[note note_color=”#dbfba4″ text_color=”#501e9b”]
“But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; and He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
“Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, and faithfulness the belt about His waist.
“And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them.
“Also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
“The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa 11:4-9)[/note]
Readers,
Is it just me? Am I imagining things? It seems like there is a nature change slowly taking place in the animal world.
Well, perhaps I am out into left field. Simply humor me in this reading.
To begin with, take time to contemplate the Scriptures at the beginning of this entry. They belong to the second coming of Jesus, and especially to what is commonly noted as the millennium. (The 1000 year reign on Christ Jesus on the earth.)
Notice very carefully how Isaiah, sets forth a nature change that will affect the animals in general. It would be wrong to think of these Scriptures as merely Hebrew exaggeration. Even with Biblical symbolism there is always a literal meaning in the background.
Let’s begin with …
Why Biblical Prophecy is So Important
I have been a minister of the gospel for close to fifty years. My forte of study has long been both the Hebraic and the prophetic background of the Christian faith. I am well acquainted with prophecies that set forth the age and the generation that will see the second coming of Jesus Christ. It is not a matter of setting dates. However, there is no question in my mind that we are of the generation that will see the second coming.
With regard to the prophetic Word, the Lord explained to the apostles, the intent of the Scriptures.
“These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.
“Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures … “ (Luk 24:44-48)
Did you see it? All prophecy must be fulfilled in their time.
This brings me to these special prophecies in Isaiah that have to do with …
The Witness of Creation
There are a number of things the Lord said we are to look for with regard to His second coming. The one I am drawing attention that has to do with the ‘all of creation’.
The apostle Paul said –
“For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Rom 8:19-21)
The term ‘creation’ is the Greek word ‘ktis’-is’. The apostle Paul is setting forth that the whole of the unredeemed creation, that is, rational and irrational will undergo a nature change at the second coming of the Lord Jesus.
Here is Vine’s Word Study definition of the word ‘creation.’ [The bold underline is for emphasis.]
The word [ktis’-is] may signify either the creative act (as Rom_1:20), or the thing created (Mar_10:6; Mar_13:19; Mar_16:15; Col_1:23; Heb_4:13). See on 1Pe_2:13. Here in the latter sense. The interpretations vary: 1. The whole unredeemed creation, rational and irrational. 2. All creation, except humanity. The point of difference is the inclusion or exclusion of humanity. The second explanation is preferable, the non-rational creation viewed collectively, animate and inanimate. Equivalent to all nature.
All of creation is waiting for the unveiling of the sons [children] of God. In this present age, the glory of God’s children is shrouded in bodies of flesh. Our full glory is yet to come.
Take note of these references [bold is for special emphasis] –
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” (1Jn 3:1-2)
“Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col 1:25-27)
“But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, ‘I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.'” (Heb 2:9-12 Caps represents quotes from the Old Testament.)
There is more with regard to all of creation.
The Psalmist said …
Let Everything That Has Breath
I realize that much of this is far beyond our greatest imaginations. But did not the apostle speak of God’s doings that are far beyond all that we can ask or even think.
So, stay with me as we look at more Scriptures. [Note carefully the statements in bold. Let your heart think on these things] –
“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!” (Psa 150:6)
“The LORD is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD, and Your godly ones shall bless You.” (Psa 145:9-10)
“Praise the LORD from the earth, sea monsters and all deeps; fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His word; mountains and all hills; fruit trees and all cedars; beasts and all cattle; creeping things and winged fowl; kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth; both young men and virgins; old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven.” (Psa 148:7-13)
“Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field will glorify Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I have given waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people. The people whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise.” (Isa 43:19-21)
“And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.'” (Rev 5:13)
Are you still with me?
Good. Now lets go to the main question of …
What Are We Observing With the Animals
I want to take note of a couple of things. First of all, there seems to have always been certain animals that have shared an affinity with humankind. We know that dogs have long carried the tag, ‘man’s best friend’.
Why is this? Could it be that of God’s many creatures, He made the dog to fulfill so many special companion needs of the human heart. For the sake of humor, perhaps this video tells us much of what we dog-lovers understand. It is titled, ‘So God Made a Dog.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ7AfSO2fKs[/youtube]But this isn’t simply about dogs. Have you noticed that there are other animals that share an affinity with human kind? How about dolphins that have saved humans from the sharks.
Just do a YouTube search on ‘Animals that protect humans’, or, ‘Animals adopting each other’, or, ‘Animal odd couples’.
My point is simple – I’ve been seeing more and more stories where animals that are normally aggressor and prey, have become in separable, which is contrary to their very nature. Examples are a leopard adopting a baby baboon, and a lioness adopting a baby antelope.
But there is one thing that always stands out to me. It has to do with the maternal instinct that is shared in the animal kingdom. This is one thing that is shared with the human family.
Here is another video you will enjoy. After you view this video, note the ending screen where you can click on a number of other videos that relate to the nature changes in the animal kingdom.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHOvtqpBr54[/youtube]One question remains …
Has It Always Been this Way
I realize that the animal kingdom is not completed changed. And perhaps the animal kingdom has always been this way, but I have a different thought.
Could it be that we are seeing a witness taking shape in the animal king that precedes the coming King?
As for me, yes, I believe the King is soon to come. My prayer is the last recorded prayer in the book of Revelation. –
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev 22:20)
Here is a final video. Take time to listen to, ‘The King is Coming’ by Tony Hebson.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7CgbCmTaAg[/youtube]In Christ Always,
Buddy
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