General Articles

A Life Well Lived :: By Holly Spate

Published on: by RR7

I never thought I would be spending the holiday helping to plan a funeral… a funeral to honor one of the most important people in my life, my uncle. But that’s how the year ended and the new year began. My uncle’s passing was a shock to the system. He meant the world to me. He will always mean the world to me.

You see, my uncle was very kind, fun, giving. He had a true servant’s heart. He was a strong Christian and made it a point to do his best to always be there for everyone. He always gave freely of his time, his finances, his resources, and his love. He could brighten any room he entered and had a way of making everyone feel special. He was always there for me, and I’m forever thankful for the special relationship we’ve always shared.

A loved one’s passing generally has a way of jolting a person into truly contemplating the important things in life. My uncle’s passing did that for me. I have grown up knowing what’s most important in life, but viewing his life in more detail just reaffirms what I’ve known for some time… Life is best lived loving and serving others. Life is best lived being an instrument God can use to plant seeds and touch lives. I have no doubt when my uncle took his last breath on earth and his first step into heaven that he was greeted by Jesus with the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Isn’t that what every Christian, what every daughter and son in Christ, wants to hear?

His passing reminded me of the truth that none of us knows when we will take our final breath in this life. I never would have imagined my uncle would have left this earth so soon. It makes me realize even more how our time here is limited, our opportunities special and not to be wasted. It makes me realize all the more how we need to be about our Father’s business. We are not given a time table when we’re born, but we’re each entrusted with the time God gives to make an impact. We each have been given the same 24 hours in a day, and each needs to decide how we will spend the gift of a day. I’m thankful my uncle spent his time wisely. His example encourages me to spend my time wisely too.

I have peace knowing I will see my uncle again one day. I have peace knowing he is with Jesus and with family members and friends who have gone before. I miss him greatly, but I have peace knowing he’s simply changed addresses, and he’s the happiest he could ever be, and I’ll get to be with him again one day… for all eternity.

Life is truly a gift. Each day is truly a gift. The good seeds we sow now can reap a harvest that will last into all eternity. Our lives are to be lived selflessly… labors of love for those God puts in our paths.

I am so thankful God placed my uncle and me in the same family. I am thankful for his life well lived and the example he set for friends and family to follow. I am thankful God created him and thankful for the lives he touched, the seeds he planted, the love he gave, and the legacy he left.

As Christians, how shall we live our lives? How shall we spend our time?

Matthew 6:19-21 speaks to this: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

If you have never made the decision to accept Christ into your heart and know for sure where you’ll spend eternity, please ask Him into your heart today. He is waiting with open arms to accept you into His kingdom.

John 3:16 shows the deep, unconditional love He has for you: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

Asking Jesus into your heart is the BEST decision you will ever make!

I’d like to conclude with a poem by Linda Ellis. I hope it blesses and makes an impression on your heart. And I pray that as you move forward in life, that you will make the most of each day so that one day you will hear the Savior say,

“Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

The Dash by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
From the beginning… to the end

He noted that first came the date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
Know what that little line is worth

For it matters not how much we own,
The cars… the house… the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering this special dash
Might only last a little while

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent YOUR dash?

spate.holly@gmail.com

The Pattern of Three :: By Jeff Van Hatten

Published on: by RR7

Scripture is filled with the patterns and images of three and multiples of three. The length of the ark Noah built was 300 cubits (Genesis 6:15). Noah had three sons from whom all the families of the earth were spread (Genesis 9:19). Yahweh walked through the carcasses of a heifer, she goat, and a ram, all of which were three years old (Genesis 15:9). All males are required to attend three moedim (Exodus 23:14). The special happenings of the third day are mentioned numerous times. Jonah was in the belly of the great fish three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17, Matthew 12:40). Yeshua was in the belly of the earth three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40; Mark 14:30, 72).

Three Witnesses

One of the most important triune patterns is the pattern of the three witnesses. Three witnesses are the optimum number to give testimony according to Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15; Matthew 18:16; 1 Corinthians 14:27-29; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28; and 1 John 5:7.

Peter witnessed three times that he did not know Yeshua according to Matthew 26:37,75; Mark 14:30, 72; Luke 22:34, 61. Yeshua witnessed that he would rise from the dead on the third day according to Matthew 27:63; Mark 8:31; John 2:19. Wherever three are gathered, there Yeshua is present (Matthew 18:20).

1 John 5:7-8 – “There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.”

All of the translations except the King James translate the Greek as above. King James states, “There are three that witness in heaven – the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost” (v 7), and then states that “there are three that witness in the earth – the Spirit, the water, and the blood” (v8). Perhaps an extrapolation, but still, clearly A Pattern of Three, A Triune Pattern, A Trinity.

The Trinity

Genesis 1:1 – “For the sake of the Son, Elohim created the heavens and the earth – through and by the Son, and his Spirit moved over the surface.”

Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

There are three who are the one God, Elohim in the Hebrew [H430]:

  • Yahweh, Yeshua, and Ruach Ha’Kodesh.
  • Elohim, Son, and Spirit (Genesis 1:1).
  • The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

Clearly there is A Pattern of Three, A Triune Pattern, A Trinity.

Three Pretribulation Human Bodily Raptures

1 Thessalonians 4:17 – “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up.”

  • Enoch was raptured into heaven: Genesis 5:24 – Yahweh took him, Hebrews 11:5 – Yahweh translated him.
  • Elijah was also raptured into heaven: 2 Kings 2:11– Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.
  • Yeshua was raptured into heaven: Acts 1:9-11– Yeshua was lifted up, and a cloud received Him.

Three raptures. In each case, the person involved is taken by Yahweh into heaven. Again, we clearly see A Pattern of Three, A Triune Pattern, A Trinity.

Three Rescues From Wrath

Acts 4:12 – “And there is salvation in no one else.”

  • Yeshua rescues us: “Wait for Yahweh’s Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Yeshua, who rescues us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
  • Yeshua obtains salvation for us: “For Yahweh has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Yeshua Ha’Mashiach” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
  • Yeshua keeps us: “I, Yeshua, will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10).

Three rescues from the wrath to come, from the hour of trial. The Greek uses three different words: rescues [rhyomai G4506], salvation [soteria G4991], and keep [tereo G5083]. Three rescues, three different words! In each case, the people involved are not subject to Yahweh’s wrath, but are saved from it by Yeshua. Again, we clearly see A Pattern of Three, A Triune Pattern, A Trinity.

Three Judgments

  • The Seal Judgments – (Revelation, Chapters 4:1 thru 8:1).
  • The Trumpet Judgments – (Revelation, Chapters 8:2 thru 14:20).
  • The Bowl Judgments – (Revelation, Chapters 15:1 thru 20:3).

During the Day of Yahweh, the tribulation period, there are three sets of judgments. In each case judgment comes upon those who are living upon the earth. Again, we clearly see A Pattern of Three, A Triune Pattern, A Trinity.

The Comings of Yeshua

  • First Coming: Yeshua comes to be crucified, resurrected, and pay for sin.
  • Second Coming, Part 1: Yeshua comes to resurrect the dead and rapture his bride.
  • Second Coming, Part 2: Yeshua comes to judge the world and set up his millennial reign.

Part 1 and Part 2 of what is currently called the second coming is very confusing to many. These two comings are so different and distinct, I must ask, “Why do scholars only speak of two comings of Yeshua? Wouldn’t it be a whole lot less confusing if there were three? Don’t the triune patterns indicate that there should be three?”

What do you say?

Call me crazy if you wish, but if we follow the pattern of three, the triune pattern, the trinity, then the three comings could easily be described as:

  • 1st Coming – Yeshua arrives to seek the lost, to be crucified, resurrected, and raptured.
  • 2nd Coming – Yeshua arrives to resurrect the dead and rapture his bride.
  • 3rd Coming – Yeshua arrives to judge the world and set up his millennial reign.

Conclusions

Scripture is filled with the patterns and images of three and multiples of three. A tri-fold pattern of the comings of Yeshua would allow us to clearly see A Pattern of Three, A Triune Pattern, A Trinity, a pattern consistent with other scriptural patterns of three.

So, again I ask, What do you say?

Website: https://raptureparty.net/

Email: jeff@raptureparty.net