A Little Walk
I can remember the time in 2001 when our fields were full
of flowers and the Yucca bloomed in profusion. It seemed as
though all nature was clapping its hands in a wondrous
display of color and song. In the spring and summer of
2001, which was the first summer after the Consummation,
the land was full of life. Now in this inclusive 7th year,
it seems the same. That year of 2001, also marked a time
when I was praying to leave the earth. More or less, the
whole seven years has had this desire for separation strong
within me. It seems part and parcel with the seven years
here.
I took a walk this morning over the southern field and was
surprised at the glorious display of yellow, pink, orange,
white, and purple flowers. The yucca too, were coming out,
and I saw many yucca sending their shoots heavenward. The
fields were a very deep green and with many new plants
coming up that promise even more flowers to come. It seemed
again, that the trees were clapping their hands in
celebration of something now in progress. My heart was
greatly lifted up. Besides these things, I have never seen
the promise of fruit in our orchard greater than this year.
Some of the trees are overloaded with a rich promise of
things to come.
Recently we have been subjected to a number of assaults
from various quarters. Hatred toward us was vehement in
some places. But as I walked over the hills, I realized
that Father's care so much overwhelms those things that
there is hardly a comparison. As I walked, I also realized
that the world has much more hatred against itself. In this
century, the new Hitler is George W. Bush, the President of
the United States. He is arguably the most hated man in the
world. If it were not for his armies and bodyguards, fully
one billion people would end his existence. It is a sad
thing to see, for this hatred has destroyed the fabric of
civilization and the hope of man is fully compromised
because of it.
As
I walked, I began to think of Jerusalem and its
destruction. Everything today marks the destruction of that
time. Society is divided. It is true that many Jews hated
the Christians in that city, but they hated themselves and
each other every bit as much. They killed each other, and
persecuted the Christians also, until the day came that the
Christians left the city.
We are
replaying the events of that time. On the 9th of Av, 70
A.D. the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. The city walls
were broken down, the city ravished. The Christians were
already out of the city, so they were not affected by the
collapse. So, while we do have some things to contend with,
the world itself is consumed in their fire, and the people
of God are delivered from it.
One
of our greatest trials comes from our own natural offense.
The “Consummation,” the “skin to skin,” and the
“Consummation of judgment” are hard things for some who are
especially sensitive to the imagery involved. Others are
not sensitive to it at all.
But our keeping power does not rest in having things look
just right to our natural world, but rather, in the
knowledge that everything which has occurred in this land
has been an act of God. We have see God work, and we have
heard the testimonies of the Witnesses to these events, and
that has been our keeper. Beth sent this verse to me today
which I thought was so special and true: “Look, you
scoffers and scorners, and marvel, and perish, and vanish
away; for I am doing a deed in your days, a deed which you
will never have confidence in or believe, even if someone
["a man"], clearly describing it in detail, declares it to
you. -Acts
13:41 Amplified.
So
when we try to describe what God is doing, to the scoffers,
there is no way they can believe it or comprehend it. I,
myself, could not, except for the special help God has
given me. I do know that, and I have been faithful to that
only, for the images themselves, without God's special
instruction and intervention, would only confuse the
natural man. It would have certainly confused my
own.
But since God has helped me, with many witnesses, signs and
wonders, and overpowering force, I have been kept secure.
This “act of God,” and this “strange act” is for no other
purpose that to bring the people of God to a complete
laying down, and to bring the world to offense. Truly, this
is exactly what is happening by these
things.
Yet, in all of this, the earth is far more in their
difficulties. I read this morning where the people who
supply the “Green Zone” in Iraq can no longer insure fresh
fruit and vegetables because the supplies from Kuwait are
having trouble getting through. Also, the Green Zone is
regularly attacked these days with mortars and other kinds
of explosives. The pressures are increasing daily upon the
natural world. Venezuela and Brazil have both announced the
dropping of the dollar in international trade. Daily, the
people are in turmoil and accusations are flying
everywhere. In all this, I walk peacefully in green fields
of singing trees and flowers. This is truly special.
I am
resting again in my Father's special care, and letting the
world do what it determines to do to itself. The earth's
apostate temple will again come crashing down in its time.
Father also guarantees offense to the earth from God's
people. We are Sabbath keepers (keeping God's instructions
and resting in them) no matter the consequences or natural
view of it. The world keeps Sunday (the world's resting in
the laws and customs of man). We find ourselves now in the
Sunday law issue. Everything that is happening has been
described in the Scriptures and in the Spirit of Prophecy.
We are experiencing the very things true Christians have
had to experience for centuries, but making peace with the
world has never been the way to heaven. Making peace with
the natural man has never been the way to heaven, either.
The Sons of God have always had to step into the unknown.
They have always had to become amazed at their
circumstances, only being kept by the knowledge of God's
leading in their lives. We have become accustomed to the
Voice of our Father, and it is unthinkable that we might
abandon that Voice so that the mail lady with smile at us.
So rejoice Travesser Land. The Lord told you centuries
before and generations before, with many biblical examples
and parables, just what would occur in the last days. These
are the last days, and the things foretold are now fully
coming to pass.
Your Emmanuel