I have been publishing articles for only a few short weeks on this blog. I want to publicly thank my Lord Jesus Christ and all of you who have gratified my efforts far and above any expectations that I initially had.
A special thanks to my friendly readers in the following countries: USA (including Alaska), Canada, Mexico, Belize, Argentina, Peru, Liberia, Nigeria, Israel, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Germany, Cambodia, Austria, Nepal, Thailand and the most recent in Moscow, Russia! And perhaps others that I am not aware of.
So far I have had only positive comments but as I begin to write about Biblical prophetic fulfillment, I am sure I will "step on some toes"! This cannot be helped in todays's world, particularly when religious fervor drives so many wars and so much turmoil in so many countries. We are living in the most exciting time of Biblical prophetic fulfillment since the cross of Christ and His victory over death. There are big things coming up for all of us.
Upcoming articles will answer questions about the ultimate destruction of the city of Damascus (Isaiah 17:), the war of Gog from the land of Magog (Ezekiel 38-39), the seven years of tribulation in view of Daniels 70 week prophecy (Daniel 9: and Rev. 6:---) and much much more. Oh, and by the way, are you still confused about the rapture of the church? Or how about the possible reasons why the United States is not mentioned in end times prophecy? Wow, I could go on and on here.
I do not believe in getting anywhere close to "setting dates" for these future fulfillments. BUT, Jesus Himself was concerned that we should be able to discern the "signs of the times". He was speaking to religious leaders in Matthew 16:1-4 and actually called them "HYPOCRITES" because they could recognize coming weather patterns but could NOT recognize far more significant matters that dealt with their eternal lives. Folks I have been teaching these things for over 25 years and I can tell you that there are VERY MANY Christians that have NO CLUE about just how close we are to the second coming of our King! How do we know this? By study of the ancient Biblical prophets. Without exception, they have a successful prediction rate of 100% for 100% including every future prophecy spoken as far back as 4000 years and more.
Yes, I have heard it all: "You prophecy guys spend all your time in study and never accomplish the Great Commission!!! Really? Honestly, most people that make those kinds of comments neither study the Word of God OR work at the great commission. It is the study of the prophetic word of God that fines tunes our desire to evangelize because those who understand what the Word of God says about the end times, also understand the imperative to get the Word out to unbelievers before it is too late for them! Also, at least 45% of the entire Bible is prophetic in nature and many Bible scholars and prophetic teachers put the percentage much higher than that.
Are you wondering why the world is in such bad shape today? Why are the Governments of the world increasingly dishonest? Where has all your hard earned money, retirements and security gone in just the past couple of years? Why are ALL the nations of the world in big big trouble and what will be their ultimate end? Or why are there suddenly so many huge earth quakes, massive storms, devastating wars, plagues, and famines worldwide?
Folks, the answers ARE ALL IN THE BIBLE!!! I will be reviewing each and every one of these problems in the next few months. Even if you end up disagreeing with me on a particular prophetic "read", if I am able to whet your appetite and cause you to study these things for yourself, then I have accomplished my purpose. Please stay tuned because they are all coming up. Also if you would, please consider sending the link for my blog to your friends, relatives and email lists.
One final note before todays article: Just this week, Brandy finally became my official web administrator---a long and often arduous process. I am excited because right after completion of our Passover seder in Chowchilla, California on April 2nd, I will be designing the actual web site and start posting major studies and information including weekly webcast church services and internet radio.
Now, I know that the three recent articles regarding the essential difference between EASTER and the RESURRECTION of Christ have met with mixed reception. I understand just how close and threatening can be any topic that challenge's what we learned in our formative years. I too, was raised, each and every year sincerely looking forward to the coming of the easter bunny. In fact it was almost as important to me as Halloween. As I raised my own children, I hid the eggs, did the bunny thing and even went to church once a year to celebrate easter (well sometimes I went---after all, two or three times in a persons life should be enough right?).
It is not my intention to be a "fuzzy bunny grinch". But you know I have learned that what so ever we teach our children is "seed planted" that will ALWAYS be with them. So you say to me, hey, I tell my kids about Jesus resurrection from the grave! So come on, what can be so bad about celebrating easter? It's just innocent fun.
Is it? the entire concept of "easter" is based upon pagan idolatry and worship. THAT is the truth that will never change. I am not even going to try in this short article to list all the Godly Biblical warnings to stay away from anything even remotely having to do with idolatrous worship! I will however do a complete report on my upcoming web site. The real question for each of us to consider is this? As Christians, are we going to "cave in" to the worlds pressure to conform to it's standards or are we going to do what we know will please our Lord?
1 John 2:15 "Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him"! OR, how about 1 John 2:3 (this is a test for knowing Jesus-my comment added). "Now by THIS, we know that we know Him (JESUS), if we keep His commandments".
Well wait just a just a tiny second there pastor, I don't recall anything in the Bible that forbids the celebration of (the specific word) easter! Well perhaps not but then have you ever realized that the word BIBLE is not in the text of the Bible? Neither is the word RESPONSIBILITY. And yet we all know that God's Holy Word is contained within the BIBLE, every ounce of which is a book filled with RESPONSIBILITY. Our responsibilities TO God and His (self proclaimed) responsibilities to His people in the form of His covenant promises. If He keeps His covenant promises to us then should we not also honor his desire for our lives?
I don't personally know anyone who actually WORSHIPS anything having to do with easter. I have never seen anyone get on their knees and kiss "bugs bunnies" foot. But isn't it strange that many Christians DO carry around with them a GOOD LUCK charm that is a rabbits foot on a key chain? When something becomes an eagerly awaited annual event that some folks take days and even weeks to prepare for-------? 1 Cor. 10:14 "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry".
I have had some comments since posting these articles. From people thanking me for writing the truth about a subject that is uncomfortable and that many pastors "dance around" without actually tackling. Well I am not a "dance around" the issue kind of guy! Easter is not the only "CHRISTIAN" holiday that I will tackle, popular or not. Wait until we get to halloween, the devils holiday! Oh, Oh, and as long as we are on the subject, what about "Harry Potter" or "The Shack"? You will love my comments relevant to our Christian children reading or watching those.
The following two short articles are the last of 5 that were written for a local newspaper;
Enjoy!
"GOD'S APPOINTED TIMES"
Our last article was "Should Christians Celebrate Passover?" Today we would like to take that a step further and explain the ROOTS of our faith. First, as Christians, we are saved by grace (John 1:16). We have placed our faith in the only One through whom Salvation comes, Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, over the centuries many Jews and Christians have lost track of the fact that Jesus and a great portion of the 1st century church were Jewish. 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 explains the time honored ritual of communion (the Lord's supper) that most church's celebrate at least once each month. This meal that Jesus had with his disciples was in fact a PASSOVER meal and took place on the historical night before Jesus went to the cross. It was also on a Passover night that the death angel passed over Jewish households during their exodus from Egypt, the land of Pharaoh.
Jesus Himself observed "God's appointed times" (Leviticus 23:4). Most Christians today have come to believe that these feasts or High Holy days are just some sort of Jewish custom. In fact it was God Himself that ordained these times and decreed that "HIS PEOPLE" should observe them in perpetuity. The Spring "appointed times" include Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits and Pentecost.
How are these relevant for Christians today? Jesus died on the cross on Calvary precisely on the day of Passover. He was buried on Unleavened Bread. He rose from the grave on First Fruits and 50 days after His resurrection from the grave, the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47) and the Church was born as three thousand souls were baptized in one day!
The Fall appointed times which include Tabernacles, Day of Atonement and Trumpets were also put in place by God Himself and many pastors and Biblical scholars believe that at some point in the future, these very three important "appointed times" could signal the rapture of the church, the second coming of Christ and the beginning of the 1000 year millennial reign of the King of Kings.
That is the relevance of Passover that will be celebrated this and every year until the lord comes for His people. It is a time for both Jew and Christian to celebrate and remember both the miraculous escape from the clutches of evil Pharaoh So It is also a time to remember and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. It is this most miraculous of events that sets the eternal stage for believers in Christ, both Jew and Gentile to spend FOREVER in the presence of God. All who are hungry, partake of the Lord's Passover!
By Rance Cook, Pastor
Prophetic Sword Ministries, Intl.
Comfort Israel.
Our last article was "Should Christians Celebrate Passover?" Today we would like to take that a step further and explain the ROOTS of our faith. First, as Christians, we are saved by grace (John 1:16). We have placed our faith in the only One through whom Salvation comes, Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, over the centuries many Jews and Christians have lost track of the fact that Jesus and a great portion of the 1st century church were Jewish. 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 explains the time honored ritual of communion (the Lord's supper) that most church's celebrate at least once each month. This meal that Jesus had with his disciples was in fact a PASSOVER meal and took place on the historical night before Jesus went to the cross. It was also on a Passover night that the death angel passed over Jewish households during their exodus from Egypt, the land of Pharaoh.
Jesus Himself observed "God's appointed times" (Leviticus 23:4). Most Christians today have come to believe that these feasts or High Holy days are just some sort of Jewish custom. In fact it was God Himself that ordained these times and decreed that "HIS PEOPLE" should observe them in perpetuity. The Spring "appointed times" include Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits and Pentecost.
How are these relevant for Christians today? Jesus died on the cross on Calvary precisely on the day of Passover. He was buried on Unleavened Bread. He rose from the grave on First Fruits and 50 days after His resurrection from the grave, the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47) and the Church was born as three thousand souls were baptized in one day!
The Fall appointed times which include Tabernacles, Day of Atonement and Trumpets were also put in place by God Himself and many pastors and Biblical scholars believe that at some point in the future, these very three important "appointed times" could signal the rapture of the church, the second coming of Christ and the beginning of the 1000 year millennial reign of the King of Kings.
That is the relevance of Passover that will be celebrated this and every year until the lord comes for His people. It is a time for both Jew and Christian to celebrate and remember both the miraculous escape from the clutches of evil Pharaoh So It is also a time to remember and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. It is this most miraculous of events that sets the eternal stage for believers in Christ, both Jew and Gentile to spend FOREVER in the presence of God. All who are hungry, partake of the Lord's Passover!
By Rance Cook, Pastor
Prophetic Sword Ministries, Intl.
Comfort Israel.
Article number 5---the last prior to passover in this series:
"A Living Reminder"
This week, I would like to share with you what Passover means from one Jewish perspective. As we prepare to celebrate Passover this year, for many followers of Christ, on Good Friday, April 2nd. We will follow in the footsteps of Jesus, as He celebrated Passover with His disciples. The following was written by Gary M. Cooperberg, direct from the land of Israel.
Why is Passover a "living reminder"?
"We remember miracles that happened to our ancestors, and we are reminded that there are miracles yet to come. And, if we are really aware, we should also notice the miracles we live every day.
Passover, more than any other Jewish (Biblical) holiday, is truly a time for us to consider our past and, especially, to reexamine the role we Jews were created for. On all of our holidays and in most of our daily prayers we remember the miracle of being redeemed from slavery in Egypt. Why did our G-d take us out of Egypt? The answer to that question is to be found at the end of the Shema Yisrael that we recite every morning and evening and before we go to sleep at night.
“I am the L-d your G-d who took you out of Egypt to be your G-d. I am your G-d.”
We were slaves unto Pharaoh in Egypt. We had no natural way to ever escape. When our G-d performed miracles and took us out, it was for a reason... not simply to set us free, rather to transfer our servitude from the Egyptians to Him. He took us to Mount Sinai and gave us His Torah to show us how to serve Him...
The holiday of Passover comes to remind us of our eternal obligation to serve our G-d. The seder we conduct at night around the dinner table is a learning experience, for young and old alike, to remind us that we are an ancient people with a Divine destiny... Passover, more than any other Jewish (Biblical) holiday, is a reminder that we are part of a Divine Process. Our liberation from slavery in Egypt wasn’t the end. It was only the beginning. The Jewish People were created to be an example to all of Mankind that it has a Creator..."
We ourselves from Prophetic Sword Ministries and Comfort Israel are also looking forward to celebrating our Creator King, Jesus Christ on April 2nd. So come, all who are hungry, let us celebrate the Passover, the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.
Keep flaming the fire of Faith,
Brandy Cook
Director, Comfort Israel
As Passover season draws to an end, it is time for me to turn my attention to articles that explain various prophecies that may soon take place. I also have a list of provocative questions received from readers of this blog. I look forward with anticipation in answering them and hope that my answers will generate an even greater hunger for the Word of God.
God bless you all,
Pastor Rance.
