The Remnant Online
Study => Bread of Life => Topic started by: Mimi on May 23, 2008, 05:21:45 PM
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"Many will come in My Name saying, I am Christ; and will deceive many."
"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many."
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows."
"And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another."
"Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."
"Behold, I have told you before."
These are the words of Jesus.
Is the book of Revelation a commentary on this chapter?
Matthew 24 opens with the destruction of Jerusalem and ends with the destruction of the world and the coming of Jesus.
The book, The Great Controversy opens with the destruction of Jerusalem - it ends with the destruction of the world and His Second Coming.
Shall we study the book of Matthew, Chapter 24?
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Let's do study this chapter it's very well known chapter but I believe that there are new things for us to learn and old things for us to cement in our minds. This can be a very deep topic. Pastor Bohr does a whole series of sermons called "Studies in Matthew 24". I'm only saying this to show how big, deep and broad this topic can and will be.
Sister, I'm not sure where you wanted to start of if there was a particular verse you had in mind? What's your thoughts?
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Matthew 24 is packed with prophecy for the living in these days. As I go about interacting with those around me, it - along with Luke 21 and Mark 13 - are the books and chapters I quote to those with an interest in questioning why world conditions are worsening. Everyone knows it is, but so many do not know why. Sharing the very words of Jesus with these people bolsters their confidence in the Bible because there is no denying the course of events in our day follows prophecy right down the line, step by step, in fact - in chronological order! This is especially true with Matthew 24. Notice the words of Jesus. He says, "then ... [this will happen]," "then ... [this next thing will happen]," and on down the chronological line.
Viewing Pastor Bohr's sermons on this has been quite interesting and in fact, prompted the desire to study this particular chapter even further.
We can begin at the beginning - but before we do that, I would like to point out to many who read but do not post the importance of the first verse shown at the beginning of this topic:
"Many will come in My Name saying, I am Christ; and will deceive many."
This prophecy is being fulfilled right and left all around us. Many have come in His Name claiming to be Christ or the Messiah and are deceiving multitudes. And how many are being taught that they are their own saviors through New Age spiritualism? It is rampant. That is where I would really like to begin.
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Let's do study this chapter it's very well known chapter but I believe that there are new things for us to learn and old things for us to cement in our minds. This can be a very deep topic. Pastor Bohr does a whole series of sermons called "Studies in Matthew 24". I'm only saying this to show how big, deep and broad this topic can and will be.
I am in for a study as well. Today I preached on Matthew 24 and tied in the books of Mark and Luke along with Revelation. Yes, and I used the SOP as well. It impacted the members in a response that I did not expect! The message that Jesus has given us impacted their minds to realize that Jesus is coming soon.
Many members in the church have heard these messages before, but they are a sleep. I am finding that many members will say, "Yes, we know that Jesus is coming again... all we need to do is just rely on Jesus." But this is said with a chuckle or with such a casual attitude as if the end time is going to be a cake walk... like no problem!
The more we can learn and understand of Jesus' messge to us in His Word the more we will draw closer to Him and rely on Him, and not ourselves. Also, we will be better equiped to share this news with others.
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With cases like Wayne Bent, Vernon Howell, Jimmie Jones, etc..etc.. we can see this that this happens and it's a sad thing to watch happen. Many have come in Christ's name and many more will come. The Bible tells us this.
However, there is another way to think of this. While most Christians would never claim to be Christ, all Christians claim to be Christ-like (ie... Christian). They take the Lord's name but then live and act like the world. This also can and does lead others astray. The people of the world see them as hypocrites and those in the church use them as an example and copy their life style choices.
We will be responsible for our influence on others.
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However, there is another way to think of this. While most Christians would never claim to be Christ, all Christians claim to be Christ-like (ie... Christian). They take the Lord's name but then live and act like the world. This also can and does lead others astray. The people of the world see them as hypocrites and those in the church use them as an example and copy their life style choices.
We will be responsible for our influence on others.
I totally agree Jim. Many praise God, but their fruits testify that they follow the world. In Matthew 7:13-20...13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
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Let's begin with the first few verses and go to the end. There is not one sentence that is unimportant:
Mat 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple.
Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Verse 2 begins the prophecies. He says: See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down
Inspiration gives us some insight into this:
This was a startling statement to the disciples. The matter was now made plain: The glorious edifice, built at immense cost, which had been the pride of the Jewish nation, was to be destroyed from its very foundation. Not one of those massive stones--some of which had borne the devastation of Nebuchadnezzar's army, and stood firmly through the storm and tempest of centuries--was to be left upon another. They did not clearly comprehend the purpose of all this ruin. They did not discern that in a few days their Saviour was to be offered up as a victim for the sins of the world. The temple and its services would then be of no more use. The blood of beasts would be of no virtue to expiate sin, for type would then have met antitype, in the Lamb of God who would have voluntarily offered his life to take away the sins of the world. Later, when all had been accomplished, the disciples understood fully the words of Jesus, and the reason of the calamity which he foretold. {3SP 71.1}
And in 70 A.D. His prophecy came to be. The temple was destroyed.
Angels of God were sent to do the work of destruction, so that one stone was not left one upon another that was not thrown down (MS 35, 1906). {5BC 1098.7}
Then His disciples asked a a single question with two elements: "when" "what will be the sign"
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world
And the rest of the chapter is a chronological line of events in the very words of Jesus - yet the very first thing He says is this:
Take heed that no man deceive you That is a huge warning. The ancient church was loaded with deceit and blatant hypocrisy. There were false teachers everywhere and of all the things Jesus could have begun to tell them, that was the first.
Turning to the disciples, Christ said, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Many false messiahs will appear, claiming to work miracles, and declaring that the time of the deliverance of the Jewish nation has come. These will mislead many. Christ's words were fulfilled. Between His death and the siege of Jerusalem many false messiahs appeared. But this warning was given also to those who live in this age of the world. The same deceptions practiced prior to the destruction of Jerusalem have been practiced through the ages, and will be practiced again. {DA 628.2}
Why do you think Jesus began his answers with this dire warning? Did everything else hinge on it? It seems to be the case.
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Everything for us does hang on our NOT being deceived. I am reminded, that of all the commandments of God, the forth begins with, "REMEMBER". Why did God say this? It was because He knew there was a huge deception coming and that people through the ages, would forget God's true Sabbath. So why does God tell us to beware that we are not deceived? God saw ahead and seen the many people that were deceived and He knows what is coming and has already come in part. He desires that those who love Him will not be surprised at the many fables coming and be deceived into believing them, but will see them for what they are, signs of His Coming and a fulfilling of His Warnings to us.
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I agree Sister Glass,
We live in the days of deception. False teachers, preachers, christs, prophets, ect. abound.
The problem with deception is that it's not just a condition that comes from outside ourselves. James 1:22 "But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves". Self-deception is rampant these days. Too many give excuses for their lack of obedience - self-deception in a most dangerous form (and is more and more prevalent within our church).
And, like Elijah, those who would point this out are often considered "troublers" (even by members of the EG White Estate ;))
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Look further in this chapter is this in verse 24:
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
The elect - these are the most astute Bible students. Christ's Object Lessons describes them as such:
The elect of God are dear to His heart. They are those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, to show forth His praise, to shine as lights amid the darkness of the world.
Verse 24 says IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, they shall deceive the very elect. These are God's people - people of the Word. The signs and wonders the false Christs and false prophets display will be so convincing that there is a possibility even God's elect will be deceived.
What does this say about the non-elect and nominal professers? Will they be defenseless against the signs and wonders? Many are in our congregations. Are the miracles performed before their very eyes the convincing factor that these false teachers are from God?
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There is an old saying that probably we have all used ourselves from time to time. It goes like this... "I'll believe it when I see it." For the most part this is a good way to rightly judge if something is true or not. And a lot of people take this common sense approach to life. However, as we all know that there are things in this world that are known as... illusions.
Illusion -
–noun
1. something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.
2. the state or condition of being deceived; misapprehension.
3. an instance of being deceived.
A lot of people have not taken time to develop true faith and therefore they use this old saying to make judgments even in the in spiritual matters. We are told in the Word that we should live by faith. It doesn't say anything about living by sight.
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Amen, Jim - reminds me of these two important statements:
Do not consult feeling; for feeling is not to be our guide. We are to walk by faith, not by sight. Do not let unbelief separate you from God. Do not let one word of unbelief or discouragement escape your lips. Satan is pleased at every such expression, because it is dishonoring to Jesus. Seek earnestly to remedy every defect of character. Put away murmuring and fretfulness. In the indulgence of these traits you represent Satan, the prince of darkness, and not Christ, the Prince of light. Cast no shadow to darken the pathway of others. Walk in the light, and the peace and joy that shine in the face of Jesus will be reflected in you. Jesus lives; and his promise is, "According to your faith be it unto you." [MATT. 9:29.] {GW92 435.2}
Especially solemn is the apostle's statement regarding those who should refuse to receive "the love of the truth." "For this cause," he declared of all who should deliberately reject the messages of truth, "God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Men cannot with impunity reject the warnings that God in mercy sends them. From those who persist in turning from these warnings, God withdraws His Spirit, leaving them to the deceptions that they love. {AA 266.2}
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Jim, you mentioned a group of men who have set themselves up as the Messiah. Don't you find it odd (I certainly do) that the people who follow them do so blindly? That the men are so charismatic, so hypnotizing that these people are not driven to search the Scriptures as did the Bereans?
It seems most people who get into these camps are already spiritually minded, in search of some grand truth. And it appears they want something wholly outside of what has been given in His Word. It is truly perplexing.
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It seems most people who get into these camps are already spiritually minded, in search of some grand truth. And it appears they want something wholly outside of what has been given in His Word. It is truly perplexing.
Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Until one is born of the Spirit, he remains open to these great deceptions. The church is to be a light in this dark world. We are to be pointing all to Jesus and His Word, not to ourselves. We are only reflectors of His light. The church has failed in great measure to be this light, therefore many go searching in other places. Satan is not waiting, but eagerly seeking these that are searching. The influence in the church is to attract, not repulse. When the heathen see hypocrisy, they go elsewhere.
Here is a precious promise: "Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." Ezekiel 36:22-25.
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Amen, Richard. When there is a vacancy we look to fill it. If our churches are not standing in the gap as faithful watchmen, we will go elsewhere, even to a group who appear to have what we need. Yet Jesus' first words to His disciples are "do not be deceived." As you have said - unless we are so thoroughly grounded in the Word - we are wide open to these deceptions.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Shall we discuss primary and secondary applications?
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"And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." Prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, men wrestled for the supremacy. Emperors were murdered. Those supposed to be standing next the throne were slain. There were wars and rumors of wars. "All these things must come to pass," said Christ, "but the end [of the Jewish nation as a nation] is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Christ said, As the rabbis see these signs, they will declare them to be God's judgments upon the nations for holding in bondage His chosen people. They will declare that these signs are the token of the advent of the Messiah. Be not deceived; they are the beginning of His judgments. The people have looked to themselves. They have not repented and been converted that I should heal them. The signs that they represent as tokens of their release from bondage are signs of their destruction. {DA 628.3}
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another." All this the Christians suffered. Fathers and mothers betrayed their children. Children betrayed their parents. Friends delivered their friends up to the Sanhedrin. The persecutors wrought out their purpose by killing Stephen, James, and other Christians. {DA 629.1}
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Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
When Jesus revealed to his disciples the fate of Jerusalem and the scenes of the second advent, he foretold also the experience of his people from the time when he should be taken from them, to his return in power and glory for their deliverance. From Olivet the Saviour beheld the storms about to fall upon the apostolic church, and, penetrating deeper into the future, his eye discerned the fierce, wasting tempests that were to beat upon his followers in the coming ages of darkness and persecution. In a few brief utterances, of awful significance, he foretold the portion which the rulers of this world would mete out to the church of God. [MATT. 24:9, 21, 22.] The followers of Christ must tread the same path of humiliation, reproach, and suffering which their Master trod. The enmity that burst forth against the world's Redeemer, would be manifested against all who should believe on his name. {GC88 39.1}
The history of the early church testified to the fulfillment of the Saviour's words. The powers of earth and hell arrayed themselves against Christ in the person of his followers. Paganism foresaw that should the gospel triumph, her temples and altars would be swept away; therefore she summoned her forces to destroy Christianity. The fires of persecution were kindled. Christians were stripped of their possessions, and driven from their homes. They "endured a great fight of afflictions." [HEB. 10:32.] They "had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment." [HEB. 11:36, 37, 38.] Great numbers sealed their testimony with their blood. Noble and slave, rich and poor, learned and ignorant, were alike slain without mercy. {GC88 39.2}
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Satan may bruise the heel, but the faithful believer shall bruise the head of the serpent.
From righteous Abel falling under his brother's murderous hand, a long line of martyred prophets and holy men, faithful apostles and unnumbered millions of disciples who loved not their lives unto death, testify that Satan's enmity has not abated with the lapse of ages. As the end draws nigh, his wrath increases, and he renews his efforts to destroy God's chosen. Often his greatest victories are gained, not by open, bold attack, but as at first, by deceptive strategy.
At the present day, Satan gains power over God's people, by means of those false brethren who, while at heart friends of the world, exert an influence in the church. These are the most efficient workers that the great deceiver can employ. They are constantly seeking to lessen the enmity between the church of Christ and his deadliest foe. They supply the connecting link whereby he can unite the church and the world. Here lies our present danger,--a danger against which we must constantly guard. While we should make all possible effort to save souls, deeming no self-denial or sacrifice too great to effect this purpose, we must at the same time maintain our allegiance to God.
Without supreme love to God, we cannot glorify him. Those who walk in darkness cannot discern the excellence of heavenly things. No man can serve mammon, and yet build up the Redeemer's kingdom. Whatever diverts our affections from God or destroys our confidence in him, thereby becomes an idol. God calls for the whole heart. No reserve must be made. Said our Saviour, "He that is not with me is against me." We cannot safely disregard one injunction of God's word, to compromise with the enemies of Christ and the truth.
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Jesus foretold of the destruction of Jerusalem and it was destroyed in 70AD. How many of the disciples were martyred, not counting Judas? All? leaving only John to die a natural death? Even a pot of boiling oil could not kill John before his appointed time. The more satan inspired to kill, all the more the Gospel message reached.
How many millions have been killed for standing fast for the Gospel's sake? Untold numbers, yet God always had a remnant somewhere in the world.
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I just finished reading about the life of Martin Luther from the works of Jean Henri Merle D'Aubigne. Luther many times thought he was going to his death yet it never worried him. He stated more than once that he'd rather die than violate his conscience. However, the Lord allowed him to live and die a natural death. However, it was not always so for the rest of the reformers or those tho followed them. Recently I heard a preacher say that the "church" in America needs either a true revival and reformation or persecution to purify the church.
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Amen, Jim. And it is long overdue. Someone else once said if we were preaching the Gospel as it should be preached it would rekindle persecution.
The Gospel is so unpopular with many even inside the church that new programs are being brought in to most all Protestant churches. They are no longer protesting. They want something comfortable, soothing to their ears. Something that is not offensive. Something that will not show them (us) our true condition. This is why we need to heed the counsel of the True and Faithful Witness of Revelation 3 in the message to Laodicea.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
We covered some of this earlier but can certainly speak volumes more a little later ...
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Christ had foretold that deceivers would arise, through whose influence "iniquity" should "abound," and "the love of many" should "wax cold." Matthew 24:12. He had warned the disciples that the church would be in more danger from this evil than from the persecution of her enemies. Again and again Paul warned the believers against these false teachers. This peril, above all others, they must guard against; for by receiving false teachers, they would open the door to errors by which the enemy would dim the spiritual perceptions and shake the confidence of those newly come to the faith of the gospel. Christ was the standard by which they were to test the doctrines presented. All that was not in harmony with His teachings they were to reject. Christ crucified for sin, Christ risen from the dead, Christ ascended on high--this was the science of salvation that they were to learn and teach. {AA 473.3}
The Gospel is not popular. Is this why many will betray those standing on the Lord's side? Even family members and those we thought were our friends?
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The warnings of the word of God regarding the perils surrounding the Christian church belong to us today. As in the days of the apostles men tried by tradition and philosophy to destroy faith in the Scriptures, so today, by the pleasing sentiments of higher criticism, evolution, spiritualism, theosophy, and pantheism, the enemy of righteousness is seeking to lead souls into forbidden paths. To many the Bible is as a lamp without oil, because they have turned their minds into channels of speculative belief that bring misunderstanding and confusion. The work of higher criticism, in dissecting, conjecturing, reconstructing, is destroying faith in the Bible as a divine revelation. It is robbing God's word of power to control, uplift, and inspire human lives. By spiritualism, multitudes are taught to believe that desire is the highest law, that license is liberty, and that man is accountable only to himself.
By spiritualism, multitudes are taught to believe that desire is the highest law, that license is liberty, and that man is accountable only to himself.
This sentence is packed with truth. Oprah and her friends are teaching a false gospel - a New Age spiritualistic message encouraging all to find their power from within - for we are all gods unto ourselves. It is called authentic living - our "Best Life NOW."
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Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Many would find it easier to go along with the world than to remain loyal and steadfast. Yet as I look at the list Paul gave to Timothy, there are some conditions that my nature is so prone to take on. Many times I take things for granted when I am not so watchful. Oh to remain covered by His blood!
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Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
But! Aren't we grateful for that we have this conjunction? It is full of hope and the beginning of a promise. He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. What does it mean to endure? What all does it entail? The SDABC says: Endure the various temptations to apostasy such as the deceptions of the false prophets (v. 11) and the lure of iniquity (v. 12).
Another element is in this verse ... endure unto the end - the same shall be saved. Is this to the "end" of our endurance? or possibly until the end of time? Our commentary is not clear on this. What say you?
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Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
But! Aren't we grateful for that we have this conjunction? It is full of hope and the beginning of a promise. He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. What does it mean to endure? What all does it entail? The SDABC says: Endure the various temptations to apostasy such as the deceptions of the false prophets (v. 11) and the lure of iniquity (v. 12).
Another element is in this verse ... endure unto the end - the same shall be saved. Is this to the "end" of our endurance? or possibly until the end of time? Our commentary is not clear on this. What say you?
For some it will be "their end" and for others it will indeed be the end of this world. There will be a group of Christians living at the second coming. They will endure until the very end of time in this world that shall soon pass away.
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Very good, Richard. That has been my understanding, until the end of life, end of one's probation or until the end of time.
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The very next verse tells us what must be done before the end shall come. What needs to be done?
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That is our most precious text!
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
This is a good description of the end. My SDABC is 1959 revised 1980. Does someone else have a later revision? Quite frankly I have this set because of the multiple revisions given in later editions and did not know until today of the 1980 revision. I am sorry to have overlooked that. On page 498 of Volume 5, the end is not clearly described, thus my question.
Here is their commentary on "End:"
End. Gr. telos. In vs. 6, 14 "end" is again from telos, but in v. 3, from sunteleia. It is not clear whether Christ means "to the limit of endurance" (see 1 Cor. 10:13; Heb. 12:4), or "to the end of the world" (see on Matthew 24:3, 6).
Following to verse 14 it stands to reason this would be the end of the world - end of all things; however, again the commentary makes reference back to commentary on verse 13.
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I just noticed a post from years ago:
RonA
Member
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Posts: 17
Does Matthew 24 have a DUAL fulfillment?
« on: February 01, 2003, 05:45:00 PM »
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I personally have studied Matthew 24 for near 30 years from different vantage points and different denominational authors. From the preterist to the futurist. Reading the words said TO THE DISCIPLES seems clearly to indicate that Jesus was referring to events that would occur PRIOR to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. This is especially weighty, when Jesus says to his disciples, when YOU see these things. The YOU seems only to refer to the disciples.
Now Jehovah Witnesses and many futurist groups take the ENTIRETY of the sign events of Matt 24 to occur in our time alone. To me, this is really stretching it. If all these events were meant for the 21st century, then what relevance does the fall of Jerusalem have to do with these events, since that fell in 70 A.D.?? None whatsoever.
I like what Dr Billy Graham has to say on this. He believes this prophecy was dual in nature that it not only was for the time of the disciples, but for all ages. For there have always been earthquakes, wars and famines and certainly false religions in the name of Christ.
The difficulty in accepting this though, is that one can never really ever know for sure, just WHEN Christ will return, since they're applicable for all ages?
So what do you say? Can you solve the mystery of Matthew 24? Or shall it always be unsolvable? God Bless.
Ron
Is this unsolvable?
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I like what Dr Billy Graham has to say on this. He believes this prophecy was dual in nature that it not only was for the time of the disciples, but for all ages. For there have always been earthquakes, wars and famines and certainly false religions in the name of Christ.
The difficulty in accepting this though, is that one can never really ever know for sure, just WHEN Christ will return, since they're applicable for all ages?
So what do you say? Can you solve the mystery of Matthew 24? Or shall it always be unsolvable?
RonA - your post and questions have been buried in another topic for many years. We are happy to bring it here where the discussion of Matthew 24 is taking place.
Yes, natural disasters have been going on for many thousands of years, but do we see them with much more frequency now? When we look at Luke 21, do we see many more instances of "waves roaring" - same with Mark 13.
Do we see the love of many wax cold? We do. Nations are rising up against one another - we see that, too with greater frequency.
When looking at Matthew 24, do we see a chronology to each verse? "This thing happens ... then, this thing happens ... after that, this thing happens," and so on. I believe we do. Note how many times "then" is used in this chapter, marking the next coming thing.
Jesus gives us a little breakdown:
Verse 1: He fortells the destruction of the temple:
Verse 3: What and how great calamities will be before it:
Verse 29: the signs of his coming to judgment;
Verse 36: And because that day and hour is unknown,
Verse 42: we ought to watch like good servants, expecting every moment our master's coming.
The "signs" of His coming are all around us right now and when we read the entire chapter, noting each sign, we can see where some have happened before and others are happening again now with greater intensity. Jesus is even at the door.
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Picking up verse 14 once more:
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Some thirty years after Jesus spoke these words, Paul made several bold statements saying the gospel had gone to all the world.
Col 1:5, 6 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Col 1:23, 24 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
Rom 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Rom 10:17, 18 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Had it gone to all the world? This was the "then known world." The complete fulfillment of verse 14 is yet to be. We have a dual prophecy - one fulfilled and one yet to come.
Why had not Christ come at the time of the first fulfillment of the gospel reaching to all the world? Did God give Daniel and John more prophecies to be fulfilled in the meantime? And did Jesus, Himself, have more to tell the disciples? Verse 15 is a critical prophecy yet to be fulfilled in a two-fold way. Let's follow His statements through until He has completed his commentary on this subject, which is verse 20:
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
What is the abomination of desolation spoken of here? And, what is its dual role for the end of days? We have a discussion of this going in this topic - Abomination of Desolation (http://remnant-online.com/smf/index.php/topic,826.20.html) Have a look and let's discuss how it fits in with this verse.
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Quick notes - Signs of the impending end and the return of Jesus:
This is what Bible Prophecy indicates will happen when the end is near:
In the Physical World:
- Earthquakes, calamities, and disasters. Luke 21:11
- Signs in the sun, moon, and stars. Matthew 24:29
In the Business World:
- Fear, distress, and perplexity everywhere. Luke 21:25, 26
- An all-out preparation for war. Joel 3:9, 10, 14
- A peace union of the nations. 1 Thessalonians 5:3
- Trouble and uprisings throughout the earth. Revelation 13:12-17
In the Social World:
- An increase in crime. Matthew 24:37; Genesis 6:13
- A craze for pleasure. 2Timothy 3:1-4
- Laxity in the marriage tie. Genesis 6:2; Matthew 24:37
- A tide of immorality. Luke 17:28-30; Genesis 19:1-9
In the Religious World:
- A decline of real spirituality. 2Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24:12
- A general disregard for the will of God while doing religious work. Matthew 7:21-23
- Widespread scoffing against the message of the nearness of the coming of Christ. 2Peter 3:3-5
- A rebellion against the straight truth of God's Word. 2timothy 4:3,4
- A demand for the preaching of smooth things. 2Timothy 4:3, 4; 1Thessalonians 5:1-3
- A widespread prevalence of false religions. Matthew 24:24
- A restoration of neglected truths. Isaiah 58:12-14
- A widespread turning to Spiritism. 1Timothy 4:1
- A worldwide movement for proclaiming the message of Christ's soon coming. Revelation 14:6-14
- A calling out by this message of God's remnant, who keep the commandments of God and hve the faith of Jesus. Revelation 12:17; 14:12.
Jesus says, "...when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Matthew 24:33
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." Matthew 24:44
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In the Religious World:
- A decline of real spirituality. 2Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24:12
- A general disregard for the will of God while doing religious work. Matthew 7:21-23
- Widespread scoffing against the message of the nearness of the coming of Christ. 2Peter 3:3-5
- A rebellion against the straight truth of God's Word. 2timothy 4:3,4
- A demand for the preaching of smooth things. 2Timothy 4:3, 4; 1Thessalonians 5:1-3
- A widespread prevalence of false religions. Matthew 24:24
- A restoration of neglected truths. Isaiah 58:12-14
- A widespread turning to Spiritism. 1Timothy 4:1
- A worldwide movement for proclaiming the message of Christ's soon coming. Revelation 14:6-14
- A calling out by this message of God's remnant, who keep the commandments of God and hve the faith of Jesus. Revelation 12:17; 14:12.
Jesus says, "...when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Matthew 24:33
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." Matthew 24:44
I would like to add one thought to these. Babylon, the fallen church will make many drink of her false doctrines and will create a situation where the true church will be branded and will not be able to buy or sell. This mark that must be received is not a visible mark, but rather a sign which denotes character. "And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb." Revelation 14:8,9,10. "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation 13:17.
Many think they will not receive this mark, but characters that cannot obey today will not suddenly change and be able to obey then. Many are relying upon a false theology today that allows them to believe that they do not have to obey the law of God. Many argue they cannot obey the law of God, that they will always be sinners that sin. :( Such a deception. To believe they will not receive the mark of the beast because they "profess" to love God.
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That is an excellent point, Richard. Thank you for bringing this to the attention of our readers. It is something most never consider.
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Picking up verse 14 once more:
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Some thirty years after Jesus spoke these words, Paul made several bold statements saying the gospel had gone to all the world.
Col 1:5, 6 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Col 1:23, 24 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
Rom 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
Rom 10:17, 18 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Had it gone to all the world? This was the "then known world." The complete fulfillment of verse 14 is yet to be. We have a dual prophecy - one fulfilled and one yet to come.
Why had not Christ come at the time of the first fulfillment of the gospel reaching to all the world? Did God give Daniel and John more prophecies to be fulfilled in the meantime? And did Jesus, Himself, have more to tell the disciples? Verse 15 is a critical prophecy yet to be fulfilled in a two-fold way. Let's follow His statements through until He has completed his commentary on this subject, which is verse 20:
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
What is the abomination of desolation spoken of here? And, what is its dual role for the end of days? We have a discussion of this going in this topic - Abomination of Desolation (http://remnant-online.com/smf/index.php/topic,826.20.html) Have a look and let's discuss how it fits in with this verse.
Thank you, my brothers, for an answer to my question.
We had the abominations that Israel did and they were made desolate when the temple and the city destroyed. Then we had the abomination of rejecting Jesus in the time of the Jews and the desolation was pronounced by Jesus in Matthew 23:38. Then we had the Roman armies invade the holy ground and set up their abominable standards and eventually desolate the city. Then we had the Papal Roman standards set up and to corrupt the minds of men by attempting to interfere with the intercessory ministry of Jesus. Then we had the Blair Bill introduce the sunday laws in the late 1800s and this will be followed by the sunday laws in the end.
We see the US rapdily rejecting Jesus, and true Protestantism, and accepting spiritualism and Catholicism as the moral standards. These abominations on the part of the US will lead to forced worship and the desolations that will come from violating the laws of God in a systematic manner. This will produce national ruin/desolaton.
Amen! When the US rejects her Protestant heritage and her republican form of government and enforces a national Sunday law, this is the "abomination" that will not only produce national ruin, but will lead to the destruction of the whole world. In AD 70 it was Jerusalem, but it was only a shadow of the destruction of the earth.
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The following verses give specific instructions for the saints when the abomination of desolation was to occur - and it did and will again.
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
What do we know about the urgency of such a warning that we should not turn back to get anything? No time to spare? Lot's wife was told not to look back, yet she did and her life was taken. Is her situation different from what ours might be?
And what about women who are with child and those with babies?
Further, why would it be wrong to flee on the Sabbath? We can understand the difficulties of flight in winter, but what about the others?
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What do we know about the urgency of such a warning that we should not turn back to get anything? No time to spare? Lot's wife was told not to look back, yet she did and her life was taken. Is her situation different from what ours might be?
And what about women who are with child and those with babies?
Further, why would it be wrong to flee on the Sabbath? We can understand the difficulties of flight in winter, but what about the others?
Good questions, Sybil. The answers might be more apparent if we could review what happened the first time.
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The following verses give specific instructions for the saints when the abomination of desolation was to occur - and it did and will again.
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
What do we know about the urgency of such a warning that we should not turn back to get anything? No time to spare? Lot's wife was told not to look back, yet she did and her life was taken. Is her situation different from what ours might be?
And what about women who are with child and those with babies?
Further, why would it be wrong to flee on the Sabbath? We can understand the difficulties of flight in winter, but what about the others?
The difficulties of fleeing for one's life when in good health and in good weather are rough enough, without compounding the situation with pregnancy, babies, etc. Any woman who has responsibility for a young child (or who is in the later stages of pregnance) can understand how difficult it would be to flee under those circumstances. And, I'm not sure we understand how bad it will be when the time comes. We may not have a moment to lose as we flee. If we stop to consider what items to pack, it may be too late. God may sustain us in prison, but He may have had better things in store, if we had fled without hesitation. As for the Sabbath situation: Sabbath is a day of rest to be spent in contemplation of God's word and works, as well as blessing those around us. It would be most difficult to have a true Sabbath's day rest while fleeing for one's life. Just a few thoughts. Others may see it differently.
Special note to Sybil: I really am working--waiting for a computer function to finish while I peruse the forum. Believe it or not. ;D
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I believe you, Wally. Have been waiting on mine as well! :)
I ask these questions for those who may be reading who have not had an advantage of study in this area. In the first fulfillment of this prophecy there was a stay and the Christians were able to escape Jerusalem before its destruction. How this unfolds in the dual fulfillment is what we want to look at.
The time is not far distant, when, like the early disciples, we shall be forced to seek a refuge in desolate and solitary places. As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation, in the decree enforcing the papal sabbath, will be a warning to us. It will then be time to leave the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains.--Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 464, 465.
Inspiration has given us a little insight to some of our questions. Regarding little ones "before" the great time of trouble:
The Lord has often instructed me that many little ones are to be laid away before the time of trouble. We shall see our children again. We shall meet them and know them in the heavenly courts. {CG 566.1}
This is a comfort to those with babies and small children who will have to face the final conflicts. Pregnant women we know will have a difficult time, but the Lord has given His promises to care for those who are His. How? We have not been told. We trust in Him for things not revealed. Our bread and water will be sure - so will His physical protection.
Wally, you have touched on the question regarding flight on the Sabbath. Recently I heard a sermon on this and the speaker brought forth the holiness of the Sabbath hours, so holy that Jesus Himself said to pray that our flight be not on the Sabbath day when the time comes to flee.
Satan has set up his counterfeit sabbath as well as a theory of evolution which, when reduced to its absolute core doctrine, refutes the creation week along with the memorial to that creation - the sacred seventh-day Sabbath of rest. The sanctity of that day is so because God rested, looking back on His work with joy and gladness. [On the seventh day man is to refrain from labor, in commemoration of the Creator's rest. {CE 190.2}] He sanctified and hallowed that day as a memorial of creation week. It is God's day He gave to man for the same purpose - to worship Him Who made all things and to rest in Him as Creator, Redeemer and Savior and to rest from our labor, trials, and worries.
Is it any wonder Jesus would give this warning? The deceiver of souls would love nothing better than to attempt to fix events to interrupt that deeply sacred day for His people. Jesus said pray that it not be - it appears to me that He can/would intercede, hearing the prayers of His people should the day of flight be fixed on the seventh day.
Any thoughts?
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Wally, you have touched on the question regarding flight on the Sabbath. Recently I heard a sermon on this and the speaker brought forth the holiness of the Sabbath hours, so holy that Jesus Himself said to pray that our flight be not on the Sabbath day when the time comes to flee.
Satan has set up his counterfeit sabbath as well as a theory of evolution which, when reduced to its absolute core doctrine, refutes the creation week along with the memorial to that creation - the sacred seventh-day Sabbath of rest. The sanctity of that day is so because God rested, looking back on His work with joy and gladness. [On the seventh day man is to refrain from labor, in commemoration of the Creator's rest. {CE 190.2}] He sanctified and hallowed that day as a memorial of creation week. It is God's day He gave to man for the same purpose - to worship Him Who made all things and to rest in Him as Creator, Redeemer and Savior and to rest from our labor, trials, and worries.
Is it any wonder Jesus would give this warning? The deceiver of souls would love nothing better than to attempt to fix events to interrupt that deeply sacred day for His people. Jesus said pray that it not be - it appears to me that He can/would intercede, hearing the prayers of His people should the day of flight fall on the seventh day.
Any thoughts?
Do we have any historical anecdotes about Christians who were forced to flee from Jerusalem prior to the final siege in 70 AD? It would be helpful to know how God answered these prayers at that time. With all the resources of the universe at His disposal I have no doubt that He will work it out for those who must flee so that they may not be forced to do so on the Sabbath. The question, or course, is how exactly it will play out. I suppose that's where faith comes in.
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There is quite a bit of history on this in the article by Jim Buller at http://208.109.58.155/smf/index.php?topic=8162.0
I'm interested to know what people think of his point in the article that fleeing is not mainly for our physical safety, but for our spiritual safety.
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Absolutely, Linda! Obedience.
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Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
I have been working with someone who is tied to their idols: house, furnishings, display, clothing, etc. And while we need a place to rest our heads and to store the necessities of life, I think of "turning back" to get something before fleeing and Lot's wife in this person's situation. When the angels took them by the hand and led them out of the city, Lot's wife mourned losing her "things."
One of the fugitives ventured to cast a look backward to the doomed city, and she became a monument of God's judgment. If Lot himself had manifested no hesitancy to obey the angels' warning, but had earnestly fled toward the mountains, without one word of pleading or remonstrance, his wife also would have made her escape. The influence of his example would have saved her from the sin that sealed her doom. But his hesitancy and delay caused her to lightly regard the divine warning. While her body was upon the plain, her heart clung to Sodom, and she perished with it. She rebelled against God because His judgments involved her possessions and her children in the ruin. Although so greatly favored in being called out from the wicked city, she felt that she was severely dealt with, because the wealth that it had taken years to accumulate must be left to destruction. Instead of thankfully accepting deliverance, she presumptuously looked back to desire the life of those who had rejected the divine warning. Her sin showed her to be unworthy of life, for the preservation of which she felt so little gratitude. CC 54.2
Someone once asked: what will you grab when the time comes to flee? The answers were very interesting. I said my quilt dress, for sure. Mountains can get very cold at night. Now that it has been a while since answering, I have changed my mind. Do not turn back or enter into homes to retrieve anything. The command is to "Go."
How many of us will "Go" without hesitation, empty-handed with nothing but faith in our hearts?
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If our hearts are not where they should be would we even know when to go? Or what the command to go will be?
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That's right, Richard. We can only know as we are connected to Him. Those only who have clean hands and a pure heart will stand that trying time.
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Continuing:
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
In this life we must meet fiery trials and make costly sacrifices, but the peace of Christ is the reward. There has been so little self-denial, so little suffering for Christ's sake, that the cross is almost entirely forgotten. We must be partakers with Christ of His sufferings, if we would sit down in triumph with Him on His throne. So long as we choose the easy path of self-indulgence, and are frightened at self-denial, our faith will never become firm, and we cannot know the peace of Jesus, nor the joy that comes through conscious victory.
The most exalted of the redeemed host that stand before the throne of God and the Lamb, clad in white, know the conflict of overcoming, for they have come up through great tribulation. Those who have yielded to circumstances rather than engage in this conflict, will not know how to stand in that day when anguish will be upon every soul, when, though Noah, Job, and Daniel were in the land, they could save neither son nor daughter, for everyone must deliver his soul by his own righteousness.
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. In this verse, Jesus says, "then" there shall be great tribulation ... and this comes on the heels of fleeing. Looking at dual prophetic applications, what was the first cause of tribulation Jesus may be referring to?
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The Desire of Ages, the book written on the life of Christ, gives us some insight:
From the destruction of Jerusalem, Christ passed on rapidly to the greater event, the last link in the chain of this earth's history,--the coming of the Son of God in majesty and glory. Between these two events, there lay open to Christ's view long centuries of darkness, centuries for His church marked with blood and tears and agony. Upon these scenes His disciples could not then endure to look, and Jesus passed them by with a brief mention. "Then shall be great tribulation," He said, "such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." For more than a thousand years such persecution as the world had never before known was to come upon Christ's followers. Millions upon millions of His faithful witnesses were to be slain. Had not God's hand been stretched out to preserve His people, all would have perished. "But for the elect's sake," He said, "those days shall be shortened." {DA 630.5}
Who so hated the followers of Christ that His church had to go underground, flee to hidden outposts to preserve the truth once delivered to the saints?
Here is some history: The Great Apostasy (http://208.109.58.155/smf/index.php?topic=8315.0)
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The accession of the Roman Church to power marked the beginning of the Dark Ages. As her power increased, the darkness deepened. Faith was transferred from Christ, the true foundation, to the pope of Rome. Instead of trusting in the Son of God for forgiveness of sins and for eternal salvation, the people looked to the pope, and to the priests and prelates to whom he delegated authority. They were taught that the pope was their earthly mediator, and that none could approach God except through him, and, further, that he stood in the place of God to them, and was therefore to be implicitly obeyed. A deviation from his requirements was sufficient cause for the severest punishment to be visited upon the bodies and souls of the offenders. Thus the minds of the people were turned away from God to fallible, erring, and cruel men, nay more, to the prince of darkness himself, who exercised his power through them. Sin was disguised in a garb of sanctity. When the Scriptures are suppressed, and man comes to regard himself as supreme, we need look only for fraud, deception, and debasing iniquity. With the elevation of human laws and traditions, was manifest the corruption that ever results from setting aside the law of God.
Those were days of peril for the church of Christ. The faithful standard-bearers were few indeed. Though the truth was not left without witnesses, yet at times it seemed that error and superstition would wholly prevail, and true religion would be banished from the earth. The gospel was lost sight of, but the forms of religion were multiplied, and the people were burdened with rigorous exactions.
They were taught not only to look to the pope as their mediator, but to trust to works of their own to atone for sin. Long pilgrimages, acts of penance, the worship of relics, the erection of churches, shrines, and altars, the payment of large sums to the church,--these and many similar acts were enjoined to appease the wrath of God or to secure his favor; as if God were like men, to be angered at trifles, or pacified by gifts or acts of penance!
Notwithstanding that vice prevailed, even among the leaders of the Romish Church, her influence seemed steadily to increase. About the close of the eighth century, papists put forth the claim that in the first ages of the church the bishops of Rome had possessed the same spiritual power which they now assumed. To establish this claim, some means must be employed to give it a show of authority; and this was readily suggested by the father of lies. Ancient writings were forged by monks. Decrees of councils before unheard of were discovered, establishing the universal supremacy of the pope from the earliest times. And a church that had rejected the truth, greedily accepted these deceptions.
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The few faithful builders upon the true foundation [1 COR. 3:10, 11.] were perplexed and hindered, as the rubbish of false doctrine obstructed the work. Like the builders upon the wall of Jerusalem in Nehemiah's day, some were ready to say, "The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish, so that we are not able to build." [NEH. 4:10.] Wearied with the constant struggle against persecution, fraud, iniquity, and every other obstacle that Satan could devise to hinder their progress, some who had been faithful builders became disheartened; and for the sake of peace and security for their property and their lives they turned away from the true foundation. Others, undaunted by the opposition of their enemies, fearlessly declared, "Be not ye afraid of them; remember the Lord, which is great and terrible; [NEH. 4:14.] and they proceeded with the work, every one with his sword girded by his side. [EPH. 6:17.]
The same spirit of hatred and opposition to the truth has inspired the enemies of God in every age, and the same vigilance and fidelity have been required in his servants. The words of Christ to the first disciples are applicable to his followers to the close of time: "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." [MARK 13:37.]
The darkness seemed to grow more dense. Image worship became more general. Candles were burned before images, and prayers were offered to them. The most absurd and superstitious customs prevailed. The minds of men were so completely controlled by superstition that reason itself seemed to have lost her sway. While priests and bishops were themselves pleasure-loving, sensual, and corrupt, it could only be expected that the people who looked to them for guidance would be sunken in ignorance and vice.
Another step in papal assumption was taken, when, in the eleventh century, Pope Gregory VII. proclaimed the perfection of the Romish Church. Among the propositions which he put forth, was one declaring that the church had never erred, nor would it ever err, according to the Scriptures. But the Scripture proofs did not accompany the assertion. The proud pontiff next claimed the power to depose emperors, and declared that no sentence which he pronounced could be reversed by any one, but that it was his prerogative to reverse the decisions of all others.
A striking illustration of the tyrannical character of this advocate of infallibility was given in his treatment of the German emperor, Henry IV. For presuming to disregard the pope's authority, this monarch was declared to be excommunicated and dethroned. Terrified by the desertion and threats of his own princes, who were encouraged in rebellion against him by the papal mandate, Henry felt the necessity of making his peace with Rome. In company with his wife and a faithful servant, he crossed the Alps in midwinter, that he might humble himself before the pope. Upon reaching the castle whither Gregory had withdrawn, he was conducted, without his guards, into an outer court, and there, in the severe cold of winter, with uncovered head and naked feet, and in a miserable dress, he awaited the pope's permission to come into his presence. Not until he had continued three days fasting and making confession, did the pontiff condescend to grant him pardon. Even then it was only upon condition that the emperor should await the sanction of the pope before resuming the insignia or exercising the power of royalty. And Gregory, elated with his triumph, boasted that it was his duty "to pull down the pride of kings."
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The advancing centuries witnessed a constant increase of error in the doctrines put forth from Rome. Even before the establishment of the papacy, the teachings of heathen philosophers had received attention and exerted an influence in the church. Many who professed conversion still clung to the tenets of their pagan philosophy, and not only continued its study themselves, but urged it upon others as a means of extending their influence among the heathen. Serious errors were thus introduced into the Christian faith. Prominent among these was the belief in man's natural immortality and his consciousness in death. This doctrine laid the foundation upon which Rome established the invocation of saints and the adoration of the virgin Mary. From this sprung also the heresy of eternal torment for the finally impenitent, which was early incorporated into the papal faith.
Then the way was prepared for the introduction of still another invention of paganism, which Rome named purgatory, and employed to terrify the credulous and superstitious multitudes. By this heresy is affirmed the existence of a place of torment, in which the souls of such as have not merited eternal damnation are to suffer punishment for their sins, and from which, when freed from impurity, they are admitted to Heaven.
Still another fabrication was needed to enable Rome to profit by the fears and the vices of her adherents. This was supplied by the doctrine of indulgences. Full remission of sins, past, present, and future, and release from all the pains and penalties incurred, were promised to all who would enlist in the pontiff's wars to extend his temporal dominion, to punish his enemies, or to exterminate those who dared deny his spiritual supremacy. The people were also taught that by the payment of money to the church they might free themselves from sin, and also release the souls of their deceased friends who were confined in the tormenting flames. By such means did Rome fill her coffers, and sustain the magnificence, luxury, and vice of the pretended representatives of Him who had not where to lay his head.
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In the thirteenth century was established that most terrible of all the engines of the papacy,--the Inquisition. The prince of darkness wrought with the leaders of the papal hierarchy. In their secret councils, Satan and his angels controlled the minds of evil men, while unseen in the midst stood an angel of God, taking the fearful record of their iniquitous decrees, and writing the history of deeds too horrible to appear to human eyes. "Babylon the great" was "drunken with the blood of the saints." The mangled forms of millions of martyrs cried to God for vengeance upon that apostate power.
Popery had become the world's despot. Kings and emperors bowed to the decrees of the Roman pontiff. The destinies of men, both for time and for eternity, seemed under his control. For hundreds of years the doctrines of Rome had been extensively and implicitly received, its rites reverently performed, its festivals generally observed. Its clergy were honored and liberally sustained. Never since has the Roman Church attained to greater dignity, magnificence, or power.
The noontide of the papacy was the world's moral midnight. The Holy Scriptures were almost unknown, not only to the people, but to the priests. Like the Pharisees of old, the papist leaders hated the light which would reveal their sins. God's law, the standard of righteousness, having been removed, they exercised power without limit, and practiced vice without restraint. Fraud, avarice, and profligacy prevailed. Men shrank from no crime by which they could gain wealth or position. The palaces of popes and prelates were scenes of the vilest debauchery. Some of the reigning pontiffs were guilty of crimes so revolting that secular rulers endeavored to depose these dignitaries of the church as monsters too vile to be tolerated. For centuries Europe had made no progress in learning, arts, or civilization. A moral and intellectual paralysis had fallen upon Christendom.
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The condition of the world under the Romish power presented a fearful and striking fulfillment of the words of the prophet Hosea: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee; . . . seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." "There is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood." [HOSEA 4:6, 1, 2.] Such were the results of banishing the Word of God.
Amid the gloom that settled upon the earth during the long period of papal supremacy, the light of truth could not be wholly extinguished. In every age there were witnesses for God,--men who cherished faith in Christ as the only mediator between God and man, who held the Bible as the only rule of life, and who hallowed the true Sabbath. How much the world owes to these men, posterity will never know. They were branded as heretics, their motives impugned, their characters maligned, their writings suppressed, misrepresented, or mutilated. Yet they stood firm, and from age to age maintained their faith in its purity, as a sacred heritage for the generations to come.
The history of God's people during the ages of darkness that followed upon Rome's supremacy, is written in Heaven. But they have little place in human records. Few traces of their existence can be found, except in the accusations of their persecutors. It was the policy of Rome to obliterate every trace of dissent from her doctrines or decrees. Everything heretical, whether persons or writings, was destroyed. A single expression of doubt, a question as to the authority of papal dogmas, was enough to forfeit the life of rich or poor, high or low. Rome endeavored also to destroy every record of her cruelty toward dissenters. Papal councils decreed that books and writings containing such records should be committed to the flames. Before the invention of printing, books were few in number, and in a form not favorable for preservation; therefore there was little to prevent the Romanists from carrying out their purpose.
No church within the limits of Romish jurisdiction was long left undisturbed in the enjoyment of freedom of conscience. No sooner had the papacy obtained power than she stretched out her arms to crush all that refused to acknowledge her sway; and one after another, the churches submitted to her dominion.
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But of those who resisted the encroachments of the papal power, the Waldenses stood foremost. In the very land where popery had fixed its seat, there its falsehood and corruption were most steadfastly resisted. For centuries the churches of Piedmont maintained their independence; but the time came at last when Rome insisted upon their submission. After ineffectual struggles against her tyranny, the leaders of these churches reluctantly acknowledged the supremacy of the power to which the whole world seemed to pay homage. There were some, however, who refused to yield to the authority of pope or prelate. They were determined to maintain their allegiance to God, and to preserve the purity and simplicity of their faith. A separation took place. Those who adhered to the ancient faith now withdrew; some, forsaking their native Alps, raised the banner of truth in foreign lands; others retreated to the secluded glens and rocky fastnesses of the mountains, and there preserved their freedom to worship God.
The faith which for many centuries was held and taught by the Waldensian Christians was in marked contrast to the false doctrines put forth from Rome. Their religious belief was founded upon the written word of God, the true system of Christianity. But those humble peasants, in their obscure retreats, shut away from the world, and bound to daily toil among their flocks and their vineyards, had not themselves arrived at the truth in opposition to the dogmas and heresies of the apostate church. Theirs was not a faith newly received. Their religious belief was their inheritance from their fathers. They contended for the faith of the apostolic church,--"the faith which was once delivered to the saints." "The church in the wilderness," and not the proud hierarchy enthroned in the world's great capital, was the true church of Christ, the guardian of the treasures of truth which God has committed to his people to be given to the world.
Among the leading causes that had led to the separation of the true church from Rome, was the hatred of the latter toward the Bible Sabbath. As foretold by prophecy, the papal power cast down the truth to the ground. The law of God was trampled in the dust, while the traditions and customs of men were exalted. The churches that were under the rule of the papacy were early compelled to honor the Sunday as a holy day. Amid the prevailing error and superstition, many, even of the true people of God, became so bewildered that while they observed the Sabbath they refrained from labor also on the Sunday. But this did not satisfy the papal leaders. They demanded not only that Sunday be hallowed, but that the Sabbath be profaned; and they denounced in the strongest language those who dared to show it honor. It was only by fleeing from the power of Rome that any could obey God's law in peace.
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Behind the lofty bulwarks of the mountains,--in all ages the refuge of the persecuted and oppressed,--the Waldenses found a hiding-place. Here the light of truth was kept burning amid the darkness of the Middle Ages. Here, for a thousand years, witnesses for the truth maintained the ancient faith.
God had provided for his people a sanctuary of awful grandeur, befitting the mighty truths committed to their trust. To those faithful exiles the mountains were an emblem of the immutable righteousness of Jehovah. They pointed their children to the heights towering above them in unchanging majesty, and spoke to them of Him with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning, whose word is as enduring as the everlasting hills. God had set fast the mountains, and girded them with strength; no arm but that of infinite power could move them out of their place. In like manner he had established his law, the foundation of his government in Heaven and upon earth. The arm of man might reach his fellow-men and destroy their lives; but that arm could as readily uproot the mountains from their foundations, and hurl them into the sea, as it could change one precept of the law of Jehovah, or blot out one of his promises to those who do his will. In their fidelity to his law, God's servants should be as firm as the unchanging hills.
The mountains that girded their lowly valleys were a constant witness to God's creative power, and a never-failing assurance of his protecting care. Those pilgrims learned to love the silent symbols of Jehovah's presence. They indulged no repining because of the hardships of their lot; they were never lonely amid the mountain solitudes. They thanked God that he had provided for them an asylum from the wrath and cruelty of men. They rejoiced in their freedom to worship before him. Often when pursued by their enemies, the strength of the hills proved a sure defense. From many a lofty cliff they chanted the praise of God, and the armies of Rome could not silence their songs of thanksgiving.
Pure, simple, and fervent was the piety of these followers of Christ. The principles of truth they valued above houses and lands, friends, kindred, even life itself. These principles they earnestly sought to impress upon the hearts of the young. From earliest childhood the youth were instructed in the Scriptures, and taught to sacredly regard the claims of the law of God. Copies of the Bible were rare; therefore its precious words were committed to memory. Many were able to repeat large portions of both the Old and the New Testament. Thoughts of God were associated alike with the sublime scenery of nature and with the humble blessings of daily life. Little children learned to look with gratitude to God as the giver of every favor and every comfort.
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Satan had urged on the papal priests and prelates to bury the Word of truth beneath the rubbish of error, heresy, and superstition, but in a most wonderful manner it was preserved uncorrupted through all the ages of darkness. It bore not the stamp of man, but the impress of God. Men have been unwearied in their efforts to obscure the plain, simple meaning of the Scriptures, and to make them contradict their own testimony; but, like the ark upon the billowy deep, the Word of God outrides the storms that threaten it with destruction. As the mine has rich veins of gold and silver hidden beneath the surface, so that all must dig who would discover its precious stores, so the Holy Scriptures have treasures of truth that are revealed only to the earnest, humble, prayerful seeker. God designed the Bible to be a lesson-book to all mankind, in childhood, youth, and manhood, and to be studied through all time. He gave his Word to men as a revelation of himself. Every new truth discerned is a fresh disclosure of the character of its Author. The study of the Scriptures is the means divinely ordained to bring men into closer connection with their Creator, and to give them a clearer knowledge of his will. It is the medium of communication between God and man.
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When Rome at one time determined to exterminate the hated sect, a bull was issued by the pope [INNOCENT VIII., A. D. 1487.] condemning them as heretics, and delivering them to slaughter. They were not accused as idlers, or dishonest, or disorderly; but it was declared that they had an appearance of piety and sanctity that seduced "the sheep of the true fold." Therefore the pope ordered "that the malicious and abominable sect of malignants," if they refuse to abjure, "be crushed like venomous snakes." Did this haughty potentate expect to meet those words again? Did he know that they were registered in the books of Heaven, to confront him at the Judgment? "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren," said Jesus, "ye have done it unto me." [MATT 25:40.]
This bull called upon all members of the church to join the crusade against the heretics. As an incentive to engage in this cruel work, it "absolved from all ecclesiastical pains and penalties, general and particular; it released all who joined the crusade from any oaths they might have taken; it legitimatized their title to any property which they might have illegally acquired, and promised remission of all their sins to such as should kill any heretic. It annulled all contracts made in favor of the Vaudois, ordered their domestics to abandon them, forbade all persons to give them any aid whatever, and empowered all persons to take possession of their property." This document clearly reveals the masterspirit behind the scenes. It is the roar of the dragon, and not the voice of Christ, that is heard therein.
The papal leaders would not conform their characters to the great standard of God's law, but erected a standard to suit themselves, and determined to compel all to conform to this because Rome willed it. The most horrible tragedies were enacted. Corrupt and blasphemous priests and popes were doing the work which Satan appointed them. Mercy had no place in their natures. The same spirit that crucified Christ, and that slew the apostles, the same that moved the blood-thirsty Nero against the faithful in his day, was at work to rid the earth of those who were beloved of God.
The persecutions visited for many centuries upon this God-fearing people were endured by them with a patience and constancy that honored their Redeemer. Notwithstanding the crusades against them, and the inhuman butchery to which they were subjected, they continued to send out their missionaries to scatter the precious truth. They were hunted to the death; yet their blood watered the seed sown, and it failed not of yielding fruit. Thus the Waldenses witnessed for God, centuries before the birth of Luther. Scattered over many lands, they planted the seeds of the Reformation that began in the time of Wycliffe, grew broad and deep in the days of Luther, and is to be carried forward to the close of time by those who also are willing to suffer all things for "the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." [REV. 1:9.]
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Who so hated the followers of Christ that His church had to go underground, flee to hidden outposts to preserve the truth once delivered to the saints?
Satan acted through Rome to accomplish this. It will happen again.
From the destruction of Jerusalem, Christ passed on rapidly to the greater event, the last link in the chain of this earth's history,--the coming of the Son of God in majesty and glory. Between these two events, there lay open to Christ's view long centuries of darkness, centuries for His church marked with blood and tears and agony. Upon these scenes His disciples could not then endure to look, and Jesus passed them by with a brief mention. "Then shall be great tribulation," He said, "such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." For more than a thousand years such persecution as the world had never before known was to come upon Christ's followers. Millions upon millions of His faithful witnesses were to be slain. Had not God's hand been stretched out to preserve His people, all would have perished. "But for the elect's sake," He said, "those days shall be shortened."
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Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Any comments on these two verses? Are there false Christs, false prophets?
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They are everywhere. Check the internet. Check all the social websites. Also, I watched a documentary on Strong City, and the man who calls(ed) himself God/Jesus Christ/Son of God. He used to be a Seventh day Adventist as I'm sure most of you know. It's sad because it seems that the text "if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
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Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Any comments on these two verses? Are there false Christs, false prophets?
According to Dr. Veith's research there are. The "Matreya" comes to mind. I know there are others, but can't remember the details.
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Wikipedia has a short list of those purporting to be Maitreya:
Self-proclaimed Maitreyas
The following people listed are just a small portion of the several people who claimed themselves to be Maitreya. Many have either used the Maitreya incarnation claim to form a new Buddhist sect or have used the name of Maitreya to form a new religious movement or cult.
* Gung Ye, a Korean warlord and king of short-lived state of Taebong during the 10th century, claimed himself as living incarnation of Maitreya and ordered his subjects to worship him. His claim was widely rejected by most Buddhist monks and later he was dethroned and killed by his own servants.
* In 613 the monk Xiang Haiming claimed himself Maitreya and adopted imperial title.[13]
* In 690 Empress Wu inaugurated the Second Zhou dynasty, proclaimed herself an incarnation of the future Buddha Maitreya, and made Luoyang the "holy capital." In 693 she replaced the compulsory Dao De Jing in the curriculum temporarily with her own Rules for Officials. [14]
* Lu Zhong Yi, the 17th patriarch of I-Kuan Tao, claimed to be an incarnation of Maitreya.
* L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Dianetics and Scientology, suggested he was "Metteya" (Maitreya) in the 1955 poem Hymn of Asia. His editors indicated, in the book's preface, specific physical characteristics said to be outlined—in unnamed Sanskrit sources—as properties of the coming Maitreya; properties which Hubbard's appearance supposedly aligned with.
* Raël's Maitreya claims[1] center on the content of the Agama Sutra (Japanese: Agon Sutra)[15], supposedly a very ancient text written by Buddha himself, but which has been deemphasized or forgotten by the majority of Buddhist cultures.[16] Raël has claimed directly to people attending Asia Raëlian Church seminars, that someone born in France, a country which is often symbolized by the cock (or rooster), west of the Orient, meets the criteria of the Maitreya. Rael himself claims to be this individual.[17]
Matthew 24:24 says false Christs and prophets " ... shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Have those claiming to be Maitreya displayed such powers? Do they need to raise the dead for us to be convinced?
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In religion, the term false prophet is a label given to a person who is viewed as illegitimately claiming charismatic authority within religious groups. The individual may be seen as one who falsely claims the gift of prophecy, or who uses that gift for demagogy or evil ends.
How is a false prophet different from one claiming to be "the" Christ? It doesn't appear they would be on the same level. Any thoughts?
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They are everywhere. Check the internet. Check all the social websites.
Indeed they are, dear sister. For those who may be deceived on some of these issues, I believe it is good to review them.
We are told in Scripture there will come wolves in sheep's clothing to devour the flock. Could we consider these false prophets?
Is Rick Warren a false prophet? How about Schuller?
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In religion, the term false prophet is a label given to a person who is viewed as illegitimately claiming charismatic authority within religious groups. The individual may be seen as one who falsely claims the gift of prophecy, or who uses that gift for demagogy or evil ends.
How is a false prophet different from one claiming to be "the" Christ? It doesn't appear they would be on the same level.
Any thoughts?
I think it depends on who's definition of Christ we go by and from who's perspective we are looking at this from. According to the Bible's definition a mere prophet is certainly different than "the Christ." The prophet is a messenger while the Christ is thee Messenger. While someone who claims to be the Christ is certainly a false prophet they are more than a false prophet by claiming to be Christ. I believe Mr. Knolls is a false prophet but he bhas not claimed to be "the" Christ. Many false prophets have so pulled down the position and authority of the true Christ so as to try to make Him no more than one of many.
I don't see how Schuller and Warren could be considered anything but false prophets but there seems to be two definitions of prophets. A common definition for the term is simply a teacher/preacher. The other definition is one who not only preaches/teaches but who has dreams and visions.
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It appears to be similar to monetary counterfeits. One must be exceedingly familiar with the original before being able to spot the false.
Christianity has been attacked from all directions - lately by Eastern religious dogma. They seem to have more false christs than prophets. Is that a legitimate assumption?
Few in Christianity dare to claim to be Christ, although we have had our share.
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I don't see how Schuller and Warren could be considered anything but false prophets but there seems to be two definitions of prophets. A common definition for the term is simply a teacher/preacher. The other definition is one who not only preaches/teaches but who has dreams and visions.
Let's discuss the differences between these two. There seems to be very subtle differences.
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It appears to be similar to monetary counterfeits. One must be exceedingly familiar with the original before being able to spot the false.
Christianity has been attacked from all directions - lately by Eastern religious dogma. They seem to have more false christs than prophets. Is that a legitimate assumption?
cp>>>>That may be my sister. They seem to use the title "christ" very loosely much like we refer to a prominent teacher.
The aspects of my posting here seem to have a mind of their own.
** edited to fix quote box :)
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I have always considered one who has dreams and visions as being particularly dangerous because it assumes upon inspiration of some kind.
Then there are the "healers" who appear to show great signs and wonders causing people to appear to be healed. Are they also in the category of false prophets or would they be classified as false teachers with a touch of the supernatural?
Many desperate people flock to these healing sessions.
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I don't see how Schuller and Warren could be considered anything but false prophets but there seems to be two definitions of prophets. A common definition for the term is simply a teacher/preacher. The other definition is one who not only preaches/teaches but who has dreams and visions.
Let's discuss the differences between these two. There seems to be very subtle differences.
I don't know about Warrren but am certain that Schuller has had "dreams." I see it that when dreams are involved it beefs up the title "false prophet"...more like senior false prophet or major (false) prophet. When one has dreams they tend to carry more authority in the minds of the people and are taken more seriously.
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Anyone showing up with a message from God does get the attention of everyone.
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Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
In unmistakable language, our Lord speaks of His second coming, and He gives warning of dangers to precede His advent to the world. "If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." As one of the signs of Jerusalem's destruction, Christ had said, "Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." False prophets did rise, deceiving the people, and leading great numbers into the desert. Magicians and sorcerers, claiming miraculous power, drew the people after them into the mountain solitudes. But this prophecy was spoken also for the last days. This sign is given as a sign of the second advent. Even now false christs and false prophets are showing signs and wonders to seduce His disciples. Do we not hear the cry, "Behold, He is in the desert"? Have not thousands gone forth into the desert, hoping to find Christ? And from thousands of gatherings where men profess to hold communion with departed spirits is not the call now heard, "Behold, He is in the secret chambers"? This is the very claim that spiritism puts forth. But what says Christ? "Believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
The Saviour gives signs of His coming, and more than this, He fixes the time when the first of these signs shall appear: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
At the close of the great papal persecution, Christ declared, the sun should be darkened, and the moon should not give her light. Next, the stars should fall from heaven. And He says, "Learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that He is near, even at the doors." Matt. 24:32, 33, margin.
Christ has given signs of His coming. He declares that we may know when He is near, even at the doors. He says of those who see these signs, "This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." These signs have appeared. Now we know of a surety that the Lord's coming is at hand. "Heaven and earth shall pass away," He says, "but My words shall not pass away."
Christ is coming with clouds and with great glory. A multitude of shining angels will attend Him. He will come to raise the dead, and to change the living saints from glory to glory. He will come to honor those who have loved Him, and kept His commandments, and to take them to Himself. He has not forgotten them nor His promise. There will be a relinking of the family chain. When we look upon our dead, we may think of the morning when the trump of God shall sound, when "the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1 Cor. 15:52. A little longer, and we shall see the King in His beauty. A little longer, and He will wipe all tears from our eyes. A little longer, and He will present us "faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." Jude 24. Wherefore, when He gave the signs of His coming He said, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
But the day and the hour of His coming Christ has not revealed. He stated plainly to His disciples that He Himself could not make known the day or the hour of His second appearing. Had He been at liberty to reveal this, why need He have exhorted them to maintain an attitude of constant expectancy? There are those who claim to know the very day and hour of our Lord's appearing. Very earnest are they in mapping out the future. But the Lord has warned them off the ground they occupy. The exact time of the second coming of the Son of man is God's mystery. {The Desire of Ages, 632.4}
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Any comments on this verse as we work our way through Matthew 24?
Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Is it likened unto the dead following the dead, and wherever the dead are, there eagles will be gathered?
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It seems to me to be saying that there are going to be a lot of eagles at the second coming. Which I take to mean that when Jesus comes, the brightness of His glory will cause many to perish.
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Precisely so, elder brother. Thank you for contributing to our study.
Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
At the close of the great papal persecution, Christ declared, the sun should be darkened, and the moon should not give her light. Next, the stars should fall from heaven. And He says, "Learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that He is near, even at the doors." Matt. 24:32, 33, margin.
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Prophecy not only foretells the manner and object of Christ's coming, but presents tokens by which men are to know when it is near. Said Jesus: "There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars." Luke 21:25. "The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory." Mark 13:24-26. The revelator thus describes the first of the signs to precede the second advent: "There was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood." Revelation 6:12.
These signs were witnessed before the opening of the nineteenth century. In fulfillment of this prophecy there occurred, in the year 1755, the most terrible earthquake that has ever been recorded. Though commonly known as the earthquake of Lisbon, it extended to the greater part of Europe, Africa, and America. It was felt in Greenland, in the West Indies, in the island of Madeira, in Norway and Sweden, Great Britain and Ireland. It pervaded an extent of not less than four million square miles. In Africa the shock was almost as severe as in Europe. A great part of Algiers was destroyed; and a short distance from Morocco, a village containing eight or ten thousand inhabitants was swallowed up. A vast wave swept over the coast of Spain and Africa engulfing cities and causing great destruction.
It was in Spain and Portugal that the shock manifested its extreme violence. At Cadiz the inflowing wave was said to be sixty feet high. Mountains, "some of the largest in Portugal, were impetuously shaken, as it were, from their very foundations, and some of them opened at their summits, which were split and rent in a wonderful manner, huge masses of them being thrown down into the adjacent valleys. Flames are related to have issued from these mountains."-- Sir Charles Lyell, Principles of Geology, page 495.
At Lisbon "a sound of thunder was heard underground, and immediately afterwards a violent shock threw down the greater part of that city. In the course of about six minutes sixty thousand persons perished. The sea first retired, and laid the bar dry; it then rolled in, rising fifty feet or more above its ordinary level." "Among other extraordinary events related to have occurred at Lisbon during the catastrophe, was the subsidence of a new quay, built entirely of marble, at an immense expense. A great concourse of people had collected there for safety, as a spot where they might be beyond the reach of falling ruins; but suddenly the quay sank down with all the people on it, and not one of the dead bodies ever floated to the surface."--Ibid., page 495.
"The shock" of the earthquake "was instantly followed by the fall of every church and convent, almost all the large public buildings, and more than one fourth of the houses. In about two hours after the shock, fires broke out in different quarters, and raged with such violence for the space of nearly three days, that the city was completely desolated. The earthquake happened on a holyday, when the churches and convents were full of people, very few of whom escaped."-- Encyclopedia Americana, art. "Lisbon," note (ed. 1831). "The terror of the people was beyond description. Nobody wept; it was beyond tears. They ran hither and thither, delirious with horror and astonishment, beating their faces and breasts, crying, 'Misericordia! the world's at an end!' Mothers forgot their children, and ran about loaded with crucifixed images. Unfortunately, many ran to the churches for protection; but in vain was the sacrament exposed; in vain did the poor creatures embrace the altars; images, priests, and people were buried in one common ruin." It has been estimated that ninety thousand persons lost their lives on that fatal day.
Twenty-five years later appeared the next sign mentioned in the prophecy--the darkening of the sun and moon. What rendered this more striking was the fact that the time of its fulfillment had been definitely pointed out. In the Saviour's conversation with His disciples upon Olivet, after describing the long period of trial for the church,--the 1260 years of papal persecution, concerning which He had promised that the tribulation should be shortened,--He thus mentioned certain events to precede His coming, and fixed the time when the first of these should be witnessed: "In those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light." Mark 13:24. The 1260 days, or years, terminated in 1798. A quarter of a century earlier, persecution had almost wholly ceased. Following this persecution, according to the words of Christ, the sun was to be darkened. On the 19th of May, 1780, this prophecy was fulfilled.
"Almost, if not altogether alone, as the most mysterious and as yet unexplained phenomenon of its kind, . . . stands the dark day of May 19, 1780,--a most unaccountable darkening of the whole visible heavens and atmosphere in New England."--R. M. Devens, Our First Century, page 89.
An eyewitness living in Massachusetts describes the event as follows: "In the morning the sun rose clear, but was soon overcast. The clouds became lowery, and from them, black and ominous, as they soon appeared, lightning flashed, thunder rolled, and a little rain fell. Toward nine o'clock, the clouds became thinner, and assumed a brassy or coppery appearance, and earth, rocks, trees, buildings, water, and persons were changed by this strange, unearthly light. A few minutes later, a heavy black cloud spread over the entire sky except a narrow rim at the horizon, and it was as dark as it usually is at nine o'clock on a summer evening. . . .
"Fear, anxiety, and awe gradually filled the minds of the people. Women stood at the door, looking out upon the dark landscape; men returned from their labor in the fields; the carpenter left his tools, the blacksmith his forge, the tradesman his counter. Schools were dismissed, and tremblingly the children fled homeward. Travelers put up at the nearest farmhouse. 'What is coming?' queried every lip and heart. It seemed as if a hurricane was about to dash across the land, or as if it was the day of the consummation of all things.
"Candles were used; and hearth fires shone as brightly as on a moonless evening in autumn. . . . Fowls retired to their roosts and went to sleep, cattle gathered at the pasture bars and lowed, frogs peeped, birds sang their evening songs, and bats flew about. But the human knew that night had not come. . . .
"Dr. Nathanael Whittaker, pastor of the Tabernacle church in Salem, held religious services in the meeting-house, and preached a sermon in which he maintained that the darkness was supernatural. Congregations came together in many other places. The texts for the extemporaneous sermons were invariably those that seemed to indicate that the darkness was consonant with Scriptural prophecy. . . . The darkness was most dense shortly after eleven o'clock."--The Essex Antiquarian, April, 1899, vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 53, 54. "In most parts of the country it was so great in the daytime, that the people could not tell the hour by either watch or clock, nor dine, nor manage their domestic business, without the light of candles. . . .
"The extent of this darkness was extraordinary. It was observed as far east as Falmouth. To the westward it reached to the farthest part of Connecticut, and to Albany. To the southward, it was observed along the seacoasts; and to the north as far as the American settlements extend."--William Gordon, History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment of the Independence of the U.S.A., vol. 3, p. 57.
The intense darkness of the day was succeeded, an hour or two before evening, by a partially clear sky, and the sun appeared, though it was still obscured by the black, heavy mist. "After sundown, the clouds came again overhead, and it grew dark very fast." "Nor was the darkness of the night less uncommon and terrifying than that of the day; notwithstanding there was almost a full moon, no object was discernible but by the help of some artificial light, which, when seen from the neighboring houses and other places at a distance, appeared through a kind of Egyptian darkness which seemed almost impervious to the rays."--Isaiah Thomas, Massachusetts Spy; or, American Oracle of Liberty, vol. 10, No. 472 (May 25, 1780). Said an eyewitness of the scene: "I could not help conceiving at the time, that if every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable shades, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete."--Letter by Dr. Samuel Tenney, of Exeter, New Hampshire, December, 1785 (in Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, 1792, 1st series, vol. 1, p. 97). Though at nine o'clock that night the moon rose to the full, "it had not the least effect to dispel the deathlike shadows." After midnight the darkness disappeared, and the moon, when first visible, had the appearance of blood.
May 19, 1780, stands in history as "The Dark Day." Since the time of Moses no period of darkness of equal density, extent, and duration, has ever been recorded. The description of this event, as given by eyewitnesses, is but an echo of the words of the Lord, recorded by the prophet Joel, twenty-five hundred years previous to their fulfillment: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come." Joel 2:31.
Christ had bidden His people watch for the signs of His advent and rejoice as they should behold the tokens of their coming King. "When these things begin to come to pass," He said, "then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." He pointed His followers to the budding trees of spring, and said: "When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand." Luke 21:28, 30, 31.
But as the spirit of humility and devotion in the church had given place to pride and formalism, love for Christ and faith in His coming had grown cold. Absorbed in worldliness and pleasure seeking, the professed people of God were blinded to the Saviour's instructions concerning the signs of His appearing. The doctrine of the second advent had been neglected; the scriptures relating to it were obscured by misinterpretation, until it was, to a great extent, ignored and forgotten. Especially was this the case in the churches of America. The freedom and comfort enjoyed by all classes of society, the ambitious desire for wealth and luxury, begetting an absorbing devotion to money-making, the eager rush for popularity and power, which seemed to be within the reach of all, led men to center their interests and hopes on the things of this life, and to put far in the future that solemn day when the present order of things should pass away. - The Great Controversy - Chapter 17, Heralds of the Morning, Page 300.
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More on the Lisbon Quake:
Lisbon Earthquake
First of November, the Earthquake day (also All Saints Day)
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Twenty minutes later, as survivors in Lisbon struggled over the ruins, sought escape, or tried to help victims, another shock came. All Portugal and Spain were shaken. North-West Africa was stricken with disaster as severely as Portugal. Near the capital of Morocco an oasis or a village with a population of 8,000 or 10,000'disappeared'; it was said to have been swallowed up by the opening of a mountain. The whole of Switzerland quivered; the south and west of France felt the tremors, which reached to Normandy, Holland, and Germany. Parts of Denmark trembled, and shocks were 'distinctly perceived' in Sweden and Norway. Even Iceland and Greenland felt it, according to some authorities. At Milan in Italy the lamps of the churches swung and water was thrown out of canals. A cloud of smoke rising above Vesuvius was withdrawn into the crater at the moment of the earthquake. In Lisbon there was slaughter as buildings which had survived the first shocks collapsed into streets thronged with survivors.
At Cadiz in Spain a strong shock was felt at 10 am, but only a few old houses fell. At 11. 10 am, a tsunami or seismic sea wave nearly 60 feet high flooded the town, sweeping away part of the ramparts and carrying masses of earth and masonry weighing many tons for a quarter of a mile. The sea returned three times during the day, with lesser force, and remained turbulent for 24 hours. At Funchal in the island of Madeira a violent shock was felt at about 9. 30 am. At 11. 45 am. the sea suddenly withdrew for a distance of 100 paces, then returned as a wave 15 feet higher than the highest tide, flooding Funchal and doing much damage. http://www.phenomena.org.uk/lisbon.htm
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Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
What is the sign of the Son of man in heaven? Afterward ALL the tribes of the earth will mourn. What is the sign and why the mourning? Is the mourning caused by the signs or the appearing of the Son of man?
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"Bro. Jacobs:--
As God has shown me in holy vision the travels of the Advent people to the Holy City, and the rich reward to be given those who wait the return of their Lord from the wedding, it may be my duty to give you a short sketch of what God has revealed to me. The dear saints have got many trials to pass through. But our light afflictions which are but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. I have tried to bring back a good report, & a few grapes from the heavenly Canaan, for which many would stone me, as the congregation bade stone Caleb and Joshua for their report, (Num. 14:10.) But I declare to you, my brother in the Lord, it is a goodly land, and we are well able to go up and possess it. While praying at the family altar the Holy Ghost fell on me and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, Look again, and look a little higher. At this, I raised my eyes and see a strait and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the City, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the first end of the path, which an angel told me was the Midnight Cry. This light shone all along the path and gave light for their feet so they might not stumble. And if they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the City, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and said the City was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising his glorious right arm, and from his arm came a glorious light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted, Hallelujah! Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out which left their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark and wicked world below. It was just as impossible for them to get on the path again & go to the City, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another, until we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming. The living saints, 144,000, in number, know and understand the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder & an earthquake. When God spake the time, he poured on us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God as Moses did when he came down from Mount Sinai, (Ex. 34:30-34.) By this time the 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious Star containing Jesus' new name. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us in prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and the wicked would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us who could wash one another's feet, and salute the holy brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshipped at our feet. Soon our eyes were drawn to the East, for a small black cloud had appeared about half as large as a man's hand, which we all knew was the Sign of the Son of Man. We all in solemn silence gazed on the cloud as it drew nearer, lighter, and brighter, glorious, and still more glorious, till it was a great white cloud. The bottom appeared like fire, a rainbow was over it, around the cloud were ten thousand angels singing a most lovely song. And on it sat the Son of Man, on his head were crowns, his hair was white and curly and lay on his shoulders. His feet had the appearance of fire, in his right hand was a sharp sickle, in his left a silver trumpet. His eyes were as a flame of fire, which searched his children through and through. Then all faces gathered paleness, and those that God had rejected gathered blackness. Then we all cried out, who shall be able to stand? Is my robe spotless? Then the angels ceased to sing, and there was some time of awful silence, when Jesus spoke, Those who have clean hands and a pure heart shall be able to stand, my grace is sufficient for you. At this, our faces lighted up, and joy filled every heart. And the angels struck a note higher and sung again while the cloud drew still nearer the earth. Then Jesus' silver trumpet sounded, as he descended on the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire. He gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints then raised his eyes and hands to heaven & cried out, Awake! Awake! Awake! ye that sleep in the dust, and arise. Then there was a mighty earthquake. The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed with immortality. The 144,000 shouted, Hallelujah! as they recognized their friends who had been torn from them by death, and in the same moment we were changed and caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. We all entered the cloud together, and were 7 days ascending to the sea of glass, when Jesus brought along the crowns and with his own right hand placed them on our heads. He gave us harps of gold and palms of victory. Here on the sea of glass the 144,000 stood in a perfect square. Some of them had very bright crowns, others not so bright. Some crowns appeared hung with stars, while others had but few. ... [color]" -The Day-Star, 01-24-46
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All were perfectly satisfied with their crowns. And they were all clothed with a glorious white mantle from their shoulders to their feet. Angels were all about us as we marched over the sea of glass to the gate of the City. Jesus raised his mighty glorious arm, laid hold of the gate and swung it back on its golden hinges, and said to us, You have washed your robes in my blood, stood stiffly for my truth, enter in. We all marched in and felt we had a perfect right in the City. Here we see the tree of life, & the throne of God. Out of the throne came a pure river of water, and on either side of the river was the tree of life. On one side of the river was a trunk of a tree and a trunk on the other side of the river, both of pure transparent gold. At first I thought I see two trees. I looked again and see they were united at the top in one tree. So it was the tree of life on either side of the river of life. Its branches bowed to the place where we stood. And the fruit was glorious, which looked like gold mixed with silver. We all went under the tree, and sat down to look at the glory of the place, when Bro. Fitch, and Stockman, who had preached the gospel of the kingdom, whom God had laid in the grave to save them, came up to us and asked us what we had passed through while they were sleeping. We tried to call up our greatest trials, but they looked so small compared with the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory that surrounded us, that we could not speak them out, and we all cried out Hallelujah, heaven is cheap enough, and we touched our glorious harps and made heaven's arches ring. And as we were gazing at the glories of the place, our eyes were attracted upwards to something that had the appearance of silver. I asked Jesus to let me see what was within there. In a moment we were winging our way upward and entering in. Here we saw good old father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Noah, Daniel, and many like them. And I saw a veil with a heavy fringe of silver, and gold as a border on the bottom. It was very beautiful. I asked Jesus what was within the veil. He raised it with his own right arm, and bade me take heed. I saw there a glorious ark, overlaid with pure gold, and it had a glorious border resembling Jesus' crowns. On it were two bright angels; their wings were spread over the ark as they sat on each end, with their faces turned towards each other and looking downward. In the ark, beneath where the angels wings were spread, was a golden pot of Manna of a yellowish cast, and I saw a rod, which Jesus said was Aarons, I saw it bud, blossom, and bear fruit.--And I saw two long golden rods on which hung silver wires, and on the wires most glorious grapes. One cluster was more than a man here can carry. And I saw Jesus step up and take of the manna, almonds, grapes, and pomegranates, and bear them down to the city, and place them on the supper table. I stepped up to see how much was taken away, and there was just as much left, and we shouted Hallelujah. Amen. We all descended from this place down into the city, and with Jesus at our head we all descended from the city down to this earth, on a great and mighty mountain, which could not bear Jesus up, and it parted asunder, and there was a mighty plain. Then we looked up and saw the great city with twelve foundations, twelve gates, three on each side, and an angel at each gate, and all cried out the city, the great city, it's coming, it's coming down from God, out of heaven, and it came and settled on the place where we stood. Then we began to look at the glorious things outside of the city. There I saw most glorious houses, that had the appearance of silver, supported by four pillars, set with pearls most glorious to behold, which were to be inhabited by the saints. In them was a golden shelf, I saw many of the saints go into the houses, take off their glittering crowns and lay them on the shelf, then go out into the field by the houses to do something with the earth, not as we have to do with the earth here; no, no. A glorious light shone all about their heads, and they were continually shouting and offering praises to God. And I saw another field full of all kinds of flowers, and as I plucked them, I cried out, well they will never fade. Next I saw a field of tall grass, most glorious to behold. It was living green, and had a reflection of silver and gold as it waved proudly to the glory of King Jesus. Then we entered a field full of all kinds of beasts; the lion, the lamb, the leopard and the wolf, altogether in perfect union. We passed through the midst of them, and they followed on peaceably after. Then we entered a wood, not like the dark woods we have here, no, no; but light, and all over glorious. The branches of the trees waved to and fro, and we all cried out, we will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in this woods. We passed through the wood, for we were on our way to Mount Zion, as we were traveling along we met a company who were also gazing at the glories of the place: I noticed red as a border on their garments. Their crowns were brilliant--their robes were pure white. As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were? He said they were martyrs that had been slain for him. With them was an innumerable company of little ones, they had a hem of red on their garments also. Mount Zion was just before us, and on the Mount sat a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which grew roses and lilies, and I saw the little ones climb, or if they chose use their little wings and fly to the top of the mountains, and pluck the never fading flowers. There were all kinds of trees around the temple to beautify the place. The box, the pine, the fir, the oil, the myrtle, the pomegranate and the fig tree, bowed down with the weight of its timely figs that made the place look all over glorious. And as we were about to enter the holy temple, Jesus raised his lovely voice and said, only the 144,000 enter this place, and we shouted Hallelujah. Well bless the Lord, Bro. Jacobs, it is an extra meeting for those who have the seal of the living God. This temple was supported by seven pillars, all of transparent gold, set with pearls most glorious. The glorious things I saw there, I cannot begin to describe. O, that I could talk in the language of Canaan, then could I tell a little of the glory of the upper world; but if faithful you soon will know all about it. I saw there the tables of stone in which the names of the 144,000, were engraved in letters of gold.--After we had beheld the glory of the temple, we went out. Then Jesus left us and went to the city. Soon we heard his lovely voice again, saying: Come my people; you have come out of great tribulation, and done my will, suffered for me; come in to supper, for I will gird myself, and serve you. We shouted Hallelujah, glory, and entered into the city, and I saw a table of pure silver, it was many miles in length, yet our eyes could extend over it. And I saw the fruit of the tree of life, the manna, almonds, figs, pomegranates, grapes, and many other kinds of fruit. We all reclined at the table. I asked Jesus to let me eat of the fruit. He said, not now. Those who eat of the fruit of this land, go back to earth no more. But in a little while if faithful, you shall both eat of the fruit of the tree of life, and drink of the water of the fountain, and he said, you must go back to the earth again, and relate to others, what I have revealed to you. Then an angel bore me gently down to this dark world. Sometimes I think I cannot stay here any longer, all things of earth look so dreary. I feel very lonely here, for I have seen a better land. O, that I had wings like a dove, then would I fly away, and be at rest. - last part of The Day-Star paragraph
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The sign is the appearing of the Son of Man, hence the mourning of all tribes.
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Oh, Victoria ... what you have written ... can we imagine it?
Sometimes I think I cannot stay here any longer, all things of earth look so dreary. I feel very lonely here, for I have seen a better land. O, that I had wings like a dove, then would I fly away, and be at rest.
For all who will hear ...
Come ye who are weak and weary,
I will give you rest
Ye who bear a heavy burden
I will give you rest
Take My yoke upon you
And learn of Me
I am meek and lowly
and I will give you rest
Let not your heart be troubled
Come unto Me
Ye whose hearts are greatly troubled
All your fears, distress
Lean upon my steady shoulder
I will give you rest
For My yoke is easy
My burden light
Cast your cares upon Me
and I will give you rest
come ye who are weak and weary
I will give you rest.
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Oh, Victoria ... what you have written ... can we imagine it?
Considering it's length, I still could not bring myself to post just the one sentence to answer your quiry. :)
This has been a hard week - so many tears, so many spiritual attacks, physical & emotional pain. But, I declare to you, my sister in the Lord, it is a goodly land, and we are well able to go up and possess it.
Abide. Abide in the Vine.
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Amen!!! We glory in our tribulation for all things work together for good to those who love the Lord!! It is a spiritual battle! As we abide in Christ, He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. He allows the trials that we may more fully reflect Him! Such a privilege to be His friend, to honor Him who gave all for us!!!
It will soon be over and the reward of being with Jesus for eternity is more than worth the trials!!! And, it is our opportunity as His witnesses to help others share in that experience. For how long? Forever! That is a long time!! :)
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Amen and amen.
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Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Which generation? The apostles' generation or our generation experiencing the last signs? Give us your best explanation of this verse. Is there a dual application or just one?
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It appears that He is telling us that when we see all of these signs, His coming is very very soon. Our generation! Praise God!! Jesus is even at the doors!!!
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It's my understanding that He is talking to both. Some of the signs they were to watch for just before Jerusalem was destroyed and for us just before He appears in that great morning!
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And that is my understanding as well. Like Richard said, "Our generation!" and I believe it. Think of all the generations who wanted to see this day and to think here we are, the generation of generations, standing under the heaviest load of iniquity the world has ever known. What an honor to witness the culmination of the "story of redemption."
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And like the Jews at Jesus' first coming, how many today are repeating their experience in not knowing that He is even at the doors?
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And as we observe those things going on around us, recognizing the speed at which things are falling into place, it make us wonder at the blindness. I have attempted to understand it but it escapes me every time.
Christ has given signs of His coming. He declares that we may know when He is near, even at the doors. He says of those who see these signs, "This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." These signs have appeared. Now we know of a surety that the Lord's coming is at hand. "Heaven and earth shall pass away," He says, "but My words shall not pass away." {The Desire of Ages 632.2}
Christ is coming with clouds and with great glory. A multitude of shining angels will attend Him. He will come to raise the dead, and to change the living saints from glory to glory. He will come to honor those who have loved Him, and kept His commandments, and to take them to Himself. He has not forgotten them nor His promise. There will be a relinking of the family chain. When we look upon our dead, we may think of the morning when the trump of God shall sound, when "the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1Co_15:52. A little longer, and we shall see the King in His beauty. A little longer, and He will wipe all tears from our eyes. A little longer, and He will present us "faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." Jud_1:24. Wherefore, when He gave the signs of His coming He said, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." {The Desire of Ages 632.3}
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Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
I like Peter's discussion on the prophecy Jesus spoke to His disciples. Peter covers both points Jesus made in verse 35:
2Pe 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2Pe 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
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The devil is at work to counterfeit the events that lead up to the second coming. Harold Camping is preaching Jesus will come in three months on May 21. Others have prophesied the end of the world will be in 2012. But, Jesus has told us not the day nor the hour, but He has given us signs and His Spirit that we may not be deceived. Our only safety is being in Christ.
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I believe with all my heart that we are the last generation. This is what I teach my children with eagerness and urgency. What we need do much is to live as though we are the last generation.
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Others have prophesied the end of the world will be in 2012.
Many people believe that the end of the world may come in 2012 or that something significant will happen then. It remains to be seen where Satan is leading with this.....
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One of the signs that helps to pinpoint the season is the distress in the world. Look at the Middle East today. Look at Africa. Look at Europe and America. Look at Australia. Look at the difficulties between Iran and Israel.
The people in the Middle East and Africa have been faced with rising food prices. Islam is a political system as well as a religion. The results of this can be seen in Afghanistan and Iran. There is no freedom of conscience in such governments. So, the Middle East and Northern Africa have governments independent of the religion, but they are not democracies. In America there began a new way of thinking, a "new world" independent of the "old world" where kings and popes kept the hordes under control. In America there came liberty of conscience. The Protestant religion was founded in this important liberty. Some other countries, few, have attempted to pattern their governments in such a manner. To do so requires an educated and a "moral" society. Moral from the viewpoint of true religion where the worship of God is important and is not forced according to another's beliefs.
As Matthew 24 points us to the end days, we are thankful that we can see there is no solution for the worlds difficulties now being experienced because the God of the Bible does not bear sway in the decisions being made. The difficulties we face will not be solved when God does not fit into the plans being made. There will be a false revival, but the disasters in the world will continue to increase in number and intensity. The Bible is a faithful record of God's dealing with men and nations in the past, the present, and the future. We are watching the very last days spoken of in Bible prophecy unfold before our very eyes.
Sister Marelis is doing just what God would have us all do, prepare ourselves and our families for what is breaking upon the earth. The last message has been preached for over 120 years. It is time to find a safe hiding place before the winds are let go. Our only safety is in the cleft of the "Rock". Jesus will hide us under His wing until the desolation be past.
Fear God and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment is come.
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The posts of stinsonmarri have been removed until she abides by our request to first have discussions with the moderator or admin of The Remnant Online.
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The posts of stinsonmarri have been removed until she abides by our request to first have discussions with the moderator or admin of The Remnant Online.
Thank you Sybil.
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Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Because we know not the exact time of His coming, we are commanded to watch. "Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching." Luke 12:37. Those who watch for the Lord's coming are not waiting in idle expectancy. The expectation of Christ's coming is to make men fear the Lord, and fear His judgments upon transgression. It is to awaken them to the great sin of rejecting His offers of mercy. Those who are watching for the Lord are purifying their souls by obedience to the truth. With vigilant watching they combine earnest working. Because they know that the Lord is at the door, their zeal is quickened to co-operate with the divine intelligences in working for the salvation of souls. These are the faithful and wise servants who give to the Lord's household "their portion of meat in due season." Luk_12:42. They are declaring the truth that is now specially applicable. As Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses each declared the truth for his time, so will Christ's servants now give the special warning for their generation. {DA 634.2}
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The devil is at work to counterfeit the events that lead up to the second coming. Harold Camping is preaching Jesus will come in three months on May 21. Others have prophesied the end of the world will be in 2012. But, Jesus has told us not the day nor the hour, but He has given us signs and His Spirit that we may not be deceived. Our only safety is being in Christ.
May came and went, as did October and we are still here. Harold Camping finally realized his foolishness in making prediction after prediction, each failing. Many souls seeking something better were led into his net of deception. Our prayer is for their healing and guidance to trust Scripture, not man.
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And 2012 will come and go. But, we are getting very close to the end. The signs that Jesus speaks of are all around. Morality is as it was at the time of the flood. Good is called evil and evil is called good. Justice is fallen in the street and he who departs from evil maketh himself a prey. Before Jesus comes, false religion will use the state to enforce its dogma even in what was Protestant America. Liberty of conscience will be a thing of the past. Religious liberty will be gone. This must happen before Jesus returns.
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Morality is as it was at the time of the flood.
So many people do not see the evil in today's society with LGBT, cheating spouses, lying, pilfering, me 1st in everything, etc. But, they do see the evil when children are involved. So much abuse, so many missing children, so many murdered children. There is hardly a day goes by that something with children being harmed isn't reported, sometimes several separate instances across the country. Sometimes I skim the comments following stories. Not pretty. But, there are people who are wondering what is going on with the world that so much evil is happening. I pray they find the right answer - the Holy Spirit is being withdrawn; and choose the right path - Jesus says to all, "Come", "Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve."
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Amen, Victoria.
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Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
We are living in these days. Any comments on the correlation?
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God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. From all that I see, we are at the same level of evil. I don't imagine we have much time left before this earth will be destroyed again. Things are very wicked.
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Something to notice is that before the flood, it was a time of prosperity and enjoyment. It seemed that things were getting better and life would roll on happily. The people did not expect that all was about to end in a very short time. They were eating, drinking, marrying, and having a wonderful time.
We see this now in our country. Despite all the financial trouble in the world, in reality so many people live very well, even luxuriously. It is a time of pleasure and enjoyment as people are wrapped up in their entertainments, their pursuits, their gaining of wealth. People continue to look for things to get better, rather than realizing that it is all suddenly, unexpectedly, to come to an end.
It is harder to reach people when they are almost fully anesthetized by their luxurious diet, their electronic media, and their entertainments, than when they are desperate, poor, and in trouble. Satan wants it this way, so more will be lost. Let's pray that we will not be lulled to sleep in this time of comparative peace.
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Amen, Amy. Could this be the problem according to your description? Those who are not spiritually minded have a better excuse than those professing to know Him:
Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
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Here is a very accurate picture of that time. It is eerily accurate for our day.
They worshipped selfish indulgence,--eating, drinking, merry-making,--and resorted to acts of violence and crime if their desires and passions were interfered with.
In the days of Noah the overwhelming majority was opposed to the truth, and enamored with a tissue of falsehoods. The land was filled with violence. War, crime, murder, was the order of the day. Just so will it be before Christ's second coming (MS 24, 1891).
Before the destruction of the old world by a flood, there were talented men, men who possessed skill and knowledge. But they became corrupt in their imagination, because they left God out of their plans and councils. They were wise to do what God had never told them to do, wise to do evil. The Lord saw that this example would be deleterious to those who should afterwards be born, and He took the matter in hand. For one hundred twenty years He sent them warnings through His servant Noah. But they used the probation so graciously granted them in ridiculing Noah. They caricatured him and criticized him. They laughed at him for his peculiar earnestness and intense feeling in regard to the judgments which he declared God would surely fulfill. They talked of science and of the laws controlling nature. Then they held a carnival over the words of Noah, calling him a crazy fanatic. God's patience was exhausted. He said to Noah, "The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them, and, behold, I will destroy them from the earth" (MS 29, 1890).
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21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23: And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
24: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, ill will; whisperers,
30: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31: Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, refusing to reconcile, unmerciful:
32: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
-- Romans 1:21-32 (ukjv)
two weeks ago, a man was found having lured some college girls into performing sex (beastiality) with a dog while he watched and took pictures in my home town. It is truly the end of times. The women have left the natural use of their bodies and the men have turned their passions to each other neglecting their women. Men are marrying men and women are entertaining animals! Whether for pleasure for gain or whatever it is all against God and a sign of the end. The end is near even at the door. Our admonition in verse 32 do we watch and have these as our friends? Do we condemn wnd dissociate? Let this be our challenge today lest He come and ask us what we did about it. Noah preached against the vices for an hundred and twenty years. Our hundred and twenty is wearing down toa close. Unlike Noah our chastisement will be greater our predicament worse our torment of body and soul great so that the time must be shorter lest we all fall. Hild on fast to the truth that you have and seek the gold tested with fire from Him whom all things flow.
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Oh, Wigina ... it is a horrible account. To what depths will mankind fall! It is indeed a fiendish frenzy of base immorality. The blessing of procreation has been turned upside down.
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yes Mimi ! The ends people go to provoke the living God! And yetthe apostle admonishes us not to judge 1: Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judge: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things.
2: But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3: And think you this, O man, that judge them which do such things, and do the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God?
4: Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
-- Romans 2:1-4 (ukjv) and again tells us that We should not reveal the sins of others if they repent them in our presence for when we convert such we are able to hide a multitude of sins 1: Go to now, all of you rich men, weep and wail for your miseries that shall come upon you.
19: Brethren, if any of you do go astray from the truth, and one convert him;
20: Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
-- James 5:1;19-20 (ukjv) may the Lord be with us and let us be steadfast and hold dear to what we have and at all times seek to have the character of Jesus Christ Who being God sought to be lesser than the least of the heavenly host to redeem us. Amen!
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Let's talk about judging for a minute. How are we to judge? We mentally evaluate people with "by their fruits ye shall know them." Most times we say nothing at all after such an evaluation. How are God's people to judge another that does not cause us to sin and thereby condemn ourselves? There is righteous judgment and also unrighteous.
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Its like weighing! When we weigh do we judge? I do not have a better term in our swahili language we say '' pima'' to mean weigh and ''Hukumu'' to mean judge! So even of false prophets the translation is weigh not judge. How do we judge now when we are not able to discern of the hidden things in a mans heart? Oh how I wish that anytime I am tempted to judge only the words my the Lord have mercy on him for he knows not what be does' would come to my lips and my heart. No more cursing in whatsoever manner to come from my lips. How I wish that instead of bringing accusations I would only ask my Lord to forgive!!! I long for the true and fair judgement after the millennium
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Amen. There is a true and fair judgment going on at this moment, and during the millennium we will see how true and fair it was. God bless you and your family this Sabbath day, Wigina.
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Amen and be blessed too. Yes our judgement is on, let us all strengthen each other and encourage one another so that we are found worthy of everlasting life. Not by our own strength but by abiding in Whom our strength is anchored! The Lord is my shepherd my King and my God. Amen! Happy Sabbath to all!
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Let us take the next three verses together. A simple reading would give us a 50% outcome for good or bad in this prophecy. It reminds me of the situation with the ten virgins. Half obtained oil for their lamps. Half did not.
How do we rightly interpret these verses? Do they have something to do with a secret rapture as popularly taught?
Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
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There is a true and fair judgment going on at this moment, and during the millennium we will see how true and fair it was.
On what basis are all judged? And how will we see that it was fair?
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Good question. I am sure our Bible students have an answer.
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Let us take the next three verses together. A simple reading would give us a 50% outcome for good or bad in this prophecy. It reminds me of the situation with the ten virgins. Half obtained oil for their lamps. Half did not.
How do we rightly interpret these verses? Do they have something to do with a secret rapture as popularly taught?
Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
The common interpretation of the world is that one wants to be taken because they are the ones taken to heaven. However if we look at the previous verses,
Mat 24
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Who was it that was taken during the flood, and who was left?
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Excellent point, Ranger. It is not as the world has it.
The Lord is coming in power and great glory. It will then be His work to make a complete separation between the righteous and the wicked. But the oil cannot then be transferred to the vessels of those who have it not. Then shall be fulfilled the words of Christ, "Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left." The righteous and the wicked are to be associated together in the work of life. But the Lord reads the character. He discerns who are obedient children, who respect and love His commandments.--TM 234 (1895). {LDE 236.1}
It is a solemn thing to die, but a far more solemn thing to live. Every thought and word and deed of our lives will meet us again. What we make of ourselves in probationary time, that we must remain to all eternity. Death brings dissolution to the body, but makes no change in the character. The coming of Christ does not change our characters; it only fixes them forever beyond all change.--5T 466
It is a solemn thing to die, but a far more solemn thing to live. Do we believe this? We should. Oh how holy we should be living. Jesus' coming is so very close and every advantage should be taken to buy of Him oil, buy of Him gold tried in the fire. Eternity is at our doorsteps. Let us pray for one another.
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Every thought and word and deed of our lives will meet us again. What we make of ourselves in probationary time, that we must remain to all eternity. Death brings dissolution to the body, but makes no change in the character. The coming of Christ does not change our characters; it only fixes them forever beyond all change.--5T 466
Amen! The Sabbath School lesson does not seem to express this truth very well. We are going to as we study the Book of Zechariah, starting with this afternoon's lesson. (http://remnant-online.com/smf/index.php?topic=14857.msg161031#msg161031) Too many in God's church teach something new where our works do not judge us. We are saved by grace, but as is often said, by grace only, meaning that good works have nothing to do with our being in heaven. Good works do not earn justification, but they are evidence of it. The whole Bible expresses this truth which so many today who are identified as pastors abhor.
None will receive a new character when Jesus comes. If their character does not reflect Christ, they will not be in heaven. We must have His Spirit and therefore the fruits of His Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus says it so clearly that none need err. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:3-7.
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The Lord is coming in power and great glory. It will then be his work to make a complete separation between the righteous and the wicked. But the oil cannot then be transferred to the vessels of those who have it not. Then shall be fulfilled the words of Christ, "Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left."The righteous and the wicked are to be associated together in the work of life. But the Lord reads the character, he discerns who are obedient children, who respect and love his commandments. {SpTA04 5.3}
The looker-on may discern no difference, but there is One who said that the tares were not to be plucked up by human hands, lest the wheat be rooted up also. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then the Lord sends forth his reapers to gather out the tares, and binds them in bundles to burn, while the wheat is gathered into the heavenly garner. The time of the judgment is a most solemn period, when the Lord gathers his own from among the tares. Those who have been members of the same family are separated. A mark is placed upon the righteous. "They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." Those who have been obedient to God's commandments, will unite with the company of the saints in light; they shall enter in through the gates into the city, and have right to the tree of life. The one shall be taken. His name shall stand in the Book of Life, while those with whom he associated shall have the mark of eternal separation from God. {SpTA04 6.1}
The tares and wheat are now commingled, but then the one Hand that alone can separate them will give to every one his true position. Those who have had the light of truth, and heard the warning message, heard the invitation to the marriage supper, --farmer, merchant, lawyer, false shepherds who have quieted the
convictions of the people, unfaithful watchmen who have not sounded the warning or known the time of night,--all who have refused obedience to the laws of the kingdom of God, will have no right therein. Those who have sought an excuse to avoid the cross of separation from the world, will, with the world, be taken in the snare. They mingled with the tares from choice. Like drew to like in transgression. It is a fearful assimilation. Men choose to stand with the first rebel, who tempted Adam and Eve in Eden to disobey God. The tares multiply themselves, for they sow tares, and they have their part with the root of all sin -- the devil. {SpTA04 6.2}
The taking in Noah's day was by the ark on one hand and the flood waters on the other, one group lived the other died. The taken in the Second Coming are two groups - one group lives and is caught up to meet the Lord, the other group is taken by the burning light, taken to the ground a short journey from standing upright to lying down upon the ground in death and left behind as bird food and rottenness.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
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Amen, Edward. Jesus speaks to us in language we can understand. What solemn inspired paragraphs you have contributed for our comprehension.
While reading further, I found this:
The parable of the wheat and the tares shows the mystery of the divine and the satanic agencies working in direct opposition, in vital conflict. The conflict continues till the close of this earth’s history. The incorruptible seed is the living Word of God, which works in the personal sanctification of the receivers, elevating them by bringing them into the participation of the divine nature.
Many matters need to be considered. Those who have all their lifetime been the servants of sin, desiring to act in direct opposition to the divine will, need to be most thoroughly converted. Otherwise the leaven of evil will work under cover, as Satan appearing like an angel of light tempted Christ to oppose the divine will. God’s great standard of righteousness is obnoxious to the tastes and appetites of sinful men and women. The active energy of the Saviour and that of the destroyer are in conflict.
The wheat is to be gathered for Christ’s garner. The tares have the appearance of wheat, but when the harvest comes they must be rejected. Yet there is an imitation of the wheat through a long period of time. Satan puts forth a determined effort to deceive and lead into strange paths those who have any connection with the Word of God, and he will devise every possible scheme to lengthen the period of his control. The Lord God of heaven gives no sanction to mix and corrupt church associations. The Lord would have His work in the preaching of the gospel so done that there will be no encouragement to evil workers, no toleration of evil associations in Christian assemblies.—Manuscript 7, 1900.
This hits us on many fronts and in a few short words, lays out the great controversy between Christ and Satan.
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Too many have become accustomed to having sin in the camp. Too many turn a blind eye to simple truths that have been rejected. God does not miss anything. And, there is a perfect record being made in the books of heaven. Because He is long-suffering does not mean that He will never act. We praise our God that He is long-suffering and that He gives us that same patience with the erring.
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Because He is long-suffering does not mean that He will never act. We praise our God that He is long-suffering and that He gives us that same patience with the erring.
Interesting timing as I just read the following this morning.
Ecc 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Ecc 8:12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
Ecc 8:13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
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Amen, Jim! We need not be deceived. God is not mocked. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Galatians 6:7,8.
The Bible is clear. The day will soon come when mercy will fold her wings and there shall be no more forgiveness of sin. Then the impenitent can only look for justice to be poured out. There will be fire and brimstone, no matter what the false teachers teach. God is perfectly just. Not one bit of pain will be inflicted that is beyond what is due. But, justice will come. "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Romans 12:19. The destruction of those who reject God's salvation, will be by fire. "The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb." Revelation 14:10.
Let us today heed the warning given by Jesus in Matthew 24. Today is the day of salvation while Jesus is still calling.
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Here are the closing solemn verses in Matthew 24. Any comments?
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Mat 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Mat 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mat 24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Mat 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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many of your former brethrrn shall separate from you. They shall despise you and accuse and betray you! They shall accuse you in precepts and the word as they have misrepresented it. But your Lord cometh and will surely recompense.
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Matthew 24 is one of the most amazing prophetic chapters in Scripture. Jesus, Himself, gave us these prophecies.
Reviewing the chapter, can you discover where we are in this prophetic timeline? It is November 2013. We see what has gone before and what is occurring in the world at this very moment. The Philippines have been leveled by a horrendous typhoon. The world financial markets are in disarray as men try to place them on a more sure footing. Children are disrespectful to parents and parents choose to break up families because of lust that lives in their hearts. We know the list is very long. We see it every day.
This is what Bible Prophecy indicates will happen when the end is near:
In the Physical World:
Earthquakes, calamities, and disasters. Luke 21:11
Signs in the sun, moon, and stars. Matthew 24:29
In the Business World:
Fear, distress, and perplexity everywhere. Luke 21:25, 26
An all-out preparation for war. Joel 3:9, 10, 14
A peace union of the nations. 1 Thessalonians 5:3
Trouble and uprisings throughout the earth. Revelation 13:12-17
In the Social World:
An increase in crime. Matthew 24:37; Genesis 6:13
A craze for pleasure. 2Timothy 3:1-4
Laxity in the marriage tie. Genesis 6:2; Matthew 24:37
A tide of immorality. Luke 17:28-30; Genesis 19:1-9
In the Religious World:
A decline of real spirituality. 2Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24:12
A general disregard for the will of God while doing religious work. Matthew 7:21-23
Widespread scoffing against the message of the nearness of the coming of Christ. 2Peter 3:3-5
A rebellion against the straight truth of God's Word. 2timothy 4:3,4
A demand for the preaching of smooth things. 2Timothy 4:3, 4; 1Thessalonians 5:1-3
A widespread prevalence of false religions. Matthew 24:24
A restoration of neglected truths. Isaiah 58:12-14
A widespread turning to Spiritism. 1Timothy 4:1
A worldwide movement for proclaiming the message of Christ's soon coming. Revelation 14:6-14
A calling out by this message of God's remnant, who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. Revelation 12:17; 14:12.
Jesus says, "...when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Matthew 24:33
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." Matthew 24:44
Again, here is Matthew 24 in its entirety. Where are we today and are we ready for what is to come?
Mat 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Mat 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Mat 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mat 24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Mat 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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I cannot quite leave this until the following is given to you in whole. The setting is Jerusalem. Jesus and His disciples were on The Mount of Olives. Jesus had something very important to teach the men He had chosen to give His message to all of the world. This is that account that is recorded in Matthew 24:
On the Mount of Olives
Christ's words to the priests and rulers, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" (Mat_23:38), had struck terror to their hearts. They affected indifference, but the question kept rising in their minds as to the import of these words. An unseen danger seemed to threaten them. Could it be that the magnificent temple, which was the nation's glory, was soon to be a heap of ruins? The foreboding of evil was shared by the disciples, and they anxiously waited for some more definite statement from Jesus. As they passed with Him out of the temple, they called His attention to its strength and beauty. The stones of the temple were of the purest marble, of perfect whiteness, and some of them of almost fabulous size. A portion of the wall had withstood the siege by Nebuchadnezzar's army. In its perfect masonry it appeared like one solid stone dug entire from the quarry. How those mighty walls could be overthrown the disciples could not comprehend. {DA 627.1}
As Christ's attention was attracted to the magnificence of the temple, what must have been the unuttered thoughts of that Rejected One! The view before Him was indeed beautiful, but He said with sadness, I see it all. The buildings are indeed wonderful. You point to these walls as apparently indestructible; but listen to My words: The day will come when "there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." {DA 627.2}
Christ's words had been spoken in the hearing of a large number of people; but when He was alone, Peter, John, James, and Andrew came to Him as He sat upon the Mount of Olives. "Tell us," they said, "when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Jesus did not answer His disciples by taking up separately the destruction of Jerusalem and the great day of His coming. He mingled the description of these two events. Had He opened to His disciples future events as He beheld them, they would have been unable to endure the sight. In mercy to them He blended the description of the two great crises, leaving the disciples to study out the meaning for themselves. When He referred to the destruction of Jerusalem, His prophetic words reached beyond that event to the final conflagration in that day when the Lord shall rise out of His place to punish the world for their iniquity, when the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. This entire discourse was given, not for the disciples only, but for those who should live in the last scenes of this earth's history. {DA 628.1}
Turning to the disciples, Christ said, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Many false messiahs will appear, claiming to work miracles, and declaring that the time of the deliverance of the Jewish nation has come. These will mislead many. Christ's words were fulfilled. Between His death and the siege of Jerusalem many false messiahs appeared. But this warning was given also to those who live in this age of the world. The same deceptions practiced prior to the destruction of Jerusalem have been practiced through the ages, and will be practiced again. {DA 628.2}
(continued in the following series of posts)
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"And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." Prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, men wrestled for the supremacy. Emperors were murdered. Those supposed to be standing next the throne were slain. There were wars and rumors of wars. "All these things must come to pass," said Christ, "but the end [of the Jewish nation as a nation] is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Christ said, As the rabbis see these signs, they will declare them to be God's judgments upon the nations for holding in bondage His chosen people. They will declare that these signs are the token of the advent of
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the Messiah. Be not deceived; they are the beginning of His judgments. The people have looked to themselves. They have not repented and been converted that I should heal them. The signs that they represent as tokens of their release from bondage are signs of their destruction. {DA 628.3}
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another." All this the Christians suffered. Fathers and mothers betrayed their children. Children betrayed their parents. Friends delivered their friends up to the Sanhedrin. The persecutors wrought out their purpose by killing Stephen, James, and other Christians. {DA 629.1}
Through His servants, God gave the Jewish people a last opportunity to repent. He manifested Himself through His witnesses in their arrest, in their trial, and in their imprisonment. Yet their judges pronounced on them the death sentence. They were men of whom the world was not worthy, and by killing them the Jews crucified afresh the Son of God. So it will be again. The authorities will make laws to restrict religious liberty. They will assume the right that is God's alone. They will think they can force the conscience, which God alone should control. Even now they are making a beginning; this work they will continue to carry forward till they reach a boundary over which they cannot step. God will interpose in behalf of His loyal, commandment-keeping people. {DA 630.1}
On every occasion when persecution takes place, those who witness it make decisions either for Christ or against Him. Those who manifest sympathy for the ones wrongly condemned show their attachment for Christ. Others are offended because the principles of truth cut directly across their practice. Many stumble and fall, apostatizing from the faith they once advocated. Those who apostatize in time of trial will, to secure their own safety, bear false witness, and betray their brethren. Christ has warned us of this, that we may not be surprised at the unnatural, cruel course of those who reject the light. {DA 630.2}
Christ gave His disciples a sign of the ruin to come on Jerusalem, and He told them how to escape: "When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled." This warning was given to be heeded forty years after, at the destruction of Jerusalem. The Christians obeyed the warning, and not a Christian perished in the fall of the city. {DA 630.3}
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"Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter; neither on the Sabbath day," Christ said. He who made the Sabbath did not abolish it, nailing it to His cross. The Sabbath was not rendered null and void by His death. Forty years after His crucifixion it was still to be held sacred. For forty years the disciples were to pray that their flight might not be on the Sabbath day. {DA 630.4}
From the destruction of Jerusalem, Christ passed on rapidly to the greater event, the last link in the chain of this earth's history,--the coming of the Son of God in majesty and glory. Between these two events, there lay open to Christ's view long centuries of darkness, centuries for His
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church marked with blood and tears and agony. Upon these scenes His disciples could not then endure to look, and Jesus passed them by with a brief mention. "Then shall be great tribulation," He said, "such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." For more than a thousand years such persecution as the world had never before known was to come upon Christ's followers. Millions upon millions of His faithful witnesses were to be slain. Had not God's hand been stretched out to preserve His people, all would have perished. "But for the elect's sake," He said, "those days shall be shortened." {DA 630.5}
Now, in unmistakable language, our Lord speaks of His second coming, and He gives warning of dangers to precede His advent to the world. "If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." As one of the signs of Jerusalem's destruction, Christ had said, "Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." False prophets did rise, deceiving the people, and leading great numbers into the desert. Magicians and sorcerers, claiming miraculous power, drew the people after them into the mountain solitudes. But this prophecy was spoken also for the last days. This sign is given as a sign of the second advent. Even now false christs and false prophets are showing signs and wonders to seduce His disciples. Do we not hear the cry, "Behold, He is in the desert"? Have not thousands gone forth into the desert, hoping to find Christ? And from thousands of gatherings where men profess to hold communion with departed spirits is not the call now heard, "Behold, He is in the secret chambers"? This is the very claim that spiritism puts forth. But what says Christ? "Believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." {DA 631.1}
The Saviour gives signs of His coming, and more than this, He fixes the time when the first of these signs shall appear: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon
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shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." {DA 631.2}
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At the close of the great papal persecution, Christ declared, the sun should be darkened, and the moon should not give her light. Next, the stars should fall from heaven. And He says, "Learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that He is near, even at the doors." Mat_24:32-33, margin. {DA 632.1}
Christ has given signs of His coming. He declares that we may know when He is near, even at the doors. He says of those who see these signs, "This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." These signs have appeared. Now we know of a surety that the Lord's coming is at hand. "Heaven and earth shall pass away," He says, "but My words shall not pass away." {DA 632.2}
Christ is coming with clouds and with great glory. A multitude of shining angels will attend Him. He will come to raise the dead, and to change the living saints from glory to glory. He will come to honor those who have loved Him, and kept His commandments, and to take them to Himself. He has not forgotten them nor His promise. There will be a relinking of the family chain. When we look upon our dead, we may think of the morning when the trump of God shall sound, when "the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1Co_15:52. A little longer, and we shall see the King in His beauty. A little longer, and He will wipe all tears from our eyes. A little longer, and He will present us "faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." Jud_1:24. Wherefore, when He gave the signs of His coming He said, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." {DA 632.3}
But the day and the hour of His coming Christ has not revealed. He stated plainly to His disciples that He Himself could not make known the day or the hour of His second appearing. Had He been at liberty to reveal this, why need He have exhorted them to maintain an attitude of constant expectancy? There are those who claim to know the very day and hour of our Lord's appearing. Very earnest are they in mapping out
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the future. But the Lord has warned them off the ground they occupy. The exact time of the second coming of the Son of man is God's mystery. {DA 632.4}
Christ continues, pointing out the condition of the world at His coming: "As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the Flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Christ does not here bring to view a temporal millennium, a thousand years in which all are to prepare for eternity. He tells us that as it was in Noah's day, so will it be when the Son of man comes again. {DA 633.1}
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How was it in Noah's day? "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Gen_6:5. The inhabitants of the antediluvian world turned from Jehovah, refusing to do His holy will. They followed their own unholy imagination and perverted ideas. It was because of their wickedness that they were destroyed; and today the world is following the same way. It presents no flattering signs of millennial glory. The transgressors of God's law are filling the earth with wickedness. Their betting, their horse racing, their gambling, their dissipation, their lustful practices, their untamable passions, are fast filling the world with violence. {DA 633.2}
In the prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction Christ said, "Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." This prophecy will again be fulfilled. The abounding iniquity of that day finds its counterpart in this generation. So with the prediction in regard to the preaching of the gospel. Before the fall of Jerusalem, Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, declared that the gospel was preached to "every creature which is under heaven." Col_1:23. So now, before the coming of the Son of man, the everlasting gospel is to be preached "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." Rev_14:6, Rev_14:14. God "hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world." Act_17:31. Christ tells us when that day shall be ushered in. He does not say that all the world will be converted, but that "this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." By giving the gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten our Lord's return. We are not only to look for but to hasten the coming of the day of God. 2Pe_3:12, margin. Had
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the church of Christ done her appointed work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would before this have been warned, and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth in power and great glory. {DA 633.3}
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After He had given the signs of His coming, Christ said, "When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand." "Take ye heed, watch and pray." God has always given men warning of coming judgments. Those who had faith in His message for their time, and who acted out their faith, in obedience to His commandments, escaped the judgments that fell upon the disobedient and unbelieving. The word came to Noah, "Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me." Noah obeyed and was saved. The message came to Lot, "Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city." Gen_7:1; Gen_19:14. Lot placed himself under the guardianship of the heavenly messengers, and was saved. So Christ's disciples were given warning of the destruction of Jerusalem. Those who watched for the sign of the coming ruin, and fled from the city, escaped the destruction. So now we are given warning of Christ's second coming and of the destruction to fall upon the world. Those who heed the warning will be saved. {DA 634.1}
Because we know not the exact time of His coming, we are commanded to watch. "Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching." Luk_12:37. Those who watch for the Lord's coming are not waiting in idle expectancy. The expectation of Christ's coming is to make men fear the Lord, and fear His judgments upon transgression. It is to awaken them to the great sin of rejecting His offers of mercy. Those who are watching for the Lord are purifying their souls by obedience to the truth. With vigilant watching they combine earnest working. Because they know that the Lord is at the door, their zeal is quickened to co-operate with the divine intelligences in working for the salvation of souls. These are the faithful and wise servants who give to the Lord's household "their portion of meat in due season." Luk_12:42. They are declaring the truth that is now specially applicable. As Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses each declared the truth for his time, so will Christ's servants now give the special warning for their generation. {DA 634.2}
But Christ brings to view another class: "If that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him." {DA 634.3}
The evil servant says in his heart, "My lord delayeth his coming." He does not say that Christ will not come. He does not scoff at the idea of His second coming. But in his heart and by his actions and words he declares that the Lord's coming is delayed. He banishes from the minds of others the conviction that the Lord is coming quickly. His influence leads men to presumptuous, careless delay. They are confirmed in their worldliness and stupor. Earthly passions, corrupt thoughts, take possession of the mind. The evil servant eats and drinks with the drunken, unites with the world in pleasure seeking. He smites his fellow servants, accusing and condemning those who are faithful to their Master. He mingles with the world. Like grows with like in transgression. It is a fearful assimilation. With the world he is taken in the snare. "The lord of that servant shall come . . . in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites." {DA 635.1}
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"If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." Rev_3:3. The advent of Christ will surprise the false teachers. They are saying, "Peace and safety." Like the priests and teachers before the fall of Jerusalem, they look for the church to enjoy earthly prosperity and glory. The signs of the times they interpret as foreshadowing this. But what saith the word of Inspiration? "Sudden destruction cometh upon them." 1Th_5:3. Upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth, upon all who make this world their home, the day of God will come as a snare. It comes to them as a prowling thief. {DA 635.2}
The world, full of rioting, full of godless pleasure, is asleep, asleep in carnal security. Men are putting afar off the coming of the Lord. They laugh at warnings. The proud boast is made, "All things continue as they were from the beginning." "Tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant." 2Pe_3:4; Isa_56:12. We will go deeper into pleasure loving. But Christ says, "Behold, I come as a thief." Rev_16:15. At the very time when the world is asking in scorn, "Where is the promise of His coming?" the signs are fulfilling. While they cry, "Peace and safety," sudden destruction is coming. When the scorner, the rejecter of truth, has become presumptuous; when the routine of work in the various money-making lines is carried on without regard to principle; when the student is eagerly seeking knowledge of everything but his Bible, Christ comes as a thief. {DA 635.3}
Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord's appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win. {DA 636.1}
The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing over its usual round, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying, and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one against another, contending for the highest place. Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters, horse races, gambling hells. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation's hour is fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided. Satan sees that his time is short. He has set all his agencies at work that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied and entranced, until the day of probation shall be ended, and the door of mercy be forever shut. {DA 636.2}
Solemnly there come to us down through the centuries the warning words of our Lord from the Mount of Olives: "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." {DA 636.3}
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"Everything in the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires, floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security? There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord's appearing. Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.
The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing over its usual round, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying, and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one against another, contending for the highest place."
"crisis is stealing gradually upon us." Yes, it is gradually getting worse. Even many who have studied and know this is a sign of the end are complacent. But, God does not allow the carnal mind to be at peace if He can help it. He loves the sinner and He either allows or causes disturbances in the life that the sinner might see his peril.
" 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness.
12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
12:14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled." Hebrews
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Jesus loves us so very much! And, He does not want us to be taken by surprise as bad things happen all around us. There is much trouble in the world today, everywhere we look we see pain and suffering. More trouble is coming as we have been reading the warnings given by Jesus. In the Bible, God gives us a symbol that illustrates trouble is coming. What is that symbol? And do we find it anywhere being used in Scripture to warn of trouble coming upon apostate Christianity? Line upon line, precept upon precept. Matthew 24 speaks of trouble coming, but not all is spelled out. There are other warning signs that sinners might be given opportunity to turn from their sin.
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I immediately thought of judgments in the land but those are not symbols.
What is on your mind, Richard? Tell us of the symbol.
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Mimi, today we have great technology, so we are notified via radio, television, cell phones, and in many other ways when disaster is approaching. But in older times, there was no such technology. If I were standing on a wall that protected many cities, how could I have alerted the people therein of approaching danger?
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With a trumpet.
It is the privilege of the watchmen on the walls of Zion to live so near to God, and to be susceptible to the impressions of His Spirit, that He can work through them to tell men and women of their peril and point them to the place of safety. Faithfully are they to warn them of the sure result of transgression, and faithfully are they to safeguard the interests of the church. At no time may they relax their vigilance. Theirs is a work requiring the exercise of every faculty of the being. In trumpet tones their voices are to be lifted, and never are they to sound one wavering, uncertain note. Not for wages are they to labor, but because they cannot do otherwise, because they realize that there is a woe upon them if they fail to preach the gospel. Chosen of God, sealed with the blood of consecration, they are to rescue men and women from impending destruction. {AA 361.2}
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Amen! I am so glad you shared that particular truth. It places a priority, not on warning of the end approaching, as does Matthew 24, but on the danger we face of being deceived on the foundation of our faith, the gospel of grace. That is the great danger facing the church today. Moving beyond that back to Matthew 24, there are other dangers that the church and the world face. Because sinners are deceived, because they have not accepted the truth of God's offer of forgiveness and eternal life with Jesus, they are facing eternal death. We are instructed to save some by fear. "And others save with fear..." Jude 1:23. Of course we cannot be saved by fear, but it has its place for some, in that when the bombs are falling and the soldier in the foxhole sees his life is not in his own hands, some will turn to God for help. Fear does not save, but it does indeed cause some to re-examine their beliefs. So, it is with the "trumpets" in Scripture, they warn of impending danger in hopes that the fear of danger will cause some to turn to God that their sins may be forgiven.
Matthew 24 brings into our vision the end of time on this earth. It is given to us that we might know that life does not continue on and on as it is. That sin will cause this earth to be destroyed along with sin and sinners. Time is running out. Jesus wants us to know that the end is near. He presents to us things that indicate the time of His second coming is near at hand. It is important that we know this. My question to our Bible scholars is where in the Bible are we given more information on the things that indicate the end of all things is drawing nigh? Jesus opened the discussion on this important subject, is there more that He wants us to know about where we stand at this moment in time? Has He warned us of other events that are either transpiring today or are soon to happen? Is there a trumpet blowing that we have not discerned? Is the world facing a danger that will not be escaped except we be found abiding in Christ? Has the apostate church been warned in the past of the danger it has faced? Is the apostate church being warned that judgments are in the land today?