense to honor a man as "Woman of the Year"...Americans put on hold rational thought and clear evidence in order to support Planned Parenthood's carnage and profit...and youth are drawn to a swashbuckling murder/rape kind of life with ISIS. 

THE TASK.  In the past, we may have curbed hostility from countries with foreign aid dollars.  But we can't buy off terrorists who come from countries all around the world.  We can't reason with their evil intent that is beaten into them from early years and permeates their culture.  So how do we preserve Western civilization?

We may shudder at the closeness of evil and especially for the world our grandchildren will inherit.  But the apostle Paul said we shouldn't be overcome by the darkness.  Instead, we are to overcome evil with good, one choice at a time.  First we respond to Jesus' call, and then with purposeful intent, live the gospel/share the gospel as the Holy Spirit leads.   

As we share the gospel, the Book says it should go to the Jew first.  After all, the Christ Child is the only baby who could pick His ancestors and He chose the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  (On that subject, we found this Christmas eve article very interesting.)  Would you consider how you could flesh out that calling in the New Year?

Jean Valjean found his worth and future in God and was a changed man.  May our world include MANY of his tribe in 2016.

  





  

SAINTS

Did you celebrate All Saints Day yesterday?  It felt good to be done with Halloween's darkness.

Who are the saints and why do we celebrate them?  Men say certain people are saints by canonization, but who does God say the saints are?  Let's start at the beginning:

QUESTION:  What does the word "saint" mean?
The Greek word "hagios" (saint, holy one) means someone consecrated to God or "called out".  Saints are people set apart for the Lord and His work.

QUESTION:  How do you get to be a saint?
There are SIXTY-SEVEN times the Bible uses the word "saints" to refer to believers; only once is the word used as the singular noun "saint".  And in that one usage, saint is used in the larger sense ("Greet every saint in Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you." Philippians 4:21).

Saints are people who have asked Jesus to cover their sins and then live for Him.  

QUESTION: Where are the saints...in heaven or on earth?
Both.  But the majority of Bible verses that speak of saints, the verses are instructions to Christ's body, the church.

....."To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours" 1Corinthians 1:2

.....(Paul speaking of his persecution of Christians) "And I did so in Jerusalem.  I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them."  Acts 26:10

.....(Paul praying for the Ephesians) "...that since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened - so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what is the wealth of His glorious inheritance in the saints..."  Ephesians 1:18

.....(Ephesians 6:18) "With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints."

.....(Paul writing to the church at Rome)  "To those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints" Romans 1:7

.....(Paul preparing the Romans for Phoebe's arrival) "Welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and provide her with whatever help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many, including me." Romans 16:2

.....(Paul to Christians who were suing Christians in Corinth) "or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?  And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to settle trivial suits?"  1 Corinthians 16:15

QUESTION:  What do the saints do?
In Ephesians 4, it says when Jesus ascended He gave gifts to men of preachers, teachers, prophets, and evangelists...to "equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ."

Why do we need full stature?  Sometimes I need it because I feel like I'm flopping around as I follow Him.  The passage goes on to say "Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth."

We learn from teachers/preachers/evangelists/prophets so that we can be equipped for the work of ministry (building up/adding to the body of Christ ).  We mature in Christ so that we can love others to Him.  That is our work on earth.

And at the same time we are also working out our sanctification, earning crowns, and clothing ourselves in righteous deeds.  My works do not save me; my shame has already been dealt with at the cross.  But as I follow the urging of the Holy Spirit, I am adding to my reward which will be distributed at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  There He will evaluate how well I have used the gifts He has given me for His kingdom... from the day of my salvation forward.

QUESTION:  What about the saints in heaven.  What do they do?  
The souls of saints above wait for the day of the Lord when they will regain their physical body and be like Him, once and for all, in a place without sin.  And they pray for justice on earth.

Should we pray to them?  WHY WOULD WE WANT A SIDEBAR WHEN WE CAN GO DIRECTLY INTO THE JUDGE'S CHAMBERS?  Christians have a great privilege to approach the throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).  We all have people we ask to pray for us, but our best Advocate before the Father is the LORD Jesus.  "Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him because He always lives to intercede for them."  Hebrews 7:25

QUESTION:  Why do the saints need to set their hearts on things above?
We are not yet done with earthly things, but the souls in Revelation who are under the altar are praying from a whole different perspective.  There is a time coming when our affections shift away from the earthly.  There is no marriage in heaven and there is nothing we can UHaul into heaven.  Heaven is a place of undiminished and unfettered affection for a holy God.  How do I know?

In Revelation it speaks of the souls under the altar (martyred for Jesus' sake as were the Coptic Christians on the seashore) crying out  "how long, Lord?"

They are not praying for earthly things.  They are wanting to know how much longer until the Lord brings His glory and sets up His kingdom and avenges corruption. These saints LONG to see His Kingdom come so that things can be set straight.

QUESTION:  Where's the focus?  Canonization puts the focus on the individual's work...but seeing a believer as "saint" puts the focus on Jesus' work in the individual.  Canonization suggests that a candidate for sainthood has special deeds and status given after they die, but the Bible views Christians as a saint involved in service to the church while he lives.

In fact, Jesus is seen AS the altar in Hebrews 13:10. "We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle have no right to eat."  Amazingly, our Great High Priest IS both our Altar and our Sacrifice.  He does it all.  He is the Beginning and the End, the Provider and Provision, and the place of permission to meet with God.

QUESTION:  Have you made friends with the whole concept of being a saint? 
It's more than we can take in.  We know we're not worthy.

Why would He shower us with pardon and salvation and purpose and crowns and a future that reigns with Him forever?  Why?

We have disobeyed and disregarded Him and we deserve the place with flames.  Nonetheless, He makes us a saint if we have humbled ourselves before Him.

We give thanks to the Father for His qualification that allows us to share in the saints' inheritance in the light.

AN AMERICAN WELCOME

We had company last week.  Pope Francis came to see us and Americans poured out to hear him.

The reactions to his visit were all over the board; some were surprised at what he said and others were surprised at what he didn't say (such as not comforting the Christians who have lost everything in the Middle East).

The Argentine Pope also did not say "Jesus"...or refer to Scripture except in his address to Congress, when he spoke of "the Golden Rule".  That lead someone to call it the "Sermon on the Hill" (rather than "Sermon on the Mount").  Instead, Pope Francis seemed to live out in actions the famous quote from his namesake to "preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words".

Either way, it was gratifying to see people "reach out" for the love of Christ as seen in this compassionate man with cute expressions.

There are always the enterprising souls who figure out how to make money.  On NYC streets, these bobbleheads were said to sell for $50.









Others went over the edge into a weird kind of worship.

After the Pope left the podium in Congress, Rep. Bob Brady (Democrat, Pennsylvania) went up and swiped the glass of water that the Pope had used.

Rep. Brady drank from it and gave some to his wife, then saved the rest to sprinkle on his grandchildren.

The news put the Pope squarely in the spotlight all week, giving him access to millions.  It was a rare opportunity when so many had spiritually attentive ears.  Such receptivity was tailor-made for the reason Christ left His church on earth...so that we could be net-casters, throwing out the message that explains how to go home.

Washington, D.C.

Madison Square Garden, NYC

Philadelphia

The theme of religious liberty came up first at the White House and then often, with the Pope following up on that by visiting the Little Sisters of the Poor.  He stated "Religious freedom is not just a matter of thought or private devotion.  It is the freedom to live - both privately and publicly - according to the ethical principles that are a consequence of the truth found."

The Pope is a soldier for the sanctity of life and he defended traditional values and spoke often of protecting the institution of marriage in a day when it is in danger (a veiled reference to gay marriage).  He showed humility and compassion as he met with victims of the priest sex scandals.

There were also political statements about things besides the gospel. Pope Francis spoke of global warming and the environment, two subjects on which people of good will may disagree.

We remember it was Pope John II who apologized 350 years after the church condemned Galileo (link) for what the scientist believed about the Sun and the Earth.

After reading Scripture about the sun moving and the earth standing still, Galileo's mind was challenged about the beliefs of his time.  Years later we know Galileo was right, but he had to recant to save his life from the Inquisitors.  And in the end it was the church who changed, not Scripture.

A lot was said about the dignity of man and the Pope demonstrated that  concern by serving the homeless and visiting the prisoners.

Can man's dignity be enhanced any more than to see his hope in Christ?  People need to know God dignifies man as He makes man in His image, demonstrates man's worth in the Son's volunteer mission to exchange His life, and then assures man a place in His family by adopting him and making him joint heirs with Christ.

Poverty was also discussed.  No one advocates doing nothing about poverty, but the gospel goes over poverty's head.  Jesus and his disciples were dirt poor but spiritually rich for eternity.  Any man is rich if he knows the certainty of his future.  One day this blip of time will be over and tables will be turned forever.  Meanwhile, we work to make things better while we are here.  And what is the best partner in that?  A free economy has done more to help people out of poverty than any nation's socialistic redistribution.

It was good to hear the Pope's encouragement to immigrants to be good citizens.  Our country benefits from people who want to assimilate and join us in this great experiment of liberty.  Indeed, a borderless country throws away the guarantee of liberty which makes us unique.   And just an aside?  The Vatican is considered a city-state and they have a very high wall and very strict borders to preserve their uniqueness.

Pope Francis appears to be a wonderful shepherd who loves people and serves effortlessly.  He gets applause for his humble efforts to contrast the Vatican's opulence with his Fiat ride and living quarters.

Even though the little girl who ran up to him was planned and rehearsed, the Pope's enjoyment of children seems nonetheless genuine.  At seventy-eight, the Lord has blessed him with an incredible strength and perseverance as he  carries out his assignment.

Bottom line?  Now that Pope Francis is gone, if people are still thinking about the papal man rather than the Son of Man...then the spotlight is misplaced.  And while calling people up to good deeds is noble, if his audience assume salvation comes as a result of those acts of mercy, then such an impression can be personally costly.  Why?

The Pope demonstrated kindness, but onlookers might say "I'm just not like that; I don't love people like he does so there's no hope for me."  That's why the kindest thing would be to throw a lifeline by explaining how one comes to God and receives life-change through Christ.

MUSLIM PRESIDENT?

The latest political kerfuffle centers around a comment made by Dr. Ben Carson that he would not suggest having a Muslim President.  What did he mean by that?

We live in an age of religious pluralism which presumes all world religions are equal and all beliefs are also equally valid.  If plurality were the case, then Dr. Carson's comment would be bigoted.  But plurality's "open-mindedness" conflicts with what the Bible teaches.

The Old Testament story of Moses and the Ten Plagues was a picture book about how the One True God is more powerful than any of the gods of Egypt.  The New Testament is proof-text that the One True God is all-powerful as He resurrected His Son from death.

Have any of the "other gods" proven they are who they say they are?

When Jesus says, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Eternal)"...that would be in stark contrast to a Hindu teaching of many gods...or Buddha's teaching...or Muslim teaching.  The religions of the world ALL have different "takes" on the way home, so they can't all be right or equally valid.

We hear a lot about Muslims being peace-loving.  But if we do a fruit check, we see Muslims have been quite a lot of aggravation. Their "peace-lessness" is also born out in history as Islam's plan of conquest constantly has tried to bring the entire world under submission for Allah.

Certainly not all Muslims are jihadists.  But all in Muslim countries are underneath a governing system whose web infiltrates every level of living, including how to run government, business, religion, dress, and even personal hygiene.

On the other hand, Judaism and Christianity are not governing systems between men and the state, but are about relationships between men and God.  We learn to love liberty from our Creator.

This piece was written in 2007; it's called "One God" and it explores the contrast between the Father God and the "other god".

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"One God calls us to love and forgive;
The other god calls for intimidation and submission by force.

One God adopts us into His family;
The other god is master who permits servants.

One God says sin is inside of man and offers a Solution and a Helper;
The other god sees sin coming from the outside and designed burkas.

One God honors women; they are equally part of His story
The other god subjugates half his flock.

One God pleads "come, let us reason together";
The other god does not stoop or promote the free interchange of ideas.

One God offers a place to be with Him forever;
The other god reduces heaven to carnality.

One God is the Author of second chances;
With the other god it is "one strike and you're out!".

One God sees man's disobedience and the Bible says it grieves His heart;
The other god's woodshed is brutal.

One God is a tender Shepherd who carries His lambs;
Is that in the other god's book?

One God had a Son who came down to save;
The other god's people reach up and hope they've done enough.

In these last days and in His forbearance, the One True and Living God stands in stark contrast to the other god as He waits for all men to decide.
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Today we are called to have discernment because faith matters.  Would we want a country run like ANY of the Muslim countries?  It may be true that not all Muslims are Sharia-compliant Muslims, BUT WE DON'T KNOW because Muslims are instructed to lie in order to "rope a dope".  Then why put our country in jeopardy?  Do we have to be politically correct and pick one from each category (a black, a woman, a Muslim)?  Let's just pick the best one, the one (as Dr. Carson said) complies with our principles and values.

  P.S.  Dr. Carson's words are being twisted by commentators.  This LINK to his comments will help you decide whether his comments were mean-spirited.

THE END?

Nostradamus still gets press long after his predictions have been disproven.  But then, every century has their Harold Camping who predicts doom.

All the soothsayers have been proven wrong; Jesus was proven right when He said no one but the Father knows the day.

But Jesus also told us to watch the signs and be aware when the signs increase like a woman in labor.  So what signs are causing a stir today?

There are the usual suspects...the worldwide hostility (now causing mass migrations across Europe), natural disasters, depravity, and advanced technology that makes wholesale destruction more likely.

Scripture says at the end there will be an alliance that comes against Israel comprised of Gog, Persia, Ethiopia, and Put.  Who's that?  Russia, Iran, Libya, and Turkey.  Gee, it's easy to envision THAT bunch coming together.  Jesus also said His disciples would be handed over to be persecuted and would be killed and hated by all the nations because of His name.  That certainly describes the plight of Middle Eastern Christians.

But something else is being talked about this month.  It's this whole "blood moon" thing.  What does that have to do with the last days?  Blood moons are not rare, but what makes the subject tantalizing is that NASA can tell us exactly when blood moons have happened back to 1AD.

Our search is not for ALL blood moons, but only the ones which coincide with certain days on Israel's calendar in the Spring and Fall.

In fact, a Biblical tetrad is the name for four blood moons that occur on Passover and Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth) for two consecutive years.  And NASA records SEVEN times in history that has happened.  When it happens, something important happens to either Israel or to Christians.  Here are the seven times:

1.  The Biblical tetrads in 162-163AD saw the worst persecution of Jews and Christians in the Roman Empire.  Within three years, 8 million people (a third of the population) were killed.

The next three tetrads (#2, #3, #4) happened at the end of the 8th century and continued through the 9th century.  They were time of turmoil as Islam launched jihad on Europe.

In the center of this painting of the Battle of Tours, you see a woman and child,
the symbol of the saving of Christendom.  Jesus is the seed of the woman.

After Mohammed's death in 632, within 100 years his mandate for conquest had taken Northern Africa and Spain, causing the death of many Christians and Jews.  In fact, Muslims had advanced to just south of Paris when they ran into a general named Charles "The Hammer" Martel.

Martel's victory at the Battle of Tours in 732 STOPPED the Islamic advance into Western Europe, saving Christendom.  Then the next century marked a messy time of pushing them out.

2.  The Biblical tetrads in 795-796 marked fighting led by Martel's grandson, King Charlemagne of the Holy Roman Empire, who established buffer states between France and Spain to prevent further Arab invasions.

3.  The Biblical tetrads in 842-843 were followed by an attack on the Vatican and looting by an Islamic invasion from Africa.

4.  The Biblical tetrads in 860-861 saw the defeat of Arab armies at a battle in Turkey, which stopped the Islamic invasion of Eastern Europe until the 1600's.

Then 600+ years go by...

5.  The Biblical tetrads in 1493-1494 happened after King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain ordered Jews (200,000) out of their country.  At the time, Spain had been a refuge for Jews.  Here is how Christopher Columbus began his diary:  "In the same month in which their Majesties issued the edict that all Jews should be driven out of the kingdom and its territories, in the same month they gave me the order to undertake with sufficient men my expedition of discovery to the Indes (Indies)."  

History records tens of thousands of Jewish refugees died while trying to reach safety.  Some Spanish ship captains charged inflated ticket prices, only to take Jews out and dump them overboard in the middle of the ocean.  In the last days before the expulsion, rumors spread through Spain that the refugees had swallowed gold and diamonds, and many were knifed to death by treasure hunters.

Then America was discovered and became a home to a Jewish population which now numbers 5.5 million.  And 455 years go by...

6.  The Biblical tetrads of 1949-1950 saw the first Arab-Israeli War right after Israel became a nation (Israel was declared a nation in 1948, but the first government didn't take office until January of 1949).  Less than 24 hours after proclaiming independence, the armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq invaded.  Israel's Defense Forces were just formed and were poorly equipped, but they fought 15 months before becoming victors.  There were 6,000 lives lost, representing 1% of the population at the time.

7.  The Biblical tetrads of 1967-1968 coincide with the Six Day War, when Israel recaptured Jerusalem.  As her Arab neighbors threatened and gathered on her borders, Israel made a pre-emptive strike against Egypt in the South, a counter attack against Jordan in the East, and routed Syrian forces to the North in the Golan Heights.  

Think about one more thing.  As we study the skies, we also are aware of the ways Israel's feast days overlap Christendom's timeline.  Israel celebrates Passover in the Spring (on the 15th of Nissan), the first month of their Jewish religious new year.  In that time of beginning, they give thanks that God released them from Egyptian bondage and they gather around the sacrifice of the lamb which atoned for their sins.

A Christian's new life in Christ begins when they humble themselves before the Lamb of God and ask that His blood would release them from bondage and atone for their sin.   Christ's sacrifice was made in Spring on Good Friday, and He conquered death in His resurrection three days later.

In Fall, Israel celebrates the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth) when they focus on God who has given them the harvest.  They make booths to signify that they understand their lives here are temporary, but their dependence and their home is with God.

Similarly, in the "Fall" of God's timeline, Christians see the final ingathering as a time when the Lord of the Harvest (who has sent out workers to bring in the harvest of souls) returns for His church.

This year, the blood moon and Feast of Tabernacles will be on September 28th.  That is not a doomsday prediction, but it does seem reasonable to consider, given the significant things have happened in the past.  Shall we then not act appropriately?  Let's follow what Psalm 122 already calls us to do: PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM.

So we thank can the Lord for His promises toward Israel.  We can read Anne Graham Lotz' PRAYER suggestions and ask the Lord to make Israel's Iron Dome impenetrable...to confuse the minds of Israel's enemies...and to give Israel unity of mind.

Pray, Christians.  After all, when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are praying for Jesus' return.

THE SPICE OF LIFE

Do you think variety spices things up?  What about in political parties?

The party of blue is a hip crowd.  They are the young, the Hollywood stars/musicians/media, and the free spirits who bust tradition with trend-setting cultural memes.

The party of red is full of old, stogy white guys who love capitalism and want to run back the clock to the Founders' day.

Is that about right?  You'd never know it to look at the prospective blue leaders for 2016.

Blue party candidates are notably white and long-in-the-tooth.  Joe's 72...Bernie is soon to be 74...Hill will be 68 in October...and the chickiebaby is Elizabeth at 66.

Where are the new leaders coming up behind these candidates? Where's the fresh new blood in the party?

Now consider the red bench, groaning under the weight of seventeen candidates.  Are they monochromatic?  No.  Are they old?

If you add all their ages, the average red candidate is 57.47 years old.  (Those FOUR "forty-somethings" really help the stats offset the Pataki/Trump ages of 70/69.)

Let's play a little game.  Not counting Carly's spouse, let's talk about some GOP wives and see what kind of diversity THEY afford.  The answers are below, but don't cheat.

1.  Which GOP wife was born in Mexico?  Nah, that's too easy.  Add the spouse that was born in Slovenia.

2.  There are NINE Governors running.  Which Governor's wife was nicknamed "First Tomboy"....and which wife was nicknamed "First Listener"?

3.  Which wife is a concert violinist?

4.  Which two wives left their jobs as "managing director" of different hedge funds to help campaign?

5.  Which wife authored four children's books?

6.  Who's the pilot?

7.  Which two wives are nurses?

8.  Which wife was cheerleader for an NFL team?

9.  One wife graduated Magna Cum Laude in Chemical Engineering, got a Masters in Business Administration, and has everything done but the dissertation for her Doctorate.  Can you guess who?

10.  Which lady worked twenty years (and was vice president of public relations for a healthcare ad agency) but then quit to take care of twin girls?

11.  At least three GOP wives are content to be in the background, but one is a political consultant who, at one time, worked for Ted Cruz.  Which?

All these ladies are accomplished and passionate, each having a special "cause" for which they have given their energy.  Here is just a sampling of their good works:

Candy Carson co-founded the Carson Scholars Fund to encourage students in science and math.

Columba Bush lived with domestic abuse as her father hurt her mother; she has said he caused "the most painful memories of my life".  That caused Columba to be involved in both substance and domestic abuse work in Florida.

Mary Pat Christie launched the "New Jersey Heroes" organization in 2010 to promote heroes and energize others toward good citizenship.

Supra Jindal founded the "Supra Jindal Foundation for Louisiana's Children" to help develop tomorrow's workforce.

Both Karen Kasich and Anita Perry are advocates for healthy eating habits and exercise.  Texas Tech honored Anita Perry by naming their nursing school in her honor and establishing two nursing endowments.

Libby Pataki and Jeanette Rubio conduct weekly Bible study/prayer groups, and Libby co-founded "One Jerusalem".

Kelley Paul is a board member at "Helping a Hero", a charity that builds houses for wounded war vets.

NOW CHECK THE ANSWERS TO SEE HOW YOU DID...






ANSWERS:  #1

#2.

#3.

#4.

#5.

#6.  Janet Huckabee

#7.

                                                                      




















#8.

#9.

#10.

#11.

Thanks for playing along.  These GOP husband-lovers bring flavor in their diversity.  Vive la difference!