The Open Scroll - A Sounding Trumpet

A Sounding Trumpet

By Bob Schlenker  (Prints about 3 pages)


Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand--  Joel 2:1
This is an alert - I am sounding the alarm! Awaken and watch with me!

Because I am willing to speak out about times and seasons, as the times about which I have written approach there will come an onslought of naysaying. Those of you who are awake and watching at this present time and whose eyes have been opened to the secrets of the knowledge of the kindgom of God (Matthew 13:11) pouring forth from the depths of the scriptures, on your behalf I pray that you would take comfort and encouragement and have the courage and wisdom to face up to your accusers. I've already addressed the datesetting issue at length so the fact that some will know the dates and times should no longer be an issue to be grappled with. The issue at hand is whether or not you or I know those times and dates now. To make even more clear my position about my presentation of the dates and times, I wanted to explore some synonomous terms. This is intended not just to defend what I have done, (for I do stand by those dates and times as representative of my best efforts to be a faithful watchman) but to offer some help and comfort to those of you who may yet struggle with scoffer's acusations. Hold fast to our Lord's words that "I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." (Luke 21:15)
But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.13 This will result in your being witnesses to them. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.17 All men will hate you because of me.18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By standing firm you will gain life.  Luke 21:12-19 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  John 15:18
I invite you to draw nearer to Him and be willing to accept the hatred, jealousy and wounding our Lord receives to this day - and receive his joy and strength.

Here are some relevant definitions from the American Heritage Dictionary.

predict: 1. To state, tell about, or make known in advance, especially on the basis of special knowledge.
synonyms of predict: call forecast foretell prognosticate The central meaning shared by these verbs is “ to tell about something in advance of its occurrence by means of special knowledge or inference

projection: 4. A prediction or an estimate of something in the future, based on present data or trends.

estimate: 4. A judgment based on one's impressions; an opinion.

prophesy: 3. To prefigure; foreshow. v. intr. 1. To reveal the will or message of God.

prefigure: 1. To suggest, indicate, or represent by an antecedent form or model; presage or foreshadow:

presage: 1. An indication or a warning of a future occurrence; an omen. 2. A feeling or an intuition of what is going to occur; a presentiment. 3. Prophetic significance or meaning. 4. Archaic A prediction. v. tr. 1. To indicate or warn of in advance; portend. 2. To have a presentiment of. 3. To foretell or predict. v. intr. 1. To make or utter a prediction.

The definitions of these words that appear above pretty much apply to what I do, and others of their definitions do not. What I do has nothing to do with use of charms or potions, horoscopes, divining omens or witchcraft. It is my declaration that I have arrived at the dates and times by being led by the holy spirit in a diligent search of the scriptures and study of the celestial signs, considering as well the validity of various dreams and visions, signs and wonders experienced by myself and others. (Whether or not the dates and times I've set forth on this site will find fulfillment in the way I have come to expect has and should have no bearing upon what I have just written about "being led by the holy spirit." Those of you who have truly walked with the Lord can bear witness to that truth. Amen?) The conclusions reached represent my interpretation of the sum total of the material presented to me for evaluation. I consider myself to be a watchman or sentinel, and the gifts I have received thus far Apostolic in nature, as a vessel used in the bringing forth of light in these latter days. I do not believe I am a prophet after the manner of one who has been sent to declare the word of the Lord as "Thus saith the Lord...".

Making use of the dictionary definitions above, I do predict if that is to state, tell about, or make known in advance, especially on the basis of special knowledge. I believe it is the appointed responsibility and duty of a watchman to tell about something in advance of its occurrence by means of special knowledge or inference. One appointed as a watchman is typically provided with a special vantage point to allow him to see the signs from afar off and also is provided with a trumpet to sound when declaring the warnings or blessings upon their approach. As I understand it, a watchman does not necessarily know the outcome in advance, but is required to sound the trumpet when certain criteria are met.

I do also make projections, if a projection is a prediction or an estimate of something in the future, based on present data or trends; a prediction being interpreted as I already stated and understanding an estimate to be a judgment based on one's impressions; an opinion. I do also prefigure, or perhaps rather interpret the prefiguring, if prefiguring is to suggest, indicate, or represent by an antecedent form or model, because this is how the word of God is declared to us in the holy scriptures and by dreams and visions. I most certainly do have a presage, a feeling or an intuition of what is going to occur. I feel the harvest season is upon us and the Bridgroom's coming is near - and that judgment is about to break forth with sudden fury upon the earth. I feel the presence of His glory. I feel that I am in the midst of a slumbering church, with a remnant of vigilant saints at my side.
So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh.22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.23 The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called `woman, ' for she was taken out of man."  Genesis 2:21-23
The last Adam's side was pierced and his pierced side was displayed as a sign of resurrection in his glorified body. After the pattern of the first Adam and his bride, so the body of the last Adam has been caused to fall into a deep sleep - and while in such a state as that, the Bride will be removed by resurrection into a glorified state.
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.  I Thes. 5:6
I do also foretell, if that is to tell of or indicate beforehand, but not at this time to tell about something beforehand by or as if by supernatural means. Nor do I prophesy if that is to predict with certainty as if by divine inspiration.

What I've been trying to say is, these signs are what I see and how I interpret them. I just want to get your attention so you can come and see. You and I will both be held accountable for our interpretation and our testimony.
What I say to you, I say to everyone: `Watch!'  Mark 13:37
Now, let me say that what I may do at any point in the future may be different from what I have done and do now. Should the Lord appoint me to prophesy by speaking forth his words as "Thus saith the Lord," I pray I would have the good sense and courage to do so. There are prophets. (I Thes. 5:20: do not treat prophecies with contempt.)
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,  Ephesians 6:19
What is this mystery if not about the Bride and how she is distinctly separate from the body - subject to and completely willing to be led even to death by her Lord and master? And about the fact that she alone will be awake and watching as the Bridegroom comes to steal her away. And about how she is prized above all others.

I do not believe that my determination to declare my interpretation of the signs will dishonor my Lord, whether or not at the present I have interpreted them correctly or incorrectly. I freely admit that I've been deceived before and may be deceived at the present, even yet lacking insight into the Lord's scheduled appointments. I still have plenty of important and yet unanswered questions. It would be presumptious of me to think I will succeed where all others who have named the dates and times for events they see - and yet I may well succeed if for no other reason than I do not intend to give up. I am very sorry for those who have.

Should you take up your trumpet and sound the alarm, some will come to you and say, "Don't get your hopes up." I don't know about you, but I can't help but have my hopes up, seeing the signs of the Bridegroom's coming and sensing his nearness in my spirit! Some will argue that because smarter people that you and I have predicted dates for the Lord's coming and failed, we too will fail. That, my friend, is flawed logic. Others will argue that because every date predicted that has thus far come and gone has proved incorrect, that any date that is predicted will prove incorrect. This, too, is flawed logic. It has been established that some will know, according to the scriptural promises of our God who cannot lie, and by the consistent testimony and abiding witness of the historical models. I will stake my life on this truth, that some will know the times in advance. I would like to be among the wise at that time. I can only hope this is that time. There has not yet been but is coming a sign appointed for the church, though so few accept even this simple truth. Will you be watching this Spring when it is likely to occur? What kind of risk are you willing to take? Count the cost if the Lord's coming for His Bride is in May at the upcoming tome of observing a second Pesach, and weigh it soberly against what happens if he doesn't. Will you be prepared - found having a white robe? Or, will your robe be stained. Do you think it matters? Are you prepared to proceed to Gethsemane and on to the cross, if that is where our Lord leads you? Awaken! Watch and Pray! For this hour; one 12th of a day, one 12th of a year - this present month - Oh, Watch and Pray! Let the alarm sound on the holy hill. Come and see! Behold - He Comes!
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. 4 He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. 5 Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. 6 His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. 7 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. 8 Listen! My lover! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. 9 My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice. 10 My lover spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. 11 See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. 12 Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.   Song of Solomon 2:3-13