Effie Darlene Barba

Perhaps the question we as Christians are asked the most, “Is how do you know the Bible is true?”  After all it was written by so many different people and translated so many times?  It cannot be the word of God.  Yet, it is.  This is certain, the more I read.  Amazing prophecies that already came true certainly point to the validity of what is yet to come.  All the sections intersect perfectly with each other.  God has spoken and He will Accomplish it all.  I want to look at 7 Proofs found in Ezekiel and Daniel for the moment.  The true number of fulfilled prophecies would take an eternity to unfold.     Some of the ones we will look at refer to the near time fulfillment and some are of the distant future.   

Proof #1 God Has Spoken and He will Accomplish 

 “You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you, and portray on it a city, Jerusalem. ² Lay siege against it, build a siege wall against it, and heap up a mound against it; set camps against it also, and place battering rams against it all around. ³ Moreover take for yourself an iron plate, and set it as an iron wall between you and the city. Set your face against it, and it shall be besieged, and you shall lay siege against it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.  Ezekiel 4 NKJV 

Jerusalem was destroyed as was the temple after King Zedekiah broke his promise to King Nebuchadnezzar in 587 B.C.  Now Zedekiah had been installed by Nebuchadnezzar.  Before God and with an act of Sacrifice Zedekiah took an oath upon God’s name not to rebel.  Meanwhile King Nebuchadnezzar was good to the vassal state until against the advice of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Zedekiah listened to the false prophets.  They said, regardless of their sin, God would protect them.  So, Zedekiah made an alliance with Egypt, breaking the covenant, trashing God’s name and Jerusalem fell. King Nebuchanezzar had proven himself more honorable than Zedekiah.   More than all this, the priests, the people all were performing idolatrous acts within and around the temple.   

Proof #2  God has spoken and He will Accomplish 

“Lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity. ⁵ For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. ⁶ And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year.  Ezekiel 4 NKJV 

They were placed in exile.  Although they would later be allowed to return to their home, they did not possess it.  They remained under the rule of others until truly scattered throughout the nations.  Then began the years of their exile as foretold.  This was not considered complete until returning to their own land.  Below was a calculation I found in the writings of Dr. Chuck Missler.   

430 Years? 430 (years) of judgment (Ezekiel 4:1-8): 430 – 70 [Babylon] = 360 years unaccounted for  

And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. Leviticus 26: 18, 21, 24, 28  

360 x 7 = 2520 years?  

Calendar Reconciliation 2520360 = 2483365 + 9 mos + 21 days :  

Julian year = 11m 10.46 sec > mean solar year Gregorian Reform: 11 days removed Leap Years: 2483/4 = 621 (3 excess ea. 4 centuries: 18 excess)  

621 – (18-11) 2483 x 365 9 months 21 days  

2520360 = 614 days = 905,295 = = = 270 21 907,200 days 70 years360 = 25,200 days = 69 years365 (less 2 days) 606 b.c. + 69 years = 537 b.c.  

If July 23, 537 b.c. was their release… b [Source: Cyrus conquers Babylon, Oct 539 b.c.; Cyrus Cylinder: 538 b.c.; Return, 537 .c.;  

Returnees 1st altar: 536 b.c. Josephus The Antiquities of the Jews 11. 1. 1.]-537y 7m 23d +1 2483y 9m 21d 1948 5 14 (no “year 0”)  

On May 14, 1948, the nation of Israel was restored.  

(That is exactly the 9^th month 21^st day of the Jewish calendar in 1948 using the Hebrew Date Converter.) 

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. Luke 21:24^1 1 Ezekiel-Missler.pdf (wpo-gregor.org)  page 45 

Proof #3  Concerning Egypt:  God has spoken and He will accomplish 

² “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt. ³ Speak, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:.. 

8 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will bring a sword upon you and cut off from you man and beast. 9 And the land of Egypt shall become desolate and waste; then they will know that I am the Lord, because he said, ‘The River is mine, and I have made it.’ 10 Indeed, therefore, I am against you and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Ethiopia.

11 Neither foot of man shall pass through it nor foot of beast pass through it, and it shall be uninhabited forty years. 12 I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and among the cities that are laid waste, her cities shall be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries.” Ezekiel 29  NKJV 

This was initially fulfilled in 565 BC when King Nebuchadnezzar overtook Egypt.  Then consider now. They were so proud of their river, worshiping their gods of the river as their power source.  

Yet, Now in 2020 We See the Fulfillment of It Becoming a Desert Land as Foretold by Ezekiel

MINYA, Egypt — The Egyptian farmer stood in his dust-blown field, lamenting his fortune. A few years ago, wheat and tomato-filled greenhouses carpeted the land. Now the desert was creeping in. 

“Look,” he said, gesturing at the sandy soil and abandoned greenhouses. “Barren.” 

The farmer, Hamed Jarallah, attributed his woes to dwindling irrigation from the overtaxed Nile, the fabled river at the heart of Egypt’s very identity. Already, the Nile is under assault from pollution, climate change and Egypt’s growing population, which officially hits 100 million people this month. 

And now, Mr. Jarallah added, a fresh calamity loomed. 

A colossal hydroelectric dam being built on the Nile 2,000 miles upriver, in the lowlands of Ethiopia, threatens to further constrict Egypt’s water supply — and is scheduled to start filling this summer. 

“We’re worried,” he said. “Egypt wouldn’t exist without the Nile. Our livelihood is being destroyed, God help us.”2 ² For Thousands of Years, Egypt Controlled the Nile. A New Dam Threatens That. – The New York Times (nytimes.com) 

Proof #4:  God has spoken, and He will Accomplish All 

Daniel 11 outlines future events with astounding detail all the way to marriage alliances and many already came true.  Let me tease you with a few so you will go to search them out yourself.  In Daniel 11, there are outlined many battles that occur over the time and history of the nation of Israel. These are so detailed as to suggest the alliances, marriages, divorces, and even murderous acts that would occur. All of these came true. Therefore, why would we not believe what is yet to come? 

Many years before he became King we read of King Xerexes I (also known as King Ahasuerus).  

“Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all, and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.” Daniel 11:1-2 KJV 

He stirred up enmity against the Greeks 

150 years later Alexander the Great lead an army to overtake Persia. The Greeks never forgot the Persian attempt to overthrow them. So they overthrew Persia. Also foretold by Daniel 11:3-4.  

Proof #5 God has spoken and Will Accomplish All 

And a mighty king shall stand up that shall rule with great dominion and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken. It’ll be divided toward the four winds of heaven. And it will not go to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled.  Daniel 11: 3-4 KJV 

This also happened. His half-brother was mentally retarded. He had an illegitimate son and one born after he died. All three were murdered and he had no posterity left. A great battle ensued for who was going to rule. The battle was won by four generals, and the kingdom was divided into four parts: Cassander took Macedonia, Lysimachus took Thrace and Asia Minor, Ptolemy took Egypt, and Seleucus took Syria North, South, East, and West. 

North Versus South Battles Ensue–Daniel 11: 5-35 

There are then battles between the Seleucid dynasty (Syria) and the Ptolemaic dynasty (Egypt). These battles crisscrossed over Israel. In detail it describes treaties and marriages to gain power. Verse 6 describes the murder of one kings daughter by a jealous ex-wife of the king who married her as part of a peace treaty. 

Proof #6 God Has Spoken and He will Accomplish all 

Then we are given a glimpse of Antiochus the Great, who is a picture of the Anti-Christ. He becomes very powerful, making treaties with Israel and then desecrating the temple. Now he decided to get Egypt on his side and gain power over them by marrying his daughter to the King of Egypt. He wanted a spy inside the court, but Cleopatra chose her husband over her father as foretold of 

 in Daniel 11:17. “he will set his mind on coming with the power of his entire kingdom, bringing with him a proposal of peace which he will put into effect; he will also give him the daughter of women to ruin it. But she will not take a stand for him or be on his side. KJV 

Proof # 7:  God Speaks and Will Accomplish All He Plans 

After the Persian Empire came to power, Daniel began praying earnestly for his people to humbly bow before God. He knew it was time for their return to Jerusalem, albeit under the rule of other kingdoms. Yet, as he prayed, he was told of the future of his people.  

²⁴“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the wrongdoing, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. ²⁵So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress. Daniel 9 (NASB)  

Now we are ready to do some math to determine if Gabriel did in fact predict Jesus’s arrival. We will start by determining how many days are in 483 lunar years: 360 x 483 = 173,880 days. Next, we will convert those days back into solar years: 173,880 ÷ 365.2422 = 476.068 years. After converting the decimal part (0.068) to days (0.068 x 365.2422 = 24.8 days), the time prophesized for the Messiah to arrive comes out to be 476 years and 25 days. Adding this number to March 5, 444 BC—the date on which the decree to rebuild Jerusalem was issued—brings us to March 30, AD 33, the very day of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Is this match not remarkable? The remarkable accuracy of the predictions in the prophecy in Daniel ³  (Joshua Mark, Nov 2018)

https://reasons.org/explore/publications/articles/was-jesus-s-arrival-accurately-predicted-in-the-bible

A What About the Cross

 Even the cross was predicted throughout the Old Testament from the prophets and even every symbol laid forth.  I want to leave you with this thought as to inter-connectedness of the entire Bible.   

When marching in the wilderness, God had the tribes march in a very specific pattern—3 tribes to the north, 3 tribes to the south, 3 tribes to the east, and three to the west.  None were to be say northeast nor southwest.  If you took the numbers of the tribes, you would find.   

A perfect cross.  Note also that they had banners with different figures.  One was a Lion, another an Eagle, one a Man, and one an Ox. 

Then look at the description of the cherubim around God’s Throne.   

¹⁰ As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. ¹¹ Thus were their faces.    Ezekiel 1 (NKJV) 

Now consider the 4 Gospels. 

Each one presenting a different aspect of Jesus Christ.   

Matthew –Messiah-the King (the Lion) 

Mark—the Servant (the Oxen) 

Luke—Son of Man (Man) 

John—Son of God (Eagle) 

Every step of the way, Satan has attempted to thwart God’s plan, but he has failed. Jesus is coming again, hallelujah Amen.   

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

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English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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Last week we looked at 7 steps to Restore Hope in a World Where Desolation Surrounds Us.  Those 7 steps were in many ways a preparation for action.  It is the training ground to prepare us for the true labor of love in this world.  If we are to labor for our nation’s future and the true mission of spreading the gospel message to the world, we must not lose sight of the Glory of God.  Particularly as we see that this nation and the entire world are under siege of the evilest of forces in the heavenlies. 

Our battle is not one of flesh and blood but rather a spiritual battle which requires us to wear the armor of God. Yet, we are also to labor.  To labor in this manner, one must be willing to give it all—that requires it to be a true labor of love.  That we are not able to do without being first filled with Holy Spirits power to truly love others and then to allow that power to flame forth without quelching it. 

Ezekiel was called to such a task.  No one listened.  Ezekiel was called to a ministry of action more than words.  The first captives from Jerusalem were taken to Babylon in 605 B.C., including Daniel and his friends.    This after the messages of Jeremiah and Isaiah had been ignored.  The people continued in their folly, idol worship, and sinful living with no regard for God or His commands.  Then, March of 597 BC, Jerusalem was under siege by King Nebuchadnezzar because King Jehoiachin broke his word to King Nebuchadnezzar.  At this time, King Jehoiachin surrendered in hopelessness. He and 10000 leaders and captives were taken to Babylon to place in service.  Ezekiel was among this group. 

Called to a Labor of Love

Ezekiel was 30 years of age when he was called by God to prophesy to the people.  Having been born into the priesthood, he had completed all his training only to never be able to perform the rituals in Jerusalem.  One’s priesthood did not begin until age 30.  Hence why also Jesus did not start his ministry until age 30.  But then Ezekiel was called to be a prophet. 

Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. ² (On the fifth of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile, ³ the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of the Lord came upon him.)  Ezekiel 1: 1-3 (NASB)

Suddenly he was given an amazing glimpse into heaven.  There he saw a vision of God’s Glory surrounded by 4 cherubim that were around God’s throne.  He also saw large wheels with “eyes”.  The wheels reached between heaven and earth.  These symbolizing God’s working on earth which never stops.

Filled with the Spirit:  A Labor of Love

Ezekiel’s ministry was different than others.  It was more than words.  He at times had to lay on his side in front of the people doing a simulation of battle and destruction with miniature houses and temples.  He also had to play the scape goat, lie on his right daily for 390 days (about 1 year) for Israel and 40 days (about 1 and a half months) for Judah.  During this time, he had to eat bread made from the poorest grains, cooked over dried dung instead of wood signifying the depth to which the people had fallen.  Another act to illustrate the depth of what was coming is recorded in Chapter 5. 

5 “And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber’s razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair. ² You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. ³ You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. ⁴ Then take some of them again and throw them into the midst of the fire and burn them in the fire. From there a fire will go out into all the house of Israel.  Ezekiel 5: (NKJV). 

Was it not a Labor of Love?

So, Ezekiel was commissioned to play out all these scenes trying to help the nation understand.  Would they turn around and change their ways?  No, but that wasn’t the point.  The point was he was to do his part, remain faithful to the task at hand.  Understanding only a remnant would repent and be save, he did exactly as he was told to.  All this for the remnant who would believe.

⁵ “Thus says the Lord God: ‘This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her. ⁶ She has rebelled against My judgments by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against My statutes more than the countries that are all around her; for they have refused My judgments, and they have not walked in My statutes.’   Ezekiel 5

How easy it would have been to seeth with anger toward the people for allowing this.  Or to think, how unfair this is I am swept away in their destruction.  Most of us would be angry toward God. He was captive in Babylon while his wife was left behind.  And even after Jerusalem fell and his wife died in the siege, Ezekiel remained faithful to his mission.  A true labor of love to God and the nation. 

How could he do that?  Continue with a labor of love for God and the people. He like Jeremiah and Daniel, understood they could not on their own strength.  But with God they could. 

God’s Purpose and His Own Labor of Love 

¹¹ ‘Therefore, as I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will also diminish you; My eye will not spare, nor will I have any pity. ¹² One-third of you shall die of the pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.  Ezekiel 5 (NKJV).

All this because it was necessary to cleanse the nation of evil, because evil if left unchecked will destroy everything good or right.  Yet, as Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Daniel all knew, the cleansing would come from God.  Their mission was to spread the message.  They were to be the light allowing God’s Glory to shine forth.  They were not called to do the cleansing themselves.  Instead, they were to spread the warning that God would judge them himself. 

The Ray of Hope—God’s own labor of Love is to restore

⁸ “Yet I will leave a remnant, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries. ⁹ Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations. ¹⁰ And they shall know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them.”  Ezekiel 6 (NKJV)

So, they shall know that I am Lord.  Perhaps that is the key to our own labor of love.  The reminder of who He is.  Our key point is to know He is Lord.  And part of the key to our knowledge of who God is, is not thinking too much of ourselves. 

A Vision of Great Sorrow that Drove Ezekiel’s Labor of Love

As I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there. ² Then I looked, and there was a likeness, like the appearance of fire—from the appearance of His waist and downward, fire; and from His waist and upward, like the appearance of brightness, like the color of amber.

³ He stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy. ⁴ And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain.  Ezekiel 8 (NKJV) 

A Vision of the Truth in Jerusalem

Transported to a place where he could see all the things happening around the temple, Ezekiel was able to see the people inside and outside the temple worshipping and sacrificing to other Gods.  Steady, ever so patiently, God would warn the people.  He sent prophets and even Godly kings, but their hearts were dark.  He let them see the results of their folly what with the overtaking of Israel and the captives being removed.  All to no avail.  The depth of this sorrow drove the labor of love for Ezekiel.  Because of their rebellion, Ezekiel watched as the Glory of God with His Chariot of cherubim departed the temple and moved to Babylon.  God’s Glory went to be with the exiles.

Yet, the miraculous thing was he recognized that God was with him even in Babylon.  He was not confined only to Jerusalem and his temple there.  He was Sovereign over everything.  God was present with Daniel, with Jeremiah, and himself.  That was the hope that drove his own labor of love.

Psalm 139 (NKJV)

⁷ Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
⁹ If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.

Jerusalem Fails—where is the hope restored?

God promises that there is coming a Messiah who will restore

¹¹ ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. ¹² As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. ¹³ And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.   Ezekiel 34 (NKJV)

God will restore the people and will provide for them. His labor of love.

 ¹⁴ I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. ¹⁶ “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.” Ezekiel 34 (NKJV)

And what is the end point to know? 

³⁰ Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord God.’³¹ “You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God. Ezekiel 34 (NKJV)

They shall know that I, the Lord their God am with them. 

Restoring Hope as Only God Can Do

37 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. ² Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. ³ And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Ezekiel 37 (NKJV)

Yes, only God knows who will respond and who will not, but we are to proclaim His name to all of whom we meet. 

⁴ Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. ⁶ I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ” Ezekiel 37 (NKJV)

Even when no seems to hear, we preach on.

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. Ezekiel 37 (NKJV)

So, they looked like they were living, but without the breath of the Spirit they were not truly alive.  They remained spiritually dead like many we meet each day. 

⁹ Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ’ ” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. Ezekiel 37 (NKJV)

The Vision explained

¹¹ Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. ¹⁴ I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’ ” Ezekiel 37 (NKJV)

We must be awakened from our own graves of sin.  To be born again by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

How Do We Ever Achieve a Labor of Love that Restores Hope?

Well. let us look again at the 7 steps we discussed last week.

1. Do Not Be Afraid—Remember the Lord is our strength
2.  Seek God every day desiring to be in His presence
3.  Remember that it is God who Protects You
4.  Always Sing Out in Rejoicing and Praise for What He has done
5. Be Quick to Cry Out for Repentance and Mercy for Sins, Knowing He Forgives
6. Ask for God to guide you so you remain a light shining bright even in presence of enemies who want to take you down.
7.  Trust God, Wait Patiently on Him because you know of His Goodness

Now, as we recognized last week.  We cannot do any of this in our own strength.  Unless the Lord changes our hearts and takes control, we are helpless to do any of this.  That is the hard thing for us to recognize.  We want to be able to say, we had a hand in this.  That is the problem.  But in the end, if we in humility surrender all to Him, knowing we are not able to do this without Him.  Only he can do this in us and through us.  However, one day, one glorious day, we will be with Him eternally in the new heaven and earth.  In that city which is named “the Lord is there” (Ezekiel 48:35) NKJV

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

PREVIOUS

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

Amplified Bible (AMP)Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Picture licensed from Goodsalt.com

Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. King Zedekiah forced to watch his sons
be killed and then blinded so that would be the last thing he saw. The
temple was destroyed by the Babylonian army. Everything ransacked. The
city set on fire. All was lost. No one had listened to Jeremiah’s warning
cries. This was the pouring out of God’s just wrath against a people who
failed to listen to all His pleas for them to repent and turn to Him. All they
would have needed to do was lay aside their idol worship and turn to God.
He knew their rebellious hearts would destroy every ounce of goodness were
He not to intervene to separate out the weeds from the true vine. Certainly, the
weeds would choke and kill all hope of true life or happiness. But how do we
restore hope in a world where desolation surrounds?

Are we to just merely focus on rapture, unconcerned about those who will be
left behind? After all, do they not deserve what is coming? Look at the
cruelty surrounding us. Child trafficking, wars, murders, rape, violence in
the streets, right made wrong while wrong proclaimed right all increasing
around us. How do we navigate through the lies to find truth. Furthermore,
we see the suffering surrounding us from the rise in cancers, mental illness,
homelessness, poverty, and every manner of suffering. We long for justice,
freedom from oppression and fear. If anyone had the right to say, “I told
you so.”, it would have been the prophet, Jeremiah; but, he did not.

Instead, he wept bitterly for his people. Still at the end of it all, he had hope
himself in God and presented a message of hope for us, today.

Do We Ignore the Desolation to Restore Hope

All too often we tend to look away. If I do not hear the news, speak with
the broken, and close my eyes to all the sorrow, then I could restore hope in
my own life. But is that real hope or merely a charade of hope? So what is
true hope? According to the Merriam Dictionary hope is to desire with
expectation of obtainment or fulfillment. When we look around us and
recognize the depth of desolation, tragedy, and despair that is in this world,
how do we desire goodness, love, joy, and kindness with true expectation of
obtainment or fulfillment? Ignoring the sorrow does not translate into true
expectation of obtainment of the desired outcomes for true peace and
happiness. Certainly, Jesus did not ignore the sorrow around him. He wept
for the people. It grieved Him deeply that even His closest disciples did not
grasp the truth of the gift He brought. We see that when He wept at the
tomb of Lazarus.

Jesus Wept Over the Desolation of Jerusalem

He had come to restore hope. Indeed, He was the very embodiment of hope
because only He could cure the illness of this world by paying the price for
our sins.

41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42
saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things
that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For
the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a
barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every
side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children
within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you,
because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19
(NASB)

In other words, He was saying, “I, your Savior, your Messiah came, and you
did not receive me.” The chief cornerstone, they cast out and would crucify
instead. But Jesus wept bitterly because they would not believe, much like
Jeremiah.

Jeremiah Wept Bitterly for the People in Lamentations

The book of Lamentations is made up of 5 Acrostic poems or songs. Chapter
3 uniquely has 3 verses for each letter of the alphabet with 66 verses while
the remainder all have 22 verses. Acrostic poetry shows a completeness of
A-Z in its presentation to make it easy for the audience to both understand
and remember. Chapter 1 is about the sorrows of Zion. 2 concerns zions
judgment. While 4 is about the completion of Zion’s punishment and 5 is a
prayer for suffering. In the middle and the one which is the longest, 3 is
about hope and relief through God’s Mercy.

א(Alef)
1 Alas! The city once full of people
now sits all alone!
The prominent lady among the nations
has become a widow!
The princess who once ruled the provinces
has become a forced laborer!

ב(Bet)
2 She weeps bitterly at night;
tears stream down her cheeks.
She has no one to comfort her
among all her lovers
All her friends have betrayed her;
they have become her enemies.

ג(Gimel)
3 Judah has departed into exile
under affliction and harsh oppression.
She lives among the nations;
she has found no resting place.
All who pursued her overtook her
in narrow straits.
Lamentations 1 (NET)

And so, the alphabet goes on through all twenty-two verses expressing the
depth of desolation in the land. Jeremiah looked from afar and so the
desolation with great sorrow. If only they had listened and turned. Are we
not like Jeremiah today? Watching as humanity runs farther from the truths
of the gospel. I feel the weight of this every day.

Yet, Jeremiah Did Not See Himself as Better—

he too felt the desolation
At no point did Jeremiah feel himself above the people. He too was deeply
afflicted for standing up and speaking God’s word. Yet, he was not bitter
with God for this. He always saw his own frailties as he cried out as though
the voice of Jerusalem. In this he prayed as though Jerusalem would pray, he felt the pangs of sorrow for them

צ(Tsade)
Jerusalem Speaks
18 The LORD is right to judge me!
Yes, I rebelled against his commands.
Please listen, all you nations,
and look at my suffering!
My young women and men
have gone into exile. Lamentations 1 (NET)

Would it not be better if at least we would cry out to the nations before they
too fall into this fate. Better yet, if we could as a nation repent and turn
back to God. It only happens one person at a time.

The False Lovers We Idolize

ק(Qof)
19 I called for my lovers,
but they had deceived me.
My priests and my elders
perished in the city.
Truly they had searched for food
to keep themselves alive. Lamentations 1 (NET)

We are in a society also who cry out for our lovers—whether that be
wokeness, environmental gods, politicians, alliances, money, power or
whatever we place before God Himself. They will not come to our rescue when desolation hits just as the Baals, Ashtaroth, and alliances of their day did not come to rescue them.

ר(Resh)
20 Look, O LORD! I am distressed;
my stomach is in knots!
My heart is pounding inside me.
Yes, I was terribly rebellious!
Out in the street the sword bereaves a mother of her children;
Inside the house death is present. Lamentations 1 (NET)
Death and destruction around us. Too many dying in the streets of
overdoses, violence, murder, and suicide. I have seen it touch too many families.

It is Easy to Lose Heart and Bitterness Enter In

ש(Sin/Shin)
21 They have heard that I groan,
yet there is no one to comfort me.
All my enemies have heard of my trouble;
they are glad that you have brought it about.
Bring about the day of judgment that you promised
so that they may end up like me! Lamentations 1 (NET)

At this point, the depths of desolation hit, who then can restore hope once
bitterness overtakes. Bitterness. This is where we should not go. Yes, we may grow weary of the battle against evil. But if we fully understand their ultimate destiny we must weep for them not cheer their destruction. Nor should we cry for their destruction either.

ת(Tav)
22 Let all their wickedness come before you;
afflict them
just as you have afflicted me
because of all my acts of rebellion.
For my groans are many,
and my heart is sick with sorrow. Lamentations 1 (NET
The Desolation of Israel came From God-Punishment Must Come to Restore
Hope

ע(Ayin)
17 The LORD has done what he planned;
he has fulfilled his promise
that he threatened long ago:
He has overthrown you without mercy
and has enabled the enemy to gloat over you;
he has exalted your adversaries’ power. Lamentations 2 (NET)

He had not come without warning, nor did He come without reason. Such
patience He has shown to the nation of Israel every step of the way. We
too are on that precipice as a nation. Those whom He has shown most
favor are in most danger of being destroyed when they turn from God.

Even then, Jeremiah pleads with the people to repent.

צ(Tsade)
18 Cry out from your heart to the Lord,
O wall of Daughter Zion!
Make your tears flow like a river
all day and all night long!
Do not rest;
do not let your tears stop! Lamentations 2 (NET)

Yet in the Middle of desolation,

We restore our hope by remembering who God is. Just as did Jeremiah. I
have not suffered nearly as much as he was asked to and that less than
Jesus Christ. Surely, I can remember the kindnesses and goodness of
God.

ז(Zayin)
19 Remember my impoverished and homeless condition,
which is a bitter poison.
20 I continually think about this,
and I am depressed.
21 But this I call to mind;
therefore I have hope:

ח(Khet)
22 The LORD’s loyal kindness never ceases;
his compassions never end.
23 They are fresh every morning;
your faithfulness is abundant!
24 “My portion is the LORD,” I have said to myself,
so I will put my hope in him. Lamentations 3 (NET)

And let us not forget King David, who also taught us so much about
restoring hope in a world of desolation and darkness.

Restoring Hope Even Amid a World of Desolation—7 Steps

1. Do Not Be Afraid—Remember the Lord is our strength 

 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?² When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.³ Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.  Psalm 27 KJV 

2.  Seek God every day desiring to be in His presence 

⁴ One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.  Psalm 27 KJV 

3.  Remember that it is God who Protects You 

⁵ For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.   Psalm 27 KJV 

And with a Joyful Heart of Gratitude

4.  Always Sing Out in Rejoicing and Praise for What He has done 

⁶ And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. Psalm 27 KJV 

5. Be Quick to Cry Out for Repentence and Mercy for Sins, Knowing He Forgives 

⁷ Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.⁸ When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.⁹ Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. Psalm 27 KJV 

6. Ask for God to guide you so you remain a light shining bright even in presence of enemies who want to take you down.  

¹¹ Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.¹² Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.  Psalm 27 KJV 

Most Important of all

7.  Trust God, Wait Patiently on Him because you know of His Goodness 

¹³ I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living ¹⁴ Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.  Psalm 27 KJV 

You are Truth, Lord and You Alone

When I feel so lost and so alone 

I turn and look upon Your throne 

You, who for my sins did die 

To rise again and justify 

A wretched heart whose selfish pride 

Could never set my Self aside 

Until I saw a glimpse of you, Your gaze 

That set my soul ablaze 

A love burst forth, one greater still  

Compels me bow beneath Your will 

And when I feel so sad, so down 

I then must look upon Your crown 

A crown of thorns once pierced Your brow 

Exchanged for Glory that somehow 

Did then bestow on me Your Grace 

So as I gaze upon Your face 

Transformed this wretched heart of mine 

Reflects Your righteous Heart Divine 

As step by step I bow before 

The one who doth my life restore 

Yet, when I stop to see this world 

The sorrow, pain; it’s evil hurled 

Upon the foolish, blind, and lost 

I then can see the depth, the cost 

The weight of sin You chose to bare 

For selfish ones who do not care 

With hate-filled looks, their brazen stare 

Whose hardened hearts do then declare 

Themselves as kings yet all the while 

Destroying all with Hate and guile 

They think themselves so righteous wise 

While cloaked with lies their one disguise 

Oh, how I hate to see them Lord 

Despising You in one accord 

Yet, there I see your arms stretched wide 

To bid them come to You, abide 

To come repentant, sinner come 

And bow before Your throne succumb 

Unto Your Grace, Your love profound 

While singing praise, Salvation’s Sound 

So broken, sad my desperate heart 

Desires to leave this world, depart 

To sit before Your precious throne 

And bask within Your love alone 

Broken, scarred, no strength, no might 

To face the battles, I MUST fight 

Yet then I hear Your gentle voice 

Bid me to stay and make the choice 

To stand once more, Your truth my shield 

As to they will I fully yield 

In You I have the strength, the might 

In darkness, shine Your brilliant light 

So, hold me tight within Your hand 

That I might do Your will as planned 

Your love, your joy will fill each day 

You’ll give my lips the words to say 

So that the broken, lost alone 

May then repent, make You their own 

Finding You to be their greatest treasure 

A Perfect love beyond all measure 

I bid the broken, lost, and sad 

Come look upon Your Cross.  Be glad! 

For You did die to pay their way 

And rose again on the third day 

If only they would now believe 

The gospel truth and there receive 

You as their Lord and let You in 

You’ll break the binding chains of sin 

Wrapped in Your Righteousness alone 

They’ll stand before God’s mighty throne 

Beloved, Redeemed, a child of God 

With Victory now my feet are shod 

Spreading the truth so far and wide 

Knowing You’re always by my side 

So, boldly now, no more to fear 

Knowing Your love is oh so near 

Empowered with Your Joy and Peace 

I march on Lord and must not cease 

Until that day You call me home 

Upon this broken world I’ll roam 

You are truth and You alone 

So, take this heart that once was stone 

Reveal Your will and make it known 

That through my life Your light is shown 

Into the darkest, dreary night 

That all might see Your strength and might 

And let me die to selfish pride 

That in Your Will I do abide 

A beacon of Your love Divine 

I am the Branch, You are the Vine 

Effie Darlene Barba

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

New English Translation (NET)NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

Amplified Bible (AMP)Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Picture licensed from Goodsalt.com

u

On that day, He will quiet you with His love and will rejoice over you with singing.  But what about today?  Is He not mighty among us today as well?  How do we embrace the hidden secret of comfort Now. Even amid our tempestuous life’s journey, is it not there with us?  He who is the same today, yesterday, forever and always.  Is He not among us?  Mighty to save, rejoicing over each one of His beloved children with gladness.  Is it not His wondrous love that can quiet or turbulent hearts as He rejoices over us with His singing.   

Everything around us screams out the brokenness of this world and the world system in which we live at present.  Our own lives are filled with chaos, always changing, with obligations, worries, and uncertainties.  How can we maneuver life’s tempestuous journey.  Even when we think we have it all together, something always steps in.  It feels like our very souls are tossed to and fro.  If only we could embrace the hidden secret of comfort only He can afford amid the chaos. Then we could soar above the worries and trials we face here on this earth.    If only we could learn to rest in His love.   

Life’s Tempestuous Journey in the days of Zephaniah 

Such also was the world in which Zephaniah was living.  He saw all the evil around him; yet, there was King Josiah.  There was a glimpse of hope amid the darkness of the world around him.  King Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.  Revival spread through the land.   Then the word of the Lord came to Zephaniah and that word was one of certain judgement drawing closer with each day.   

1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:  

2 “I will completely sweep away  

everything from the face of the earth,”  

declares the LORD.  

3 “I will sweep away man and beast; 

I will sweep away the birds of the air,  

and the fish of the sea,  

and the idols with their wicked worshipers.  

I will cut off mankind 

from the face of the earth,”   Zephaniah 1 (Berean Bible)

It was His people and His land that God spoke of here.  His rage against sin certain and his people the worst of sinners.  Although he was foretelling of the coming Babylonian conquest of His people, this declaration was far more global than just that.  It foretells a judgement yet to come.  One that weighs heavily on my heart these days.   

Life’s Tempestuous Journey filled with Sorrow

1I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. 2I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood, 4the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.  Romans 9 (Berean Bible)

Yet, no amount of sorrow or anguish can transform a single soul.  Those who seek after Baal and idols, worshiping self, the earth and the stars rather than God will perish.  My tears and sorrow cannot change that.  How is there any hope to embrace the hidden secret of comfort in this tempestuous life’s journey.  His wrath and judgement is certain. 

declares the LORD.  

4 “I will stretch out My hand against Judah  

and against all who dwell in Jerusalem.  

I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal,  

the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests—  

5 those who bow on the rooftops 

to worship the host of heaven,  

those who bow down and swear by the LORD 

but also swear by Milcom,  

6 and those who turn back 

from following the LORD,  

neither seeking the LORD.  Zephaniah 1 

God will not Be Silent Forever

God never remains silent forever.  We look around and see idolatrous living.  Wars and rumors of wars abound in the news  We watch as our children and grandchildren are confronted with so many   evil ideas. At times subtle and at other times blatantly in our faces.   Their innocence of childhood being brutally from them, right before our eyes   Voices of reason are muffled by the noise of the crowds.  So how do we embrace hidden secrets of comfort amid life’s tempestuous journey? Zephaniah suggest we: 

Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD,  

for the Day of the LORD is near.  

Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; 

He has consecrated His guests.  

But who are His guests?  Is it not as Jesus said? 

Life’s Tempestuous Journey–the Hidden Secret of Comfort

Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”  

37 He replied, “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 

40 As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. 42 And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.   Matthew 13 

Life’s Tempestuous Journey –Where is the Hidden Secret of Comfort Found?

8 “On the Day of the LORD’s sacrifice  

I will punish the princes,  

the sons of the king,  

and all who are dressed in foreign apparel.  

9 On that day I will punish 

all who leap over the threshold, 

who fill the house of their master  

with violence and deceit.  

10 On that day,” declares the LORD,  

“a cry will go up from the Fish Gate,  

a wail from the Second District,  

and a loud crashing from the hills.  

11 Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow,  

for all your merchants will be silenced; 

all who weigh out silver will be cut off.    Zephaniah 3 

Not only will He judge those who perpetrate evil but also those who sit idly complacently while watching evil grow.  

12 And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, 

who say to themselves,  

‘The LORD will do nothing,  

either good or bad.’  

Jesus will Return to Reign in Jerusalem

The Lord will return for the rapture.  Judgement will rain down on earth as every depravity of humanity comes full circle.  The antichrist and beast will reign upon this earth with a global rule.  At that time Jesus will take the scroll of the deed to earth.  He will open the seven seals, the seven trumpets will sound, and the seven bowls of wrath will be poured out to cleanse the earth.  Particularly this will be the final cleansing of God’s People—Israel.  Only then will the remnant embrace the hidden secret of comfort amid life’s tempestuous journey.   

The Great Day of the Lord is Near

14 The great Day of the LORD is near— 

near and coming quickly.  

Listen, the Day of the LORD!  

Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.  

15 That day will be 

a day of wrath,  

a day of trouble and distress,  

a day of destruction and desolation,  

a day of darkness and gloom,  

a day of clouds and blackness,  

16 a day of horn blast and battle cry  

against the fortified cities,  

and against the high corner towers.  

17 I will bring such distress on mankind 

that they will walk like the blind,  

because they have sinned against the LORD.  Zephaniah 1 

8Therefore wait for Me,”  

declares the LORD,  

“until the day  

I rise to testify. 

For My decision is to gather nations,  

to assemble kingdoms,  

to pour out upon them My indignation— 

all My burning anger.  

For all the earth will be consumed  

by the fire of My jealousy. 

A Faithful Remnant 

9For then I will restore  

pure lips to the peoples,  

that all may call upon the name of the LORD  

and serve Him shoulder to shoulder. 

10From beyond the rivers of Cush 

My worshipers, My scattered people,  

will bring Me an offering. Zephaniah 3  

Our comfort must be in trusting the God who Aways does as He has promised.  Let us not grow weary as we wait for him.  

11On that day you will not be put to shame  

for any of the deeds  

by which you have transgressed against Me.  

For then I will remove from among you  

those who rejoice in their pride,  

and you will never again be haughty  

on My holy mountain. 

12But I will leave within you a meek and humble people,  

and they will trust in the name of the LORD. 

13The remnant of Israel  

will no longer do wrong or speak lies,  

nor will a deceitful tongue  

be found in their mouths.  

But they will feed and lie down,  

with no one to make them tremble.” 

But to embrace the hidden secret of comfort, one must first know what this hidden secret is.  The truth is it was never hidden nor secret. It has been the theme throughout the ages.  The only theme and word that matter is Jesus Christ.  The perfect incarnate son of God the father, united in purpose with their very essence—the Holy Spirit.  The three in one.  So, let us turn to this prayer of Jesus that we might have hope in this world.   

1When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. 2For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. 3Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 4I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed. 

He is all power, glory and dominion forever; yet, willingly paid our penalty and price.  At that same time, he was preparing to face the unthinkable upon the cross—separation from Father and Holy Spirit for a time, bearing their wrath being poured out upon Him on our behalf.  Even then, he paused to pray for us.   

Prayer for the Disciples 

6I have revealed Your name to those You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You. 8For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me. 

I told them the truth of who you are and who I am.  They believed and on faith accepted every word. They belong to you just as they belong to me. 

9I ask on their behalf. I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those You have given Me; for they are Yours. 10All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine; and in them I have been glorified. 11I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You.  

Therefore, I ask you: 

Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one. 12While I was with them, I protected and preserved them by Your name, the name You gave Me. Not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. 

Let them know the hidden secret of comfort amid this life’s tumultuous journey.  Let your joy fill their hearts with steadfastness, abiding each step of the way. 

13But now I am coming to You; and I am saying these things while I am in the world, so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them. 14I have given them Your word and the world has hated them; for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 

Yes, we will face Life’s Tumultuous Journey.  Even more tumultuous because they must remain to do the work for now.  The evil one will continue to attack their hearts and minds in this broken world.  But God is there every treacherous step of the way to uplight and uphold us by His mighty hand.   

15I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. 18As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify Myself, so that they too may be sanctified by the truth. 

Prayer for All Believers 

20I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 

22I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one—23I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me. 

24Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 

25Righteous Father, although the world has not known You, I know You, and they know that You sent Me. 26And I have made Your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I in them.” 

When I Feel So Lost, Alone 

When I feel so lost, alone 

I turn my gaze upon His throne 

He who for my sins did die 

To rise again and justify 

A wretched heart whose selfish pride 

Could never set my Self aside 

Until I saw a glimpse His gaze 

It was there my heart was set ablaze 

To know a love so greater still 

That I might bow beneath His will 

And when I feel so sad, so down 

I then must look upon His crown 

A crown of thorns once cut His brow 

Exchanged for Glory that somehow 

To there bestow on me His Grace 

So as I gaze upon His face 

Transform this wretched heart of mine 

Unto His righteous Heart Divine 

As step by step I bow before 

The one who doth my life restore 

For when I stop to see this world 

The sorrow, pain evil has hurled 

Upon the foolish, blind and lost 

I then can see the depth, the cost 

The weight of sin He chose to bare 

For selfish ones who do not care 

With hate-filled looks, their brazen stare 

Whose hardened hearts do then declare 

Themselves as kings yet all the while 

Destroying all! Such Hate and guile 

They think themselves so righteous wise 

While cloaked with lies their one disguise 

Oh, how I hate to see them Lord 

Despising you in one accord 

Yet, there I see your arms stretched wide 

To bid them come to You, abide 

Oh come repentant, sinner come 

And bow before Your throne succumb 

Unto Your Grace, Your love profound 

To there sing praise, Salvation’s Sound 

Broken and Sad 

So broken, sad my desperate heart 

Desires to leave this world, depart 

To sit before Your precious throne 

And bask within Your love alone 

Broken, scarred, no strength, no might 

To face the battles I MUST fight 

It is there I hear your gentle voice 

Bid me to stay and make the choice 

To stand once more, Your truth my shield 

As to they will I fully yield 

In You I have the strength, the might 

In darkness, You are my shining light 

So, hold me tight within Your hand 

That I might do all Your will has planned 

Your love, your joy will fill each day 

You will give my lips the words to say 

So, I might then proclaim Your Glorious Grace 

Help others see Your Lovely Face 

So that the broken, lost alone 

May then repent, make you their own 

So all the lost, broken and sad 

Come look upon His Cross be glad 

For He who died to pay your way 

Will come, abide with you today 

You will find that there above all measure 

He is the one, your greatest treasure 

Who takes your lost and broken heart 

To there indwell and never depart 

His Love for You will never cease 

That you might know His Joy and Peace 

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

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Have You Not Heard that God is Tireless and Jesus is King? 

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

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New King James Version (NKJV)Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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