Let's Blame God

 Did God cast a vote for either Trump or Biden? Has God chosen the next President without consulting the American people? From Romans 13 many would imagine that is the way it is. 'The powers that be are ordained of God' is verse 1 in KJV. 

That puts the Almighty into a rather murky light. For it is saying, regardless of what a nation does or chooses to do, God does as He pleases. Therefore, on such a premise The Creator endorses abortion, euthanasia, vote-rigging, intimidation, anti-Israel activities, prostitution endorsement, Same-Sex [so called] unions, etc. 

Whoops! Hold on a minute. That's a far cry from the God the Bible talks about. Its a parody of the Person Jesus revealed and called "Father!" If we fail to balance these verses with other Scripture we have a 'lop-sided' God who is not holy, righteous or Truth. 

The character of God, the Great 'I AM' can be understood in His options for the Nation of Israel. In Deuteronomy 28-30. There He outlines the conditions for receiving His blessings and a severe warning of judgement for despising, ignoring and breaking them. He gave the people a charter. He gave them the right of choice. He said to them, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life..." Deuteronomy 30:19. 

It was their choices which determined blessings or curses, freedom or judgement according to their adherence to the Charter. Their history, according to the Bible, is one of poor choices and severe judgement. 

To their unbelief and arrogant hearts the Bible talks about another spiritual identity,

Lucifer and his principalities and powers. They are in stark contrast to and constant opposition against The Lord and Creator and His Charter. This is the driving force, behind the political, social and religious scenes of societies. Lucifer, known also as the Devil, is the liar, the murderer and perverter of lives. The Word of God is the only sure defence and wisdom to discern the wiles and strategies he presents.

Whenever a follower of Christ violates the will, the work and the ways of Christ he or she gives the Kingdom Darkness corrupting power. It is often unintentional and out of ignorance but the saying 'you reap what you sow' remains true. This is verified by countless lives and national histories. As Proverbs 16:25 puts it, 'There is a way that seems right unto a person, but the ends thereof are the ways of death.'

When a Christian goes to the polls he/she is to be influenced by God's charter and the Person of Jesus Christ. In their voting they can sow the seed in the Nation for blessing or judgement. 'Righteousness exalts a Nation...' Proverbs 14:34  

God's call hasn't changed, "Choose life!"

Copyright Ray Hawkins 10/11/2020

Zodiac Reclaimed

‘The Heaven’s declare the glory of God … day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.’ These verses from psalm 19 are beautiful but. Are they meaningless? The psalm goes on the say ‘there is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.’ I have to admit I haven’t heard their voice. Am I deaf? Blind?

Did I missed something? Yes! In Genesis 1:14 the record says God put the lights in the sky to be signs and for seasons. This means much more than simply Summer through to Spring. There is a story woven somewhere, somehow in the sky. When creation took place, in far fewer years than the billions being mooted, Humanity could see that story. Since the flood of Noah’s time, two things have happened to that story I the stars. One, the Heavens keep expanding. A scientific reality and Biblical testimony (Job 37:18. Isaiah 40:22. 42:5. 44:24. 45:12. 51:13).

It is remarkable the amount of references to the stars in the book of Job. How did he know that his Redeemer lives? That He would stand upon the earth and Job would see Him, even after Job’s death. (Job 19:25-27). Surely, psalm 50:6 sums it up, ‘The Heaven’s proclaim his (God’s) righteousness.’ What a shame the human heart has sullied it. That helps us understand why the Lord God raised up a nation with prophets to record His program and purposes. Even then the contest between God’s revelation and the perverter of Scripture (and the story in the stars) was unrelenting. Still ongoing.

The second is the corruption of the story. It has been turned into the ‘Horoscope’ which I would write as the ‘Horror-scope!’ The account of Babylon’s foundation and history (Genesis 10:6-20. 11:1-9) bear witness to the corruption of God’s story in the sky. Why would anyone or thing want to do that? Because God spelt out His redemptive plan before it was committed to tablet then parchment and books. The spiritual power behind Babylon didn’t like it because it revealed his doom. He wanted to usurp the Messiah and remove God from His throne. Read Isaiah 14:12-15. 47:8)

In Job 38:32 this ‘story in the stars’ is called ‘the Mazzaroth.’ The Study Bible by Bullinger has a whole section on this matter. There is far too much to include in a blog. I’d like to highlight the following: He has recorded the Redeemer’s role. I’ve put alongside it some verses I considered relevant. This story is connected with Israel and the promised Messiah.(The Church, the Body of Christ on earth was the Lord’s surprise and masterstroke, Ephesians 3.Romans 16:25-26)

The 1^st book in the story of the stars. The Redeemer’s first coming.

Virgo.             The prophecy of the promised seed                     (Genesis 3:15. Isaiah 7:14.)

Libra.             The Redeemer’s work                                            (Matthew 20:28 John 3:14-21.)

Scorpio.          The Redeemer’s conflict.                                      (Psalm 91:13. Psalm 22.)

Sagittarius.   The prophecy fulfilled.                                           (John 12:31-32. Matthew 27.)

The 2^nd book in the story of the stars. The Redeemer’s work and results.

Capricornus. The prophecy of deliverance.                                                 (Isaiah 53).

Aquarius.      Results of His work given.                                                       (Hebrews 1.)

Pisces.            The results of His work enjoyed.                                            (Hebrews 2.)

Aries.              The promised deliverance fulfilled.                                       (1 Peter 1.)

The 3^rd book in the story of the stars. The Redeemer’s second coming.

Taurus.          The prophecy of coming Judgement.                  (John 5:22-30.Revelation 20)

Gemini.         The Redeemer’s reign in glory.                              (Psalm 24. Revelation 21-22)

Cancer.           The Redeemer’s possessions are safe.                 (2 Peter 1.)

Leo.                The prophecy of triumph fulfilled.            (The Lion of Judah. Revelation 5:5.)

Our faith isn’t in the stars. It is founded upon the Sacred writings Jesus believed in and held as inspired. We stand on the ground Jesus ‘paved’ for His apostles with ‘The Comforter … He shall teach you all things, and bring to remembrance, whatever I have told you.” (John 14:26. 16:7-15).

©Ray Hawkins July 16 2017.

Nebuchadnezzar's Nightmare.

The king's nightmare  was nearly the death of many of his subjects. He couldn't remember it and expected his wise ment to conjure it up and interpret it. They couldn't. Nechadnezzar  wasn't a tolerant ruler. Fortunately Daniel came to their rescue by Yahweh's intervention through  him. 

What was given by God then is still relevant for us to day.

Nebuchadnezzar's vision of the four World Empires outlines the Biblical view of History. The huge statue portrayed  Babylon, then Medes and Persia followed by Greece and climaxing in Rome. The final Empire is seen to break down into ten distinct divisions yet belong to the one idolatrous system. It is interesting to note the degenerating nature of the Empires and their ferocity according to Daniel 7.

The Roman Empire has come and gone, apparently. So how authentic is the vision Daniel interpreted for the king of Babylon? Something must have intervened to forestall the climax when the Stone from Heaven smashes the fourth (and including the previous three) empires. From Ephesians 3 we understand this to be the Church, the Body of Christ.

In the book of Revelation we come face to face with the fourth Empire and its 1o toes. This book actually helps us to understand Daniel’s presentation to Nebuchadnezzar. We tend to separate the empires when in reality they are infused by the one spirit, the one guiding life force and the one aim.  The head is Babylon and whilst the Kingdom state has ceased the ‘head of the Idol’ continues to rule. It is the energising power of the other three empires.

The first mention of Babylon in Scripture is in Genesis 10:8-12 and 11:1-9. Its founder opposed the Lord Yahweh and initiated a religious system diametrically opposed to the character and purposes of the eternal God. It is the occult and has influenced all the anti-Yahweh, anti-Christ, anti-Judeo/Christian Scriptures across history. The Bible at the appropriate time unveiled the animating power of Babylon. Isaiah 14:12-14. It is Lucifer, the one known as the Devil, Satan and the Serpent.

It is the longing of the Babylonian spirit to rule. It is its desire to occupy the land Yahweh has described as His own. It is the underlying reason for all the effort by Gentile nations to claim the holy mount Zion and raise a statue called in Revelation 13:14-15 ‘the image of the Beast.’ At present such a scenario painted by John is held in check. This is the teaching Paul stressed in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 which in turn is preceded by 1Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Whenever that happens the final week [0f years] as foreseen by Daniel (9:24-27. 12:1-11) is about to begin. What he didn’t explain the apostle John detailed! In Daniel the demolishing force is described as ‘the stone cut from the mountain without hands’ is revealed in Revelation as Jesus. He is the Warrior Lord, the Lord of Hosts. He and He alone has the power and the authority to overthrow the spirit of Babylon. By the breath of His mouth Jesus prevails. By His presence returning to His land, Israel, His mount, Zion, the kingdoms portrayed in the idol are shattered and scattered into eternity’s dust. He comes to fulfil His promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David. He comes to vindicate the Covenant of God with the nation of Israel. Amos 3:2 declares that ‘you [Israel] only have I known of all the families of the earth…’ (Psalm 147:19-20). He comes and then Scripture will be fulfilled which says every creature and all creation will bow before Him and through Him render praise to the Father!

When that takes place the promised 5^th kingdom begins. It is the Kingdom of God on earth. The number 5 is significant. For that number speaks of God’s grace shown to humanity. The redeemed across history are appointed a place in the promised 5^th kingdom. He who is the Son of God and Son of Man, King of Israel and Head of the Church is our Redeemer. We should be thankful to king Nebuchadnezzar for his nightmare as it laid a foundation for us to understand God’s sovereignty in and over history.

© Ray Hawkins July 2016.