11-01-08

THE WRATH OF SATAN

(Mat 24:21,22)  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake [that is clearly us. Hey guys and girls, we will still be here at this time; prepare thyself] those days shall be shortened.

(Rev 12:12)  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them [that’s us, dwelling in the kingdom of heaven on this earth]. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth [who are not in the kingdom of heaven, i.e., not saved, not born again] and of the sea! for the devil [Lucifer-Satan] is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Dear brothers and sisters, God bless you. Regardless of when you may receive it, this newsletter was written and sent to the printer several days before the Presidential election, so by the time you read this, the die has been cast, the sail set, and we are, willingly or not, embarked upon a very new adventure deep into a heartless and exceedingly evil world, a world very different from that in which we grew up. And as we, with great trepidation, enter apprehensively into the uncharted and danger laden world of our near future, we have become very much aware of the dark ominous deadly presence looming threateningly over our heads, a massive tumultuous storm of riotous confusion that has come suddenly upon us, weighing, heavy, relentlessly pressing down, crushing – and through this gloom we intently peer, desperately searching out the empty promises of surrounding shadows that come and go, flickering in the night. Each of us earnestly striving to find the right course, a safe course, through the enveloping chaos of uncertainty; but alas, only great and consuming darkness greets the eye at every turn. Oh my oh my, what will happen to us now? Perhaps he was correct for most of the world’s population, that venerated poet T.S. Eliot, who concluded in his poem aptly entitled The Hollow Men, “The world will end, not with a bang but with a whimper.”

Well, the saints of God know, without doubt, what is soon about to happen, but when the citizens still of this world at last awaken and finally perceive that they have indeed lost all control of their lives, and all hope, and are helplessly bobbing about like broken pieces of flotsam in a furious sea, then, my dear brothers and sisters, we pray they may look up and see swiftly approaching this stalwart ship that has been sent on a mission from God come plowing through the raging seas, having HAVEN OF REST brightly emblazoned upon her side, a dazzling shimmering beacon of glorious light aflame with the fire of eternal salvation, a consecrated rescue ship of righteousness, boldly thrusting her way through the frothing sea.

(Mat 14:22-24)  And straightway Jesus constrained [Gk: compelled, of necessity] his disciples [you and I] to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side [the Promised Land, Heaven], while he sent the [unbelieving] multitudes away [about 15,000 men, women, and children]. And when he had sent the multitudes away [these were unbelieving multitudes - or else they would have been disciples and obediently gotten themselves into a ship], he went up into a mountain apart to pray [He has risen to the Father: Acts 1:9]: and when the evening was come [great darkness was come upon the land, i.e., Satan’s wrath, great tribulation], he was there alone [not yet rejoined to His disciples]. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea [ah, yes, we are almost there], tossed [Gk: tortured:--pained, toiled, tormented, vexed] with waves [of unbelief, of greed, of immorality, of false religion]: for the wind [of the world] was contrary [Gk: opposite; antagonistic:--against] [against what? Against us getting to the other side, against us and those whom we rescue along the way from getting to Heaven].

Please recall to mind another ship of salvation in the Bible that was Noah’s ark (a type and shadow of the Body of Jesus Christ), and you know what happened to those people who refused to believe Noah’s urgent preaching, and yes, they tarried and played in the world too long, far too long, and were all utterly destroyed. For those of you who are not already members of our godly crew, this may be your last chance to “get into a ship,” to join us and support this ship by volunteering, by presenting your body “a living sacrifice” (Rom 12:1), and/or by giving of your substance in support of the Lord’s wonderful work, and/or by praying; it is indeed truly a wonderful work. J

Our Rescue Mission is a holy ship aflame with the burning fire of the glory of the Lord. We are joyfully sailing under the supreme command of God Almighty, the Creator of the entire universe; sailing while the howling wind of Satan’s immense displeasure blusters vainly in our face, slowed perhaps, but certainly not stopped, we boldly plow through crashing waves and the roaring seas of this ungodly world, a world that has just now been thoroughly encompassed about by a profound shroud of darkness called “strong delusion” (2 Thes 2:11), and, YOU ARE IN GREAT DANGER. Join us and be saved from utter destruction. This is another urgent message! Do it now, where you stand or sit. If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and paid the penalty for all your sins, then ask God now, pray to Him out loud, and ask God to forgive you of your sins, ask God to send His son Jesus Christ to live in your heart, and be the Lord and Savior of your life. Ask God to save you now. And thank Him. (John 3:3; Rom 10:9,10).

Happiness and joy. Our annual Thanksgiving holiday dinner is fast approaching. Every year we invite the entire Pinellas County community to enjoy and share in a delicious Thanksgiving dinner to be celebrated at 1:00pm on Thanksgiving day 11-27-08 at our Rescue Mission. Our intent is to provide “a home away from home” for our homeless patrons, and for the very many (8,186) impoverished but domiciled families of men, women, and little children that we serve. In these perilous times, Thanksgiving presents a wonderful opportunity for families who are even just slightly more secure to share some of their time and resources with their depressed brothers and sisters who are living in most desperate circumstances. Volunteer servers should arrive around noon on Thanksgiving day, with the meal to commence about 1:00pm, and I promise that everybody will have the opportunity to serve one or more persons a lovely meal. However, the one requirement is that each volunteer must bring a happy face. J  Please call 545-8282 for further information if needed. Dear brothers and sisters, God bless you. See you there.

Sincerely, Rev. Lionel

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31)