Painting by Andrea L. Sims

“Unfolding Time for the Kingdom Mind”

Andrea L. Sims PhD.

Unfolding is such an interesting word.

My work of “unfolding” can be compared to the third trimester of my first pregnancy: I was uncomfortable, yet eager; I wanted to birth this new life, yet I was apprehensive because I hadn’t gone through anything like this before. And I didn’t know quite what to expect as my life changed from what it was, to motherhood.

These studies on “The Kingdom” are life-changing for me. As I take you with me on this journey of discovery, I hope they become life-changing for you, as well, for I have become so aware that my longing for and interest in “The Kingdom” is really my longing for our King.

I thought of something I saw on social media and kept as an example of so many things, but Kingdom-mindedness is one of them:

“Just heard a story of a group of 80-year-olds who intentionally moved into the same nursing home to plant a church and live life on mission. That’s how you finish strong.”

And what a mission field that is—where the elderly are often forgotten and slip into what’s called “failure to thrive.” It’s a condition of hopelessness and fear of the unknown as death approaches. Those mission-oriented folks, in my opinion, were Kingdom-Minded indeed.

As I pondered how to become “Kingdom-Minded,” I was led to a book I was given as a gift years ago which had some interesting insight into our topic of TIME, and it seems to be so current for the times in which we find ourselves. I referred to this book in one of my previous blogs, too. The book is titled, “Come Away My Beloved” (Frances J. Roberts, 1973, p. 31-32). I have changed some of the KJV language and the sacred names of this short article.

Eternity and Time

Behold, a new day is dawning! Let not the sound of war and discord deafen your ears to my message; for I would speak to you a word of encouragement and would bring you tidings of hope.

I say unto you, my qodeshiym, I have not gone away never to return; but I shall surely come, yes, even at a time when you feel the least expectation and when many shall have become engrossed in the problems of the hour.

Look, I say unto you, my beloved ones, do not become centered in the problems of the world; but look up, for surely your deliverance is near.

My ageless purposes are set in Eternity. Time is as a little wheel set within a big wheel of Eternity. The little wheel turns swiftly and shall one day cease. The big wheel turns not but goes straight forward. Time is your responsibility—Eternity is Mine! You shall move into your place in the big wheel when the little wheel is left behind. See that now you redeem the time, making use of it for the purposes of My eternal Kingdom, thus investing it with something of the quality of the big wheel. As you do this, your days shall not be part of that which turns and dies, but of that which goes straight forward and becomes one with My great universe.

Fill your days with light and love and testimony. Glorify and honor My Name. Praise and delight yourself in Adonai. So shall eternity inhabit your heart, and you shall deliver your soul from the bondages of time.

You shall experience a liberation from the pressures of time and shall in your own heart slow down the little wheel. So that you find a new kind of rest. You shall have a foretaste of the Shabbat rest into which the whole earth shall enter before long. When this time comes, I, Myself, will slow down the little wheel of time and there shall be an adjustment, and it shall be as it was in the beginning.

[I’m continuing to share with you from the book . . .].

The pressures of time have increased as sin has increased, and all too often my qodeshiym have been found living more in the little wheel than in the big. This happens whenever the flesh is in ascendancy to the Ruach. Whenever the opposite is true, you have always experienced a fleeting but glorious freedom from the racing little wheel. Is it not true? You have found the Ruach always unhurried, and you have marveled to find how oblivious you had been to the passage of time whenever you have been truly in the Ruach.

You can live here as much as you choose. You can enjoy this rest and disengage yourself from the little wheel as often and as long as you desire. You shall lose nothing and gain much. Try it as a therapy for your physical body. Always it shall most certainly be tremendous source of energy and vitality for your spiritual life!”

[end of reading]

Painting by Andrea L. Sims

So, you may be asking, “What is next in ‘The Kingdom Mind’ series?” The answer to that question can be found in this Scripture in Ecclesiastes 3:

TO everything there is a season,

and a time to every purpose under the heavens:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

QOHELETH (ECCLESIASTES) 3:1-3 את CEPHER

And you may also be asking, “Why now?” The answer to that question can be found in our guiding Scripture for “The Kingdom Mind” found in 4 Ezra:

Why have you not considered in your mind this thing that is to come,

rather than that which is present?

Then answered I and said, O Yahuah Adonai, you have ordained in your Torah,

that the righteous should inherit these things,

but that the wicked should perish.

Nevertheless, the righteous shall suffer strait things,

and hope for wide:

for they that have done wickedly have suffered the strait things,

and yet shall not see the wide.

EZRA REVIY`IY (4 EZRA) 7:16-18 את CEPHER

To become more “Kingdom-Minded” we may need to reconsider our understanding of “that which is present” and “this thing that is to come.”

The subject of time has been in my mind for a while now. About a year ago, I removed a large clock from my bedroom because I found myself glancing at it on and off through the day as I wandered in and out of there. It seemed to me that I was “checking in” to find out what I should be doing next. I began to feel like a slave to it.

Then about a month ago, out of nowhere, the clock fell off the wall in my office—three times in one day, breaking the third time. I threw it out. It was so strange. I whispered to myself, “Are we out of time?”

To add to the mystery of time (and I do consider it a mystery of sorts) there is this:

That which has been, is now;

and that which is to be, has already been;

and Elohiym requires that which is past.

QOHELETH (ECCLESIASTES) 3:15 את CEPHER

It helps me to keep the “little wheel of the present” in mind as I try to comprehend the eternal. As I said, we may need to reconsider our understanding of TIME.

And there’s more: How are we to think about our own lives within the framework of time? Let’s see what Yah has to say:

What is man, and whereto serves he?

what is his good, and what is his evil?

The number of a man's days at the most are a hundred years.

As a drop of water unto the sea,

and a gravelstone in comparison of the sand;

so are a thousand years to the days of eternity.

Therefore, is Elohiym patient with them,

and pours forth his mercy upon them.

He saw and perceived their end to be evil;

therefore, he multiplied his compassion.

The mercy of man is toward his neighbor;

but the mercy of Yahuah is upon all flesh:

he reproves, and nurtures,

and teaches and brings again, as a shepherd his flock.

He has mercy on them that receive discipline,

and that diligently seek after his judgments.

SIRACH (ECCLESIASTICUS) 18:8-14 את CEPHER

As I thought upon the magnitude of these words, I couldn’t help but share what so many of us have expressed about “time flying by”! To come upon this word was astounding to me:

THEREFORE, behold! the days come;

and the times shall hasten more than the former;

and the seasons shall speed on more than those that are past;

and the years shall pass more quickly than the present years.

BARUK SHENIY (2 BARUK) 20:1 את CEPHER

I will finish up with a passage in 2 Baruk 83— we could spend a year in this chapter studying the subject of time:

[note: Recall our guiding Scripture for “The Kingdom Mind”:

“Why have you not considered in your mind

this thing that is to come, rather than that which is present?]

2 Baruk 83: 1-22

For El Elyon will assuredly hasten his times,

and he will assuredly bring on his hours.

And he will assuredly judge those who are in his world

and will visit in truth all things by means of all their hidden works.

And he will assuredly examine the secret thoughts,

and that which is laid up in the secret chambers of all the members of man.

And will make them manifest in the presence of all with reproof.

Let none therefore of these present things

ascend into your hearts,

but above all let us be expectant,

because that which is promised to us shall come.

And let us not now look unto the delights of the other nations

in the present

but let us remember what has been promised to us

in the end.

Baruk Sheniy (2 Baruk) 83:1-5 את CEPHER

For the ends of the times and of the seasons

and whatsoever is with them shall assuredly pass by together.

The consummation, moreover, of the age

shall then show the great might of its ruler,

when all things come to judgment.

Do ye therefore prepare your hearts for that which before ye believed,

lest ye come to be in bondage in both worlds,

so that ye be led away captive here and be tormented there.

For that which exists now,

or which has passed away,

or which is to come,

in all these things,

neither is the evil fully evil, nor again the good fully good.

For all healthiness of this time are turning into diseases.

Baruk Sheniy (2 Baruk) 83:6-10 את CEPHER

And all might of this time is turning into weakness.

And all the force of this time is turning into impotence.

And every energy of youth is turning into old age and consummation.

And every beauty of gracefulness of this time is turning faded and hateful.

And every proud dominion of the present is turning into humiliation and shame.

And every praise of the glory of this time is turning into the shame of silence.

And every vain splendor and insolence of this time is turning into voiceless ruin.

And every delight and joy of this time is turning to worms and corruption.

And every clamor of the pride of this time is turning into dust and stillness.

BARUK SHENIY (2 BARUK) 83:11-16 את CEPHER

And every possession of riches of this time is being turned into the grave alone.

And all the rapine of passion of this time is turning into involuntary death.

And every passion of the lusts of this time is turning into a judgment of torment.

And every artifice and craftiness of this time is turning into a proof of the Truth.

And every sweetness of unguents [ointment] of this time is turning into

judgment and condemnation.

BARUK SHENIY (2 BARUK) 83:17-20 את CEPHER

And every love of lying is turning to contumely through truth.

Since therefore all these things are done now,

does anyone think that they will not be avenged;

but the consummation of all things will come to the Truth.

BARUK SHENIY (2 BARUK) 83:21-22

These Scriptures are unfolding things that have been hidden away and sealed until now. It seems to be the time of uncovering that which was previously buried.

But I am reminded of what I have said many times:

We know nothing yet as we ought.

We look through a glass darkly.

We only know in part.

(See 1 Corinthians 13)

But I sense that we are learning a bit more, seeing a bit more clearly, and have a greater understanding than we have had previously. And I say, HalleluYah for that! Praise Yah for that! I’m rejoicing that “The Kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Adonai, and of his Mashiach; and he shall reign forever and ever.” (See Rev. 11:15b)