(Dn.12:1-3; Ps.16:5,8-11; Heb.10:11-14,18; Mk.13:24-32) "He will send out the angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky." On that Day "the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky." On that Day we "will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory." "It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress," but "everyone who is found written in the book" of Life "shall escape"; all His chosen He shall rescue. For He will not "suffer [His] faithful one to undergo corruption," but "show [him] the path to life" and give him "fullness of joys in [His] presence." Brothers and sisters, the Lord has taken "His seat forever at the right hand of God; now He waits until His enemies are made His footstool." Though "He has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated" and "there is no longer offering for sin," the time is yet to be fulfilled for all His chosen to partake of His "one sacrifice for sins" – He who is our "allotted portion and [our] cup" must be drunk to the full by all His elect, must be made perfect as He by joining in His sacrifice. And though "He is near, at the gates," ready to break in upon our world in His time and according to His ways, yet "this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place": all the tribulations must come upon this earth, and all His children must be made ready for His Day. Brothers and sisters, He "hold[s] fast [our] lot" and "with Him at [our] right hand [we] shall not be disturbed." "Heaven and earth will pass away, but [His] words will not pass away," and it is in His word we trust. So let your heart and soul rejoice and your body abide "in confidence" for "the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament" on the Day of the Lord's return. We shall not join those who "shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace" but "shall live forever" in the light of His face. Hear the word the Lord speaks to your heart; see the signs before your eyes. Join yourself to His holy sacrifice, and you shall know "the delights at [His] right hand forever" in heaven where He now reigns. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Salvation Army" from Bearing the Birth Pangs, tenth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let us shine brightly in Jesus' presence when He comes. YHWH, how could we escape the judgment coming upon the face of the earth and stand in your presence forever except that Jesus has offered His sacrifice for our sins and now waits with you in Heaven for us to turn to Him and join you there? He is our assurance of your blessing. When He returns again may we be found ready to be gathered to you. Send your angels forth, O LORD, to save us from all tribulation, to strengthen us to stand in peace even as the stars fall from the sky. The darkness let us not fear; rather, let us be purged by it of all our attachment to this forsaken place. O let us not be counted among those who have forsaken you! Abandon us not to the nether world, but let our souls rejoice in the light of your face – let us shine with you forever. The path to life you show us, LORD, that we might find the fullness of joy in your presence. Open our eyes and hearts to your glorious coming.