“As I watched I heard an eagle that was flying in mid-air call out in a loud voice. Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth …! Revelation 8:13
On November 15, 2005 country duo Big and Rich introduced their new album Comin’ to your City along with their now well known hit Eighth of November for which they received nominations at both the Country Music Awards and the Grammy’s that same year.
The song Eighth of November memorializes the true account of the 173rd airborne in Operation Hump during the Viet Nam War during 1965. Ambushed by 1200 Viet Cong, the song tells the story of the men who valiantly fought and gave their lives on that fateful day. Forty five years later, at a time when many of us are looking expectantly at the month of November, the words to the chorus of this song seem particularly haunting.
On the 8th of November,
The angels were cryin’
As they carried his brothers away
With the fire rainin’ down
And the Hell all around
There were few men left standin’ that day
Saw the eagle fly,
Through a clear, blue sky
1965, the 8th of November
Saw the eagle fly,
Through a clear, blue sky
1965
I have to thank my daughter (Seven Stars) for bringing this song to my attention. A long time country music fan, as soon as we started discussing November 8, she brought it up – remembering almost all of the words to the chorus verbatim. After we hung up the phone, I gave it some thought – strange how current events seem to intertwine with pop culture at times – a phenomenen which seems to act as a two way mirror – reflecting both the past and the future in an odd sort of way for any one who cares to pay attention.
Waiting for my car to be serviced this morning, I had more than ample time to ponder these things as I waited for my oil to be changed, my tires to be rotated and all the -various hoses and “whatcha’ m’ call-it’s” to be checked. And, just about the time, I was ready to start grumbling as a promised two hour wait turned in to three, the Lord reminded me of what a perfect opportunity I had to just sit in the sunshine, listen for his voice and make notes.
I’ve been looking at Jeremiah 50-52, quite a bit recently, so perhaps it was not completely unexpected that my Bible should inadvertently flip open to Jeremiah chapter 50 this morning. As I read the text, which I have read so many times before, these words seem to jump out at me in a way that really caught my attention.
“As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with the neighboring towns, declares the Lord, so no one will live there or dwell, no man will dwell in it”.
Sodom and Gomorrah – their utter destruction by fire so similar to what we would think of as a nuclear holocaust made me curious to go back and read the Genesis 18 and 19 account again. As I read Genesis 18, I was just amazed – take a look at these verses.
“Then the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation and all the nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.
Then the Lord said, the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”
What you first notice in this text is God confirming his covenant with Abraham – very important! And, secondly, although God has already determined the judgment that he is about to bring, he not only gives Abraham forewarning but, gives him the opportunity to intercede. Which he does by bargaining with God about sparing the city. Because Abraham has asked him, God agrees that if fifty righteous can be found, he will spare the city. When fifty righteous cannot be found, the bargaining continues from fifty to forty-five, to forty, to twenty and then eventually to ten. And, for those ten (or less, which basically amounts to Lot and his family), God sends two angels to deliver them before the city is demolished.
As I read the account, I was struck by just how similar people were then to how people are now. When Lot went out to speak to his son in law’s about fleeing the city, it says they thought he was joking. And although betrothed to his daughters, they apparently loved the life they had in Sodom more than the women they were betrothed to for when the time came, it was only Lot, his wife and his two daughters who fled the city. And even then, they had to be grasped by the hand (by the angels) to be led out of the city to safety because they hesitated.
November, November – a month to remember. * Another American tragedy, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 (11/22/63).
Genesis 12:2 – the eternal covenant
In recent days, the United States has been instrumental in coercing Israel in regard to dividing the land. This is in direct opposition to the promises God has made to Israel and to the eternal covenant God established with Abraham in Genesis 12. I do not think it is far-fetched to believe that this is the straw which has broken the camels back in addition to all the other sins this nation has accumulated before God which will result in judgment.
The extreme importance of this covenant ( in relation to judgment) is clearly demonstrated by being re-iterated in Genesis 18 just prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot and his family because they are relatives of Abraham (Lot is his nephew) are spared. In this same way, we, as relatives of Abraham, by virtue of being grafted in to that same covenant by faith, by the blood of the Messiah will also be spared. What a beautiful picture that is!
Therefore, although the days seem uncertain, for those of us in the body of Messiah, the message is clear. Our God is a merciful God and for the sake of the promises he has made and the covenants he will keep, he will deliver us. Therefore, brethern, be encouraged by these words – Jesus is coming soon!
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6 Watching and waiting with YOU for the soon return of Jesus! Cindy
Heaven Bound 
Cindy,
Thank you for a insightfull and inspiring post, your view is faithfull and well balanced. Trusting in Truth and remaining hopefull.
A number of likeminded individuals are looking up this November 8th. Why? Well the answer involves a Fall Jewish Holiday series in 2017. The anticipation of 2017 as being a year of Jubilee as proposed by Rabbi Samuel Ben Judah and others, and the anticipation that that a rapture period of seven prophetic years (2520 days) , prior to the period of Jacobs Trouble also known as the Tribulation is soon to commence.
Needless to say this is speculative, because of the possibility of error due to human interpretation, and the potential of errors in Jewish Tradition. The 8th of November is merely one possibility of guesses because it is 2520 days prior to the Day of Atonement on the observational calendar.
Following the same logic the 11th of November 2010 is paired with the beginning of Tabernacles, and November 18th is paired with the end of Tabernacles. I will not go on to enumerate the myriads of possible alternatives and errors with this reasoning. Yet, there are many reasons to be hopeful today and every day.
Suffice to say for a Christian victory is assured, Gods Word is Truth, and Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He will redeem His Church. A Christian can live in expectation and security in the worst of times. Watching; in patient expectation for the fulfillment of our Hope, regardless of troubling circumstances.
By: Michael on November 7, 2010
at 9:51 am
Michael, thank you once again for sharing your insight and encouragement, your words really blessed me this morning! Cindy
By: cindybythesea on November 7, 2010
at 5:15 pm
Great post Cindy!!
For weeks now I have been thinking and praying along the same lines as your text today. Not only did God save Noah and Lot from destruction when judgment came but also their families. That’s why I pray Luke 21:36 multiple times daily to intercede with Jesus to spare “all” the members of our family (like Noah’s and Lot’s) even if some of them are “of this world”.
I for whatever reason am of the 11’s crowd—–I see 11’s or multiples of 11’s many, many times daily. And in the middle of the night months ago when I awoke to see the digital clock display on the ceiling showing a multiple of 11 for the um-teenth time—- I asked the Lord what it meant? And what came to my mind through my spirit was—–every time you see this—11 or a multiple of 11—-you need to stand in intercessory prayer for your family and pray Luke 21:36 “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and stand before the Son of Man.”
I am sure that our family is like most typical families where several of the family members are walking on the wide path that is “of this world” and are in jeopardy of being left behind if the Rapture were to happen. When I try to minister to them about the signs of the times and those being a warning and fulfillment of bible prophecy—–they do not process this information, I suspect due to their lack of spiritual discernment. So as I have stated I not only pray Luke 21:36 but also include the fact that Noah and Lot’s families were saved along with them and pray in hope that mine or ours will be saved from what is to come as well.
Glad to see you back posting—-always enjoy them—–in Christ,
John
By: John B on November 7, 2010
at 5:16 pm
Thanks for sharing John! I think we all have family members and friends who fall in to that category and I have been dismayed at times trying to get through to some of them, but, I’ve taken your approach and pray that God will grab those who hesitate by the hand as he did Lot and his family and pull them to safety. What an encouraging portion of scripture! Blessings to you dear brother – have seen many 111’s myself and the double of – which is 222 – thus the interesting date of President Kennedy’s assasination. Cindy
By: cindybythesea on November 7, 2010
at 5:23 pm
The Spirit is moving intensely today in all I see, hear and sense. I appreciate your blog, your love for Christ and it gives me joy to think about having a sister in Hawaii!
Peace and Blessing to you, Cindy.
Kim
By: Kim on November 7, 2010
at 6:10 pm
Thank you Kim, I feel the same way! Looking foward to meeting you someday very soon around the throne! Cindy
By: cindybythesea on November 7, 2010
at 6:40 pm
Cindy – Great thoughts. The stuff about watching brothers carried off immediately got me thinking about JFK, elected 50 years ago tomorrow (11-8-60) and his key role in the escalation of the Vietnam conflict. Little bro Teddy watched two of his brothers gunned down and carried away. A third (Joseph P., Jr.) literally went down in flames in WWII when he was unable to bail out of an experimental aircraft-bomb laden with explosives.
With the divine dictum, “Do not fear!” firmly in mind, and a healthy dose of prayer and scriptural discernment, some of other ‘outlier’ possibilities of potential symbolic significance…
http://11foot8.com/ (Note especially the second video in the right-hand column: “13 crashes in 13” months — all ‘decapitations’ of vehicles, often symbolic of ministries.)
Nov. 8, 2004, (six years ago, the number of man and his efforts, e.g., at ‘peace’): Operation “Phantom Fury” began (aka, the Second Battle of Fallujah, in Iraq — a conflict the U.S. military described as “some of the heaviest urban combat U.S. Marines have been involved in since the Battle of Huế City in Vietnam in 1968.”
The World Series of Poker final game starts at 11PM in Las Vegas on 11-8, having recently whittled the “November Nine” players down to seven (nine being the number associated with judgment, seven with completion). Can one think of anything more emblematic of all that is wrong with this nation?
And let us not forget Revelation 11:8 —
“and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.”
That is, the bodies of the two witnesses which *may* (PERHAPS), symbolically represent the body of Christ (church) and Jews (Elijah). Though the specificity about where the Lord was crucified argues strongly for Jerusalem, another *possible* interpretation (since Sodom and Egypt are curiously included alongside it and the Lord was, in effect, crucified in the city which is the world) is that the three city spirits are now effectively mixed in America, the ‘tossed salad’ of all the world’s cultures.
By: ultraguy on November 7, 2010
at 9:14 pm
Thanks for your additional thoughts Art, you always give me something to think about. I didn’t know JFK was elected on 11/8/60 – the fact, that the head wound he sustained on 11/22/63 – (three years and fourteen days later) – was witnessed by the whole world – still gives one pause for thought. I’m not sure how it might all tie in (if at all) – but, then again, I wouldn’t be surprised.
By: cindybythesea on November 7, 2010
at 10:53 pm
Quick additional thought… In light of the combined cities idea in Rev 11:8 (above), see Genesis 11:8… almost its mirror image:
“So the LORD dispersed them from there [Babel] over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.”
By: ultraguy on November 7, 2010
at 9:43 pm
[…] less-than-Biblical thoughts, developed first in a comment on Cindy-by-the-Sea’s latest post (‘November, November, a month to remember’; recommended, just like all of hers) earlier this afternoon […]
By: 11-8 in Scripture (and Beyond) « New Wineskins on November 7, 2010
at 11:44 pm
[…] less-than-Biblical thoughts, developed first in a comment on Cindy-by-the-Sea’s latest post (‘November, November, a month to remember’; recommended, just like all of hers) earlier this afternoon […]
By: 11-8 in Scripture (and Beyond) « New Wineskins on November 7, 2010
at 11:44 pm
“As I watched I heard an eagle that was flying in mid-air call out in a loud voice. Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth …! Revelation 8:13
Cindy, my King James says, “angel” not “eagle”.
I have only heard eagles screetch. Never heard one talk although with God all things are
possible:-)
I truly love your articles. God has given you much discernment and insight into current events and their spiritual Truth.
David
By: David on November 8, 2010
at 5:54 am
Hi David, Thank you so much for writing and for your wonderful encouragement! I’m not sure why some versions translate the word as eagle and others as angel – I think the gist of it is messenger, all though out of the two, I think I like the word angel a whole lot better! Blessings to you dear brother and thank you again for writing! Cindy
By: cindybythesea on November 8, 2010
at 7:10 am
this was on http://www.fivedoves.com today
A serious warning message from the Lord–REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE
By: Diane on November 8, 2010
at 5:01 pm
*Before* I read Ron’s message, the Lord led me, after a time of prayer this morning, to Ezekiel 16, starting (top of left-hand page) halfway thru v48. I’m taking that as confirmation of at least the gist of his message.
By: ultraguy on November 8, 2010
at 5:05 pm
I’m wondering what you perceive as the “gist” of his message? This exact same thread was locked out on RITA, with – I believe – good reason. It struck me as promoting a spirit of fear, not a spirit of faith, and raised a number of questions in my mind.
It seems to proceed from the assumption that Lot’s wife was “saved” and lost her chance due to her own failings – Yet our assurance, our guareentee is that God Himself has taken responsibility for our salvation, and none who are His will be lost. Is there biblical support for the idea that Lot’s wife was ever among those who put their trust in the promised messiah?
And to whom is Jesus speaking in Luke? Look at the verse in context with the proceeding verse –
31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away : and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
32 Remember Lot’s wife.
Since we know the Rapture occurs in a “twinking of an eye” this cannot apply – no one will have time to return back. Unless you allegorize this passage [and that’s a very slippery slope] it’s literal meaning seems to apply to the warning Christ was giving the Jews regarding flee the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Thirdly, isn’t this just another version of “works” salvation? Kind of a “You’d better not cry, you’d better not pout, cause Jesus is coming to town” type refrain?
As to Ezekiel 16 – isn’t that God speaking to his adulterous wife, Israel? The Rapture is the Bride, which is not the same.
Just wondering if I’m missing something here that you are seeing –
Blue
By: blueteapot on November 9, 2010
at 4:30 am
So much is happening in the spirit world. We have all had questions about what to expect. I have through the years wondered exactly what to expect. I have asked the Lord several times to reveal what we can expect – in that I believe we are days away from it. Tonight I came across the following word that ties all my thoughts and perceptions together and I was left with a great big – YES – this IS truth. Halleleujah!
This one is worth reading.
http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=34670&PN=1
By: Jeane on November 9, 2010
at 2:03 am
Hi Cindy. My heart tells me that something awful is right around the corner. Let’s give praise to our heavenly father for his son who died for our sins. Jesus is our only hope.
I don’t know if you know who Jonathan Kleck is.
I know a lot of people are focusing on Arizona right now but many people don’t realize how serious the situation is the Gulf Of Mexico. Here is a clip from Jonathan (A God fearing Christian) and his take on the Gulf.
Dear Heavenly Father,
In the Name of Jesus, OUR KING, we pray for the divine protection and your mercy for the saints. Father God, we know there are difficult times ahead and we expect there will be “wars and rumors of wars” as there have been thus far. Lord, we know what Jesus said in Matthew 24, Luke 21 and Mark 13 will come to pass. We excitedly await your return. But Father, in the name of Jesus, we ask that you “intercede” on these demonic plans and spare the pain of those who belong to you and others you know should belong to you. If it is YOUR WILL we ask you stop the enemy from their evil deeds. Either way, Father, we ask for your loving mercy for all those who love you. IN JESUS NAME we pray AMEN.
By: engineer on November 9, 2010
at 1:41 pm