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The Road Back

An Outline of Jacob’s return to God and the Promised Land

The Road Back

Ge. 31-35

Theme of Rebirth and Renewal

1.  A Decision to Make

            Pushed by circumstances

            “Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.” And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before.

            Pulled by God’s drawing

            Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”

2.  An Action to Take

            So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.” (Genesis 31:1–5, NKJV)

            “I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’ ”” (Genesis 31:13, NKJV)

3.  Resolving the past; Choosing the future

            “Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me. This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.” (Genesis 31:51–52, NKJV)

4.  Confirmation by God’s Angels

            “So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s camp.” And he called the name of that place Mahanaim (two camps).” (Genesis 32:1–2, NKJV)

5.  A Struggle with God

            “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”” (Genesis 32:24–26, NKJV)

            “So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”” (Genesis 32:30, NKJV)

            “But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.” (Genesis 33:4, NKJV)

6.  A Return to the House of God:  Bethel

            “Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”” (Genesis 35:1, NKJV)

            “So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it. And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.” (Genesis 35:14–15, NKJV)

7.  Choose How You Live

            “Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.”

            And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.” (Genesis 35:16–21, NKJV)

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The Seven Trumpets: Introduction

The Seven Trumpets:  Introduction

By J. Leland Earls; edited by Kevin W. Earls

          The word tells us that “in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished” (Re. 10:7). The time is hastening and the tempo of events is rapidly growing in momentum.

          The trumpet was used in ancient times to sound a warning. It was also used to call God’s people together that they might receive His instructions and be ready to move on to where the Lord would show them (Nu. 10:1-9).  This is now the fulfillment of this pattern. The trumpets have been sounding during this end time, bringing to pass cer­tain events to the world scene, to signal the warning that the judgment of all things is at hand and the wind-up of this age is rapidly drawing near. Coupled with the unfolding of these events is the fact that the Lord has been moving by His Spirit in a special way to call His people together so that they might be ready for the grand climax of all things.

          The beginning or initial blast of each trumpet sets in motion what is to unfold on the world scene because of its sound. What is portrayed in the scriptures as taking place under the sounding of each trumpet, does not find its complete fulfillment until all the trumpets have sounded. The sound of each trumpet initiates events and forces which carry through the entire end-time period. For example, when the second trumpet begins to blast, what was unleashed under the first trumpet is still in motion and continu­ing, and when the third trumpet begins to blow, that which was unleashed by the second trumpet continues its march on the pages of history. This is how it is with each trumpet, so that by the time the last or seventh trumpet begins its blast, all the previous six trumpets are still sounding and will continue to sound until a mighty crescendo is reached in the climax of all things. What is unleashed by the successive trumpets continues until the end, and each successive trumpet overlaps the blowing of the pre­vious trumpet or trumpets.

          The Lord has been showing His people what He desires for these last days in a BODY which will go forth in power to reap a great har­vest to Him; a BODY which shall be anointed even as Jesus was anointed in His day to do mighty works. As this BODY fulfills its mission, it will be made ready to cross over into the promised land to receive the fullness of that which has been prepared for those who are called and chosen and faithful (Re. 17:14).

          The Lord will reveal that which is about to take place on the earth at the blowing of the seventh trumpet. When this comes to pass, it will cause the final veil to be removed, and all men shall see clearly that which has been a mystery up to that moment in human history. We must fully understand what is unveiled under the seventh trumpet but cannot until we are given insight into the events which lead up to it which have their inception under the six preceding trumpets, Let’s continue and look at the revealing of the sounding of the trumpets for these last days.

First published in March of 1967 by Word of Life Fellowship in the book:

Prophecies for Our Time 01: The Finished Mystery

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The First Trumpet

The First Trumpet

by J. Leland Earls; edited by Kevin W. Earls

          The first angel sounded; and hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.                                                           (Re. 8:7 NKJV)

          The first trumpet angel sounds following the casting of fire on the earth (8:5-7). What does this mean? It means that man discovered the secret of the atom and its mighty firepower under the blowing of the first trumpet. For it was both during and after the second world conflict, which saw the first explosion of an atomic bomb used in war, that the events unleashed under the first trumpet began to unfold. Notice also that a third part of the trees were burned up by the fire under the blowing of this trumpet (8:7). Trees are used as symbols in the Bible for leaders among the people.

          The blowing of a trumpet unleashes certain forces and brings to pass certain episodes which continue to the end. The fact that succeeding trumpets blow after the events of the first trumpet begin, does not mean that the first trumpet is through blowing. Each trumpet continues to sound to the end. What is unleashed under the first trumpet is the power of the atom’s destruction, which shall eventually destroy one-third of the population of the earth and devastate completely one-third of the nations on the face of the earth.

          Because it is recorded that fire and hail are mixed with blood, it indicates that the fiery blasts of man shall be mixed with the blast of the breath of Almighty God as much water is vaporized by the intense heat which is created by the atom’s explosion and congealed in the frosty heights above. Then it will des­cend in the form of hailstones which will be mixed with the fire of the exploding atoms and the blood of multitudes who will be slain.

          In that it says that all the green grass was burned up, it indicates that all the inhabitants of the earth will be affected mightily by the devastation of the atom’s fury. All shall be scorched or burned in one way or another – all except those who are protected by their God. Those who are under the covenant seal of their God do not come under the symbolism of the green grass which is a type of all car­nal flesh. (Is. 40:6-7). The fact that one-third of the population will die because of the atom’s explosion does not mean that only one-third of the earth’s inhabitants will be destroyed. There will be many other types of destruc­tion which will take a heavy toll of life.

First published in March of 1967 by Word of Life Fellowship in the book:

Prophecies for Our Time 01: The Finished Mystery

http://www.wordoflifefellowship.com

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Discipleship: Epilogue

The following is the final note from my father’s work on Discipleship.

““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:28–30, NASB 95)

Too long many churches have lulled the people to sleep with the false assumption that “salvation” is all that is required to guarantee one all the glories of Christ’s Kingdom, and all the fullness of the incredible joint heirship with Christ in His coming rulership of all the kingdoms of this world. Thank God that in His unfathomable love He has provided a simple way of deliverance from death and the provision of eternal life through Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf. But that is the first step to the ultimate that God has for us. Otherwise, Why Jesus’ call to Discipleship?

All of us begin our Christian experience as “newborn babes” in Christ (1 Peter 2:2). But like any normal natural father, our Heavenly Father expects us to grow up. Only as we heed the call to be fully disciplined by Jesus, through His word and Spirit, can we grow to become like our Lord.

“A pupil (disciple) is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.”  Luke 6:40 (NASB version)

Although works are involved, discipleship is not a “system of works.” It is a commitment to cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus until we “know” Him in such intimacy that His love captivates and motivates us to make Him our all in all; thus increasingly releasing His Spirit to work within.

by J. Leland Earls

Discipleship EpilogueDownload