WHAT NEVER HAPPENED ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

Let’s journey back several thousand years to Jerusalem during Passover week. This was the holiest of the seven Hebrew festivals that attracted thousands of worshipers. Some traveled hundreds of miles to attend this celebration in the religious capital of the world—Jerusalem. What a sight it must have been! For seven days the Priests appeared in their royal apparel, led the people in worship, offered sacrifices, and blew shofars (2 Chronicles 30:21). Everything was leading to the Day of Atonement when the High Priest would present the blood of a Passover lamb for the people’s sins. Not only was Jerusalem sightly its aroma was pungent.

In Psalm 32, David proclaims the blessedness of the one whose sins are forgiven. And he does this in a unique way. He uses three expressions for sin and then employs three expressions of God’s pardon for sin. Here’s what I mean: David called one category of sins transgressions, which indicates “rebellion against God”; another he simply called sin, which describes “knowingly missing the mark”; and the third category he called iniquity, which speaks of a “vile perversion.” Those terms cover the entire gamut of our sinfulness—major and minor. But then after showing us three categories of sin he uses three expressions to show how God pardons our sins:

GOD RAISES DEAD DREAMS

Scripture uses death to identify man’s greatest enemy and there’s nothing man fears more. When a person expires, losing all vital signs, doctors, medicine, and science stand powerless in its presence. Only God can resurrect. But this sermon doesn’t deal with the physical cessation of life, it deals with death of a different nature. The death of God’s divinely inspired promises and visions. I’m persuaded that many Christians are in the gestation stage of a specific promise God has given them. Perhaps years ago He planted a dream and you’re still awaiting its fruition. Maybe even hope has begged you to admit that promise is dead. But the God that resurrected Christ from the dead can resurrect your promise.

Speak Lord, But is it Really You?

Of all experiences that exhilarate people, chief among them is when God speaks directly to the human soul. One inspired word to a thirsty, hungry traveler can refresh and sustain more than a thousand meals. It was Elijah who heard God’s instruction to “rise and eat” that received nourishment to navigate 285 miles for the following forty days

“Disclosing Prophecies; Inspiring Hope for the Endtime”

Robert D. Pace

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is mentioned over 500 times in the Bible. For each prophecy regarding Christ’s First Advent the Bible makes 8 prophecies of His Second Advent. But the Bible does more than affirm Christ’s Return. It provides prophecies, signs, and markers that bear witness to the nearness of His reappearance. That’s because the Lord wants Christians ready for His Return.

In Matthew 24 Jesus provided one of those signs to identify the generation that will witness His Return to earth. He says in verse 37, “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.” In other words, the Lord’s Return will occur during a time when our world is much like Noah’s Day. While several traits exist between these generations there is one that stands supreme. It is a sign that was heralded by the great prophets of that dispensation—Enoch, Methuselah, and Noah. What did these messengers foretell? They predicted that the world would experience something it had never experienced—a flood! Before Noah entered the Ark rain had never fallen from the sky (Genesis 7:11). Imagine the difficulty people had in believing these Prophets as they foretold a never-to-have-happened-before judgment. “A flood is coming and the waters shall rise!” That was the pronouncement of the Prophets year after year. It took 100 years for Noah to build that Ark, and nobody listened despite all of God’s actions. When God shut the door, the deluge transcended the mountains and only those ensconced within the Ark escaped His wrath. As Jesus noted in the New Testament, “the flood came and swept them all away” (Matthew 24:39).

This is what Jesus predicted would happen to mankind, once again, during a time known as “the Great Tribulation.” He prophesied another flood! But this will not be another inundation of water. The rainbow is God’s pledge against that judgment. Christ, the Prophets, and the Apostles have lifted their voice in prophetic harmony to announce never-to-have-happened-before omens that will overwhelm the last generation. A flood of plagues, torment, earthquakes, diseases, madness, famine, and natural disasters will transcend all man’s efforts to overcome. As Nahum 1:8 says, “With an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue His enemies into darkness.”

While the wicked are oblivious to this coming floodtide of judgment, Christians, also, must not ignore this warning. We must hear God’s Word, intercede for others, and proclaim a message of hope. We must herald the everlasting truth that Jesus is the unfailing Ark of Safety!

“In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
2 Corinthians 6:2