The Two-Part Second Coming of the Messiah

Just as an expectant mother begins to have Braxton-Hicks contractions or signs of labor and knows it won’t be long until the birth of her child, so does the Overcoming Man Child see the end time signs and know it won’t be long until the harpazo occurs. The Old Testament prophesies of this coming time of travail/labor. It also prophesies of a gathering that is to occur before the travail comes upon the world:

            Gather yourselves together; gather together, undesirable nation, before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning of the LORD's anger overtakes you, before the day of the LORD's anger overtakes you. Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth, who carry out what He commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be concealed on the day of the LORD's anger" (Zeph. 2:1–3, HCSB, emphasis mine).

All right, so a nation not longed for, or undesired, is told to gather together—and this is when we are hit with a barrage of before's:

1) Before the decree takes effect...
2) Before the burning of the LORD's anger...
3) Before the Day of the LORD's anger...

Whenever you see repetition in Scripture, pay attention! The purpose of repetition is to emphasize something very strongly, especially a three-fold usage of a term like terem (Heb. "before") in Zephaniah 2:2 (note also the three-fold repetition of "seek, seek, seek" in 2:3). Unsealed.com/Zephaniah2

When exactly this day is only the Father of the Heavenly Groom knows, but as J. D. Farag points out in his latest Mid-East Prophecy Update February 25, 2018, things are not slowing down but speeding up! It is possible that the peace plan the Trump Administration is working on that is "nearly completed" according to U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley may be the decree referred to in Zephaniah 2:2.

The event known as the Rapture--that is to occur before the decree takes effect and before the Day of the Lord’s anger--is only the first part of the Messiah’s coming in the last days. Robert Breaker explains The Two Comings of Jesus Christ and takes you through the Scriptures to show how His first coming was in two parts and that His second coming will be in two parts!

Credit: fountainoflifetm.com

For a 15-minute description of this, check out Chuck Missler's teaching on the Rapture versus the Second Coming of Christ.

My point is—the “baby” is coming and there is nothing that is going to stop it from coming.

Braxton-Hicks contractions subside in the expectant mother, but they do not go away until true labor pains begin. The signs and natural disasters are not going to lessen—they will only increase! May we glorify our Lord as we patiently endure whatever pre-labor pains we may have to face before He catches us away!

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. - James 5:8 KJV

Caveat: I do not necessarily agree with all the beliefs of anyone whose material I reference. I seek to be led of the Spirit of God as to the sources I use, however, even Spirit-filled Christians only 'see in part' as it says in 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Escape from Christian City

In my dream I see the lone figure of a man following a road. As the sun sets beneath the hills, a city comes into view. Nearing it, the traveler sees what appears to be a large group of churches. Spires and crosses pierce the skyline. His pace quickens. Is this his destination? He passes an imposing structure, a neon sign flashing "Cathedral of the Future". Farther on a floodlit stadium supports a billboard boasting that fifty thousand people crowd into evangelistic meetings there three nights a week. Beyond this, modest "New Testament" chapels and Hebrew Christian synagogues cluster together on the street front.

"Is this the City of God?" I hear the traveler ask a woman at the information booth in the central square.

"No, this is Christian City," she replies.

"But I thought this road led to the City of God!" he exclaims with great disappointment.

"That's what we all thought when we arrived," she answers, her tone sympathetic...[Excerpt from Escape from Christendom by Robert E. Burnell]

While reading this allegory, Escape from Christendom, I couldn't help but think about something I had said to my family a few years ago. I said, "One day the Church isn't going to look like it does now." My sister Kim asked, "What will it look like?" "I don't know," I replied, "All I know is it won't look like it does now."

I have lived in Christian City for almost 30 years but am now an escapee looking for the City of God.


This is a very lonely place to be, for a traveler to the City of God must go through a great stretch of desert wilderness. According to Mr. Burnell's dream there are four wildernesses: (1) Forgiveness (2) Worship (3) Prayer, and (4) is unnamed, but I would label it the Wilderness of Endurance.

Are you a fellow escapee from Christian City? Whether you are or not, go ahead and click on the 'comments' link and let me know what you're thinking. You can read the entire allegory by going to: http://awildernessvoice.com/Escape.html


 

Mental Illness--Hope and Forgiveness

As is true for everyone, there are so many aspects to my life that require me to depend on the Spirit of Christ in order to endure. When I was a child and not yet born again of God's Spirit, my parents divorced due to my father suffering with mental illness. This left my mother with five children to care for--I was the eldest daughter. From time to time we would visit with our Dad. As you can imagine, I did not have a close relationship with him. I loved him, but I did not really know him. So when he died I did not know whether he was saved or not.

Several years later, I had an encounter with Father God. I was in my hidden place worshipping and I heard Him say, "Soon it will be Father's Day."

"Yes, Lord, I know." In truth I was relieved that I no longer had to go to the store to try and find the 'right' Father's Day card. Of course, my Heavenly Father knew my thoughts, but I was not prepared for what my loving God then said.

"Your Dad wants you to know that he is sorry that he could not be the father you deserved."

I broke into tears and cried out, "I forgive you, Dad. Be released! Be released in Jesus' name! I love you!" In the spirit, I could see a balloon rising up to the heavenlies as though Yahweh wanted me to see that my words went up to my Dad and were received. I received much release within myself as well. Not only did this encounter heal me of much childhood wounding, but I realized that my Dad had made Jesus Lord and was with Him in Heaven.

This experience came at a much-needed time for me, because my husband Tom and I had been taking care of one of our teenaged children who had also been diagnosed with mental illness. We have endured much hardship because of this, but our child has endured even more.

My husband and I believe mental illness can be healed through Christ Jesus, our Yahshua. Two summers ago we heard the testimony of a man who was healed from schizophrenia by the sovereign Hand of God. One morning as I was working as a temporary receptionist at a nearby firm, the Spirit of the Lord dropped hope into my spirit. He told me that my child would be healed but that it was not yet time.

I praise God for His mercies are new every day! And I praise Him for the sure hope we have in the return of Jesus Christ when the ultimate healing occurs as we are clothed with our new bodies.

How has the Lord upgirded you through a troubled time in your life? Please feel free to comment or ask me about enduring through difficulties.

James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.