Merry Christmas means that God ALWAYS keeps His promises!

Dear Friends and Family,

           

I think that I started using this basic “Merry Christmas” message around 1990. I bring it to you again because I am more convinced of the premise behind this letter than ever before! Here’s that premise – if God promised to send His Son to be our Savior and He kept that promise; then His promise to return is sure.

If the birth of Jesus was orchestrated by God according to the fullness of time and there were signs that indicated that time (which few saw and recognized); and, if all of the major events of Jesus life, death, burial, and resurrection were also ordained and “signs” were given to reveal those times…then Jesus’ Second Coming will not be a random event that goes without events that provide insight into the time (not a day or hour!) of Jesus’ return and the end of all things. If we celebrate Jesus’ birth at “Christmas” and He was born at the appointed time will not His coming also be at an appointed time?

This is so vitally important and I share this message at Christmas because it seems that everything Jesus talked about in Matthew chapters twenty – four and twenty – five concerning His Second Coming, (which was given as the answer to the three part question the disciples asked in Matthew 24:3) is being fulfilled right before our eyes. So, the question WE must ask is whether or not the “signs” that Scripture provides us do in fact determine where on history’s time line we live. If prophecy is being fulfilled, as it was when Jesus was born and if we are at the end of time it would be of utmost importance to make sure we understand those “signs.” I don’t think that I have ever listed the prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled regarding Jesus’ return in my Christmas letter. For the sake of space, the list begins after the rebirth of Israel as a nation. That fulfilled prophecy seems to be that which catapults all other prophecies into fulfillment.  The budding of the fig tree in Matthew 24 was Israel becoming a nation in 1948. Jesus said that the generation that saw that event would also see “…all things fulfilled.” (BTW, this “list” is not in chronological order.)

1. The destruction of Damascus. (Have you been paying attention to the news and Russia’s involvement in Syria? Bone chilling!)

2. The Gospel to be preached in the whole world; Matthew 24. (Can anyone deny that there is a Gospel witness even now in every nation?)

3. The Jews will come to believe in and accept Jesus as the Messiah; (This is seen in all of the prophets in one way or another.)

4. The “tares” will be eliminated at the time of the harvest; Matthew 13.

5. Nations will come against Israel. Again, there is much to say in the Prophets.

But here is the BEST news of all!

6. The church being raised up to be in the end as it was in the beginning (primarily the church revealed in the book of Acts!) Daniel, Isaiah, Micah and in fact, most of the OT talks much about what God is going to do in the latter days! This end – time church has often been called “The Evening Light” church because God will work in and through the church as He did at the churches’ beginning!

There is a sense of urgency in my heart that I cannot ignore. I suppose my plea to all of those in my life, whether family or friends, is to make sure that we don’t miss the things all around us to help us determine where on the time line of history we live. Time is a linear line with a beginning and an end. Each generation should consider where it is on that line and live accordingly. Except for some shepherds, a group of “Wise men,” and a few others, the “signs” that revealed the time of Jesus’ birth were missed. There are billions now who are missing the “signs” of Jesus’ Second Coming. No one can know the day or hour, but we can know the time. It is time. Begin today to make sure your lamp is trimmed and full of oil! Those without oil will be shut out of the wedding feast. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins, which was Jesus’ last parable, is the most terrifying of all. Be ready. And, help everyone you know to get ready!

Share the Gospel with wild and reckless abandon!