I got many responses to the post on "222" and I SO appreciated what you wrote and contributed. A couple of responses need to be shared with all, as they give more insight for us.
One person wrote to say that my last paragraph - concerning 1 John 2:22 - is an accurate description of the problem in the Episcopal Church today. I went back and read the last paragraph I wrote, and he is so right on! At the opening of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church a few weeks ago, the Presiding Bishop announced that she does not believe in any individual prayer of salvation through Jesus Christ. How clearly we see the "great falling away" foretold by our Messiah in this denomination that has, from the top down, eroded into denial of our Lord and Savior! This is indeed the great lie of Satan, from the Garden (see Genesis 3:15) forward to the present. If Yeshua our Messiah can be denied, and his seed wiped out forever, then Satan can claim the victory! The antichrist spirit has been present in all those in history who have sought to eradicate the Jews from the earth, since through the Jewish people came the Seed of the woman.
Concerning Haggai 2:22, another person wrote to remind me that it is not only the Muslims who will be killing their brothers in the end times. Yeshua Himself tells us, "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My Name's sake. But He who endures to the end will be saved." (Matt. 10:21-22). Indeed, our Lord is not talking about Muslims here, but about our own families! Believers will experience the betrayal of their own family members in those days, and it is already so in many nations. In fact, when a Jewish person in Israel comes to faith in Messiah Yeshua he almost always ostracized completely from all family and friends, forced to pursue his faith in isolation and persecution.
A third person wrote to tell me that the book of Haggai has repeatedly come up in the Spirit in his ministry, and especially the second chapter. It seems that we are once again in a time of being asked to "rebuild the Lord a House" and the lessons we must undergo are the same as they were in Haggai's day. The challenges and the encouragement God spoke through this prophet are spoken to us again today to spur us on to advance His Kingdom: "Be strong, all you people of the land," says the Lord, "for I am with you," says the Lord of hosts. "According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!" (Haggai 2:4-5).
Our Bridegroom reminds us of the Covenant He made with us when He brought us out of Egypt - and He has given us His Spirit to abide with us. He is a Covenant-keeping God, and His Promises to those who love and fear Him are sure!
