WHEN SHALL THESE THINGS BE? WHAT SHALL BE THE SIGNS OF THY COMING AND THE END OF THE WORLD? Matt. 24:3-13, Mk. 13:3-13, Lk. 21:7-19, 20-24…4
Key: SCHAFF: “When the Lord open his mouth, we should open our ears and hearts”
WATCH, CHRIST WILL COME UNEXPECTEDLY. 2 Matt. 37-44
The old problem of Adam and Eve, “The stupidity of independence” is very much around us. Lloyd John Ogilvie in his book, “Autobiography of God” said “We all want to be the one thing we can never be: god over our own lives…” The thought of self-gratification and indulgence can bring happiness. He went further, talking of the prodigal son: “There is the one taproot of sin of willful rebellion. Independence.” The desire to be great on our own was the situation in Noah’s day. Meditate on the following to avoid the pit fall of Noah’s day.
- The world is hostile to God since the fall. 1 Cor. 1:21- “knew not God”, Jn. 15:18- “hated” Christ; 14:17; 7:7-“Its works are evil”, Jas.4:4.
a. Is controlled by the devil. “the prince of this world” Jn.12:31; 14:30; 16:11, 1Jn. 4:4; 5:19- “in the hand of the evil one”, Lk. 4:5-6, Eph. 2:1-3.
b. Is already cursed. Gen. 3:17-19, Act. 13:10.
c. It will soon vanish. 1Cor. 7:29-31, Lk. 21:34, Jas. 4:4-6, Phil. 3:16-21, 1Pet. 4:2-3,
d. “The love of money is the root of all evils”. 1Tim. 6:10. Money is “mammon of unrighteousness”. Lk. 16:9. “Money in its essential character is evil…In God’s sight there is only dirty money” – Watchman-Nee. Mammon and God are never on the same side. Money is opposed to God. Money leads away from God. 1Tim. 6:10 It is “Caesar’s” Lk. 20:24-25. Money as goal leads to turmoil, anxiety and ends in frustration. Eccl. 2:5-12. - Matt. 24:40-41. “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left…” The world has been separated into two since the fall. The evil and good, Jews and Gentiles Eph. 2:11-12, saved and unsaved Eph. 2:1-6, the bondwoman and the free woman Gal. 4:22-28, born of the spirit and born of the flesh Gal. 4:29, Jn. 3:5-6.
a. The gospel message brings separation in the family. Matt. 10:32-39, 2Cor. 6:14-18, 1Pet. 2:9-10.
b. The judgement or the destruction of Jerusalem will bring separation.
c. The language used here is similar to what was said about the rapture. 2Thess. 2:1, 1Thess. 4:16-17, 1Cor. 15:50-52. However, the context here is the Jews.
d. The final resurrection and final judgment will also bring separation. Jn. 5:25-29, Rev. 20:12-20.
e. The bottom line here is 2Pet. 2:9. God will always deliver the righteous and reserve the evil one to judgement. It continues.
