Comfort One Another

"Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth." - Revelation 3:10

That was a promise from Jesus to the church in Philadelphia. But pay attention to what Jesus says at the end of this passage - "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’"- Revelation 3:13. "Churches." Plural. 🤔

The "hour of trial" that Jesus spoke of is called The 70th week of Daniel - The Tribulation.

"The “seventy weeks” prophecy is one of the most significant and detailed Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament." - GotQuestions.org

That prophecy is found in Daniel 9. 69 "weeks" of Daniel's 70 weeks prophecy have already been fulfilled. There is one unfulfilled week remaining. The 70th week. The Tribulation.

This tribulation period will be seven years of incredible pain and suffering. One last attempt by God to give everyone a chance to repent. Some will, but most won't.

For the Christian though, there is hope. It seems as though God will not be putting us through it, but will snatch us out of harm's way, before it even begins.

"Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come." - 1 Thessalonians 1:10

God is incredibly patient. As Paul wrote to his student Timothy,

"God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." - 1 Timothy 2:4

But although God is patient, He is NOT tolerant. His wrath WILL be coming on the whole world. But take heart. Those of us who believe and whose names are written in The Book of Life will not experience God's wrath.

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸Therefore comfort one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

But God . . . He is SO good! He loves those who love Him. He is our Redeemer and Savior! And notice that it says "comfort one another," not comfort yourselves.

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. ²“In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. ³“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." - John 14:1-3

Watchman River Podcast

70 Weeks of Daniel - Gotquestions.org

Singularity

The prophet Daniel wrote about a future time when knowledge would increase.

"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." - Daniel 12:4

This increase in knowledge will be a sign to all mankind that "the time of the end" is near. Right at the door.

Have you heard of the concept of singularity? Maybe the word is familiar to us and we think we know what it means. However, there is a NEW definition. This is from Wikipedia:

"The technological singularity - or simply the singularity - is a hypothetical point in time at which technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting in unforeseeable consequences for human civilization. According to the most popular version of the singularity hypothesis, I. J. Good's intelligence explosion model of 1965, an upgradable intelligent agent could eventually enter a positive feedback loop of successive self-improvement cycles; more intelligent generations would appear more and more rapidly, causing a rapid increase ("explosion") in intelligence which would culminate in a powerful superintelligence, far surpassing all human intelligence."

Did the movie Terminator come to mind as you read that? Wargames? The Matrix? It did for me.

What was that that Daniel wrote of? That "knowledge would increase" at the time of the end. Experts in the A.I. field are talking about it now. They are very hush hush about the singularity word when they speak but most agree that we are getting there quickly.

In a November 2024 article, Popular Mechanics estimated we are six years away from that happening. Then, on June 1st, just a few days ago, they revised their estimate. It is now six MONTHS. Six months before A.I. becomes unstoppable by man. That's a little freaky.

Let's go back to Daniel for some encouragement.

"At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." - Daniel 12:1

In other words, the children of God, everyone whose name has been written in The Book of Life, will be delivered. In my opinion, we will be 'delivered - removed from the earth - via The Rapture of The Church.

Kind of makes one wonder what it will be like. Are you excited? I am. Unless of course your name is NOT written in The Book. If that's you, you should be very afraid. But you're probably not reading this anyway.

Trust in the Lord today! Time may be very short. I don't want to be here when there is an unstoppable, god-like intelligence running around controlling things. I wouldn't think that you would either, but that's your call.

Singularity - Popular Mechanics (6 years)

Singularity - Popular Mechanics (6 months)

Wormwood

For those of us who follow eschatological stories (stories about The End Times), this one in The Guardian caught my attention. It's about a comet that, quite possibly, could strike the Earth in 2032. 😯

I'd like to share a bit of scripture with you from the Trumpet Judgements found in The Book of Revelation.

"⁶ Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

⁷ The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

⁸ The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, ⁹ a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

¹⁰ The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water - ¹¹ the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

¹² The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.

¹³ As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”

Do any of those things the first three angels used sound like an asteroid hitting the Earth? Hmm.

And when is this asteroid supposed to hit the earth? 2032. That's seven years from now. Seven years. Where have we heard THAT amount of time before? The seven year tribulation period that Daniel spoke of? And Jesus spoke of? Hmm.

If this comet is THEE comet/asteroid in Revelation, it will strike the earth during the tribulation period. What is 2032 minus 7 years?

For us pre-trib rapture folks, this is just another sign that the rapture is imminent. The question is, are you ready? Is Jesus your Lord?

Asteroid Story - The Guardian

The Blind See

Sunday night I watched the movie Midway. Not the newer one. I watched the 1976 Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, Toshiro Mifune one. You know, the best one.

The world was a much different place back then. It's almost exactly 81 years ago since the actual battle. How things have changed.

The planes are a lot different now. And the ships. They're all sunk, scrapped, or have become floating museums. An increase in knowledge and technology have made them all obsolete.

The Bible speaks of this in the 12th chapter of the Book of Daniel.

"Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” - Daniel 12:4

"Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand." - Daniel 12:10

When we watch the news, don't we see the wicked continuing to be wicked? Even increasing!?

And Daniel's account of the end also says that "none of the wicked will understand." That is certainly true today.

Then God comforts Daniel by telling him this: "But those who are wise will understand." That's us. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have been given understanding and wisdom. How many times did Jesus give sight to the blind in the Gospels? He still makes the blind see to this very day.

I encourage you to read the 12th chapter of Daniel. Perhaps God will open your eyes to what is happening right now in our world. But you should already know that.

Soon we will see "the man dressed in linen," as Daniel calls Him. And we think things are bad right now? Just wait. But those who are wise will see none of it. That's because we won't be here.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." - Psalm 46:1

Daniel 12

The Prayer

We have a guest writer here with us today. A wise man and prophet, Daniel was used by God to warn the people of Jerusalem. As I read Daniel's prayer for his people this past week I couldn't help but think that his words apply just as much to the world today as they do to Israel back in 536-530 BC. And so, with that brief introduction, I give you the prophet Daniel and his powerful prayer.

“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

7 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. 8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. 9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. 12 You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. 14 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.

15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.

17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” - Daniel 9:4-19

Amen!

This is a time for prayer. Not just "God bless mommy and daddy" type prayers but real, substantive, repentive prayer because we the people have sinned greatly against God. We need to be throwing ourselves on our faces, in sackcloth and ashes, and seeking God's forgiveness.

You have heard me say before in these stories that the time is short. It is. I encourage you to read your Bible and do what it says. And pray! When Jesus returns there is not going to be time to sing Kumbaya. There will not be time to build a campfire or make s'mores. The trumpet will sound and that will be it.

David prayed an amazing prayer and God heard it. Afterwards Daniel fasted for three weeks and then was visited by and angel. This is what the angel said.

"He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them." - Daniel 10:11-12

The angel then went on to tell Daniel about The Tribulation - a time far in the future for Daniel. It is not that far away for us. Be ready.

So let it be with us.

Daniel 9

Daniel's Prayer

It's interesting and appropriate that my daily reading found me in the Book of Daniel this week. Chapter nine. Specifically, Daniel's prayer. Oh, what an amazing prayer it is; especially in light of what happened this past weekend in Las Vegas. Won't you please pray it with me?

I have substituted our present day cities and country names for those Daniel used. See if his prayer fits our needs today as we pray for Las Vegas and our entire nation.

“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, ⁵ we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. ⁶ We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

⁷ “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame - the people of Las Vegas and the inhabitants of Nevada and all America, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. ⁸ We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. ⁹ The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; ¹⁰ we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. ¹¹ All America has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. ¹² You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Las Vegas. ¹³ Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. ¹⁴ The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.

¹⁵ “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of the world with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. ¹⁶ Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Las Vegas, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Las Vegas and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.

¹⁷ “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. ¹⁸ Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. ¹⁹ Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” - Daniel 9:4-19

What an amazing prayer. What if we all prayed that prayer, each and every day? We are a nation deserving of God's wrath for the things we have done, and not done. Let us repent and turn to God. He has promised to heal our land. What are we waiting for?

^"14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

What If His People Prayed - Casting Crowns
Daniel Prayed - Patty Loveless & Rick Skaggs
The Book of Daniel

Meanwhile, In The Shower

Trying to figure out what God will do next is nearly impossible. Sometimes we might guess and be right but that would be a rare exception to this unseeable being who works in us and though us and all around us yet works quietly, preferring to be unnoticed. Yet, desiring to be known.

I have written before about the topic of "ideas" - wondering where they come from. I probably deduced that, in the end, ideas, like everything else on this planet, come from God.

Some of the best ideas I come up with . . . or should I say, the ideas that GOD comes up with, occur to me in the early morning hours. That's probably because I am still half asleep anyway and probably walking in some kind of dream state as I step into the shower, but that truly is where most of my ideas come to me.

Perhaps I should quit my day job and become a professional dreamer like Daniel. Yeah, that would be me alright. I'd be a natural. My wife will tell you that I have very little trouble falling asleep in the living room chair - a prerequisite for dreaming. LOL!

"7 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream." - Daniel 7:1

This past Thursday morning I was struck by an idea that came bursting into my cobweb-filled brain, totally uninvited. The early morning thought I had was for a construction project. Not your "normal" dream but what IS normal when we are dreaming, right?

Anyway, for the past two days I have thought about little else - pursuing this dream, trying to figure out what to do with it. It seems weird but I think God wants me to build . . . a shed. Yeah, I know . . . it's not really an "ark", is it.

Reading what I wrote just now, I admit the idea DOES sound a little weird, but a shed is actually the perfect answer to a bigger question I have been asking myself for months now. As I look back on some of the "ideas" I have had along the way, they all seem a bit "out there" but that's why I think they are going to work. They all fit together and God loves the strange, the unexpected and the unusual. Hey, He loves ME and I'm certainly strange. But, as Mandisa's song asks, "What could be stranger (and more unexpected) than God in a manger."

My passion is helping others and I hope that, by honoring God while I do that, He will bless me with His provision in my pursuit of this "dream". Did my "dream" really come from God? I don't know. But ideas come from somewhere, and this one is just so "out there" that hesitate to make it known at all. And how will I know it will be "of God" or "of man"? That's easy. If it is "of God", it will succeed.

Here's a short video that I saw on Facebook Tiny Home group's page that launched this strange plan.

France Prefab Tiny House - Pin-Up Houses

Daniel's Prayer

God  Speaking - Mandisa