They dragged Stephen out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. Ane while they were stoning Stephen, he prayed Lord YAHSHUA, receive and accept and welcome my spirit! And falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, Lord, fix not this sin upon them! And when he had said this, he felt asleep. Acts 7:58-60).
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the warning continued, as the nation, remained deaf to the calling. “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you, and from that moment Judas sought a fitting opportunity to betray Him.” (Mat. 26:15-16b). He drew near to YAHSHUA to kiss Him, But YAHSHUA said to Him, Judas! Would you betray and deliver up the Son of Man with a kiss? (Luke 22:47-48) As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led Him into their council and they said, If You are the Messiah, tell us, But He said to them, If I tell you, you will not believe… but hereafter, the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God (Elohim). And they all said, You are the Son of God, then? And He said to them, it is just as you say; I AM…. Then the whole assembly of them got up and conducted YAHSSHUA before Pilate (Luke 22:66-67,69-70; 23:1). Jerusalem, Jerusalem would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes (Luke 19: 42).
Then Israel suffered greatly, and in the future, a time of great tribulation called Jacob’s Trouble waits the nation. Their hearts bent for evil will not be broken until they go through the refining that will soften their hearts toward God. The Prophet Zechariah prophesized saying, And in all the land, says the Lord, two-thirds shall be cut off and perish, but one-third shall be left alive. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined and will test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will hear and answer them. I will say, It is My people; and they will say, The Lord is my God (13:8-9). God’s love for us compels Him to warn us of coming judgments before it comes, in order that we might have an opportunity to repent.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the hands of a clock will continue leading the world to destruction and you to judgment. Hear His warning today, while there is time left on the clock for you to repent!
Light from the Word 