The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Kings 18:1-8, “Now it came about in the third year of Hoshea, the son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king.

2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.

3 And he did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.

4 He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.

5 He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him.

6 For he clung to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses.

7 And the LORD was with him; wherever he went he prospered. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

8 He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.

It’s exciting to read of a young man following the LORD! Those who learn to follow Him while they are young will doubtlessly follow Him throughout their lives.

Sometimes, however, older men come to know Him, and they wish they had followed Him when they were young. Those who learn to follow the LORD while they are young usually follow someone who has previously followed Him.

We need to think seriously and act according to the pattern the LORD has set before us through His own Life. In that way, we will also establish a spiritual pattern for others to follow. What we often don’t know is that there is someone who is watching us and patterning what they see in us.

Learning commences in the home. And believe it or not, we obtain our earliest words and our ways from there. It’s not too late to become a true and enthusiastic follower of Jesus. Get into the Scriptures today!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

II Chronicles 5:11-14, “And when the priests came forth from the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to divisions),

12 and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and kinsmen, clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets

13 in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the LORD saying, “He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” then the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud,

14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.”

Have you ever wondered what music would be like in Heaven? Well, there are 21 references to “music” in the Bible; yet, only two references are in the New Testament, and all of them refer to music sung here on earth.

When King Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me,” one of the young men who stood nearby said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him. So Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David who is with the flock” (1 Sam. 16:18-19).

“So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him” (1 Sam. 16:23).

Bear in mind that everything that can be used to glorify the LORD can also be misused to glorify people and spirits that exist outside of the LORD God. There’s an old saying that goes, “All that glitters is not gold.” Satan is clever! He wraps his efforts in what appears to be godly; yet it is not!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones” (Prov. 3:5-8).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

THERE ARE EIGHT REASONS WHY THE CHURCH

WILL NOT GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION!

I. The purpose of the tribulation is one of Divine Judgment upon the Jewish nation.

1. It is the seventieth week of Daniel and determined against “this people” –the Jews! (Daniel 9:24).

2. It is “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).

II. The nature of the tribulation is a period of divine wrath and judgment. The Scriptures teach that God’s wrath is not directed against His Church!

1. I Thessalonians 5:9: “God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2. Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus…”

III. The Tribulation is a time of wrath and judgment throughout its seven years. It is inconsistent with the Scripture to subject the Church to the wrath of God from which she has been delivered: “…and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come” (I Thessalonians 1:10).

IV. The Antichrist will reign during the Tribulation, according to Revelation 13:7. Everyone will be in subjection to him. If the Church were on Earth during that time, she would also be in subjection to him rather than unto Christ. Because of His union with His Church, Christ would then be in subjection to the Antichrist! Such is totally unthinkable –and impossible!

V. The New Testament Church is instructed (Romans 13, et al) to pray for those in governmental authority and to be subject to them. Revelation 13:4 states that the Tribulation government will be controlled by Antichrist and carry out his desires. The Church could NEVER subject herself to such a government!

VI. The Thessalonians were in confusion regarding the resurrection. Paul wrote to them that believers who were alive at Christ’s coming for His own would have no advantage over believers who had died. If the Thessalonians had believed the Church would go through the Tribulation, they would either 1) have rejoiced that some had missed the Tribulation, or 2) have reasoned that it was better to be with the Father in Heaven than to suffer on Earth. Hiebert expresses it, “…if they had been taught that the church must go through the great tribulation, the logical reaction for them would have been to rejoice that these loved ones had escaped that great period of suffering which they felt was about to occur.”

VII. The New Testament epistles are amazingly silent regarding the Great Tribulation. This silence itself argues for the Church’s absence during the Tribulation era.

VIII. The Tribulation foretold by the Old Testament prophets ALWAYS relates to Israel (Malachi 4:5-6). Note that the Fiery Furnace experience typifies the Great Tribulation –and only Jews were represented as being in the fire.

While unconverted, unbelieving Gentiles will doubtlessly experience the Great Tribulation along with the nation of Israel, Gentilic absence in the fiery furnace experience of Daniel serves to emphasize that the Great Tribulation is primarily a judgment upon the Jews for their having rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah! Have YOU accepted Him as your Savior?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Psalm 91:1-14, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!’

3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day;

6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not approach you.

8 You will only look on with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.

10 No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.

11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.

12 They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.”

Were you ever truly afraid? If you were (or are!), you need only read the verses above. The LORD is our protector; there is no need to be afraid. It has been said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!” The LORD is our Refuge and Strength! No terror can overcome the power of the LORD! He is ever and always our Protector.

Yes, traveling alone in foreign countries, I was sometimes afraid. I recall a man saying to me, “Are you going this way? I’ll walk along with you.” The nightly meeting had concluded. The pastor had assigned me to pray with this man because he spoke English. His words now echoed the sound of safety; however, the route of our walk was thoroughly dark! Only then did I recall the pastor having told me that that very man had once been convicted of murder! Yet, he faithfully saw me to my destination without incident.

No, I have never seen an angel, yet the LORD’s promise is that they are watching over me. That’s more than sufficient. I have the LORD’s faithful Word and the guardianship of His angels. What’s more, you have all of that too, if you know Him as LORD and Savior of your life.

Rest well, my friend. There are no “rough roads” in life that He cannot smooth out for you. To know the LORD is to “abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

FIVE REASONS WHY THE CHURCH WILL

NOT GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION

1. The purpose of the tribulation is one of Divine Judgment upon the Jewish nation.

(1) It is the 70th week of Daniel and it is determined against “this people” – the Jews (Dan. 9:24-25: “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place.

25 “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.”)

(2) It is “the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7, “Alas! for that day is great, there is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it.”

2. The nature of the tribulation is a period of Divine wrath and judgment. The Scriptures teach that God’s wrath is not directed against His Church: “Alas! for that day is great, there is none like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s distress, Yet he will be saved from it” (Jer. 30:7); “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thes. 5:9).

“There is therefore now no condemnation for

those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1)!

3. The Tribulation is a time of wrath and judgment throughout its seven years. It is inconsistent with the Scripture to subject the Church to the wrath of God from which she has been delivered: “.and to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thes. 1:10).

4. The Antichrist will reign during the Tribulation:

“And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him” (Rev. 13:7).

Everyone will be in subjection to him. If the Church were on Earth during that time, she would also be in subjection to him, rather than unto Christ. Because of His union with His Church, Christ would then be in subjection to the Antichrist! Such is totally unthinkable and impossible!

5. The New Testament Church is instructed to pray for those in governmental authority and to be subject unto them: (Rom. 13, et al). Revelation 13:4 states that the Tribulation government will be controlled by the Antichrist and carry out his desires. The Church could NEVER subject herself to such an ungodly government!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

– Corrie ten Boom