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Summer is Near
by Phil
Maxwell 5/20/02
In answering His disciples as to what sign would hail His return, Yahshua
told them the parable of the fig tree (Mt. 24:32ff). He said that when the fig
tree started showing signs of life by putting forth buds and leaves, then we
could know that summer was near. Summer indicates the great tribulation that is
to come upon all those on that dwell upon the face of the earth. As in the
parable of the sower, the summer sun represents the fiery trials that serve the
purpose of distinguishing between those who have deep roots and those who
don’t. Those who don’t will perish without bearing fruit.
Yahshua said that He will separate all the nations as a man separates sheep and
goats, and only the sheep will be left standing with Him. Many will say ‘BUT,
Lord…’, but it won’t matter. When He gives the Spirit to someone, He gives
them the power to grow into a mature and fruit producing child of God, and He
will only receive those who bear fruit.
Repeatedly, speaking of the last days, the Scriptures warn that He will shake
both the heavens and the earth. Yahweh baptized the world once with water, soon
He will baptize it with fire. Only those bearing offerings that withstand the
fire will be received. Many unripened figs will fall to the ground when shaken
by the mighty hand of Yahweh.
In addition to indicating the near onset of summer, buds and leaves on a fig
tree also represent the first stage of the fruit producing cycle. This is
evident also in what followed, where Yahshua compared these times to the days of
Noah. The comparison is between Noah and family entering the ark, as this
was a clear sign that destruction was forthcoming to anyone paying attention,
though at that point it was too late for anyone else.
It has been a long time since this world has seen the power of the kingdom of
heaven manifested. Why? Because the assemblies man has established in Christ’s
name have been thoroughly infiltrated by deceivers. Yet, just as Herod’s
unsanctified temple of the children of the devil masquerading as Jews, there
will not be one stone left upon another. Each living stone in the temple will
have to find a place in Yahweh’s real living temple on their own merits, which
will be judged by Yahshua. The devil has planted liars and sown lies wherever
the seed of the gospel has been sown, but Yahshua has guaranteed the harvest
anyway. He is going to separate them, though, and the fire of trials and
tribulation is how He will do so.
Thus, when you see signs of the Spirit bearing fruit, know that the devil’s
wrath against the people of God will soon be manifested with very little
constraint. It will come at the hands of those who think they do God a service
by killing the saints. Not realizing that Yahshua has already visited them and
taken what was His, they fall prey to deceiving spirits. They seek to build the
kingdom of God for their own glory, thinking they must cleanse the earth of
apostates in order for the Lord to return. Shades of Naziism....
As Yahweh shakes the heavens, those who’ve named Christ will be challenged to
literally forsake their lives or their faith. Judgment begins in the house of
God, and Yahweh will test those who call on Him with a strong delusion. They
will be seduced by doctrines of devils and enticed by the power of demonic
spirits. As He shakes the earth, they will be persecuted to near extinction in
the world. The last ones standing are the elect. Those who are faithful to the
end will be saved, whether that be until the Lord stops the slaughter of His
people or as a martyr in it.
The heavens will be shaken, but those who stand firm in the truth will not fall. The earth will be shaken, too, but they will fear Him who can destroy both body and soul more than he who can only destroy the body.
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