By Dr. Richard Ruhling
This article is dedicated to the memory of Tom Lass, a Presbyterian pastor who kept a backpack loaded in his car, ready for events in the last half of Matthew 24 that will come suddenly, unexpectedly.
1. “The day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night, for when they say ‘Peace and safety,’ sudden destruction comes,” 1Thess 5:2,3. Seven nations climaxed a 12-year concern and 18 months of negotiation in the US-Iran nuclear “peace and safety” agreement that’s still debated as to what it means.
2. The next day, a “blood moon” from a full lunar eclipe occurred on Passover, the historic time of judgment, Exod 12:12. It was preceded by a rare solar eclipse on the equinox of March 20. “The sun shall be darkened and the moon turned to blood before the day of the Lord,” Joel 2:31. The word for “before” is paniym, meaning face or facing (impending).
3. In Matthew 24, Christ said, “learn a parable of the fig tree.” This was a couple days after he cursed a fig tree that had plenty of leaves but no fruit. It was an acted parable to represent the Jewish nation for their pretentious claims of light and truth, but they lacked the fruits of righteousness. That parable now fits America, a once Christian nation that is undergoing rapid changes.
4. There are airstrikes against ISIS, an “evil servant” that begins to smite his fellow servants, Matthew 24. We didn’t see the beheading of Christians a year ago; this sign is relevant now. “THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be like ten virgins…” when the Bridegroom comes, Matthew 25. This is not about a rapture, but an invisible coming in judgment as will be seen below.
5. Christ warned of an abomination that early believers understood to be military “standing where it ought not” Mark 13:14, so when they saw the Roman army, they fled and were spared the siege by Titus in 70 AD. This sign is being fulfilled with the plans for military takeover of Texas first and then the rest of America.http://b4in.us/1HnxI8y
How ready are we to get out of the city if martial law comes? If we aren’t ready to obey when endtimes begin, we may soon be in situations where biblical obedience is more difficult. Revelation 13 warn us of compelling force. The rapid changes in America suggest a need for obedience that impacts us now.
The first sign or two above should be enough to expect trouble. Why not plan for an evening to “watch and pray”? If so, Christ offers protection. “If you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief,” Rev 3:3.
We misunderstand “watch” as being aware, and everyone thinks they are aware. The Greek word, gregoreo, means to be awake. That’s how Christ used it: “Watch with Me…watch and pray…” In that context, if we pray that God will pass over us in judgment, He can do it for Christ’s sake because He took the punishment for us.
Passover was the only time that watching (being awake) was commanded, Exod 12:10; Matt 26:38-41. The solar and lunar eclipses pointed to Passover this spring for judgment, but with an important modification.
Christ said, “You don’t know the day or hour.” That cliché turns our brains off. “Know” comes from the Greek word, oida, and it means to be aware, consider, understand. Christ was telling his disciples they didn’t understand. They may have been thinking of Passover for the events in the last half of Matthew 24 that will happen suddenly. A close look shows that they have 2nd Passover timing!
1. “As the days of Noah,” the Flood came with Passover timing, but in the 2nd spring month. Noah entered the ark on the 10th day, (Genesis 7:4,11) the same day the Passover sacrifice was selected in Exodus 12:3. When people refused Noah’s invitation, they were selecting themselves as a sacrifice. God gives us choices; destiny depends on our use of them.
2. “If the goodman had known…he would have watched and would not have suffered his house to be broken up,” Matthew 24:43. The only reference to goodman in the Old Testment (KJV) says, “The goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey…and will come home at the day appointed.” Some translations render yom kece as “full moon.”
Passover comes on a full moon, but “long journey” points to 2nd Passover because of a provision in the law: “If any man…be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD the 14th day of the second month at even,” Numbers 9:10,11. 2nd Passover this year is the evening of May3-4.
3. When an evil servant (#4 above) begins to smite his fellow servants. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like ten virgins. That parable has 2nd Passover timingas seen in #4 below. Verses 13, 14: “Watch [a clue for Passover] you don’t know [understand] for the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country” (explained in previous paragraph).
4. The 10-virgin parable ends with this clue for 2nd Passover timing. Israelites didn’t travel in winter, and if they took a long journey in the spring and couldn’t get back to Jerusalem in time for Passover, they were to keep it in the 2nd spring month.
5. Christ’s final parable begins with the master traveling to a far country. Matt 25:14.This is about Christ. He took the far journey to heaven, and His return for these events that precede His visible return must conform to His law that He said is in effect “till heaven and earth pass,” Matt 518. (2nd Passover)
In this last parable, a slothful servant lost his talent (money) while the wise servants were ready to give to their master. Millions have money fully invested; how ready are we to give to God’s cause?
We are talking about an invisible coming in judgment, like when God “executed judgment” in Egypt, Exod 12:12. He took Israel to a covenant, later saying, “I am married to you.” Jer 3:14. Paul included the Exodus in “all these things happened to them for examples…ends of the world.” 1Cor 10:1,11. The wedding parables are not about a rapture!
The Hebrew word, mo’ed, (appointed times from Genesis 1:14) applies to Passover that included the idea of wedding from the above history. Those times are like rehearsals. If this year’s timing is wrong, we can do it again next year—it’s a great spiritual exercise.
One of these years, we expect Christ’s knock. It may be an encoded earthquake as destroyed the church and city of Laodicea in 63 AD where He knocked, but if we are watching, He may reveal himself to us, Luke 12:36,37.
For more information the reader may visit http://b4in.us/1uH4Dxb Readiness will be rewarded if our timing is right. “He will make [us] ruler over all that He has” but if we don’t prepare we could be “beaten with stripes…to whom much is given…much is required.” Luke 12:35-48.
Dr. Richard Ruhling is a physician whose primary focus since retiring is end-times Bible prophecy. Ruhling had enough Bible courses for a religion major in college and has been a speaker at Bible conferences. His ebook, Apocalypse 2015, is available on his website above or on Amazon.
Read more about 5 Reasons Biblical End Times Are Impending: Why Watch, Pray & Withdraw Funds by May 3
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