What An Awesome Blessing!

In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south" (Zech 14:4).

Hey Gang:  Traveling had become a bore to him, being a traveling salesman, he tended to spend much of his life running through airports.  But in this particular trip, God had a very special assignment for him.  As he settled into his seat, prepared to read the daily news, he noticed a elderly blind lady being assisted to a seat across from him. She appeared very nervous, even to the point of being frightened. 

The seat next to her was open so he moved over and sat down beside her and introduced himself.   He asked her if she had ever flown before. "No and I am very nervous", she replied.  The salesman than began to explain what was going to happen: You will soon hear the engines start and the airplane will vibrate a little.  Then you will feel the airplane being backed out from the concourse and begin to move forward. He drew a word picture for her for each step in the process until they taxed on to the concourse at the destination airport and debarked.

He said it was the first time in years that he thoroughly enjoyed a flight. He vowed that he would look carefully for that person who was nervous, even frightened, seemingly be taking their first flight, so he could relive his first flight over and over again.  In a sense that is what I am trying to do with this series of morning messages. I want to share my first flight to Israel –what a privilege.

This morning I want to share three pictures indelibly etched in my mind.  When one thinks of a desert, we think of great dunes of sand, maybe, a palm tree, maybe even sheiks on a great white stallions, as projected by the cinema industry.  With the exception of sheiks on white stallions, I saw all of those things in living color.  Ir Ivot was an oasis in the midst of the Arabah. (Wilderness where Jesus went after His baptism to be tempted by the devil).

As I stood on the top of the tel at Tel Tamar and looked cross the four miles expanse to Jordan, I saw the picture that you see at the top of the page.  Just so much sand, right?   But then again with phenomenal implications for the future.  One of the truly phenomenal attributes of studying God's words is the many trails where one Scripture can take you.  

 Isaiah 63:1-2 tells us of God's judgment of the nations:  "Who is this who comes from Edom, With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah, This One who is majestic in His apparel, marching in the greatness of His strength? It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save."  Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press?

As we (my bride and I) searched and sought out those Scripture pertaining to Bozrah and the part that Bozrah will play in that final act of human history we were surprised at the depth that it will play. It would take several pages to write out all of the verses pertaining to the importance of Bozrah, but have listed them below for you to do some digging.

As I stood on the tel that day I wondered what it would be like to be standing on that same tel on the day that the Father says to the Son, "Go for it"?.  Would it not be awesome to see this One who comes from Edom with garments of glowing colors from Bozrah?"  As I read and reread the following verse it was like the Balm of Gilead to my heart. 

Blessings,

Gramps

The Second Coming of Christ (Isa 63:1-6): If this battle wasn't stopped, all mankind would be destroyed; however, the Lord interrupts it, at Petra in Edom, fighting for His remnant of believers. He is described as covered with the blood of His enemies. (Note: His armies are not required in the fighting.)

From Bozrah to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Isa 63:1-4; Rev 19:13; Isa 34:5-6, 8). The Antichrist is powerless before Christ (Hab 3:13; 2 Thess 2:8; Isa 14:3-11, 16-21). His armies are destroyed (Zech 14:12-15; Joel 3:12-13) at Bozrah (Jer 49:20-22), then Megiddo. Bozrah to Megiddo is 176 miles; 1,600 furlongs (Rev 14:20).

The Victory Ascent upon the Mount of Olives: (Zech 14:3-4; Rev 16:17-21; Mt 24:29; Joel 3:14-17.) His ultimate victorious return to the Mount of Olives is described in Zechariah 14. That leads to the establishment of the Lords Millennial Kingdom on the Earth. Many experts believe the weapons that will be used at Armageddon are in inventory today.