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Two Way Looking
by Bobby Bruno Exodus 19 In verses 10-15, we find that God wants to come down to consecrate His people. But, first, they have to wash their clothes and stand ready for God's appearance. This is an example of what God is going to do for His people when Jesus returns to this earth to take His people to Heaven. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are inwardly washed clean of all of our sins and now become children of God. But, on that day when Jesus appears in the sky and all believers are taken up to him, our bodies will be changed into the glorious body that Christ now wears. Also, right before God descended from the mountain, the people heard the sound of a trumpet heralding the coming of the Lord, just as we who are His will hear the trumpet blast right before we are taken up to be with Jesus in the sky before His wrath is poured out upon the earth. Numbers 10 For the Israelites, the sound of one trumpet meant that they were to assemble at the tent of meeting, just as the sound of the trumpet will signify Christians to assemble in the sky with Jesus. The trumpet was also to be used in celebrations and times of rejoicing. So, too when the trumpet blast is sounded at the Rapture will it signify a time of celebration and rejoicing for all who have taken Jesus as their Lord and Savior as we finally come face to face with him in Heaven. Deuteronomy 1-4 Just as God had shown His people that He alone is their God, He, too, shows us by the testimony of His Spirit in us with our Spirit that we are His. As He did for the Israelites in Deuteronomy 1-4 in defeating all of their enemies that stood in their way, God, too, as long as we continue to acknowledge Him before others and within ourselves, will defeat our enemies in the same way. Even Satan has been defeated by God and can no longer claim us as his, just as the nations who tried to claim Israel too have been defeated, some no longer to existing as a country or people. Comment: "If we look at all these from a practical stand point we can see that looking back is much like looking forward. It almost mirrors the future for us." Author Response: I completely agree! When you put this discussion together with the Team Analysis for this week you find that the Old Testament is a strong witness for the events of the future in Christ. I found out more than I knew before by doing these two assignments. As I did Exodus 3 & 4, I found out that God's dealings with Moses at the burning bush closely represents the kind of relationship that God still wants us to have with Him today. In those two chapters I found out a lot about God's love, compassion, patience, caring, and trust. He showed all of these qualities to Moses even as Moses stuttered his way through to following God's direction to save His people from bondage. Reread these two chapters with the eyes of a future hope. Reread these two chapters as if looking back through Jesus' eyes as He remembers that time with Moses at the bush. I know it would put a smile on His face. It will put a smile on your, too. When I read the Old Testament, it always amazes me how man has not changed in all of these years. All we ever hear from scientists is how man is evolving and how man will someday, by himself, unlock the secrets of the universe. I want someone to give me absolute proof that mankind is evolving to the point of being able to change this world without Jesus' help. The greatest minds of our time (Carl Sagan -- dead; Steven Hawking -- dead; Charles Darwin -- dead) haven't changed a thing in this world other than to get man to think that man can solve all his problems without God. Hogwash, I say! Bobby Bruno was saved 15 years ago in a way that left him no doubt that Jesus wanted him to reach others with His great and abounding love. He started writing at the age of 12 and hasn't stopped since. He achieved Associates Degree in Biblical Studies from Ohio Christian University in early 2014. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |