The Bible says Rejoice - Stand firm – Resist the Devil – He (God) who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. We are more than conquerors according to the Power of the Holy Spirit sealed within the new believer. We are forgiven according to the Power of the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross. We are sealed in His Promise because of faith in Him – in things not seen, the substance of things hoped for. Faith is like a tiny seed that must first die to live, but then will grow into a great and wonderful tree of life. Our Faith in Jesus Christ sets us free forever, transforming our lives and bringing peace beyond understanding.
WHAT I LEARNED ON a recent trip to MALTA : 1) Having a “HIGH†education and intellect does not insure a mind of logic and truth. Found this out today during our tour, from a well-dressed young lady who hit a car as she was pulling out from her parked spot. Since she did not see the car which came in from around a corner, she felt it was not her fault and would not give the man insurance information.  And because we are in Malta and the police are hard to be found we had to wait over 30 minutes in the bus on a very narrow, ancient city street. Our great achievements in science, engineering, & transportation were not going to make a difference. We were trapped by history & human frailty and pure stubborness.
2) When Bad things happen do not despair, God can use the ugly, the bad, and the mistake to make something very good!  Only He can make a curse into a blessing. I had planned this Malta trip months ago with Angie and she broke her hip a month or so later, and therefore,  I thought the trip would be  hampered in a major way.  As it turns out, someone in a wheel chair gets through the security and boarding lines 10 times faster especially in the mass of humanity in Turkey and other places we flew (7 different planes)!
3) Miracles are real! Paul was bit by a viper and the people of Malta wanted to make him God when they saw that it did not affect him. He refused their offer and pointed to the Truth of the Gospel then proceeded to heal the sick for 3 months . During WWII an enemy bomber dropped a 500 lb. bomb onto the dome of the Mostra Cathedral.  The church was full of people trying to escape the bombing. The bomb penetrated the heavy dome and hit the floor below skidding across the sanctuary towards the entrance. It did not explode nor did it injure anyone! Just one more “healing” – “salvation” miracle!
4) God blessed us by keeping the rain away reminding us how water and wind became the means through which the Apostle Paul a prisoner onboard a Roman supply vessel became shipwrecked off the Bay where we were staying. Paul ended up staying on the island for 3 months during which time he miraculously healed many sick people. Eventually he was transported to Rome where he later was executed.  That island became a beacon of Christianity and the “Hospital†island of the Mediterranean. The Knights of St. John who defeated the Ottoman invasion were most known for their skills in not only building hospitals but also in treating patients with methods they developed.  They were not crusaders, yet many died defending the Bible and the island – they were Men from 8 nations- hence the eight points on the Maltese cross. They were called Knight Hospitaliers.
5) When returning to the US, we missed the Winter Bomb of early March in the North East by arriving a couple of days after the first one hit, and left a day before the next storm came in. We were able to transfer to Washington DC to visit the White House and the Museum of the Bible: “Washington Revelations†takes you by “jet drone†to all the Biblical quotes on Federal buildings, statues, and other museums. There is a special area on the writing of “Amazing Grace†and one on Sciences – Kepler, Copernicus, Galileo, George Washington Carver, and Newton. There is also a great presentation on the 1st revival in America led by Whitfield, Nazareth at the time of Jesus, the writing of the Bible and all the martyrs and efforts to preserve the Word of God. We learned how valuable the Word is to tribes worldwide – there are over 500 translations into various tribal languages.  One section was devoted to a new city found in Israel that many believe is the “city of 2 gates†where the Philistines fled after David killed Goliath. Another one on how Christianity and the Bible has affected the American Culture- allowing one to listen to dozens of songs by different musicians and singers.
On the trip I had the opportunity to finish reading The Paradigm and had time to reflect on its import. In my book, COSMIC CROSSROAD COUNTDOWN, I also discuss a “paradigm†one that connects the 1st century 70- year prophetic period of Christ’s birth to the 70-year Prophetic Generation of the birth of Israel. Both have a 20 year “maturation†period, then a 50-year period of global spread and importance. As the church spread, its leaders were attacked then in 67 AD Peter and Paul were executed. Likewise, Israel has had attacks from all its neighbors. The threat to the cross, church and Israel continue to this day. These parallels in history are no coincidence.Â
In this letter I want to remind the reader of the most important day in the History of the World. Out of nowhere a man like no other man threw the powers of the world on its heels.  Even though the prophets had forewarned of this moment, few recognized the Truth in front of them. In many ways it was like the Days of Noah –for which the world did not listen and was judged by water (here we have the water motif again). John the Baptist came to baptize the sinner with water and Jesus came to baptize them by the fire of the Holy Spirit.
When He rose from the dead, he preached for 40 days then Ascended into Heaven. Ten days later the Holy Spirit came in fire upon those gathered at Shavout or what we call Pentecost. This year’s Resurrection Celebration comes on April 1 which is April Fool’s day for the first time in many decades. It is fitting for this is the Day that Satan was fooled into thinking that he would defeat God and win dominion over mankind. Those who submit to the Lies of the World, choosing self & denying the person of God are also fools. Many try to use God through legalism and misuse of the Word to accomplish their own purpose. Jesus could have been King and Priest of a Great Kingdom at Satan’s bequest, but He chose to die a cruel death on the cross in order to be our Savior. He defeated Satan, death, and sin offering us the Gift of Eternal Life.
To the World and to the Jew, God asks why do you think that you have earned your Salvation? I am not your King. I AM the Lamb Of God who paid the Price for your sins. I AM the Gift of Salvation offered to those who believe in me. I AM, Jesus Christ, your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel, who cleanses one of sin. I AM the only Salvation from SIN. By my scourging you are healed; not by might nor by power but by my Spirit.
The Jews did not look for a Savior. They wanted A King to give them what they deserved…and in a perverted way this is what anyone who does not know God seeks. One feels deserving of vindication and honor by whatever works they have done. To Jews, Israel is the suffering servant., yet in the scripture it is obvious that Isaiah is NOT speaking of a nation but of a redeemer. Isaiah 53 is the guilty conscious of the Jews. Israel is not a righteous sinless people suffering for the world. This can only be the person of Jesus Christ. Israel has no need for a sacrifice nor a mediator- all they want is a King to rescue them from suffering. They expect exaltation for their goodness. So ask a Jew if he or she needs a Savior? A sinner, and the most “righteous” person, can only be right with God, if his or her sins are completely paid for vicariously by a slain Savior, the Blood of the Lamb. This is a picture of the sacrificial system that God set up in the Temple for Israel. God provided that sacrificial template to prepare them for the Messiah that would save them!
Our Savior died for sin and rose from the dead conquering death and sin. He is not a worldly king, but He is King of Kings, Lord of Lords. He is Jesus Christ, the Risen Savior.   Our Servant King, Jesus Christ bore our iniquities and Paid the ultimate price for our sins. He is our chosen One in which our soul rejoices. He alone is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.