TRANSLATION

GENESIS 5 - 24

And Enoch walked with God; and he was not,

for God took him.

Great - that will save on any funeral expenses which are apparently rising according to statistics, the poor left with little alternative other than to bury their relative in the garden.   Beautiful - a bit like the wild west.   Little ranch fenced graves lovingly tended by those left behind.

If one thing hits home in the recently released D.V.D. "Left Behind" it's the pastor sitting crying in his tidy church.   You would be forgiven for thinking that's it, he's had it, he didn't really believe all that stuff he was preaching, yet he complains to the main character Chloe that he knew the bible chapter and verse.   But he didn't really believe it, did he?   It was a job and a nice one at that.

He should have known he was successful in part because many in his little congregation had disappeared.  Surely God would take that into account.

In the first book of the series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins  "Left Behind"  we know the said pastor goes into the tribulation, suffers and dies knowing His saviour.  There's hope folks.   Yes its just a movie and how the public love to wallow in plane crashes (lets hope they never have to endure one).   In the book the plane doesn't crash, it lands safely albeit in the midst of those that didn't.   It had little relevance to the series.

In the first chapters of the book Russia comes against "tiny Israel" but she fails and is destroyed in an unexplainable (to mere mortals) sterile attack.   No mention of that in the film or the fact that the anti.christ exists in an albeit rather lowly position in Romanian politics and was slowly rising to prominence as a peacemaker leading a movement to disarmament and considered a humble charming chappy.  

Rayford the C.O. pilot on the Boeing 747 was finding his wife's devotion to an unseen competitor rather irksome.  Yes, they got that one right.    Anyone joined with an unbelieving husband/wife will have known that experience, frustrated Rayford's focus was switching to his attractive senior flight attendant.

The warning lights were red but he had never touched her - dangling on the edge of lust until..................BLINK and some passengers went missing.   From that point on the film bears absolutely no resemblance to the book other than to point out the chaos that would ensue following such an event.

Nicholas Cage held it together.   Yes I'm a fan but the rest was fairly bland.   Bearing in mind the Left Behind series are "fiction" not "fact" the writers cleverly tie the events with biblical prophesy but the series would perhaps be better described as an apocalyptic thriller.

Just may be this rather bland production was supposed to be different.  A simple prompt for the wavering, a rallying cry, last ditch attempt to reach the lost, after all even cynics, atheists, agnostics, self preservationists all admit sooner or later the excrement will hit the fan and as most don't believe in a creator God - ITS PARTY OVER.   Hence the carnival of debauchery gathers pace.  Anything goes.

According to the bible non.believers will stand alongside unbelieving Jews and Muslims at the final judgement before the Great White Throne of God.   Focus throughout the series is on the Holy Land and the messianic jews.   That is the theatre of battle, there it will end.

On a positive note the film could be considered a "trailer" for yet more sales of the books which have probably made billions for the authors.  It would take an unimaginable budget to produce this first book alone and it is something of a challenge to actually read the whole series but for me personally it was worth the effort.    

By the time you reach the final book and the end of the Glorious Appearing Rayford & Co have become a literary family and you don't really care where when or how, an early exit would be appreciated.
   

Nevertheless in Matthew 24 - 15 - 22 Yeshua gives the countdown to the gathering of His elect who are going to suffer tribulation, but for their sakes that time will be cut short.

(22) And unless those days were shortened no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

(31) and He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

That is not a popular scenario with some christians who are not comfortable with the idea of suffering, as did their Lord, its more a case of "get me out of here" 

Christians are already suffering beheadings, persecution, ridicule and criticism.   It doesn't bode well when the leader of one of the biggest denominations who consider themselves followers of Christ is quoted as saying "christians are sick"   Perhaps he will be left behind!!!!!???? 

An Enoch type exit is perhaps the preferred option for those who walk with God as the global melt down continues but in the books there is no such rescue for those "Left Behind" some are on God appointed missions, many suffer horrible deaths and are then fast tracked. 

Matthew 24 - 36

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.  

Yeshua warns us to observe the signs - the fig tree. Matt. 24-32

And perhaps the greatest warning

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

QUESTION

Who are you?

Just me, sitting with the sheep,

writing poems and singing songs, 

loving my God.

Who are you?

Just a watchman on the wall,

knowing it begins and ends with

God's people - Israel.

Who are you?

Just a tiny spark among many,

defying the darkness,

knowing one day His light will 

burn away the dross.

Who are you?

Just a pilgrim following His teaching

focused on my Saviour

speaking His truth.

NOBODY

T.Hills

2015

 WE PRESS ON TO THE SUMMIT KNOWING WE ARE BLESSED, PRECIOUS AND HIS.