Engage With the End-times

by Judy DuCharme

How well do you engage with the end-times?

Is this a question that conjures up fear, dread, a rolling of the eyes, a vision of a bedraggled man on a street corner with a poster and shouting, “Doom!”, or does it stir up excitement, anticipation, and perhaps a desire to study?

All of these may well be your visceral reaction to the term ‘end-times’. Some see end-times as a result of an apocalypse brought on by the government in control, the world-wide dealings with climate change, or the methods of energy retrieval.

Still one may believe we’re in the end-times because God can no longer stand by to what He sees in the world and it’s time for His judgment. Some may see these days as a fulfilling of prophecies from time immemorial. Others may perceive them as much ado about nothing, assured that life will continue as it always has no matter what.

Many Christians love the Lord with all their heart but are disheartened by end-time talk, and because of lack of understanding and an even greater lack of desire to figure it out, just brush it aside.

No matter where you look . . . politically, geographically, Biblically, morally . . . there is a sense that this world has not been here before. Engaging with the end-times has become a necessary entity. And it includes political issues, world-wide issues, Biblical and moral issues.

For those of faith, it may be easy to say, “Well, God said all this would happen, so here we go.” But are you praying? Are you fighting the battle that God has won for you and now says, “Get out there and do as I’ve commanded you.” In ancient times, when the General saw that the battle was won, he shouted, “It is finished.” That cry would rally the troops to wrap it up and bring forth the completed victory. We still have work to do.

He tells us to occupy till He comes. If you look at the protest movement of occupiers, they were not just going about life as normal, they were making a statement. They were pushing an agenda and risking their well-being. Are you willing to risk your well-being to accomplish God’s plans? If it’s end-times that means there’s only so much time to finish it up. We are told to pray that the Lord of the Harvest send laborers into the field to bring in the ready harvest. Have you every worked on a farm when the harvest is ready? Harvest is not a time to go on vacation, linger over breakfast, or go to the beach half way through. It requires all hands on deck. It doesn’t mean we do each other’s job or criticize their place in that field, it means we do our job and we assist others if needed.

How does that translate to daily life? One, pay attention. Some hate the news, some complain as they listen to the news. Be informed about what is going on in the world and pray for those in authority as we are commanded in 1Timothy 2:1. We do want peaceable lives, but not just so we can enjoy, but that all people might be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (vs.2-4).

Two, pray that you will hear His voice. How can you obey the promptings in your heart if you don’t know His voice in your spirit. This comes as you spend time in the Word of God, learning His ways and obeying what is written. Then, when there is a certain area of influence, be it political, educational, ministry, neighborly, you’ll know it’s your direction for that day or your season in life.

Three, be aware of what is going on right around you. People that you see at the store or at the park or at work may just need the insight, the wisdom that God has given you. Always let your light shine. A candle doesn’t show up in the daylight, but in the darkness it burns brightly. People need your light to shine into their darkness and lead them to life.

Four, support Israel. As Christians we are grafted into the kingdom that was already given to Israel. They live in a rough neighborhood and are under constant badgering, yet they excel in technology, in education, in scientific discovery, in literature, in medicine, in economics, winning more more than ten times the Nobel Prizes in the last forty years than all the countries surrounding them–the countries that focus on Israel’s demise.

Isaiah 61:6,7 tells us ‘You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent. And give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.’

The Lord’s measuring rod for nations is how they treat Israel. Israel is the apple of God’s eye, and it’s not wise to poke the eye of God. Our nation has not always supported Israel, but we are returning to that support now along with great opposition from other nations and many in our own country. Antisemitism is at an all time high on college campuses. Blessing Israel blesses us. Pray that we continue to have policies that come alongside Israel to assist them in any way possible. It is the lifeline for this nation.

Finally, remember to live from God’s answer. Whether in this life or the next, all answers will be provided. If you know that, live from that. Live from the answer that’s coming, live from the victory that will be won. Mark 11:24 tells us to believe we receive the answer when we pray, so learn to live the answered prayer, fight the won battle, finish the done work. (Jonathan Cahn, The Book of Mysteries, Day 301) God has your back. Live with your eyes on Him.

WHAT A FRIEND (COVENANT PARTNER) WE HAVE IN JESUS

Read Joel 3

and then back to Joel 2

We are inextricably linked to Israel.

Israel is really a barometer of end-times

There is no question we are in end-times.

Joel 2 speaks of great rejoicing and great restoration and great victory for His people.

Joel 3 gets into the judgment of nations

in the valley of Jehoshaphat.

(the place where praising and trust won the battle for Jews)

Jehoshaphat means Yahweh is Judge

He is the Judge and judgment may be good or bad

For nations it depends on how they treated Israel

For individuals it depends on what we did with Jesus

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

Choose this day whom you will serve. (Joshua 24:15)

Joel 3:21 For I will acquit them of the guilt of bloodshed, whom I had not acquitted, For the Lord dwells in Zion. (He’s not given up on them.)

The end-times are a such a time of great victory and restoration and forgiveness and also a great time of peril and judgment and difficulty.

Israel’s rebellion and disobedience caused them to step off the road, making room for the Christians to be entered into the covenant blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If we are in Christ we are in.

And now, by us entering fully into His presence, covenant, Lordship, we are given a heart to bless Israel and help usher them into their original destiny.

Isaiah 62:6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Psalm 98

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!

For He has done marvelous things: His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory.

The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.

Sing to the Lord with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a psalm,

With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King.

Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it;

Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity.

We need to always look beyond where we are.

Not ignore where we are but look beyond – Scripture gives us vision of what is to come, what’s available to us now, what has been and what will be.

We take Scripture personally – to minister to our present needs.

We also rightly divide the Word of God – we discern who is being written to, what is present, past, and future, and how to receive it for doctrine, reproof, instruction, and correction.

Judgment and Restoration are going on at the same time.

Victory and Persecution are present now.

We receive in some aspect what Israel receives because we are connected by Blood Covenant.

We must be ever mindful of God’s wondrous work in the world, the church, and Israel.

Psalm 5:12 With favor He surrounds us with a shield.

Protection, Covenant

2 Corinthians 1:20 All the promises of God in Him are yes and in Him amen to the glory of God through us.

Notice they are yes and amen in Him and for (purpose) the glory of God through us.

We are to pray all those promises for Israel – which means we need to pray they come to HIM.

One of those promises is that all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26,27)

Jeremiah 29:11-14

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have drivien you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive.

God has such great plans – we need to learn to tune in.

Psalm 19:1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line (sound) has gone out through all the earth.

We need perspective that God sees and knows all and as we tap into Him we learn how to pray and do what we are called to do – big picture and small details.

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength (rock), in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn (strength) of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Our salvation, our protection, our provision is there for us – if we call – if we’re in Him.

8 places in Gospels he talks about him who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Lots of people are not listening. We need to purposely hear.

Simeon knew in his spirit that he would see the Christ before He died – he heard the voice of the Lord in his spirit – he had spiritual ears – tuned into the voice of God. He may not have known it would be a baby – he may have thought there would be a boy or a man.

But he KNEW and he was praying and he was ready to perceive – however the Christ came.

What things are formulating in your spirit – what do you sense even though you can’t quite put your finger on it. If it’s a dread type sensation, take it to the Lord – maybe you need to take authority over it, pray protection from it. If it’s a sense of something to come, ask for discernment of how to pray over it, perhaps pray it in – realize that the sense we have is something we need to usher in through prayer.

Netanyahu at opening of U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem

Gave history of Jews in Jerusalem

“We are in Jerusalem and we are here to stay.”

He made reference to Zechariah 8:1-3

Again the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; With great fervor I am zealous for her.’

Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the Lord of hosts, The Holy Mountain.’

Jeremiah 31; 35-36 Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The Lord of Host is His name): If those ordinances depart From before Me, says the Lord, Then the seed of Israel shall also cease From being a nation before Me forever.” Thus says the Lord: If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have done, says the Lord.

God’s covenant with Israel will never end.

From Summer 2018 magazine The Torch

Israeli Innovation

1950s invents modern solar water heater

1960s develops drip irrigation method

1970s first electronic milk meter

1980s first antivirus computer software

1990s instant messaging technology

2000s USB flash drive stick

2010s robotic exoskeleton for paraplegics

Highest ratio of college degrees and startup companies per capita

Only Middle Eastern country where Christian population is increasing

Extended international humanitarian aid to over 140 countries since 1950s

Deuteronomy 33:27-29 The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, ‘Destroy!’ Then Israel shall dwell in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew. Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, The shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, And you shall tread down their high places.”