Do You See What I See?*

    

      During the recent Feast of Trumpets in Jerusalem, shofars were sounded on the Temple Mount, although there was strong opposition from those who claim the right to occupy the Mount. Before this event, six red heifers were sent from Texas to Israel in fulfillment of prophecy (Isa. 18:7). The purpose of the pure red heifer is to provide the ashes needed for Temple worship. Although there is not presently a temple on the Mount, Scripture prophesies a third temple must be built, and these recent indications and others mean that the Israelites are preparing for the building of that third temple. Are we paying attention to these events and their connection to the end times before the return of Jesus?

     Jesus told a parable of the Sower and the Seed. Depending upon the condition of the soil, the seeds sown would either perish or thrive. His disciples asked why Jesus spoke in parables to the people. Jesus answered: "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given...Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esias (Isaiah), which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear...many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." (Mt. 13:1-17, excerpt, see also Isa. 6:9-10). The Lord expects His people to have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand. Jesus was willing to later explain the parable of the Sower and the Seed to His disciples so that they would understand. 

     Jesus referred to the prophecy of Isaiah above. In that same chapter of Isaiah, the prophet received his commission from the Lord to "Go, and tell this people." The (**aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) voice of the Lord had asked: "(**aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I (Isaiah) said, Here am I; send me." (Isa. 6:8). When Isaiah asked how long this should be that the people would have eyes that do not see, ears that do not hear, and hearts that do not understand, the Lord answered: "Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without men, and the land be utterly desolate." (Isa. 6:11). We also have received the Great Commission from Christ to go and tell the Gospel to the people. Jesus said that when the Gospel had gone around the world, the end would come. We need to speak the Gospel wherever we are placed, including the marketplace.

     In the proper season, God began to restore Israel from this desolation and miraculously bring them back to the land. Do you see what I see?

     The LORD delivered the same Word to the prophet Ezekiel: "Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house." (Ezek. 12:1-2). A rebellious spirit in man results in the spiritual blindness and deafness that prevents people from seeing, hearing, and understanding the truth of God's Word and the Good News of the Gospel.

     There is a struggle against the prophetic Word of the LORD regarding the third temple, and its role in end time events and the return of the Messiah/Christ Jesus. A long-ago king had sealed the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem in order to prevent the Messiah King's prophesied entrance. It had been written in scripture that the glory of the LORD would enter into the house/temple "from the way of the east." (Ezek. 43:1-4). There has to be a temple for this to take place. However, the attempt to seal this eastern gate was also prophesied in Ezek. 44:1-2: "Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut." (Ezek. 44:1-2). We will later read of another prophecy given in Zechariah concerning this eastern gate and the return of the Lord.

     Lucifer or Satan himself covets the mountain of the LORD to set his throne upon, to be like the Most High. However, he will not succeed: "Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake the kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?"  (Isa. 14:12-17). Satan shall fall from the height that he tries to attain, as Jesus declared as He watched Satan fall from heaven like lightening. Other religions have coveted the Temple Mount, and the Moslem Dome of the Rock was built upon the sight. However, Isaiah also wrote this prophetic declaration of the LORD: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." (Isa. 2:1-3).  From this mountain and house, the LORD will judge among the nations. There will be no more weapons or war. The prophetic Word calls to the house of Jacob: "Come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD." (v. 5). There are those who will not do that, however. We have received the Light of the Lord. It is the Light to which John the Baptist gave witness, and the Light was Jesus, who called us to be that same light. The prophet Daniel wrote of those who would shine with light and turn many to righteousness. Those judged at this time (in the last days) will be those who have corrupted themselves with wealth and idolatry and have exalted themselves in pride. They will cry out for the rocks to hide them from this judgment and for fear of the LORD's glory as the LORD shakes the earth in that day. (Isa. 2:4-19 excerpt, and see also Rev. 6:12-17).

     We can see why anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism have risen during these times as people try to prevent these prophecies from being fulfilled regarding Israel, the house and mountain of the LORD, and the return of Christ with judgment. However, there will be 144,000 of the twelve tribes of Israel who will be zealous evangelists in these prophesied days according to the Book of Revelation. Do you see what I see?

     The LORD prophesied regarding the Messiah, whom He called "A Branch" out of the stem of Jesse (family of David and Messiah/Christ) who will judge righteously and bring righteousness and peace to the earth: "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them...They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge (**aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse (Messiah/Christ Jesus), which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious." (Isa. 11:1-10). The LORD will bring back for a second time the remnant of His people from the four corners of the earth (v. 11-12). The Millennial Reign of the Messiah/Christ is equivalent to the Sabbath Peace of "Shabbat Shalom" as described by Isaiah. There are still those returning to Israel from all nations. Some of those returning are Messianic Jews, who are coming back with the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Do you see what I see?

     The LORD promises that the day will come when His people have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand. Although God was angry with them, He now offers them comfort.  They will behold (see) the God of their salvation: "Behold, God is my salvation (yesua - the Hebrew name of Jesus); I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he is also become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation...Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." (Isa. 12:1-6, excerpt). They will recognize Him, Jesus, when He dwells in the midst of them.

     Although Israel is attacked on every side, the LORD promises to defend it in "the day of the LORD" that is coming: "Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south...And the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee...And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem..." (Zech. 14:1-8, excerpt, see also Rev. 7:14-17, Rev. 22:1). That eastern gate that has been shut up by man will be torn open like the Mount of Olives in that day for the entrance of the King, the Messiah/Christ Jesus.

     As the signs line up, are you seeing what I'm seeing? Prophecy is being and will be fulfilled. The Lord expects us to have eyes that see, ears that hear, and a heart to understand as the time draws near. It is given unto us to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

     *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 11/10/24 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook.

* *NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as Α Ω , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.