ECCE

                Jesus told a parable of ten virgins, five wise and five foolish, who were expecting the bridegroom to arrive. In the meantime, they all fell asleep. At midnight, they heard the cry "Behold, the bridegroom cometh," and they arose and prepared their lamps to go to meet him. The five foolish virgins found that they did not have enough oil for their lamps, and they asked the five wise virgins to give them oil. The five wise virgins said that the foolish ones must go and purchase oil for themselves. While the foolish virgins went to purchase oil, the bridegroom came, the five wise virgins had gone out to meet him, they had entered into the marriage, and the door was shut. When the five foolish came to that shut door they said, "Lord, Lord, open to us.' But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.' Jesus then said: "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Mt. 25:...

                                                                                       Blowing the Shofar Trumpet         Many churches, including ours, were started at the time of the fall Feasts of the LORD even though we may not have been aware of it at the time. The Feasts are not the feasts of men, or even of Israel, but they are Feasts of the LORD. These Feasts hold a prophetic counsel for appointed and set times , which is the meaning of the Hebrew word mo'ed . Jesus fulfilled the spring Feasts with His first appearing, and we believe that He will fulfill the Fall Feasts with His second appearing and reign on the earth.      The prophet Amos wrote this Word from the LORD: "Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but he revealeth his...

       As the LORD appointed Joshua to the leadership of the Israelites after the death of Moses, He gave this instruction to him: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:8-9). Do we keep the Word of God in our mouths, or have we succumbed to speaking as the world, which is at enmity with God, speaks?      Psalm 19 describes the Word of God as being perfect, sure, wise, right, pure, enlightening, clean, true, righteous, warning, rewarding, and cleansing from secret faults. The Word of God is powerful and able to convert the soul and character of a person. (v. 7-13 ). David concluded his ps...

     The spiritual condition of our hearts, like its physical condition, can make all the difference in our lives. There are medical devices used to examine the physical condition of a human heart, but the Word of God says that the LORD examines the spiritual condition of the heart. The LORD has a heart, and the spiritual condition of a person's heart is open to God's knowledge. Before the judgment of the flood began, the LORD said this about man: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made ( aleph-tav )-man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart." (Gen. 6:5-6).        What a condemnation of mankind! It is also important to note that the word "man" in verse 6 above is preceded in the written Hebrew of this verse by the Hebrew letters  aleph and  tav . These letters are the first letter and t...

      Lately on social media, there have been more and more comments from people who say that they are leaving Christianity. Sometimes they are referred to as Deconstructionists. In giving their reasons for leaving the faith, many give reasons that have nothing to do with Christ, but rather things that have to do with men, men's doctrines and the doctrines of devils.       This comes as no surprise to those who are familiar with the signs of the last days as stated in scripture. Paul wrote to those believers who were being told that Jesus had already returned, or was returning momentarily: "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him (perhaps referring to the rapture of the believers), that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall no...

      The final or last words of a person are given great weight. Many reports of the final words spoken by atheists or the unrepentant are powerful in their regret and fear.      The final words of men of God in scripture are, on the other hand, life transforming in their glory. Stephen, who was stoned for His faith in Jesus Christ, said: "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God....Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." (Acts 7:54-60, excerpt). The last words of Stephen's revelation and forgiveness remain powerful today and forever.      Peter wrote to the believers in Christ: "Finally, be ye all of one mind , having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil...but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto ...