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Psalms 107:1-3 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this - those he redeemed from lands, from east and west, north and south.
Most people read the Book of Psalms, because they can relate to the trials and tribulations that King David went through. They see David’s great love and faithfulness for the Lord no matter what seemed to come his way, and they see God’s faithfulness to him. But I also see a great deal of prophecy. Today's verses relates to an end times event that is taking place right now. In saying this I am not saying that we are in the seven years of tribulation, but rather times leading up to it.
In 1948 Israel was once again given back some of their land that God had promised them through Abraham. Since then Jews from all over the world have been returning to the little slice of land that we call Israel. God’s promise for them to return from the north, south, east and west has and is coming true. God’s word will always come true no matter how impossible it may seem. It wasn’t that many years ago that people said it was impossible to buy and sell by a mark on the right hand or forehead. Yet today with the electronic bar code and charge cards this is an everyday occurrence. They said it was impossible for a person to die on their feet, but the nuclear attack on Japan showed this to be true. They said that it would be impossible for the world to see the two witnesses for the Lord to be taken up to heaven or see the return of Jesus, but today with satellite communications and the internet, it is all very possible. Often we look to God’s prophecy in relationship to our understanding and achievements. For people that do this no matter how smart they may be, they are short sighted and think too highly of their own opinion. God’s prophecy will always come true, because he will make it come true.
Halfway through the seven years of the tribulation there will also be a great gathering of people. Revelation 14:14-20 says, “I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one ‘like a son of man’ with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ So he that was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, ‘Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.’ The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.” (about 180 miles)
I believe that this is what the church calls the rapture. The Lord will take Christians from all over the earth to be with him in heaven for all eternity. At the same time there will be a judgment gathering of those who reject Jesus and they are sent to hell. People from all over the world will experience this. The reason I think that both gatherings will take place at the same time is so that the evil of this world will not recognize the rapture as taken place. God wants only those in heaven that love him, and want to be with him for all eternity.
When I have seen Jews from the different parts of the world return to Israel, they all seem to do the same thing and that is to kiss the land. They see themselves as at last being home. I believe when we get to heaven we will want to kiss Jesus’ feet just like Mary did. We will be home at last to be with the one that we love the most and the one that loves us the most, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Are you prepared to go home to stand before God? If you were going on a vacation you would probably be preparing for it months in advance. You would be making reservation, planning your itinerary, getting extra cash or traveler's checks and new cloths for the occasion. Chances are you would read up on all the places you would visit and make notes of the special places and things that you definitely didn’t want to miss. Yet it is amazing how few people are prepared to stand before God. We may have to stand before God before the rapture. Our next breath is not guaranteed. We are literally one heartbeat from needing to give account of our lives to God.
According to Jesus there is only one way to find peace with the Heavenly Father, and that is to find forgiveness through him. Jesus is the only way to escape hell’s punishment and receive heaven’s blessings. For those who reject Jesus, their only outcome will be to spend eternity in hell where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
If you are not prepared to stand before Jesus today, what makes you think that you will be ready when you die?
Prayer: Thank you Lord that your promises are true. Thank you for you promise of forgiveness and eternal life with you, if we only seek your grace and mercy. Please keep us unto our salvation, so we will not fall short of all you did for us on Calvary’s cross. We love you Jesus, and ask this in your holy name.
