Is God calling me?

“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” Eph. 1:18.   If you are truly looking to follow Jesus and serve God, God will manifest Himself to you through 1. opening your understanding of the Bible, 2. answering your prayers, 3. providentially directing your experiences, and 4. deepening your longing to walk with Him.

First, you will begin to understand deep Bible truths more clearly. People cannot comprehend God’s word because these doctrines are foolishness to the natural man. “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!…the world would never know him through human wisdom…” 1 Cor. 1:18, 21. Only God can open your eyes to spiritual truths.

You will find your prayers are being answered. “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” The answers may not be when and what you expect, but you will know when you receive an answer.  And you will feel His tender care.

You will find doors opening and closing which will help you to choose the right path. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Psa. 37:31. Righteous opportunities will unfold in your life. Doors to poor choices will shut. God will use His Word (the Bible) and other Christians to help you comprehend His loving and wonderful leadings in your life.

Finally, you will experience a deep yearning to walk to God. Those worldly pleasures you once enjoyed will lose their appeal. When you participate in fleshly activities, you will feel a longing for the righteous, the holy, the pure. And when you hear God’s word and have holy fellowship, you will feel uplifted and satisfied. “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” James 4:8.

Then you will need to decide if you want to commit your life to God or not. If you choose to commit to God, you must commit fully. Your walk will be very challenging but very, very rewarding. Jesus said, “If  any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” (Matt. 16:24) A Christian’s walk is one of self-sacrifice. But if you faithfully commit yourself to prayer, study, and service to others, you will find truth and be transformed into Christlikeness. Ephesians 4:1-3 tells us that we must “…walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Additionally, God will help you every step of the way with His Holy Spirit. John tells us in John 14:16, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another helper, that He may be with you forever.” And in Hebrews 13:6, “So we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What shall man do unto me?’”

I want to know the meaning of Revelation 7:1 -8. Does it mean that only Israelites are chosen to be the 144.000?

The full number of the elect church could have been from the nation of Israel. (Exod. 19:5, 6), but Rom. 11:7 tells us that the nation failed in their faithfulness. “What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened…”

The call to be in the Church was opened up to the Gentiles. Rom. 11:25-33 elaborates on this, “…I do not want you to be ignorant…my brothers (in Christ),…Israel has experienced a hardening  in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in…” 

The book of Revelation is full of symbols, and this passage is no different. Here, the twelve tribes of Israel are symbolic of the complete Church class. You will find this to be consistent throughout the book of Revelation.

What is the blood moon of Acts 2:20 and Revelation 6:12?

Consider the context of “the moon became as blood.” Revelation 6:12 (NIV), “I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red.” Removing the sixth seal symbolizes the opening and comprehending of hidden biblical truths.

"THE SUN" represents the light of the Gospel. At the cross, Jesus gave Himself as the ransom to free mankind from Adam’s death sentence. 1 Timothy 2:6, “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” The testimony and release from sin and death for the majority of mankind has obviously not yet happened. Presently, Jesus and His sacrifice are offensive to most people. “And he (Jesus) shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense…” Isaiah 8:14. Scriptural truths have been overshadowed by various human pseudoscience to reduce the value of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus as was depicted in the Cross.

“The moon became as blood.” If the truth of the Gospel of God represented by the sun was obscured, then the moon(moonlight is only a reflection of the sun’s light) represents the teachings of the Mosaic Law. The Law was a “shadow of good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1). The sacrifices of the Day of Atonement (Deuteronomy 16) depict the work of redemption through the sacrifice of Jesus.

Some claim that the bloody sacrifices of the Jews (recorded in Exodus through Deuteronomy) were a barbaric act. Hence the moon (the Law sacrifices) seem bloody. But the Apostle Paul teaches these sacrifices were types of Jesus’ and His church’s sacrifices. They were the image of “better sacrifices,” Hebrews 9:23.

However, Acts 2:20 is referring to a literal eclipse of the moon. When Jesus was crucified on April 3, 33A.D., the sun was darkened (Matthew 27:45). Additionally, astronomical data reveals that there was a partial lunar eclipse. When the moon is eclipsed, it looks like it is a dark, blood red. Hence, the moon becoming as blood as both a literal and a symbolic fulfillment.