Look Up Fellowship "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near." Luke 21:28

What's up with the Lord bringing our attention to articles written nearly a full year ago? More importantly, what is it about the Book of Haggai that He wants us to pay attention to by repeatedly bringing it to the forefront?

For the third time in less than 2 weeks (twice in the past few days alone), circumstances have unexpectedly forced me to revisit some things we looked at together an entire year ago.

Surprisingly, they all have to do with this idea of the pursuit of holiness (the pursuit of a genuine Christian lifestyle that bears fruit and presents evidence that one's faith is more than just mere lip service).

As if that weren't enough, they also all have something to say about the rebuilding of the Third Temple as well as every Christian's favorite debate -- the Rapture.

Oh yeah, I should also point out they all have to do with the Book of Haggai in some way too. Amazing!

These are the articles published here in this forum over the past year that I'm referring to:

November 28, 2008 -- Haggai Helps Us Refocus

December 1, 2008 -- Haggai Link To Rapture? Gog-Magog War? Temple?

If you only read one of those 2 in helping to lay the foundation for this entry, then please read the one from December 1st of last year. That one is most applicable to us today and definitely appropriate with December 11th (the 24th day of Chisleu) only a day away.

Specifically, those two works on Haggai attempt to comment on the fate of America, the Psalm 83 War, the Rapture, the Gog-Magog War, and the rebuilding of the Temple.

There are some men and women much smarter than me who claim that the prophecy of Haggai is very short yet very important because its primary focus is on the end of the age right before the return of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. It also speaks at great length about the rebuilding of the Temple too.

The point that was impressed upon me as I revisited this series was that the events shown in Haggai's prophecy are very compressed, and many of these prophesied events will happen in an extremely short period of time.

Also, it is clear that the focal point of Haggai's prophecy is the contemporary nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem in particular (although the same message could be applied to the contemporary United States as well so that it serves a dual purpose). In addition, his prophecy foretells events that will impact not only the Holy Land, but also all other nations on Earth.

What prompted me to write about this today (aside from the fact that I kept running into teachings based on this Book everywhere I turned for some reason) was when I was processing Comments yesterday and came across this thought-provoking one from Lone:


..you remember Jeff, that your 'time out' was around RH? We than considered Haggai 2:1 (last day of Tabernacles), but nothing happened.- but 2:10-23 is extremely interesting, these days; "the 24th day of the 9th month" is mentioned 3 times - and yes it is 12 dec - and maybe the 12th of THIS year.

On that day,"I will shake the heavens and earth" (vs21) "from this day on I will bless you"(vs19); if from this 12th on,than is it coincidence that the ClimateTreatyScam ( a covenant with many) , which lord Monckton analysed so sharply, is around this date, as well..?

"give careful thought", He tells, 3 times, about the stárt of the building of His Temple - that is, believers ( who were like vs 19, untill now - compare Zech.3),and that is why this day is not a Biblical feastday because it is merely a (important) startday of the realization of two completely different temples .. AC will have permission to start hís 'temple', as well,after signing the Treaty- so we'd expect a strike from Esau on persia

The EU was blocked, the LHC stopped, but all these things came in place áfter RH. What are the odds, that this treaty is nót the one? Moreover; when the Lord was 12, in the year 9, than isnt this year 2000 years past the "give careful thought, when the foundation of the Lords Temple was laid"( vs18)? Not only all (!) calendars are off (on purpose!); but also the 2012 movies are about blurring the real year, sponsored by TPTB: their goal ll be 3 years accomplished by then

As for me, I wait with all my heart these days; and d love Your opinion,


Lone, consider this post my response to your insightful comments. What initially caught my eye was how he honed in on the Book of Haggai. I mean, it was just last week when I referenced a year old commentary and asked the question, 'Have We Listened To Haggai?' -- just last week! And that was before I remembered the significance of the 24th day of Chisleu, which was coming up.

Re-reading that column and considering Lone's comments sparked another group of thoughts especially in light of yesterday morning's ''The Children of Issachar' In The 'Kosmos'' column. As you'll soon see, there's a common theme to our Bible studies lately courtesy of the Holy Spirit I'm sure.

Uncleanness, or the defilement of this world, can be transferred from one person to another, but holiness cannot. Likewise, righteousness, character, and preparedness for God's Kingdom cannot be transferred from person to person because they represent internal qualities, matters of the heart.

Holy character and righteousness are personal matters, intangibles that accrue from spending long periods of time learning, applying, and honing spiritual skills in the daily experiences of life. It is too late when one needs a skill immediately, and it is not there. The same is true of character: It cannot be borrowed. Perhaps more importantly, we cannot borrow a relationship with God.

This ought to teach us that opportunity knocks and then passes. In the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the foolish virgins fail to anticipate the possibility that the Bridegroom might come later than they expect. When they are awakened, there is no time to do anything except fill their own lamps. This proves that nobody can deliver his brother. Each person, within his relationship with God, determines his own destiny.

How fitting is that too? After all, that whole out-of-the-blue case with Mrs. Hadley brought the 'They All Slumbered And Slept' commentary to the forefront again after being originally written over a year ago.

So, let me get this straight and see if I have things right here. In the span of 10-14 days (and especially within the last 3 days for sure) the Holy Spirit has led me to revisit (and re-publish) the following articles that ALL share a common theme:

November 28, 2008 -- Haggai Helps Us Refocus

December 1, 2008 -- Haggai Link To Rapture? Gog-Magog War? Temple?

December 10, 2008 -- "They All Slumbered And Slept"

Could there be some significance in that strange happening? I know I'm hoping there is. At the very least, it seems to be the latest in-your-face and get-off-your-butt reminder from our Heavenly Father to shape up and return to Him and His ways.

We know that the Laodicean's faith has become perfunctory. He attends church and is involved with brethren socially, but privately, he merely goes through the motions in much the same way as the Israelites did in Amos' day. Absent is the fervency that develops through careful analysis and evaluation of the world and its corrupt promises against God and His holy promises.

God shows that the unprepared will not be admitted to His Kingdom. We should not construe this as a calloused rejection of a person's perhaps lifelong desire, but we should realize that the Laodicean has rejected the Kingdom of God on a daily basis over a long time! God is not unfair in His judgment. He gives the Laodicean what he showed he wanted. God reciprocates in kind.

Perhaps we can understand God's judgment if we imagine what ours would be if we were engaged to someone who never prepares for our upcoming marriage. What person would want a wife or a husband who had no enthusiasm for the marriage? Or perhaps we can compare it to a person who meets someone who would make a wonderful mate, but despite having ample opportunity and mutual admiration, the relationship never develops due to the other's being constantly distracted.

What does it all mean? Well, of course, that remains to be seen. Still, all we can do is call attention to these things when they happen so that other brothers and sisters in Christ can take it under prayerful consideration.

Personally, I'll be anticipating the next few days with bated breath. Why? Again, please go back and just read that column from December 1st of last year for all the exciting details. To put it mildly, the world might not ever be the same after the 24th day of Chisleu 2009 (after tomorrow).

Being a Three Raptures believer myself (but still being completely open to the idea that I could be entirely wrong in my interpretation and understanding of the doctrine let alone its timing) I found one verse in Haggai particularly interesting. I'll end this entry with it:

Haggai 2:19 (KJV) Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.

Symbolically, the word 'seed' normally refers to either the Messiah or the Elect of God. Because the word 'barn' is used in the context of a harvest, and the elect of God are the first of his harvest of humanity that will be collected prior to Christ's return, it is highly likely that this seed refers to the Elect of God who are called to salvation, and the barn represents the Family and Kingdom of God.

The various trees that are to bring forth fruit seem to symbolize those servants of God who preach the Gospel in the end of the age. See Micah 4:2; Matthew 3:10-12; 13:30-42 for more.

Now, add to this what we already know about 'sudden destruction' following what I believe to be the First Rapture (although I don't rule out that it could be the only one, or that there might only be one that will not happen until much further along God's prophetic timeline for Daniel's 70th Week) in the course of events.

Are you starting to see it? I believe this verse from Haggai is a direct statement about a/the Rapture. If that's the case, then it's plausible to also think we could be on the cusp of the Psalm 83 War, the Gog-Magog War, and/or the announcement of the rebuilding of the Third Temple.