Tag Archives: Revelation

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Water from a Rock

Wow!  That gives new meaning to “water from a rock,” doesn’t it! That is recent video from a flash flood in the Israeli desert, near the Dead Sea.  But I believe there is a Biblical principle to be gleaned from that incredible sight.  Let’s start with this passage from Exodus 17:3-6:

But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile,and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.

As Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they complained.  This passage describes a time they grumbled for lack of water, and the Lord commanded Moses to strike a rock with his staff.  Water came out and the people drank.  1 Corinthians 10:4 tells us the people drank “spiritual drink,” and the Rock was Christ!

Interestingly, while in the wilderness, the people also ate manna, which was also a picture of Christ, the Bread of Life.  In fact, Jesus identifies Himself as both the Bread of Life and the One who takes away our thirst in John 6:35!

Later, despite God’s provision, the children of Israel found themselves complaining once again of lack of water, and God gave Moses different instructions in Numbers 20:8: speak to the rock.  You see, the Rock had already been smitten and, according to God’s instruction, Moses needed only to speak to the rock. 

Now, consider the lesson for us.  Jesus Christ, our Rock, was smitten almost 2,000 years ago.  Crucified, He became our Rock of Salvation.  Today, we simply need to speak to Him, as He need not be crucified again.  God is satisfied with what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Just as the Israelites partook of spiritual drink, so we reap spiritual blessings through Jesus our Rock.  Those spiritual blessings gush from the Rock:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
~Ephesians 1:3

Today, as you see water seemingly gush from this rock in Israel, just know that from our Rock, Jesus Christ, flows an abundant fountain of blessing.  Perhaps your tongue is parched and you thirst for a spiritual drink. Do you have doubts?  Are you lonely?  Is sin robbing you of joy? 

Come, everyone who thirsts,
    come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without price.
~Isaiah 55:1

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
~Revelation 22:17

Jesus our Rock invites us to come and drink freely.  But here is my favorite part:

Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
~John 7:37-38

Ahhhh….let’s drink deeply, so that fountain of living water will flow out of us!  In fact, if you know of someone who is thirsty, please share this encouragement with them!

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Amir’s Bible Bites: We’ll Meet Jesus in the Air!

Friends, the Bible teaches us that Jesus will, one day, return to take us (believers in Him) home to be with Him!  (John 14:1-3)

However, there is confusion about Jesus’ Second Coming because it happens in two phases.  Believers in Christ will be raptured, meaning we will be taken out of here to meet Him in the clouds.  Later, at the end of the tribulation, Jesus will return physically to put an end to the tribulation, and to set up His Millennial Kingdom.  Revelation 19:11-14 tells us that we who are in heaven will return with Him!  Glory!

Hear Amir Tsarfati explain what the rapture will be like:

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Amir’s Bible Bites: Who Really Controls the Middle East?

 

So, are you blinded…or do you see?  It is perhaps the most important question you have ever answered.  So be certain of your answer!

Jesus said:

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
~Revelation 22:13

For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’
~Isaiah 46:9-10

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
~John 14:6

If you don’t know Him personally, now is the time!  He, and He alone, can save us from our sins, as well as from the wrath that is to come.

Find out how.

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…and the Shofar Blows!

 

This evening at sundown the shofar will blow, signaling the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish civil New Year.  Jewish people around the world will celebrate one of the most joyful days of the year.

Biblically speaking, though, it is the Feast of Trumpets…also a most joyful time!  If you follow this blog, or have heard Biblical teaching regarding the seven major feasts of Israel, you know that each feast points to Jesus, the Messiah…and Jesus fulfills each one.

But consider this: the four spring feasts…Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of First Fruits and Pentecost…have already been fulfilled.

  • Jesus was the Passover Lamb, sacrificed for our sins.
  • Jesus was striped, bruised and pierced for our transgression, symbolized by unleavened bread.
  • Jesus was the First Fruit, raised from the dead to redeem us from the curse of death.  We will follow Him in resurrection.  (Keep reading to understand!)
  • Jesus ascended to heaven, leaving us the Holy Spirit to guide us.

Yes, Jesus has fulfilled those feasts!  However, the feasts of Israel are God’s calendar, so we need to examine what comes next.

The Feast of Trumpets, the celebration of which begins at sundown, is highly significant.  The Bible tells us:

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
~1 Corinthians 15:51-57  (Emphasis mine)

Dear friends, when that trumpet sounds, we (believers) will be snatched out of this world to meet Jesus in the air. (That is called the rapture.)  Death has no reign.  Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so we who die before the rapture will be resurrected to eternal life.

God’s calendar is 100% accurate.  Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb, He was pierced and bruised for our transgressions, He was the first to raise from the dead (preparing the way for us), and He left the promised Holy Spirit to guide us.  We are awaiting the next event…the trumpet, signaling the rapture!

If you are reading this and do not know Jesus as your savior, today is the day.  We don’t know when the rapture will occur, but it could literally be any moment.  It is the next thing on God’s calendar, and those who miss it will be left to endure the tribulation…hell on earth, followed by eternal hell in a place beyond what can even be imagined.  Don’t miss your opportunity.

The Bible says:

There is someone reading this RIGHT NOW who is struggling to find meaning in life.  If that is YOU, stop what you are doing and read each of the verses linked above.  Then, pray this simple prayer, inviting Jesus to be your Savior:

Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.  Amen

Those words are not magic, but if you prayed sincerely, asking Jesus to do those very things, you ARE now a child of God!  Welcome to the family….and keep your ears open for that trumpet sound!

PS: The best thing you can do now is tell a Christian friend, or go to a Bible-teaching church and let them know that you prayed that prayer.  We all need help to grow in our new lives and that’s where you will find it!

Be blessed my friend!