More Signs of the Times

As we continue our dialogue about events that point us to the return of Jesus Christ, this morning I would have us look at the weather phenomenon that surrounds us. As I am writing this, Hurricane Laura is about to hit along the Gulf Coast with a Catagory 3 devastation. This hurricane follows on the heels of Hurricane Marco just a few days ago, although it was not as devastating. Laura could bring a storm surge of up to 13 feet and mega-rainfall, along with strong winds. So, to the south we have hurricanes. To the west we have intense heat and powerful wildfires. Phoenix just set a record for the number of days with temperatures over 115 degrees, and Death Valley recorded one of the highest temperatures ever recorded on planet earth - over 130 degrees. Dozens of wildfires are burning in our Western states, with two of those fires being the largest ever seen in the State of California. Over a million acres have been destroyed by these fires, and there does not seem to be a let-up in sight. In the midwest, a derecho has caused damage that almost defies the imagination. Straight line winds in excess of 120 miles per hour riped a 40-mile lone path that stretched for over 1000 miles across midwestern states. Hardest hit was Iowa where at least 14 million acres of cropland was destroyed, as well as storage facilities that were filled with last year's crop. Could these be another way God is getting our attention as we listen for the sounding of the trumpet? I think creation is groaning more loudly because it knows the redemption is soon at hand. Are you ready? I read an interesting article the other day, posted on the Prophecy News Watch website. The title caught my eye: "People in Israel Are Preparing Show-Bread for Service in Third Temple." Friends, I have traveled to Israel several times and I have seen many of the furnishings the Temple Institute has created for the Third Temple. Even 120 priests have been trained. Now, according to this article, Les Saidel, an immigrant to Israel from South Africa, has studied and prepared a recipe for show bread - a necessary part of service within the Temple. The Jewish people are drawing ever closer to being fully prepared for worship as it existed in Old Testament times, up to the year 70 AD when the Romans destroyed the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. These are exciting times. Friends, keep your eyes open to what is happening around you. God is speaking, and at times, rather loudly. It is time to pray and to pay attention.

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