Rabbi Lynnette Ariella, Bethel Temple Fellowship
Teshuvah, (repent) for your redemption draweth nigh.
“And when these things began to come to pass, then look up, and lift your heads; for you redemption draweth nigh.” —Luke 21:28Since the announcement of the return of the Messiah, many have said,
“We are in the last days.” “Jesus is coming soon!”
Though no man knows the day or the hour, God’s people should clearly see the signs of His return. It is true and often quoted that the Messiah will come like a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 is one example. However, the rest of the verses are often left out.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-6
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”
These verses clearly state that God’s people will not be surprised when he comes back, but rather those who look outwardly to a false “peace” that the world creates, they will be shocked.
Now hold on, this isn’t just pertaining to non-believers; even those that call themselves Christians and believers in God, tend to get caught up with the world’s idea of peace. Pay attention and acknowledge the signs; get your hearts prepared, and share to others the gospel so they may avoid the judgment to come.
When Jonah repented and went forth, sharing the gospel and foreboding the judgment to come, the wicked city of Nineveh repented. The people of Nineveh saw the hand of God literally that day. In 773- 755 B.C. It is recorded that a solar eclipse was happening while Jonah was preaching. It’s no wonder the whole country repented and revival broke out.
This past solar eclipse was a spiritual wake up call for many Americans, a warning to repent. Genesis 1:14 from the beginning says,
“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.”
Signs are ways that Adonai (God) speaks to his children. “Signs” in Hebrew means: omen, warning and signal. “Omen” in Hebrew is truth, or advent of change.
Throughout Biblical history, after a sign in the sky, something major happens. The recent eclipse is no exception. As you may or may not know Iran launched their first ever full scale military attack on Israel a few days after the April 8th eclipse.
The Bible talks about Iran attacking Israel in the last days before Yeshua comes back. Now, there are other events that must take place before he returns, but it is being set in motion.
Ezekiel 38, talks about nations that will come against Israel, such as: Persia, Libya, Ethiopia, etc.
Persia is the name for what we now know as Iran (They changed their name in 1935).
The recent attacks on Israel shocked people around the world, as mentioned before, it was the first time the Islamic regime of Iran has launched a full scale military attacked against Israel.
I am not saying this is leading to the Ezekiel war, but it is certainly a taste of what is to come, as things will intensify.
Matthew 24 talks about the hardships to come before things get better.
So it is with great urgency that the people of God repent for not doing what we were called or chosen to do. Those that do not know Yeshua, repent, because Jesus (Yeshua) the Messiah is coming; he is laying everything out, getting ready. We are seeing the Bible come alive right in front of our eyes. Believers must repent for not obeying the full word of God.
We cherry-pick instead of taking God’s word (the Bible) as truth.
Either we read the Bible and believe it is true, or we don’t believe the Bible and we don’t take it at face value, saying, it was just a book for Bible times.
So a question for us to think on is,
“Do I believe that the Bible is emet (truth) and nothing but the truth?”
If we don’t, may God help our unbelief.
Now is not the time to be shaky in faith.
If we think this is not a big deal, and we think God (Adonai) can’t talk to us through “signs in the sky.” I ask,
“Why do we call ourselves believers in God?”
God is capable to speak to us in many ways. He is listening to us, but are we listening to Him?
America, along with other countries, follow the sun calendar, while Israel follows the lunar calendar. This usage of the lunar calendar in Israel is God ordained. God wanted His children not to be associated with the pagan sun god other nations around them worshiped and used to guide their days. I find it very intriguing God uses a sign that incorporates both the Sun and the Moon, so not only Israel (God’s people) sees it, but pagans are forced to acknowledge it as well.
The signs in the sky are not by coincidence. As a matter of fact, the word “coincidence” is not in the Hebrew language. There are two words that come together in the Hebrew language, its “tzeruf-migrim” which mean: happenings and divine providence. God is intentional, not coincidental.
Everything God Almighty says and does is for a reason and a purpose.
Today is the day of our deliverance and freedom in Him!
Teshuva, (repent) from running from your calling and running from Him. A true conversion, true salvation in Yeshua, must reflect a regenerated heart and behavior, turning away from what we use to do, live, and speak.
Yeshua says, “Go and sin no more.” Yeshua, wouldn’t have told the women that was caught in adultery to go and sin no more if it wasn’t possible (John 8:11).
Yeshua, does not set anyone up for failure. We just have to make a conscience effort to work for the changes in our lives. May the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, speak and transform our hearts, as we accept His word as truth, as we repent before him, and trust in his promises. He loves you and wants the best for you!
Life is everlasting, with Him.