God is Near: Hallelujah!
The Son of God gave up Heaven’s throne and breathed his first breath in a dusty feeding troth in Bethlehem. As Creator, the Alpha and Omega, He had made man from the dust of the earth. Why would he give up His rights as God to experience our frailty? He knows that we are weak and easily tempted. Obviously, He knew how much we need Him, so he became one of us. He had a much greater plan, Hallelujah (Praise Yahweh).
His breath made Adam and God’s Spirit anointed David, the Prophets and many others. God’s steadfast love for us and the miracle power is manifested in His Word. For example, the Prophet Isaiah (7:14) declares, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel (God with us).” And 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us that all Scripture is “breathed out by God. Scripture reveals Jesus gave all for us. He shed his blood to wash our sin away, allowing the Holy Spirit to be sealed in us. We are now His Temple on earth carrying God’s Spirit and hopefully His Word in our heart to accomplish His will. No rock-hewn temple is now necessary.
Jesus declared himself “Living Water” and said that “anyone can drink of it.” He declared, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life,” John 8:12. Jesus invites us to walk with Him just as he walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Their “hearts burned within them” as they learned from him. He explained how the Scriptures predicted His suffering and glory and may have quoted from the Prophet Daniel to warn of the impending “abomination of desolation” and incremental rebellion that would bring sorrows and destruction in their generation.
Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit to speak to our heart and mind so that we can understand His Word and receive His power to overcome bondage and roadblocks, pits and potholes, darkness and evil along the path of life. The Great Miracle is that God’s Spirit is sealed in all who believe in Him, guaranteeing eternal fellowship with Him. Jesus Christ is also the Word (John 1:1) which is “living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart,” Heb. 4:12. This powerful verse proves that the soul and spirit are not the same.
The soul is your mind, emotions, and will. which defines who you are and is easily contaminated by sin. Your spirit was given to you by God and in a sense, it acts as the “socket” in which the “Holy Spirit” plugs into when you receive Jesus Christ as Savior. Your flesh, spirit and soul will become regenerated at that moment. They act together to discern ideas, thoughts, and actions proclaimed by the “Word” and projected by the Holy Spirit. It is important to comprehend what is true or false. Jesus called Satan the Father of Lies and warned concerning the last days that “no one deceive you.” Would upturning the meaning of prophecy be considered deception?
When you die your body turns to dust, your spirit returns to God (Eccl.12:7) and the soul remains linked to your identity. They await judgment. I Thess. 5:23 states, “May your body, soul, and spirit remain blameless.” If you reject the Gift of Salvation, you will face judgment. It is incredibly important that all of us understand that there is life after death and a place called Heaven for believers and Hell for those who have rejected Jesus Christ. Hell was originally created for Satan and all his angels but will be the eternal prison for all those who reject God.
Ephesians 1:13-14 states, “You, too, have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed in Jesus Christ, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until God redeems his own possession for his praise and glory.” Hell is the only place in the Universe where God is NOT NEAR. Presently Jesus is very near to all those seeking Him. Psalm 108, tells us that He is “slow to anger” and does not deal with us “according to our sins, nor repay us according to our inequities.” His anger falls on Jesus. “The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,” Ps. 103:17.
Concerning the “Word,” the Apostle John who wrote Revelation states, “In the beginning, the Word existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 Through him all things were made, and apart from him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life brought light to humanity. And the light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out,” John 1:1-4.
John ends his Gospel by saying, “these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through me,” John 14:3. Throughout the Word we discover that “his name” is “Wonderful Counselor,” “Bread of Life,” “Kinsman Redeemer,” “Resurrection and the Life,” “Great Physician,” “Provider,” and dozens of others. In both Old and New Covenants His Name reveals facets of His Character.
His “Name” proclaims who He is and how He upholds and protects us; when He Is “Near” we are near Him. The incredible Truth is Jesus Christ is not only near but is literally in our heart. The Word gives us clear hard Truth to guide us, comfort us and most of all fulfill our greatest needs. He is the Beginning and the End and therefore gives us a look into the future. He is the Author of Life and of the Future.
God protects us with His prophetic commands: 1.) “Come and let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool,” Isaiah 1:18. This fatherly command requires both faith and trust- a willingness to reason and walk with God in obedience. 2.) “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” Mark 16:15.” Again, have faith and trust to share the Gospel. 3.) Concerning the Book of Daniel Jesus commands, “whosoever reads it, let him understand.” God wants us to study and discern the truth so that we can prepare for His Return. 4.) In that walk to Emanus Jesus scolded them “Oh fools, slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” God wants us to see with eyes that see. 5.) In the book of Revelation, Jesus declares, “Blessed is the one who reads this message, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written in it; for the time is at hand,” Rev. 1:3. God will bless those who commit to reading and understanding His Promises, His Signs, and His Warnings because the “time is at hand.” He wants us to understand and decipher the signs of the time and the profound Truth in the Word so that we can pray in the Spirit for direction and discernment.
During Israel’s 70-year captivity God spoke to and through the Prophet Daniel. Some say he was a type of Christ, because his prophecies had a direct connection to the coming Messiah. In prayer and fasting Daniel interceded for the nation and received visions and a powerful message from the Archangel Gabriel. The most consequential is recorded in Daniel 9:24-26: “Seventy sevens are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.” Verse 25: “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. Verse 26: “After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.” The puzzle of words and phrases above is God’s prophetic timeline for the Ages. Verse 27 is not quoted because it will be discussed in the next Chapter for it is even more confusing.
This announcement by Gabriel points to the Life, death, Resurrection and Return of Jesus Christ. The timeline spans over 2500 years from 457 B.C. to the Millenium period. The first period involves 49 years (7 weeks) to rebuild Jerusalem, then 434 years (62 weeks) until the Anointed Prince, Jesus Christ appears. The last Week or 7 years begins with the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. The first half ends with Jesus putting “an end to sin, atoning for wickedness and bringing in everlasting life.” The 2nd half of the 7 years begins with the Wrath of God and ends with the Millenium. Between the two halves of the Week is the Covenant period of Grace given to mankind for Salvation to all who believe. The Rapture of the Church will rescue believers before the final Wrath begins. We will see in detail why we are not looking forward to a 7-year Wrath of God.
Unfortunately, as time has passed some of the key verses such as those in Daniel have been reinterpreted and poorly applied. What was accepted by early Church fathers has been twisted into one 7-year Wrath of God that omits the severe trials that the disciples were about to go through. It seems clear that Jesus was giving them the warning in the Olivett Discourse, after all He mentions “them” and “you” twenty-four times in that discourse.
This book will give an accurate, biblically sound explanation that fits the spirit of the Word. It also fits the context considering that the nation of Israel was formed in 1948. That fact will help you discern deeper and will allow the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s heart for Israel. “All those led by the Spirit of God are Sons of God,” Romans 8:14. God is close by and wants us to know Him deeply so that we can grow as we share His message of hope, justice, and love. In turn He helps and protects us as He promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” Heb. 13:5.
God literally walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. And He warned them and the Serpent about a future battle between their ancestor (Jesus Christ) and the Serpent’s seed (the Anti-Christ). Throughout His Word he reveals thousands of prophecies that light up our past and illuminate our future. They expose darkness, for He is a “lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path,” Ps. 119:105. Below is a simple outline of one of the most important unanswered prophecies in the Word of God. This is Daniel’s 70-Weeks Prophecy quoted earlier and spoken by Gabriel. Sixty-nine and a half of the 70 weeks have been fulfilled but the last portion of the final week carries with it the prophetic era of Salvation and rebirth that was spoken of by the prophets.
- The 70 Weeks (v. 24): A set timeframe established by God for the Jewish people and those of the “anointed one” to conclude sin and bring in righteousness.
- The 1st stage (v. 25): From the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until the “Messiah the Prince,”
- Begins with Rebuilding (v. 25): Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and a moat, but in “troublesome” or “perilous” times.
- Then a Mysterious Death (v. 26): After the 62 weeks, the Anointed One (Messiah) will be “cut off” (killed) and have nothing.
- Destruction of What and When? (v. 26): The people of the “prince who is to come” will destroy the city and the sanctuary (Temple) in 70 A.D. or sometime in the distant future?
- Desolation and Sacrifice (v. 27): Points to Jesus Christ and not to the Anti-Christ as is often taught. And it means that the “covenant” is granted by Jesus Christ in the middle of the week. Those who receive Christ as their Savior will be born again. Jews are included and Jerusalem is now part of the Jewish nation fulfilling prophecy. But evil and rebellion will grow until the end comes with both the rapture and the 3.5-year Wrath of God. It is during this time that the first and second beasts will appear.
As we walk with Him through time we will see and experience His Steadfast Love. We will see a unity of Spirit and Truth that holds the message together and carries God’s Spirit into our heart and not just our mind. This is not an Academic study but is a dive into the heart of God and the trust and obedience that comes through Him.
There is no confusion nor doubt when one discovers God’s profound Truth and Love for us. In His steadfast love we find hope for our present predicament and future trials. God restores us and reverses our circumstance. His steadfast love endures forever and is expressed in redemption, sanctification and by His “great wonders” (like parting the Red Sea). He is our daily Good Shepherd that will help us learn and grow in Him (sanctification). There are other profound truths mentioned in the outline that will be discussed. So, hang tight and allow the Spirit of God to touch and teach your heart and mind as you read the next Chapter.
Note that now more than ever the “weeds or tares are growing ever bigger along the fruitful grain,” Matt. 13:30. North Africa, Constantinople, and Egypt were completely Chrisian until the 7th Century. Revelation’s 7-Churches were Christian and now they do not exist, The Sancta Sophia was the largest Christian Church in the world – now it does not exist. In England girls are gang-raped and not prosecuted maybe because it has over 85 Sharia courts.
Do you remember what Jesus said concerning his execution: Jesus declared that he had 12 legions of angels at His disposal to rescue him? However, His plan was much greater, to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world. So where are those angels? Revelation states that thousands surround Heaven’s throne. However, Hebrews 1:13-14 states, “But to which of the angels did he ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet? All of them are spirits on a divine mission, sent to serve those who are about to inherit salvation, aren’t they?” It is possible that those angels have been reassigned to protect Christ who is us. Therefore, they are helping those “inheriting” salvation. They play a part in the great 2000 year era of the Church. And prophecy concurs that the Church is upheld by God’s hand until the rapture. We can have hope even in a hopeless world.
In the Next Chapter we will delve into the center of a deep prophetic debate that will reveal profound Truth and shades of falsehood that have grown within Christian theology. We will see how the mistranslation of just a few words changes prophecy and creates a fog of confusion. These Prophecies are central to God’s heart and His promise to both Israel and the Church. The danger comes when we ignore the Spirit and heart in which certain words are used and override it with an Academic matrix of uninspired ideas to fit preconceived notions.
One notion is that Israel was permanently rejected by God when Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Roman Empire. These “enlightened authors” and others within the last few centuries concluded that the New Covenant replaced the Covenant given to Israel, overriding key Promises made to Moses and other prophets. This rejection of Biblical truth and other dogma helped birth Nazism and the popularity of Islam in the West. Agnosticism and rejection of good theological truth has grown in popularity with each generation feeding antisemitism, transgenderism, homosexuality, angel worship, witchcraft, and very bad Eschatology (the study of Prophecy). These philosophers, often under the guise of Christianity, undermined the heart of God’s message to our generation. It has become an intellectual trap like a modern-day “Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil.”
We are witnessing how bad dogma affects political movements and policy throughout the world. People do not realize that it is setting the stage for the Anti-Christ and the coming Wrath of God. Just remember that Christ is Near and promises, “My Grace is sufficient for you, My Strength is made perfect in weakness,” II Cor. 12:9.
As we jump into the next Chapter remember that God often speaks to us through prophets like Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah and many more including King David. “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets,” Amos 3:7. Therefore, we must take care to accurately translate and understand truth that God conveys in His Word. He loves us and wants to strengthen us. This Psalm is for persecuted people under trial as Iranian Christians are and was sung by Priestly Sons of Korah. It reminds us that we are a Royal Priesthood (II Peter 2:9) and that we can approach Christ’s throne of Grace at any time, (Heb. 4:16). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,” Psalm 36:1-2.

this is an 4 by 8 foot multi-media painting illustrating the 2nd Coming and the lawless rebellion or darkness on the earth. 





this is one of 5 panes of painted Plexiglas representing the 6 Days of Creation.
This is one of two acrylics showing the 21 who died in Uvalde with 19 souls of Children rising to heaven as the Spirit of God watches.



