November 2007
 For
many, the past months have been filled with
destruction and tragedy as we view the war
in Iraq, the floods, tornadoes and hurricanes,
plus the recent fires is Southern California.
Yet, a voice of thanksgiving for personal
safety and compassion for those with loss
rises from the ashes. It is good to see
the conscience of mankind alive with hope..
10th Year Memorial
On November 20, 2007, it
will have been 10 years, since the passing
of Raymond Hoekstra to be with the Lord.
He was fondly known by millions as “Chaplin
Ray” during his 35 years of ministering
to inmates in prisons around the world.
In 1975, he visited me in prison, and shortly
afterwards, I came to Christ in 1975. (Insert
photo of Ch Ray)
Chaplin Ray received Christ at the age
of 19, when he witnessed the conversion
of a jailed friend, Ronald Bayles, through
the fence at Preston School for Boys (only
a mile from where I am in prison today).
It was a prisoner who led Chaplin Ray to
Christ, and because of that, one ministry
associate said, “He would not stop
his work for a minute because he loved prisoners
so much.”
He was once labeled by The Los Angeles
Times as having visited more prisons and
jails in America than anyone else alive.
His oldest son, Raymond Hoekstra, Jr. said,
“He touched millions, just in this
country, because each person he touched,
touched others.” We all miss Chaplin
Ray very much, whose ministry is still alive,
along with his wife Leola needs strength
and I request you pray for her. If you would
like to be a part of this International
Prison Ministry, click
here.
The Second Coming
The Bible speaks not only
of the first coming of our Messiah, Jesus
Christ, but it reveals His second coming,
which sparks fear of judgment in the hearts
of those who do not believe in His first
coming. “It is a fearful thing to
fall into the hands of the living God.”
1
Jesus came first two-thousand
years ago “…to seek and to save
them which are lost.” 2
He came to pay the penalty for man’s
sin by taking God’s judgment for sin
upon Himself. Those who reject His sacrifice
for sin will have to take the judgment for
sin upon them selves at His second coming.
3
Be assured, just as He
came the first time as prophesied to save
us, “He will come with His mighty
angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment
on those who don’t know God and on
those who refuse to obey the Good News of
our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with
everlasting destruction, forever separated
from the Lord and from His glorious power.”
4
The Great Tribulation
Jesus spoke of a time of
great tribulation. He said there shall be
wars, “For nation shall rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and
there shall be famines, and pestilences,
and earthquakes in various places …
For then shall be great tribulation, such
as was not since the beginning of the world
to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
5
Though we see many of these
signs now, we are not yet in the great tribulation.
This will be a time when God deals with
His children, Israel. The Apostle Paul said,
“…blindness in part is happened
to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles
be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved:
as it is written, ‘There shall come
out of Zion the Deliverer, and He shall
turn away ungodliness from Jacob.’”
6 It is called the
time of Jacob’s trouble, and it will
prepare them to receive their Messiah. 7
There will be “…a hundred and
forty and four thousand of all the tribes
of the children of Israel!” sealed
to go forth and evangelize the nations,
especially Israel. 8
The Prophet Daniel prophesied
in his Seventy-Weeks prophecy what will
happen during the great tribulation. 9
“Then he [Antichrist] shall confirm
a covenant with many [Israel] for one week
[7 years]; But in the middle of the week
he [Antichrist] shall bring an end to sacrifice
and offering. And on the wing of abominations
shall be one who makes desolate, even until
the consummation, which is determined, is
poured out on the desolate.” 10
Simply put, Israel will
make a covenant with the Antichrist, but
in the middle of the tribulation they will
wake up when he demands to be worshiped
while desecrating their Temple. The consummation
is God’s judgment upon all who serve
the Antichrist. Then, the Almighty God shall
judge the dragon [Satan], the Beast [Antichrist],
the False Prophet and all who deserve it.
11 [For a chart on
Daniel’s Seventy-Weeks Prophecy click
here.]
The Rapture of the Church
Those who believe in Christ’s
blood and resurrection will not go through
the great tribulation, because “…God
has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain
salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ..”
12 The rapture of
the church will conclude the time of the
Gentiles spoken of by the Apostle Paul before
the time of the tribulation begins for Israel’s
salvation, and the wrath of God is poured
out on those who reject Christ. You many
have loved ones who have died as Christians.
The Apostle Paul says, “I want you
to know what will happen to the Christians
who have died so you will not be full of
sorrow like people who have no hope. For
since we believe that Jesus died and was
raised to life again, we also believe that
when Jesus comes, God will bring back with
Jesus all the Christians who have died.”
13
“I can tell you this
directly from the Lord: We [the believers]
who are still living when the Lord returns
will not rise to meet him ahead of those
who are in their graves. For the Lord Himself
will come down from heaven with a commanding
shout, with the call of the archangel, and
with the trumpet call of God. First, all
the Christians who have died will rise from
their graves. Then together with them, we
who are still alive and remain on the earth
will be caught up in the clouds to meet
the Lord in the air and remain with him
forever. So comfort and encourage each other
with these words.” 14
Maybe you are not for sure
if you will meet your loved ones at the
rapture of the church? You may be trusting
in your own good works for salvation, instead
of the finished work of Christ at the cross
that alone can bring salvation? If you are
not sure about your salvation click
here for a simple and clear explanation
of the Gospel along with a prayer to ask
Christ into your heart.
A Prayer for You …
“Heavenly Father,
give me a complete understanding of what
You want to do in my life, and make me wise
with spiritual wisdom. I pray that may life
will always honor and please You, and that
I will continually do good, kind things
for others. I want to know You better and
better. I ask that You strengthen me with
Your glorious power so that I will have
all the patience and endurance that I need.
Fill me with your joy, and cause me to know
Your inheritance that belongs to me. You
have rescued me from the one who rules in
the kingdom of darkness, and You have brought
me into the Kingdom of Your dear Son. So,
I thank you for purchasing my freedom with
Your blood and having forgiven all my sings.
Amen!” 15
Scripture References:
1. Heb. 10:31
2. Luke 19:10
3. Rev. 19:11-21
4. 2 Thess. 1:7b-9
5. Matt. 24:6, 7, 21
6. Rom. 11:25-26
7. Jere. 30:7; Dan. 12:1
8. Rev. 7:4
9. Dan 9:24-27
10. Dan 9:27
11. Rev. 19:17-21; Rev. 20:1-3; 10-15
12. 1 Thess. 5:9
13. 1 Thess. 4:13-14
14. 1 Thess. 4:15-18
15. Col. 1:9-14
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