(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)

There is an almost frenetic emphasis being placed on “peace” at the present time. It is primarily focused on the ongoing war that is raging (in this current iteration) between Israel and the many adversaries that are united in their hatred of “the Jews.” Those who shriek and scream for it do so, it seems, as though it is the only case of violence and open conflict in the world.

It even eclipses the present building panic related to Ukraine, Russia, the “West” and the looming threat of WWIII.

This is just as God’s Word has prophesied.

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the surrounding peoples” (Zechariah 12:2).

And indeed, it is.

While there is no shortage of “wars and rumors of wars” at the moment, this article is written as it relates to Israel, to most of the rest of the world relative to this current conflict, and those who cry out for “peace and security.”

It is written as well to people who need but don’t have Jesus in their lives. He is where the rubber meets the road, so I hope you will continue to read to the end.

This clamoring by the world is for peace at any cost, and the world is willing for that cost to be paid by the State of Israel and the Jews in particular. Peace at the expense of their safety.

Meanwhile, its enemies will, as they always have, re-arm, re-group, re-strategize, and then execute their plan to try again. No amount of paper soiled by insincerity will change the hatred that has and continues to fester over millennia.

Why do I say this? Because if Israel does make a peace “agreement” with the plethora of the enemies it is now fighting, they will not achieve any kind of peace at all but a temporary reprieve that will be filled with anxiety waiting for the next attack which will surely come, and that with more advanced and deadly weapons. It is what it is.

Israel has no legitimate “peace partners” to make “peace” with. There are only enemies who continue to swear to “push the Jews into the sea.”

It should be noted if one is willing to acknowledge reality, Israel did not start this conflict on October 7 of 2023.

Eventually, Israel will finally make that critical error, the covenant with death and hell, and it will bring on the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, also called the Tribulation and Daniel’s Seventieth Week, and it will bring about God’s promised judgment.

That time will be preceded by the removal of God’s True Church, the Bride of Christ, as he has promised. The revealing of antichrist and the acceptance of him as the “solution” to the world’s ills in place of the True Christ will be directly dealt with by El Shaddai, God Almighty.

“Your covenant with death will be annulled, And your agreement with Sheol will not stand; When the overflowing scourge passes through, Then you will be trampled down by it” (Isaiah 28:18).

Truth: God’s prophetic Words will be fulfilled in perfect detail.

False Perception: That man can bring about real peace and solve the “Middle East crisis” on his own.

“They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14 / Jeremiah 8:11).

Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse, as it is commonly referenced, said this:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

This is the only place in God’s Word where this word is used. What does Jesus mean when He uses that term?

According to Strong’s concordance, in the Greek – #1518 (pacificatory/peaceable), but it references it to #1515 as implying: (prosperity – (one, peace, quietness, rest – set at one again). Emphasis added by me.

“Set at one” implies that all are in agreement and that they are sincere about the objective they seek and that this will result in “quietness and rest.”

“All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD” (Proverbs 16:2).

Who are these current “peacemakers,” and do they truly seek a “peaceful resolution” to the ongoing warfare between Israel and their enemies? Or:

• Are they only seeking their own glorification in the eyes of the world?
• Are they surreptitiously seeking the destruction of Israel and the Jews, and think they know that a “cease fire” will bring about that result, having no awareness of God’s clear statement in (Jeremiah 31:35-37) that this will never happen?
• Are they simply ignorant and without knowledge of human history (yet still accountable for their actions)?
• Do they delude themselves just for the sake of a false sense of what they perceive as “peace and safety?

We can’t know the innermost thoughts of others unless they explain them. However, in this world of purposeful deceit and strategic lies, we must be very skeptical.

Such is not the case with God.

“The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity” (Psalm 94:11).

“Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?” (Isaiah 44:20).

This precedent that has been set in past history (1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, 2006, and now Oct 7, 2023) is beginning (if these reports contain any truth) to manifest once again.

https://allisrael.com/israel-set-to-accept-lebanon-ceasefire-to-be-declared-on-tuesday-despite-protests-from-northern-mayors

What will be the end result of this attempt to circumvent God?

“For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

Note: As of this writing (November 27), it is being reported that a cease-fire “agreement” will be in place by sometime today.

I am NOT saying the report in the above article, if it results in a ceasefire, would fulfill the prophecy of (Isaiah 28:18). That will be fulfilled when beleaguered and weary Israel accepts a 7-year “peace guarantee” from the “man of perdition”: antichrist.

“And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him” (Daniel 9:27).

I am NOT saying that all the efforts to restore peace between Israel and its adversaries should be abandoned, but it must be soberly understood that they will eventually fail.

Reality is not optional.

Now to the crux of this article.

During these days of strife, grief, uncertainty, wars and rumors of wars, the Lord of Glory is bringing many unsaved people to repentance. But they must open the door of their hearts and spirits to Jesus Christ and Him alone, and they must do so in their living years. In His own Words:

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

If you have thus far rejected Jesus for whatever reason, experience no inner peace and are anxious about the future, I hope you will read the (Special Message) at the end of this article.

If you know the joy and security of our Savior, pray without ceasing for those who don’t. Be bold in proclaiming Him. We only get one life in this world to plant the seeds of eternal life. Time is getting short.

The special message I promised you:

For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life.

You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.

It requires that you come before God on His terms and that you do so in your living years.

And, what are His terms according to His Word?

• Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
• Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
• That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
• To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
• Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross and rose from the grave three days later, conquering death, just as He promised.
• To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.

God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.

• No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
• No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
• Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.

If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.

“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).

There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.

The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Pro Salvator Vigilans                      

To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com

 

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:22, “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, Come!” Then in Revelation 22:20, “He who testifies to these things says ‘Surely I am coming soon! Amen, Come, Lord Jesus!'” (ESV – all emphasis is mine)

In early writings and today’s New American Standard Bible (NASB), the word “Maranatha” is used. Paul normally wrote in Greek; however, this word is Aramaic. In the first century, Christians were persecuted by unbelieving Jews and Romans, and it’s believed Paul used this as sort of a password, as a code for Christians to identify each other. It is also said that Jesus spoke Aramaic while He was here.

Most English Bible versions translate Maranatha as it was originally written, Maran-atha. This divided word states, “Our Lord Come” or “Our Lord is coming.” This one divided word is used as a prayer asking Jesus to fulfill His promise from John 14:1-3. It states, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I Will Come Again, and will take you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also.” Note; in many translations, “rooms” is written as mansions.

In Matthew 24:36-37, Jesus states, “But concerning that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels of Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

Some would make the statement that the above verses show that Jesus was not truly God, because if He were, He would have this knowledge. In Hebrews 2:7;17-18, “You made Him for a little while lower than the angels…. Therefore, He had to be His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are also being tempted.”

Please understand, our Triune God loves us more than we flawed humans can ever deserve or understand. Jesus could have refused to allow Himself to become a human, but by doing so, He made sure we might have a perfect pathway to eternal life with Him. His blood never was tainted by sin, and He was the only “human” who ever lived, and ever will live, that committed no sin whatsoever. Also, His sacrifice was given willingly, and as John 10:17-18 says, “For this reason, the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”

My life verse is John 14:6; “And Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” Add to this Acts 4:12; “And there is Salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Follow this up with Philippians 2:9-11; “Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Although nearly 2,000 years have passed since Paul, John, and others wrote their prophecies, Paul believed that the Savior might even appear while he was still alive. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 states, “For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.” Also, 1 Corinthians 15:51, “Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” The term “sleep” here means to die.

When the Harpazo, Rapture, or taking up occurs, all who died from the beginning of time that were in the will of God, and all who died from Calvary forward that were “in Christ” when they died will be raised up and taken up first. Then, those who are living will be taken up to meet Jesus in the air.

Before anyone tells you this will take considerable time, and they’re waiting for it to start to call on Jesus and be saved, the term “twinkling of an eye” in 1 Corinthians 15:52 has been calculated by experts to be considerably less than one second. And yes, God is able to do this. And no, there will not be enough time to confess your sins and ask Jesus to be your Savior. There will be time after the Rapture to receive and accept Jesus, but the likely outcome will not be pleasant. It will be during the tribulation/wrath period, and all who call out to Jesus will be subject to martyrdom.

Christians are being persecuted around the globe, and in some places, it brings martyrdom to the believers. True believers hold to our Savior’s declaration in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world!”

We are seeing changes in this world that began in earnest about a decade ago. True believers are in the minority as false prophets and antichrists are accommodating “itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). They are telling the audiences what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. Jesus is not at all surprised, as He spoke of the two roads to eternity in Matthew 7:13-14.

There is the broad road representing a love for this world, rather than the love of our Savior, that leads to eternal condemnation.

The path we believers are on is the straight and narrow, and leads directly to our Shepherd. On It, He will take us to our eternal home, to be with Him forever. And no, we are not perfect but can be forgiven as John told us in 1 John 1:8-10.

No matter what anyone tries to tell you, there are not many ways to Heaven, and as stated in this message, Jesus is the only way to go there.

This is why all true believers that are in this world have such hope for our eternal life after our existence on this earth. We gladly proclaim, Maran-atha! Come, Lord Jesus! We look forward to seeing our Jesus face to face.

The day and hour could be at any minute, and our prayer is that you are ready. Then, when the trumpet of God sounds, and there is a shout from an archangel, you will join the exodus from this earth to receive your heavenly home (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

So, one more time with feeling! MARAN-ATHA! COME LORD JESUS!

huebshman46@gmail.com