Hi all,
There
is a well done little movie playing in the US right now called 'Mr.
Holmes'. Set in 1947, it is about detective Sherlock Holmes at age 93,
trying to figure out his last case from 35 years earlier and how he got
it so wrong. After he realizes the truth of the case he makes a
statement that could also apply to those who were caught up in the
expected rapture that didn't happen a couple weeks ago:
"I had gathered all the facts but failed to understand their meaning."
This series is about why it didn't happen 'as scheduled'
Apparently many people were worked nearly to a frenzy as they awaited the rapture, if you paid attention at all to social or Christian media. Others were awaiting a global financial meltdown on that day, or both.
Apparently many people were worked nearly to a frenzy as they awaited the rapture, if you paid attention at all to social or Christian media. Others were awaiting a global financial meltdown on that day, or both.
But
regular readers will remember my recent 'dream' series and
e-newsletters, how I shared the Lord told me not to look for an event,
but a larger process at work, though there will be several events within the process. But the rapture isn't yet. This series is about the larger process.
And
let me say, there will be economic and political troubles in the US and
world for at least the next 2 years, so don't think I am saying that
all is well and there will be smooth sailing - I'm not. Times are coming
in the US and world that if you don't know Him in whom you believe, and
know how to walk with Him now, you could face great difficulty. But the
end is not yet.
So why didn't the rapture happen?
After
all, in 2001 and 2008 economic and other turmoil hit world markets in
massive 'corrections/events' on Elul 29 in the Jewish calendar - yet in
2015 nothing happened in spite of it being a Shemitah year, in spite of
blood moons, in spite of millions of books sold and the Internet buzzing
with anticipation.
If
you want to read a well written and easy to understand book on God's
anniversary dates, I'd suggest the late Grant Jeffrey's, "Armageddon; Appointment with Destiny", in which he details several Jewish holy days and historical events that happened through the centuries on those dates.
Why
didn't anything happen when it was called for? Do we just chalk it up
to God being unpredictable, or is there a larger process at work? (Yes)
The answer is much more serious than most realize. That's why this
series is related to the fear of God - the end of school girl giddiness
about the latest and greatest fad is upon us, to be replaced by a
reverence of God for the season we are in.
First: Why would a prophecy NOT come to pass as predicted? There are several answers possible.
Situation #1 - they were in the flesh
This
is what most first go to as an explanation - the person who gave the
prophecy was speaking out of the flesh and 'missed it'. And that is
possible. You can have people who study the Word and arrive at
conclusions based solely on the Word without the Holy Spirit's guidance,
yet they think they are right, out of a cerebral or scientific approach
to faith. An example is what didn't happen this month, and also the
famous book prophesying the rapture in 1988, and its sequel, why the
rapture is going to happen in 1989.
Situation #2 - people repent
Another
situation a prophecy might not happen is when a people repent, such as
Jonah prophesying to Nineveh they would be overthrown in 40 days but it
didn't happen. Because of their repentance the Lord withheld judgment
and the prophecy did not come to pass. Jonah didn't miss it, God changed
His mind based on their reaction to the prophecy of their destruction.
2a is related to #2 -
People not repenting, but turning away from God even though they have
been given powerful prophetic words, which causes a prophecy not to come
to pass. An example is Moses when he came from the burning bush to
prophesy to Israel that the Lord would bring them out of Egypt and into a
land of milk and honey*. Yet that prophecy didn't come to pass for the
nation because the people had changed their mind from following
the Lord. It came to pass only for Joshua and Caleb, who followed the
Lord fully. (*Exodus 3:17, 4:29-31)
Situation #3 - misunderstanding the revelation of the devil's plan
Another
situation is seen in Acts 27:10 when Paul perceives in his spirit if
they set out on the voyage "...we will lose the ship, the cargo, and our
lives". But this was a situation where the Lord showed him the devil's
plan of what would happen if God didn't intervene. We are told later in
the chapter, after 14 days of fasting, an angel visited Paul and told
him God had spared all (276 people) but they would still lose the ship
and cargo. That was a case of God revealing the devil's plan so it could
be stopped through prayer.
Many
well meaning Christians have rebuked the Holy Spirit because they
thought a revelation of something bad that is about to happen is the
devil, not realizing it is very often the Father revealing the enemy
plan so that person can pray to Him that He may legally intervene to
stop it from happening.
Situation #4 - 'And God turned' - which is about this series
In
scripture there is another reason a prophecy doesn't happen, and it is
very seldom talked about or even known about I think. It involves a
larger process from heaven's perspective, that isn't easily seen from
earth's vantage point.
The
question before us is, how like Sherlock Holmes in the movie mentioned
above, did they gather all the facts yet fail to understand their
meaning?
The
short answer is that multiple events happen to a people over years as a
sign to them in the hopes they will change their ways, and at some
point when those warnings are ignored, the people are allowed to
experience what they want.
Therefore
sometimes a single event along a string of events that should have
happened doesn't, because God is extending mercy yet again.
But sometimes it doesn't happen because God has moved, and given them over to experience the ramifications of their actions, which is the most mild form of judgement.
Paul
said in Galatians 6:1-8 to restore with meekness someone caught in sin,
but if they insist on going their own way just let them walk it
out, for God is not mocked, He gives to each of us what we have sown. In
other words, you tried, they insisted on going their own way, so even
though you know better, they have to be allowed to experience the
ramifications of their actions - that is God's way.
That's what Israel did
In
Numbers 14:2 the Israelites complain for the 10th time about God's plan
for them, saying: "Would to God we had died in Egypt, or that we had
died in the wilderness." Going back to Egypt was not an option, but
finally, after this 10th time of complaining since leaving Egypt, the
Lord said starting in verse 20 to Moses:
"I
have pardoned them as you requested...but as they've spoken in my ears
so I will do to them...you will all die in the wilderness (as you
requested)...everyone from 20 years and upwards who came out of
Egypt..."
(If
a reader doesn't understand how they could be forgiven yet made to pay
the price for their rebellion, I suggest any of my 'Forgiveness' series,
which explains a trespass is both vertical (sin) and horizontal
(injury/damage). The sin can be forgiven from heaven, but the
injury/damage done on earth must be accounted for.)
If
you trace those 10 times Israel murmured and complained you'll find the
Lord wanted to deal with them at each point, but Moses interceded and
the Lord relented. But finally, He reached a point He was willing to go
no further, and allowed them to experience exactly what they said they
wanted - to die in the wilderness.
As Steven gives his defense in Acts 7, in verse 42 he recounts this point in Israel's history saying it this way: "And God turned, and gave them up
to worship the host of heaven..." There is a point with a people who
insist they go their own way instead of God's, that He 'turns' and lets
them do what they want. This gives us a clue as to why seemingly
predictable divine appointments don't happen, so stay tuned.
I've run out of room today...continued next week...until then, blessings,
John Fenn
www.cwowi.org and email me at cwowi@aol.com
New CD/MP3 Series
And the 3 Fall Festivals #1 (2 cd/MP3, $12/set or MP3 $10)
For the first time ever as a stand-alone teaching, John sits down and teaches from the Word and ancient Rabbinical sources
what Judaism teaches about the resurrection of the righteous dead and
their meeting with Messiah during Rosh haShanah, the days leading up to
and including Yom Kippur, which is a type of the return of Jesus, and
about what to expect during the 1,000 year reign of Jesus on the earth,
celebrated in Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. Covering all 3 fall
festivals starting with understanding the rapture as foretold in the
Feast of Trumpets, you'll gain a clearer understanding of the days we
are living in, what will happen on earth while the body of Christ is in
heaven, and insights into the millennial reign.
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