The DAY the ARK of GOD Was TAKEN

 

A very strange thing happened last night as I was reading chapters on 1 Samuel, and got to an intriguing verse from God:

1 Samuel 3:11 

King James Version

11 And the Lord said to Samuel, 

Behold, 

I will do a thing in Israel, 

at which both the ears of every one 

that heareth it shall tingle.

I wondered what that could be, so I continued reading:

1 Samuel 3:12-13 (KJV)

12 In that day I will perform against Eli 

all things which I have spoken concerning his house: 

when I begin, 

I will also make an end.

Wow!

Only God can make such a statement, and MEAN it.

And I wondered what caused God to anger:

1 Samuel 3:13 (KJV)

13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever 

for the iniquity which he knoweth; 

because his sons made themselves vile, 

and he restrained them not.

And then, I learned of this:

1 Samuel 4:2-11 (KJV)

2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: 

and when they joined battle, 

Israel was smitten before the Philistines: 

and they slew of the army in the field 

about four thousand men.

3 And when the people were come into the camp, 

the elders of Israel said, 

Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? 

Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord 

out of Shiloh unto us, 

that, when it cometh among us, 

it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

4 So the people sent to Shiloh, 

that they might bring from thence 

the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, 

which dwelleth between the cherubims: 

and the two sons of Eli, 

Hophni and Phinehas, 

were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord 

came into the camp, 

all Israel shouted with a great shout, 

so that the earth rang again.

6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, 

they said, 

What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? 

And they understood that the ark of the Lord 

was come into the camp.

7 And the Philistines were afraid, 

for they said, 

God is come into the camp. 

And they said, 

Woe unto us! 

for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

8 Woe unto us! 

who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? 

these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians 

with all the plagues in the wilderness.

9 Be strong and quit yourselves like men, 

O ye Philistines, 

that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, 

as they have been to you: 

quit yourselves like men, 

and fight.

10 And the Philistines fought, 

and Israel was smitten, 

and they fled every man into his tent: 

and there was a very great slaughter; 

for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

11 And the ark of God was taken; 

and the two sons of Eli, 

Hophni and Phinehas, 

were slain.

As I read more into the account of how the ark of God was taken, and the significance of it, I noticed the sky was "rumbling".

Actually, it had been rumbling for sometime since I'd been reading 1 Samuel.

A deep, steady rumble, almost like a HUGE plane traveling the skies, but it seemed long, and steady.

I looked out my window into the night sky, and saw flashes of light from the sky, quiet bolts of lightning springing everywhere -- the sky periodically illuminated from above -- for a full hour.

I called a relative to witness it, and she became afraid.

I had never heard that sound before.

A long, sustained sound.

As if God was gathering His forces, for an opportune time.

It was too strange not to pay attention to.

I live in a country where half of the year is sunny, the other half rainy.

And yes, it's only January.

We don't have these deep rumblings in January.

Storm season is still months from now.

And this much I can attest to you.

What I experienced last night, as I read about the seizing of the ark of God, was like no other.

I truly FELT God's POWER!

He was definitely making a statement.

Of His MIGHT, POWER, and RESTRAINT.

Oh yes, for it felt like He was "restraining" something.

As I watched, I wondered if JESUS was about to return, gathering the dead, and letting His faithful come up to meet Him in the sky.

It was a thought, and I waited, for I remembered the verses:

Acts 1:10-11 (KJV)

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, 

behold, 

two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, 

Ye men of Galilee, 

why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 

this same Jesus, 

which is taken up from you into heaven, 

shall so come in like manner 

as ye have seen him go into heaven.

After an hour of such deep rumblings, the rain fell.

This morning, the sky was overcast, and more rain fell.

With snow blanketing sands in the Sahara, the mist over Dubai, volcanoes and earthquakes acting up in my country, and a world gone mad, I certainly knew what I ought to do, or do more of.

Get even closer to the LORD, and continue studying SCRIPTURE, making sure I got His WORD right.

Which I share with you -- prompts and discoveries -- every chance the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD inspires me to.

It is really TIME to GET RIGHT with the LORD now.

What's stopping you?

There is certainly no time to waste, for JESUS can come any time -- this time, as a man of war, as the LORD OF LORDS, KING OF KINGS.

Further reading:

WAKE UP series

15 Bible Verses about the Second coming

Updated 22 January 2022

HOW the LORD Fights for Us

 

Psalms are "praise" and "prayers".

Surely, these are verses of LOVE for the LORD, from His faithful!

Here's a GLORIOUS example of how GOD fights for us, as testified by David, anointed king of GOD:

Psalm 18 

King James Version

18 I will love thee, 

O Lord, my strength.

2 The Lord is my rock, 

and my fortress, 

and my deliverer; 

my God, my strength, 

in whom I will trust; 

my buckler, 

and the horn of my salvation, 

and my high tower.

3 I will call upon the Lord, 

who is worthy to be praised: 

so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4 The sorrows of death compassed me, 

and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: 

the snares of death prevented me.

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, 

and cried unto my God: 

he heard my voice out of his temple, 

and my cry came before him, 

even into his ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled; 

the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, 

because he was wroth.

8 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, 

and fire out of his mouth devoured: 

coals were kindled by it.

9 He bowed the heavens also, 

and came down: 

and darkness was under his feet.

10 And he rode upon a cherub, 

and did fly: 

yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his secret place; 

his pavilion round about him 

were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

12 At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, 

hail stones and coals of fire.

13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, 

and the Highest gave his voice; 

hail stones and coals of fire.

14 Yea, he sent out his arrows, 

and scattered them; 

and he shot out lightnings, 

and discomfited them.

15 Then the channels of waters were seen, 

and the foundations of the world 

were discovered at thy rebuke, 

O Lord, 

at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

16 He sent from above, 

he took me, 

he drew me out of many waters.

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,

 and from them which hated me: 

for they were too strong for me.

18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: 

but the Lord was my stay.

19 He brought me forth also into a large place; 

he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; 

according to the cleanness of my hands 

hath he recompensed me.

21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, 

and have not wickedly departed from my God.

22 For all his judgments were before me, 

and I did not put away his statutes from me.

23 I was also upright before him, 

and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

24 Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, 

according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; 

with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

26 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; 

and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

27 For thou wilt save the afflicted people; 

but wilt bring down high looks.

28 For thou wilt light my candle: 

the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

29 For by thee I have run through a troop; 

and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

30 As for God, 

his way is perfect: 

the word of the Lord is tried: 

he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

31 For who is God save the Lord? 

or who is a rock save our God?

32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, 

and maketh my way perfect.

33 He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, 

and setteth me upon my high places.

34 He teacheth my hands to war, 

so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: 

and thy right hand hath holden me up, 

and thy gentleness hath made me great.

36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, 

that my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued mine enemies, 

and overtaken them: 

neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

38 I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: 

they are fallen under my feet.

39 For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: 

thou hast subdued under me 

those that rose up against me.

40 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; 

that I might destroy them that hate me.

41 They cried, 

but there was none to save them: 

even unto the Lord, 

but he answered them not.

42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: 

I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

43 Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; 

and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: 

a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

44 As soon as they hear of me, 

they shall obey me: 

the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

45 The strangers shall fade away, 

and be afraid out of their close places.

46 The Lord liveth; 

and blessed be my rock; 

and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

47 It is God that avengeth me, 

and subdueth the people under me.

48 He delivereth me from mine enemies: 

yea, thou liftest me up 

above those that rise up against me: 

thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, 

among the heathen, 

and sing praises unto thy name.

50 Great deliverance giveth he to his king; 

and sheweth mercy to his anointed, 

to David, 

and to his seed for evermore.

Related material:

The HEART of GOD

Complete psalm from biblegateway.com

Bible DISCOVERY 18: When GOD SPEAKS

 

What does God say to Job, after Job becomes afflicted by satan, and lets his wife and friends* speak their piece?

Job 38 

King James Version

38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, 

and said,

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words 

without knowledge?

3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; 

for I will demand of thee, 

and answer thou me.

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? 

declare, 

if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, 

if thou knowest? 

or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? 

or who laid the corner stone thereof;

7 When the morning stars sang together, 

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, 

when it brake forth, 

as if it had issued out of the womb?

9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, 

and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10 And brake up for it my decreed place, 

and set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, 

but no further: 

and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; 

and caused the dayspring to know his place;

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, 

that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14 It is turned as clay to the seal; 

and they stand as a garment.

15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, 

and the high arm shall be broken.

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? 

or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? 

or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? 

declare if thou knowest it all.

19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? 

and as for darkness, 

where is the place thereof,

20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, 

and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

21 Knowest thou it, 

because thou wast then born? 

or because the number of thy days is great?

22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? 

or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, 

against the day of battle and war?

24 By what way is the light parted, 

which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

25 Who hath divided a watercourse 

for the overflowing of waters, 

or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26 To cause it to rain on the earth, 

where no man is; 

on the wilderness, 

wherein there is no man;

27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; 

and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28 Hath the rain a father? 

or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

29 Out of whose womb came the ice? 

and the hoary frost of heaven, 

who hath gendered it?

30 The waters are hid as with a stone, 

and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, 

or loose the bands of Orion?

32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? 

or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? 

canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, 

that abundance of waters may cover thee?

35 Canst thou send lightnings, 

that they may go and say unto thee, 

Here we are?

36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? 

or who hath given understanding to the heart?

37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? 

or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38 When the dust groweth into hardness, 

and the clods cleave fast together?

39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? 

or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40 When they couch in their dens, 

and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41 Who provideth for the raven his food? 

when his young ones cry unto God, 

they wander for lack of meat.

More testimonies of GOD on Job 39, Job 40, Job 41.

Job 40:1-2 (KJV)

40 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said,

2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? 

he that reproveth God, 

let him answer it.

God also makes a POWERFUL statement:

Job 41:11 (KJV)

11 Who hath prevented me, 

that I should repay him? 

whatsoever is under the whole heaven 

is mine.

In the end, God restored Job's freedom, and gave him twice as much as he had before.

Job 42:10 (KJV)

10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, 

when he prayed for his friends: 

also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

*Job's friends were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, Zophar the Naamathite, and Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram.

Updated 22 January 2022

Bible DISCOVERY 17: JESUS and the RESTRAINER

 

Have you noticed something significant about JESUS, and the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD -- the "Restrainer"?

There's something very telling.

And you need to know.

When Jesus left, 

the "Comforter" came.

When the "Restrainer" will leave, 

that's when JESUS will return.

The "Comforter", and "Restrainer", are but a few names for the SPIRIT of GOD.

Pay attention to these verses:

Before JESUS was "taken away".

John 14:16-18 

King James Version

16 And I will pray the Father, 

and he shall give you another Comforter,

 that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; 

whom the world cannot receive, 

because it seeth him not, 

neither knoweth him: 

but ye know him; 

for he dwelleth with you, 

and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: 

I will come to you.

John 14:26 

King James Version

26 But the Comforter, 

which is the Holy Ghost, 

whom the Father will send in my name, 

he shall teach you all things, 

and bring all things to your remembrance, 

whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:7 

King James Version

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; 

It is expedient for you that I go away: 

for if I go not away, 

the Comforter will not come unto you; 

but if I depart, 

I will send him unto you.

Before the RESTRAINER is "taken away".

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 

King James Version

6 And now ye know what withholdeth 

that he might be revealed in his time.

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: 

only he who now letteth will let, 

until he be taken out of the way.

When JESUS returns.

Revelation 22:10-15 

King James Version

10 And he saith unto me, 

Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: 

for the time is at hand.

11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: 

and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: 

and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: 

and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, 

I come quickly; 

and my reward is with me, 

to give every man according as his work shall be.

If you are God's own, you can feel a palpable "tension" in the air, of knowing the RETURN of JESUS is imminent.

You can almost hear the cries of the downtrodden, the faithful in CHRIST, waiting for the LORD's return.

But only God knows when.

Up until such time, the HOLY SPIRIT -- the "Restrainer" -- holds the Tribulation back, until Jesus comes back for His faithful.

That's why, it's time to turn to JESUS now.

Become born again, and you'll know what you need to know, for things of the SPIRIT must be "spiritually discerned".

1 Corinthians 2:14 

King James Version

14 But the natural man receiveth not 

the things of the Spirit of God: 

for they are foolishness unto him: 

neither can he know them, 

because they are spiritually discerned.

Related material:

The PURPOSE of the HOLY SPIRIT

REVERE the HOLY SPIRIT

LAST days PROPHECY made CLEAR

It's ALL preparation NOW

SPIRIT of GOD

Updated 18 June 2022

Bible DISCOVERY 16: The DIFFERENCE Between GOD and MAN

 

Isaiah 55:8-9

King James Version

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are my ways higher than your ways, 

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

There is a HUGE difference between GOD and man, as you will see here.

Compare how man "lifts" JESUS, versus how GOD lifts His SON.

How man "lifted up" JESUS:

John 8:28 

King James Version

28 Then said Jesus unto them, 

When ye have lifted up the Son of man, 

then shall ye know that I am he, 

and that I do nothing of myself; 

but as my Father hath taught me, 

I speak these things.

You realize, that's the CROSS, right?

The way we "lifted" JESUS, is by crucifying Him.

But look how GOD lifted His SON:

Philippians 2:9-11 

King James Version

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, 

and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 

of things in heaven, 

and things in earth, 

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess 

that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

to the glory of God the Father.

A marked difference.

An unscalable difference.

Only through love, through grace, are we saved from our sins, and from ourselves.

And, of course, through the CROSS, where JESUS died for our sins -- as was prophesied.

It was the greatest love from FATHER and SON, for all of us who are mired in sin.

It is also the FORGOTTEN sacrifice.

This post was inspired by the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD, that we may remember, and know that sacrifice, and difference.

How our hearts need so much repair!

Related material:

The REASON for the CROSS

The HEART of GOD

Bible DISCOVERY 15: The DESTINY of JESUS

 

It was prophesied:

Isaiah 53:1-8 

King James Version

53 Who hath believed our report? 

and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, 

and as a root out of a dry ground: 

he hath no form nor comeliness; 

and when we shall see him, 

there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; 

a man of sorrows, 

and acquainted with grief: 

and we hid as it were our faces from him; 

he was despised, 

and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, 

and carried our sorrows: 

yet we did esteem him stricken, 

smitten of God, 

and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, 

he was bruised for our iniquities: 

the chastisement of our peace was upon him; 

and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; 

we have turned every one to his own way; 

and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, 

and he was afflicted, 

yet he opened not his mouth: 

he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, 

and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, 

so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: 

and who shall declare his generation? 

for he was cut off out of the land of the living: 

for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Isaiah 42:2-3 

King James Version

2 He shall not cry, 

nor lift up, 

nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

3 A bruised reed shall he not break, 

and the smoking flax shall he not quench: 

he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

JESUS was born, in the humblest of circumstances:

Luke 2:7 

King James Version

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, 

and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, 

and laid him in a manger; 

because there was no room for them 

in the inn.

He took the form of a servant:

Philippians 2:5-7 

King James Version

5 Let this mind be in you, 

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, 

thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, 

and took upon him the form of a servant, 

and was made in the likeness of men:

He ministered to people:

Mark 10:45 

King James Version

45 For even the Son of man came 

not to be ministered unto, 

but to minister, 

and to give his life 

a ransom for many.

He became poor, so we may be rich:

2 Corinthians 8:9 

King James Version

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

that, though he was rich, 

yet for your sakes he became poor, 

that ye through his poverty might be rich.

He was tempted, and yet had no sin:

Hebrews 4:15 

King James Version

15 For we have not an high priest 

which cannot be touched 

with the feeling of our infirmities; 

but was in all points tempted like as we are, 

yet without sin.

He died on the cross for us:

Philippians 2:8 

King James Version

8 And being found in fashion as a man, 

he humbled himself, 

and became obedient unto death, 

even the death of the cross.

His life was the GOSPEL:

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 

King James Version

3 For I delivered unto you first of all 

that which I also received, 

how that Christ died for our sins 

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, 

and that he rose again the third day 

according to the scriptures:

And GOD exalted Him:

Philippians 2:9-11 

King James Version

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, 

and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus 

every knee should bow, 

of things in heaven, 

and things in earth, 

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess 

that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

to the glory of God the Father.

He will return:

Hebrews 9:28 

King James Version

28 So Christ was once offered 

to bear the sins of many; 

and unto them that look for him 

shall he appear the second time 

without sin unto salvation.

He shall come with the clouds:

Revelation 1:7 

King James Version

7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; 

and every eye shall see him, 

and they also which pierced him: 

and all kindreds of the earth 

shall wail because of him. 

Even so, Amen.

On a day and hour only the Father knows:

Matthew 24:36 

King James Version

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, 

no, not the angels of heaven, 

but my Father only.

He will sit on His throne:

Matthew 25:31 

King James Version

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, 

and all the holy angels with him, 

then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

He will judge, and make war:

Revelation 19:11-16 

King James Version

11 And I saw heaven opened, 

and behold a white horse; 

and he that sat upon him 

was called Faithful and True, 

and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, 

and on his head were many crowns; 

and he had a name written, 

that no man knew, 

but he himself.

13 And he was clothed with a vesture 

dipped in blood: 

and his name is called The Word of God.

14 And the armies which were in heaven 

followed him upon white horses, 

clothed in fine linen, 

white and clean.

15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, 

that with it he should smite the nations: 

and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: 

and he treadeth the winepress 

of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh 

a name written, 

King Of Kings, 

And Lord Of Lords.

And They shall reign, for ever and ever.

Revelation 22:3-5 

King James Version

3 And there shall be no more curse: 

but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; 

and his servants shall serve him:

4 And they shall see his face; 

and his name shall be in their foreheads.

5 And there shall be no night there; 

and they need no candle, 

neither light of the sun; 

for the Lord God giveth them light: 

and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Updated 15 March 2025