I think most of us would agree that we have accelerated quickly into 2015. It just seems that time is racing towards the fulfillment of what the Bible calls, the end of time. Most Bible Scholars agree that we are living in the last days. There seems to be a lot of folks, including preachers talk about the return of the Lord and possibly of that Day happening today. I do not consider myself an Eschatologists (study of end times) or a Theologian, but I am a son of God and a lover of my Father in Heaven. With that said, I believe that the Lord is expressing Himself in this Newsletter about these last days we are living in and is revealing His heart to us, the Body of Christ and our relation to Israel. In Daniel 12:1-4 & 10, the Lord gives Daniel a vision of events pertaining to Israel, the Church and the world. “(1)At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. (2)Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. (3)Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. (4)But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase. Verse 10, Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by trials. (10)But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means.”
 
Isn't it amazing how God’s Word speaks thru generations describing the time we are living in today? Example, in verse 4 Daniel is shown that before the end of days there will be an acceleration in travel too and fro, technology will give the ability for knowledge to be known and expressed in an instant. Is this not cell phones, computers and today’s Media? The powerful passage in verse 1 tells us about Israel being protected by a Warring Prince Angel, named Michael. Think about how Israel has existed even though they were in captivity and later scattered about the world, prophesied  by the prophets and then brought back to the promise land by Divine providence. All during their wonderings with relentless persecution and Divine judgment does Israel exist, they are favored, loved by God and protected by the Lord of the Angel  Army. It would behoove us to understand that Israel is a reference for us to look to for prophetic timelines in God  fulfilling His promises to Israel and the Church. Verse 2 speaks of the resurrection of the dead, some to everlasting life with the Heavenly Father, others everlasting disgrace and separation from God. Verse 3 about the wise who shine, because of the Holy Spirits Light giving them wisdom to navigate thru life for the cause of Christ.  Verse 10 speaks about the wicked and their blindness to the Gospel (2Cor. 4:4). This blindness causes deception and leads them to become more wicked, practicing and fulfilling the desires of the flesh. The  redeemed however are wise because of the Holy Spirit illuminating God’s Word in them (1Cor. 2:10-12). It is our obligation to the Lord to pray for Israel like never before. We have a responsibility because we are objects of the Lord’s affection to draw Israel back to God. Our trust (faith) is in Jesus Christ and His finished work on Calvary. The Holy Spirit is alive in us to produce fruit (Jn. 15:1-5). This fruit demonstrates that we abide in the Vine and He is the Gardener. Israel was symbolic of the Olive Tree & a vineyard (Jer. 11:16, Is. 5:4) but in this context, an Olive Tree that God created to bring the Nations to Him; she rebelled, so God turned to the Gentiles (Church). The Church has been grafted into this Olive Tree to sustain it until Israel is grafted back in. The Apostle Paul writes that Israel has been cut away from the main tree because of un-belief. The Church has not taken Israel's place, but is used by God to create a jealous heart for Israel to be saved.  Romans 11:11-26, “Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it. I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. I stress this, for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree.  You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong. I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved.”
 
Yes, Israel will be saved. How does this happen? We the Church have been given the privilege of being the Bride of Christ. As the Bride loves The Son, The Father turns His Favor to the obedient Church and the Jews will observe this and began to burn with jealousy and be envious of the obedient, blessed Church. They will began to cry out to God in jealous anger because of rejection and ask God why? God will have mercy on them and their eyes of understanding will be opened to “look upon the One they have pierced,” (Zec. 12:10). "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” Israel see’s what they have done, they repent and then grafted back into the Olive Tree  and saved from the wrath to come. With my whole heart I believe that this season that we are in and with the new year here, we should  be sober (*serious attitude) minded toward these last days. The enemy is active, but delusional in thinking he can destroy Israel and His Church. Christ Jesus said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).  No one can stop His relentless love for Israel and His Church. Our Great and Awesome God will have His way! Remember, the Lord is a Gardener, He has tilled the soil of men's hearts for generations, but will someday lay down the plow and reach for the Ax to cut down every tree not producing fruit and throw it in the fire (Matt. 3:10).