Kingdom Testimony: Walking in the Kingdom of God

James Hudson Taylor was a pioneer to China evangelism in the 1800s. He is credited as being the most influential in inland China's conversion to Christianity. Today was chapter 1&2, talking about his young life and conversion. A true Kingdom Testimony! (This book is in the public domain: pub date 1925.)

In the last two chapters of the book, God tells Ezra what will befall the world in the last days. The message matches up with Old Testament prophets, Revelation, and things Jesus said. Monday we will begin a classic missionary story from 1925 of the biography of James Hudson Taylor. This will be a true Kingdom Testimony. Have a great weekend!

Ezra is still in the field of flowers being shown visions of the end-times. The chapter 13 one is when he sees a man coming up out of the sea. At first I thought it was the beast dragon of Revelation, but it proves to be the Messiah who will deliver and protect those who stay till the very end. Ezra is told by the Most High that he, after being filled with the Holy Spirit, must gather five scribes to which he will dictate God's message of the end to them all day and they can eat at night. Twenty-four of the books apparently are what we are reading and the other 70 are to be revealed at the end to those who stay. This message goes against a pre-trib rapture of all believers.

Ezra is told to go to a field of only flowers, no buildings, and eat only flowers for seven more days. Then he is given a vision of a woman that is representative of The city of Zion. After that he has a vision of an end-time eagle and a Lion, who is the Messiah. He is then sent back to the field to eat flowers. Only four more chapters to go in 4 Ezra.

Ezra's discourse with the Most High continues. God tells Ezra to not question the fate of the unrighteous anymore, probably because Ezra is so fixated on what becomes of them. God wants to tell Ezra about the glory that comes to the righteous. But Ezra doesn't listen well. Chapter 9 ends with the beginning of a vision of a barren woman who prays and is given a son. We pick up the rest of the vision and it's interpretation tomorrow. We might be able to finish 4 Ezra this week.

Ezra is still allowed his discourse with God to continue. The Most High is patiently answering all his questions. God tells him what happens to the unrighteous at the end, and the righteous. God reveals that after the spirit and soul leave the body there is no more repentance. There are 7 ways the scornful will wander about in torments; and 7 orders of the righteous in glory that matches up with the Bible. They all will see this for 7 days and afterward gathered to their habitation awaiting the final judgment.

Ezra is still questioning God as to why His chosen people were taken captive. Ezra is told to fast for another seven days and receives more answers. God starts explaining creation and time and seems to be saying there are more than one creation but then there is a seven year timespan where there are no inhabitants on the earth and then is the judgment. God tells Ezra about the Messiah that is to come. It's kind of a puzzler about the times and ages. God tells Ezra He has given no one else this knowledge.

Ezra is really questioning what God is doing. He wants to know why the Babylonians were allowed to capture God's people when they were even more wicked than Israel. The Most High answers him and when he keeps on, God sends angels to inform him. Ezra is receiving information about the end of this age, hence why this is considered an apocalyptic book. Chapter 4 reveals that in Ezra's time, around the 4th century BC, more time has passed than remains.

We begin 4 Ezra today. This book has 16 chapters total and they are absolutely loaded with end time symbology, which can be backed up by verses in the Old and New Testaments. Ezra, who is a descendant of Moses and Aaron, is part of the Zadokite priesthood, and is also a prophet. He is the same Ezra of the Old Testament. He went to Mount Horeb, where Moses received the ten commandments, to seek the Lord God and God does not disappoint. This is a loaded book that we will examine to see if it continues to line up with scripture.

The importance of converting children to Christ. Timeless. Includes a very touching story about a little girl who leads a scoffer to Christ.