The Day Approaches

Newsletter #219 - By Shepherds Chapel - http://www.shepherdschapel.com/

The Lord's day is a day we all look forward to. There is a day called by another day that precedes this which is actually the dawn of the Lord's day. It is called the day of vengeance. Vengeance is usually not a pleasant subject; however, on this day the enemies of God will be corrected in a gentil, firm and righteous way. All will receive exactly what they deserve. Those that love and serve Him have nothing to worry about on this day. Let's begin our study in Luke 21which contains the same seven seals or events that must transpire, as Matthew 24 and Mark 13. These events lead to and consummate the end of this age. You live in that generation.

Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

We should pay close attention to this area of the world. Jerusalem is the barometer of the day that approaches.

Luke 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

Why get out of the city? Jesus told the disciples not one stone would be left upon another [Matthew 24:2].

Luke 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

All things prophesied will be fulfilled by the day of vengeance. That is interesting information. Let's turn to Isaiah and learn more about this day of vengeance. We will see a hidden message that should help you be patient.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

The Anointed One is Messiah. Jesus Christ is the speaker. Christianity gives us true peace of mind and the truth sets us free from bondage. Next, we find the "gap" verse.

Isaiah 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

Christ did not complete this verse, when He quoted this Scripture in Luke 4. He stopped and closed the book after the word "Lord". The acceptable year of the Lord came to pass as Jesus made salvation available. The day of vengeance is the beginning of the 2nd advent. What will happen on the day of vengeance? Let's continue with the duties of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Why does God use trees in symbology? If you are one of the elect, you should know. You know about the Tree f Life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The elect are trees of righteousness.

Isaiah 61:4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

Desolation means places of silence. What kind of silence? The silence for hearing the Word of the Lord. This will be corrected in the Millennium.

Isaiah 61:5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

The elect will feed the flock with the Word of God.

Isaiah 61:6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

I hope Revelation 20:6 comes to your mind. "But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." The priests will be working to teach the Word of God.

Isaiah 61:7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

Double portions are the rewards for the first fruits. Actually, the elect do not receive a double portion of land. As it is written in Ezekiel 44, the priests are to receive no portion of land as their inheritance. Their inheritance is God. He owns everything.

Isaiah 61:8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

That everlasting covenant is the eternity. Never again will Satan be loosed. All will be made right at the end of the Millennium. We have one King. The King of kings and Lord of lords. Although another day mentioned in Malachi is not called the day of vengeance in English, the Hebrew makes it clear that it is that day in Malachi.

Malachi 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Those that go into the lake of fire will be turned to ashes from within (Ezekiel 28:18). Remember this verse next time some one tells you some will burn in hell forever. There won't even be a root left from which a sapling might spring forth.

Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Do you need heeling? Do you need the truth of God's Word to feed on? He is there for those that revere Him.

Malachi 4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

Note, God said, "in the day that I shall do this". Vengeance does not belong to us. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. We are now going back to the New Testament where Jesus takes up the Book of Isaiah and reads part of the Scripture we covered in Chapter 61. Look for the comfort Christ offers those with understanding.

Luke 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Christ. stopped there. He did not continue to Isaiah 61:2 concerning the day of vengeance. He is not coming to us as a babe to be crucified in the 2nd advent. Christ is coming to perform the day of vengeance. Will He burn the wicked from within immediately? No, Christ and His priests will teach for one thousand years to save as many as will be saved from the 2nd death. Will you have a part in that ministry?

Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

From that day to this day, Christianity delivers those that believe from bondage. Obviously, Jesus stopped reading where He did because the day of vengeance is prophecy yet to be fulfilled.

Luke 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

Here we find the comfort I mentioned earlier. How many times have you gone to someone's home to plant seeds and explain what actually happened in the Garden of Eden? Sometimes, the truth falls on open ears; however, more often than not, the persons you are speaking to think to themselves, "Who does this guy or gal think they are? He is my neighbor not my preacher." Take comfort in Christ's teachings. The same thing happened to Him. And, you nor I are a better teacher than Jesus Christ. Be patient.

Luke 4:23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

They are asking Jesus to perform some miracles for them.

Luke 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

Elias is Elijah in Greek. Remember what the famine in the end time is (Amos 8:11)The widow is symbolic of those that wait for the True Husband to return.

Luke 4:26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

Elijah was not sent to everyone. God pulls out His anointed. Don't get the big head. God expect more from those that receive more from Him. Luke 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

Eliseus is the Greek name for Elisha. Naaman the Syrian almost blew his chance. The leper Naaman traveled a great distance seeking Elisha's help. Elisha told him to dunk himself 7 times in the Jordan river. Naaman started to leave, but his servant talked him into at least trying Elisha's method. Naaman was cleansed.

Learn a lesson. Sometimes, we aren't clear on what God would have us do. Don't question, just do it. Sometimes, we aren't the great seed planter we think we should be. None of us are; however, we must do the best we can with the blessings God gives us. Those that God has chosen understand this. Just as Elijah was only sent to the widow, we are sent to pull out those with eyes to see and ears to hear. Only God is able to make seeds germinate and grow. Don't be disappointed in yourself, when the seeds you plant don't germinate. Take comfort in knowing everyone will have eyes to see and ears to hear during the Millennium. The day approaches.

In His Service,

Arnold Murray.