Day 281 Signs

 

10/8/2026

"Some Bible students drink at the fountain

of knowledge; others just gargle."

 

I don't know where I find these quotations, although they have to come from a Bible source, otherwise I wouldn't see them. I used to say that I didn't scroll, plus I vehemently opposed it, but sadly I must confess that there seems to be little I can do to avoid it. For some reason now, when I go on YouTube on my cell phone for worship music, all side hustles come up, instead of what I normally watch. "Short reels" seem to be the thing these days, and they are probably the most fictitious or AI doctored media releases that ensnare unwary scrollers the most. Nope, my quotations are legitimately from Bible referenced sources. If nothing else I say in this blog registers, please heed this warning: STOP SCROLLING!!

Yesterday was a day of remembrance, and while there are additional news releases today commemorating 10/7/2023 in Israel, the truth is I will be among those who will never forget. Today I want to consider the quotation I referenced above which I discovered came from my Your Daily Walk commentary. I am now reading the Olivet Discourse found in Matthew 24 & 25 which is a portion of scripture that some find difficult to understand according to the side notes in my New Living Translation. I don't understand that, but then I'm not one to reach for a Concordance or Bible commentary to discover what Jesus was talking about. I'd much rather sit and discuss it with Him, which is a concept that is foreign to many and even frightening. I don't understand that school of thought either, as I love to sit and listen, plus my New Kings James Version by Tyndale has the contextual scripture references for the verses noted in the center for easy comparison to ensure I'm getting the jest of what Jesus is saying. Is that too simple? Seems to save time not to mention expense, as Bible commentaries and references cost money. Sitting still and listening to Jesus is free...well, if you care to invest the time, that is. Perhaps that's what "gargle" implies in the quotation above.

In Chapter 24 of Matthew the disciples are questioning Jesus about the events that will signal His return and the end of the world as they would know it (verse 3). In verses 4-14:

"Jesus told them, 'Don't let anyone fool you. For many will come claiming to be the Messiah, and will lead many astray. When you hear of wars beginning, this does not signal My return; these must come, but the end is not yet. The nations and kingdoms of the earth will rise against each other and there will be famines and earthquakes in many places. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come. Then you will be tortured and killed and hated all over the world because you are Mine, and many of you shall fall back into sin and betray and hate each other. Any many false prophets will appear and lead many astray. Sin will be rampant everywhere and will cool the love of many. But those enduring to the end shall be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it, and then, finally, the end will come.'"

Although Jesus spoke those words to the disciples over 2,000 years ago, they are certainly becoming more and more relevant today as we watch our nations be upended by chaos, lawlessness, and despicable evil. Jesus goes on to provide more expressive detail about those days and the trials and tribulations as outlined in the Bible in Daniel and Revelation in particular. In Chapter 25 of Matthew Jesus teaches parables concerning the Kingdom of Heaven to illustrate His point. He warns them to pay attention, to stay awake. Interesting that in the Garden of Gethsemane not too long after this discourse, His three closest disciples could not stay awake to pray with Jesus as He agonized over the betrayal, abandonment, persecution, suffering and torture He would endure for their sake and ours. How often we do the same when He is desperately trying to warn us through Holy Spirit. We either don't trust the word or heed the warning because of unbelief or apathy. But the time is upon us, knocking at the doors, so we better wake up.

Already there are three hurricanes, Rachel, Simon and Isaias in the Gulf coast areas. Rachel is heading to Mexico, Simon to California, and Isaias has already reached the Gulf region of Florida. In my post from Intercessors for America someone noted the following: 

"Rachel is Hebrew for 'ewe,' or female sheep. Simon comes from the Hebrew Shim’on, associated with hearing. Isaias is the Greek form of Isaiah, meaning 'Yahweh is salvation' or 'the Lord saves.' Together, they suggest a striking appeal: 'Sheep, listen! The Lord is your salvation!'"

When I think about the name Rachel I remember the scripture found in Jeremiah 31:15:

“Thus says the Lord: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.’”

I think about how many abortions have been committed in California alone, not to mention the laws they have protecting pedophiles and sexual offenders, calling their life styles and preferences normal and harmless. They do not believe in the prison systems, closed borders, and other protections we have enjoyed in our system of government. Certainly the LORD is crying out for the nations to turn from darkness into the Light. Perhaps God is sending us a message, and it doesn't involve global warming.