HOPE OF GLORY!

All of Creation groans and labors with birth pangs…
Yet, we have a HOPE OF GLORY!

What is the hope of glory that we spoke of in our last blog post?  It is Christ in us…

Colossians 1:27 (NKJV)
 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Paul was writing to the ‘saints and faithful brethren in Christ’ about this mystery, not only to the Jew, but also to the Gentiles to whom Paul was sent. This mystery was for all who confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord.  It is the HOPE for which we can daily be encouraged. But what does this “hope of glory” really mean? How can there be a hope of glory when the earth and all its inhabitants seem to be groaning and crying out for something. ... as we witness more earthquakes, mudslides, tornadoes, monsoons, tsunamis, and drastic changes in the climate around the world.  This ‘something’ is the HOPE of the glorious freedom spoken of in Romans 8:21.  When God’s children are ‘glorified’ at Christ’s return to the earth, all of creation will be restored. It is important here to inject the fact that if we believe God’s word then we must view this world through biblical lenses. Jesus Christ is the One who created everything, as Colossians 1:16 states:  For by Him [Christ] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (NKJV).
As our friend Dale Sides of lmci.org recently said, “We are spirit beings, not just intelligent apes.” Our hope lies in the fact that our God given spirit allows us to be transformed.
The HOPE OF GLORY for us, is when we are changed to be like Him, Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:2 (AMP)
Beloved, we are [even here and] now children of God, and it is not yet made clear what we will be [after His coming]. We know that when He comes and is revealed, we will [as His children] be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is [in all His glory].

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (AMP)
 Listen very carefully, I tell you a mystery [a secret truth decreed by God and previously hidden, but now revealed]; we will not all sleep [in death], but we will all be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed],  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at [the sound of] the last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [who believed in Christ] will be raised imperishable, and we will be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed].

Romans 8:19-22  (AMPC)
For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship]. For the creation (nature) was subjected to frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it—[yet] with the hope that nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children. We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now.

Until now….. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ jettisoned us (as humans) forward because He gave us His spirit to work with us and through us. How much more will we gain when He returns to live, rule and reign with His creation? So, when you become more aware of creation groaning, remember that it means  hope is an expectation for all of nature to possess and the Hope of Glory is a long awaited gift which will soon come to His people.
~ Joanne and Sarah

Things Are Revving Up

Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'

Into the future

Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'

Into the future

I want to fly like an eagle

To the sea

Fly like an eagle

Let my spirit carry me

I want to fly like an eagle

Till I'm free

Oh, Lord, through the revolution. 

These are the opening lyrics to the song “Fly Like An Eagle” released by the Steve Miller Band towards the latter part of the Peace and Love Movement inspired by the now iconic hippies. Although not a terribly deep song, its purpose was to evoke sentiments of revolution through human enlightenment and socialism. Well, there is a new movement, a new revolution brewing and it comes from believers in Jesus Christ who believe His words in scripture and have correctly discerned the times and season of His return for His bride. This is NOT a church movement. This is a move of the Holy Spirit. In the last post we shared that we believe we can stake claim to the verse in the book of Acts in a very relevant way:

Acts 2:17 (CEB) 

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young will see visions. Your elders will dream dreams.

Yes, the Holy Spirit has been (and continues) waking the Bride of Jesus to prepare for His soon return. The method of His return is clear in scripture. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NKJV)

 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

This truth is comforting.  Jesus is going to catch away born again believers in what most call the Rapture. We prefer the Greek word Harpazo because it literally means “catching away”. The Harpazo is our HOPE in this lost and dying world. Yes, while we wait, we need to continue to occupy this world through being guided by His Holy Spirit and reaching out to others in love with this blessed Hope….. but, we need to remember Jesus promised He would return and we should continue to watch for Him. 

Acts 1:9-11 (NKJV) Jesus Ascends to Heaven

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

As time continues to slip into the future, the darkness will grow. 

Isaiah 60:2 (NKJV)

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

And deep darkness the people;

But the LORD will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you.

However, we have a “hope of glory” which is “Christ in us”.  (Colossians 1:27, more on that in a future post.)

In this world we DO have tribulation. But, as things in the world continue to ‘speed up’ with natural disasters, storms, chaos in global financial markets, terrorist attacks, and threats of nuclear wars, we are reminded of Jesus’ words in Rev. 22:20 “Surely I am coming quickly.” (Quickly is the Greek word, tachys, which means rapidly, or swiftly. This is also the root word for a tachometer, which measures the rate of revolutions.) So, as things ‘rev up’, Jesus is about to come upon the scene.

Our blessed hope may be a mocking point for those who have not accepted His promise to snatch us out of this world, but we are looking up and encourage you to ask Jesus to help you do the same. One day He will carry you away and you will truly be free.

Luke 21:28 (AMPC)

Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near.

~Joanne and Sarah

Time, Times and Half a Time- What’s Next?

What's Next?

Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. We would like to begin this New Year, 2016 by thanking you for your interest in our blog, The Herald of Hope, www.theheraldofhope.com which was launched in the autumn of 2015. It is our intention to continue to provide not only the good news of Jesus but of the HOPE we believe you can have in Him as we look to His physical return to earth. We will be starting 2016 with a series on the TIMES in which we are living.
We believe the bible makes it clear that we are living in the last part of the latter days. The latter days actually refers to the time of the resurrection of Jesus Christ until His return on the earth to set up a new kingdom. Yes, it’s been going on for over 2000 years!  While we understand that it can seem unfathomable to seriously contemplate the end of this world as we know it and the beginning of a new world ruled by Jesus and that it will probably occur in our lifetimes, we believe it is true. We will be sharing our knowledge of that blessed hope in order to encourage you. There are many false teachings out there and sadly, much of it comes from within different segments of the Christian church. Sarah has sat (in the past) under a number of erroneous sermons and bible studies about the end of the age. Sometimes, the teachings expressed disbelief in the workings of the Holy Spirit as evidence of the last days. We know scripture tells us otherwise:

Acts 2:17 (CEB)
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young will see visions. Your elders will dream dreams.

The Spirit of God is alive and very active in these days and we have personally experienced this through rhema (Greek for things uttered or said) from the Holy Spirit in forms of visions, words of prophecy and sometimes dreams. We plan to share some of these as the Holy Spirit leads us. And for those of you concerned about sola scriptura (meaning anything from God must come from the bible) then great, because we are in agreement with the intention Martin Luther had in implementing that standard. However, we feel the current application is often misunderstood. Sola Scriptura (scripture only) is a thinking tool we need to use along with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to navigate our lives in this world. Why would Jesus leave us the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) if we can’t listen to Him?

John 16:7 (AMP)
"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you]."

The Greek word for Comforter, parakletos, means: counselor, intercessor, helper, one who encourages and comforts; in the NT it refers to the Holy Spirit and to Jesus Christ.
 Now, when we do hear prophecy, see visions or dream dreams….. just like the bible said we would in the last days…… then of course we rely on the bible to help us check the authenticity. If prophecy doesn’t align with scripture it isn’t prophecy! All true prophecy reveals Jesus Christ.

Revelation 19:10b (NKJV)
“…For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Lastly, we don’t know exactly when Jesus will return. But, we do believe we are in the season and the intensity surrounding the condition of the world at the time of His return is growing. Joanne and Sarah have somewhat different perceptions on the timing (Joanne suspects a very soon return while Sarah feels it could be a decade or so away) but both know Jesus could step into our time at any given moment. (Imminent = likely to happen without delay; impending)
So, please join us over the next few weeks as we delve into the times in which we are living and the HOPE we can have in the here and now through Jesus. We believe you will be blessed.
~ Joanne and Sarah

Epiphany ~ JESUS Revealed

The observance of Epiphany is common among Christian churches which follow a liturgical schedule such as: Roman Catholic, Episcopal, United Methodist, Church of England and a few other denominations. The word epiphany means a revelation. For example, one might say, “I had an epiphany regarding what I should do at work, or school or home today.” That means a person had an instant understanding of a truth or an idea. The Epiphany observed in some churches means: The revelation of Jesus to the gentiles by the wise men. Please note* Epiphany is an invented man made observance. It was not a celebration given by God to His creation via scripture which makes the observance highly suspect. However, I’m not one to throw the baby out with the bathwater. As with all extra-biblical observances, we can choose to either ignore them (which is often the best thing to do) or we can make meaning in a way that glorifies God and deepens our relationship with Jesus. Only you can make that decision. In the case of Epiphany, I choose to make meaning. 
First of all it is clear in scripture that Jesus came to offer salvation to both gentiles (anyone who is not Jewish) and Jews.

Romans 10:12 (AMP)
For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; for the same Lord is Lord over all [of us], and [He is] abounding in riches (blessings) for all who call on Him [in faith and prayer].

Jesus is for everyone! But, what I really like about the notion of Epiphany is that we are reminded that we can have deeper, and deeper knowledge of Jesus (epiphany, revelation, and relationship) because that is what He desires from us. There is ONE spirit given to us in Jesus:

1 Corinthians 12:13 (NIV)
For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 

Ah, here we are at the heart of the matter. The Spirit we ‘drink’ (take in) is the Holy Spirit. Given to us by Jesus to offer us hope, encouragement, protection and more in these latter days (the time of Jesus’ resurrection until the time of His return) The Holy Spirit gives us revelation of Jesus; an epiphany! So, if you choose to observe the manufactured form of Epiphany in your church; while you are there ask the Holy Spirit to give you a greater revelation of Jesus Christ. You won’t be disappointed. The Lord, Jesus Christ wants each of us to have a greater revelation of Him!

Revelation 1:1(NKJV)
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John…

Blessings
~ Sarah