How many of us are more like the Jews in the Bible than we realize? The New Testament Jews were looking for the Messiah, they wanted Him to come, just like we do in our day and age. I hear more and more people speak about the return of Christ, the rapture of the Church, the desire to go and be with the Lord. It is different language but it is the same hope. Both Jews of old and Christians of now, seek the same thing, but they also missed or are missing the same thing.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” The Greek word for peace in this passage is eirene and it means undisturbed, quietness, national tranquility, exemption from war. Jesus said He did not come to bring peace as defined here, meaning many were and are seeking a quiet kingdom, but Jesus is coming with a loud, disturbing, kingdom. Jesus said, I do not come with peace, but with a sword. Sword in the Greek here is machaira and it means conflict, disputes, quarrels, a flight. Jesus came to earth with His kingdom to pick a fight with the ruling forces on earth. He did not come to be friends with His enemies.

Many people want to be raptured out of here, because they don’t want to fight, yet we say we are the warrior bride, Jesus is the captain of angel armies, the Father is the Lord of Hosts, Elijah prayed his servants eyes would be open to see more are for us than against us. My friends, we were nor born to retreat, we were born to advance the kingdom of God on earth. We do not do this with violence, we do this with resisting evil, standing in the battle, praying without ceasing, taking every thought captive. The kingdom of God is at hand, that is why the earth is shaking, the wars are raging, for the enemy is panicking. Can’t you see the kingdom at hand? We must repent of wanting to retreat, to be raptured, for the kingdom of God is at hand. Healing is our weapon, worship is our warfare, and we have captives to rescue and prisoners to release. No retreat! Stand! Advance! You are an overcomer!