The times and seasons are uppermost in the minds of believers and more especially as we see that day drawing near. Paul says:
1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. (NASB1995)
This passage screams imminence for most every believer, but obviously it was not then to be. So what was its purpose?
1 Thessalonians 5:1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. (NASB1995)
Why is that? I am writing to you right now, but you don’t need my writing. Not if you are walking in the light that God has given you. The word of God in the hands of God’s Holy Spirit, Who dwells within you; He is your teacher. When He is given full reign in your life you can never be unaware of your own times and seasons. One day Jesus is coming. It will be soon, but it is not yet imminent. How can I say that? This is not the number one post, but it tells of His days:
https://raptureonline.blog/2022/10/14/the-jesus-days-is-there-some-message/
What Jesus has told us here rules out any imminent return. And the Old Testament portion of this message about Him has been there since long before He came the first time. Additionally His next coming as He tells us Himself is after the tribulation of those days, when the whole world will be in darkness (Mark 13:24-26). This sign is so obvious, yet the whole world seems to have missed it; even believers have missed it. But you are not in darkness. The light of the Word has told us if we will but see and hear it.
Why today are men so starved for understanding that they will seek out the truth from men such as I, and yet not believe the very word or search it out for themselves. Man will mislead you. God will not. If you insist on hearing from man; then ask the Holy Spirit within you to give you His discernment of their (my) words. Do they conflict in any way with Scripture? Do they bring confusion not with man’s teaching but with the Word of God itself? Men will always tell you that their way is right, but truth is the Word. So herein is my number one post. Read it and ask does it come alive with you because it brings you into the light of the word (God’s truth); for if it does not it is worth nothing but to be cast upon the fires and burned.
I will tell you that there are many who will feed you food from God’s word in order to tickle your ears. If you want your ears tickled by the word of God there are at least 9 out of 10 men who teach today, who will oblige you with your need. The Holy Spirit will bear witness with your spirit when you are seeking for truth. Listen to Him. What follows is popular on my site. Read it, but before you do pray for Gods light to shine only on God’s truth.
https://raptureonline.blog/2018/08/07/why-is-christs-imminent-return-not-yet-imminent/
Many have read this message, but not many likes? Does it not satisfy the itch of the ear? What is it that you desire? Is it truth, or is it that you already “know the truth”, but you are looking for confirmation. And you know that Jesus would not allow tribulations events for His bride. You heard that somewhere and it resonated. Do you know where it is so stated in Scripture? Do you know what His bride experienced in the first century Church, as Satan attempted to exterminate it? His last effort will be no less impactful on the Church of God’s new covenant people, for he Satan is full of wrath when he comes against the offspring of Israel, as God adds Israel’s natural branches back into His newest purging of the Olive Tree. Is this Truth or error? Let the Holy Spirit within do the teaching. Read the word, don’t allow it to be twisted by your mind or by what others have said about it. Remember:
Peter when talking of last days stuff has this to say about Paul’s writings:
2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (KJV)
What does it mean to be unlearned and unstable? It must mean that this one is not able to qualify his beliefs with his own knowledge of the word. Can you with justify the doctrine that you have adopted and support it with the Scriptures; revealing why your belief is correct? If you begin with an assumption that for instance Israel is a different instrument in Gods hand than the Church; then you won’t know what to do with Paul’s teachings in Ephesians. Your assumption will immediately create your outcome. Paul (Saul) looked upon the people of “the way” (the Church) as a false threat within Israel’s sects. He went about its destruction because it threatened his beliefs concerning the faith in one God over Israel. He didn’t persecute the prophets of satanic culture within Rome. His concern was about the faith and beliefs of the chosen nation Israel and this way based on Jesus claim to be Israel’s Messiah was to him heresy. His later belief himself in Israel’s Messiah did not remove him from Israel. What he saw as a mystery was that somehow God was now including Gentiles within His chosen people (the saints). Paul’s emphasis when we gain understanding of Romans was about the bringing in of all of Israel into the Church of their own New Covenant, and about the acceptance of their own inherent promise of that new covenant.
Romans 9:4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the [temple] service and the promises, 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. (NASB1995)
He is saying that they are missing out on what is theirs by Covenant, is he not?
Israel today is divided from the Church because of unbelief; when she finds belief; then the Church is complete, and all Israel is saved.
Romans 11:25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery–so that you will not be wise in your own estimation–that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” (NASB1995)
The bride cannot be ready without Israel. (Isa. 53&54).
She will be married to Jesus her redeemer according to chapter 54. Paul’s mystery in Ephesians is that you and I (the gentiles) are included in this bride along with all the saints. And that is a mystery that most do not yet get.
