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July 28, 2008 - The Lord is Coming!

Tucked in the back of the Old Testament were two obscure prophets who warned the Israelites, "The Lord is Coming!": Obadiah 1:15 and Zechariah 1:4

The signs of our time sure seem to affirm the many prophecies related to Christ's return.  The events happening in the Middle East are clearly a pre-cursor to what the Bible calls "end times".

With "end times" comes the opportunity for revival.  For that, we can all rejoice.  As the Holy Spirit moves in the lives of men, women and evangelical churches around the globe we can see the blessing associated with the "harvest".  After 9-11 many people started thinking about eternal issues.  Some were even planning their funerals. In twenty-seven years of ministry I've never seen so many folks open to God's word.

Winston Churchill had planned his funeral, which took place in Saint Paul's Cathedral.  He included many of the great hymns of the church and used the eloquent Anglican liturgy.

At his direction, a bugler, positioned high in the dome of Saint Paul's, intoned, after the benediction, the sound of "Taps," the universal signal that says the day is over.

But then came the most dramatic turn:  As Churchill instructed, as soon as "Taps" was finished, another bugler, placed on the other side of the great dome, played the notes of “Reveille".  "It's time to get up!  It's time to get up! It's time to get up in the morning!"  

That was Churchill's testimony that at the end of history, the last note will not be "Taps"; it will be "Reveille."  And that will be true for every Christ follower!

Let's all be prepared and look for the sound of the trumpets.