An Hour and An End Pt 1 (Prophetic Signs)

In studying the signs that our Savior gave us, I want to go to a scholarly source so for today's study we are going to read from this source and see what we get from it.  By the grace of God we will have truth opened to us, truth that we need as we live in these very important, dare I say, last days.

Does it hurt to call them the last days?

Perhaps people back in 70AD after witnessing the army destroying the city they fled from believed they were living in the last days too, did it hurt them? Seriously, did it harm their walk with Christ in any way? No. The belief of living in the last days is a good one, good because the hope that is in you is alive and real, you are living for Christ and His return. You are living for the gospel of the kingdom that Jesus came and preached, eternity in Him, through Him.

So, while I dare to call our days the last days, know this-- there WILL be a people for which that is true and yes, it COULD be us.

Please read this prayerfully, seeking the Holy Spirit's guidance into all truth, always.

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This excerpt is from the paper-

An Hour and  An End
Written by Elder William Grotheer

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'p 5 -- Chapter II -- Luke 21:24 in Context

Part of Jesus' Prophetic Legacy to His Church -- The prophecy of Luke 21:24 is a part of a prophetic outline which Jesus gave to His disciples on the Mount of Olives, Tuesday prior to His great sacrifice on Calvary. What Jesus said is recorded in all three of the Synoptic Gospels - Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.

The day following His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Monday, He cleansed the temple the second time. He charged the Jewish leadership with making His house "a den of thieves." (Matt. 21:13) On Tuesday, upon His return to the Temple, He was met and challenged by the chief priests and elders of the people as to His authority to do what He had done the day before. (Matt. 21:23) After putting them to silence, Jesus spoke in the hearing of the multitude, the most scathing denunciations of the religious leaders of Israel they had ever heard. (Matt. 23:1-36) Then He declared - "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. ... and Jesus went out." (Matt. 23:38; 24:1)

This pronouncement and act of Jesus shocked the disciples. Hurriedly following Him from the Temple precincts, they sought to bring Him to reality as they perceived reality to be. One of the disciples - speaking the sentiments of all - said to Jesus: "Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!" (Mark 13:1) What were they saying? "Jesus, you spoke too hastily. Look here. See these great buildings. Look at the massive rocks which have been used in the building of the Temple. How can You say, that this Temple, the center of all our religious worship is now desolate? Is it going to be set aside? Jesus, not backing down one inch said in response - "Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (Mark 13:2) This stunned them. Silence reigned during the entire walk from the Temple to the Mount of Olives where they would spend the night.

While sitting together on the Mount, four of the disciples ventured to ask Jesus "When shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matt. 24:3) To the disciples, if the Temple was going to be destroyed, that had to be the end of the world. So to them, it was just one question. In answering their question, Jesus mingled the signs marking the two events. But in giving general signs which would apply to both events, He outlined three specific signs which would mark major epochs from the time of the Apostles to His second coming. Note these events as given in Luke 21:

1)   And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which be 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 country enter thereinto. (Luke 21:20-21)

2)   And 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 shall fall from heaven." - Matt. 24:29]

3)   Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)

It is important to understand that these three prophetic signs were not given in
p 6 -- symbolic representation. They were given in literal language so that when the event did occur, one could look back upon the historical happening and say - "Look what has taken place. This fulfills what Jesus said." Then the one recognizing the event would need to ask further - "Since this has happened, what is Jesus saying to me now?"

By understanding this prophecy of Jesus in Luke 21:24 in its literal sense, we are but following a principle used by our spiritual forefathers. In A Symposium on Biblical Hermeneutics, Don F. Neufeld wrote a section on "Biblical Interpretation in the Adventist Movement." One principle which was paramount to these students of the Bible was - "The Bible must be interpreted according to the plain, obvious, and literal import unless a figure of speech is employed." Then Neufeld comments - "This rule was a recurring theme at a time when critics attempted to demolish the positions taken by the Adventists." (p. 119)

Some Definitions -- It should be clearly understood in the study of Luke 21:24 that when Jerusalem, or the nation of Israel, is referred to in its present historical setting, it is not that the city of Jerusalem is to be considered as the holy city of God, or the nation of Israel as once more God's chosen people. This relationship is no more, and never will be again. The times of the Jewish nation as the people of God ended in AD 34 in harmony with the prophecy given to Daniel (9:24). However, this fact does not exclude an equally important fact; that is, events in the history of Jerusalem can still be in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. For example, Jerusalem was no longer the holy city of God in AD 66, yet the surrounding of that city by Cestius fulfilled a sign given by Jesus. It was so understood by the Christians, and when Cestius withdrew from the city, they fled from the coming destruction which Jesus prophesied.

We find in the Greek language, the word translated - "Gentiles" - is the same word for "nations" - ta eqnh (ta ethne). In Old Testament times, the inhabited world was divided into two groups - the Gentiles or nations, and the people of God, which was Israel. In the New Testament, it is again the nations, and the New Israel of God, the Church. As God committed His message of grace as revealed in the sanctuary model to Israel to give to the world, so also to the Church, God has committed the message of Christ, the Word made flesh - the New Tabernacle - to be given to the nations. But in giving the events which were to serve as signs to His people, Jesus connected two of those signs with historical happenings in the history of the city of Jerusalem.

Because of this parallel relationship between Israel of old and the New Israel of God, it is mandatory that we clearly understand the use and meaning of "Jerusalem" in both prophecy and history. In the Old and New Testaments when Jerusalem is referred to, it is primarily in a very historical setting - the literal city. Such is the case in Luke 21:24. The same city which was to be surrounded by Roman armies is the same city which was to be trodden down of the nations until the times of the nations or Gentiles be fulfilled. The term, "Jerusalem," is also used to represent the Church. It is so used in the Writings of Ellen G. White in connection with Ezekiel 9. (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, p. 267) Paul uses the term to refer to "the mother of us all," but in so doing assures that this "mother" is above, and is not an earthly entity. (Gal. 4:26; Heb. 12:22)

It also needs to be kept in view that even though the question about the end times arose over the discussion as to what was to take place in regard to the Temple, Jesus did not say that the Temple was to be trodden down of the nations till the times of the Gentiles (nations)be fulfilled. He clearly indicated that the same city which was to be surrounded by the alien armies was to be the city whose history would give the sign by which Christians could tell when the times of the Gentiles would be fulfilled. '

End Excerpt.

So far from what we've read we can comprehend that the signs we read about yesterday in Matthew, Mark, and Luke all go together some with more details than others.

There are three main prophecies- well, I'm not going to just go over all we've read, but I guess I just want to confirm what we've read. We're looking at Luke 21:24 in this study, but all the other signs will be discussed as well.  Signs we have to know.  Signs we have to be aware of. Signs that show us the times we are living in.

Please, if you want truth keep reading the studies, keep praying.

Read and re-read. Look up ALL the Bible verses, KNOW the truth! Seek the truth, seek the word of our Savior.

Jerusalem- the city God has give us for SIGNS.

We all know there is a lot of conflict in that city, tremendous conflict.  Our eyes are still to be on that city, may God guide us as we watch for all of His signs.

More tomorrow by the grace of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST!

All in HIS LOVE.

Please, do NOT read the following if you do NOT want to REALLY STUDY God's precious, holy, life saving Word.

Matthew chapter 24, along with Mark 13, and Luke 21, all contain a lot of prophetic signs given by JESUS.  The first thing we are going to do is read through all of those chapters placing an asterisk next to a sign when we come to it- for future study.

Please, before you begin this study take a few minutes to pray, really pray for God to guide you. Let God know that you want your eyes opened, your heart unhardened, your ears able to hear. You want the gold tried in fire, you want the eye salve, you want to be clothed by Him in His righteousness, you want His faith, you want to understand ONLY His truth and nothing else. We know our glorious God will give us the wisdom we need, and we give Him all PRAISE, all GLORY, all HONOR, all THANKFULNESS, all LOVE.

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.

Mar 13:1  And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

Mar 13:2  And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Mar 13:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

Mar 13:4  Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

Mar 13:5  And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

Mar 13:6  For *many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mar 13:7  And when ye *shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

Mar 13:8  For *nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be *earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be *famines and *troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Mar 13:9  But take heed to yourselves: for they *shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye *shall be beaten: and ye *shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

Mar 13:10  And *the gospel must first be published among all nations.

Mar 13:11  But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Mar 13:12  Now the *brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

Mar 13:13  And ye *shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Mar 13:14  But when ye shall see the *abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

Mar 13:15  And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:

Mar 13:16  And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

Mar 13:17  But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

Mar 13:18  And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

Mar 13:19  For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

Mar 13:20  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

Mar 13:21  And then *if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

Mar 13:22  For *false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and *shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Mar 13:23  But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Mar 13:24  But in those days, after that tribulation, the *sun shall be darkened, and the *moon shall not give her light,

Mar 13:25  And the *stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

Mar 13:26  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Mar 13:27  And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Mar 13:28  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

Mar 13:29  So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

Mar 13:30  Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

Mar 13:31  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Mar 13:32  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Mar 13:33  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Mar 13:34  For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

Mar 13:35  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

Mar 13:36  Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

Mar 13:37  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Luk 21:1  And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

Luk 21:2  And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

Luk 21:3  And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

Luk 21:4  For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Luk 21:5  And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

Luk 21:6  As for these things which ye behold, *the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Luk 21:7  And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

Luk 21:8  And he said, *Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Luk 21:9  But when ye shall hear of *wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

Luk 21:10  Then said he unto them, *Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

Luk 21:11  And *great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and *famines, and *pestilences; and *fearful sights and *great signs shall there be from heaven.

Luk 21:12  But before all these, they *shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

Luk 21:13  And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

Luk 21:14  Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

Luk 21:15  For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Luk 21:16  And ye *shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

Luk 21:17  And ye *shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

Luk 21:18  But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

Luk 21:20  And when *ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

Luk 21:21  Then let them which are in Judaea 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.

Luk 21:22  For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Luk 21:23  But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

Luk 21:24  And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and *Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Luk 21:25  And there shall be signs in the *sun, and in the *moon, and in the *stars; and upon the earth *distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Luk 21:26  *Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the *powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Luk 21:27  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Luk 21:28  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Luk 21:29  And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

Luk 21:30  When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

Luk 21:31  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Luk 21:32  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Luk 21:33  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Luk 21:34  And 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.

Luk 21:35  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

Luk 21:36  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.

Luk 21:37  And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.

Luk 21:38  And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

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Daniel spoken of in Matthew and Mark…

Dan 9:27  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Dan 12:11  And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

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Clearly there is a lot to study.

Just imagine being a disciple and hearing all these things, your mind had to be in a whirlwind. So much had to happen before the Son of Man would come in the clouds to take His elect with Him. So many signs.  But clearly the Lord wanted all people throughout time until His return to be prepared.  He wanted all to watch and to pray, and not be caught up in ourselves so that we neglect to be His.

Thousands of years have passed since those disciples heard the words of the Messiah, thousands, and yet as we know a thousand years to us is but as a day to the Lord. We should be very thankful that we exist and not question why God is so incredibly long suffering towards humanity. 

Every human being that will be His must be born, and we cannot possibly ever know when the very last child that will be His will be born. 

Praise God that He has this all in His hands. The plan is set, the day and the hour are set, but only the Father knows that day and hour.

We can see the signs and know by watching those signs that it's near so we are NOT caught off guard, but we will never know the date, not ever. We will be living through the end times, through the plagues, through all of the horrors of the end and only those who are HIS before the plagues will be protected. Too many people believe once those plagues start to appear then they'll have time to get their lives in orders, but by then it's too late.  Is it any wonder our Savior told us to WATCH and PRAY so we aren't surprised like those who are shockingly surprised by thieves in the night? It will happen that suddenly. One day the end won't be here, the next it will be. Will we know when it happens, when human probation is up? When all cases have been decided for or against eternal life? Will we know? We might suspect as predicted happenings occur, and even then we will be counting solely on the RIGHTEOUSNESS of CHRIST to keep us in HIM, never on any merit of our own. We won't be patting ourselves on the back and going…'Whew, that plague missed me.'  There are seven plagues and they aren't going to hit everyone, everywhere at the same time. We must RIGHT NOW be in CHRIST, living for HIM, believing that HE will save us by HIS GRACE and MERCY, through HIS LOVE and we must never stop living in Him, never!

More tomorrow, by HIS amazing, wondrous GRACE!

In HIS LOVE.

Blessed Sabbath to all!

Signs

Jesus' words to His disciples-

When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. (Luke 21:20)
Luk 21:21  Then let them which are in Judaea 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.

In this context-

Luk 21:5  And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
Luk 21:6  As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Luk 21:7  And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

The disciples were asking for signs. Jesus gave them a very specific sign-

When Jerusalem is surrounded by armies, know its desolation is close.

So did this happen? Was Jerusalem ever surrounded by armies? Did anyone who saw these armies surrounding the city get a chance to flee to the mountains, to depart?

It would be history so let's go to history to find out.

The Book- 'The Jewish Revolts Against Rome, A.D. 66-135: A Military Analysis' By James J. Bloom

States- 'The Roman taskforce pressed the attack for a further six days, ultimately leading a picked force headed by archers to attack the north side of the Temple compound near the Antonia Fortress. Then, Cestius suddenly abandoned offensive operations. The onset of winter, the unexpected skill and boldness of guerillas at Beth-horon Pass, and his shortage of supplies and baggage mules all contributed to his decision.'  Pg. 74  I:The First Revolt A.D. 66-74

Another source--

'The History of the Hebrew Commonwealth: From the Earliest Times to the Destruction of Jerusalem 72 AD.'  By Johann Jahn

'From Beth-horon Cestius fled with his army by night, leaving only four hundred men to guard the camp, who were cut to pieces by the Jews early the next morning. Cestius, in the mean time, had advanced thirty stadia; but when the day dawned, he abandoned his military machines, and fled with still greater haste to Antipatris. The Jews collected the machines for future use against the Romans, and then plundered the dead bodies of their enemies, which amounted to five thousand and three hundred foot, and three hundred and eighty horse.

The more prudent citizens now left Jerusalem, and this is the time referred to in Matt 24:15-20.'

Page 386   Hebrew Commonwealth  Book XV.

History has PROVEN this to have happened.  This SIGN given by JESUS HIMSELF came to pass, and as that one book mentioned - the more prudent citizen left Jerusalem when the army pulled back. They KNEW the prophecy and they knew that the end was going to happen but they were given an opportunity to get out.

But the army didn't return and destroy Jerusalem right away.  It wasn't until 70AD four years later that Jerusalem was destroyed.

Is it possible some of the people who left, returned when the army didn't immediately see Jerusalem destroyed? A year goes by, another year and they left family and loved ones behind. Did some go back? I'd like to imagine they didn't, but it's possible that they did, right?

Signs come to pass and because we live in time, we measure time differently than God does. We already studied this recently.

We need to listen to our Lord and live in His idea of time.

We have signs, many signs about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world. So many of the signs have come to pass already, yet there are many people who are still waiting for a lot of the signs, because they cannot fathom that a sign in the 1700's is a real sign for the end of the world because the world is still here.  They imagine that the signs all must come one after the other in quick succession ignoring history itself to suit their warped ideas. They claim that people have forced the signs into history to suit their own interpretations and this pleases them because they can still wait for signs to come. They don't realize those signs will never come again. They'll never get the warning they're waiting for so they never get their spiritual life fully ready. They want signs before they give up their cherished sins. They want signs before they really prepare and unfortunately before they really believe, truly believe, before their faith is real enough to get their lives in line with what they know their Savior desires of them.

We need to study the signs once again, the prophecies.  By the grace of God we will find truth and nothing but the truth in our Savior's word and be ready for Him when He returns, not expecting signs that have already come to pass, to come to pass once more.

Please Lord, help us!  Open our hearts and minds to all Your truth! And let us in FAITH live for YOU, by YOU, through YOU.

All in YOUR LOVE.

Believe Work

Rom 9:30  What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Rom 9:31  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Rom 9:32  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Rom 9:33  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.


Righteousness which is of faith.

Gentiles- those who were not God's chosen people.  Those who did not cling to the promise of birth into the family of God, still attained righteousness by FAITH.

So many Jewish people born into the faith, raised in the faith, did not live by faith at all but thought that their birth right, their laws were all they needed. They left God out of their lives completely even while praying, even while keeping their laws. Everything was by rote, everything was without heart.

They 'followed after the law of righteousness' but 'hath not attained to the law of righteousness.'

You can follow your beliefs perfectly but without faith, without that true love in God, it means nothing. Our actions mean nothing without love.

We know this--

1Co 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Co 13:2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

You can have everything, but without love, without that faith in God who is love it all means nothing.

Our birthright does not give us any rights. Our assumed birthright even as gentiles does not give us any rights.  We must love God!

Rom 9:30  What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Rom 9:31  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Rom 9:32  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Rom 9:33  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.


When we do not seek God by faith, but by our works we are not truly seeking God at all.

The stumbling stone is our faith in our Savior.

How many of us seek God through our works first rather than through Christ first?

I'm not going to be among the number that claim our works don't matter, I can't especially when I read stuff like this--

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Faith.

Works.

There has to be a balance, no extremism on either side, but a balance that is found only in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is HIS righteousness we need, His love, His truth, His faith, His works, all HIM.

All by HIS GRACE and MERCY, HIS LOVE!

Please Lord, bless us with YOU and all things of YOU. Of our own selves we are NOTHING! With You we are all things.   All by YOU Lord, all by You.

In  world that is constantly losing belief, constantly losing faith we beg You to keep us in YOU as only You can do.

WE believe, Lord. Help Thou our unbelief!

He will finish the work

Rom 9:28  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

Some would quickly argue that it hasn't been a 'short work' at all. That thousands of years have passed, and no one would call thousands of years short.

Except maybe those living in eternity, maybe they have a much different idea of what a short work is.

When you live from eternity to eternity couldn't even a million, trillion years be short?

If bringing it down to humanity, to us beings who do live in time, it's still very understandable to comprehend that a 'short work' could be thousands of years, especially when we read this--

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.

We cannot be ignorant of this.

God's word tells us-  'He will FINISH the work.' Too many don't even believe that. They don't believe it will ever be finished that things will remain as they are, or rather variations of things will remain as they are for eternity. That until mankind comes up with a way to create their own immortality, that men will continue to live and die as always. I saw a program on televison the other night all about people striving for mankind's immortality- there is a billionaire funding a whole thing on it called the 2045 Global Initiative, the Global Future, towards a new strategy for human evolution.  The program talked about how there are a lot of people - the smartest of scientists in the entire world working toward human immortality. A man who is called a futurist who predicted the internet way before it became a reality, who predicted a people being able to search the internet years before it ever happened. This man predicts that in 30 years or so mankind will have figured out how to be immortal.  It's true, it's factual that computers themselves are getting smarter and smarter, exponentially smarter all the time at a rate that we can't even truly fathom.  Does all this mean that God doesn't exist?

NO!

God will FINISH the work. God will finish what He started. We know that saying well, we've said it, we've heard it said by others- finish what you start. God will finish what He started.

Rom 9:28  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

God will finish the work, God will cut it short in righteousness.

This is TRUTH.

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.

This is TRUTH.

More tomorrow by the grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST!

All in His LOVE - He will finish this work in righteousness, in love, in His time. May we be ready and waiting for Him when He finishes His work, all by HIM, all THROUGH HIM and the righteousness He alone possesses.

A Remnant

A seed.
A remnant.
A very small remnant.

Rom 9:29  And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

Isa 1:9  Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

*******

A very small remnant of people have remained God's all through time from the beginning. The earth has never been completely void of those who would be God's. Satan has done his best to get everyone down to the last person to belong to him, but he's never succeeded. Though the world was filled with evil Noah found grace in God's eyes.  Though not even ten righteous people were found in Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot was saved from destruction.

There has forever been those who would be God's, all through HIS mercy.  Those living in a sin-filled world yet choosing to love God more than themselves.

Let's read what Paul said after repeating what Isaiah said--

Rom 9:28  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
Rom 9:29  And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
Rom 9:30  What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Rom 9:31  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Rom 9:32  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Rom 9:33  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

I want to study this more in depth, but I'm not feeling all that well tonight so this is going to be really short and we'll pick it up, by the grace of God, tomorrow.

All in HIS LOVE.

Provoking God

God is long suffering.
God is forbearing.
God abides long with us- because we are but flesh.

We try God in so many ways.
We refuse to follow His ways.

Like the children in the wilderness.

Recently in studying a bit of Hebrews we've come across this saying more than once--

Heb_3:8  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness

Heb_3:15  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

The provocation.

Psa 95:8  Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness

This was applicable in David's time and applicable in the Apostles time- and APPLICABLE in our time!

They provoked God.

Exo 17:2  Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

Exo 17:7  And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

Num 14:11  And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

Deu 6:16  Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.

Jud 1:5  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

I really think we have to think long and hard about how the Israelites behaved in the wilderness after they were freed from Egyptian slavery. Because when we are freed from sin, being born again by water and Spirit, we too can fall under the same sort of actions, provoking God. We too can refuse to believe God will care for us and provoke Him.  That last verse above is something we must KNOW-  the Lord did SAVE His people out of Egypt but those who AFTER being saved did not believe in Him- were destroyed.

We too can be destroyed for lack of belief.

In the wilderness they were hunger and thirsty and what God provided was NOT enough for them, they wanted more. To just survive wasn't what they wanted, they wanted luxuries.  Aren't we all too often guilty of the same thing?  It's not enough that we have bread and water, we want steak and potatoes, we want a full course meal.

Forgive us, Lord, please forgive us weak flesh beings! Please, we don't want to provoke You, we don't want to tempt You, we want to be Yours in all things, in all ways, wholly Yours, trusting in You for everything, without murmuring, without complaining.  Please, Lord, help us! We do not was to be destroyed for our lack of belief in You for ALL things!

All in YOUR LOVE!


Psa 78:1  Maschil of Asaph.

 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

Psa 78:2  I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old

Psa 78:3  Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

Psa 78:4  We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

Psa 78:5  For he established a TESTIMONY in Jacob, and appointed a LAW in Israel, which he COMMANDED our fathers, that they should make them known to their children

Psa 78:6  That the generation to come might know them even the children which should be born who should arise and declare them to their children

Psa 78:7  That they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God  but keep his COMMANDMENTS

Psa 78:8  And might not be as their fathers,  a stubborn and rebellious generation  a generation that set not their heart aright and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Psa 78:9  The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
Psa 78:10  They kept not the COVENANT of God, and refused to walk in his LAW
Psa 78:11  And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.

Psa 78:12  Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Psa 78:13  He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
Psa 78:14  In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
Psa 78:15  He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
Psa 78:16  He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

Psa 78:17  And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
Psa 78:18  And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.


Psa 78:19  Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
Psa 78:20  Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?


Psa 78:21  Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
Psa 78:22  Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation


Psa 78:23  Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
Psa 78:24  And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
Psa 78:25  Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.


Psa 78:26  He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
Psa 78:27  He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
Psa 78:28  And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
Psa 78:29  So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;


Psa 78:30  They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
Psa 78:31  The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.


Psa 78:32  For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.


Psa 78:33  Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.


Psa 78:34  When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
Psa 78:35  And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.


Psa 78:36  Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
Psa 78:37  For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his COVENANT.


Psa 78:38  But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
Psa 78:39  For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.


Psa 78:40  How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
Psa 78:41  Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.


Psa 78:42  They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
Psa 78:43  How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:
Psa 78:44  And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
Psa 78:45  He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
Psa 78:46  He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
Psa 78:47  He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.
Psa 78:48  He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
Psa 78:49  He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
Psa 78:50  He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
Psa 78:51  And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:


Psa 78:52  But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
Psa 78:53  And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Psa 78:54  And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.


Psa 78:55  He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
Psa 78:56  Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his TESTIMONIES:
Psa 78:57  But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
Psa 78:58  For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

Psa 78:59  When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
Psa 78:60  So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
Psa 78:61  And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.
Psa 78:62  He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
Psa 78:63  The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
Psa 78:64  Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.

Psa 78:65  Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
Psa 78:66  And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
Psa 78:67  Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
Psa 78:68  But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.

Psa 78:69  And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.

Psa 78:70  He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
Psa 78:71  From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
Psa 78:72  So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.