Gospel

" But when the fullness of TIME was come, God sent forth His Son." Galatians 4:4.

When the fullness of TIME came, God sent forth His Son for the First Advent. Many sincere Christians believe that the TIME is here for the Second Advent and the end of the world. According to Ussher`s chronology from Adam to Abraham was 2,000 years. From Abraham to Christ was 2,000 years. From Christ to our day 2,000 years. While there is unity in the belief that the TIME is at hand, there are many and varied views as to the very events that are to take place leading up to the Second Coming.

It must be acknowledged that most of the signs in the Old Testament about Christ and the First Advent were not understood until they came to pass. Pierced my hands and feet; cast lots upon my vesture; come riding on an ass...etc . It well may be that the wisest course is to speculate less about future events but to consider more the past and present ones.

For sure we know that the great event in the history of Israel was their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. The three Spring Feasts or Holy Convocations of Israel, Passover, Unleaven Bread/First Fruits and the Feasts of Weeks/Pentecost, all pointed back to coming out of Egypt. They also pointed forward to Christ, who is our Passover and First Fruits [ I Corinthians 5:7;15:20] .

Fifty days later after coming out of Egypt, Israel received the Law at Mt. Sinai. Fifty days after the crucifixion, the true Passover, the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost. The Spirit writes the Law on the believer`s heart. This out pouring of the Spirit provided the knowledge and the power for the sowing of the gospel seed. From that small beginning, 2,000 years later there are 1.6 billion people who choose Christianity as their religious preference. It is the world`s largest religion.

Now it is time for the harvest. "...the harvest is the end of the world... ". Matthew 13:39; Joel 3:13; Revelation 14:15 . In Hosea 6:3 the Spirit is likened to rain. Note : " ...and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Also see Joel 2:23; Jeremiah 5:24; Deuteronomy 11:14; James 5:7,8; Acts 3"19,20 .

The former rain for the sowing of the gospel seed. The latter rain for the harvest. It is TIME for the harvest and Zechariah 10:1 admonishes us to, "ASK ye of the Lord rain in the TIME of the latter rain. " Believers are to ASK for rain, the Holy Spirit with power, for the harvest in the TIME of the latter rain. Again in Luke 11:13, "... how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ASK Him ? "

Simply ASK is what these texts say. From where does the idea come that believers are to humble themselves, fast, and agonize in prayer in order for the latter rain to fall ? There have been scenes on television of Muslims marching in the streets with whips in hand, and every few steps flail themselves on the back. Will punishing one self bring the latter rain ? It will not come because man has afflicted himself one way or another.

When the word of God was received in Samaria, Peter and John travelled there and, " ...prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit". Acts 8:15 . Where else in the Bible is another example of prayer for the Holy Spirit ? It is James 5:16 which says, "...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. " To be effective, prayer should be fervent. While prayer should be fervent, to request the latter rain for the harvest, one is to ASK which appears diferent from prayer.

It is true that the disciples were all with one accord in one place when the early rain was poured out on the Day of Pentecost, but the scriptures do not say that this was the reason that the early rain fell. They had been with Jesus for 40 days. No doubt this was the reason they were of one accord.

The Holy Spirit came because it was TIME ... 50 days after Jesus became the true Passover at the cross. It was the TIME in God`s timetable. The latter rain will come, not because of some action on the part of believers, but because in God`s providence it is TIME !

Believers are to ASK for the rain in the TIME of the latter rain. How are we to know the TIME ? Since the Protestant Reformation there have been sincere proclamations that the end was near. Luther said he thought it would come some 300 years after his time. He died in 1546. Of the many signs in the Bible there is one taking place now which most are missing.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire and brimstone from God out of heaven is symbolic, a type, of the end of the world. " The same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. " Genesis 19:24; Luke 17:29,30; Jude 7. The fire that destroys the wicked attacking the Holy City which has come down from God out of heaven, is fire and brimstone. Revelation 20:9;21:8.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is an example of the end of the world. Were the inhabitants destroyed beacuse they were homosexuals... or ... because they " came out" and flaunted it ? Note Isaiah 3:9 NIV :

"... they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. "

Sodom`s sin... the one that brought fire and brimstone from heaven...was parading their homosexuality. They " came out" and flaunted it !

Until just recently, homosexuality was not mentioned in public, read about in newspapers and magazines, depicted in movies and on television, or organized to gain acceptance of a perverted life style.

THE PARADING OF HOMOSEXUALITY TODAY IS A CLEAR SIGN FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE THAT THE TIME IS AT HAND.

ASK for the rain in the TIME of the latter rain.

This is not a call for homo bashing. Jesus died to save them.