“But He held His peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, and said unto Him, ‘Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?’ And Jesus said,
‘I am: and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.’ ” Mark 14:62-62
Clouds
The LORD is Good
What do you think of when a roaring, howling, powerful storm comes; with flashes, and bolts of lightening, and sounds of crashing, rolling thunder? It is a fearful thing when we see these things. Many people have just recently survived such storms, suffering great loss, and we pray for you, and offer condolences to those who have lost loved ones.
I am a strange sort of man I guess; but storms fascinate me. Lightening is a wonder to behold. I have been on the edge of a tornado in my car, and kept driving, even though I could not see much past the hood of the car. It is a fearful thing. More fearful is to be on the wrong side of God. Hear the words of Nahum the prophet to the Assyrians, their capital city Nineveh…
“God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserveth wrath for His enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake at Him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at His presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before His indignation? And who can abide in the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue His enemies.” Nahum 1:2-8 (KJV)
It could be said that Nahum’s prophecy is a continuation of Jonah’s. When Jonah went to Nineveh and preached of God’s judgment, the people, the whole city repented; yet that repentance was only one generation, and then God sent Nahum to warn them.
Does God, the LORD judge evil? That is a question that many people ask; even today. The answer to that is “Yes!” God does judge evil. It just is not always according to our allotted time. Why can a wicked person live for years without illness, or grief, and seemingly be blessed with the world’s riches, and pleasures and never experience God’s justice? He/She does, or she/he will.
The LORD is Good. Let us consider this. It could be that God in His goodness and grace is allowing that individual time to repent and change their way, coming to God through Christ Jesus.
The LORD is mighty, He is Almighty, He holds the storms of this life in His hand. He knows the beginning and He knows the end. This life is not about me, or you, or all those who are suffering from sickness, disease, pain, sorrow; from storms or shooters. This life is about GOD, and His power and glory to Him. He has made a way for sinful humanity to come into His holy presence; and that is through the cross of Jesus Christ who suffered the most horrendous thing any man could ever bear. Not only did He suffer the physical pain and agony of the cross, but He the holy Son of God was denied the face of His Father as He bled and died for us. He in fact experienced Hell for us there.
The LORD is Good.
Christmas Day 20
Wow! Just 20 days until Christmas – with Day 1 being Christmas Day.
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want to see Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God, and God the Living Son; today; and want all my family, friends, neighbors, to desire to see Him as well.
For those of you who might just think that I need help with my mind. I have a clear mind, and it has been best when I desire to see Jesus the most. This is not a death wish; but a life hope, and promise of God.
“Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.” Revelation 1:7 (KJV)
Greatness of the One
“I will praise Thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto Thee among the nations. For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the clouds. Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let Thy glory be above all the earth.” Psalm 57:9-11 (KJV)
The Psalmist David was hiding from King Saul in a cave when he wrote this Psalm; or possibly shortly there after. You can see by this Psalm that he was still trusting in the LORD his God.
He was praising the Lord, and he would praise Him among the people of his nation. He would sing unto Him among the Nations of the world around him.
He recognized the greatness of the mercy of God, and proclaimed it. He bragged about God. We can, and we get to brag about His greatness as well; when we know Him.
The LORD God is exalted above all the earth. He is the most glorious of all. Even the stars in their astrological signs cannot hold candle, or light to the glory of their creator. Above the heavens [stars, planets, etc]; above the earth; that is the Lord our God.
He came as a Man. His name is Jesus. He bled and died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and He rose again. He is returning some day soon. Believe Him. Trust Him with your whole being. There is no life apart from Him. He is the One who holds all things together (John 1:3; Colossians 1:17).
Spend time today in contemplation of the greatness of the One who is above all things; and exalt Him.
You Can Believe All That He Teaches
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. 31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:24-37 (KJV)
BELIEVE EVERYTHING HE TEACHES
The Word of God clearly tells us that there will be a time when all chaos will break lose in the heavens; the sun, nor moon will give their light; the stars will “fall”; the heavenly bodies will all be “shaken”. The Bible tells us, “…By Him all things consist” that is “are held together” (Col. 1:17). At the time shortly before Jesus returns to reign on earth, and after the Antichrist has wreaked havoc on the earth is when these things will take place. God’s hand removed possibly to show who was really in control of things. This will be a very chaotic, frightening, and deadly time for residents of planet earth. People of earth have always wanted a world without God, and at this time they get what they want. LOOK OUT.
When these things come about then, know that Christ will come with “Power and great glory”, and set up His kingdom on earth. Jesus will send out the angels to gather the “elect” which is most likely all those who were saved during the seven years of tribulation, the 144,000 Jewish witnesses, etc., and call them to serve in His kingdom. These will come from all over the earth. There will be a resurrection of the dead who died for their testimony for Christ, and their bodies and spirits will be united once again.
Look at the signs. The parable of the “Fig tree” is that you can know when it is time for the figs. We can know when the time of Jesus’s second coming is near. We cannot set dates or a time, we do not know, but the signs give us a clue that it is near.
This generation of people will not pass away until all these things are done. What generation? The generation who witnesses these events taking place. How long is a generation? It varies, depending on who you ask. It can be 40 years, or 70 years, even 100 years. That is three thoughts. It is most important for us to not be carried away by the years, but to think of the event and the signs which we all can see.
In verse 31 we have the assurance of the immutability, and eternalness of God’s Word. All of heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s Word will stand forever. That is how we can know that these events which we are looking at will truly come to pass. God is Truth. His Word is Truth. His Son Jesus is Truth in flesh. We can put our trust in Him.
No one knows the day or the hour. Not even Jesus as He walked among us in the flesh knew when He would come again. Now, however, back on His throne, and in His glory He knows the exact day and hour. As He was here on earth He was God incarnate, but limited His omniscience according to the Father’s discretion. Now He has been given all things.
It has been given to God’s people, for our day and time, to be diligent, awake and alert to the goings on around us. Jesus has ascended into the heavens, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and we are waiting His return, but that has responsibilities we are to practice, and live. Take heed to God’s Word, His guidance, direction. Watch and pray, for we do not know when He will come again. The Master of the House is returning. WATCH.
-Tim A. Blankenship
Hope Without Hope; Clouds Without Water
“These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” Jude 12-13 (NKJV).
In the same verses that we looked at previously we find that these apostates of which Jude writes were likened to “clouds without water, carried about by the winds”. In droughted areas where they are dependent on the rains and much of it, waterless clouds are sometimes very disappointing. In this day of bank failures, job losses, and many an economic worry we need the truth and hope that only Jesus Christ gives. “Our hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”
In the Midwest United States and the Southern States, we are all dependent upon rainfall. Most of the United States is dependent upon rainfall, as a matter of fact. The only place that might not be is some parts of California where they use irrigation year round to grow their crops.
These “clouds without water” offer hope, but give nothing. The apostates teaching heresy offered much spiritual growth, but there was none. They told lies, and their lives were deceptions. They are full of themselves and have nothing of God. The true shepherd of God, and shepherd of the people do not “shun to declare the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27); were Paul’s words to the Ephesian elders. Some of the “Pastors” of what has been called “Mega-churches”, and some small churches are ‘clouds without water’, because they fail to expound and reveal the dangers of sin, and the glory of Christ power over sin.
They, the apostates, seek a following for themselves in the name of Christ, but do not preach what Jesus preached. What did Jesus preach? “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17). If you are not preaching what Jesus preached and taught, then you preach contrary to Him. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
If there is any preacher reading this right now who has been preaching those easy, encouraging, non condemning things, and leaving out repentance – turning from sin to Jesus Christ – then you aren’t preaching what Jesus preached. You are those “clouds without water”. You need to repent. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
May God bless you today by your turning from your sins, believing Jesus, preaching Jesus crucified, buried, resurrected, and coming again.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Fire and Hammer 