Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Friday, November 6, 2009

Enemies Become Friends--A Prophecy?

Christ had been arrested by the representatives of the synagogue, and was being interrogated by both Pilate and Herod. Each of these men had not found Him guilty of any crime against Rome. Nevertheless, just to pacify the obvious hatred of Him, shown by the rulers and others, Herod and Pilate each took their turn to humiliate, mock, curse, and beat the Christ.
As I thought about this (thank you, HaRuwach HaKodesh), I began to see a possible prophecy in this unholy union of enemies; Pilate and Herod. The thing that started me thinking about all this was a verse in Luke Chapter 23 that one could simply slide over without notice. It almost gets lost in the drama of what is happening to Jesus. I'll quote the verses [Luke 23:9- 12] and you can decide whether or not there is an end-times prophecy in these words; especially verse 12 : "Then he [Herod] questioned Him with many words, but He answered Him nothing. And the Chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him. Then Herod with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other."

We believe that in the end times--the dust of which already appears on the horizon--former, bitter enemies will reach across the gulf of their historical, theological differences, clasp hands, and league to pursue and persecute those 'who keep the Commandments of God and [have] the faith of Jesus' [Revelation 14:12].
So what do you think?
God Bless. Shabatt Shalom!
e.c.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Sleep with dogs and you get.....Go to bed with the EU, and you may wake up cross(less).....or something like that. This will be all over the news but it is interesting and portending nonetheless. It seems that an immigrant family moved from eastern Europe to Italy. They sent their child to public school, and guess what; there was a crucifix on the schoolroom wall. Imagine that. So the family, being politically, properly incensed, filed suit.
The EU court has handed down their politically correct atheistic/agnostic/ignostic opinion and has ruled that a crucifix is an offense to the privacy and sensibilities of parents and children.
Italy is angry!
The Pope is angry!
So what are Adventists to make of this, if anything?
Here's what I think: The (essentially) godless countries of Europe are trying to hold sway over other nations in matters of conscience and (essentially) a national religious preference. I can understand the EU having opinions in matters of currency, trade, war, politics, etc., etc. But in this case what (I think) we are seeing is a "preview" of things to come; a little like the previews in the movie theater I used to go to as a kid.
Virtually all of the Scandinavian countries are godless. France led the way a couple hundred years ago or more. Churches are converted into other uses; like taverns, grocery stores, fish markets, etc. (In Malmo, Sweden a former church is now called the "fisk kirken," or the fish church. I visited Malmo, so I know this is true).
What is the point? Godlessness and single-person-rights will continue to grow and hold us by the throat until there is an uprising and backlash that will unwind what the godless have done. Then.....the tide will turn under political and popular pressure as the Beast of Daniel and Revelation and the two-horned nation that unites with the Beast and together they raise a common voice and prosecute a common path of persecution.
Either way, a crucifix taken down, or one put nailed up; the Beast will begin rousing her faithful to put a nail in the heart of the present trend of dismantling God.
It's going to start getting very interesting. God Bless. e.c.