FROM THE HEART OF DR. REXELLA VAN IMPE

Someone With Skin On

I suppose this story has been told in a variety of ways, but it illustrates so well the heart-cry of all mankind.

As I heard it, a little boy woke up in the midst of a violent storm, frightened by the thunder and lightning, and cried out for his mother. She reassured him, and told him never to be afraid of the dark or the storm because God was right there with him.

In a few minutes the child cried out again, and the mother went back to his side and reminded the youngster of her earlier assurance that God was with him in the storm. “I know,” said the lad, “but I want someone with skin on!”

Don’t we all? Religions based on noble thoughts or impersonal cosmic forces, or centered around idols made of stone or wood, do not satisfy the deep longing inside the human breast for a God with whom we can have a personal, living experience. We seek a God we can touch — Someone with skin on — to be our Example, our Saviour, and our Intercessor.

Centuries after the time when God himself came down to the Garden of Eden in the cool of the evening to walk, talk, and have fellowship with Adam and Eve, sinful man had lost sight of who God was and what He was like. Mankind stumbled about in the dark, disobedient and lost.

So God sent His Son to earth once again to reveal to man what God is like and to restore the lines of communication and fellowship. And to help man relate to God, the Father wrapped His Christmas present to the world — the divine spirit and person of His Son — in human skin!

The Apostle Paul wrote, For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Jesus, our Example

The old gospel song, “Where He Leads I’ll Follow,” has a tremendous message in its lyrics. One line in particular describes Jesus by saying, “He the Great Example is, and Pattern for me.”

The truth is, Jesus gave us an example for living as well as His life. When we see how Jesus lived, how He acted, how He responded to other people and the circumstances of daily life, we catch a glimpse of how we should live. Oh, if only we would ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” when faced with life’s tough decisions and choices.

We know that His life was an outpouring of love and joy. His very first recorded miracle was performed at a wedding! He had dear, cherished friends in Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, in whose home He enjoyed rest and fellowship. When Lazarus died and Jesus was called, we’re told He wept for His friend. Onlookers even noted, Behold how he loved him! (John 11:36). And Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

The Gospels are filled with examples of the compassion of our Lord. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them (Mark 6:34). We’re told He taught them…and later fed them.

Acts 10:38 tells how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

This is the example Jesus set for us — He went about doing good. In love and compassion, He met people’s needs, touching, healing, and lifting them. And that is what we are to do.

In today’s dark world, you and I may well be the only light some people will ever see. We are the only hands of God that will ever touch them. Ours are the only feet that will bring the good news of the gospel to them.

I tell you, if Christ’s hands are not extended through ours, He will never reach out to some people. That individual in your world crying out for someone with skin on to come to him…is waiting for you.

“Oh, Rexella,” you say, “how could we ever expect to be like Jesus and minister as He did?”

Because He said so. Jesus said, Verily, verily, [truly, truly] I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:12,13).

Jesus, our Saviour

A short time after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph brought Him to Jerusalem to the Temple to be presented to the Lord, according to the law of Moses. Two remarkable and beautiful things happened there that day.

First, there was a priest named Simeon, an old man who had been promised that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. When He saw Jesus, he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation (Luke 2:29,30).

There was also an 84-year-old prophetess named Anna in the Temple. The Bible says that she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him [Jesus] to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem (Luke 2:38).

Why is it so significant that Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus as the Saviour? Perhaps God knew that we today needed to see this confirmation of the faith of others in the holy Scriptures. The majority then and now could not see who He was and is because of spiritual blindness. The Lord Jesus entered the world He had created to rescue fallen man, yet those with whom He desired to be intimately associated rejected Him.

The Bible says, He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not (John 1:10,11).

Jesus knew the price He would have to pay as the Saviour of the world. The Christmas card picture of Him being revered as a beautiful baby in a manger was for a brief moment. The adulation of those touched by the compassionate prophet, teacher, and healer lasted only a few days.

Jesus grew up in a humble home, in a despised village. His brothers and sisters misunderstood Him. The religious leaders of the day hated Him. And finally, when He was falsely convicted and crucified, His own disciples forsook Him.

But He died for everyone to redeem all mankind, willingly, by choice. He came to be a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).

Someone has said that Jesus would have come to earth, suffered and died, to save just one person. And I believe that is true. But it is also true that, had the Lord been born ten thousand times in Bethlehem, it would have been ineffective… unless He had a birth in our hearts. Only then is He our Saviour.

Jesus, our Intercessor

I’ve often heard the old folk proverb which suggests that before one criticizes a person, he should walk a mile in his shoes. The point is, of course, that one cannot really understand someone else’s behavior unless one has gone through their tests and trials.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews reminds us that because Jesus, the Son of God, came down and wrapped himself in human skin and walked in our shoes, He knows what we’re going through… He understands. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Under the law of Moses, the role of the high priest was to intercede before God for mankind. And Jesus, who provided the ultimate sin offering in His death on the cross, now serves as our Intercessor in heaven before the Father.

Having walked the rocky road of human existence before us, He fully understands what it means to be hungry, tired, and penniless …to be misunderstood, slandered, falsely accused… to endure heartache, physical pain and suffering…even death!

Oh, He knows what you’re going through, He understands what you need…and He cares! He sees your struggles, He hears your cry. And He is reaching out to you.

I heard about a little girl whose mother was in the hospital, and who was spending the night alone with her father. Soon after her dad turned out the lights, the little girl said, “Daddy, are you there?”

“Yes, child,” he said, “I’m here.”

It was quiet for a moment, and then a little voice asked, “Daddy, are you looking at me?”

What a joy to know that, in our darkest hours, we can go ahead and go to sleep knowing that Jesus stays awake all night looking after us!

I love the beautiful words of the old song that says,

Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share;
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Just now, reach out and touch the “skin” of Jesus the Lord, God’s “unspeakable gift” of love. Receive Him as your Example, accept Him as your Saviour, trust Him as your Intercessor.

A CLASSIC MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM DR. JACK VAN IMPE

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble continued

The First Seal is found in Revelation 6:1,2: And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals…. and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer

The seals speak of the political, economic, and religious problems that will occur during the Tribulation. A world leader appears who seems to have the answers for peace. He rides a white horse.

Commenting on the first seal, Dr. H. A. Ironside wrote:

This rider on the white horse evidently pictures man’s last effort to bring in a reign of order and peace while Christ is still rejected. It will be the world’s greatest attempt to pull things together after the church is gone. It will be the Devil’s cunning scheme for bringing in a mock millennium without Christ.

The second seal reveals that this peace is short-lived. One who rides a red horse is given power to take peace from the earth and a terrible war follows (Revelation 6:3,4). And when he had opened the second seal…. there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another.

The third seal announces famine, inflation, and shortages, well-known companions of war (Revelation 6:5,6). And when he had opened the third seal…. lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

The fourth seal announces plagues, sicknesses, and all kinds of violence, bringing death to many (Revelation 6:7,8). And when he had opened the fourth seal…. behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

The fifth seal reveals religious persecution and indicates that multitudes will be martyred during this terrible time (Revelation 6:9,10) And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, 0 Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

The sixth seal pictures ecological upheavals that challenge description. Generations of pollution combined with the problems in nature brought on by nuclear warfare may contribute to the chaos in nature pictured here. However, it is clear that the wrath of God is the moving force in this frightening rebellion of the creation (Revelation 6:17). And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The seventh seal, described in Revelation 8:1, depicts the lull before the storm. The catastrophic trumpet judgments are so horrendous that all heaven sits in awesome silence before the blitzkrieg begins. That is why the text reports, “there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.” Then each of the seven angels sounds a trumpet before each calamitous judgment begins.

First Trumpet

The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up (Rev. 8:7).

Second Trumpet

And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed (Rev. 8:8,9).

Third Trumpet

And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter (Rev. 8:10,11).

Fourth Trumpet

And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! (Rev. 8:12,13).

Fifth Trumpet

And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them (Rev. 9:1 — 6).

Sixth Trumpet

And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt (Rev. 9:13 — 19).

Seventh Trumpet

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever…. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail (Rev. 11:15,19).

The trumpets sound the coming of divine judgments. The Tribulation period is a time of wrath — God’s wrath. And the plagues that descend are reminiscent of those brought upon Pharaoh by the hand of Moses under the direction of God. There is hail and fire mingled with blood. Trees and grass are burned. Water is turned to blood. Great turbulence comes to the sea, destroying ships and marine life. There are disturbances in the heavens and on earth. The stars fall. Darkness descends. Demonic activity is widespread. An army of unprecedented size, numbering 200 million, moves from the east toward Jerusalem. It will be a fearsome time to be alive.

The blast of the seventh trumpet also begins the seven vial judgments, which we will cover in our next newsletter.

CHANGED LIVES-one at a time

Before I was saved I read a Christian track placed in a laundry mat for me in Gillette, Wyoming by a Christian whom I will only know in heaven when I finally meet him or her for the first time. It was a white 3 inch by 3 inch Jack Van Impe prophecy booklet.

I did not get saved that day but God awoke in me an interest of curiosity in prophecy. Now 38 years later we are on the verge of nuclear war and much more … from Glory to Glory he brings us onward, Praise God!

Sean Q.

Thank you. Because when I lose sight of what really matters your letters and the explaining of each verse of the bible help me get back in track to what is really important. I’m a mother of two little kids and between the crying and the cleaning and the routine sometimes I have hard nights. But then I read, I pray and I’m reminded what really matters. I can’t be more thankful to my God for my family, and the resources that he puts in my life, like this newsletter which really helps me know the truth and know my God is with me. Thank you for your loving heart, your kind words and most of all for speaking the truth. I will sure pray and cry for the loved ones that still don’t know the true God. My Lord Jesus.

Adriana M.

HIGHLIGHTED MINISTRY OFFERS

How Can We Have Peace and Joy Today? DVD / Perfecting Ending book

You feel it in the air: Millions today are filled with fear, angst, uncertainty. They desperately need to know how to have peace and joy today… and thankfully this is a truth Jesus Himself addressed when He said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer…” (John16:33).

Dr. Rexella Van Impe and special guest Dr. Dave Williams show you how to access this good cheer Jesus promised — and they explain how the turmoil of these times is predicted in Bible prophecy when the return of the Lord is at hand.

The ultimate message of this powerful presentation? Anyone can have peace and joy today — no matter the circumstances — when they place their faith in Christ. A great message for you and one you will want to share!

As a bonus with your physical order, you will receive a copy of Perfect Ending: Why Your Eternal Future Matters Today by Dr. Robert Jeffress.

Coming in the Clouds – A Q&A Reference Guide to the Rapture

There’s no question…Jesus will return!

One day, and maybe not so long from now, Jesus will come in the clouds, ready to take His children home. Are you ready?

Bible prophecy can be confusing…even daunting. But if you read God’s Word, it’s clear to see: He wins in the end! And His beloved children will stand victorious with Him in the days to come.

This booklet contains the most important and interesting questions our Jack Van Impe Ministries family has asked down through the years – and the answers are straight from the heart of Bible prophecy Dr. Jack Van Impe and his clear biblical teaching! Discover the facts about the Rapture, the Tribulation, and more.