Time's clock (Denis Hart)

In a previous letter (Second Hand Watchers - see below) I quoted from a hymn (God's clock is striking the hour).  The hymn actually refers to 'Time's clock' and courtesy of Eternal Rest Lyrics I have reproduced the first verse and chorus below.  What is striking is that this hymn was written by Thoro Harris around 1918.  He also wrote that wonderful hymn that resonates in our souls - He's coming soon (two verses and chorus below) - and others such as Coming for me and I love His appearing.  What a debt we owe to men of God such as these who burned with expectancy of His soon return ('Palestine' had been liberated at the time, but there was no Israel nation).  How much more should we be watching with expectancy!  And Time is an interesting word - spelt backwards it reads EMIT (and the Light of the World is coming soon!).

What especially prompted this follow on was an article (on another website) from the Washington Times, 11 June 2007:  The "doomsday clock" continues its advance to "midnight." Existential atomic danger is most immediate to Israel. Iran poses the greatest problem.  I have included excerpts from the article below.  Events, especially around Israel, are taking shape quickly - Time's clock is getting ready to strike!   

         

Time’s clock

Time’s clock is striking the hour,
Jesus will soon descend,
Clothed in the garments of power,
The reign of sin to end.
Then will this anthem be ringing
Like to a mighty flood,
Then ’round the throne we’ll be singing,
Glory and praise to God.

To that eternal sphere
We are waiting
For our translating;
The time is near.

He’s coming soon

In these, the closing days of time,
What joy the glorious hope affords,
That soon - O wondrous truth sublime!
He shall reign, King of kings and Lord of Lords.

He’s coming soon, He’s coming soon;
With joy we welcome His returning;
It may be morn, it may be night or noon—
We know He’s coming soon.

The signs around - in earth and air,
Or painted on the starlit sky,
God’s faithful witnesses -declare
That the coming of the Saviour draweth nigh.

SECOND HAND WATCHERS (Denis Hart - Australia)Once again, as a lurker from Australia, I would like to express my thanks for the letters.  I wanted to share from a prophetic word that the Lord gave me in our church last Sunday.  I clearly saw the face of a clock, and the Holy Spirit saying that to most Christians the ‘second hand’ was not visible.  But those who are ‘watching’ have been observing the second hand and know that the time for a visible (to all) shift of the minute hand is imminent - and a shift of the hour hand to midnight. 

I believe that we are about to enter the time of shaking and darkness spoken of in Isaiah 60 (Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness all peoples).  We may not know exactly what is to transpire, but we know that He is at the Door and that He is in control.  Importantly, we are watchers of the second hand who have been watching patiently the movement of God’s clock, and He loves us for being those who love His appearing.  In the words of the hymn, ‘God’s clock is striking the hour, Jesus will soon descend'. 

Deterring Iran (from the Washington Times) - excerpts
By Louis Rene Beres and Isaac Ben-Israel     June 11, 2007
The "doomsday clock" continues its advance to "midnight." Existential atomic danger is most immediate to Israel. Iran poses the greatest problem.  Israel knows that the Iranian president's exterminatory threat is real. In law, this threat signifies the intent to commit genocide. Israel also recognizes that the pre-emptive destruction of Iran's growing nuclear infrastructures would involve serious operational and international difficulties. For interception, Israel has deployed elements of the tested Arrow system of ballistic missile defense, but even the Arrow would have "leakage." A single incoming nuclear missile that manages to penetrate Arrow could promptly kill 25,000-50,000 civilians, and even more if we include long-term fatalities. Iran could also share its nuclear assets with terror groups that would use cars and ships rather than missiles as delivery vehicles. These enemies might seek nuclear targets in New York or Chicago as well as Israel.Without pre-emption, if Iran goes nuclear, Israel could feel compelled to end its policy of nuclear ambiguity. Taking the "bomb out of the basement" could allow Israel to enhance its strategic deterrent, but Jerusalem could still never be quite certain of enemy rationality.

Every state has the right to defend against aggression, especially where attacks would involve mass-destruction weapons. Now facing the risk of genocidal war from Iran, Israel would not itself consider the first use of nuclear weapons. But should Iranian nuclear weapons ever be unleashed against Israel's cities, either directly or via terrorist proxies, Tehran should understand fully that Israel would respond with at least proportionate destructiveness.