Buried in yesterday’s USA Today was a short article on the Episcopalian Church’s provisional approval of ceremonial language for same-sex marriages. At their annual convention, the bishops also approved anti-discrimination language for transgendered clergy and members. The Rev. Carla Robinson, a transgender (born male) vicar of All Saints Church in Seattle, said, I stand here as a priest today because my gender expression didn't disqualify me.
The Episcopalian Church caused an uproar in 2003 by installing the first openly gay bishop. That was just the beginning. Last year, two Episcopalian lesbian priests were married in Massachusetts.
At the convention, several bishops who spoke out against these provisions warned that it will put the Episcopal Church out of the Christian mainstream. Let’s hope so. “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound teaching, but will follow their own desires and look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear” (2 Tim. 4:3).
Yesterday, I mentioned that Jesus’ words “this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place” in Matthew 24:34 are very personal to me because my generation ushered in the rebirth of the nation Israel and that my birthday is Israel’s Independence Day, May 14, 1948.
Most scholars believe that Israel’s re-birth was the first major end times sign. If this is so, then people born in 1948 will still be alive when He returns (Matt. 24:34). But sharp Bible students know that one of the other events that must take place before the Lord’s return is the restoration of active Temple worship (Matt. 24:15). And this has not yet happened in “this generation.”
So how close is Israel to building a new Temple and restoring Temple worship? Well, it may be closer than you think. In what is called the “Six days War” of 1967, Israel regained control over Jerusalem. And ever since that time, Orthodox Jews have been praying for the rebuilding of the Temple. And they are so sure this will happen that a number of schools in Israel are already training priests for conducting Temple worship.
Given the prophetic fulfillment of Israel’s restoration, and the increasing labor pains on earth today, it is not unbelievable that the stage is now being set, and if so, the end of the age may be very near. My generation may indeed be the one that sees all this come to pass.
