John 14:3 ~ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
--> Jesus is coming back to collect us - so that we can live with Him for eternity:
So the return of Jesus is something to look forward to!
Like when we were young - we looked forward to our parents / grandparents etc. collecting us from school and taking us home.
A Feast in the Bible = A special time appointed by God. (Not a huge meal!)
Deuteronomy 16:16 ~ Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which He shall choose;
in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty.
#1 Jesus fulfilled the Feast of Unleavened Bread / Passover - when He died on the cross, which we remember at Easter.
#2 Jesus fulfilled the Feast of Weeks seven weeks after Passover: at the Feast of Pentecost - when He started and filled the early church with the Holy Spirit.
#3 The third great Feast - the Feast of Tabernacles (in the Autumn) - looks forward to when we’ll spend eternity with God:
Revelation 21:1-3
1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them,
and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Q - WHEN will the Feast of Tabernacles be fulfilled?
Deuteronomy 16:13 ~ Thou shalt observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine.
A - When the church has ‘Gathered in the Harvest’.
= When we’ve completed the Great Commission Jesus gave us - to evangelise the world.
Deuteronomy 16:14 ~ And thou shalt rejoice in thy Feast …
--> The Feast of Tabernacles is a time to rejoice.
--> So as believers, we should LOOK FORWARD to Jesus coming back!
Further reading
Exodus 23:14-17
1 Corinthians 1:7
James 5:7-8
A. We will ALL face the consequences:
For believers - the return of Jesus is good news.
But for unbelievers - the return of Jesus is bad news:
Q - Why?
A - Because they’ll face God’s anger:
Revelation 6:15-17
15And the kings of the Earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man,
hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Illustration
It’s like when the police arrive, and interrupt a crime:
For the innocent victims: the arrival of the police = good news.
For the criminals: the arrival of the police = bad news.
Same event - but very different consequences for the two groups:
Matthew 13:40-43
40As therefore the tares (= weeds which look like wheat) are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His Kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Further reading
Deuteronomy 32:41-43
Isaiah 66:5-6
Colossians 3:4-6
Titus 2:13
Revelation 11:18, 14:13-20
B. Changes to the sun, moon & stars.
Isaiah 13:9-10
9Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
Q - Why will this happen?
A - Because they’re no longer needed:
Revelation 21:23 ~ And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Further reading
Isaiah 13:13, 60:19-20
Jeremiah 10:2
Revelation 6:12-14, 22:5
C. The return of Jesus will be noisy & spectacular - not a secret!
i. Everyone will SEE Him:
Revelation 1:7 ~ Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him:
and all kindreds (= people groups / tribes) of the Earth shall wail because of Him ...
Further reading
Matthew 24:30
ii. Everyone will HEAR Him:
1 Thessalonians 4:16 ~ For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,
and with the trump (= trumpet) of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
The Book of Revelation also describes what will happen when the angel sounds the seventh trumpet of God:
8:2 ~ And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
10:7 ~ But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound,
the mystery of God (= God's secret design & purpose) should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets.
11:15 ~ And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying,
The kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.
‘Seven’ in the Bible is often a symbol for: 'God completing His plan on Earth for mankind'.
Further reading
‘Numbers in the Bible’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com
Q - WHEN DID MOSES order the trumpets to be sounded?
Numbers 10:1-3
1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
3And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation.
A - When summoning the people to join him at the entrance into the Tabernacle.
That’s why in the Hebrew calendar (Leviticus 23:24 & 34):
1. The Sounding of Trumpets (Hebrew name = Rosh Hashanah).
comes before
2. The Feast of Tabernacles (Hebrew name = Sukkot).
So:
1. The angel will sound the trumpet of God all over the world - to tell believers that they’re about to join Jesus.
2. Then we’ll ‘Enter the tabernacle’ = We'll live with God in His home - for eternity.
Further reading
Joshua 6:5 & 20
Matthew 24:31
2 Peter 3:10
1 Thessalonians 4:17 ~ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
--> We’ll be taken up to heaven to join:
Jesus.
Believers who lived in earlier times.
--> Like birds on the ground take-off, to join the birds already flying in the sky.
Further reading
Ephesians 1:10
RECAP of what will happen when Jesus returns:
A. We’ll all face the consequences:
Good news for believers.
Bad news for unbelievers.
B. Changes to the sun, moon & stars.
C. A noisy, worldwide & spectacular event.
1 Thessalonians 5
Verses 1-3
1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child (= labour pains); and they shall not escape.
--> For unbelievers - when Jesus returns:
They think they’re living safely - but there will be no escape.
It will be like driving on a normal day, and then another vehicle crashes into them - a totally unexpected, sudden event.
Verses 4-6
4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch (= stay alert) and be sober.
--> As believers:
We don’t know exactly when Jesus will come back to the Earth.
Only that He will.
Jesus told these two parables in Luke 12
#1 Parable Verses 35-38:
35Let your loins be girded about (= be dressed and ready), and your lights burning;
36And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching (= alert):
verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself (= dress himself to serve), and make them to sit down to meat (= to a meal), and will come forth and serve them.
38And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
#2 Parable Verses 39-40:
39And this know, that if the goodman (= the owner) of the house had known what hour the thief would come,
he would have watched, and not have suffered (= not allowed) his house to be broken through.
40Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
--> We must live our lives such that we’re ready for Jesus to return at ANY TIME - even today!
Illustration
It's like how we should always wear seat belts in a car - because we may be in a totally unexpected car crash that day.
Further reading
Matthew 24:36-51, 25:1-13
Mark 13:31-37
Luke 12:41-48, 17:26-32, 21:34-35
Romans 9:28
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
2 Peter 3:10-14
1 John 2:28
Revelation 16:15, 18:8 & 10
So we don’t know exactly when Jesus is coming back.
But let’s now look at SIX SIGNS which tell us it will be SOON.
Sign #1
Jeremiah chapter 30
Verse 3
3For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of (= bring home) My people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD:
and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
Since 1880 - Jews have returned from more than 145 countries to the land God promised to the descendants of: Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.
In 1948 - the Jews established the state of Israel and possessed the land.
Verse 24
24The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until He have done it, and until He have performed the intents of His heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it (= understand it).
--> The recent return of Jews to Israel = Sign #1 that Jesus will return to Earth soon.
Q - How do we know Jeremiah is not writing about the return of Jews from their exile in Babylon?
A - In Jeremiah 16:15 and 23:3 & 8 he writes about the Jews returning from:
The land of the north (Babylon is to the east of Israel).
All the countries where they’d been scattered (not just from one country).
Psalm 102:16 ~ When the LORD shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory.
Further reading
‘Israel’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com
Sign #2
Acts 2:17-18
17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh:
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
--> Peter explained that Joel’s prophecy was initially fulfilled when the church was birthed on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1).
--> But the gifts of the Holy Spirit faded away after the early church, until being restored in the early 20th century.
Q - Why has the Spirit-filled movement (= Pentecostal & Charismatic churches) only RESTARTED in the LAST 5% of the church’s 2,000 year history?
Initially on New Year’s Day 1901 (= the first day of the 20th century) - during a prayer meeting at a Bible School in Topeka, Kansas.
Then spread to other parts of the USA - with a very strong outpouring of the Holy Spirit in 1906: at a church which met in a dilapidated old barn in Azusa Street, Los Angeles.
Pentecostal & Charismatic churches now make up the fasting-growing strand of Christianity throughout the world.
A - The historical fact that this didn’t happen UNTIL the 20th century - means that we’re now GETTING NEAR to the time when Jesus returns to the Earth.
Signs #3 & #4 2 Timothy chapter 3
These two signs show us the fierceness of the battle for souls, in the lead-up to Jesus returning to Earth.
Verses 1-4
1This know also, that in the last days perilous times (= terrible times of stress & trouble) shall come.
2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3Without natural affection, trucebreakers (= not keeping to their promised word), false accusers, incontinent (= lacking self-control), fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.
--> Sign #3 = The BAD BEHAVIOUR we see in the world today:
Milk & food smells bad at the end of its life - that’s unpleasant, but a useful sign if we know what it means.
The bad behaviour in the world today is also unpleasant - but it’s a useful sign, because it shows us that this world is soon coming to an end.
2 Peter 3:3 ~ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.
Further reading
Psalm 53:1-2
Proverbs 16:4
Isaiah 45:7
Ezekiel 9:4-6, 44:15-16
Daniel 12:4 then 9-10
Matthew 24:12-13
1 Timothy 4:1-3
2 Peter 2:4-10 then Genesis 6:5-8, 13:13, 18:20-21, 19:1-29
Jude 17-19
Revelation 12:17; 20:7-9
(To understand the meaning of ‘A thousand years’ in the Bible - see the ‘What happens when we die?’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com)
Let's go back to 2 Timothy chapter 3
Verse 5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
--> Sign #4 = People today DENYING God’s power to:
Create the Universe (believing instead in the fictional 'big bang’ & evolution).
Send Jesus to Earth via a virgin birth.
Raise Jesus from the dead.
Further reading
'Creation' message on WholeCounselofGod.com
Sign #5
2 Peter 3:7-8
7But the heavens and the Earth which are now (= the present heavens and earth), by the same word are kept in store,
reserved unto fire against the Day of Judgment and Perdition (= destruction) of ungodly men.
8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
1,000 years to God = 1 day, so:
0 - 1000 AD = 1st day
1001 - 2000 AD = 2nd day
2001 - 3000 AD = 3rd day
Q - Which ‘day’ are we now living in?
A - The ‘Third Day’.
God promised to do SOMETHING SPECIAL in the ‘Third Day’:
Hosea 6:2 ~ After two days will He revive us …
--> God said that He’ll bring revival ‘after two days’ = after AD 2000.
Hosea 6:2 (cont.) ~ … in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.
--> In the ‘Third Day’ (= AD 2001-3000) - He’ll raise us up to live with Him in eternity.
Further reading
Matthew 16:27-17:2 / Mark 8:38 - 9:3
('After six days ... ' - and the Earth is 6,000 years old: see the 'Creation' message on WholeCounselofGod.com)
Sign #5 = We’re now living in the ‘Third Day’.
Sign #6
Matthew 24:14 ~ And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Only recently have Christian:
Satellite TV channels
Radio stations
Websites & Apps
… allowed the gospel (= the good news about Jesus) to reach everywhere on Earth.
Further reading
Psalms 22:27, 50:1-5, 72:8-11, 17 & 19, 86:6, 117:1
Zechariah 9:9-10, 14:9
Mark 13:10
Romans 10:17-18
Revelation 14:6
Sign #6 = The gospel is now being preached to the WHOLE WORLD.
#1 - The return of Jews to Israel.
#2 - The restoration of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
#3 - Bad behaviour.
#4 - People denying God’s power.
#5 - We’re living in the ‘Third Day’.
#6 - The gospel is now being preached to the whole world.
Jesus described & compared what would happen when:
1. The Romans destroyed the Temple in AD 70 - for us, this is past history.
2. Jesus returns to Earth at the end of this age - this has yet to happen.
1. & 2. follow a SIMILAR PATTERN - but:
1. AD 70 - only applied to the Jews in Jerusalem at that time.
2. When Jesus returns - will apply to everyone living on Earth at that time.
1. & 2. give us a lot of useful information, so are on this separate webpage
(Because they're too long to cover here.)
Verses 10-11
10And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes,
--> This is a picture of how we need to:
A. Set ourselves apart for God (= sanctified).
B. Be clean in the sight of God = Having our sins washed away by the blood of Jesus.
11And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
--> On the Third Day - God came down and everyone saw Him:
Just like Jesus will come back in the ’Third Day’ (as we saw earlier in Section 6).
Just like everyone will see Jesus (as we saw earlier in Section 3).
Further reading
Genesis 22:4 & 14 then Luke 21:28
Verse 16
16And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount,
and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
--> On the Third Day - the trumpet sounded loudly in the clouds, causing people to fear God.
--> Just like when Jesus comes back.
Let’s look again at Exodus 19:11 ~ And be ready against the third day …
--> The main message is not (as many Christians focus on):
Whether or not we’ll go through tribulation (many of our brothers & sisters in Christ around the world are going through tribulation right now).
The detailed sequence of what will happen - we can’t change that anyway, because God’s in charge and we can trust Him to do what's right!
The main message is:
Each of us must be READY for Jesus to come back - at any time.
Even today!
Let’s finish by learning from another Biblical picture of the return of Jesus to the Earth:
2 Corinthians 11:25 ~ … thrice (= three times) I suffered shipwreck …
Paul was shipwrecked three times.
But the Bible only describes one of these shipwrecks - on Malta - and in great detail:
Q - Why?
A - Because this shipwreck = a PICTURE of the return of Jesus to the Earth.
Acts 27:7-8
7And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against (= with difficulty we arrived off) Cnidus,
the wind not suffering us (= not allowing us to proceed), we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
8And, hardly passing it (= with difficulty), came unto a place which is called the Fair Havens; nigh whereunto (= near which) was the city of Lasea.
Q1 - How did the voyage start?
A1 - In a safe place: Fair Havens (on the island of Crete).
Just like the Garden of Eden is a safe place.
Q2 - After their shipwreck on Malta (Acts 27:41-44) - how did the voyage end?
Acts 28:3-5
3And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4And when the barbarians (= the natives / islanders) saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves,
No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live (= justice has not allowed him to live).
5And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
A2 - This journey ended with the man of God throwing the snake into the fire.
Q3 - How will mankind’s ‘journey on Earth’ end?
A3 - With the angel throwing the serpent (= the devil) into the fire:
Revelation 20:1-2 then 10
1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
…
10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (= sulphur),
where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
--> As we study what happened in the run-up to the snake being thrown into the fire on Malta, we learn:
Acts chapter 27
Verses 9-14
9Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous,
because the fast (= the Day of Atonement, in the Autumn) was now already past, Paul admonished (= warned & advised) them,
10And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading (= cargo) and ship, but also of our lives.
11Nevertheless the Centurion believed the Master and the Owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
12And because the haven was not commodious (= not suitable) to winter in, the more part (= the majority) advised to depart thence also,
if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
13And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
14But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind (= a violent, hurricane force wind), called Euroclydon (= storm from the East).
--> Paul said they should stay in Fair Havens:
If they’d obeyed the man of God --> they would have been safe.
But the majority thought they knew better --> big trouble!
--> That's just like God telling Adam & Eve about staying in the Garden of Eden:
If they’d obeyed God --> they would have been safe.
But they thought they knew better, so they disobeyed God --> big trouble!
So the majority isn’t always right:
Don't just 'Go with the flow’.
To be safe / saved, we must DO WHAT GOD SAYS - HE'S the one we'll be accountable to, on Judgment Day.
Verses 15-19
15And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive (= be driven along).
16And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat (= to secure the ship’s small boat):
17Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship (= fastening ropes under the ship to strengthen it);
and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake (= lowered) sail, and so were driven.
18And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
19And the third day we cast out (= threw overboard) with our own hands the tackling (= equipment) of the ship.
--> On the Third Day - the crew threw away everything standing between them and their safety.
--> We need to have the same attitude - and get rid of ANYTHING standing between us and our salvation.
Verse 20
20And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
--> The sun & stars disappeared.
--> Just like they will when Jesus returns to Earth - as we saw earlier, in Section 3.
Verse 21
21But after long abstinence (= without food) Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said,
Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed (= departed) from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
--> This reminds us of the importance of fasting now that we’re in the End Times.
Further reading
‘Fasting’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com
Verse 22
22And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.
--> The people on the ship - about to be destroyed - are a picture of mankind on our current Earth, which God will destroy:
God will destroy this Earth.
But we don’t need to be sad - because, as believers, we'll live in the MUCH BETTER, NEW EARTH:
Isaiah 65:17 ~ For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
2 Peter 3:12-13
12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Further reading
Psalms 46:1-3 & 6, 102:25-28
Isaiah 51:6, 66:22
Daniel 12:9
Nahum 1:5
Matthew 5:18
Matthew 24:35 / Mark 13:31 / Luke 21:33
Mark 10:29-30 / Luke 18:29-30
Luke 20:34-36
1 Corinthians 7:31
Ephesians 1:21, 2:6-7
Hebrews 1:10-12, 6:4-6, 13:14
2 Peter 3:7 & 10
1 John 2:17
Revelation 21:1
Acts 27:23-27
23For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
26Howbeit (= nevertheless) we must be cast upon a certain island.
27But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria (= across the Adriatic Sea), about midnight the shipmen deemed (= thought privately) that they drew near to some country;
14 = 7 x 2
7 & multiples of 7 = Job done.
See the ‘Number=signs in the Bible’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com
--> God will COMPLETE HIS PLAN - when He replaces this Earth with a new, much better Earth.
Verses 28-32
28And sounded (= measured the depth of water), and found it twenty fathoms (one fathom = six feet):
and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
29Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern (= back end of the ship), and wished for the day.
30And as the shipmen (= sailors) were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship
(= they launched the small boat, pretending they were going to lay out anchors from the bow / front end of the ship),
31Paul said to the Centurion and to the soldiers, Except these (= the sailors) abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
32Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
--> The sailors were only bothered about their own lives - they didn’t care what happened to others.
--> We mustn't be like the sailors - we need to HELP SAVE OTHERS.
Verses 33-38
33And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat (= urged them to eat food), saying,
This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
34Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
35And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
36Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
37And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls (= there were 276 people onboard).
38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
276 souls were saved.
276 = 12 x 23
12 & multiples of 12 = God’s people.
See the ‘Number-signs in the Bible’ message on WholeCounselofGod.com
Verses 39-44
39And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
40And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea,
and loosed the rudder bands (= untied the ropes holding the rudder), and hoised (= hoisted) up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
41And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable,
but the hinder part (=stern / back end of the ship) was broken with the violence of the waves.
42And the soldiers’ counsel (= advice) was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
43But the Centurion, willing (= intending) to save Paul, kept them from their purpose;
and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.
Acts 28:1-2
1And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita (= Malta).
2And the barbarous people (= the natives / islanders) shewed us no little kindness (= they were very kind to us):
for they kindled (= lit) a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain (= it was raining), and because of the cold.
A. When the situation became desperate - the people realized that only Paul (= the man of God) could help them.
--> As conditions on Earth become desperate, in the times leading up to the return of Jesus - people will realise that ONLY GOD can help them.
B. The ship (= the sailors’ home) was destroyed.
--> This world will ALSO be destroyed - so we shouldn’t become too attached to it!
C. Up ahead of the doomed ship - but not yet seen by those onboard - was a lovely safe place, with people who would welcome them.
1 Corinthians 2:9 ~ But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
--> Up ahead of us is a fantastic place - where Jesus & many other believers are waiting to welcome us!
Amen
Further reading
Malta is to the West of Fair Havens.
See the ‘Jesus the Great Teacher - East of Eden‘ message on WholeCounselofGod.com - which explains that in the Bible:
East = Sin & separation from God.
WEST = Coming back into the presence of God.