A Bit of History.

 Today, a short history lesson. 

Are you a Christian- one who follows the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God?

Are you a Protestant Christian?  As I was growing up I knew that Protestants were not Catholics, and that was that.  When I was growing up we hadn't really heard of Islam, or Buddhism, or the many other religions out there. In my little world there were three religions really- Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. 

What makes a Protestant, a Protestant? This is where the short history lesson comes in. 

Encarta Dictionary states-

1. Member of church rejecting papal authority-

A member or adherent of any denomination of the Western Christian church that rejects papal authority and some fundamental Roman Catholic doctrines, and believes in justification by faith. The formulation of Protestants' beliefs began with the Reformation in the 16th century.

Rejecting papal authority.  Protestants were against Catholics. I didn't say they hated them, I'm saying they were against them- against their beliefs, against papal authority.

I am a Protestant, I am against papal authority, and a lot of the fundamental Roman Catholic beliefs. As such, I'm not alone. Every single Protestant that takes that stance in being Protestant, is against papal authority. 

Now, we say that it's not the same any longer, it's not like it used to be in the days of the Reformation when Papal Rome was horrific- killing those they deemed heretics (those who were against the Catholic church beliefs). Times change, the Catholics have changed and so on and so forth. It's true, times changed, at one point a pope of the Catholic church was dethroned and imprisoned. It wasn't until 1929 that the Catholic church regained a bit more power- but nothing like the tremendous power it had before. 

'Upon ratification of the Lateran Treaty, the papacy recognized the state of Italy, with Rome as its capital. Italy in return recognized papal sovereignty over the Vatican City, a minute territory of 44 hectares (109 acres), and secured full independence for the pope.'

From <https://www.google.com/search?q=lateran+treaty+significance&rlz=1C1AVFC_enUS845US845&oq=latean+treaty&aqs=chrome.5.69i57j0i13l8j0i22i30.14986j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8> 

This does not negate the history of the Catholic church, it just doesn't. Nothing erases history, it is factual. You say time can alter views of history and that's true, but it still can't change it. We live in a world filled with information of the past- in books, letters and so on, all transferred to the digital age. The history that led many to revolt against the Catholic church- Protesting, seeking reform is a very real thing and the reasons were real, valid reasons. Many men and women and even children died for those reasons. There are a lot of historians and Bible scholars- intellectually great men- that separate from each other, came to the conclusion that Papal Rome was evil.

How dare I say that? IT'S HISTORY! I didn't make it up! I'm no Biblical scholar. I'm not well versed in Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic etc. I'm not an historian! But many, and I mean MANY, who have been all arrived at this conclusion, and in my studies of their works and my personal study of the Bible, I can see most decidedly how they came to their conclusions.

I DO NOT HATE ANYONE, by the grace of God!

But I will not bow down to a society that tells me I must ACCEPT beliefs that are contrary to God's word! I can love ALL, without accepting their beliefs!  Jesus loved all, but He did not love the beliefs of all! He called His own people vipers. I do NOT have to ACCEPT any belief that I personally believe is contrary to the word of our Lord and Savior. I DO NOT ACCEPT the beliefs of the society I live in, but my Lord tells me to love all, and by Him, through Him, I will. My being loving towards someone, does not mean I accept their beliefs. If asked to take a stand for the beliefs I don't believe in, by the people I love- in order for them to love me- I can't, I won't by the grace of God. Their asking me to accept their beliefs by denying my own beliefs is an act not of love- if it's a forced acceptance they're making in order for them to love me. They can decide not to love me because of my non-acceptance, that is their choice and we all have to make choices. 

Because of the excerpts we are studying right now, I just felt compelled to have this little history bit. I did not create Protestantism, I am a Christ follower who is of the Protestant persuasion. I have no particular name for the way I believe- it leans towards Seventh-day Adventism, but the corporate church of Seventh-day Adventists has apostatized from their original beliefs so I no longer am a member of that religious organization. 

I am a Christ follower, a truth follower, a follower of The Way of Christ and the truth He has allowed me see.

All through His amazing love! All by His mercy and grace! Now and forever, Amen!

*******

THE GREAT TRIBULATION

VERSE 21: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not, since the beginning of the world to this tune, no, nor ever shall be." 

It is contended that the greatest tribulation that ever befell the Jews was in the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. Against this we interpose two objections:–

I. It is by no means clear that the overthrow of Jerusalem by the Romans was the greatest tribulation the Jews ever suffered. All the scenes of horror described by historians, as occurring at that time, are by the inspired records ascribed also to the conquest of the Babylonians. See the Lamentations of Jeremiah, especially chap. 4:10: "The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children; they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people." Also, Daniel 9:11-13: "The curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us; by bringing upon us a great evil; for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us."

2. At the coming of Christ, as noted in Matthew 24, the elect of God, the saints of Christ, will be gathered "from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Verse 31. This cannot be referred to the destruction of Jerusalem. Nothing occurred at that time to which it will possibly apply. Paul, speaking of the coming of Christ, mentions the same fact, as follows: "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him." 2 Thess. 2:1. How did the Lord come to Jerusalem at the time of its  overthrow? We are answered, "It was a figurative coming." If it was not literal and actual, what was the nature of the figure used? It is said that he visited the Jews in judgment; that Titus, or the Roman army, really executed the judgment upon the doomed city. Then the coming of Titus, or of the Roman army, is represented as the coming of Christ? Was it a fact, then, that the saints of God, the followers of Christ, from the four winds, were gathered together unto Titus, in that day? This must have been so if the coming of Titus represented the coming of Christ, or if Christ came figuratively in the person of Titus. It is as sure as the Scriptures are true that the saints will be gathered unto Christ in the day of his coming; which

did not occur, even in a figure, at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem; for the saints, instead of being gathered unto Christ, or to any person or thing which came to Jerusalem as his representative; were scattered from the city, fleeing from the presence of that which represented Christ! So absurd is that theory.  The fact of Christ's coming, and the gathering of the saints at that time, being stated alike in Matthew 24 and 2 Thessalonians 2, proves that these chapters refer to the same time and event. We therefore in this connection notice a circumstance mentioned by Paul, as one to take place before the Lord comes. And to this point we call the special attention of all who deny the literal advent of our Lord. Paul cautions his brethren not to look for the coming of Christ until the man of sin is revealed. Who, or what, is that man of sin? Paul wrote this about eighteen years before Jerusalem was overthrown. What arose within these eighteen years which filled the outline of this prophecy?–Nothing at all. The, old and well-accepted view of the reformers Protestants–that this man of sin is the "supreme pontiff" of Rome, is every way reasonable, and to produce a harmony of the prophetic scriptures, is unavoidable. Notice these point:–

(I.) Paul wrote only eighteen years before the overthrow of Jerusalem, but he looked forward to the future for the revealing of the man of sin. The elements were then already operating, but hindering causes had to be removed. Consequently, as he said, the coming of the Lord was not "impending" in his day. 

(2) It was not merely a sinful man to be revealed, there were many such then; "that man of sin"–who legalizes and enforces sin, not merely one who breaks law, but one who overrides and breaks down law–such has been the character of the Roman pontiff. Many readers will remember his indictment on this point by Alexander Campbell, in his debate with Bishop Purcell.

(3) Exalting himself above God. This he has done, not, merely by assuming the prerogatives of but by legislating on the law of God, which can be done only by a superior, in fact or assumed. 

(4) Claiming to be God. See the titles which have been given to, and assumed by, the pope; and most recently, the assumption of infallibility. 

These, and other specifications of prophecy, have been fulfilled by the popes of Rome, and by no other. And we shall find that the proofs grow even stronger and clearer as we proceed. The "great tribulation" mentioned in verse 21 is that of the church of Christ, and not the tribulation of the Jews at the destruction of Jerusalem. We offer the following reasons:–

I. It is a fact that the tribulation of the Christian Church, especially under the reign of the Papacy, was greater than God's people had suffered before "since the beginning of the world." The tribulation of the Christian church has been greater than it will ever be again. True, a time of trouble "such as never was," spoken of in Dan. 12:1, is coming upon the wicked; but we find in the same verse this blessed promise, "And at that time thy people shall be delivered." The tribulation of the Jews at the destruction of Jerusalem was not greater than the world will ever witness. The vials of Jehovah's unmingled wrath are yet to be poured out, not upon the people of one nation only, but upon the guilty inhabitants of all nations. "The slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; they shall

not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried." Jer. 25:33.

2. If this tribulation be applied to the Jews, or to any other class of unbelieving men, it cannot be harmonized with Dan. 12:1, which speaks of the time of trouble such as never was, when Michael shall stand up. Certainly there cannot be two times of trouble at different periods, greater than ever was or ever would be. Therefore the "tribulation" spoken of in Matt. 24:21, 29, applies to the church of Christ, extending down through the 1260 years of papal persecution; and the "trouble" mentioned in Dan. 12:1, to the unbelieving world, to be experienced by them in the future. 

3. The period of tribulation was shortened for the elect's sake. This cannot refer to the Jews, for their house had been pronounced desolate. They were left of God in their hardness of heart and blindness of mind: Says Paul, "Lo, we turn to the Gentiles." The elect were the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. And where were they when tribulation was upon the Jews?–They had fled to the mountains. It is absurd, then, to say that the days of tribulation of the Jews in the city of Jerusalem, were shortened for the sake of the elect, who had fled from the place of tribulation.

4. The connection between verses 20 and 21 shows that the tribulation was to commence with those Christians who were to flee out of the city. "But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath-day; for then shall be great tribulation." Our Lord here speaks of the tribulation which his people would suffer from the time of their flight onward. We follow them in their flight to the mountains, and then pass along down through the noted persecutions of the church of God under Pagan Rome, and we see, indeed, tribulation. And when we come to the period of papal persecution, we see them suffering the most cruel tortures and dying the most dreadful deaths that men could inflict. This last period is especially noted in prophecy.

5. The prophet Daniel saw the Papacy, its blasphemy, its arrogance, its work of death on the saints, and its duration as a persecuting power, under the symbol of the little horn. "And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Chap. 7:25. It is generally admitted that "a time and times and the dividing of time'" is 1260 years. Commencing A. D. 538, the 1260 years reached to A. D. 1798, when Berthier, a French general, entered Rome in triumph. The pope was taken prisoner, and died in exile. 

Note that time the Papacy has had no power to wear out the saints of the Most High. Here ended the days of the tribulation spoken of by our Lord. (End Excerpt)

*******

Study to Retain.

 We need to comprehend, and retain truth. Little good does it do if we learn something only to go about our day to day lives and forget all about what we've learned. It's fine if the things you are learning have little value to your eternal life, but when they have great value towards your eternal life, shouldn't we make a great effort to study and retain what we've studied?  We go to schools to learn and our education is supposed to prepare of for our future life. We learn reading, writing, mathematical skills. We learn history, and science, and we are taught physical education as well. These are just a few of the things we teach.  We put great stock in our school learning, and then we lament later the struggles to learn only to never need half the stuff we were forced to try and learn. 

Do you remember studying for tests? Come on, even those of you who really didn't have to study much because your ability to retain information is higher than the norm, you had to study a time or two, right? 

I remember studying for tests. I remember the flash cards with the times table, and spelling words, and state capitals and so on and so forth. I remember practicing, reciting over and over, I remember a lot of hoping I knew enough to pass the tests. Some of that practicing and studying paid off-  I know how to write, I know how to read, I can do basic math. These were all important things to learn and I use them daily. 

God tells us 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.

Study. Why? To show yourself approved unto God. 

We study the word of God in order to learn of God, and the endless life lessons He has for us to learn. We study the word of God because it is the message of Salvation and that is our eternal life, all of our eternal lives.

We need to study deeply. Here is a blurb from a newsletter that has to do with the excerpt included later here- 

'There are two "times" in Daniel 11:45: 1) "He shall plant" and 2) "He shall come to his end." The book of Revelation would indicate that the first of these two "times" is the signal that the close of probation has arrived. The "he" again would be "the abomination of desolation" standing in what the Jews would consider "the holy place." Those who have been unable to discern the warning signal in the close of probation for corporate bodies (Luke 21:24) will be ill prepared to discern the final sign in the rapidity of the closing events of human history.'

From <http://www.adventistlaymen.org/WWN%20Text%20Versions/wwn(91)10/wwn10(91).html> 

That blurb comes from an article titled - "Why Study the Book of Daniel?"   

We need to know more than just superficial data, we need to know the truths and retain the truths, use the truths in our lives.

'Those who have been unable to discern the warning signal in the close of probation for the corporate bodies (Luke 21:24) will be ILL PREPARED to discern the FINAL SIGN in the rapidity of the closing events of human history.'

Have you ever heard or spoken the words-- "It happened so fast I didn't know what to do."   Or, "I didn't expect things to go that fast."

We don't expect things that happen, a lot of the time. Yet, when we think we are prepared for something only to find out we aren't- then we are very dismayed, and we wished we could have done things differently. 

We need to be prepared now, as prepared as we possibly can be so that we can know that we've done all in our ability to be ready for the end days.  

Let us study, truly study and may God bless us, may the Holy Spirit guide us and teach us, all through the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever!!!!!!! 

Amen!

(Excerpt)

EXPOSITION OF MATTHEW XXIV  24  (((Written in 1890 - remember when reading the excerpt 131 years have passed since it was written. History does matter.))))

'Our Lord having passed over the important events, in the Christian age down to the end, in verses 6-14, goes back and introduces the destruction of Jerusalem, in verse 15, in answer, to the inquiry, "When shall these things be?" 

VERSES 15-20: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whose readeth, let him understand); then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains; let which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house; neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 

But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath-day." The "abomination of desolation" is called "armies" in Luke 21:20, and refers to the Roman army. "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh." This desolating power is spoken of by Daniel as follows:–

"And the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. . . . "And for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." Margin, "desolator." Dan. 9:26, 27. 

Here is a clear prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies. Our Lord referred to the book of Daniel, and taught his disciples to understand that when they should see what was there predicted take place, they must make their escape. The flight of the Christians of Judea to the mountains would be attended with difficulties. And their subsequent condition would be that of hardship and suffering. The Lord knew this, and gave them the instructions and warnings necessary. The statement or verse 19 was given to save them from unnecessary woe.'  (End Excerpt)

Gospel Preached In All the World.

 131 years ago the following excerpt was written and the writer talks about the gospel having been preached to all the nations at great length. Yet now, 131 years later and the end- meaning Jesus' return- still has not occurred and we can say in all honesty that the gospel has been preached everywhere and then some. 

A blurb from the internet- 

'As of September 2020 the full Bible has been translated into 704 languages, the New Testament has been translated into an additional 1,551 languages and Bible portions or stories into 1,160 other languages.'

From <https://www.google.com/search?q=how+many+languages+has+the+bible+been+translated+into&rlz=1C1AVFC_enUS845US845&oq=how+many+languages+has+the+bible+been+translated+into&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i512j0i22i30l4j0i10i22i30j0i22i30l3.15585j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8> 

The excerpt from 131 years ago states the Bible had been translated into 300 hundred languages.  We've come so much further than that, especially with the dawn of our electronic devices age.

They believed 131 years ago that all had received the gospel, and yet the whole Bible has been translated into more than double the languages that it had been, so surely they were wrong. Where do we stand now with the translations? 

Here is a link to a 2016 article on this very thing..

https://missionexus.org/understanding-why-two-thousand-languages-still-have-no-bible-translation-in-progress/

Bottom line, it's a huge undertaking as there are so many different languages. We live in a world where we have don't have a universal language and most likely never will- however here is a blurb from another internet source.

'It's official! English is an official language in 57 countries in the world, as well as the official and native language of four others. Among these 57 countries, English is also a primary language in 20. This ought to give you an idea of how English became the universal language.'

From <https://www.google.com/search?q=is+there+a+universal+langage&rlz=1C1AVFC_enUS845US845&oq=is+there+a+universal+langage&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i13j0i10i22i30j0i8i13i30l4j0i390l3.6445j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8> 

And this link that denies that there will ever be a true universal language-

https://www.vice.com/en/article/ezpvx4/why-humans-dont-have-a-universal-language

Having said all this- a lot of these obscure languages are with people who do speak more than one language, people who have access to others who speak a language the Bible has been translated into.  

Jesus' words-    "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."

The gospel shall be preached… it doesn't say the Scriptures will be translated into every language in the world. The gospel of the kingdom-  the good news that Jesus came to bring to mankind- this is what would be preached in ALL the world- Jesus. Has Jesus been preached to all the world, witnessed in all nations?  Beyond any of our forefathers imaginations the ability for any word, any news to travel around the world almost instantaneously is truly a reality for us now. For us to say with all honesty that we can believe the gospel has been preached to all the world, is truth. 

The end, will happen. This was one message among many other prophetic messages that must be fulfilled before the end.  We are given various signs, not a single sign. Throughout our history the various signs have come to pass, and there are more yet to be fulfilled. Could this one have been fulfilled already? I believe it has.  The end will come, all prophecies will be fulfilled, every single one.  

May God bless us and keep us in His truth, our spiritual eyes opened as we watch and pray, waiting for the return of our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord, now and forever! AMEN.

(Excerpt)

EXPOSITION OF MATTHEW XXIV  24  (((Written in 1890 - remember that when reading- 131 years have passed since this was written. History does matter.))))

THE END OF THE AGE

VERSE 13: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

The word end, wherever used in this chapter, refers to the end of the ages, and to nothing else. It is the end associated in the New Testament with the second appearing of Jesus Christ. If it be urged that the word end has reference to the close of mortal life, then we reply that the disciples did not ask their Lord when they should die, but, "What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" See verse 6. And it would be strange indeed to suppose that the word end, in verse 14, meant death. If any think such a position admissible, let them read it into the text, as follows: And' this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall death come. absurdity!

VERSE 14: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

This is the first sign of the end given by our Lord in answer to the question, What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" But this verse is supposed by some to prove that all men will be converted, and that there will then follow one thousand years in which all will "know the Lord, from .the least to the greatest." But the text does not say that every individual will receive this gospel, or even that all will, hear it. It does not state that anyone will be converted and made holy by it, and we find it far from intimating that the world will be converted, and remain so for a period of one thousand years. The text simply states: (I) "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world;" (2) "for a witness unto all nations;" (3) "and then [not one thousand years later, nor three hundred and sixty-five thousand, but then] shall the end come."

If we understand the phrase, "this gospel of the kingdom," to be the gospel in the common acceptation of the word, is not the work very nearly accomplished? What continent or island is there where gospel has not been preached? Where is there a nation that has not heard it? The Bible has been translated into more than three hundred languages and dialects, and has been carried to every quarter of the globe. Wherever the mariner has discovered an inhabited island, or the explorer has found a new tribe, there missionaries have followed with the gospel.

But if the term, "this gospel of the kingdom," be understood as applying to the proclamation of the second advent of Christ, and the establishment of his everlasting kingdom, as the grand consummation of the gospel, the fulfillment is nearly as evident. And it seems necessary so to understand the passage, as it was given in answer to the question, "What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"

There is abundant testimony to show that the good news of the soon appearing of Christ has been preached in all parts of the world. During the present century, the book of Daniel has been unsealed, knowledge of the prophecies has increased, and many have "run to and fro" proclaiming that the advent of Christ is near at hand. In both Europe and America, men of faith and prayer have been led to study the prophecies, and, tracing down the inspired record, they have found convincing evidence that the end of all things is at hand. The Spirit of God has urged them to give the warning, and far and near has been proclaimed the message of the everlasting gospel," "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come."

In 1821, Joseph Wolff, the well-known missionary to the world, began to proclaim the doctrine of the second advent Wolff was a German Jew, the son of a rabbi. He early became a Christian, and determined to go as a missionary to his people. After studying at Rome and other places, under the supervision of the Catholic Church, he came to England, and joined the English Church, in 1819. After two years' study, he entered upon his mission, and for twenty-four years he traveled and preached untiringly penetrating as far east as India. Among Jews, Turks, Parsees, Hindoos, and many other nationalities and races, he preached the coming and reign of the Messiah. In Germany, the doctrine of the second advent had been taught in the eighteenth century by Bengel, a minister of the Lutheran Church, who, from the study of the Apocalypse, arrived at the belief that the coming of Christ was near at hand. 

Through Bengel's writings, many embraced the doctrine of the Lord's soon coming. Colonies of Germans carried the belief into Russia, and it is still largely held by the German churches of that country. Hundreds of pious men have proclaimed the doctrine in England and America, and publications on the subject have been sent to every missionary station on the globe. E. R. Pinney, in his "Exposition of Matthew Twenty-four," published in the year 1848, says:–

"As early as 1842, second-advent publications had been sent to every missionary station in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, both sides of the Rocky Mountains. We find this doctrine in Tartary, about twenty-five years ago, and the time for the coming of Christ to be in 1844. This fact is obtained from an Irish missionary in Tartary to whom the question was put by a Tartar priest when Christ would come the second time. And he made answer that he knew nothing at all about it. The Tartar priest expressed great surprise at such an answer from a missionary who had come to teach them the doctrines of the Bible, and remarked that he taught 'everybody who had a Bible might know that.' The Tartar priest then gave his views, stating that Christ, he thought, would come about A. D. 1844. The missionary wrote home a statement of the facts, which was published in the Irish Magazine, in 1821. The commanders of our vessels, and the sailors, tell us they touch at no point where they find this proclamation has not preceded them, and frequent inquiries respecting it are made of them."

The Advent Shield, pp. 86, 87, says:– "We look upon the proclamation which has been made as being the cry of the angel who proclaimed, 'The hour of his judgment is come.' Rev. 14:6, 7. It is a sound which is to reach all nations; it is the proclamation of 'the everlasting gospel,' or 'this gospel of the kingdom.' In one shape or other, this cry has gone abroad through the earth wherever human beings are found, and we have had opportunity to hear of the fact."

But it will be asked, Is the news that such a truth is preached a sufficient proclamation to fulfill the prophecy? Rev. 14:6, 7; Matt. 24:14. The answer is, If it was sufficient in the days of the apostles, it is now. That it was then, is clear from Acts 19:8-10, where Paul preached or taught in Ephesus two years, so that all they in Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord Jesus. They could not all have heard a sermon, but they heard the sound of the gospel. In this sense, no doubt, the gospel of the kingdom has been preached in all the world. We still wait for the approaching end. And when the purpose of God in the proclamation of the coming reign of Christ shall be fully accomplished, then will the end come. (End Excerpt)

I Cry Out! Forgive Me!

 Eph 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 

 

Does corrupt communication come from my mouth? What denotes corrupt communication? Perhaps it is anything that can't be used to edify a person, ministering grace to the hearers. If this is true, then I suppose a lot of what I speak is corrupt communication, doing no one any good.  The tongue is a wicked thing, the Bible tells us so and I believe we all comprehend the truth of the matter. Who has not been hurt by the tongue at some point in their lives? Who hasn't been whipped bloody by the tongue? Who hasn't been stabbed through the heart, with the tongue? Is it any wonder we aren't to let corrupt communication come out of our mouths? That we need to be mindful of our words? Vain babblings, murmuring, gossiping, these are all indicative of ungodliness. We make excuses for them, I make excuses for them because it has become a way of life to complain, to despair, to seek sympathy, to want to hear soothing words, to receive pity, to cry out woe is me. How much easier it is to spout worst fears while hoping for the best and preparing for the worst, and yet in such behavior where is faith, where is hope?

The fiery furnace is burning so hot all around my life and it is exposing my many, many faults! The fire is burning away any pretense I've covered myself in and is revealing the horrors of my sins daily.

My outward man is clothed in filthy robes of unrighteousness and the fires are burning away the layers upon layers of fine robes I've donned to disguise the filth upon my flesh.  

Corrupt communication- If you have nothing nice to say… say nothing at all. My mother's words, and I believe a lot of mother's have tried to teach these words to their children. Nothing nice to say… say nothing at all…. No corrupt communication is to come out of our mouths. When our mothers were trying to teach us to only speak nicely, they weren't trying to limit our speaking of our sadness, our worries, our pains,  they were telling us not to hurt anyone with our words, not to say anything about anyone that we couldn't say in their presence, not to be evil in our speaking.  But such wickedness has come from my mouth, I've hurt many with my wicked tongue. The words of corruption flow forth from me so naturally it's as if I'm trying to turn the tide when I attempt to keep from spewing forth vain babbling, murmurings, corruption, wickedness, gossip, and so on and so forth.  

I CRY OUT…    KEEP THE DOOR TO MY LIPS, LORD!  I can't seem to keep it myself at all.  

You've revealed my corrupt communication to me by burning away the many layers of finely spun silky justifications I've made to excuse it, that which I've tried to hide my sins in, and now they're exposed and I fall at Your feet….

Forgive me, please, forgive me, FORGIVE ME! I cry out! FORGIVE ME!

(Excerpt)

EXPOSITION OF MATTHEW XXIV  24  (((Written in 1890 - remember that when reading- 131 years have passed since this was written. History does matter.))))

VERSE 12: "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." 

It is evident that both the abounding of iniquity and the waxing cold of the love of many, are fulfilled in the professed church of Jesus Christ. Men must first experience the love of God and of heavenly things before that love can grow cold.

Hence, common, unconverted sinners are not here referred to as apostatizing. And, again, the prevalence of iniquity in the unconverted world alone, should stimulate the church to greater

diligence and more godliness, instead of being a cause of apostasy. Hence, the iniquity here mentioned is in the very heart of the professed church, diffusing its chilling influence through the whole body. As the result, the love of many has grown cold. With this agree the words of the apostle:–

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady,  high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away." 2 Tim. 3:1-5. 

Here is a catalogue of eighteen sins, all resting upon those who have a form of godliness. These are not infidels and common worldly sinners, for they have not a form of godliness; but they are men and women professing to be followers of Jesus Christ. And although they make a profession of piety as high as heaven, these very sins lie at their doors. And by reason of their example, and their chilling influence, many are led from the humble path to heaven, and their love waxes cold.'  (End Excerpt)

Martyrs and False Prophets.

 The followers of Christ were being spoken to and told the future holds no good towards them by those who are against Christ. 

This is true right now, even today. At this very moment I could open a news site online and show you where numerous Christians have been murdered for their faith. The faith of another which condones the killing of those who choose not to believe as they do, is alive and well, working overtime.  Many have been, many are, and many will be killed because they are Christ followers.

We don't like to believe a person would end the life of another person simply because they don't have the same beliefs, but it happens all the time. Jesus told of it happening and He was right. We might not have murders on the scale of thousands or millions at a time, at least not right now, but they are still ongoing.

False prophet and the end times… we know false prophets have existed forever and will exist until our Lord returns.

The thing about false prophets is their deception makes them appear as if they are true prophets, true teachers, true believers, but they are DECEIVERS and most often deceived themselves. We get caught up with false prophets because we desire to hear smooth things, things that don't prick our conscience. People don't want to get their conscience riled up. They like their ungodliness hidden, even from themselves. Unfortunately the blind want to remain blind. I hope and pray we ask for God to keep our eyes opened to all His truth, whether we want to hear the things or not. Let us see the truth! Let us not be deceived! May we not be taken in by any false prophet! All by the grace and mercy, the love of our Lord Jesus Christ! Now and forever! AMEN.

(Excerpt) 

VERSES 9, 10: "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray

one another, and shall hate one another."

Here is a brief description of the afflictions and martyrdoms of the church of Christ. Thousands of the faithful followers of Jesus were most cruelly put to death by Pagan Rome; yet the prophecy doubtless applies more particularly to the long period of papal persecutions, in which many millions of Christians were put to death in the most cruel manner that wicked men and demons could invent. In these verses we are brought down over the long period of the martyrdom of the church of Jesus Christ, to near the present generation.

FALSE PROPHETS 

VERSE 11: "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many."

In the common use of the word, a prophet is one that foretells; but the word sometimes means simply a teacher. True and false prophets may be known. The prophets of God are teachers of

purity, reprovers, of sin, and faithful in warning the people of coming dangers. The duties of those whom God calls to speak in his great name are clearly expressed by the sacred writers.

We here quote from three of them:–

"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." Isa. 58:1.

"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand." Joel 2:1.  

 

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." 2 Tim. 4:1, 2.

False prophets do not reprove the people for their sins, and do not warn them of coming danger; but they proclaim peace to the sinner. Their teachings lead from God and his word, and are such as please the unconverted mind. The inspired writers have also spoken definitely of the testimony and work of false prophets. We here give several for example:–

"And mine hand shall, be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God. Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar." Eze.

13:9, 10.

"For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest, every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace: when there is no peace." Jer. 6:13,14. 

"Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them." Jer. 14:13,14

After stating the duty of the faithful servant of God to preach the word, to reprove, to rebuke, and to exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine, the apostle says:–

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves  teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn, away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Tim. 4:3, 4.

That time has now fully come. The people choose pleasing fables, which do not disturb them in their sins, rather than the reproving, searching declarations of the word of God. They love to be deceived by the teachings of false prophets, and "say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits." Isa. 30:10. 

The ears of the people are filled with the pleasing fables of the world's conversion, a good time coming, and that we are just entering the golden age. The threatening's of God's word on the proud, the haughty, the vain, the rich, the sinners in Zion, and those out of Zion, are kept back by the false teachers these times. Many of them even dare to teach that the moral code of the ten commandments is abrogated. And as the result of such a course and such teaching, we see in the professed church of Jesus Christ that INIQUITY ABOUNDS. 

(End excerpt)

Do Not Be Among the Deceived.

 Deceive many…

Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it

Wide gate and broad way… MANY will go in through the wide gate and walk down the broad way thinking it is the gate and way leading to everlasting life. They are deceived.

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

MANY will say to Jesus they did wonderful things in His name. They are deceived.

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. 

MANY shall be deceived.

This bears noting closely because deception by its very nature is capable of overtaking many. Deceived into believing something is one way when in fact it is another.

Not a single person will be deceived who is truly Christ's. We are told to TAKE HEED that no man deceives us.

Take heed! Listen carefully! Pay attention! This is a warning! Watch out!

There are going to be deceivers, however, I truly believe that even deceivers themselves will be deceived by the great deceiver.

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 

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. 

Deceived. 

Rev_14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

We want to be among the saints… and for this to be we must keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.

You can sit there right now and say it is impossible to keep the commandments of God, but that's not true. With God all things are possible. Without our Savior it is impossible to keep the commandments of God. With the faith of Jesus is it possible! 

Zec_4:6  Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Might and power, any good thing in us we possess and think that it is goodness of our own accord is a lie! Even Jesus said this…

Mat_19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments

Do we keep the commandments to prove we are good? No. We keep the commandments by the power and faith of Jesus, because HE IS GOOD and of GOD! Jesus received His earthly goodness from GOD and He was quick to let others know, God is Good! 

The deception is only growing as Satan's time is running out, and we must know that God has given us all we need to be His, and not be deceived. We have to actively seek Him with all our hearts and be doers of His word, not hearers only. When right and wrong are presented to us, we must choose right and if by some happenstance we choose wrong, as soon as we realize it we must seek forgiveness! And we aren't seeking forgiveness for our not being good, we are seeking forgiveness for not allowing God to be good in us- THERE IS A DIFFERENCE! 

(Excerpt)

EXPOSITION OF MATTHEW XXIV  24  (((Written in 1890 - remember that when reading- 131 years have passed since this was written. History does matter.))))

VERSES 4, 5: "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."

Mark the caution given by our Lord as he commences to answer these questions. Jesus knew the hearts of men, and that many impostors would arise, and deceive multitudes. He here warns his disciples, and guards them against the deceptions of corrupt and ambitious men.

NATIONAL CALAMITIES

VERSES 6-8: "And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." 

No point has been argued in favor of the past complete fulfillment of Matthew 24, with greater show of plausibility than this. Yet it remains decidedly against that view. Dr. Adam Clarke, for whose honesty and ability we entertain the highest respect, says: "This portended the dissensions, insurrections, and mutual slaughter of the Jews, and those of other nations, who dwell in the same cities together;" etc. We say we respect Dr. Clarke, and it is no disparagement of him to believe there is more light now shining out from this chapter, with the greater investigation, and the later fulfillment of prophecy, than he saw in his day. We insist that all that he produced in regard to the dissensions among the Jews, their insurrections, etc., does not meet the demands of this text. On the latter part of the verse he says: "This portended the open wars of  the different tetrarchies and provinces against each other."

In this chapter the Saviour refers us to Daniel the prophet, by whom we learn, what indeed we can learn from any history, that the kingdom of Rome was universal in power at the time of which we are speaking. The dissensions and insurrections of tribes and provinces were not sufficient to meet the prophecy. But the Saviour further says: "And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet."

The overthrow of Jerusalem was caused by an insurrection of one of the provinces of the Roman kingdom. But these are not even connectives of the final event which was mentioned by our Saviour. These things– wars and rumors of wars–shall come, "but the end is not yet." And kingdom rising against kingdom–which, we insist, was not fulfilled by provincial insurrections–"are but the beginning of sorrows"–"the end is not yet." This point will be yet more clearly settled when others are considered. Wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes have occurred at different periods since these words were spoken. Therefore, these, as they have existed, cannot be regarded as the special signs of the end. 

It maybe urged, however; with a good degree of consistency, that the Scriptures teach that these calamities would exist in the last days to such an extent as to constitute a sign of the approaching judgment. 

We wish to keep the important fact distinctly before the mind, that the Sacred Scriptures do teach when men may not, and when they may, look for the second appearing of Christ. The prophets had so uniformly associated such judgment as war, famine, pestilence, and earthquake with the last judgment, that the disciples were in danger of concluding that the end would immediately follow the list appearance of these calamities; hence the caution given: "These things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." 

Here the disciples were clearly taught  that they should not expect the end in their day. This fact is worthy of the candid attention of those who object to the proclamation of the second advent of Christ in the form of a special message. These sometimes assert that it was right for the disciples to look for Christ in their day, and that it has been scriptural and right for all Christians of each successive generation to look for his second appearing in their time. And they affirm that no more can be learned and believed upon this subject in our time than by the Christians of past generations, and that the public mind should not now be agitated upon this great question, any more than in all past time since the first advent of Christ. 

We have seen that this position is incorrect so far as the early disciples were concerned. They are cited to the distant future as the time when their Lord should come. They are assured that they need not be troubled at hearing of wars and rumors of wars: "For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." Our Lord then guides the minds of his disciples, as we shall see in the examination of this chapter, down over the time of the great apostasy, and the long period of the rule of Papal Rome, before mentioning a sign of his second advent. He does not intimate that his people, during these long periods, may expect the end. No, not once. But when he comes near our time, the Lord gives signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars, and adds, "When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Mark this: Our Lord does not mention wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes as signs of his second advent, but rather as events of common occurrence all the way through the Christian age; and history attests the fact that these calamities have covered at least seventeen centuries. 

The following is from a work of Noah Webster, LL.D., published in 1799: 11 – 

By famine and sword, 580,000 Jews were destroyed between A. D. 96 and A. D. 180.

"In Antioch, from A. D. 96 to A. D. 180, earthquakes destroyed 13 cities and over 100,000 lives. 

"In Rome, A. D. 169 pestilence destroyed 10,000 daily.

"In Rome, A. D. 187, pestilence appeared and continued, three years.

"In London, A. D. 310, by famine, 40,000 died.

"In A. D. 446, September 17th, an earthquake shook down walls of Constantinople, and 57 towers fell.

"In Rome, A. D. 539, in one district 50,000 died.

"In Antioch A. D. 588, an earthquake killed 60,000.

"In A. D. 542, the plague killed 10,000 daily in Turkey.

"In A. D. 679, a severe famine in England, three years.

"In A. D. 717, in Constantinople, 300,000 died of plague.

"In A. D. 1005, earthquakes three months, followed by pestilence, by which it is said one-third of the human race died.

"In A. D. 1077, in Constantinople, so many died by plague and famine the living could not bury them.

"In A. D. 124, in Italy, there was such famine that the dead lay in the streets not buried; and in England one-third of the people died of plague.

"In A. D. 1294, in England, thousands died of famine.

"In A. D. 1346, in London, 50,000 died of plague and famine, and were buried in one grave-yard; in Norwich, 50,000; in Venice, 100,000; in Florence, 100,000; in Eastern nations, 20,000,000. It was called the black death.

"In A. D. 1352, in China, 900,000 died of famine.

"In A. D. 1450, in Milan, 60,000 died of plague.

"In A. D. 1570, in Moscow, 200,000 died of plague.

"In A. D. 1572, in Lyons, 50,000 died of plague.

"In A. D. 1625, in London, 35,000 died of plague.

"In A. D. 1656, in Naples, 300,000 died of plague. 

"In A. D. 1665, in London, 68,000 died of plague.

"In A. D. 1755, an earthquake destroyed the city of Lisbon, killing 50,000. In Mitylene, and the Archipelago, it shook down 2,000 houses. It shook all the Spanish coast. The plague followed, which destroyed 150,000 persons in Constantinople."

(End Excerpt)

Please note- having just gone through the Covid-19 Pandemic, or rather having gone through and are still going through, we know a tiny bit about the scariness of plagues. We might call them by different names, but they are plagues. The list above ends at 1755 but we know that there have been many plagues, earthquakes and famine from then until now in 2021. 

The author above mentions that these things would occur throughout all history, and they have. And yes, he mentioned other things would be added to them even as the Second Coming of our Savior gets closer and closer and that's true as well. After we finish this study, by the grace of God, we'll study the things that have occurred since 1890 that are pertinent to prophetic fulfillment and our Lord's return.  

All by the grace, mercy, and love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, now and forever. All glory, praise and honor to our Father God, all through the Holy Spirit!  Now and forever!

Amen.

End of the World.

 The End of the World. You might be interested in this, but so were the apostles of Jesus. Yes, 1,990 years ago those closest to Jesus as He went about His three year ministry were interested in the end of the world. They even asked Jesus about the end of the world, and Jesus had quite a bit to say about it. The excerpt following this blurb of mine will begin the study of Matthew chapter 24, known for the end of the world prophetic discourse of Jesus.

Since we as mankind abdicated the rulership of the world to Satan when we sinned, restoring mankind to a world void of sin has been the ideal. We want Satan dethroned from his princely duties to our world. 

Because Satan lives behind the scenes in the spirit realm of our existence, mankind has regulated him to myth status at best.  

Jesus was confronted by Satan, as Satan appeared to Him in our world. Jesus knew the reality of Satan's existence. Jesus comprehended that His followers would need this same understanding of the reality of Satan.  The evil that permeated the world surrounded Jesus on every side. His apostles were not perfect by any means, and He needed to show them the way of this world. The way to live in this world without being of this world. The way of comprehending that you can live in this world but know that it's not the world your heart is truly longing for.

As soon as we learn of the injustice of this world we lash out, we begin a struggle. We want to comprehend the whys and wherefores, but are told that it's just the way it is, life isn't fair. We hear those words, all the while a longing deep inside of us screams that it should be fair! We rail against the many agonies of our existences as they intermingle with its joys- almost as if they are laughing at us for allowing ourselves moments of joy, wanting to allow us new heights of joy so the agonies are that much worse when the joy is stolen from us. A series of highs and lows with a lot of in-betweens make up our existence. We would love a world of highs, of fairness, of peace, of happiness, of joy and we know this world is possible, just not this world.

God watched mankind descend into depths of evil so dark He prepared to end the world, but one man and that man's ability to recognize the hope found only in Christ, had that man finding grace in God's eyes.  He found grace, and he found it because he was searching for it. That man had God determine to start over once more. Rid the world of the horrors sin wrought, but allow the basic elements of the world to remain. The flood came and did this erasing and renewing.

After time mankind still exposed to the evil influence of Satan, once more descended into dark depths and God decided to split up the group of mankind. Suddenly people couldn't understand each other.  One moment they were all able to speak the same language and the next…  there was no ability to comprehend what each other was saying.  People divided themselves into groups that spoke the same language and they separated from each other. What did this great separation do? It caused confusion and it stopped mankind from wholescale carnage.  Each group on its own being much smaller than the one large group wasn't nearly as able to cause the evil of the whole.  Separating the groups spread out the evil, allowing for those who would, to have a chance to find grace with God as Noah had at one time. 

We all know how easy it is to get caught up in a group consensus, the old following the crowd, agreeing with your peers and so on and so forth. This was God's way of giving mankind more of an opportunity towards the knowing Him, and not just the evils of Satan.

The end of the world.

The end of sin.

The end of one world, the beginning of another.

The end of evil and the beginning of love.

We, just like our forefathers thousands of years ago, are longing for the world to come, as we seek to live in this world but not belong to it. Our hearts are with God, not this world and all its offers of temporary peace and joy. We need to know more of the end of the world … we need to know what Jesus had to say about it, because we just might be those who are living in the very end of the world, we just don't know 100%.

God help us as we seek wisdom and understanding of Your prophecies to us so that we are able to be all, and do all, that You would have us to do to be Yours, wholly Yours! ALL through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!!

Amen!

*******

EXPOSITION OF MATTHEW XXIV  (((Written in 1890 - remember that when reading- 131 years have passed since. History does matter.))))

–––

Disciples–"What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"

Jesus–"When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors."

Probably there is no chapter in the Bible which speaks more fully and more definitely on the second coming of Christ, than Matthew 24; and there is no chapter in the entire Bible which has been the subject of greater controversy. But the nature of the controversy has almost entirely changed within the last forty years. Forty years ago the controversy was between the Universalist and orthodox Christians. The Universalists denied that there is to be, any future judgment and punishment. Of course they referred the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew altogether to the destruction of Jerusalem–to the past. Evangelical Christians then denied that it referred solely to the destruction of Jerusalem; they affirmed that it taught a personal coming of Christ, to reward his saints and to justly punish his foes. Those commentators who referred it in general to the destruction of Jerusalem in their expositions, still admitted that it had a further reference to the second advent and the end of the world. They uniformly applied a part of the Saviour's discourse in chapters 24 and 25 to the latter event. The Universalists now take a different position; they have mostly become restorationists, admitting that there will be some punishment, even in the future. But they contend that it will be disciplinary or reformatory. They still maintain their former position that Matthew 24 has no relation to that future punishment, but refers to the destruction of Jerusalem.

The opponents of Universalism, in the churches, have also changed their base, in part. While they yet contend that there will be a future judgment and eternal punishment, they now deny that Matthew 24 proves anything in regard to that day; or event, and affirm that it was all fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem. They are also extensively changing their position in regard to the nature of the second advent, many of them agreeing with the Universalists, saying that the advent is figurative or spiritual and has already taken place. From present indications we think that this will very soon be the prevailing opinion in all the popular churches. Many of their ablest and most influential men now advocate this view. A little more change in the same direction will unite them fully with the Universalists in a denial of the future coming of Christ, of a personal, literal advent, and of any real tangible punishment of the wicked. They find it no more difficult to spiritualize the judgment and punishment, than the coming of the  Lord. Very many of them now assert that the Bible expressions concerning the perdition of the wicked, such as those in 2 Thessalonians 1, and 2 Peter 3, and Revelation 20, are to be taken figuratively–not at all literally. 

We are very confident that Matthew 24 reaches to matters beyond the destruction of Jerusalem, and into time yet future; and that it refers to a literal, personal, visible coming again of our glorified Saviour. But the instruction which it contains was not given to prove this truth–that his coming will be personal or literal.

This, now, has become the chief point of controversy on the chapter, whereas if it is not made a point at all in the chapter. To this we shall call further attention hereafter.

VERSE I: "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple; and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple."

Jesus had been addressing the multitude, in the presence of his disciples. He had reproved the scribes and Pharisees for their sins, and had declared the doom of the Jews, their city, and their temple.

Chapter 23. The disciples supposed that the temple would stand forever. And they called the attention of Christ to its magnificence and strength, as if to convince him that he was mistaken.

VERSE 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."

This statement from the Master could but deeply interest the disciples. And whether they supposed that the destruction of the temple, the coming of Christ, and the end of the age, would all occur at the same time, or at different periods, it matters not, since Christ, in his answer in this chapter, has distinctly spoken of each separately, and has given each its place in

the prophetic history of events.

VERSE 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?"

These questions relate, first, to the destruction of Jerusalem; and second, to Christ's second coming at the end of the Christian age. Both were distinctly answered by our Lord. Jesus did not censure the disciples for desiring to look into the future, but answered their questions fully. As Christ was here speaking to his disciples, and not to the promiscuous multitude, his words in this prophetic discourse are addressed to the church.

Two questions were asked by the disciples:–

I. "When shall these things be?" On this no controversy has ever been raised. It is universally conceded that it refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, or the overthrow of the temple, of which he had but recently spoken.

2. "What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" This is but one question. The coming of Christ and the end of the world are so closely related that they may

properly be embraced in one statement. See a parallel case in the first letter to the  Thessalonians. The writer speaks of the coming of the Lord (the Lord himself), and adds: "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." The "times and seasons" of the advent, and the resurrection of which he had just spoken, are identical with those of the day of the Lord. This phrase, "the day of the Lord," covets a period immediately subsequent to "the day of salvation," this latter being applied to this present dispensation.

Several points of query, must be noticed:–

I. "The end of the world." It is asserted that this is a wrong translation; that it should be, "the end of the age," and that it refers to "the Jewish age." But, allowing that it should be rendered "end of the age," it does not follow, by any means, that it refers to the Jewish age, or past dispensation. It certainly does not in Matt. 28:20. The promise that he will be with his ministers "until the end  of the age," certainly refers to that age in which they are to preach

the gospel, for these words are in the gospel commission. It is the end of this same age to which Matt. 24:14 refers. The question was in regard to the end of the world (or age, if preferred). He said, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for

a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end came." This is decisive on the point for (I) they were to tarry at Jerusalem, after receiving their commission, until the day of Pentecost, and then they were to be his witnesses to the nations; (2) the Jewish age ended before the

preaching to the nations commenced; therefore it is impossible that Matthew 24 and 28 should refer to that age.

An effort has been made to put forward the ending of the Jewish age to the destruction of Jerusalem. But it is exceedingly lame. To prove that, it will be necessary to show that the Christian dispensation was not fully opened until the destruction of Jerusalem! This is

disproved by the whole body of the teachings of the New Testament. Paul settles the question in affirming that the peculiarities of that age were taken out of the way,–nailed to the cross." Col. 2:14. If the gospel dispensation was not opened by the preaching of the apostles on the day of Pentecost, and afterward by turning to the Gentiles to preach the gospel to them, then it has not yet been opened. That is a settled question. The end of the age, or end of the world, in Matthew 24, is the utmost limit of the gospel dispensation. And we shall offer proof most positive that the second coming of Christ is at the end of this dispensation:–

In connection with the claim set forth in regard to "the end of the world," another is presented, as follows:– 

2. The disciples associated together all that the question contained, and placed "these things," that is, the overthrow of the city, with the coming of Christ and the end of the world, or age.

But that is only conjecture. No one has a reason for affirming that such was the idea of the apostles. Here we might safely leave the affirmation, for no one is bound to disprove a conjecture. But we will further notice it.

If it, were something more than conjecture,–if it were possible even to prove that such was their idea the order of events then future,–that fact would not be evidence that they were or are to be fulfilled at the same time. For we know that at that time the disciples were laboring under mistakes in regard to the time and order of the fulfillment of future events. Take as proof of this the parable which the Lord spake when he was going into Jerusalem. Luke 19. They thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. To correct this impression, the parable of the nobleman was spoken. If they understood the parable at the time when it was spoken, it did not fully do away with the impression in their minds, as is proved by what they did when they entered Jerusalem. We cannot believe that they would have hailed him as

the Son of David, and rejoiced before him as a King in his triumph, if they had realized that he was going into the city to be condemned and crucified, and malefactor. Palm branches and

shouts of trim did not attend the steps of the lowly and the condemned.

Again, after his resurrection, he reproved two of his disciples, who, though they had trusted that he would redeem Israel, were then sad and disheartened. They did not then understand that Christ ought "to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory." The suffering part was still a mystery to them. And some of the apostles were so slow to realize that which he had spoken to them, that they could hardly be persuaded that he was indeed risen from the dead. And after he had been with them full forty days, speaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom, they did not yet understand "the times and the seasons," and therefore asked him, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"

Would it, then, be surprising if they had been mistaken in the order of the events of which the Saviour spoke, at the time of his speaking, as recorded in Matthew 24? It would be quite natural for them to suppose that the holy city and the temple of the Most High would stand until the judgment and the final consummation. As we now see, had such been their opinion, it would not be proof that such was the chronological relation of these events. But, we repeat, that cannot be proved; it is only conjecture.

3. It is necessary to notice that prophecy is not always fulfilled in the order in which it is given. This is often seen in the Old Testament, where the two advents are sometimes spoken of in such close connection that the reader might suppose they would occur nearly together. It is seen in the book of Revelation, which contains several lines of prophecy, each reaching down to the close of the present dispensation. So in Matthew 24, and parallel chapters; we

can only learn the correct application of some of the statements contained therein by comparing them with other scriptures. There is no dispute that they refer to the destruction of the temple and the overthrow of the city as well as to the second coming of the Lord. (To be continued)