The Final Run: Space is not our Final Frontier

By CH [LTC RET] Arthur W Coffey Jr D Min

When will the “Wall” show up in these end times? What are the seasonal signs? Seven major factors of end-times now existent:

1. The proclamation of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948

2. Historical duplication of the Days of Noah and of Sodom and Gomorrah:

3. Wars, earthquakes and rumors of wars (see Matthew 24: 6-8

• Language: English
• Publisher: TOPLINK PUBLISHING, LLC
• Release date: Nov 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9781970066135

CH [LTC RET] Arthur W Coffey Jr D Min

Arthur Coffey has served as a parish pastor for fifteen years, an Army chaplain for twenty-three years, and a Veterans Affairs Medical Center chaplain for twelve years. He was mobilized for Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Joint Endeavor, and the Humanitarian Aid tour to Guatemala. Coffey is the recipient of the Witherspoon Award for "most creative use of Scripture," presented by the National Bible Association and the Armed Forces Chief of Chaplains.

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The Final Run

Space Is Not Our Final Frontier

CH [LTC, RET] Arthur W. Coffey, Jr., D. Min.

Copyright © 2018 by CH [LTC, RET] Arthur W. Coffey, Jr., D. Min.

Paperback: 978-1-970066-12-8

eBook: 978-1-970066-13-5

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

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Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Season

Chapter 2 Rapture Ready

Chapter 3 Running on the Road to Repentance

Chapter 4 Readiness Training

Postscript: Looking Forward

Addendum

Appendix ‘A’: A Bible Study

Israel Called / Church Called / Rapture / Rapture Ready / Tribulation / Tribulation and No Repentance / Temptation / Repentance / Sin: Freedom From / Sin: Redemption From / Obedience / Overcomers / Battle with the Dragon / Judgment / Second Coming [to Jerusalem] / Victory / Salvation / Peace / To The Reader

Appendix ‘B’: Recommended Resources

Author Bio

Preface

This author’s first book, Running for Recovery: Marathons of the Body, Mind, Spirit, presented a marathon runner running on the road to repentance. There is, however, one last and final run that we of all ages will engage. This book will raise the question: How close are we to the Finish Line?

Socrates scribed a most comprehensive and searching statement: "All of the wisdom of this world is but a tiny raft upon which we must set sail when we leave this earth. If only there was a firmer foundation upon which to sail, perhaps some divine word." This book will highlight our Creator’s Word on the subject. My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Psalm 45: 1 NKJV

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4: 7-8 KJV [Written by the Apostle Paul, shortly before his death. He had made great efforts in service and was looking forward to his rewards. We can follow his footsteps. Billy Graham stated: I’ve read the last page of the Bible. It’s all going to turn out all right.]

I like the words of writer Sydney Smith: The writer does the most that gives his reader the most knowledge and takes from him the least time. Therefore, the appendices will provide a setting for the Holy Spirit to conduct Bible study for the reader concerning this book’s theme. My Bible translation of preference from childhood has been the King James Version (KJV) for its scholarship in translating the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic texts. I have also, in a few instances, cited the Amplified Bible for doing the same into modern language and the Living Bible to assist readers who are not familiar with the Scriptures.

This shall be written for the generation to come and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord Ps. 102:18 KJV.

Introduction

"And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it" Hab. 2:2 KJV.

Over the years I’ve been encouraged to write this book to help enable the reader see the intensive and comprehensive correlation between current historical events/developments and the End-Time, Apocalyptic Scriptures. My bedrock goal is to show you how God’s Word can become, as he describes it, sent out (Is. 55: 10-11); active and alive (Heb. 4: 12); watched over and performed (Jer. 1: 12). Theologically, it would mean encountering Scripture—not just as Logos (an idea or concept), but as Rhema (word spoken directly and personally about our life on this earth.) We come to see God’s Word as far more than words on a page.

God’s Word addresses all of time. The Greek words denoting the difference in God’s time and our time: chronos refers to our chronological watch/calendar time; kairos refers to God’s meaningful, filled-up, immeasurable, unending time. God can move his kairos directly into our chronos. I have come to believe that when I place the name of Jesus over any person or circumstance, the merging of times has begun. God is in our past, present, future, now. "He hath made everything beautiful in his time. Ecclesiastes 3:11a KJV

The Holy Spirit serves as our coach who causes God’s Word to stand up in the midst of our thoughts and observations about historical and current events, saying: Attention to Orders. He helps us engage in "Readiness Training for God’s Army as He relates to us the way He is described in the Scriptures: i.e., as teacher, counselor, comforter, helper, one who convicts us of truth" (see Jn. 14: 26; Jn. 16: 7-15; Rom. 8: 26). These five descriptions are how He applies the Word of God to our minds and hearts. May you read this book with the eye of a trainee hungry for a word that endures to the end and speaks on a theme that is timeless! Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer (Ps. 19:14 KJV).

CHAPTER ONE

The Season

I have always been one to raise a red flag when people begin talking of end times and current events. I would usually dismiss it and reference Jesus’ statement that no one (would) know the day or the hour. (Matthew 24: 36; 25: 36) Since as early as A. D. 960 there have been millenialists who stir people up with prophecies, causing them to wait on the mountains or by the seashores only to see time continue to march on and scoffers as described in (2 Peter 3: 3-7).

However, in the last several years, I have been led to say that it would be wise to read the newspapers and the Scriptures at the breakfast table at the same time; there is such an intense overlap. In a rebuke to the religious leaders of His day, Jesus said: . . . O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? Matthew 16: 3b KJV Jesus, in answer to His disciples’ question about when the end would be, also said that we should be like a farmer who takes note of the seasonal signs of the trees, etc. to know—a "wake-up call"-- that the season is near. I believe there are clear, certain and concise signs of the season in the present day. My Coach tells me that this will be the late, last run.

When will the Wall show up in these end times? In my first book I explained to the reader that in a marathon, somewhere around mile twenty or twenty-one, the runner hits the wall. This is where mind and body shake hands in agreement and say, We wanna quit. And that’s where most runners will do just that—quit. At that point, mind over matter no longer works. Therefore, to break through the wall in a marathon, I need to understand the hierarchy of Word over spirit over mind over body.

What are the seasonal signs? Seven major factors of end-times now existent:

1. The proclamation of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948 (see Ezekiel 28: 25-26; 36: 24; 37: 1-13; Isaiah 11: 11-12; Amos 9: 14-15); these passages (Isaiah, Ezekiel) present direct correlation of the Statehood of Israel and the last days. David Ben Gurion declared this event to be miraculous. Three things have to happen in Jewish history before Christ returns: the statehood of Israel; the return of the lost 10 tribes of Israel (those not absorbed by other nationalities, Deut. 28: 64-65) which is happening at this writing as planes carry them back from every nation in the world; the rebuilding of the temple.

To those who believe, despite DNA evidence to the contrary, that those 10 lost tribes were early Indians in America, all I can say is: Shalom Kemosabe. Six months after the vote and British withdrawal, we heard the name Israel for statehood on May 14th. On the 15th the Arabs made war with Israel. Israel’s fighting troops included survivors of the Holocaust.

It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea. Isaiah 11: 11 NKJV

Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Isaiah 66: 8 KJV

And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou,

Lord

, art become their God. 2 Samuel 7:23-24 KJV [see: Psalm 126: 1-2 for this second return to Zion]

Upon a trip to the Holy Land, my wife and I were privileged to be seated in a room with about fifteen others to hear the leader of the Zionist movement to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. General Solomon had led his military unit to victory in the 1967 Six-Day War--this, after being mortally wounded in 1958 in a battle against the Assyrians where he was run over by a tank. While laying there dying, God spoke to his spirit saying that He would preserve him for a purpose. He then heard Assyrian soldiers surrounding him, loading their guns. He knew they take no prisoners. All of a sudden they dropped their guns and ran.

Two weeks later, U. N. officials were interviewing those soldiers, asking why they ran. The answer came that armed warriors surrounded the wounded man. All personnel in this wounded commander’s unit had been killed. After a year in the hospital, he, while still on crutches, took command of the unit that reclaimed the temple mount in the ‘67 War. He told us that they have the corner stone ready to lay for the temple. Could it be, as some propose, that the ground for this stone could be the Garden of Eden? It makes sense that Jesus--the Word spoken at the first creation-- would speak of Himself as the cornerstone as He brought forth a new creation by what He accomplished on the Cross! While we were there, we saw signs posted saying look for the near coming of the Messiah. My wife said, "Isn’t it interesting that the Jews are looking for the first coming while we are looking for the second, and both, soon. Will Israel be saved? Read Romans 10: 1; 11: 25-29; Hebrews 6: 13-20; Zechariah 12: 10. Regarding the temple, God has said: ‘May you be as poor as Judah,’ the heathen used to say to those they cursed! But no longer! For now Judah is a word of blessing, not a curse. ‘May you be as prosperous and happy as Judah is,’ they’ll say. So don’t be afraid or discouraged! Get on with rebuilding the Temple! Zechariah 8: 13 TLB

2. Historical duplication of the Days of Noah and of Sodom and Gomorrah: e.g., AIDS, Ebola . . . (not in Noah’s or Sodom and Gomorrah’s time but unique latter day pestilence, biological warfare, plague), homosexuality, self-gratification, occultism (see Genesis 19: 1-28; Leviticus 18: 22; 20: 13; Romans 1: 18-32; 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11; Galatians 5: 19-21; 1 Timothy 1: 8-11; 2 Timothy 3: 1-6), reprobate—anything goes--mind (see 2 Timothy 3: 7-9; Matthew 24: 9-13; Mark 7: 20-23). A quick glance at today’s media underscores the intense level of immorality, random violence and rebellion as in those days (see Luke 17: 26-29). Governmental persecution of Church-State issues and the de-humanization or de-valuations of life punctuate this prophetic word. Edward Gibbon’s History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire and William Shirer’s epic history of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, describe America today (see: John 15:18-25).

Look at Gibbon’s notes concerning the fall of the Empire:

(1.) "The rapid increase of divorce; the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society.

(2.) Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public monies for free bread and circuses for the populace.

(3.) The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal.

(4.) The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within, the decadence of the people.

(5.) The decay of religion: i.e., faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life and becoming impotent to warn and guide the people."

(Quoted in book: Pearls from the Prophets,

Greg S. Pettys, Roger Alan Dennis. p. 184)

Those who confess Jesus Christ as God, the Bible as the Word of God and the crucial role of obedience to God will face a growing persecution in the midst of a democracy of compromise, destined to pave the way for the anti-Christ. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3: 12 NKJV; however, see, also: Psalm 125: 1-2). Will democracy actually pave the way for the ultimate end of freedom as the world looks for unity one day under the authority of the Antichrist? Such a shift will not take place by force; the world will be hungry and ready for that leader.

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 KJV (see, also, Romans 1: 18-24; Rev. 13)

Gibbon’s description fits not only America, but also the entire world. The above prophesy concerning the days of Noah addresses how normal wickedness seemed to those living in the midst of that wickedness (see: Ez. 16: 49). The people of Noah’s time and residents of Sodom and Gomorrah lived what they considered normal lives (see: Ez. 16: 49). They traded Godly lives for wickedness that they considered the norm. This applies to us today. The following constitute three big strike-outs for the U. S. A. as far as God is concerned:

A. Endorsement of killing the unborn (56 million abortions since the 1973 Supreme Court Roe vs. Wade ruling, Randy O’Bannon, Live News.com, Jan. 12 2014). The loud cry goes forth for animal rights and not to kill; yet, modern medicine gets paid to kill (abort) human babies! To the question as when life begins, read what God said to the prophet Jeremiah: "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations . . .Jeremiah 1: 5 KJV."

B. Homosexual marriage. This is an affront to God’s created order. Dr. Francis Collins, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work sequencing the human genetic code, has in fact proven that homosexuality is not genetically ‘hardwired’ (Midnight Call Magazine, April 2013, p. 28). Despite this evidence and high rates of sexually transmitted diseases, psychiatric illness, drug abuse, suicide . . . , schools now teach children that it is normal. Some U.S. City officials have informed pastors that if they refuse to marry homosexuals they will face jail time and fines. Concerning this subject, the FCC has opened the door with some proceedings regarding Open Internet that have surfaced, for this author, some questions to free speech: e.g., Internet tech companies can now censor what they deem to be ‘politically incorrect speech. Some early results: Facebook suspended postings of former governor Mike Huckabee because he supported traditional marriage; road signs on the Internet highway saying: Conservatives stay out, No preaching by Bible-believing Christians allowed, This is not a pro-Israel town . . ." (Israel My Glory, September/October, p. 19) Not modern marriage but modern abuse of marriage is what we now face as legal steps are taken to require pastors to give the government evidence of what they preach. Paul describes such human deceitfulness as the natural man who has no spiritual discernment in (1 Cor. 2: 14 See in context: vs. 6-16) [See, also, 1 Cor. 6: 8-10; 1 Tim. 1: 9-11; Gal. 5: 19-21]

Freedom of religion is, now, replaced with freedom from religion: e.g., the Ten Commandments were removed from schools, partly, with the rationale that repeated, daily attention, given to them would cause students to begin doing them. Further, while the Bible is being ousted, schools are now told to study the Quran. Prayer is not to be conducted at the White House; but, the Day of Prayer for Muslims is to be acknowledged. Is there something wrong with this picture?

C. Disputing the God-given borders for Israel’s land.

American presidents have been up and down regarding support for Israel; the most supportive were Truman—even quoting the Scriptures in support of their right to the land--; Kennedy, Johnson, Reagan, Clinton. Leadership that worked against Israel courted the wrath of God (see Zech. 12: 2-3; Joel 3: 1-2). Billy Graham stated, several decades ago: if God does not judge America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. Romans 1: 29-32 and 2 Thessalonians 2: 10-12 outline the rule of the day. However, as I write these pages to you, I want to lift up something for us to consider. God did judge Israel harshly for their stubborn rebellion against Him. Nevertheless, time and time again, God found a way to heal and redeem His people, making it clear that He was going to hold fast, be faithful, to the covenant He had made with His people through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He was determined to do this for His Name’s sake and for the everlasting purity and value of His covenant. Now, let’s consider what the Puritans held on to and valued at the formation of America. They and the Founding Fathers pursued a covenant relationship with God as they continually sought out His Word to guide the founding documents for our country; the Geneva Bible was the scholarly tool in their hands, minds and hearts for this task! So, think how great is God’s Name and that He has raised up His Word even above His Name (Psalm 138: 2). Why? I believe it is because the Word is Jesus.

I will worship toward Your holy temple,

And praise Your name

For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;

For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. Psalm 138: 2 NKJV

America as a nation, however, is not in a covenant relationship as Israel is with God. Not only the people are chosen, but the land, also was chosen. Jared Diamond, anthropologist and Pulitzer-prize-winning author documents how the geography of the Middle East was the early center for human development, having plants and animals easily domesticated and being the location man was first placed. (Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies. 1999, New York, p. 162)

America has the most arable land, major ports, navigable internal waterways, two coasts serving as natural barriers to enemies . . . (Stratfor. The Geopolitics of the United States, The Inevitable Empire. August, 14, 2011). To Israel, as to America, certain physical and geographical formations were, form the foundation of the earth, assigned to Israel. Why did God call Israel His habitation (Ezra 7: 15; 1Chronicles 23: 25) and make Jerusalem, according to formative studies (https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/loc/Center.html), the most central to all of the world’s land masses? It is safe to believe America has significance in the prophetic timeline; however, we do have free choice as to obey or disobey our Creator. God used the Roman Empire to change timing and events for the First Coming of Christ; will America be part of timing and events for the Second Coming? It does seem like the more we learn about the creation, the less we want to know about the Creator!

Peter Marshall, in his book, The Light and the Glory, describes how Christopher Columbus had a calling in the discovery of America, as deeper search was made into the cellars of the libraries of Harvard, Yale, Princeton and the Library of Congress; the search unfolded that Columbus was convinced God was calling him to reach the ends of the world with the Gospel. The name Columbus means Christ-bearer. A Scripture that spoke to him was Isaiah 49: 1-6 (Dr. Dave Arnold, Why a Good God Allows Bad Things to Happen, p.48). Will God, despite our rebellion in so many categories of life, hold fast to that covenant He cut for Americans? In November of 2013 Billy Graham delivered what he called his last message to America; just prior to the telecast he wrote:

I believe God has given me a message for people in our nation today. On a television talk show the other night, I heard a commentator say, ‘This country is headed straight to Hell.’ When you listen to the news day after day or simply pay attention to what goes on around you, it’s not hard to understand why someone might say that. Ungodliness floods our land. Moral decline has become normal. We see killing, theft, dishonesty, greed, and open immorality everywhere. Many flaunt what they do and even demand public approval. The Bible says, ‘They proclaim their sin …; they do not hide it’ (Isaiah 3:9).

In an interview with Trinity Broadcasting Network, Graham’s son, Franklin expressed what is beginning to prevail the minds of many:

I believe there’ll be some persecution in this country . . . We see it now in some sense. Hollywood has demonized people of faith—pastors and Christians—and for 50 years [they’ve] been poisoning the minds of people against the church of Jesus Christ . . . You can’t even pray now at football games. You can’t have the Lord’s Prayer read. I prayed at President [George W.] Bush’s inauguration [in 2001], and he was sued because of my prayer because I prayed in Jesus’s name; we’re living now in a time where we see the spirit of Antichrist is at the governmental level. (Elwood McQuaid, Is America a Christian Nation? ISRAEL MY GLORY, March/April 2015, p. 6.)

For us to fight against that picture painted by the Grahams will only entangle us in the issues of the world; thereby draining our strength. Jesus and the leaders of the New Testament Church never fought against the political and military clout of Rome. We are to have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2: 16.) Jeremiah spoke an assuring word to Israel: "Nevertheless in those days," says the

Lord

, "I will not make a complete end of you. Jeremiah 5: 18 NKJV In the same tone, Zechariah relayed to them: Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the

Lord

of hosts: Return to Me, says the

Lord

of hosts, and I will return to you, says the

Lord

of hosts." Zechariah 1: 3 NKJV

A Scripture that speaks directly to us from Graham’s message is: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7: 14 KJV

Words of Abraham Lincoln

"At what point shall we expect the

approach of danger? . . .

Shall we expect some transatlantic

military giant to step the

Ocean and crush us at a blow? Never!

All the armies of

Europe, Asia, and Africa combined . . .

could not by force

take a drink from the Ohio or

make a track on the Blue Ridge

in a trial of a thousand years.

At what point, then, is the

approach of danger to be expected?

I answer, if it ever reach

us it must spring up amongst us;

it cannot come from abroad.

If destruction be our lot we must

ourselves be its author and

finisher. As a nation of freemen

we must live through all time,

or die by suicide."

(Israel My Glory, September/October, 2014, p. 39)

It is, now, the Muslim agenda and strategy to destroy America from within; they cannot do it by force from without. ‘Islamphobis is their term for intimidating, shouting down, anyone not in agreement; it happens on the college campus, Boy Scouts of America or any non-Muslim setting where stealth jihad strategy is applied to conversion. Their goal is to place the Koran and caliphate in lieu of the U. S. Constitution. This tactic reflects Satan’s deceptive cover of his own identity so as to infiltrate and recruit. Sadly, our own news media cooperates by choosing to report only from an Islamically correct" posture. Our financial sector is,