Scripture

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: People from nations and cities around the world will travel to Jerusalem.

~Zechariah 8:21, NLT

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Ultimately, all prophecy is fulfilled in Christ.

~Ya’akov

We have to be careful not to fall into the same pit as our Jewish and Catholic friends. We don’t worship places and things. The Jews worshiped the Temple but Jesus is the ultimate Temple, the One in whom God’s very essence dwelled. With that understood, I do love reading prophecy and celebrating its fulfillment. Zechariah lived 500 years before Christ. He was a part of the group that resettled the land after the Babylonian exile. Jerusalem was in shambles and there was no temple. Basically, Jerusalem was uninhabited. The walls had been destroyed and what few people who remained in the land choose not to live in Jerusalem. The LORD said to Zechariah, “Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play. All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? The people of one city will say to the people of another, ‘Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us. Let’s worship the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I’m determined to go.’ People from nations and cities around the world will travel to Jerusalem.“

I thought about this prophecy when Joe David and I were in Israel this past March. Jerusalem is filled with people and people from all nations are visiting the city daily. One of our guides was from Scotland and we saw people of all nationalities touring the city. Perhaps you are thinking, “Big deal, there is no shock or awe that this is happening.” But think about how Zechariah felt when God gave him this message. He was looking at a Jerusalem in shambles with no tourist. Jerusalem didn’t even have residents. When the LORD spoke this message to Zechariah, it must have seemed an impossibility. I am not saying that Zechariah did not believe but I am saying it took some faith. Sometimes we look at God’s promises with doubtful eyes: peace on earth, a David like king on the throne with righteousness and justice being the order of the day. Doesn’t seem possible or probable but if God said it, it is history. The world appears to be going to hell but in reality, it is coming to Jesus. When He returns, every knee will bow and He will restore order. Things will be as God intended them. How and when will this happen? I am glad you ask. I have no clue but it will all center around the person and work of Jesus. My absolute confidence is in HIM.

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Day two of the heatwave and I am ready for fall. I have never had a problem with the sun until this year. It started a few weeks ago. June says I have sun poisoning. My face breaks out in whelps and I get bad headaches. It was so bad yesterday that I stopped and got sun screen for my face and head. There is no end to this heat wave in sight. One week from today, they are predicting temps of 99-100 and it will be that way for five straight days. First of all, I hope the forecasters are wrong. Secondly, I am praying for an arctic blast. I want some of that North Pole air to make its way South. But I am not complaining.

Pray for Shohn and Clara. They are having to return from camp because Clara has been having seizures. Holy went up last night to take Shohn’s place and Mandy and Floyd are going tonight. Chloe Bug will be thrilled to see her mom.

Extra/Extra

In preparation for tonights message, I was reading John Philips and he mentions the Roman Emperors Diocletian and Valerius. I did not realize that Rome had three rulers governing the empire during this time: Diocletian, Valerius and Constantius Chlorus {Constantine’s father}. Diocletian and Valerius both hated the Bible and the Christianity. Although Constantine’s father made an agreement with them to persecute the church and destroy the scriptures, he never followed through. Diocletian and Valerius vowed to destroy the scriptures and the church. Their goal was to whip Christianity off the map. They destroyed a lot of scripture {manuscripts} and put to death a great number of believers but to their dismay, the church became stronger and scripture was perserved. There has always been those who literally hate God’s word. Praise Jesus, I am not one of them.