In Matthew 24:6 the Lord instructs us that prior to seeing the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place we will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. We are not to be frightened. Why? He says, “…for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.” He has ordained that these things are going to occur before He returns and gathers the wheat, His true church, into the barn. (Mt. 13:30, 39) Comparing scripture with scripture always gives us the bigger, clearer picture.
Ok, so how well do you know Matthew 24? Here’s a quiz question. What does the Lord say will come before He mentions the wars and rumors of wars? (Sorry, the teacher in me is pops up every now and then.) If you know your seals many understand it to correspond to the first seal.
After the wars and rumors of wars the Lord says that nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. Next quiz question. In which seal do we get a picture of famine conditions because it is going to take a day’s wages to buy a quart of wheat? (Have you noticed the price of milk and eggs lately?!) I’m not going to give you the answer. A good teacher makes their students hunt for the answers! I’ll give you the chapter in which you can find the seals however, six…uh, you do know the book, right?!
So, we’ve got, ok, I’ll tell you the answer to the first question, false Christs…then wars and rumors of wars, and famines and earthquakes. Jesus calls these birth pangs. He uses the word “beginning” prior to identifying these birth pangs. That means there is more to come before the end. Remember, He says those things must take place but that is not yet the end…when those who endure will be delivered…and comparing scripture with scripture those who endure to the end are the wheat who will be gathered into the barn when He returns. (Ten extra credit points if you can tell me what verse in Mt. 24 says the one who endures to the end will be saved.)
What are believers, the wheat, going to have to endure before the end comes? Jesus uses the pronoun “you” so He is referring to His followers. His followers are going to have to endure tribulation and being killed and hatred because of the name of Christ. (Mt. 24:9) We will also witness false prophets misleading many (know your Bible!) and you will be surprised to learn that those who you thought loved the Lord really didn’t because when Antichrist demands worship and then begins His killing spree, first against Israel and then against believers, those who called themselves Christians are going to fall away. Basically Jesus is saying in Mt. 24:10 and 12 that during that time the tares and the wheat are going to become more evident.
I mentioned in the comment section of my previous post that a true watchman is one who responds appropriately to Christ’s warnings and instructions.
In verse fifteen Jesus gives us a really big sign for which to be watching before the end comes. “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through
Has the end occurred yet? No, not yet. That means we are still here, the wheat has not yet been gathered into the barn.
What are the other things we are to watch for according to Mt. 24:24? False Christs and false prophets showing great signs and wonders. Also there will be those saying Jesus has returned, that He is over here or over there! And the true watchman’s appropriate response? They are not to be believed!!! Do not go forth!!!
The final sign we are to watch for, signaling the end of the age, that the Lord is about to return with His reapers, His angels, who will then gather the wheat, His true church, the elect, into the barn…the final sign is when He turns off all the lights! (I know, too many commas and sentence fragments…I didn’t teach grammar.) Comparing scripture with scripture, in Revelation 6:12, along with the lights going out there will be one, last, final, huge, earthquake birth pang before we are delivered…and Luke tells the true watchman the appropriate response at the time the lights go out…”straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (
6 comments:
While I added a touch of humor to this post, the Lord is clear that a true watchman is also sober and alert. When the time of great tribulation comes upon Israel and the church, the frivolity will be amongst those who have aligned themselves with Antichrist. They will be the ones enjoying peace and safety, but sudden destruction will come upon them at the day of the Lord. For the believer, it will be our deliverance.
ooh, OOH! I know, I KNOW!
Call on me, teacher. Can't you see my hand?
(Matt. 7:7-14)
This is a great and unconditional promise concerning the free gift of salvation and a satisfying life on Earth. If you ask to be saved, you'll be saved. If you seek salvation you'll find it. When you knock on the door of the Kingdom, it will be opened. This promise comes at the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Earlier, the Lord had explained the futility of trying to earn a place in the Kingdom, saying that it's not just our outward behavior that would condemn us, but the motives that energize it. Anger equals murder, lust equals adultery, and so on. (Matt. 5:21-28) He also said not to worry about making it through life here. If we would first seek His Kingdom and His righteousness everything else would be given us as well. (Matt. 6:33) Now we're told that all we have to do is ask to receive these things.
To underscore this, He called His promise a gift from our Father. When our children ask for good things we don't give them bad things instead. And when we give gifts to our children, we don't place a burden on them in the process. Neither does our Father do this to us. Do you see His point? Salvation is a gift, free for the asking. Would He give us this gift and then impose a set of behavioral standards that if not met would result in revocation? Of course not.
The interpretation of the narrow gate in Matt. 7:13-14 as referring to a sacrificial life filled with have-to's and don'ts is man's idea, not God's. It helps to understand that everyone on the road is seeking salvation. The broad road with its wide gate is filled with those who follow false religions or try to earn their own way to salvation. The narrow road with the small gate represents asking the Lord to save you and then relying on His completed work on your behalf. If it was living a sacrificial life then salvation would come through works, not grace. It would be like asking the Lord to free you from your burdens, only to discover that He's laid a heavier burden upon you instead.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matt. 7:21-23)
So here's the bottom line. Regarding personal salvation, some people who think they're saved will find out that they aren't. Even those who've prophesied and performed miracles in the Lord's name will discover that they failed to do the one thing the Lord requires of us and their work will be called evil, no matter how good it appears to us. Before it's too late please make sure you're safe. It's an easy thing to do. You only have to ask yourself two questions. “What is the will of the father?” and “Am I dong it?” Turn to John 6 for the answer to both.
Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:28-29)
God requires one thing of you, and that's to believe in the one He has sent. Nothing more is necessary, and nothing less will do.
Anonymous,
Salvation is by grace/God's unmerited favor, through faith/a gift that He gives, not of works. (Eph. 2:8,9) I think we are in agreement there.
There are reasons He choses to save us:
Eph. 2:10: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
1 Peter 2:9: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
Grace was not bestowed upon us so that we could continue in sin.
Romans 6:1,2: "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?"
We are to walk in newness of life! (Rom. 6:4)
We are to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. (Rom. 6:11)
We are not to go on presenting the members of our bodies to sin as instruments of unrighteousness. (Rom. 6:13)`
To be sure, because we live in unredeemed flesh a battle rages between that and our new heart. But if there is no battle going in, can there be new life? (Rom. 7)
You said: "Would He give us this gift and then impose a set of behavioral standards that if not met would result in revocation? Of course not."
I agree with that. Have I stated otherwise? If I have please show me where.
God chooses us, calls us, gives us the gift of faith, and expects many things from us after we are saved, but not for the reasons of keeping our salvation. He does that for us!
Darrin,
I'm always calling on you. Let's give someone else a chance!
LOL
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