A NEW DECADE!! ARE YOU IN THE ARK OF SAFETY??

>The old year of 2009 has brought the first Decade of the 21st Century to an end and it now takes its place in the annals of history. Our Elohim has now ushered in the second Decade of this 21st Century. It is the Decade which could see the return of our blessed Saviour, Yahushua, for His waiting children.



SOME OF THE HAPPENINGS IN THE FIRST DECADE


The first Decade of the 21st Century has been one that has etched its mark on history in a most spectacular way. There were the great disasters including the great tsunami in S.E. Asia in 2004; there were erupting volcanoes, terrible earthquakes, tornadoes, typhoons, cyclones, hurricanes, storms, severe floods, great land slides and ferocious fires in many lands. There were also very heavy snow falls and heavy rainfalls, as well as famines in some countries. All these calamities have claimed untold numbers of lives.


Global warming which contributed to some of the disasters was intensified. It contributed to the melting of snow at the poles of the earth and the glaciers in many countries. The extra volumes of water led to the rise in sea levels which has been claiming the habits of people, animals, birds and other creature in some countries. There were also some very severe climatic changes which resulted in some places being extremely hot or severely cold.


The past Decade witnessed an escalation in terrorists attacks which were specifically launched against many countries including the USA, the most powerful nation upon earth. The wars in Iraq, Afghanistan which are ongoing came as a direct result of the terrorism. There were wars and civil wars in the Middle East, parts of Africa and in some other countries, as well as terrible crimes, murders, man’s inhumanity to man and diseases, including the dreaded Swine Flu. These, too, have had their toll on lives.


Toward the end of the first Decade came the global credit crunch, the economic down turn, the collapsing of reputable banks and financial empires and the severe recession which led to many losing their jobs, homes and businesses; from which many will never recover. Frauds, especially Internet frauds were exploited by unscrupulous fraudsters as banks and individuals alike were defrauded.

Here in the UK there was the legalising of same sex marriages and history was made as the USA In many lands the persecution and martyrdom of Christians were intensified and there was more intolerance to Christianity in some countries than in past decades. On the other hand, the First Decade of the 21st Century witnessed a proliferation of Christian TV and Radio Channels broadcasting the love of Yahushua and the Gospel Message to most countries in the world. inaugurated her first black President and First Lady.


THE SECOND DECADE HAS DAWNED!!


The Second Decade of the 21st Century has now dawned upon Planet Earth. As we stand on its threshold no one knows what it holds for this world and its inhabitants. One can only predict what it may hold. However, there is One Who holds the future and that One is our Elohim. He is omniscient and knows all things. Those who are His children know that they can confidently place their hands in His hands and He will take them safely into this unknown Decade.


HAPPENINGS AND CHANGES OVER THE CENTURIES.


This world has seen many happenings and changes over the centuries. She has experienced wars, growth in industry, conquering of space, building up of financial empires, the invention of air travel and advancement in science and technology, including the computer and the Internet. There have also been telecommunications and the invention of mobile phones so that communication can be maintained on a personal basis twenty four hours each day anywhere in the world. Technology is now so advanced that the world is now like a global village at one’s finger tip.


Yahweh, our Elohim, knew this time would come in the history of this world. He also knew that the happenings in the world in these times would bring us to the end of the age. In order to make His children aware of what would be in these last days, He prophesied through His prophet, Daniel:


“1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased”. Daniel 12: 1-4.

Yahweh informed Daniel about these last days a good two thousand four hundred years ago.



YAHUSHUA SPOKE ABOUT THE END OF TIME!!


Yahushua, when He was upon this earth two thousand years ago, spoke in the Gospels about His return to this world. His disciples and the people of His day were disappointed that He had not come to deliver them from Roman rule. They believed that His return would be in their time and they were anxious to know the signs which would precede His coming. Among the many signs Yahushua gave to them were those recorded Matthew 24. This is part of that account in Matthew 24: 3- 14:


“3 And as he [Yahushua] sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?


4 And [Yahushua] Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Mashiach] Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.


9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come”.


Yahushua also told us in Luke 21: 25-36:

“25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man [Yahushua Ha Mashiach] coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.


“29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of [Yahweh] God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away”.


“34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man”. (KJV).


In 2 Timothy 3: 1-5, it is recorded what would happen in the last days. It says:

“1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of [Elohim] God; 5 having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away”.


YAHUSHUA TELLS US MORE ABOUT HIS RETURN


In Matthew 24:23-31, He says:

23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is [Mashiach] Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be...


29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man [Yahushua] in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other”.


Likewise, Yahushua says in Matthew 24: 36-44:

“36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father [Yahweh] only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man [Yahushua] be. . .42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh”.



PETER SPOKE ABOUT THE END OF TIME!!


He wrote in 2 Peter 3: 1-14:

1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour [Yahushua]: 3 knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.


5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of [Yahweh] God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.


8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with [Adonai] the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 [Yahushua Ha Mashiach] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.


10 But the day of [Adonai] the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of [Elohim] God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless”.


These signs, although they were given 2000 years ago, are as though they were given today. Most of them are the head lines in the daily news. This is because our Elohim is omniscient. He knows all things and it is His way of telling us that whatsoever He says in His Word, WILL COME TO PASS!!


THE KEY TO THE RETURN OF YAHUSHUA HA MASHIACH!!


Yahushua did not give us a date when He would return to this world but He gave specific signs whereby we would know when the time is near. The preceding Scriptures make us aware that we are living at the time when Yahushua will return to this world for his children and put an end to Satan and his demonic activities. Yahushua gave many signs by which we would know when His coming was imminent. However, there is one specific sign which is the KEY to His return. That sign pertains to present day city of East Jerusalem. It says in Luke 21: 24 (last part):

“Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled”.

Yahushua then went on to say in Luke 21: 25-28:


“25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man [Yahushua Ha Mashiach] coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”.


Jerusalem was under the rule of many gentile nations for almost 2000 years. However, in 1967, there was the Six Day War when in a miraculous way Yahweh returned the city of old east Jerusalem to the Jews and to Jewish rule. Since then many wars have been fought to take back lands captured and in particular east Jerusalem, the nation’s capital. However, the Gentiles have not succeeded in taking it back.


Both the Jews and the Palestinians want the city of east Jerusalem, to be their Capital. Western nations have come together in their summits and voted that the city of east Jerusalem should be the capital for both the Israelis and the Palestinians. They have exerted great pressure on Israel to comply. This first year of the second Decade of the 21st Century should be the time when east Jerusalem is divided and made the Capital for the Israelis and the Palestinians.


I am not getting involved in the politics of the Middle East, I am pointing out Yahushua’s Word on the matter. None of His Word has ever returned to Him unfulfilled. Thus the prophecy which He gave 2000 years ago concerning east Jerusalem will not return to Him void. In that prophecy in Luke 21: 24 (last part), Yahushua Ha Mashiach clearly said:

“Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled”.


These are Yahushua’s Word. Then He went on to speak about the signs which would follow when Jerusalem would no longer be under the rule of Gentiles. He spoke about the signs in the sun the moon and the stars and the distress which would be upon the nations, as well as the conditions of the seas and the waves. Over the past forty years there have in been great changes in climatic conditions as well as the troubles and distresses upon the nations. Those who study the sun the moon and the stars have recorded the changes that have taken place in them. These changes are in fulfilment of the signs Yahushua spoke about.


Daily people are dying from heart attacks due to the pressures and stresses of life and for the things which are coming upon the earth, especially in the financial world. Likewise, the powers in the heavens are being shaken through global warming, hurricanes, cyclones, typhoons, tornadoes, heat waves, famines and other great calamities.


Then in Luke 21: 27, Yahushua told us about the greatest event of all times, His return. He says:

“And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory”.


He then went on to admonish us in Luke 21:28:


“ And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”.


Yahushua Ha Mashiach has given us the sequence of events leading up to His return.

East Jerusalem and the end of Gentile rule is therefore one of the major signs which indicates that His coming is at hand. Now that it is to return to Gentile rule, is a sure sign that His coming is at hand because that is His Word. All things pertaining to Yahushua’s Birth, Work, Suffering, Death, Resurrection and Ascension have been fulfilled as they were prophesied. He has promised that HE WILL RETURN FOR HIS CHILDREN AND THAT, TOO, MUST COME TO PASS BECAUSE HIS WORD HAS NEVER FAILED.


It is time therefore, that as His followers who are looking for His return, we read the signs in accordance with His Word:

“ And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”.


It is also important that we heed His admonition in Matthew 24: 44:

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man [Yahushua] cometh”.

This is not the time to be asleep, nor is it the time to be complacent concerning the things which are happening in the world around us. IT IS TIME TO BE READY TO MEET OUR SAVIOUR, YAHUSHUA, BECAUSE HIS COMING IS AT HAND!! AND ACCORDING TO HIS WORD, IT COULD BE ANYTIME NOW!!



TIME TO GET IN THE ARK OF SAFETY!!


The situations, conditions and happenings in the world from global warming of the Planet, the financial slump, the great disasters to the wars, crimes and the extinction of animal life, due to the destruction of their natural habitats, are all warning signs that the end of time is at hand. It also means that King Yahushua is ready to return to this world in fulfilment of His promise in John 14: 1-3, in which He says:

“1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in [Elohim] God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”.


Today most of the people in the world have rejected Yahushua and refuse to believe His Word and what He has done for them. They do not believe that time for this world will come to an end. Neither do they believe that Yahushua, Who created this world, will fulfil His Word and return for His children. Likewise, they do not believe that He will judge the inhabitants of this world and mete out judgment to them.


That was the same attitude the people of Noah’s day had prior to the great flood which destroyed them and all life upon the earth, except for Noah and his wife and their three sons and daughter-in-laws. Noah had faithfully warned the peoples for one hundred and twenty years of the impending flood while he built the ark of safety for their protection. Sadly, no one heeded his appeals to take refuge in the very ark which many helped to build. The time came when Yahweh led the various species of animals, birds and insects into the ark by an unseen hand. In spite of the strange phenomena, the people just watched, unconcerned for their own safety until Yahweh closed the door of the ark with Noah and his family and the creatures safely inside.


Soon after the rains began to pour and continued for forty days. During that time all life on earth perished. The warnings of the impending doom was given but all refused to heed the warnings given by Noah. However, their unbelief, indifference or stubbornness did not prevent the flood from coming upon the earth and destroying them (Genesis 6-8).


The same things which happened in Noah’s time also apply to our day. Yahushua has told us in His Word, both in the Old and New Testament Scriptures, that He will come for His children and that He will also destroy this world. Thus He says in Matthew 24: 37-39:

“37But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man [Yahushua] be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be”.


Many in the world may reject Yahushua our Saviour and what He did for all mankind. They may also refuse to believe that He exits or that He is coming back to this world. Regardless of what they may believe or think, cannot change Yahweh's Word or His plans. One thing is certain, the time for Yahushua’s return is at hand and His ark of safety is open for all who will enter into its safety. However, soon He will close and make the proclamation:

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still”. Revelation 22:11.


The signs which have been fulfilled, including the great global economic downturn and the things which are coming upon the earth, including the planned return of the city of Jerusalem to Gentile rule, are like the animals which were led by an unseen hand into the ark.


As the Antediluvians looked blindly upon what was unfolding before their eyes as the animals and other creatures went into the ark; the nations today are looking on blindly and with indifference to the unusual things which are unfolding in the world before their eyes. Soon Yahweh will close the ark of Safety and Yahushua will return for His waiting children and take them to heaven to be with Him. At that time He will bring Satan’s evil reign over the past six thousand years to an end.


Many of Yahushua’s followers recognise the things which are taking place in the earth as fulfilment of end time prophecies. They have taken their place in Yahushua’s ark of safety because they have accepted His sacrifice for them and have committed their lives to Him.


Now I ask you: ARE YOU ALSO IN YAHUSHUA’S ARK OF SAFETY? IF NOT, WHY NOT? ARE YOU PREPARED TO BE LIKE THE ANTEDILUVIANS AND PERISH? However, whereas they had a watery death, the death for those outside of Yahushua’s ark, will be by FIRE!! This will not be the end but will be followed the Lake of fire and sulphur in the Judgment (Revelation 20: 11-15). ARE YOU PREPARED TO PAY THAT PRICE FOR REJECTING YOUR SAVIOUR WHO LOVES YOU AND GAVE HIS LIFE FOR YOU??



NO SECRET RAPTURE!!

This second Decade of the 21st Century may see King Yahushua Ha Mashiach return in His majestic glory and splendour. Many believe and teach that He will return in secret and rapture His people out of this world. This, they say, will then be followed by the antichrist and the great tribulation!! However, I do not read any such thing in His Word. I can only conclude that such belief is based upon the Passage of Scripture in Matthew 24: 40-44:

“40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh”.

This Passage is in three parts. In the first part in Verses 40, 41, Yahushua is speaking about the two groups of people who will be upon the earth at His return. The ones who will be taken, represent those who have accepted Yahushua as their Saviour and are saved by His grace. At His return, they will be caught up to meet Him in the air and to be with Him throughout the rest of eternity (1 Thessalonians 4: 16, 17). Those, however, who will be left behind, represent those who have rejected His love and grace for them. They will be lost and will face Him in the final judgment a thousand years later (Revelation 20:5, 11-15).

At the return of Yahushua for His children, no one will be left alive upon the earth because all those who rejected Him will die at that time. They will not live again until a thousand years later when they will be resurrected to stand in the judgment and receive their reward; which will be in the Lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:5, 11-15).

In the second part of the Passage, Matthew 24: 42-43, Yahushua went on to encourage His followers to watch, or be vigilant because the day of His return is not known to anyone and would be sudden. Thus He likened it to a good man being robbed because he did not know what time of the night the thief would come and therefore had not watched his property.

The third part of the Passage in Matthew 24:44, deals with Yahushua’s admonition that we should always be ready for His return because it will be sudden and at time when we are not expecting Him. Therefore, the Passage in Matthew 24: 40-43 has nothing to so with a secret rapture (if this is what the secret rapture theory is based upon) but that we should commit our lives to our Saviour, Yahushua, and to be ready at all times for His return for His children.



THE SCRIPTURES SHOW THERE WILL BE NO SECRET RAPTURE!!


Among the many things written in His Word to show that His coming will NOT be a secret event, are the following:


* "Our [Elohim] God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him”. Psalm 50:15

* 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:7.

* 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matthew 24: 26.27

* 18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. . . 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. Revelation 16: 18, 20.

* 16 For [Yahushua] the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of [Yahweh] God”. 1 Thessalonians 4: 16.

* 30 and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man [Yahushua] in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other”. Matthew 24: 30.31.

* “He [Yahushua] shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels”. Luke 9:26.

* “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be”. Revelation 22: 12



Yahushua Ha Mashiach, our Saviour, Who came and died for our sins and redeemed us from the curse of sin and eternal death, WILL RETURN for His children. He has not given us a date for His return. However, He has admonished us to be ready at all times to meet Him. His coming could be in this Decade. However, the most important thing is that we should be ready at all times, day and night, to meet Him because we could die and leave the planet at any anytime. Therefore, let us heed His Word in Matthew 24:44:

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man [Yahushua] cometh”.


Yes my friend, PLEASE BE READY TO MEET OUR KING, YAHUSHUA, FOR HE WILL CERTAINLY RETURN TO THIS WORLD FOR HIS CHILDREN!! BY HIS GRACE I AM LOOKING AND WAITING FOR THAT GREAT AND GRAND EVENT THAT COULD BE ANY TIME NOW. NOW MY FRIEND, ARE YOU READY TO MEET HIM??



May our Elohim: Yahweh, our Father, Yahushua, our Saviour and the Ruach Ha Kodesh, our Comforter, be with you and bless you each new day of this second Decade of the 21st Century and may you, by His grace, be ready to meet King Yahushua whether at His return, or at your death so that you can go home to Glory and live with Him eternally.


A BLESSED NEW YEAR!!


Shalom!


E. Asherel.


N B: Scriptures used in the Post are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.