Silence in Heaven

"The Great American Eclipse."  Did you watch it?  Was your heart stirred? Did the Spirit whisper anything to you? Or was there just a stunning silence?

I heard a lot of different reports - and every one of them caused me to repent. I repented to the Lord because I thought surely He should do some sort of great earthquake or cataclysmic event on that day, in order to wake up all the sleeping people who do not know Him or have abandoned Him. But He is the Sovereign God and He knows EXACTLY what He is doing!

I watched the eclipse with our little bible study group that I have at the retirement home where my parents lived for many years. Although they are gone from this earth, the bible study has continued with several avid students of the Word and on the day of the eclipse, we were joined by several residents I did know - very possibly some of those who do not really know God.  We were not in "totality" of the eclipse path, but at 95%, we were awfully close.

I passed around eclipse glasses and chairs and the extraordinary event began. It grew dimmer and dimmer, and the color of the waning sun turned a deep orange. As temperatures dropped, gnarled fingers pulled sweaters around their shoulders, and then an amazing hush covered us. The chirping of birds ceased and the little 5% of sunlight was all we had.  It was in that moment that I understood what the Creator of the Universe was doing. I heard someone quietly exclaim, "Wow! There is Someone who can take warmth and light away!"

I hadn't thought of it like that. I knew it was a mighty demonstration of His Power, but I hadn't thought about how He could show everyone in this nation that HE ALONE - THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE - can give light or remove light, send warmth or withhold it!  Watching the TV photos later, I heard someone say, "There IS Someone so much bigger than me!"

The darkness and the silence lasted only about two minutes....but I wonder....was this a great warning, a stunning foreshadow of what is foretold in Revelation 6:12-13?  "I watched as He opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth..."  Those events take place at the opening of the "Sixth Seal" of the Scroll. Following this, we are told, "When He opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for about half an hour."

Did we experience two minutes of darkness and silence that foreshadowed this great and terrible half hour?  Were we given this tiny glimpse of His unfathomable power so that we would turn away from all our worldly distractions and entertainments and get in tune with what our Creator is doing? Was it meant to show us what time it is? Have our ears been so tuned to the signals from cell phone towers and internet bombardment that He asked our whole nation to DRIVE INTO THE PATH OF THE GOD OF TOTALITY AND FOCUS ON HIM?  

He IS "Totality!"  It IS all about HIM!  There IS Someone so much bigger than me - and you!

When the seventh seal is opened, the seven trumpet and bowl judgments commence.  This is the time of the outpouring of God's wrath upon the earth.  Prior to this, the six seals describe devastating times of deception, war, famine, disease and death (including martyrdom).  There is no "catching away" (rapture) of believers until this time of tribulation and persecution is ended. We are not appointed to God's wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9 ), but we will go through many terrible trials and tribulations before this sixth seal occurs.  Matthew 24:29 says, "Immediately AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  AT THAT TIME the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other."

Clearly our loving, merciful Father was calling us to come together on one single day to watch HIS show of power and get our eyes fixed on His Son Yeshua, the only Savior and Redeemer! And Americans DID gather - in unity - with no violence in the streets, no angry, hate-filled demonstrations. In the middle of a normal Monday, in a nation deeply divided by politics and racial tensions, there was SILENCE IN HEAVEN AND IN AMERICA FOR TWO MINUTES - and we who got tuned in to Heaven, were awakened to Someone who has the power to remove light and warmth from the Earth and then restore it! We gazed upon His majesty. We wondered at His power. We got lost in His totality.

Shabbat Shalom!

The Great American Eclipse - It's a Timing Thing

The internet and You Tube sites are overflowing with "tabloid-style" hype about the upcoming "Great American Eclipse" and the "Revelation 12" September 23 sign in the sky.  Unless you're living under a rock in the Amazon River, I suspect you've been hearing it all and wondering what it all means.  If you pay attention to the media, you will probably conclude that August 21st will be the end of the world, and if you've reached that conclusion, then you have gone into a state of fear and panic.

Take a deep breath! I've been writing this blog for over eight years now and most people who have continued reading it can testify to the fact that I do not participate in fear-mongering.  The Bible clearly tells us that we who are in Christ do NOT have a spirit of fear - but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). 

Way back at the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1:14, we learn that God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, AND LET THEM SERVE AS SIGNS TO MARK SEASONS AND DAYS AND YEARS."  Our awesome God is using the moon, the sun, and the stars not only to mark time, but also for SIGNS.  "Signs of what?" you may ask.  And I would point out that Yeshua (Jesus) clearly answered this question when He said, "When these things begin to take place, LOOK UP AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS - BECAUSE YOUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR."

To see a sign in the sky, we must look UP!  Apparently several million people are now buying their special "eclipse glasses" so that on August 21 (9 days from now) they can all be looking UP at the sun as it is totally ecipsed by the moon, something that has NEVER happened just across this nation in its history.  So the one thing we can be certain of is that God is trying to say something to us.  Here is what Psalm 19 has to say about it:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world.

This wonderful psalm helps us to understand that the signs displayed by the sun, moon and stars (the heavens) are "speaking" to us - bringing us a message.  And I want to submit to you that God's eternal message to His people is the same message that He brought through His prophet, John the Baptist:  "REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM  OF HEAVEN IS NEAR!"
  
Matthew 3:1-3:  In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: 'A voice of one calling in the desert, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'"

So why would I say that a total eclipse spanning the United States of America in 2017 has anything to do with the message of John the Baptist over 2000 years ago?  IT'S A TIMING THING!  It has everything to do with the TIMING of this message in the heavens this August 21.  That just happens to be the 1st day of the Hebrew month ELUL.  And the 1st of Elul just happens to be exactly 40 days before the holiest day of the year in the LORD's calendar: Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).  So, it appears to me that our God, who is the Master Mathematician and Scientist, who created the earth and who set the great lights in the expanse of the galaxies, and who operates in perfect cycles and seasons every year since Creation, is still speaking in the same language and patterns He has always used.  He does not change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  And His message always has been and always will be consistent, because of His great love.  The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but EVERYONE TO COME TO REPENTANCE."  (2 Peter 3:9)

When Moses came down from the mountain, he found the people worshiping a golden calf, a man-made idol, and he was filled with the anger and grief of the Holy One of Israel. He smashed the tablets to the ground, and then ascended back up the mountain to pray for the Israelites, who had so easily forgotten their God, the One who had delivered them out of slavery in Egypt.  Moses was on the mountain for 40 DAYS - and Torah scholars have found that he ascended that mountain on the 1st of Elul - coming back down to the people with a second set of tablets, inscribed by the finger of Yeshua, ON THE DAY OF YOM KIPPUR.

Another startling, consistent scenario occurs when the prophet Jonah comes out of the belly of the whale and, finally resolving to be obedient to God, he enters the wicked city of Nineveh, (which is modern-day Mosul, Iraq by the way) on the 1st of Elul, and according to Jonah 3:4-5: He proclaimed, "FORTY MORE DAYS AND NINEVEH WILL BE DESTROYED." The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth."

Forty days Jonah preached to the sinful city of Nineveh, and the people responded. By Yom Kippur then (the Day of Atonement), the people had repented of their sins, and they were saved from destruction.

Today we know that our atonement is in Yeshua our Messiah (Jesus Christ). We know that He has paid the ultimate price for sin on the Cross.  And yet - this nation has forsaken God on so many levels, that it is time for Him to put a sign in the heavens on the 1st of Elul, calling this nation to repent and return to Him over the next 40 days. This is His great-heartbeat; that every American witnessing this great sign in the heavens would surrender their lives, give up their selfish and sinful ways, and come into a powerful, loving relationship with Him - before it's too late.

The month of Elul is known in Jewish thought as "the month of repentance" - because it is preparation for Yom Kippur.  Will we respond to this great sign with our genuine surrender to Yeshua? He is returning soon and His Kingdom is nearer than when we first thought. If you know of someone who truly doesn't know Him or understand these things, please forward this blog, or print it out and use it as a witness to others to open their eyes.  In tears I am praying that all who cover their eyes with eclipse glasses will not hide their eyes and ears from the message of the "speech that is pouring forth from the heavens!"

PRAYER PORTAL TRIP TO ISRAEL!  CAN YOU HELP?

About 3 weeks ago the Holy Spirit began to speak to John and me about an assignment the LORD is giving to us.  I clearly heard the Spirit say, "You are to go to Israel this Fall.  You must be there before Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) and th
rough the day of Yom Kippur.  I (the Ruach/Holy Spirit) will be your tour guide.  I and no other.  I will direct you to portals where you will pray and intercede for the Jewish people, prior to Yom Kippur.  I will meet you in the portals where I direct, and you will go as I lead."

Needless to say my heart is BURSTING with this assignment!  It has been three years since I've been in the Land, and now 12 years since my long prayer watch in Jerusalem.  And it does not escape my understanding that we have been given the timing because we will be praying our way through Israel from the blowing of the shofars to the Day of Atonement!  It is a timing thing - and it is all about the eternal message: "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!"

We will be visiting some of the ministries in Israel that Doorkeeper Ministries supports, and WE ARE ASKING YOUR HELP!!  We want to take cash donations to the Israeli orphanage we support, the Shiloh Children's Fund (for children traumatized and victimized by terrorists) and the congregation on Mt. Carmel where both Jews and Arabs are being reached for Yeshua.

John and Kelly (top right) with Yehuda Kohn (left) and some of the children at Elazraki Children's Home in Netanya, Israel


EVERY DONATION YOU SEND TO DOORKEEPER MINISTRIES BETWEEN NOW AND SEPT 18TH WHEN WE LEAVE WILL BE TAKEN TO ISRAEL TO BE A BLESSING TO THE PEOPLE IN THE LAND.

PLEASE OPEN UP YOUR HEARTS AND HELP US TO BE A WITNESS OF YESHUA'S DEEP LOVE AND BLESSING TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.

You can donate with PayPal or credit card at this link:  http://www.doorkeeperministries.com/donate.html

You can send a check to Doorkeeper Ministries and mail to P.O. Box 233, Eaton, CO 80615

May the Lord return the blessings to you a hundredfold!  We love and appreciate each of you so much!  And above all else WE COVET YOUR PRAYERS OVER US AS WE TRAVEL FROM SEPT 18 TO OCT 6.....PRAYERS FOR PROTECTION, FAVOR, AND DIVINE APPOINTMENTS!

Thanks from the bottom of my heart,
Kelly

P.S.  Please, friends, help me get the word out!

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