2011-01-01
Dear Neighbour,
Did you know that every one who has died will one day be resurrected, some to honour and some to shame?
Did you know that the Blessed and Holy First Resurrection (for the honoured dead) is just ahead?
Did you know that every day our calendar reminds us that 2011 years ago, and in the Autumn of that year, in Bethlehem in the land of Judah, the long promised son to Eve … son of Noah and then of his son Shem ... the son of Abraham, then Isaac, then Israel, then Judah ... and then the son of David ... and then the son of Mary, (but also The Son of God, and then adopted by Joseph) … this REPEATEDLY PROMISED SON was born ... right at the very time foretold by Daniel even hundreds of years before that birth occurred?
That birthday in that autumn 2011 years ago ... it too was a time of taxation of God's chosen people.
But then an unquenchable LIGHT dispelled the dark clouds …
Dear neighbour, here is Heaven's very own inspired account of those events, for you to SEE and KNOW:
Luke 2
1 ¶ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 ¶ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
And ... although many attempts have been made to extinguish that LIGHT in the past 2010 years ... (recall the crucifixion of Jesus ... but then His resurrection 3 days later) ... that ETERNAL LIGHT will soon come blazing from the heavens with millions of holy Angles to announce the return of the Son of man/Son of God:
Matthew 24: (Please read all of Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 24 especially, to see when this then will be.)
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
As my father, (your former neighbour), used to tell me, we need to read Matthew 24 beside the daily news.
Yes ... the best is yet to be,
It's still hidden to most,
And will stay that way until the BIG EVENT, for it seems,
Not politically correct, these days, to see ...
That just ahead ...
THE FIRST RESURRECTION of the dead,
All those blessed, who went to sleep in hope of God's Salvation,
Yeshua ... (Jesus)
As the Angel said to Joseph (and Mariam/Mary),
Call Him Yeshua (Jesus),
For He will save His people
From their sins.
Matthew 1
18 ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Please also see the linked page(s) of encouragement … even as the many awesome events that were foretold in Matthew 24, and many other places in the Bible, become History, all around us.
And if I don’t see you again in this neighbourhood, it would be awesome to see you again at that First Resurrection just ahead.
David