Is World War III about to break out? It certainly seems that way (depending upon where you get your news, of course), but I don't know. I only know that Jesus warned us that the signs of the end and of His coming included "wars and rumors of wars. nation rising against nation."  Are food prices and gas prices going to continue to rise? I don't know. I only know that Jesus told us, "there will be famines" and the opening of the third seal tells us that a quart of wheat will sell for a day's wages" (see Matt. 24:7 and Rev. 6:6).  Is the SARS-COV2 virus now fading into oblivion, with no further concern about new virus outbreaks? I don't know. I only know that the opening of the fourth seal tells us that Death and Hades are given power to kill by sword, famine, and plague and Jesus predicts that there will be "famines and pestilences in various places" (Rev. 6:8 and Luke 21:11).  "So," many are asking me, "do you think that the return of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) is SOON?"  My answer is, "It certainly feels that way to me, but in truth, I don't know."

"Well, then," you might ask me, "what do you know??

I know this. I know that I wept my way through the Torah parsha this morning because it touched me so very deeply.  I read about the Israelites, unwilling to wait for Moses to come down from the mountain, and crafting for themselves a statue of a cow, made of gold.  When they had finished crafting this abominable idol, they proclaimed, "This is your God, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt!"  They got sick and tired of waiting on the One True God of Israel who had led them across the sea onto dry land, and so they made their own god.  They got sick of waiting for Moses, God's appointed leader and messenger, and took things into their own hands. Basically, they decided to stay home in their pajamas, binge-watching Netflix and gaining weight on beer and Doritos.

We are in a time of waiting, Beloved.  According to Scripture, we have indeed entered the time that Yeshua called "birth pains," but we don't know how long the labor will be and how much trial and testing we will go through as we endeavor to overcome to the end.  As I read in Exodus this morning, I was deeply touched by the relationship Almighty God had with Moses.  While the people were indulging in vile orgies and making a calf-god out of their gold earrings, Moses was up on top of the mountain, enveloped in a dark cloud of awesome holiness, receiving God's most precious instructions for His people (read Exodus Chapter 32).  The Holy One of Israel becomes enraged with His Israelite people and threatens to destroy them. He says, "Now leave Me alone so that I may destroy them. Then I will make YOU a great nation."  Imagine this! God is offering to wipe out all the Israelites for their unfaithfulness and wickedness and then start over with Moses' descendents.  When you think about it, that's a pretty fantastic offer!  But here is where we see the humility and honor of Moses. He responds, "Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendents as numerous as the stars and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'"  Then the LORD relented and did not bring on His people the disaster He had threatened. (Ex. 32:13-14).   Moses does not seize the opportunity to REPLACE God's Covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob -  He REMINDS God of His Covenant!  

Then Moses returned down to the camp and pitched a tent outside the camp, which he called the "Tent of Meeting."  As Moses would enter the tent, the Pillar of Cloud would come down and stay at the entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses; and the people would stand at the entrance to their tents and worship.  Scripture says "the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend."  And what do they speak about?  Moses says to God, "If you have found favor with me, if you are pleased with me, TEACH ME YOUR WAYS SO THAT I MAY KNOW YOU AND CONTINUE TO FIND FAVOR WITH YOU.  If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your pepole from all the other people on the face of the earth?" And the LORD answered Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked because I AM pleased with you and I KNOW YOU BY NAME."  (Exous 33:7-17).

So, let me sum this up by answering the rhetorical question I asked at the beginning.  What DO I know, at this point? I know we are waiting for our Messiah to come for us and take us to be forever with Him.  And I know that what I must be doing while I am waiting is developing a friendship, a total trust, and a deep intimacy with my God.  I know that when I enter the "tent" where I worship my God, I should be looking for His Presence, seeking the manifestation of His Glory through the Holy Spirit, not looking for a social gathering of people exchanging business cards. I know that I don't want to sing three or four songs and move on, I want to WAIT ON HIM in worship, expecting to experience His Presence.  I know that I can speak to him as a woman speaks to her friend - sharing all the thoughts and questions of my heart, and listening in the stillness for His answers.  And I know that the greatest desire of my heart should be to KNOW HIS WAYS (His commandments) and to walk in them, for this is how I will know that I have found favor with Him.  This is how we shall be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth!

The birth pains have begun, and the labor may be longer than we would think; but let us make the time of waiting count, so that when we stand at last before our King, He will know us by name!

A few days ago I had an email from a very dear sister in Messiah who often hears clearly from the Lord. She had just had a vision in the night and here is what she wrote to me:
"I saw like a note held up in front of me so I read it. It said:
TOP RAMEN
DANIEL 4

So I read Daniel 4 about Nebuchadnezzer's dream and Daniels interpretation of his dream. The Spirit said, "Eat these words" and then the Spirit said, "This is America." So let me know if you have any insight about this dream."

I pondered her vision and the words the Spirit spoke to her and then I asked her if I could have permission to share it on this blog because clearly this word is for our country, for all of us.  She gave permission and so I want to share with you all that came to me in my prayer time over this vision and the words she heard.

Top Ramen....eat these words...this is America.
The Spirit could not have been more clear. Top Ramen is probably the cheapest food you can buy in America; it is known as "college kid food" because that's what they can afford to eat! The Lord is saying America will soon have hyperinflation so high that we will only be able to eat Top Ramen.  And it's not just hyperinflation. The supply chain is broken. And one of the worst shortages is FERTILIZER.  Without fertilizer the farmers will not be able to grow their crops. I watched a video on that subject last night that brought forth the truth about this situation. Here's a link to it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG8p4YAKf1

These things are happening RIGHT NOW and a majority of Americans are asleep or in denial. They have not stored food even though they have been warned and warned. I know God will provide for HIS children, but He has also sent many warnings to prepare for this time.  I believe this vision our sister received is yet another alarm bell from Heaven, awakening us to use wisdom and prepare for what is coming.  We should be storing up food, toiletries and needed supplements or medicines RIGHT NOW. It may be that in doing so we may be able to help not just ourselves, but other friends, family and neighbors, more than we could ever imagine.  Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer. (Proverbs 30:25).  And thank goodness for the illustration of Joseph in Egypt who had the wisdom to store grain after interpreting the Pharaoh's dream! I believe in miracles, my friends, and I know Jehovah Jireh my Provider; but I have heard His warnings to prepare in my own prayer time and I have done what I could. 

So that addresses the meaning of TOP RAMEN in this vision, but what does our Lord want us to understand about America from the text of Daniel Chapter 4?  I believe He is showing us, from His lofty view, what America has become: 'You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth" (Daniel 4:22). As God dealt with Nebuchadnezzar, so He will deal with America. "Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed" (Daniel 4:27). Just like that wicked king, the rulers of America are claiming "I have built this by MY mighty power and for the glory of MY majesty!"  (Does BUILD BACK BETTER ring a bell?  How about "We will build back stronger," as was spoken after 9/11?) The Spirit is so clearly showing us the parallel of this wicked king of the Bible and the wicked, deceitful administration that rules America today, enslaving the people, and claiming to have ALL POWER.  We are in for some VERY challenging, difficult days ahead. We have only to spend time in the Scriptures to get a clear view of what will be taking place in these end times; Matthew 24 is being rolled out and Isaiah 24 is a picture of the planet as dozens of volcanoes and earthquake zones come to life.  At my house we have been watching in awe the 70+ day eruption of the LaPalma volcano, followed closely by the incredible volcano on the island of Tonga, that spewed hot lava and ash 12 miles high into the sky from deep under the sea!  If you have not been aware of these awesome events, look online at the many videos. 

Do you see the Scriptures in Matthew 24 happening even now?  Wars and rumors of wars? Nation against nation? Famines and earthquakes?  Increase of wickedness? Love grown cold?  Matthew 16:2:  He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

It is good of our Lord to give us warnings so that we will pay attention to the signs of the times and have some provisions; but I certainly don't want to downplay the more important preparation of the heart that each of us need.  The Bridegroom is coming soon for His Bride.