Nobody knows the day or the hour, EXCEPT ME!

Catchy title to the new book! NOT! There is so much confusion about the statement, "Nobody knows the day or the hour" that I thought it best to write about it, today. People basically put their head in the sand and say, "I can't know when Jesus is coming so I won't look at the signs of His coming.

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The reality is that there are two comings of our Lord. A secret coming called the rapture where no one on earth will see Him and then the actual second coming where every eye will see Him.

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Every instance of not knowing the day or the hour is a reference to the secret coming, the rapture. Two instances refer to the coming of the "New heaven and new earth" described in Revelation 21:1 and of that event Jesus said, "not even the angels of heaven know, nor the Son, but only the Father knows" (Matthew 24:35-36, Mark 13:31-32).

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However, every other instance of not knowing the day or the hour is referenced to the rapture. Why is that important? Because once the tribulation begins, the Bible is clear that we are seven years from the return of Christ. The seven year tribulation is described as two periods of 42 months, two periods of 1260 days, two periods of time, times and dividing of time. From the time when Antichrist shall make firm a covenant with many it is seven years until the return. So any kindergartner should be able to calculate the return of the Lord.

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However, of the rapture the Bible says, no one knows the day or the hour. This is a direct reference to the feast of trumpets which is celebrated by Jews around the world over two days because they say of that feast, "no one knows the day or the hour". Jesus' repeated reference to this phrase regarding the rapture points to the fact that the rapture will take place over the two day feast of trumpets which corresponded with what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and the church in Corinth.

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"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up [harpazo - seized out by force; it's from the Latin that the word derived for Rapture comes - rapio] with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord." - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

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"Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." - 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

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Even John the Revelator wrote that the first thing to take place after the seventh church age was the sound of a trumpet and a call from heaven to come up here. He wrote:

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"After these things I looked, and behold a door stand open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here!" - Revelation 4:1

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Feast of Trumpets is the first of the three fall feasts which all have yet to find prophetic fulfillment. Each of the seven feast [or appointed meeting times] from Leviticus 23 have a fulfillment in Jesus Christ. In the first coming fulfillment took place with the death, burial, and Resurrection of Passover, Unleaven Bread, and First Fruits. Then with the Holy Spirit coming on the day of Pentecost this fulfilled the early summer feasts. And it will be with the return of Christ that the fulfillment of the three fall feasts will take place, first with Trumpets and the rapture, then Day of Atonement and the actual second coming, and finally Feast of Tabernacles and the thousand year reign of Christ.

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I will close today by listing out the references made to the rapture through the passages that say "no one knows the day or the hour" all pointing to a catching away on an upcoming Feast of Trumpets.

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"Then there shall be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming." - Matthew 24:40-42

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"For this reason you must be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." - Matthew 24:44

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Parable of the faithful and sensible slave, ends with... "The master of that slave [the evil slave] will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know." - Matthew 24:50

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At the end of the parable of the ten virgins which is definitely a parable about the rapture, ends with; "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour." -Matthew 25:13

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"Blessed are those slaves whom the mster shall find on the alert when he comes... And be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming he would not have allowed his home to be broken into. You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect." - Luke 12:37, 39-40 (the slave doesn't know the day or the hour)

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Faithful and Sensible Steward Parable ends with, "the master of that slave [who beat the other slaves] will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour he does not know" - Luke 12:46 (again another reference to a coming at a day or hour he does not know, a reference again to Feast of Trumpets)

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"Be on guard, that yoru hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all time, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. - Luke 21:34-36

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Other references to a coming day which no one knows the day or the hour tied to the rapture:

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"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life." - John 5:28-29 [reference to the dead in Christ who will hear the sound of the trumpet and the voice of God - rapture]

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"Do not greive the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." - Ephesians 4:30 [sealed until day of redemption of our body described in Romans 8:23]

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"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ." - Philippians 1:6, 9-10 [day of Christ which no one knows the day or the hour]

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"Do not forsake the assembling together of yourselves as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:25 [what day? the day of the rapture which no one knows the day or the hour]

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"But you, brethern, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober." 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6

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"Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a theif, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you." - Revelation 3:3

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Here what I know, "I don't know exact day or the exact hour, but I know it is the day and the hour which no man knows, its the Feast of Trumpets!" Grace and Peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!

The "Magnificat"

Mary's song of Praise, which is called the "Magnificat" after the first word of the song in the Vulgate version, is her humble response to God for His display of grace in her life. Twice the angel Gabriel addresses Mary as the recipient of God's grace.

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So as Mary visits Elizabeth and is prophesied over as Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit:

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"Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord."

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As these prophetic words filled the ears of Mary, she exclaimes, the "Magnificat":

"My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. for He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His mane. AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THIGNS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever."

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Let us remember the faith of a young girl who God blessed to carry our Lord! Who said to the angel Gabriel, "Let it be done to me according to your word."

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Blessed is the God who shows Mercy to the humble and exalts those things which are weak!

My eyes have seen Thy Salvation!

The coming of our Lord had been prophesied all the way back to the time of Adam, the first man. Why would the prophesies about Him end with His birth?

On the eighth day, Mary and Joseph, took Jesus to the temple in Jerusaelm to present Him to the Lord.

"And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the LORD's Messiah. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

"Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; For my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all people, A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Thy people Israel."

And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said [prophesied] about Him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother,

"Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise [resurrection] of many in Israel, for a sign to be opposed--and a sword will pierce even your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with a husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. And she never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:25-38).

The prophesies did not end with His birth. They continue even until today, as the testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Prophecy" (Revealtion 19:10). This Christmas let us remember our Lord, the greatest gift ever given to mankind. Salvation has come and all who believe shall live forever. Meditate on the wonder of His Love.

The tribulation which shall soon come upon the earth for all the sin and bloodshed. It does not come from God because He is unloving or unmerciful. Instead it comes upon all who have rejected His Love and His Mercy. Jesus Christ is God's Love and His Mercy! Today accept His Love and His Mercy!

The Blind Side

Went to the movies today and saw what I thought was the Best Picture of the Year. It is the movie "Blind Side".

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I am amazed at how many people pass up great wholesome movies either to watch something demonic like "New Moon" or be entertained by the appocolyptic film "2012" which may be a glimpse of what you will see if you miss the rapture.

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But Blind Side is something entirely different, it is the true story of Michael Oher who was homeless on and off from age 7. Through a number of God ordaned incidences, he finds his way into a private Christian Academy. Shortly after his arrival while walking the streets of Memphis looking for shelter on a cold November night the Touhy family take him into their home.

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They discover what I have also just learned, "You can take people out of homelessness, but it is more difficult to take homelessness out of people." But the Touhy's succeed with the help of God, Christians teachers from the school, a tutor, and a lot of love. In just one year of High School football Michael Oher quickly becomes a highly sought after recruit for college football.

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Out of his love and to honor his new family who adopts him as their own, Michael attend Old Miss where both Leigh Anne & Sean Touhy graduated. He goes on to become an all-american offensive lineman and was drafted in the first round this last spring in the NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens.

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This is an absolutely wonderful story of love and compassion, showing that people, no matter where they come from or what their circumstance, are not trash. The greatest investment anyone can make is into the life of another human being who can in no way pay you back.

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That's what Jesus did! He traded his life from the life of human beings who had no way to repay them and when they succeed and overcome obsticales like drugs, alcohol, hatred, or any of the miriad of things that darken our souls, He rejoices in heaven. We can only overcome those things with His blood and His grace! Go check out a great Christian flick! Two Thumbs Up!

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The Touhy's lived out the words of Jesus; "When you five a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous" (Luke 14:12-14). The Touhy's even lived out the word prophesied by Isaiah; "Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7)

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So this holiday season, hear the call of God and love someone who can't love you back! Feed someone who can repay you! Clothe someone who is without! Bring the homeless into your home! Pray and then take risks!

He's returning!

This is just a good word for today! I love how the words of Jesus just transcend space and time. He said:

"Let not your hearts be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know" (John 14:1-4).

I love Thomas because without him one of the most famous verses in the Bible would be missing. So in the next verse he says, "Lord, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?" And Jesus replies with one of the most famous verses in scripture which begins, "I am the way..." See the way is a person. If you want to find your way to the very gates of heaven and into His presence, you won't do so by rules or religious acts. The way is a person. The way is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. It is a relationship with this person named, Jesus.

Jesus is returning, Arnold Schwarzenegger was not the first person to say, "I'lll be baaaacch!" General Douglas MacArthur from WWII was not the first person to say, "I shall return!" No Jesus made that promise two thousand years ago. Jesus taught about the rapture before Paul ever wrote about to the church in Thessalonica (1 Thes. 4:16-17) or the church in Corinth (1 Cor. 15:51-53).

Jesus taught; "I tell you in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said to him, 'Where Lord'?"

That should be everyones question; "Where Lord?" Then Jesus almost answering in code says, "Wherever the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together" (Luke 17:34-37). After reading His answer some of us are still saying, "Where Lord?"

Let's walk through this, the body in the original Greek, means the whole body. And the church those who are believers in Him are called His body (1 Corinthians 12:27). So where the body of the Christ is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Eagles gather in the air above the peaks of mountain, even above the area controlled by the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2, 6:12). The body of Christ is going to meet the Lord in the air, that what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, where the eagles are gathered, to be forever with the Lord.

When, well "no man knows the day or the hour" but it will be "In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet" (1 Corinthians 15:52). It will take place prior to the seven year tribulation, that why Jesus says, "Watch and Pray always that you might be counted worthy to escape all these things that are about to take place and stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:36).

The rapture is basically an invitation to a party that is out of this world (Revelation 19:7). Jesus gave a half dozen parable that make mention of a wedding feast or a great banquet or dinning at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Don't miss this party, you need to RSVP. You know the way!

Jesus conquoring the world one heart at a time!

One of the great military leaders of the 19th century was exiled on the rock of St. Helena. There Napoleon Bonaparte reflected on his life and accomplishments. He then called Count Montholon to his side and asked him, "Can you tell me who Jesus Christ was?" The count could not, so Napoleon said:

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"Well then, I will tell you. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I myself have founded great empires; but upon what did these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon love, and to this very day millions will die for Him... I think I understand something of human nature; and I tell you, all these were men, and I am a man: none else is like Him; Jesus Christ was more than man...have inspired multitudes with such an enthusiastic devotion that they would have died for me... but to do this it was necessary that I should be visibly present with the electric influence of my looks, my words, of my voice. When I saw men and spoke to them, I lighted up the flame of self-devotion in their hearts... Christ alone has succeeded in so raising the mind of man toward the unseen, that it becomes insensible to the barries of time and space. Across a chasm of eighteen hundred years, Jesus Christ makes a demand which is beyond all other difficult to satisfy; He asks for that which a philpsopher may often seek in vain at the hands of his friends, or a father of his children, or a bride of her spouse, or a man of his brother. He asks for the human heart; He will have it entirely to Himself. He demands it unconditionally; and forthwith His demand is granted. Wonderful! In defiance of time and space, the soul of man, with all its powers and faculties, becomes an annexation to the empire of Christ. All who sincerely believe in Him, experience that remarkable, supernatural love toward Him. This phenomenon is unaccountable; it is altogether beyond the scope of man's creative powers. Time, the great destroyer, is powerless to extinguish this sacred flame; time can neither exhaust its strength nor put a limit to its range. This is it, which strikes me most; I have often thougt of it. This it is which proves to me quite convincingly the Divinity of Jesus Christ.

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What a testimony of Jesus Christ! John the Revelator wrote; "The testimony of Jesus Christ is the Spirit of prophecy" (Revelation 19:10). Truly all who sincerely believe in Jesus do experience that remarkable supernatural love toward Him! He does demand completely and unconditionally that your heart is His.

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Jesus looked into the hearts of those who desired to follow Him and called out the things in their lives that would be an obstical to a relationship with God. For each person it is different, for some it is their money, others it is prestige, others it is family and other worldly obligations. Christ has to be above all things of the world, if not that obstical must be removed.

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On man came running to him desirering to be a follower, but Christ saw that money was more important in his love, so Jesus said, "Sell all you have and give it to the poor."

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Another wanted to follow Jesus, but first wanted to collect the inheritance of his dead father, to him Jesus said, "Let the dead bury the dead."

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Another man also wanted to become a follower, but Jesus looked into his soul and saw that his home was more important, and to him Jesus said, "Foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head."

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To others who own families where the center of their life, Jesus said, "Whoever, does not hate his father and his mother and his wife and his children, even his own life, cannot be my disciple."

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Jesus demands to be the center of our lives, to be number one in our life. Nothing short will do. To this I say:

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Yes, My God, it is You that elevates my soul and inspires me with hope. You, Jesus, are the God of my heart. When I am good it is You that makes me so. My Lord, it is You who animates my soul and my soul animates my body. You, O Lord, gave me my "self" therefore you require that I love You more than it!

God has been declaring "the end" from the beginning!

This one question is on the mind of everyone, "Is this the end?" NASA is doing public service announcements regarding it. Today opening across America, "2012". I even heard that teenagers are committing suicide rather than be killed on December 21, 2012.

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So this is no joke. And it is the question on everyones minds. What's going to happen in 2012? Is this the end?

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The prophet Isaiah wrote:

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"I am the LORD, that is My name;

I will not give My glory to another,

Nor My praise to graven images.

Behold, the former things have come to pass,

Now I declare new things;

Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."

- Isaiah 42:8-9

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"Who among them can declare this

And proclaim to us the former things?

It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed"

- Isaiah 43:9, 12

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"And who is like Me?

Let him proclaim and declare it;

Yes, let him recount it to Me in order,

From the time that I established the ancient nation.

And let them declare to them the things that are coming

And the events that are going to take place.

Do not tremble and do not be afraid;

Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it?

And you are My witnesses.

Is there any God besides Me.

Or is there any other Rock?

I know of none."

- Isaiah 44:7-8

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"Who has announced this of old?

Who has long since declared it?

Is it not I, the LORD?

And there is no other God besides Me,

A righteous God and a Savior;

There is none except Me.

Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth;

For I am God, and there is no other.

I have sworn by Myself,

The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness

And will not turn back,

That to Me every knee will bow,

every tongue will swear allegiance."

-Isaiah 45:21-23

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"Remember the former things long past,

For I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is no one like Me,

Declaring the end from the beginning

And from ancient times things which have not been done,

Saying, My purpose will be established,

And I will accomplish all My good pleasure;

Calling a bird of prey from the east,

The man of My purpose from a far country.

Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.

I have planned it, surely I will do it."

- Isaiah 46:9-11

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"I declared the former things long ago

And they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them.

Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.

Therefore I declare them to you,

Before they took place I proclaimed them to you,

Lest you should say, My idol has done them,

And my graven image and my molten image have commaned them."

- Isaiah 48:3, 5

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"Come near to Me, listen to this:

From the first I have not spoken in secret,

From the time it took place, I was there.

And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit."

- Isaiah 48:16

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Grace and Peace, Today! May God grant you eyes to see and ears to hear!