June 9th 2019
Are We Entering The End Times Period Of Biblical History? Part 1 of 2
Romans 14:7-8 (NIV)
For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Do you belong to someone else or do you stand alone? Do you consider yourself to be part of a society? The reason I wrote “a society” is that there are many groups of people, which could constitute being referred to as a society. Generally using this terminology, we all belong to more than one society! We are all surrounded by many different societies in this country today. We see this being played out by so many groups gathering and displaying signs emphasizing their ideas, and usually trying to convince other societal groups that their views are correct and thus should be followed. We have witnessed many acts of aggression when such modern groups organize and march trying to force other people to bow to their demands. Of course, within every group there are individuals who are present to voice their own emphasis on the group agenda. Many of these peaceful groups have inflicted violence upon anyone seeming to have and maybe voice their different opinion. This reaction can sometimes be called “mob rule.” People who do not believe they have been accepted into some societal group are either seeking one to accept them, or they decide they are unacceptable to any group, and they either commit suicide, or they decide to harm or even murder, some of the people who they believe belong to the group they would like to join.
In the book of Roman Paul wrote to early Christian church members about the need to be participants in a group(s) being formed by people who love God, because God first loved them. Such groups are commonly called churches. Paul wrote, “For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.” True members of the “body of Christ” can show love to other people, no matter what societal group they have chosen to be members of, because of the love Jesus Christ taught when He walked this earth. Jesus always sought to help those who could not help themselves. An old adage “God helps those who help themselves!” is not really biblical, as many people seem to think. This is what grace is all about, even though we are all sinners, Jesus died to save all who claim His perfect sacrifice to cover their sins. God shows mercy not self-righteousness to grant salvation! No one can be good enough to earn their salvation! Paul sums up our need to belong to a group, when he next wrote, “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Some will question this grouping of people indicted here, as they believe they can belong to Jesus without the need of being a member of an organized church group! However, why would you not desire to become an active member of a church, if you believe you want to be a member of “the body of Christ?”
Most of the groups you will be thrown into by virtue of your political views, or where you live, or where you choose to shop, or where you choose to eat, etc. Now, enough about groups you may select, there are those situations that have been prophesied and you may have read about in the Bible. It is important to understand that such prophecies were not ideas some men just chose to write about, but these were ideas God put into the minds of men. Peter wrote about this so we could believe such things have already happened, fulfilled Bible prophecies, or that such things will occur in the future. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. (2 Peter 1:20). Paul also wrote about the importance of believing the Scriptures to Timothy who was becoming one of the early pastors of a church(s). All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Note the emphasis here on the fact that the Scriptures have emanated from God, not just the ideas of some members of mankind. With this in mind, let us wonder about what time are we nearing, based on some of the unfulfilled prophecies given in our Bible.
Some reading this commentary may not believe there is a place we call hell. But certainly, Peter believed there is, and that the fallen angels are already there. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. (2 Peter 2:4-9). Peter gave us a lot to think about in this one writing. The good news part of this writing is near the end where Peter wrote, “the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials.”
In this day-in-age it appears to me, we are entering the end times period of Biblical history. Jesus likens this time to come and compares it to the time of Noah and the worldwide Flood, God used to destroy all members of mankind, and all the land-dwelling animals, because of the sinful nature of mankind. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:26-27). Yes, it is true God promised not to destroy us and the earth again by a flood, but it is prophesied that it will be destroyed again this time by fire. Jesus talked about this time period, and how difficult it will be for everyone who is living on the earth at that time. Jesus told us that, “Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequalled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.” (Mark 13:18-19).
I did not intend to write this commentary about the end times, but it seems, I was led in it! Sorry, but I must make this commentary be Part 1 of 2 and add more information about the end times in next week’s VOW. So, please stay tuned, and check out next week’s VOW!
I’ll leave you with this thought that Jesus left for us, His followers. If the Lord had not cut short those days, no-one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. (Mark 13:20-23). Jesus said, “for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.” And, “So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.” It is all in the Bible God left for us, and the Holy Spirit to help us understand it!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Romans 14:7-8 (NIV)
For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Do you belong to someone else or do you stand alone? Do you consider yourself to be part of a society? The reason I wrote “a society” is that there are many groups of people, which could constitute being referred to as a society. Generally using this terminology, we all belong to more than one society! We are all surrounded by many different societies in this country today. We see this being played out by so many groups gathering and displaying signs emphasizing their ideas, and usually trying to convince other societal groups that their views are correct and thus should be followed. We have witnessed many acts of aggression when such modern groups organize and march trying to force other people to bow to their demands. Of course, within every group there are individuals who are present to voice their own emphasis on the group agenda. Many of these peaceful groups have inflicted violence upon anyone seeming to have and maybe voice their different opinion. This reaction can sometimes be called “mob rule.” People who do not believe they have been accepted into some societal group are either seeking one to accept them, or they decide they are unacceptable to any group, and they either commit suicide, or they decide to harm or even murder, some of the people who they believe belong to the group they would like to join.
In the book of Roman Paul wrote to early Christian church members about the need to be participants in a group(s) being formed by people who love God, because God first loved them. Such groups are commonly called churches. Paul wrote, “For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.” True members of the “body of Christ” can show love to other people, no matter what societal group they have chosen to be members of, because of the love Jesus Christ taught when He walked this earth. Jesus always sought to help those who could not help themselves. An old adage “God helps those who help themselves!” is not really biblical, as many people seem to think. This is what grace is all about, even though we are all sinners, Jesus died to save all who claim His perfect sacrifice to cover their sins. God shows mercy not self-righteousness to grant salvation! No one can be good enough to earn their salvation! Paul sums up our need to belong to a group, when he next wrote, “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Some will question this grouping of people indicted here, as they believe they can belong to Jesus without the need of being a member of an organized church group! However, why would you not desire to become an active member of a church, if you believe you want to be a member of “the body of Christ?”
Most of the groups you will be thrown into by virtue of your political views, or where you live, or where you choose to shop, or where you choose to eat, etc. Now, enough about groups you may select, there are those situations that have been prophesied and you may have read about in the Bible. It is important to understand that such prophecies were not ideas some men just chose to write about, but these were ideas God put into the minds of men. Peter wrote about this so we could believe such things have already happened, fulfilled Bible prophecies, or that such things will occur in the future. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. (2 Peter 1:20). Paul also wrote about the importance of believing the Scriptures to Timothy who was becoming one of the early pastors of a church(s). All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Note the emphasis here on the fact that the Scriptures have emanated from God, not just the ideas of some members of mankind. With this in mind, let us wonder about what time are we nearing, based on some of the unfulfilled prophecies given in our Bible.
Some reading this commentary may not believe there is a place we call hell. But certainly, Peter believed there is, and that the fallen angels are already there. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. (2 Peter 2:4-9). Peter gave us a lot to think about in this one writing. The good news part of this writing is near the end where Peter wrote, “the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials.”
In this day-in-age it appears to me, we are entering the end times period of Biblical history. Jesus likens this time to come and compares it to the time of Noah and the worldwide Flood, God used to destroy all members of mankind, and all the land-dwelling animals, because of the sinful nature of mankind. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:26-27). Yes, it is true God promised not to destroy us and the earth again by a flood, but it is prophesied that it will be destroyed again this time by fire. Jesus talked about this time period, and how difficult it will be for everyone who is living on the earth at that time. Jesus told us that, “Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequalled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.” (Mark 13:18-19).
I did not intend to write this commentary about the end times, but it seems, I was led in it! Sorry, but I must make this commentary be Part 1 of 2 and add more information about the end times in next week’s VOW. So, please stay tuned, and check out next week’s VOW!
I’ll leave you with this thought that Jesus left for us, His followers. If the Lord had not cut short those days, no-one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. (Mark 13:20-23). Jesus said, “for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them.” And, “So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.” It is all in the Bible God left for us, and the Holy Spirit to help us understand it!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
|
|
|