This came about when our Lord enlightened His Disciples on the issue. Please take note that He did not tell this to the Scribes, Pharisees, and the Jews in general (outsiders):

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. 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.”

A misconception

Before, some people by taking the “letter” of the word believed the destruction of the temple took place in the year AD 70 (1) when Gen. Titus Flavious Vespasianus, a Roman officer with his vast army, laid siege to Jerusalem. He destroyed the temple and there was mass civilian casualties estimated at between 60,000 and 1,100,000. (Encyclopedia Americana, 1967 Edition)

Now, many people realized the siege of Gen. Titus did not fulfill Christ’ statement. They forget that our Lord said this “privately to His Disciples.” To many Bible readers, the impending “end of the world” is lingering in the minds and lots of speculation have been anticipated in the different periods of Christendom.

Our Lord continued the conversation:

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?”

Jesus spoke to His Disciples privately who would expound everything to them.

Mar 4:34  “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

What is being overlooked is why “outsiders” think these things are also directed to them.

Mar 4:11  “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12  That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.”

Mat 24:7  “…and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”

For two millennia, people thought the signs related by our Lord were at hand.

• Famine -- Caused by the great “potato blight” in Europe in 1845, and draughts in several places and periods of history, were thought to portend these things.  This is coupled with population explosion before modern methods of agriculture are developed.  [Edwards, RD. Williams, TD "The Great Famine: Studies in Irish History 1845-52", Lilliput Press, 1956 (reprinted 1997)]
• Pestilence – The Black Death, or  Bubonic Plague that caused death to many people in several countries in the Middle Ages, caused by a bacterium (Yersinia pestis). Cholera and typhoid fever without knowing the cure at that time. [The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.]
• Earthquakes -- Earthquake in Jamaica in 1692 that sunk the surface of the sea 50 feet below; the great Assam earthquake in 1897 in India, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that slid the surface 21 feet northward, the 1964 Alaska quake that some points on dry land rose nearly 40 feet and parts of the seafloor dropped 50 feet -- in all of these catastrophe hundreds of thousands of people died.
• Volcanic eruption -- The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in Italy that buried the city of Pompeii,  Krakatoa East of Java, and the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines whose volcanic ashes fell on several countries, plus several more
• Wars -- The great wars in Europe in the middle Ages, First, Second World Wars, and the “cold war” between USSR and the US of current history.

All these inspired the formation of religious sects “specializing on the bits and pieces” on the message. Recently, at the height of the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union in the 8O’s, and towards the end of the 2nd millennium (AD 2000) thinking of Cyberspace doom due to “computers glitch,” the preaching on the topic was accelerated by the different sects.

And now the emergence of new kinds of diseases like A.I.D.S., S.A.R.S., Bird Flu; and fear of global terrorism, are again taken advantage of by religious sects picking up the pace of their forecast for the impending “end of the world and the 2nd coming of Christ.”

People are immensely attracted to the message heard over the radio, seen on Television, and in Religious Fellowships. However as expected, all will turn out to be disappointments as Peter wrote:

2 Pet 3:4  “…Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

What is overlooked is the often quoted, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today.” While people profess “Jesus is the Truth,” can they accept the “end of the world” must have “happened” in the past? This is in line with what our Lord told His Disciples:

Matt 24:34 “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

Therefore, all that is written on the subject must have been fulfilled in the life of the Disciples. However, without God’s revelation of everything written about it is hard to believe. The Natural Men insist on the “letter” of the word and they are proven wrong. Why can’t many people accept this truth? God is speaking in parables.

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

Mat 13:34  “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them.”

Is not this subject of the “end of the world” related to what is written in the book of Revelation?

Rev 5:1 “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.”

Is the book “open” to Peter, John, James, Paul, or to professing apostle of Christ today? It is written there is only One who is “worthy to open the book!”

Rev 5:5  “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.”

The sole authority to “open the book” or expound on the words of our Lord clearly refers to what Mark wrote in:

Mar 4:34  “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

While many people read the verses related to the subject, perhaps they have not pondered on these questions:

• Did Jesus Christ speak except in parables? In other words, what is written in the Holy Bible are “dark sayings of old.”
• Where Peter, John, James, Paul, and other apostles authorized to expound on the words?
• Are modern apostles given this distinct authority to expound on the words?

God speaks in parables

Eze 20:49  “Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?”

Examples:

Gen 49:9  “Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?”    

Taking the “letter” of the word, Judah cannot be a literal lion.

[Plus many more examples]

Joh 3:3  “…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus, a noted preacher of the word, by taking the “letter” of the word erred in thinking he had to go back to his mother’s womb to accomplish this.

Joh 2:19  “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

The Jews who took the “letter” of the word misunderstood this that they even witnessed against Jesus. This led to His crucifixion on the cross:

Mat 26:60  “…though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61  And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.”

When confronted about His claim, Jesus Christ did not comment much more to correct their misconception of His words, knowing that the religious leaders would not believe Him anyway.

[Plus many more examples]

God’s instruction in reading the Holy Bible

If to the Natural Man 2 reading the Bible is by verses and taking the context of the story thereof, to God it is different. It is as follows:

Isa 28:10  “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.”

After all in the original manuscripts, there were no chapters and verses. These were added only for reference. The Bible was divided into chapters by Stephen Langton about A.D. 1228. The Old Testament was divided into verses by R. Nathan in 1448 A.D.; the New Testament by Robert Stephanus in A.D. 1551. The entire Bible, divided into chapters and verses, first appeared in A.D. 1560 in the “Geneva Bible.”

Beneficiaries of divine knowledge and wisdom

Luk 10:21  “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.”

Isa 28:9 KJV “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.”

2 Tim 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Their qualification – Total trust in God

Prov 3:5  “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Jer 17:9  ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Jer 17:5  “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”

Two classes of people

If we have observed, there are two classes of people listening to our Lord (reading the Holy Bible) and these are distinguished by the way they think about the word of God:

1. Those who take the “letter” of the word, interpreting it literally, or if this is not feasible, they try to spiritualize it using human reasoning.

2. Those who simply wait for God’s revelation, fully submitting to the authority of our Lord expounding on His words as revealed in Mark 4:34 and Rev. 5:5. These are the beneficiaries of divine knowledge and wisdom as listed above.

The planet earth

To the first class of people, the “end of the world” means the total desolation, devastation, and destruction of planet earth together with all living things thereon. The second class is composed of the “babes” in Christ. These are the people who wait and rely on God’s exposition with clues from His words, as in the following.

Look if “earth” is an inanimate object having ears to “listen” to the voice of the Lord.  Clearly “earth” here refers to people.

Jer 22:29  “O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.”

Can truth spring out of the literal earth? Truth can only come out from the chosen of God.

Psa 85:11 “Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.”

Is the literal earth capable of rejoicing? Only the chosen of God do!

Psa 96:11  “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.”

Does God speak of salvation to “all people on earth?” This is contradictory to what Jesus said, “Many are called, but only few are chosen.”?

Psa 98:3 “He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”

Is the literal earth capable of singing praises to the Lord? This definitely refers only to the chosen of God.

Psa 98:4  Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

The world

Our Lord could not have referred to the literal world in the following but to persons:

Mat 18:7 “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”

Luk 2:1  “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.”

From the foregoing clues, “earth or the world” refers to people in general. However, more specifically it pertains to our Lord’s chosen on this subject of “The End of the World.”

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?”

The literal “end of the world”

The Natural Man by taking the “letter” of the word is expecting the literal “appearance of Jesus Christ and the end of the world.” Time will come when the plan of God of having eternal companions will be fully accomplished. It is only then that the literal “end of the world” will come to pass. This is what many people are worried about. But surely this event will not happen during their lifetime. Peter wrote to those who do not submit to the exposition of God on His words:

2 Pet 3:4  “And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

However, the chosen of God do not expect this to happen in their lifetime. Now we have a glimpse of the kind of “spiritual peace” they have compared with people who depend on people regarding this matter on the “end of the world.” They received our Lord’s revelation of the real meaning of:

Mat 24:34  “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

God’s words are like prophecies

Clearly now the “end of the world” refers to the “end of the life of the chosen!” Again, let us wait for our Lord to give pointers for “this event.” This does not only refer during our Lord’s time, but all the time, until all the people with God’s foreknowledge would have humbled themselves like “babes” 3  and qualified as “poor in spirit.” 4 Then God’s plan of having eternal companions would have been fulfilled.

God’s words are like prophesies that are expected to be true all the time as He expounds on them.  The “letter” of the word or the literal meaning cannot validate this truth as everybody knows. Taking the “letter” of the word is full of contradictions. Thus:

2 Cor 3:6  “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

Only the “spirit” or spiritual message of the word proves the following:

Mat 24:35  “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

Mat 5:18  “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

Now this is revealed to Peter regarding the interpretation of the words that are like prophecies being fulfilled all the time:

2 Pet 1:20 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”

We hear religious leaders say, “private interpretation” applies to the laity’s personal understanding of the word. Hence, people have to depend on their respective sect leaders for clarification on the word of God. However, this is human wisdom that God condemns:

Jer 17:5  “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm…”

1 Cor 1:19  “…I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? whereis the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God…”

Col 2:8  “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

FOUR STAGES FOR THE “END OF THE WORLD”

Since in this instance “earth or the world” does not refer to the literal inanimate object but to the chosen people of God, there are “four stages” for their spiritual and eventually literal “ending.”

1st Stage – The “end” of human doctrines implanted on the chosen by religious leaders. Hereafter, the chosen are led to the Way trekked by “the prophets and apostles.” 5

2nd Stage – The “end of soulishness” in the individual believer.  This marks the cessation on the chosen’s use intellect and feeling in his/her spiritual life, further strengthening “spiritual walk” towards eternal life.

3rd Stage – The physical death of the believer or the “end” of spiritual walk upon attaining spiritual perfection.

Last Stage – This is the “end of the literal world” and everything in it that the Natural Man understands.  It will occur after all people foreknown by God have humbled themselves “like little children.” 6 This is the final “harvest for souls” and fulfilling God’s plan of having eternal companions. ”

Beginning of the First Stage

This is the “end” of human doctrines rooted on the chosen by religious leaders. Our Lord gave the first step to salvation:

Mat 18:3  “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Without such conversion 7, that is, “conversion from spiritual goat to sheep,” no one would ever be endowed with divine knowledge and wisdom. 8 For how can the Shepherd speaking, Jesus Christ symbolized by a Lamb, be understood by “spiritual goats?”

Luk 10:21  “…Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.”

God hates human wisdom and trust in man on matters pertaining to God:

Jer 17:5  “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”

1 Cor 1:19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. :20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God…”

And it is only after this that a person can follow this command of our Lord, fully trusting the Holy Spirit as the Teacher. 9

1 Cor 2:13  “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

1. Illustration – “Hating father, mother, and siblings”

Luk 14:26  “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”

The Natural Man, also citing a verse, would interpret this as simply loving God more than the literal relatives.

Mat 10:37  “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

However the key word here is “hate”, so the command is “to hate father, and mother, and siblings including self.” With God’s exposition of His words, a person will learn to “hate the father” as our Lord Jesus revealed the “father” in:

Joh 8:44  “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. …abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

Satan mimicking our Lord’s, “Groom and bride relationship with His chosen,” 10 the “mother” clearly points to the sect affiliation that does not preach the truth. In the case of Saul of Tarsus (Paul), it is the sect of the Pharisees of which he was a member is his “mother.”

The “siblings” refer to man’s own self, pointing to the soul whose attributes are the intellect and feeling (human wisdom):

Deu 13:6  “If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul…”

2. Illustration - The basic truth of clearly recognizing Jesus so as to identify Father God also is by divine revelation. How many people heard this from professing apostles of Christ today, that to identify Jesus it needs divine revelation from the Father?

Mat 16:15  “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

With this “miracle,” no longer is the real believer subject to the following reproof. Christ’s Apostles and Disciples were exempted from it. 11

Joh 8:19  “…Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”

Joh 8:54  “…it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55  Yet ye have not known him…”

At most that preachers could say about Father God is to describe Him, such as, “He is the Creator of the universe and everything in it, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, He is love, etc.”  How many times have we heard them, and authorities of sects, trying to hide spiritual ignorance of identifying God with aphorism, such as the following?

• “The infinite Father God is a mystery incapable of clear identification with the finite mind of man.”
• “If you try to comprehend the mystery of the Holy Trinity, you will lose your mind. But to deny it, you will lose your soul.”
• “We will come to know God when we meet Him in heaven.”

3. Illustration - Professing apostles of Christ, who are limited to preaching the “letter” of the word cannot qualify as “able ministers of the New Testament.”

2 Cor 3:6  “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

This is what our Lord saw in the Scribes and Pharisees calling them “blind guides leading the blind.” They cannot “see the spirit” of the word that only “cleanses the inside of the cup and platter.”

Mat 23:26  “Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

Example: For the commandment, “Thou shalt not steal,” the “letter” is limited only to not taking anything of value not owned. But our Lord expounds on the “spirit” of the word in the following:

Joh 10:1  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold (truth), but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

Let us remember Nicodemus, a noted teacher of the word, by simply taking the “letter” of the word, said: “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? (John 3:4) Therefore the beginning of the 1st Stage of “The End of the world” actually refers to Jesus’ promise.

Joh 14:18  “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

Mat 28:20  “… lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

This is discussed in another article:

“BORN AGAIN THE KEY TO SALVATION,”
http://www.purechristianity.org/index.php?module=articles&func=display&ptid=1&aid=64

The “Sign of the Son of man in heaven”

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. 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.”

The Natural Man understands “shall see the Son of man” literally. The people at Caesarea Philippi saw Jesus but did not recognize Him. Some identified Him as John the Baptist, others as Jeremiah, Elias, and one of the prophets. (Matt. 16:13-14) Spiritually, “seeing” Jesus actually means recognizing Him by divine revelation as Simon Peter did. Without this, religious leaders had to pay Judas 30 pcs. of silver to identify Him when actually they saw, talked, and even argued with Him.

Mat 16:15  “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?”

Mat 16:16 “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

“Coming in the clouds with power and great glory”

“Clouds” consists of water vapor. “Water” symbolizes both the “letter” of the word 12 and the Holy Spirit13. These are the two witnesses to the truth with which Jesus came for all to hear (see) including those who “pierce” (hate) Him 14.  We can see this great event in our time. Do not people “pierce” Jesus by hating the truth?  Jesus is the Truth. This is discussed in the article:

RAPTURE AND ITS SILHOUETTE  

• How loud is the “voice of the archangel and the trump (trumpet) of God?
• Who are the “living and the dead?”
• How does God explain meeting Him in the air, and when?

www.purechristianity.org/index.php/news/Rapture_And_It%27s_Silhouette

A clear example of simply taking the “letter” of the word is the literal understanding of this topic:  “The End of the World.” It creates fear and excitement but without real “nourishment for the soul”.

Sun and moon darkened, stars falling

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.”

To the chosen, it is a great ordeal (tribulation) for them to renounce religious doctrines learned from men. But they realize the meaning and the “fulfillment” of the following:

The sun is darkened

God our Lord is symbolized by the sun:

Psa 84:11  “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory…”

The newly “born again” realize how God, our Lord is “darkened” to the deceived as they were before. They are like the Scribes and Pharisees who never saw spiritual light from our Lord by not “seeing” or recognizing Him, nor understood what He was saying.

Joh 8:12  “Then spake Jesus …saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

The moon does not give her light

Here is God referring to His chosen as if courting her.

Son 6:10  “Who is she (chosen both male and female) that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon…”

The moon only reflects the light from the sun. Before, the chosen with their former companions in the sect thought to reflect the truth from God. Now they realize  there is no light at all.”

The stars are falling

The stars in this case represent the deceived – they are the religious leaders who do not know what they are saying. They refute the truth to justify falsehood.

The new believers see how their former religious leaders “fall from heaven” as they are clearly mislead.

Jude 1:10  “But these speak evil of those things which they know not… in those things they corrupt themselves. 11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward… 13  Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.”

“And the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” clearly refers to what we read about the Jews how they ridiculed and scorned the power of our Lord. So also today how Christianity, composed of sects, obstructs and denigrates the truth for simply taking the “letter” of the word.

“Coming of the Son of man”

Mat 24:37 “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 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.”

Would Jesus be remiss of His promise? He told His Disciples not to leave them comfortless for He would be coming again.

Joh 14:18  “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

Jesus confirmed His promised! The Comforter is the Holy Spirit:

Mat 28:20  “… lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. “

The Natural Man thinks of the coming of the “visible Christ,” by citing:

Rev 1:7  “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.”

Let us remember our Lord is speaking in parables. And besides, seeing Jesus in person is not enough to recognize Him! Let us remember the people at Caesarea Philippi? 15 Did not the religious leaders see and talk to Jesus in person? Why did they have to pay Judas 30 pcs. of silver just to “see Jesus” in order to crucify Him on the cross? Have we forgotten that Jesus made Himself invisible and sometimes visible to His Disciples after His resurrection?

The “coming of our Lord” clearly refers to “born again.” He is already with His chosen, teaching, guiding, and strengthening them on their trek to eternal life. This is discussed in another article: "Born Again, the Key to Salvation.” Nicodemus a renowned preacher of the word simply took the “letter” as many people today take the “end of the world” literally.

www.purechristianity.org/index.php?module=articles&func=display&ptid=1&aid=64

For the rest of the people, “eating, drinking, and marrying as in the days of Noe,” clearly refer to the kind of religious activities they indulge themselves with. “Eating and drinking religious food” fed to them by sect leaders. “Marrying another” but never with the “Groom” that John the Baptist spoke of in:

Joh 3:28  “Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ…29  He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.”

How many people “heard” Jesus speak? If they do, do they understand and follow what He said? This is the voice of the “bridegroom.”  Jesus said:

Joh 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

Does not the “spirit quicken or give life” to the “dead letter” or literal meaning of the word?” The spiritual message is the “living bread” that is being fed the chosen.

Jesus distinctly said, “the flesh (or body) profiteth nothing from His words for they are spirit.” This is illustrated when He “opened the eyes of the man born blind.” Perhaps the following will also open the eyes of the “spiritually blind.”

Joh 9:35  “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36  He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?”

Joh 9:37  “And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.”

Joh 9:39  “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”

This confirms that what are written are indeed parables or “dark sayings of old.”

Mar 4:34  “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

Our Lord’s explanation of His word is actually a demonstration as seen in the man born blind. So also it is true with all other miracles of our Lord that the Natural Man considers them literally. Sad to state, these are the people who “have not heard His voice and seen Him.”

Mar 4:11  “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12  That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.”

The voice of John the Baptist

To be noted, the “voice of the bridegroom” is unlike that of John the Baptist who only preached the “letter” of the word. Since water 16 symbolizes the word of God with which John immersed his disciples, these people had not yet received the Holy Ghost!

Act 19:1  “…Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.”

However, distinction should be made with the baptism of Jesus. Christianity today that is composed of sects is limited to the “letter” of the word. Therefore many people cannot comprehend the “spiritual message.” One typical example is the subject in this article. Hence many people are looking up to the “end of the world” in the future. Peter rightly expressed their sentiment:

2 Pet 3:4 “…Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

However our Lord Jesus emphasized to His Disciples (chosen):

Mat 24:34  “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

“Soulishness” the root cause of spiritual deceptions

Mat 24:4  “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.”

Christ’s Disciples are “poor in spirit,” 17 that is, spiritually humble. This is the opposite of “rich in spirit.” The “rich in spirit” is demonstrated in the case of the Rich Young Ruler:

Luk 18:18  “And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21  And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.”

The Rich Young Ruler is a type of the Natural Man who thinks he can follow the laws/words of God to the “letter.” But God has this to say:

James 2:10  “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

God knew that no one could follow His words to the “letter.”  He gave them to convict people of sins 18so as to humble themselves and ask for His mercy. God wants people to act “like little children.” He illustrated this in:

Luk 18:15 “And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”

Further proving that our Lord Jesus is not talking literally, He said the following endowing divine knowledge and wisdom to “babes” and not to the “wise and the prudent.” This was also true in the Old Testament.

Luk 10:21  ‘In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.”

Isa 28:9 KJV “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.”

The Rich Man is not necessarily wealthy materially. He may be financially impoverished, but “rich in spirit.” God demonstrated that material riches had not been obstacle to salvation. Abraham was rich in cattle, camels, and other animals. King David, Solomon, and Joseph of Arimathaea, a rich man 19, are other examples.

The Rich Young Ruler, spiritually speaking, must be “rich in spirit or soulish.” Religious intellectualism and emotionalism are the precious possessions meant for the Rich Young Ruler.

Mat 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

“Riches” in religious intellectualism is condemned:

1 Cor 3:18  ‘Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”

1 Cor 1:19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God…”

Jer 17:5  “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm…”

“Riches” in religious emotionalism is taboo:

Jer 17:9  “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Now the Lord told the Rich Young Ruler:

Luk 18:22  “…Jesus…said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23  And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.”

This man is clearly “rich in spirit.” He could not sell his “spiritual treasures.” These are the religious doctrines precious to his heart.  “Selling these” would realize “proceeds of divine knowledge and wisdom” that our Lord said should be distributed to the poor. Again, the poor refers to the “poor in spirit.”

Luk 18:24 “And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?”

Luke 18: 27 “And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 28  Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.”

What our Lord said is seen in His Disciples. They sold “all their (spiritual) possessions,” and realized proceeds of “divine knowledge and wisdom.” This is what we read in their life – distributing the proceeds to the “poor in spirit.” In effect, what they did is spiritual evangelism.

Peter, Andrew, John, and James remained fishermen to earn their living. Paul continued with his work as tent maker . Joseph of Arimathaea a rich man (Matt. 27:57, John 19:38) did not sell or part with his material wealth. But all of them sold their “spiritual treasures” that means parting with their “soulishness.”

In contrast, the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, the Teachers of Law, Priests, and their followers treasured their religious intellectualism and emotionalism. Devoid of this kind of “wealth,” real followers of Christ were blessed with the following. This truth never pass away as, “Jesus, the truth, is the same yesterday and today.”

1 Joh 2:27  “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie…”

Jam 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

“I am Christ!”

Mat 24:4  “And Jesus …said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

No person in his right mind would call himself “Christ.” But professing apostles, unwittingly, are usurping the role of Christ. Did not our Lord warn about this malpractice?

Mat 23:8  “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 10  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.”

Jesus cautioned His Disciples for anyone of them to be looked up above the rest.

Luk 22:25  “And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26  But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger…”

Are not professing apostles now being called “Teachers or Pastors” which, in Hebrew, means Rabbi?   And more appalling is taking the honorific titles, “Father, Reverend, and Holy!”

Mat 23:9 “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

Psa 111:9  He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.”

God goes further giving this edict if only to stress His jealous temperament that He rightfully deserves:

Exo 34:14  “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”

Jam 2:9 “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”

The Natural Man using philosophy justifies the appropriation of the titles as they apply in politics, social, and other human activities. Never did we hear the real followers of Christ addressing the Apostles as: “Father, Pastor, Teacher, Shepherd, Reverend,” and much more “Holy.” Even Jesus Christ in His role as Son, showing the example in humility, did not accept He is good:

Luk 18:18 “And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.”

Nothing is written where anyone of the Apostles and Disciples of Christ appropriated these titles. They just performed the function and never appropriated the titles:

Eph 4:11  “And he (Jesus Christ) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”

1 Tim 2:7  “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.”

In the First Stage of the “end of the world,” the “eyes of the chosen are opened” to these truth. Therefore they begin to withdraw themselves from this malpractice as the Shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 22 This is the “end” of all human doctrines implanted on the chosen after recognizing the false apostles of Christ.

Before this, as members of any sect, the chosen were made to believe that their religious leaders are the apostles of Christ. They were enticed by the simple interpretation of the “letter” of the word using philosophy and psychology. This is human wisdom that God condemns.

Col 2:8  “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Theology

Nowhere in the Bible can we read about these special studies: theology (human efforts of learning the word of God), hermeneutics (the methodical principles of Bible interpretation), exegesis (adaptation of the word to current circumstances), Dogmatic-Liturgical-Mystical-Pastoral Theology (all fruits of human wisdom)! Is not this human way clearly contradicting God’s way?

Isa 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

This is what we hear from Paul and other apostles, waiting for divine revelations from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Gal 1:11  “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

1 Joh 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth…”

Peter, Paul, and other apostles were not authorized to expound on the words of our Lord. Never do we read Prophets 23 and Apostles explaining the word of God. What they wrote came from God and by no means own it. How important is this truth. Sad to state, only a few noticed it. Servants of God are bound by the following restriction and they abide by it.

Mar 4:34 “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

The Prophets and Apostles are the “foundation and chief corner stone of true faith.”

Eph 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”

Various kinds of deception 24

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.”

1. A simple deception of Satan is the use of sorcery with familiar spirits. He entices people in the mountains and far-flung places with less access to civilization. Various objects are used such as blood of animals, drums, certain herbs and other materials coupled with incantation. From these evil spirits are cast out and healing is effected. However, the warning:

Deut 18:10  “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.”

2. Christian sects teaching the Holy Bible and supplementing it with extraneous “Other Writings” are deceived into believing that it is the foregoing that concerns the warning in Matthew 24:24. However here is the reproof:

Deu 4:2  “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”

Rev 22:18  “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.”

Unwittingly, these sects do “not see” that they themselves are victims of necromancy (talking to the dead, the “saints”) coupled with the use of statues and images, and “blessed objects” such as “holy water,” oil, and other stuff they consider sacred. The warning:

Exo 20:4 “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above…5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God…”

Deut 18:11 “Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.”

3. Christian sects professing absolute belief in the Holy Bible often labeled as “Full Gospel Congregations,” but in fact do not accept everything what is written as exposed in this article. Further, without divine revelation, sect leaders are deceived in basically taking the “letter” instead of the “spirit” of the word. Who can accept the following truth?

2 Cor 3:6  “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

They take the following promise of our Lord literally:

Mar 16:17 “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my nameshall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

In the “name of Jesus Christ”!

By invoking the name JESUS CHRIST, “devils or evil spirits” are cast out with the ensuing healing of diseases, such as, blindness, lameness, deafness, and other systemic maladies. These “miracles” are now common occurrences being claimed, and even documented, by leaders of “Full Gospel” Christian sects.

The deception is exposed when our Lord opened the eyes of a person who was born blind, and then rebuking the Pharisees for just taking the “letter” of the word.

Joh 9:35  “Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38  And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.”

Take note whether the real message of the miracle is “literal”.

Joh 9:39  “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.”

Joh 9:40  “And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.”

Very clearly demonstrated, the miracle of Jesus’ “opening the eyes of the blind” although literally written underscores the real message – that of “seeing the light” to identify Him. The “blind man” recognized Jesus and worshipped Him, while the Pharisees for being “spiritually blind” hated Him. Let us not forget the religious leaders, including the Pharisees, paid Judas 30 pcs. of silver just to identify Jesus.

Today many people claiming to know Jesus Christ will shock them with this sharp rebuke.

Joh 8:19  “Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”

Don’t these people claiming to know Jesus, but at the same time professing, “The infinite Father God is incapable of clear identification with the finite mind of man.”? The truth is; God is identifying Himself through His words. Why don’t many people “hear His voice?” 25  Read the article: GOD IDENTIFYING HIMSELF! 26

http://www.purechristianity.org/index.php/news/God_Identifying_Himself%21

Today, many people performing “miracles” (actually wonders) that benefit the body “do not hear the voice” of our Lord Jesus:

Joh 6:63  “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

This was revealed to Paul in:

2 Cor 4:18 “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Since these people admit that “Father God is a mystery,” is this not a clear proof of spiritual blindness that our Lord saw in the Scribes and Pharisees!

Joh 8:54  “…it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55  Yet ye have not known him…”

Superiority of miracles over wonders

From the foregoing illustration, other miracles like “the lame walked” does not mean literally. Rather, spiritually as to be able to “walk on the Way” shown by Jesus in His role as Son of God.  Is He not the Way and the Truth 27? Thus, persons receiving this miracle can now “see the Way by knowing the Truth,” and at this point begin the “trek towards eternal life.”

Gal 5:25  “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

1 Thes 2:12  “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.“

Literally written, in like manner Jesus raising Lazarus who was dead for four days has the real message of rising from “spiritual death.” To God, these are the spiritually “dead.”

Prov 21:16  “The man that wandereth out of the way of understandingshall remain in the congregation of the dead.”

1 Tim 5:6  “But she 28 that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.”

Hence to the chosen, the false prophets performing great signs and wonders are clearly discernible. They are not misled by them knowing that all these pertain and only benefit the body.

Joh 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

Our Lord is harvesting souls and not bodies. Bodies only end at the cemetery, while souls benefited from miracles are given glorified bodies like that of Jesus Christ 29 that are worthy to be with Him in eternity.

Miracles that benefit the soul are superior to wonders that benefit the body as demonstrated by God long ago in the Old Testament. The following is clearly a miracle of God.

Exo 7:8  “And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 7:9  When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. 10  And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.”

Compare the foregoing with the following that definitely did not come from God:

Exo 7:11  “Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12  For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.”

Now Christ’s warning to His chosen regarding “signs and wonders performed by false prophets” is very clear to them. But to those on the “outside” these are what attract them and win more followers.

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.

Rev 13:13  “And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.”

Fire symbolizes the Holy Spirit as at Pentecost. But clearly, the kind of “fire” from Satan is counterfeit and those on the “outside” cannot discern it.

Iniquity

Mat 24:12  “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

To the Natural Man, this involves corruption, injustice, and wickedness in society, politics, and other human activities. To our Lord, He refers to those who use His name “JESUS CHRIST,” but do not even know Him. They perform wonders mistaken for miracles.

Mat 7:22 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, 30 have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Jesus’ reproof of not knowing Him is based on the following:

Joh 8:19  …”Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”

These false prophets openly declare, “The infinite Father God cannot be identified with the finite mind of man.”

“Iniquity” therefore is anything that is contrary to the truth that our Lord saw in the religious leaders in His time. Never did we hear Jesus call the murderers, adulteresses, thieves, kidnappers, or any kind of sin known to man, but to the Scribes and Pharisees:

• Mat 23:2  Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
• Mat 23:4  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
• Mat 23:5  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
• Mat 23:6  And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
• Mat 23:7  And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
• Mat 23:13  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
• Mat 23:14  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
• Mat 23:15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
• Mat 23:24  Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
• Mat 23:25  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
• Mat 23:27  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
• Mat 23:28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
• Mat 23:33  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

How many people today “see” these spiritual iniquities? Robbing God of the honor and glory that solely belong to Him?

• Is not God alone to be called “Father” in spiritual matter? 31
• Does not the title “Rabbi” (Master or Shepherd, Teacher or Pastor) belong to Christ alone? 32
• Is the name of a person to be revered in spiritual matters? 33
• Should any man be called “Holy?” 34
• Can the apostles of Christ and professing apostles today take the authority of expounding on the words of our Lord?

Mar 4:34  “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

• Plus many more unscriptural beliefs and practices.

“Pestilences”

Clearly this does not refer to physical health, but of the soul. With the kind of gospel being preached by the “apostles and prophets” taking only the “letter” of the word, certainly the soul is famish leading to certain death.

Psa 41:4 “I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.”

Eze 18:20  “The soul that sinneth, it shall die….”

The chosen see spiritual blindness, deafness, and lameness everywhere! Does not all those great deceptions of Satan cause “spiritual pestilences” of the souls of many people? Any of these deceptions causes spiritual death.  We are reminded of our Lord’s sharp rebuke to the religious leaders in His time who were truly sincere serving God, but this was not based on knowledge.

Rom 10:2  “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

The “name of the Lord” does not just refer to His name “Jesus Christ” as many people believe. Otherwise He would not have given the warning in Matt. 7:21-23. Rather, the “name of the Lord” refers to the TRUTH in the word!

Act 2:21  “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Psa 102:15  “So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.”

This is proven by praising His word (truth), and not just His name, “Jesus Christ.”

Psa 56:10  “In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.”

Compare the foregoing with this rebuke:

Isa 29:13  “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14  Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.”

“Nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom”

Mat 24:7  “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…”

As earlier stated, God’s exposition of His words is very far from what the Natural Man understands. 35Example, “nation” to the Natural Man refers to a country composed of people.  However in the following verses, to God “nation” or country cannot be righteous and holy as it is inanimate. “Nations” therefore must refer to persons whose religious beliefs cannot be reconciled with the truth.

Isa 1:4  “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.”

Jer 7:28  “…This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.

Phil 2:15  “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”

Like “nation” that does not refer to a country, so is “kingdom” when our Lord spoke of it in:

Isa 60:12  “For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.”

Mat 12:26  “And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 28  But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”

To the chosen, the sign, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,” obviously refers to the clash of beliefs regarding the word of God among people believing in the Holy Bible. Is not Christianity based only on one book and yet this has become “a battle ground for doctrines” of different sects? Each claims the truth, thus ensuing “religious war of beliefs” among them! Now the oldest sect initiates a movement of Ecumenism under the guise of love. But in the eyes of God there is a clash of religious beliefs among the proponents.

The chosen of God are aware of this spiritual conflict, as the Disciples of Christ saw the sects of the Pharisees and Sadducees fought each other. But when confronted with the truth, an unholy alliance was forged between them.

In spite of all these, our Lord just kept on sharing the truth. His Disciples continued the work, and until now we see this from His chosen few.

“There shall be famines”

Mat 24:7  “…and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

The Natural Man thinks of literal famines for bread. But God says:

Amo 8:11 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.”

It is only the chosen who can discern famine for spiritual truth where it is God who is expounding on the spiritual message of His words. While many “prophets and apostles” are preaching the gospel, they are limited only to the “letter” of the word. Why can’t they “see” the following?

2 Cor 3:6  ‘Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

Perhaps in defense of their stand, they would tell the people that the “letter” refers to the Old Testament laws. But Christ demonstrated it that it actually refers to the “letter” of the word, as in the following:

Joh 3:4  “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?”

Joh 2:19  “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?”

The “prophets and apostles” may try to spiritualize the word, but beyond doubt it will not harmonize with God’s divine revelation.

“Earthquakes in diverse places”

After God revealed that the world refers to people, more particularly to His chosen, there is indeed “great spiritual shaking in them.” What with the innumerable unscriptural doctrines and religious traditions embedded in their minds and heart.

1 Kings 19:11  “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by…and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD… but the LORD was not in the earthquake.”

Jer 23:29  “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”

The “beginning of sorrows”

Mat 24:8 “All these are the beginning of sorrows. 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.”

Our Lord warned His Disciples on this. “Outsiders” think of this for imprisonment and physical martyrdom when they preach their religious doctrines to other religions like: Islam, Shinto, Hinduism, and others). But our Lord is speaking “spiritual things”.  “Outsiders,” while professing to love God, they openly declare He is a mystery incapable of clear identification. Exactly as what our Lord told the Scribes and Pharisees.

Joh 8:54  “…it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55  Yet ye have not known him…”

Today, many people profess to know Jesus Christ. However, what difference is there with our Lord’s rebuke for not knowing the Father?

Joh 8:19  “…Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”

Thus, the warning to His chosen:

Joh 16:2 “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3  And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.”

“Kill you” does not necessarily mean physical taking of life, but “hatred” as in:

Mat 24:10 “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.”

1 Joh 3:15  “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”

Mat 5:21 “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”

This warning happened to Christ’s Disciples. Do we not read this in the life of Paul formerly known as Saul a Pharisee who became an apostle of Christ?  In Acts Chapter 25, we read how he was brought before Festus, then to the high priest, and King Agrippa, where he suffered humiliation and ignominy before them. But Paul was resolute with his belief and kept on sharing the truth.

Act 25:1  “Now when Festus was come into the province …2  Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him.”

Act 25:7  “And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.”

Act 26:24  “And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 25  But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.”

With Paul’s assertion of telling the truth and by the power from on high, we hear King Agrippa say:

Act 26:28 “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”

Today the chosen of God also suffer mocking, derision, and persecution. They may be branded as unorthodox and cults. Christ 36 and His Disciples 37 suffered such humiliation. But to them these contribute to their spiritual growth. They even consider this a blessing confirming the warning of our Lord to them.

“Woe to them that give suct”

Mat 24:19  “And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!”

It is only our Lord, the Shepherd, that is supposed to “feed milk” to His chosen. “Milk” symbolizes the word of God:

1 Pet 2:2  “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”

Woe unto the people who take this function of God “feeding milk” (word of God) to the people. Don’t they take the role of the Shepherd when this is exclusive to Christ?  Look how spiritual blindness can do by not “seeing” the following:

Mat 23:8  ‘But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9  And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

Jam 2:9  “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”

Luk 22:25  “And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26  But ye shall not be so…”

In comparison, the chosen servants of God are to “hand over this food” only but never should it come from them. 38 But false apostles take this task like “mothers caring (giving suct to) their followers.”

Iniquity

Mat 24:12  “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

“Iniquity”

Iniquity is anything opposed to the truth in the word of God. Examples:

1. Our Lord never entrusted this exclusive authority of appointing His Apostles to anyone. In His physical absence, the Apostles appointed Matthias as replacement for Judas (Acts 1:16-26). But our Lord rejected their act. Instead, He appointed Paul 39:

Eph 4:11  “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”

From the blunder of the Apostles before receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, why do Christian sects continue this practice? The chosen see “spiritual iniquity” everywhere. Jesus warned, “As in the days of Noah.”

2 Pet 2:5  “And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness…”

“Love of many wax cold”

“Love” is not the kind the Natural Man understands as all sects preach love. “Spiritual love” starts with identifying God, loving Him, and finally that of “neighbor” which is to be distinguished from fellowmen:

1st Step – Identifying “The Lord our God one Lord”

Mar 12:29  “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.”

2nd Step – Loving God

Mar 12:30  “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

3rd and final step – Love of neighbour

Mar 12:31  “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

The “Coming of Christ”

1. Paul became an apostle of Christ, proving that Jesus is the Holy Spirit who appointed him.

Rom 1:1  “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.”

Hence fulfilling Jesus’ promise in:

Joh 14:18 “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

The Comforter is the Holy Spirit.

Mat 28:20  “…lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

There is only One Lord. He is Jesus Christ and there is no other!

2 Cor 3:17  “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

1 Cor 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things…and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

And the “Spirit” clearly points to the Holy Ghost:

Joh 7:39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Recognizing Jesus as the Holy Ghost endows divine liberty from religious traditions and human precepts that God condemns. 40

2. Paul did not receive his spiritual knowledge from Peter, John, and James and never was he trained to be so.

Rom 1:1  “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.”

Gal 1:11  “But I (Paul) certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12  For I neither received it of man,neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

3. Does the Jealous God let go by His trait in the New Testament sharing His glory to somebody else? 41Let us remember God does not intend this to apply in the physical life of people (political, economic, and social activities). Therefore distinction should be made between SPIRITUAL and PHYSICAL LIFE.

Jam 2:9  “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”

4. Did Jesus allow His appointed Apostles to be called “Rabbi” that means Master, Teacher or Pastor, so as to be looked up over the others? 42

Mat 23:8  “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.”

5. Did God confer the title, “Father,” to anyone else in spiritual matters?

Mat 23:9  “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. “

6. Does any servant of God deserve the honorific designations of “Reverend” and “Holy”?

Psa 111:9 “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.”

7. Did our Lord Jesus loosen up His sharp rebuke regarding the non-identification of the Father? Professing apostles of Christ are dumbfounded to hear this because they openly declare, “The infinite Father God cannot be identified with the finite mind of man.”

Joh 8:19  “Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”

Here is Jesus’ reproach to the Jews who claim to worship the Father:

Joh 8:54  “…If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55  Yet ye have not known him…”

8. Does the “flesh” or body profit from the word of God? God does not “harvest” bodies but souls of men.

Joh 6:63  “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

Joh 12:25  “…and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

9. God is not after visible things.

2 Cor 4:18  “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Professing to love God and receiving power from our Lord, many have overlooked and utterly rejected the “first of all the commandments” that of knowing “the Lord our God is one Lord.” 43

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

Flight in winter and Sabbath day

Mat 24:20 “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.”

Winter indicates coldness of weather where it does not permit planting.

Prov 20:4  “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.”

God is speaking of spiritual and not literal harvest.

Amos 3:14 “That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. 15  And I will smite the winter house… saith the LORD.”

“Coldness” also indicates lack of interest or “lack of appetite” for the sweet words that God symbolized it with honey.

Psa 119:103  “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

“Sabbath day”

Many of the Jews under the religious leadership of the Scribes and Pharisees, by taking the “letter” of the word like Sabbath 44, Tithes 45, etc., had never attained salvation. However our Lord said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Jesus Christ followed these laws SPIRITUALLY and not literally as the Scribes and Pharisees did.

Mar 2:24  “And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the Sabbath day that which is not lawful?”

The chosen are forewarned not to be enticed by the trap of following the “letter” of the word.

2 Cor 3:6  “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

It does not mean though that the “letter” has to be disregarded. Rather, let us always look at the “prophets and apostles and Jesus Christ as chief corner stone” by the way they followed the “letter” of the word. Example: “Thou shalt not kill…commit adultery…steal, etc.” as they pertain to PHYSICAL LIFE.

2nd State of “The End of the World”

Trials and tribulation of the chosen

Following the footsteps of Jesus Christ in His role as Son 46, the model for real Christians, they would also be discriminated and hated.

Joh 15:21  “But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.”

Joh 15:18  “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

Mar 13:13  “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: 47but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Not only will the chosen be discriminated and hated. They will also suffer the chastening of the Lord:

Heb 12:5  “…My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”

All these contribute to the “soulishness”, or as Paul put it the “death of the old man” in the chosen:

Rom 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

1 Cor 15:31  “…I die daily.”

Gal 2:20  “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Like Lord Jesus, the chosen go through this process “as silver and gold is refined.”

Zec 13:9  And I will bring…through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them…:

Let us listen to Paul, as literally written:

2 Cor 11:25  “Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep.”

Beaten with rods

God chastens His chosen before He takes them with Him:

Lam 3:1  “I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.”

Eze 20:37  “And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant (testament of salvation)."

Pro 23:14  “Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.”

Pro 29:15  “The rod and reproof give wisdom…”

Stoned

When Stephen was stoned to death, the more he found himself closer to God. Spiritually, “stones” symbolizes men. Consequently “stoning” refers to maltreatment coming from them. This leads to the “death of the old human nature” of the chosen.

Act 7:59  “And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

God “breaking the teeth with stones” clearly means instilling meekness and humility in the chosen.

Lam 3:16  “He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.”

Shipwreck

To the Natural Man, shipwreck means danger of drowning in the sea. Three times Paul experienced shipwreck. Spiritually this meant Paul almost drowned or overwhelmed by wicked men where “sea” symbolizes them in the following.

Isa 57:20  “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.”

The chosen of God will likewise go over this experience in their life as part of God’s plan for them to instill patience and further humility before Him.

“I have been in the deep”

From all these trials Paul felt God’s power where it is symbolized by “deep water.”

Psa 107:24  “These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.”

Psa 77:19  “Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.”

What Satan thinks would sink the chosen however have a reverse effect on them – the feeling of divine guidance and further strength to overcome.

Affliction of the chosen

The chastening of the chosen continues until they are refined as gold is refined -- freed from any “spiritual dross” that has no place in eternity.

Psa 66:11 “Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.”

James 5:10  “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, (truth) for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.”

Job 30:16 “And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.”

Chastening is so intense that without God’s help, no one would endure. But for the elects’ sake the days are shortened:

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 24:21 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world (chosen) to this time (in his/her life), no, nor ever shall be.”

We saw this in the life of Jesus Christ in His role as Son, as model.

Mat 26:39  “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup bass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

The chosen therefore are expected to go through this “great tribulation” not only in the New but in the Old Testament as well:

Heb 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Heb 11:36 “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith…”

God’s consolation

Behind these great tribulation suffered in the PHYSICAL LIFE of the chosen, there is peace and equanimity in their SPIRITUAL LIFE.

2 Cor 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

Psa 119:50  “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.”

Jam 1:3  “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

Psa 119:92  “Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.”

Those in Judaea flee to the mountains

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:) 16  Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.”

This is discussed as a separate topic in another article. "Those in Judea, Flee to the Mountains!" 48   http://www.purechristianity.org/index.php/news/59

On the housetop

Mat 24:17  “Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house.”

“Housetop” symbolizes the state where the chosen, like Simon Peter received great revelations from God regarding “clean and unclean food.”

Act 10:9  “On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour.”

Therefore, the chosen are advised to “remain on the housetop.”  They are “not to come down to take anything out of their house” clearly points to remain steadfast with this condition, careful not to taint it with things coming from human frailty. What more:

Mat 10:27  “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.”

This is what Simon Peter did. He went to see Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, who was waiting for a servant of God to tell him about the truth. Peter went to see the man guided by what God revealed at the “housetop.”

This is what real believers cannot help doing also. They receive divine revelations from God “at the housetop.” One good example is this topic, “The End of the World,” that the “poor in spirit” are waiting and eager to know. Therefore, to God this is evangelism! In fact, this is His way of spreading the truth thereby leading to the “harvest of souls.”

In the field

Mat 24:18  “Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.”

If to the Natural Man “field” means a large track of land, to God it is “joy of being with the Lord for everything in the field belong to Him like the trees” in the following.

Psa 96:12  “Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice.”

“Trees” generally symbolize people.

Mat 7:18  “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

However, the chosen are distinguished from those “on the outside” in the following. They can never follow the path of Lucifer, but the humility of Jesus in His role as SON who cherishes the glory of the FATHER always. 50

Judges 9:8  The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. 9  But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? 10  And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 11  But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? 12  Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 13  And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?”

But look at this! In the field that does not give glory to God is the bramble. The bramble symbolizes the religious leaders who look upon honor and love of the laity exalting them.

Judges 9:14  “Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. 15  And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow:and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour….”

The foregoing is the exact opposite of the following:

Jer 17:5  “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.”

The case of the bramble illustrates the Pastoral System where people look up and trust their religious leaders. Many people rely on “religious knowledge” acquired from people, coupled with “wonders” mistaken for miracles using the name of “Jesus Christ.” They account all these to the Holy Spirit that is symbolized by “fire.”  A warning is given in the book of Revelation.

Rev 13:11 “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 13  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do…”

God warns the people regarding human doctrines extracted from the “letter” of the word instilling fear on them, like: “If you don’t do this…if you don’t do that…this is going to happen...” Thus the admonition of the Lord:

Isa 29:13 “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.”

God exposes their spiritual ignorance and people could easily discern this if only they humble themselves before God:

Isa. 29:14 “Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.”

Therefore, the chosen are advised to remain “in the field” where “spiritual rejoicing” is real. We see this in the life of the  Prophets and Apostles, the “foundation of the faith”. In the “field where they are,” they are advised “not to return back to take their clothes.” The “clothes” that the chosen are wearing “in the field” is enough. These are the “garment of salvation and the robe of righteousness.”

Isa 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

Two women at the mill

Mat 24:41  “Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”

Our Lord does not recognize physical gender. 51 Only the chosen see themselves as “spiritual women” in the eyes of God. 52 All others, both female and male, since they follow the path of Lucifer, as earlier illustrated are “spiritual men” in the eyes of God. Pride is the cause of his downfall, so are the “outsiders” who, unwittingly, share in God’s glory and take upon themselves the understanding and exposition of His words.

Therefore the “two women” grinding at the mill refer to the chosen. “Grinding at the mill” (of wheat or rice for physical life) indicates human activities such as, economic, political, and social.  The “two women” chosen of God must be “spiritual virgins” for they were fed with the pure word.

However, few as they are, Satan wants to take some of the chosen notwithstanding. Let us remember the three (3) temptations of Jesus Christ in the desert 53. These pertain to material riches, fame, and power.  Here, one of the two “women” succumbed to one or more of the temptations. “One woman” drifts further and further until “she” (male and female for physical gender) loses appetite for the “bread and honey” offered by our Lord:

Joh 6:48  “I am that bread of life.”

Psa 119:103  “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

Hence, “her lamp is drained of oil” indicating loss of “heat and light” provided by the Holy Spirit and become “foolish” (virgin) in the eyes of God.

Mat 25:3  “They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  11  Afterward …saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.”

The “coming of the Bridegroom” refers to the physical death of the chosen.

Mat 25:6  “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.”

Therefore, one of the “two women” is lost, and this is clearly revealed to Paul in:

Heb 6:4  “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

Only the chosen of God have lamps. But not all can keep it burning with oil. 54  Examples are Esau, King Saul, and Judas Iscariot. Esau sold his “birthright” with a cup of soup and bread (material thing).55

Gen 25:29  And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 30  And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint…31  And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32  And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 33  And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.”

King Saul exchanged his salvation with fame (ego) for envying David who killed Goliath:

1 Sam 18:6  “…when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine (Goliath), that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy…7  And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 8  And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands…9  And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.”

Judas Iscariot, a combination of the two caused his downfall. With 30 pieces of silver, and by “dipping his hand in the dish with Jesus on the table” he lost his salvation. The latter takes the form of sharing in the “level of Jesus” or taking part of His glory.

Mat 26:23  “And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.”

All three had their ‘lamps ran out of oil.”  They did not overcome as our Lord warns in:

Rev 3:5  “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

Preaching of Gospel in all the world

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.”

The Natural Man, by taking the “letter” of the word, understands it literally pertaining to the spread of the gospel to all countries in the world. Let us remember the “end of the world” was revealed only to Christ’s Disciples. Jesus is speaking in parables and “world or nations” in this case refers to His chosen. How could man’s understanding reconcile with what our Lord told them in the following?

Mat 24:34  “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

He expounded His words exclusively to them.  Example:

1. Does the “world” pertain to the literal earth in the following or to His chosen people only?

Joh 1:29  “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

Taking the “letter” would certainly contradict our Lord’s own statement:

Mat 22:14  “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

2. Does it mean God love the inanimate world or the people living in it? Clearly it is the people!

Joh 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

3. “Nation” clearly refers to His chosen in the following:

1 Pet 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”

There is no doubt that “nation” can never refer to a country in the following:

Isa 26:2  “Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.”

Psa 33:12  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”

Psa 86:9 “All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.”

Prov 14:34 “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Since “nation or world” in this particular sermon of our Lord refers to a real believer, the “gospel of the kingdom” or the truth would first “be spread to his/her life” before the end comes. The “gospel of the kingdom” refers to the complexity and/or simplicity of salvation as demonstrated in the different books of the Bible.

This is true all the time in the life of God’s chosen since truth does not pass away. Let us remember Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and He is the truth.  This, therefore, reveals the meaning of:

Mat 24:34  “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

Complexity of salvation

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. 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.”

Salvation is not as easy as the Natural Man understands it. “Great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Of course this pertains to the life of the chosen since they represent the world. We read how difficult or complex salvation is when we read about the life of Job, Paul, and the other elect of God. 56 Christ revealed this to His Disciples making them to exclaim:

Mat 19:25 “When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Yes, for the sake of the elect God shortens their trials and tribulations and takes their physical life and bring them to Paradise -- the 2nd Heaven

(http://www.purechristianity.org/index.php/news/First-Second-Third_Heaven).

Simplicity of salvation

Again the simplicity of salvation with God’s divine providence is not as easy as the Natural Man understands. We read about how the thief at the right hand of our Lord on the cross was saved. However let us remember the two thieves represent ALL people in the “language” of our Lord. With the fall of man, who is not a “spiritual thief and a robber?”

Joh 10:1  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

Does not this clearly point to the following?

Rom 3:23  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Rom 3:10  “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. “

Who among people therefore can claim passing through this kind of “door”?

Joh 10:7  “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.”

Hence, very clearly the two thieves at the right and left hand of Jesus as they are laid on the cross represent all people. In the beginning they both mocked Him.

Let us listen to them.

Mat 27:38  “Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39  And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40  And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41  Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42  He saved others; himself he cannot save…”

Mat 27:44  “The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.”

Mat. 27:44 NIV “In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”

But look! Later:

Luk 23:40  “But the other (thief at His right hand)  answering rebuked him (thief at the left), saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.”

In this brief moment in the life of the thief at the right hand, he demonstrated the first step of salvation enunciated by Jesus in:

Mat 18:3  “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Concomitant with this kind of humility, this thief that represents the chosen of God recognized JESUS as Simon Peter did in Matthew 16:16-17. It is not “with flesh and blood, but by the revelation of the Father.” Hence no longer are they subject to the sharp rebuke of our Lord that many people to “do not see.”

Joh 8:19  “…Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.”

This thief heaped the reward of humility that our Lord Jesus demonstrated to the chosen in His role as Son. 57

Luk 23:42  “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Seeing the humility 58 of the thief at His right hand, if only he was given a longer life to live, he would have “passed the test for trials and tribulation” with ease. Thus, no longer did our Lord want to see these with His “all-seeing eyes.” Therefore on the same day He took him in paradise. God applies the “level of ease or difficulty of salvation” to the chosen, tailored to their degree of humility. All these is made possible with His “all-seeing eyes.”

Third Stage of “End of the world”

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. 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.”

Time will come when God takes with Him His chosen, and then “not one stone is left upon another” in them, they being the spiritual the temple.

1 Cor 3:16  “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

1 Cor 6:19  “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

Since “stone” symbolizes man, by that time not a bit of worldliness, “soulishness,” or anything coming from, and of, man would ever stand on the way to eternal life. This is the 3rd Stage for the End of the World -- the physical death of the chosen. This marks the fulfillment of the ever expected being with the Lord in eternity.

Therefore, what many people should fear is physical death without first having found the TRUTH so as to walk the “Way to eternal life.” This short treatise clearly confirms what our Lord told His Disciples:

Mat 24:34 “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

Overcoming the “world”

Overcoming the “world” is accomplished as Jesus promised His followers.

Joh 16:33  “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Paul expressed the need for “one stone not to be left upon another and all have to be thrown down.” “Stone” symbolizes man and all his faculties.

Rom 7:18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”

With God’s chastisement and trials, not a bit in the chosen’s worldliness and selfishness will remain when He takes them with Him in Paradise.

Mat 24:36  “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

Another reference for this is what Jesus told Nicodemus. No man knows when God creates circumstances for His chosen to hear and accept the truth as this happened to Nicodemus. It is only with God’s foreknowledge.

Joh 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

After the Three Stages, the chosen also do not know when God would take them with Him after attaining spiritual perfection. This is physical death and the end of their life on earth.

Who would believe this?

Would “many or only a few” people accept this? With the explanation of our Lord on “The End of the World”, then Old Testament saints, the saints during the time of Christ, the chosen people today, and those in the future, had, at the present time, and in the coming years will also be subjected to this “great phenomenon” in their life. Thus the credence of our Lord’s often quoted statements:

Mat 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

Mat 5:18  “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

Easy to say, but hard to comprehend is the over and over again declaration of many professing Christians.

Heb 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

Joh 14:6  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth…”

Therefore truth yesterday is truth today and in the future. All these come to pass only with God’s exposition of His own words. His words are like prophecies that will surely happen. As a consequence:

2 Pet 1:20  “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”

The “world” is made to believe that “private interpretation” belongs to the laity, and only the religious leaders of divided Christianity can interpret it. This is the great deception of Satan that many people “cannot see.”

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.”

4th Stage of the “End of the Word”

This is what many people are afraid of, thinking of the literal obliteration of everything on this planet earth. But for now, there is really nothing to fear because this will not happen until ALL the people that God, with His omniscience, will humble themselves, believe, and follow Him as the people in the Three Stages. What is to fear is, if after hearing the truth and still refuses to accept it. Woe unto these people as our Lord saw in His time:

Joh 12:42  “…among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43  For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

Mat 23:13  “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”

Blessedness:

Psa 33:12 “Blessed is the nation (man – 1 Pet. 2-9a) whose God (Father God – 1 Cor. 8:6a) is the LORD (Jesus Christ – 1 Cor. 8:6b); and the people whom he hath chosen [“little children – Matt. 18:3] for his own inheritance (Ezek 44:28).”

(Note: This treatise is but an overview of the subject. With God’s revelation of His words, it encompasses the whole spiritual history of mankind from creation to the “harvest of souls” in the end.)

END

WHO CAN REFUTE THE FOLLOWING TRUTH?
“The truth shall set us free” in spiritual matters.
Look if these TRUTH can be refuted:

• God is a Spirit (John 4:24). Therefore, He has to represent Himself through His word to relate with people.

Joh 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

• The word was entrusted to the prophets and apostles to be written, which we now call the HOLY BIBLE.

2 Tim 3:16  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

2 Pet 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

• As it “is written,” God speaks in parables

Eze 20:49  “Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?”

• It was prophesied Jesus Christ would speak dark sayings of old

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

• True to what is written, Jesus Christ did not speak except in parables:

Mar 4:34  “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

• JESUS CHRIST is the sole authority to expound on His words

Mar 4:34  “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

• Jesus Christ’s exposition of His words is made ONLY to His Disciples

Mar 4:34  “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

• Exclusive authority to expound on His word belongs only to Jesus Christ. This was never entrusted to Peter, John, James, Paul, or any other Apostles. Look, if this truth does not jibe with the following:

Rev 5:1  “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?"

Rev 5:3  “And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.”

Rev 5:5  “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.”

• Is not Jesus Christ referred to as the “Lion of the tribe of Juda?”

Mat 2:6  “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”

• Is not Jesus Christ referred to as the “Root of David?”

Mat 1:1  “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the SON OF DAVID, the son of Abraham.”

Mat 21:9  “…Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”

• If Jesus Christ alone can expound on His words, how many people have pondered on the following?

Joh 14:18  “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

Mat 28:20 “… lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

1 Joh 2:27  “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

• Jesus Christ is the TRUTH (John 14:6).  Is not because of the foregoing TRUTH that Christianity is divided into denominations because their respective leaders claims authority to “expound on His words?” Thus:

Luk 12:51 “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather DIVISION.”

Reference:

CHRISTIANITY: Yesterday and today
(The Discord Among Christian Sects)
(ISBN: 1589612833)