Not long ago I posted an article called World Ending? Who Said? with answers to a sceptic concerning God, the soon return of Jesus and the world in the last days. This article continues that subject.
Matthew 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."
Deception is the best tool the devil has in his arsenal. If he can get you to believe something NOT of God, he wins. There are preachers and teachers who tell you what to do, how to live, where to live, how to dress, etc. They teach everything but the gospel. If it doesn't come from God, it isn't the truth. But we are human, subject to making mistakes. Therefore, if any teacher or preacher tells you a thing, check it out in the bible for yourselves! Do NOT take my word or any other person's word without first checking it. Do not be deceived just because it looks like a miracle. God IS moving right now but so is the enemy. He can't create anything so he copies the Lord God in actions. There will be things that look like signs and wonders that God does not participate in. If it does not line up with the Word of God, it is not the truth, no matter how good it seems to be. The biggest deception will come with a little truth in it, but will lead you off the path of the Lord. Ask God. The people called of God will tell you NOT to take their word but to look it up, prove it out. If all you do is take someone else's word for what God has for you, there is an opening for deception to creep in.
As the age comes to an end, the deception will grow along with the cold hearts. Soon, it will be illegal to be a Christian, a believer. As some have seen already, the law will tell us that we are not allowed to possess or read a bible. But this is not quite the end.
Matthew 24:29-32, "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."
When this occurs, if you have not given your life to the Lord Jesus, it will be too late (note: tribes mourn).
But let's take a look at what Jesus says about this time just prior to His coming for His elect.
Warning: What you are about to read is for your benefit. It could save your life.
Matthew 24:32-34, "Now 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 it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled."
The fig tree is all about Israel. Many prophecies have made this clear so I won't go into that here. But watch Israel. What happens there is the gauge to all the prophecies. We have entered the last days. The problem is that most people are becoming very lukewarm about it, not on fire for the Lord. Fence sitters. Could I now tell you what the Lord Jesus feels about that?
Revelation 3:14-17, "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; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
If you think now that this was written only to that church, think again. All of the churches that are in Revelation chapters 1-3 are alive today. These warnings are to CHRISTIAN churches, bodies of believers who already had heard God's word.
"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled."
This generation. This generation saw the rebirth of Israel. This generation saw the wars that brought Jerusalem into the picture. Even now, the fight is over Jerusalem and who will own it, run it. Why? What is so important about Israel and Jerusalem? That country is so small, has very little natural resources, and logically, isn't worth all this fuss. But the wars have continued there. This generation.
Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."
Even Jesus did not know when He would come to take His elect nor when the time of His reappearance would occur. So, no one here will know, be able to guess or give you a date. But we can see the season, the signs.
Matthew 24:37-42, "But as the days of Noe 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 Noe 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. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."
In the days of Noe (Noah). When you read this verse, think back to what it must have been like in Noah's day. Pretty ordinary. Business as usual. But the warning is to be ready. Watch therefore. You do not know when the Lord will come. So what is SO important about this?
Matthew 24:43-51, "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. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 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, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Let's say your parents had to leave the house putting you in charge. You had to watch your kid sister or brother for them. They expected you to babysit. What would happen if the parents came back and you didn't expect them to return so soon? The house is a mess. The kid isn't in bed. You've allowed him/her to have snacks that aren't good for them. I suppose the parents would not be pleased at your actions. You got caught unaware, surprised by the unexpected return. Result of unhappy parents? You fill it in. What do you suppose Jesus will be like? On the other hand, let's say you did all you were supposed to and the house looks great, kid in bed on time, no snacks. Parents happy now? You watched for them to return, it was not unexpected. See the difference? Watch therefore. Be prepared for His soon return.
So when Jesus comes, is that the end of the world? Nah, it's just the beginning of a new and exciting time, IF you give your life to Jesus while there is still time to choose.
Look for more on this subject in upcoming articles.
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