Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM AUTHORITY over all flesh, that HE SHOULD GIVE ETERNAL LIFE to as many as YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM.” (John 17:1-2) As we, who are saved, are aware Jesus has the authority to GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE! Remember what was said about us Gentiles, “…remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh…you were at that time SEPARATED FROM CHRIST, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, HAVING NO HOPE AND WITHOUT GOD in the world.” (Ephesians 2:11-12) BUT NOW, “… you (Gentiles) are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are FELLOW CITIZENS with the saints and members of the household of God (because Christ died for us)” (Ephesians 2:19)
David prophesied this, “The LORD is my strength and song, And HE HAS BECOME MY SALVATION.” (Psalms 118:14) Then David declared, “BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD (baruch haba beshem adonay)! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.” (Psalms 118:26) Then, when Jesus was here on earth the disciples brought a donkey and “…the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A VERY LARGE CROWD spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:7-9)
So, it would appear that Psalms 118:26 is fulfilled BUT WAIT…the Jews IGNORED the prophecies about THE SUFFERINGS OF THE MESSIAH and just five days later were all crying out, “Away with Him, away with Him, CRUCIFY HIM!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:15)
Now, this is where Jesus declared, “I tell you, you will not see me again, UNTIL YOU SAY, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord (baruch haba beshem adonay).’” (Matthew 23:39)
The devil will try to keep this from happening by sending, “…Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and ALL YOUR ARMY, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, A GREAT HOST, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—MANY PEOPLES ARE WITH YOU…You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against MY LAND, that the nations may know ME, O Gog,” (Ezekiel 38:3-6) MILLIONS OF TROOPS will come down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, BUT GOD SAYS “I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the LORD GOD. Every man’s sword will BE AGAINST HIS BROTHER.” (Ezekiel 38:21)
Satan turned the Jews against Christ…“Israel gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God (after He was crucified) and to His throne, the anti-christ tries to destroy Israel (to prevent “baruch haba beshem adonay” from happening) and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God (the ancient fortress city of Petra in southwest Jordan), in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days (the last 31\2 years).” (Revelation 12:4-6)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham