CRA Newsletter Spring 2007

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?

by Rita Bennett

When I was a teen in Florida, I remember how America was being threatened by Castro who was at times ready to push the “Good bye” button.

Then there was Khrushchev, who was from time to time standing ready to pick up the “red phone.” You may remember the statement being promoted by some not-to-be-bothered-Americans, “Better red than dead.”

In 2001 I felt compelled to go to my first Prophecy Conference that was held in Branson, Missouri. Within a few days I was on the plane to attend this event. I returned home September 7, and was celebrating my birthday at Ray’s Boathouse on September 8 with friends, Joan Longstaff and Betty Bell.

Three days later America and the world was changed forever when four stolen jet airplanes, used as flying bombs, detonated in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

That day I received a phone call from my stepson, Conrad. He asked how I was and what I was doing. I said, “I’m very sad about all this, but I’m sitting here in my bedroom reading my Bible, trying to figure out what is going on.”

It’s interesting as I look back on the “Prophecy Conference” that none of these excellent presenters, all serious teachers of the Bible, had a clue that something dreadful was about to happen to America. Unfortunately there were no times allotted for conferees to pray in groups. Spirit-filled small groups might have been better able to discern what the Lord was saying.

I didn’t have a clue either. The only thing I discerned was I was to drop everything and go to the Prophecy Conference.
Of course, God did things on the trip that were definitely special happenings and worth my time spent on this adventure.

Prophecy 101

If you’re wondering what I did next, I studied the books of Revelation and Daniel in Kay Arthur’s Bible Class by video and detailed syllabi. I needed that foundation.

Next in importance to me was to study the Feasts of Israel in the Torah (Old Testament). Numerous books have been written on that subject in this last decade.

The Jewish Christian, Zola Levitt, gives a fine study in his small book, The Seven Feasts of Israel. Levitt says, “All God’s plan from chaos to eternity is ingeniously revealed through the nature of timing of these seven annual feasts” (Levitt, 1979, p. 1).

The celebration of the Feasts gives us a time clock of where we are living biblically. That happens to be between the fourth and fifth feasts: Pentecost and Trumpets. This is why I, for the last decade, have paid particular attention to the annual Feast of Trumpets since it is the next one to be fulfilled.

What I mean by fulfilled is this. Let us look back to 1,600 B.C. at the Feast of Passover, first of the seven Feasts. Moses is shown by God the need to bring one more plague on the Egyptians before Pharoah will let the Children of Israel go. Once this happened they were to be ready to “get out of Dodge” or Egypt bright and early. The Children of Israel were to have one roasted lamb to a household. The lamb’s blood was to be put over the two side posts and the upper door posts of each house. The death angel would see the sign of the blood and pass-over that house, then no first born child or animal would be killed. (Exodus, chp. 11, 12). It worked, and Moses and Israel headed to Mt. Sinai where after several miracles they met with the Lord, Adonai, in person.

Moving forward to 2,000 AD, we can see that the Feast of Passover was fulfilled as Jesus became the Passover Lamb when He died on the Cross. Up until this time the Jews had only looked back to celebrate their liberation from slavery to the Egyptians each Passover. Many of the early Jewish believers entered into the Passover (Pesach) Feast’s fulfillment 2,000 years ago. Christians today look back on both of those inaugural events of the past.

The FIFTH Feast – Day of Trumpets

Back to my topic, the Fifth Feast has not been fulfilled. Believing Jews, and some Christians, celebrate it annually. Some check out web sites in Jerusalem to discover when the new moon is actually seen from God’s headquarters on earth.

The Feast of Trumpets, is believed by many–including St. Paul–to be when the Bridegroom Jesus (Yeshua) the Messiah comes for the Bride at the midnight hour of history (Matthew 25:6).

The Apostle Paul writes details to the Thessalonians, “The dead in Christ shall rise first, then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (l Thessalonians 4:16a-18 kjv; I Corinthians 15:50-58, Psalms 81:3, Heaven Tours pp. 222-226).

The Feast of Trumpets is the only one of the seven that is determined by the New Moon appearing in Jerusalem and confirmed by two witnesses. Therefore no one knows “the day or the hour” before it actually occurs. Two days are placed on the Jewish and American calendars but the day will only be known by its appearance in Jerusalem. This year it fell on September 20, 2009.

What About Now?

No one has to tell me that we may be in the biblical time called Jacob’s trouble. Signs in the daily news makes me wonder.
All I can say to you is – be a student of the Bible enough so you will be able to compare it with the world news. Prophecy is written so that you will understand it, when you “need” to understand it. The Book of Revelation has in the past been a mystery to me. Now it seems to be making more sense daily.

Pay attention to your dreams. God may be speaking to you personally. Write the dream down and date it. At times Spirit-led dreams have been very important to me.

If you listen to prophecy on television or Internet, be sure to compare it with those who teach by researching the Hebrew language and meanings. Use your Hebrew and Greek Interlinear Bibles.

As you have time, begin a study of the Hebrew Alphabet and eventually the language. (Write me if you want more information on how to study.) The little reading I can do has helped me a lot and given me fresh insight, and I think protection.

Help the widows and orphans in Israel. Pray for Israel daily. There will be a special blessing to you from our Lord. Of course, help all those in need that the Lord lays on your heart.

Most importantly, seek the Lord for His guidance. What each person or couple needs to do in troublesome times must be on a personal decision basis. Write those messages down in your Prayer and Dream Journal.

For my conclusion, I quote Jesus, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3 nkjv).

These are some of my favorite words from Jesus. They are written in red. This is the Bridegroom speaking to us His Bride. There are a lot of details we don’t understand but one day we will understand the road map with clarity. Enjoy this love message to you. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and tell Him of your love.

And Fear Not! That too is a command from our Lord Jesus.

I send my love and blessings from the CRA and CRCS ministries. Your prayers and personal ministry are such a valuable blessing to me, my Board, and Staff. We bless you in Jesus Name.

FROM RITA'S HEART

A great heartfelt “thank you” for your support over this year. Because of you, Christian Renewal Association continues active ministry in many parts of the USA: Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, Oregon, and Washington State. In foreign countries on a missionary basis in: East Africa, and South Africa. Also we are beginning a work in New Zealand, and hopefully reaching to parts of Asia.

Our books and course syllabi are sent all over the world through personal witnesses, such as yourselves, and through the international Internet. Recently we shipped books to Norway.

There are three of us working together to keep up with the calling and mandate God has given CRA for these many years. Pat, my personal assistant and graphic designer has worked with me 18 years, and Trish CRA bookkeeper and financial advisor has joined us one day a week for a year now. I am full time and continue to donate my hours as CEO and President as well as my counseling profession, to CRA. John Watson donates his time to keeping up our web site: www.EmotionallyFree.org. Our annual records are reviewed by a local CPA company. For financial details, see our web site for information updates.

As of this November, I will begin my countdown to earning Counseling licensure for Washington State. Dr. P. Templeton will work with me overseeing 1000 hours in Individual and Marriage and Family Therapy from my office at Christian Renewal Counseling Services (CRCS) in Edmonds. All personal recommendations and referrals for counseling at CRCS is sincerely appreciated. In addition to faith-based counseling, I work with people who are searching for a faith to believe in.

For three years, I have written the worship column for The Edmonds Beacon, my hometown paper. It has kept me in Bible study and in trusting the Lord for the next subject for this bi-weekly column. I’ve written on a plethora of topics: Heaven, Sermon on the Mount, Armor of God, Psalms 23, Psalms 91, or book topics, etc.

Some of these topics are becoming booklets. A new booklet will be coming out soon: Psalm 91 in the News. It comes from seven
columns in the Beacon and also gives an answer to the flu pandemic our world is greatly concerned about.

Recently, I presented a Heaven Tours Workshop for A Woman’s Touch (AWT) in Silverdale, Washington. Sixty to seventy women and men, attended through a deluge of rain. As I shared with these lovely people, many stood to make Jesus Lord with a stronger commitment to Him. About 25 joined me in a circle to dedicate their writing gifts to God–especially in the days in which we live.

By the way, if you want to take advantage of CRA’s great “Buy two, get one free” offer, let me encourage you to place your order today! Each of our CRA family of books that we ship always arrives with an inspiring gift bookmark and books can be autographed when you request it.

Lee Shelton writes, “A dear friend in North California told me about Heaven Tours.” Her friend said, “I was in a Christian bookstore and I saw the book Heaven Tours, and was telling everyone to “get it”– before I even noticed it was written by a favorite author, Rita Bennett!” Lee says, “I then ordered your book from the Edmond’s Bookstore!”

Vernelle in Canada, a grieving mother writes, “I am very excited to read Heaven Tours! Thank you so much for your love for Christ and other people, and in all the work you have done to give us this special Heaven book! I so much appreciate you. Your writings have brought me much healing and comforted my heart from grief.”

It is a joy to hear how people are touched by my Heaven books. My best!