DESOLATION AND RESTORATION AS SIGN OF SECOND COMING OF JESUS – Part 2:Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide.

BY PASTOR PAUL RIKA
(Int'l Director Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide)

DATE:
SATURDAY OCTOBER 26, 2019.

TEXT: ISAIAH 11:11-12

KEY VERSE: Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

The name of king Cyrus featured prominently in Isaiah chapters 44 and 45. It was prophesied that at the appointed time Cyrus would conquer Babylon and pronounce liberty for Israel to go back home, to prepare for the first coming of the Messiah even though Cyrus did not understand what he was doing. 

God does not need your approval to use you, so He used Cyrus. The only thing is that you will not get the reward if you are unwilling. He says, “As long as I live all knees must bow to Me.” So, if you are not willing, God will still use you, but you will not get the reward. 

Another person God used like that was Jeroboam the second. He was not a godly king but everything God said he would do, he did. May that not, be your portion in Jesus name. Jerusalem was restored through the decree of Cyrus and then Jesus was born. That was the first desolation. 

God had told them if you sin against Me, I will render your land desolate. He did so but because of His Son, He restored them back home and when they rejected His Son, Jesus, before He left, He told them, “Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem!” Is Jerusalem the only land in Israel? 

Jesus did not say “oh Bethlehem, Bethlehem!” Or “oh Nazareth, Nazareth!” Rather He said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” (Matthew 23:37-38). 

Jesus was predicting the second desolation. The first desolation was in 586BC. Jesus was not yet born then. Jesus came after God restored everything and they returned home, but they still rebelled. So, Jesus predicted a “second desolation” which happened in 70AD, about 1948 years ago. 

It was in 70AD that, the Roman government destroyed Jerusalem, took Israelites and scattered them all over the world unlike the first desolation when they were taken to Babylon. The lives of many Christians are desolated because of sin and disobedience. 

Examine your life and reconcile with God to enjoy the freshness of His breadth on your life.

Thought for the day: Sin and disobedience leads to desolation and dryness.

Song for the day: Give me the grace to follow … Abundant grace to follow

Bible Reading for the day:
Jeremiah 17-19; 1 Timothy 6