Doves,

No man knows the day or the hour.

No person knows the day or hour of their birth.

No parent knows the birth of their baby.

Only God knows.  Only the Father in heaven knows.

My wife and I are expecting any day now.  The due date for our baby given by the Doctor is July 7th this year.  However, my wife was having contractions 5 min apart beginning on June 3rd. Since this time her contractions have slowed....so we wait and watch anxiously for this baby.

We have trusted God with this baby and believe it has personal prophetic significance for us.  We chose names for a girl and a boy.  The boy's name is Elijah Hosanna, and the girl's name is Abigail Selah.  We picked out both names as a plea and cry out to God for His deliverance from this increasingly wicked last generation.  Elijah means YHWH is God.  Hosanna means ‘save us now’.  The same ‘save us now’ chant that Jesus heard as he rode on a donkey on his way to Jerusalem as the messiah.  Abigail means ‘Father’s joy’.  Abigail is a picture of the rapture bride as she recognizes David for who he was, before he was King of Israel in contrast to the wicked Nabal.  Selah is a ‘mystery’ word.  Some say it’s a musical note, some say it’s a word to ask for pause and reflection.  A website, nowtheendbegins has a great article on this and the word is used in reference to a place such as Petra where God’s elect will be protected in a hiding place.

Last year we were married on the 9th of Av.  We had planned to be married earlier, but after signing an agreement at the place of our wedding we found out that it was double booked and God set us in place on this exact date.  The 9th of Av may seem to be a poor choice for a wedding date based on past tragedies that happened to the Israeli people, but when we asked God about this day He told us that his purpose is to build the temple (body, husband and wife one flesh) not destroy it....and that the spies were purposed to give a good report in faith of the Promised Land as Joshua and Caleb did.  This is a date that was intended for good and not evil.  This is also true of Tammuz 17, the day Israel worshipped the golden calf.  Our country, The United States of America was proclaimed on this day in 1776.  As a country we have fallen short as we follow the ‘bull’ of Wall Street and kick God out of our affairs.  Lord forgive us. Yet, both of these days await a future fulfillment where God marries his people (17th Tammuz) and gives them the Promised Land (9th of Av).  As Jeremiah 8:20 says ‘the harvest is past, the summer has ended and still we are not saved.’  There is a hope for a summer harvest of believers which wish to be saved by YHWH….save us now!

Our wedding was at a vineyard called ‘Soaring Wings’ overlooking the Platte River.  It really is a beautiful site, and we both felt led by God directly to this place on the day He set aside for us.  This river is our favorite place to visit close to where we live as it flows down from the Rocky Mountains. It is our way to draw closer to the destination we know in our hearts that God has for us. 

After our wedding we went on our honeymoon to the Rocky Mountains.  Our first stop was in the Medicine Bow Mountains and we arrived at a cabin which would be our definition of a perfect place to live.  It is simple, beautiful and perfect in our eyes.  One of the things I really love is to see Bull Moose.  Upon our arrival our hosts told us that if we hurry to a close by meadow we could see some Bull Moose.  So, we went immediately to go see.  There in large opening surrounded by trees they were there.  I am always in awe when I see them.  None of the pictures do the majestic animal justice.  I love the excitement of getting as close to them as I can.  I do not just want to see them, I want to experience them.  I got within a few yards in the meadow of three large Bull Moose.  My heart beat in my chest and somehow it gives me a feeling like I am in the presence of YHWH.  It is the best I can do for now.  After our stay at this place we traveled on to our ultimate destination in the Grand Teton Mountains. 

On our way there seemed to be a horrible sandstorm wind which was difficult to travel through, but finally we arrived at our destination.  We unpacked and there was a note on the door to let us know to let ourselves in.  As we were unpacking and exploring our new accommodations we glanced out the window to see a gorgeous female moose with a baby.  We have a blended family, but no children together.  Our desire was to have a baby together and God seemed to be whispering this to us on our honeymoon.  Here we are a little under a year later and expecting a baby any day.

In the spring, around Passover leading up to our wedding we had quite a family tragedy.  Our dog Rex who we loved dearly had to be put down to sleep.  I agonized on this for days, but I knew God was asking me to do this.  One of the only ways I could come to terms with it is hearing God’s voice asking me to make a sacrifice of sorts to Him during Passover.  Rex was incredibly dear to my heart and he was our gift of obedience to God.  We had him cremated and took his remains with us on our honeymoon.  We found the perfect place on Tu B’ Av.  My wife spotted a waterfall as we were hiking on one of the three peaks of the Grand Tetons.  We prayed, and then finished giving our lamb to the Lord.  Rex means ‘king’ and I know my King will allow me to spend eternity with my dog sharing my adventures exploring as we once did together so many times.

One of our day trips was up to Yellowstone Park to see the animals and sights there.  There was one incredible waterfall where a rainbow shone in the sunlight.  A canyon had an incredible amount of water flowing intensely as a river through it which was incredible in its own right.  It then twisted and turned until it fell over the edge leaving any onlooker breathless.  It looked like the throne of heaven belonged there.  If you wondered who the maker was, all you need do is look in the sunlight to see the seal of promise. 

All good things seem to come to an end.  Hopefully soon, in eternity, we will get rid of that saying.  Right now we have a home on the edge of town just on the east side of the Platte River.  Like the Israelites so many years ago with Joshua, we are waiting for God to orchestrate our lives in such a way where the waters will divide and we will cross over on dry ground to the destination, our promised land in the Rocky Mountains.  This is our personal way to see we are watching and waiting for the rapture.  We have no hopes or dreams in this world.  We hope to soon dwell under the rule and reign of Jesus Christ.  Nothing else matters to us. 

Right now as each moment passes, we are waiting on that moment, which can happen in the blink of an eye, where no person knows the day or hour of a birth. 

Jesus come quickly,

 

Tony Els