Like a Thief in the Night
Luke 12: 39. And
this know, that if the goodman
of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched,
and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
Luke 22:52. Then Yahshua
said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which
were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief,
with swords and staves?
1 Thessalonians 5:2.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of YHWH so cometh as a
thief in the night. 4. But ye, brethren,
are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
2 Peter 3:10. But
the day of YHWH will come as a thief in the night.
Revelation 3:3.
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and
repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou
shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
John 1:29-41 (RSV) 29.
The next day he saw Yahshua coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of
Elohim, who takes away the sin of the world! 30. This is he of whom I said,
'After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.' 31. I myself
did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be
revealed to Israel." 32. And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend
as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. 33. I myself did not know him;
but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the
Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Qodesh Spirit.' 34.
And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of Elohim."
35. The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; 36. and he
looked at Yahshua as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of Elohim!" 37. The
two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Yahshua. 38. Yahshua turned,
and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" And they said to
him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39. He said to
them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed
with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40. One of the two who
heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41. He
first found his brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah"
(which means the Anointed).
All Time
Scientists say that the universe came into
being some billions of years ago and that human beings in some form have been
walking the earth for only a tiny, tiny slice of that time: maybe a million and
a half years, they say. Hundreds,
perhaps thousands, of major civilizations have come and gone in that time, some
of which must have been quite advanced to have left such megaliths as the
pyramids. We’ll never know what articles
from these civilizations have perished, for the only history left is in the
stones. Indeed, we don’t even understand
how past cultures could have put such gigantic stone buildings together. Modern technology can’t do it.
Traditional Egyptologists tell us that
the Sphinx is maybe five thousand years old.
New theories based on the possibility that the erosion of its body was
caused by water instead of sand put the Sphinx at fifteen to twenty thousand years old, which casts it far beyond our
ability to accurately speculate what the statue might mean much less who
could have built it.
“Modern” history therefore consists of
only the last six thousand years beginning at the end of the ice age: the
events of the times before that are fuzzy at best. The Bible records some history, but
it’s primarily an account of salvation history; that is, the history of
how people groups have been preserved from extinction by a higher power named
Yahweh Elohim. Furthermore, the Bible
instructs humans from the viewpoint of that Power how they can be preserved for
far longer than their average lifespan.
The Bible record deals with seven thousand years only, from the end
of the ice age forward. Very little of
what happened before, which the Bible calls “the world that was,” is described,
and even less of “the world that will be,” after the seven thousand years, is
explained. Of these seven thousand years
that the Bible reports and predicts, six thousand are used up and gone
forever.
How do I know this? Because the Bible and the
calendar both document time very accurately. The Jewish people have ticked off 2,160, 712+
days (two million, one hundred sixty thousand, seven hundred and twenty plus
days), since the Almighty created Adam.
Six of seven thousand years plus one and a half years have passed (2002). Less than one thousand years of salvation
history remain. We may rightly conclude
that we are now living at the beginning of that
last thousand years of Bible history.
The Millennium
And we are very privileged to be alive
at this time, because the seventh thousand-year span is a special period with a
special name: “The Millennium” (Rev 20).
Now you know that, since 1996 or so, you’ve been living in the
Millennium.
Briefly, The Millennium is the period of ten
centuries in which the Messiah descends from the spiritual dimension, Heaven,
and breaks back into earth’s history, this time to stay on as King
of the World. We know the Messiah Who Is To
Come as Yahshua the Anointed. The Gospels
record that, upon his return, Yahshua begins his reign very quietly, rearranging nations to make the world ready for his
public appearance and peace.
He doesn’t break a bruised reed or quench a
dimly lit candle. He comes silently,
like a thief in the night. During his hidden presence, we know he’s
setting things up for his public appearance and rule by a number of signs.
Two of these signs are so unique and
undeniable that I want to mention them again today. Yahshua said that right before the
Millennium, the entire world would be at war.
It wasn’t until the last century that the world could be at war
at all. The entire world has been at
constant war for well over one hundred years.
The other sign: Jerusalem is no longer
occupied by non-Jewish powers. Yahshua implied
that his coming would happen within 40 years, one generation, after this
unlikely event. It miraculously came to
pass in 1967 when Jerusalem
was liberated from Arab rule and 40 years from that occurrence is 2007. Some
now understand why we are privileged
to be living at this time. If the Bible
is true, there is a remote but real possibility that contemporary readers may or
may not experience physical death.
When Yahshua makes his appearance
public, he will disarm the warring nations of the world, exalt his people to
positions of importance in his government and impose equitable justice
in every quarter of the world. The Bible
promises that if a nation fails to comply with the new order, King Yahshua will
simply turn off the water to that country until it does (Zech 14:16). Sounds like a pretty effective way to quell
rebellion to me!
The History of Yahshua
We understand from the Bible that King Yahshua
was the firstborn of Yahweh’s creation – the Son of Elohim – long before we
ever called him by that title. Yahshua,
or more properly, Yahshua ben Yahweh, was with
the Creator when our generation of living beings was made; in fact, “all
things through him came into being.” We
find Yahshua moving in and out of salvation history, as well: when Yahweh
walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, he walked with Yahshua’s feet. When Yahweh came to the tent of Abraham and
Sarah, he appeared as his Son. When
Isaiah saw the Almighty, he saw our Yahshua.
Somewhere along the line, Yahshua had to
make a choice: remain in a state of glory and adulation as the commander of the
heavenly legions -- or be born on earth as a helpless babe to poor parents in a
third-world country. Though he was
righteous, he chose the perfect way of suffering. He made the choice that led him here because
he was full of goodness, love and obedience to his Heavenly Father.
Yahshua lived a hard life here for thirty or
forty years then was murdered. But long
after his death, people continued to see him.
He walked with the disciples to Emmaus after his death, he appeared to
his doubting family and they believed, he showed himself alive to St. Paul on
the Damascus Road and taught him mysteries in Arabia; he appeared to the
Revelator and showed him what was to come in his time and in all time. Legend says he went to Rome
and to Spain
and to the Orient. Legend also says he
came to this new world and gathered disciples of the native
peoples.
The Son of Yahweh has appeared to sinners
and saints for two thousand years; he personally appeared to some saints and he
reveals himself to us in the bread of Eucharist and when we feel
his Spirit’s warm anointing. He is real
and alive, his word is real and alive, and now we are on the very brink of his
public manifestation to the world. Will
you know him when he comes? You will
have no doubt it is he, for then everyone will know him and his
name!
Businessmen Choose Yahshua
In our reading, John the Baptist was the
forerunner of Yahshua’s “first coming”; his job was to herald Yahshua’s
appearance and make ready a righteous people for him. John didn’t even know Yahshua as the Anointed
One until Yahshua went down into the creek with all those other people. John then saw the sign and it opened up
his mind; the Qodesh Spirit came upon Yahshua, marking him out as the Savior
of the World.
John even knew that Yahshua would die by
another’s hand; that’s why John called him the Lamb of Elohim, the final
sacrifice of atonement. So John
introduced Yahshua to his group of followers there in the cold water of the Jordan River: “I myself have seen and have
testified that this man is the Son of Elohim.”
In those days, you didn’t go to the
seminary to study religion. You found
yourself a teacher and linked up with him.
You left your family and you paid your own way. John happens to be standing with two of his
protégés. These two guys were serious
about their spiritual life. They weren’t
paupers; they were successful businessmen on a pilgrimage of faith. They hooked up with a famous teacher to learn. They were very close to him – right beside
him – when John made his most important announcement.
When their teacher heralded Yahshua as
the Anointed, these guys immediately leave John and start following Yahshua,
who they didn’t even know. Remember, they’re paying their own way. One was the Gospel writer. The other was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. This sudden choice led them from the right
way that they were already pursuing onto the perfect way. This one choice determined the trail they
would hike for the rest of their lives and how they would ultimately die.
The Right and The
Perfect
Did you notice the distinction between the
right way and the perfect way? Similar
in tone to our Millennium, our watching and waiting, they lived in the
time just before the Messiah was first revealed; the rest of humanity
wouldn’t be drawn to him until he was lifted up on a cross then lifted
up back into the heavenly dimension.
Unlike John, Yahshua wasn’t famous; unlike John, Yahshua hadn’t achieved
a reputation; unlike John, Yahshua had no experience in teaching anything.
Yet, at the word of John, these novices leave him to follow the promised
stranger.
The fact that they were paying their
own way makes this a significant act of faith.
They certainly wanted to get the best bang for their buck, I suppose,
and I doubt that they thought they’d ever end up martyrs. Mature men and women sometimes must make
quick landmark decisions. In leaving
the right way for the perfect way in a time of great stress
was a courageous move.
You’ve probably already heard the story of
the hiker who had a crisis of faith up in the mountains of northeast Alabama. Though he was experienced, as he approached
the lip of a deep crevasse, he tripped on his shoestring and fell off the
side. He was able to catch a piece of a
tree root on his descent. There was no
one else there, and he realized that letting go of the root would bring his death. He cried out, “O G-d, O my G-d, save me! Save me!”
Immediately he heard a deep voice echoing through the canyon, “Do as I
say and I will save you.”
“OK! OK!” The hysterical man replied, “Whatever you
say!” The voice then commanded the hiker, “Let go of the root!” “Who are you,” cried the hiker. “Are you my Elohim?” “I AM!” came the answer, “Do as I say and you
will be saved. Let go of the root!” The hiker prayed again, “Is there anyone else
there who can help me?”
When they saw the sign, the Gospel
writer and his friend Andrew “let go of the root” without hesitation. Some said they were foolish youth flirting
with danger, for what they were doing was strictly illegal: the penalty
was death. Nevertheless, John, Andrew
and Peter, his brother, all lived long, exciting lives. And through such lives was built the foundation
for the faith that we now inherit (though most of us in a very watered-down
form).
Today’s Choices
As I mentioned, today we live in a
very similar spiritual climate to that of John the Baptist. The day before Yahshua was baptized, all
the prophetic signs of his coming had been fulfilled; John and Andrew knew
their Bible prophecy, and that’s why they were there – to find the fulfillment
of it. Then the next day, Yahshua
came out of the water, and they saw total fulfillment, and they let go of the
root.
Now we hold the exact same root: the same
Bible Andrew knew now tells us that all prophecies leading up to Yahshua’
return to earth as King are fulfilled and
that the six thousand years allotted to evil are completed. The signs of his presence are everywhere and
everything is in place for Yahshua to resurface: not as a babe, meek and mild,
but as Commander Yahshua.
The time for choices is running out. Six thousand years of salvation history are
gone and the King takes charge over the seventh. Though the earth may have been spinning in
space for billions; though humankind may have inhabited it for millions; though
Adam’s race may have thrived in it for thousands, all of existence is distilled
down to one tiny concentrated drop of time – that drop of time is now.
You and I are hanging on to the root for
dear life; an immediate decision must be made. Most here seem to have chosen the right path,
but how many the perfect? If you’ve
chosen the path of salvation, you are on the right path. But you will choose perfectly only if
your pathway is the cross of total commitment. That road leads to a change in your life
style, to greater dedication to the Kingdom
of Yahshua.
Friends, you are living in the most
spiritually charged days of them all.
Right Now! I’ve shown you the irrefutable
signs of his presence. Have they
opened your mind to the signs of our times?
Of the tens of billions of people who have lived and died on this earth,
you may be living on earth with him now in his mysterious presence. Your eyes may well behold the reappearance of
the Great King. If that doesn’t excite
you, if that doesn’t attract you committing your life to him, what in the world
will? Make the perfect choice. Let go of the root! He’ll catch you up and establish your footing
on holy ground.
I looked at the mountain. “It’s too hard, I can’t climb.” “Take my hand,” he whispered. “I’ll be your strength.”
I saw the road ahead. “It’s too long; so rough and long.” “Take my
love,” he answered, “I’ll guard your feet.”
I looked at the sky. “The sun’s
gone. It’s almost dark.”
“Take the lantern of my word,”
he whispered. “That will be light
enough.”
We climbed. The road was narrow and steep but the way was
bright.
And when the thorns reached out
for me, they found his hand before they touched mine.
And when the path grew rough for
my feet, he cushioned the blows and held me up.
But I grew tired. “I can’t go farther,” I told him.
He answered, “You can. Night’s gone.
Look up, child.”
I looked and it was dawn. Green valleys stretched below.
Then I saw the marks: “You’re
wounded. Your hands are bleeding, your
feet bruised. Was it for me?”
He whispered, “I did it gladly.”
Then I fell at his feet. “King Yahsu’, lead
me in your perfect pathway,” I cried.
“No road is too long, no valley
too steep, if you are with me. I will
see you through to my perfect world.”
We walk together now in that
wonderful land, and we forever shall.
~~Based on Ruth Margaret Gibbs
Jackson Snyder, January 18, 2002
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