An Hour and An End - Pt. 3 (Prophetic Signs)

Yesterday we studied the signs concerning the city- Jerusalem, mentioned by Jesus in His prophetic  discourse in Matt. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. 

Today we are going to study the signs in the sun, moon, and stars…

By the grace of God may we study His truth and by the wisdom He gives us may we understand. May we gain all the knowledge we need to be known by Him as we watch and pray as He told us to.

Please, Lord, we are not worthy and we know it is only by Your ceaseless mercy and grace that we can have hope of the eternity You promised us through the gospel You came and preached to us, the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.

Open our hearts and our minds to all Your truth, Lord, please! 

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Chapter IV -- "The Revelation of the Son of Man"

Signs in the Heavens -- Luke quoted Jesus as saying - "There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars." (21:25)

In discussing the sign which would warn His followers of the destruction of Jerusalem, Jesus called their attention to the book of Daniel, the prophet. (Matt. 24:15)

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:)

Also in the book of Daniel is revealed a judgment to precede Jesus' "coming and the end of the world." (Matt. 24:3)

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?

Daniel was shown the scenes in the heavens when "the judgment was set and the books were opened." (Dan. 7:9-10)

In another vision, the hour when this judgment would commence was stated in prophetic time - "Unto two thousand and three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." (Dan. 8:14)

This time period would reach to 1844. Prior to the culmination of this prophetic period, the signs in the heavens foretold by Jesus DID occur.

On May 19, 1780, the sun was darkened and the moon did not give its light. (Matt. 24:29)

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

 This extraordinary darkness began about 10 a.m. in the morning and continued past midnight. Covering the whole of the New England States, the reports of this sign which Jesus gave are to be found in the records and historical journals of that area.

Observers near Boston reported that by 11:30 a.m., the darkness had become so intense that "in a room with three windows, twenty-four panes each, all open toward the southeast and south, large print could not be read by persons with good eyes." (Boston Gazette and Country Journal, May 29, 1780)

This same report noted that "in the time of the greatest darkness some of the dunghill fowls went to their roost. Cocks crowed in answer to one another as they commonly do at night. Woodcocks, which are night birds, whistled as they do only in the dark. Frogs peeped. In short, there was the appearance of midnight at noon day." (Emphasis theirs)

"The darkness the following evening was probably as gross as ever has been observed since the Almighty fiat gave birth to light," so wrote Dr. Samuel Tenney in a letter dated, Exeter, NH, December, 1785. (Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Vol. 1, 1792) Tenney continued by saying: - I could not help but 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. A sheet of white paper held within a few inches of the eyes was equally invisible with the blackest velvet.

Fifty-three years after the Dark Day, the stars of heaven fell (Matt. 24:29).

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

The record reads: - On the night of November 12-13, 1833, a tempest of falling stars broke over the earth. North America bore the brunt of the pelting. From the Gulf of Mexico to Halifax, until day light with some difficulty put an end to the display, the sky was scored in every direction with shining tracks and illuminated with majestic fireballs. (Agnes M. Clerke, History of Astronomy in the Nineteenth Century, p. 328)

The significance of these events was noted by Ellen G. White in the Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. IV, in the chapter before her account of William Miller. She wrote: - While unconscious of their condition and their peril, the church and the world were rapidly approaching the most solemn and momentous period of earth's history, - the period of the revelation

p 12 -- of the Son of man. Already had the signs which Christ himself had promised, - the sun clothed in darkness by day and the moon by night, - declared His coming soon. (p. 195, emphasis mine)

The Period of the Revelation of the Son of Man - This period of time - not a single event - is marked by three manifestations of Jesus as the Son of man. At the time "the judgment was set, and the books opened," Daniel also beheld, in his continuing night vision, "one like the Son of man" coming "with the clouds of heaven" to the Ancient of days. He was given "dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him." (Dan. 7:13-14)

The Son of man, as High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek, is involved in the judgment. (Heb. 9:27-28) When on earth, He told the caviling Jews that "the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." He also told them why - "The Father ... hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man." (John 5:22, 26-27)

Since all must appear "before the judgment seat of Christ" in the record of their life's deeds (II Cor. 5:10),

2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

It is assuring to know that One who has been touched with the "feelings of our infirmities" will plead our case and execute the decision. (Heb. 4:15)

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 Wonderful is the promise given that he who heeds the words of the Son of man, and believes on Him who had sent Him - the Ancient of days - "shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24) This understanding of the revelation of the Son of man helps us to relate better to the other two manifestations of the Son of man.

Our hope of glory - when the kingdom received by the Son of man from the Ancient of days is "given to the people of the saints of the most High" (Dan. 7:27) - is dependent upon Christ being formed within us; in other words, "Christ in you the hope of glory." (Col. 1:27)

All who "come unto God by Him," Jesus is able to save "to the uttermost ... seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25)

This "uttermost" revelation of God in man, as was manifest in the Son of man, results from Christ's final atonement in the Most Holy place of the Heavenly Sanctuary. Then "the earnest expectation" for which the whole creation has been waiting will be realized in "the manifestation of the sons of God." (Rom. 8:19)

Isaiah relates this manifestation of the sons of God with the signs in the heavens. He wrote - "The stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine." (Isa. 13:10)

Then the prophet pictures the time when God will "shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, in the day of His fierce anger." (13:13)

The final wrath of God is filled full in the Seven Last Plagues which are poured out when the intercession of the Son of man is completed. (Rev. 15:1, 8) However, between the signs in the heavens and the final wrath of God, Isaiah pictures His objective - "I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir." (Isa. 13:12)

This is also what Paul tells us is to be at "the manifestation of the sons of God," for he wrote - "For whom [God] did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son." (Rom. 8:29)

With the fulfillment of His work as Son of man before the Ancient of days, and the completion of His revelation in the 144,000 resultant from His final atonement, the long awaited "hope of the ages" will transpire. The Son of man will come in the clouds of heaven to reap the harvest of earth. Picturing this scene after describing the messages of the Three Angels, John wrote: -

And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud sat one like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy sickle, and reap: for

p 13 -- the time is come for Thee to reap: for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. (Rev. 14:14-16)

The "period of the revelation of the Son of man" beginning in 1844 will continue through to His coming in the clouds of heaven.

He is manifest as the Son of man in His work as High Priest in the Most Holy place of the Heavenly Sanctuary; He is revealed as the Son of man in the lives of those in whom the final atonement is accomplished; and He comes as the Son of man to take into His everlasting kingdom those given to Him by the Ancient of days.

The Period in Diagram

1844 -----------------------------------------Close of Probation  ---------------------- 2nd Advent  

|_(1)___________________________|_(2)_________________(3)_|

(1) Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; John 5:22, 27

(2) Isaiah 13:10-13; Romans 8:19, 29-30; Colossians 1:27

(3) Revelation 14:14-16

NOTE: Jesus in giving the signs in the heavens - the sun and moon darkened; the stars falling - was directing attention to events that would transpire in heaven.

The final activity of God in the resolution of the sin problem was to begin.

Where sin began, the final atonement must be made.

Jesus' other sign concerned an event on earth by which men could know the distress of nations had begun.

The final scenes of the sin drama on earth would commence. Thus the last two major signs Jesus gave His disciples on the slopes of Olivet directed the attention of men first to the beginning of the final ministry in Heaven, and then to events to occur on earth that man might know the heavenly ministry was drawing to a close.

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Again… 1844 seems like a long time ago in a lot of perspectives, yet in others it's not that long ago.

In the eyes of God time is different, we've discussed this before so I'm not going to get into it again.

We have to know that what we are dealing with is something beyond the scope of our full comprehension falling into the realm of a great MYSTERY.

Ending sin.

Ending the world as we know it.

The final verdict for all.

Eternity. We are dealing with eternity and this isn't something that we should ever expect would be over quickly.

Do we want the suffering to end? YES!

Do we want an end to sin? YES!

But we must have faith that our Father God knows what He's doing and His timing will be perfect, not delayed.

The signs are there, most of the signs have already come to pass, a failure to recognize this would mean jeopardizing our own eternal lives.  We can't be waiting for signs that have passed just because we want to believe we will have those signs so we can get ourselves ready, really ready. We need to be prepared NOW, not after a sign.  Those living in the very end times will NOT be able to use those last signs as a signal to get ready for Christ's return.  We cannot, we DARE NOT wait to truly accept Christ as our Savior.  The signs we are to watch for now are signaling the very end of all human probation- the dead and the living and if we are not ready now when we HEAR HIS VOICE, we will NEVER be ready.

Heb 3:7  Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

Heb 3:8  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

Heb 3:9  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

Heb 3:10  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

Heb 3:11  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

Heb 3:12  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Heb 3:14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Heb 3:15  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Heb 3:16  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

Heb 3:17  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

Heb 3:18  And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

Heb 3:19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Please, Lord, help us be ready! We would be Yours!

More tomorrow on the signs, all by the GRACE and MERCY of our LORD JESUS CHRIST!

In HIS LOVE!

An Hour and An End - Pt. 2 (Prophetic Signs)

This study of prophetic signs was done by a very scholarly man with years and years of experience. Please pray before you read and ask God for enlightenment. We need to know the truth and only the truth. 

Please, don't read this if you aren't interested in taking your time and really study. Too many want to be entertained as they read. They want excitement, they want the 'wow' factor, they want something to captivate them and hold their attention. If this is what you want then maybe you don't want to study to understand… remember this--

2Ti_2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

A workman. We really need to work as we are studying. Most people know that studying something by the very nature of having to study it, means you are diligently learning about that thing. If you study for a test you are studying to gain and retain knowledge. We have to study to gain and retain knowledge of our Lord and Savior. 

So please, don't read this expecting entertainment, read it expecting truth.

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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

'An Hour and An End.'    Written by Elder William Grotheer  Adventist Laymen's Foundation.

p 7 -- Chapter III -- An Analysis of Luke 21:24-25

"The Distress of Nations" --

Verses 24 and 25 of Luke 21 are closely associated together. The KJV tends to obscure this close relationship.

In both verses, the English words, "Gentiles" and "nations" are translated from the SAME Greek word. Using the word - nations - in each instance, these verses would read - "And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the nations (eqnwn), until the times of the nations (eqnwn) be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon earth distress of nations (eqnwn), with perplexity."

 In other words, the ending of "the times of the Gentiles," or nations is closely associated with "the distress of nations, with perplexity."

The Greek word for "distress" is Vunoch which means "imprisoned, in the narrows, or straits." The added phrase - "with perplexity" (en aporia) conveys the picture of nations unable to meet the demands placed upon them financially, or the inability to solve the monetary stress. (See The Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament by Moulton & Milligan, both articles, aporew & aporia)

It is an interesting fact that the same year which marked the closing period of the times of the Gentiles - 1967 - is also the year which marked the beginning of the financial woes of the nations.

In a Special Issue (July 4, 1974) of Myers' Finance & Energy, C. V. Myers wrote: [Gordon Tether in the London Financial Times (June 28, 1974) noted Myers as being "the well-known Canadian financial expert."] - It has now been established over the course of the last seven years - since 1967 - that there is nothing in this world the international monetary authorities can do to stem the advance of gold, or to stem the collapse of inflation - or to avoid the enormous deflation - the global liquidity crunch - and the resulting depressions. Don't doubt this. The monetary morons have demonstrated it to you time and again. Fail! Fail! Fail!

For seven years things have gone from bad to worse; the US$ has been devalued; inflation has undermined world confidence in money; and now the bankruptcies come.(pp. 2-3)

Again in 1975, Myers wrote: -- From all that I have observed of international [monetary] conferences since 1967 I do not believe that any conference is going to come up with any workable answer. It seems that the situation will just continue to deteriorate.

Only six months ago we heard every monetary authority in the world shouting, "either we lick inflation or we are doomed. This is the battle of the century." President Ford said, we have a war, and we intend to fight this war against inflation. The way he is fighting the war against inflation is to add a $70 to $100 billion deficit to the U.S. budget. What happened to all the dire predictions of the result of inflation?

All brains are stunned. They see no answer - so now they begin to think no answer is necessary. Or at least they have decided there is no use thinking about it at all. Therefore, I can only see as the end product, as I have repeatedly said in these letters - and especially after attending the big world meetings of IMF - the answer is a total collapse.

Either the countries will have to go back to a system which will stabilize the money, such as gold - or the social order, not only of the United States, but of all the industrial world, will disintegrate, and from the enormous confusion new governments will arise after much suffering and

p 8 -- bloodshed, starvation and horror. Those governments would be dictatorships.

Recently D'Estaing observed: "The world is unhappy. It is unhappy because it doesn't know where it is going, and because it senses that if it knew, it would discover that it was heading for disaster. ... The crisis the world knows today will be a long one. It is not a passing difficulty. It is actually the recognition of permanent change." (Ibid., March 11, 1975, pp. 1-2)

In the May 24, 1976 issue of his financial letter, Myers again cites the year 1967 as the base year for the beginning of the monetary perplexities which have gripped the nations since then. He wrote - "An enormous war has been going on between the forces of paper and the forces of gold since 1967 when SDR's were first proposed." Then he lists a "score card" in the battle between gold and the paper, Special Drawing Rights:

(1)   The IMF recommendation of Special Drawing Rights in 1967.

(2)   The IMF official acceptance of SDR's, 1969, and the creation of 9.5 billion SDR's during 1970, 1971, and 1972.

(3)   Nixon's break with gold, August, 1971, and the end of the world monetary system devised at Bretton Woods.

(4)   The IMF decision to sell 25 million ounces of gold at 16 auctions over the next two years - thus depleting the international money system of important gold reserves. (p. 1; see Exhibit #4)

In a letter dated, April 23, 1976, Myers noted - "Gold is to money what DEITY is to religion. Without a deity the moral code disappears. Without gold the morality of money disappears: Morality because money loses its store of value, and the man who sweated and worked has lost the fruits of his labor, and that is immoral." In Newsweek (June 19, 1978, p. 21) in an article on the tax revolt, the writer noted "Since 1967, the value of the dollar has declined 47.6 percent, and the average American working family is now barely better off in real dollars than it was a decade ago."

 The connection between the sign Jesus gave to mark the conclusion of the times of the Gentiles or nations, and the beginning of the "distress of nations" is INESCAPABLE. The fact that we are living in this very time should cause us to do some very serious thinking.

The Word - "Until" -- Twenty times in his Gospel and in the book of Acts, Luke uses the Greek word, acri or acriV, which is translated, "until."

However, in Luke 21:24, and in two places in Acts, the word is combined with the relative, 'ou, making it an idiomatic expression, achri hou. To understand the force of this expression as far as, Luke 21:24 is concerned, we need to take time to observe its use in the book of Acts.

The first instance of its use in Acts is in Chapter 7. The verse in context reads: - But when the time of promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, till (achri hou) another king arose, which knew not Joseph. The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live. In which time Moses was born. (17-20a)

It should be observed that these verses indicate a "time" when the promise "drew nigh" and the children of Israel "grew and multiplied in Egypt, till a king arose" who with his counselors initiated a genocide program. This program did not begin immediately and it covered a period of time. In fact, Moses was born in that "time." Here the idiom is used to indicate a definable period of time by occurring events.

We find the same indication in the second use of the idiom in Acts 27:33. Paul was on his way to Rome. Adverse weather conditions had made the voyage extremely hazardous. To Paul it was revealed that they would be "cast upon a certain island." All on board had fasted for fourteen days, and when it appeared they were approaching

p 9 -- land, Paul advised that they should "take some food." Luke writes that Paul gave this counsel to all on board "while (achri hou) the day was coming on." From the time the first faint light on the eastern horizon heralds the coming dawn until the sun arises dispelling all darkness, the day is coming on -  A BRIEF BUT DEFINABLE PERIOD OF TIME.

In 1967, the armies of Israel recaptured the Old City of Jerusalem, yet the capitol remained at Tel Aviv.

In 1980, the Knesset declared a united Jerusalem the Capitol of all Israel.

The period which marked the CLOSING of the times of the Gentiles can be clearly defined.

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The "Times" of the Gentiles -

 Not only does Luke present the prophecy of Jesus concerning the fate of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., in the discourse as given on the Mount of Olives; but also in describing the Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem a few days prior, he quotes Jesus saying concerning the city - "Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee around, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee: for they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time (kairon) of thy visitation." (Luke 19: 43-44) This picture is merely an enlargement of what Luke quotes Jesus as saying on the Mount of Olives - "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies" (21:20) making it a sign for His followers. In other words, when Jerusalem was destroyed it had had its day of grace - its time of visitation.

It is in this setting then, that Luke reports the words of Jesus stating that the Gentiles would also have ALLOTTED TIMES(kairoi), and that a certain event would mark the closing of those times. Even as in the case of the Jewish nation, it does not mean that all Gentiles will be converted even as all the Jews were not "converted" to Jesus, the Messiah.

The force of the concept is the same as stated in Matthew - "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (24:14) The sign that will mark the time when the witness has been preached "unto all nations (Gentiles)" has to do with events connected with Jerusalem's history.

 In this case, it is the time when the city is no longer under the control of the Gentiles.

There is a distinct parallel in the closing of the time of the Jewish nation/church and the closing of the times of the Gentiles.

According to the prophecy given to Daniel, "seventy" weeks of years were set aside for them.

In the final week, Jesus came with His last appeal to the chosen people. During His ministry, He cleansed the Temple twice but was UNABLE to change the course of the religious leadership. The mid-point of that final week of years was marked by the crucifixion of Jesus. It closed with the stoning of Stephen in 34 A.D.

Yet time lingered for the individual Jew who worshiped in the synagogues throughout the Roman Empire. There they had the opportunity to decide whether they would accept the decision of their hierarchy concerning Jesus' claim as the Messiah, or whether they would accept the Gospel that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the fulfillment of the promises given to them under the covenant.

Then followed the literal destruction of Jerusalem, in whose fate, "we may behold the doom of a world that has rejected God's mercy and trampled upon His law." (GC, p. 36)

Jesus gave us as a prophecy by which we may know when "the time of visitation" is completed for the nations.

Mercy still lingers for the individual. But soon to follow is the "wrath" of God poured out without mercy, WE STAND IN TIME BETWEEN THESE TWO EVENTS.

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"Trodden Down" -

The word translated, "trodden down" is a present participle of the Greek verb, pateo.

p 10 -- The force of the present tense in Greek indicates that Jerusalem is to be continuously trodden down till the times of the Gentiles be filled full.

This has been true.

In 70 A.D., Titus desolated the city, but in putting down the revolt of the Jews in 132 A.D. led by Bar Kochba, Hadrian desolated it even more so. The city was ploughed over after its recapture in 134 A.D. From that day till 1967, ONLY GENTILE powers controlled Jerusalem.

The Greek verb, pateo according to Thayer's Lexicon, means "to tread under foot,

trample on, i.e. treat with insult and contempt: to desecrate the holy city by

devastation and outrage." Arndt &Gingrich in their lexicon (A Greek-English Lexicon

of the New Testament, p. 640) defines the verb thus: "tread, trample of the

undisciplined swarming of a victorious army through a conquered city. Its heedlessness, which acknowledges no limits, causes pateo to take on the concepts 'mistreat, abuse."' These definitions describe exactly what Jesus said would be the fate of the city in "the days of vengeance, that all things that are written may be fulfilled."

(Luke 21:22) Continuously from the days of vengeance begun by Titus completed by

Hadrian, Jerusalem has been under Gentile domination and would continue so till the

times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Moulton & Milligan cite contemporary use of this Greek root word in The Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament. One source reads - "to tread (patesai) the crops in the sand." The substantive use was noted in the clause - "One who treads (patetes) grapes with their feet." (p. 498)

From a detailed study of Luke 21:24-25, the conclusion cannot be avoided that we have seen fulfilled before our very eyes a prophecy of Jesus, even as our spiritual forefathers saw the fulfillment of the other signs which Jesus gave - "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars." (Luke 21:25) To the significance of these signs, we shall devote the next chapter.

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End excerpt.

The truth-  Jerusalem was under Gentile control from 70AD until 1980AD.

1980.

1,910 years of being trodden down.

The prophecy was fulfilled and it was fulfilled in a way that we cannot deny it, not if we study and God's word in light of history.

We look at Jerusalem, the city- Jerusalem, and we know that it has a special place in prophecy and history. We know that there will be a NEW Jerusalem that will come down OUT of heaven--

Rev_21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Jerusalem forever symbolic of God's city.

Jerusalem  trodden down upon earth for almost two thousand years, and then once again it was in the hands of those who are not gentiles, but Jews.   The Jewish people control Jerusalem and today there is a battle over retaining that control. Regardless of what transpires we know that as a sign, Jerusalem has played its part.  People who are watching the signs know that this sign is letting us know that Jesus' return is closer then ever before.

More tomorrow all by the GRACE of our LORD>

Please, pray...pray...pray!

May God help us to comprehend, to study, to know, to learn and to understand how all of this affects our lives.

We live in the last days.

Are we Christ's?  If we are not Christ's then we are Satan's.

Please let us be YOURS Christ Jesus our Savior, let us be known by YOU!

All through YOUR LOVE! Always!

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.

******

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.

*******

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!