The End of All Things (CA)

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer 1 Pet 4:7

As we come to understand that the time is soon and that we are to watch and be ready for the return of our Lord Jesus, prayer should be increasing in our lives. We have seen that the day will come on the unrighteous like a thief in the night, they will not be ready for it. We however are not of the darkness, but of the light, and that day should not take us like a thief. One way that we can assure ourselves before him is to watch unto prayer.

In 1 Thess 5 the exhortation was to watch and be sober. here it is to watch unto prayer. In Jude it is building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. All these exhortations are for the believer to walk in the spirit. Jesus said to deny yourself and to take up the cross and to follow him. He taught us to avoid the cares, riches and pleasures of this world and to set our heart on heaven.

As we see the upheaval in the east we do not say that the resurrection has passed already and therefore overthrow the faith of some (2 Tim), nor do we live in apprehension of that day, but we are comforted with the words of Paul:

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1Thess 2)

The knowledge of the first resurrection and the catching away is a comfort.
Likewise the knowledge that we are saved from wrath is a comfort:

"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do" (1Thess 5)

Many today are teaching that Jesus has delayed his coming or that he is not coming to deliver us from the times of tribulation which are coming. The thought of being here is not a comfort and the need all the more to watch unto prayer and to preach the gospel weighs heavy in the hearts of those who know God. For Paul the day could come at any moment, for Peter the end of all things was at hand; how much more is it at hand now.

Watch unto prayer!

The Coming Wrath (CA)

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come, (Matt 3:7; Luke 3:7).

John the baptist was very aware that there is a coming wrath. In John 3:36, we hear John the disciple show us that wrath is reserved for the unbeliever. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not on the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."  Paul states, in Romans 2:5, that wrath is appointed to the unrepentant. "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God."  In Eph 5:6, he declares that because of sin wrath comes on the disobedient. "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."

The unbeliever, the unrepentant and the disobedient, all groups which obtain wrath and not salvation.

In Romans, Paul writes the following:

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him, Rom 5:9.

To the Thessalonians, he twice makes note of salvation from wrath.

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come, 1Th 1:10.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 1Th 5:9.

More than anything else we see the dichotomy of those who repent and obey the truth and those who are contentious and refuse to repent. For the first group, there is salvation and deliverance, for the second group there is wrath and the righteous judgment of God.

Returning to Rom 2:5-9 we see this separation clearly:

"But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God."

We saw in the section on the thief in the night that there is a swift and sure judgment appointed for those who do not obtain salvation. This judgment, explained in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, is the wrath of God, the day of the Lord or the day of Christ. 

“The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,” Zephaniah 1: 14-15.

The ultimate expression of his wrath is revealed in Revelation.

"And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand," Rev 6:16-17.

His wrath has clearly been expressed so that no man can mistake it. His wrath is against all sin and ungodliness,

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness," Rom 1:18.

"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him," Jude 14-15.

Again, in Jude, the dichotomy is presented, those who suffer wrath versus those who keep themselves in salvation;

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life," Jude 20-21.

Though his wrath is clearly presented, testified of and reserved, and it serves as a warning to us. It is not the message for today. God has declared to us that we should not give ourselves unto the wrath of men. The wrath of men does not work the righteousness of God, (James 1:20) but God will pour out his righteous wrath and he will repay; a reserved wrath, a coming wrath.

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Rom 12:19

Be warned, though today is a day of universal call, a day to bring rebellious men to repentance, God's wrath has not changed. To declare that God will not show his wrath against sin cannot be supported. We who live in the righteousness of Christ are not appointed to this wrath, but to obtain salvation. Be comforted by the fact that whether we live unto the catching away or fall asleep, that we shall be saved from this coming wrath by the resurrection from the dead. Warn men, teach men, God will not wink at sin.

Like a Thief in the Night (CA)

In Matthew 24-25, Luke 12, and Mark 13 we find the words of Jesus; "no man knows the day or the hour". These words are spoken in context to his return, and it is not a day of salvation for the ones he finds on his return, but a day of judgment. He likens it to a thief coming to break into your house. Both Peter and Paul relate the coming of the day of the Lord as the coming of a thief in the night. (1Pet 4:15; 1Th 5:2)
The day of the Lord is not a glorious day for those who are found in rebellion and to be impenitent, it is a day of wrath. Many have confused the coming as a thief to be the rapture or catching away, but you clearly do not want to be the one taken in this time. It does not speak of the catching away.

In Revelation 3:3 the church at Sardis is warned; "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." Watch and be ready for if you do not you will be included in those taken as by a thief. In Revelation 16:15 we hear the call of fulfillment: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame"
The sudden destruction falls upon those who are not watchful.

In 1 Thess 5 Paul gives hope of another way for those who are watchful:
"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."

Those who are children of light are not taken in this sudden destruction. We are to be watchful and aware of our Lord's soon return. So, if we are not to be surprised by the coming, yet no man knows the day or the hour, how can this be? When Paul wrote in 1 Thess "we which are alive..." He clearly included himself in the group who could be caught away in the resurrection; within his lifetime!
The answer is clear; the catching away can happen at any time, and after it does, sure and sudden judgment will appear to those who were found not ready. Those of us who walk in the light will be removed prior to the events which will overtake many like a thief in the night.

Why is this important? We want to be always ready, denying our selves and following Jesus. We want to be walking in the light, not in the darkness, and we want to be ready to give an account. This constant expectation encourages us not to be slothful, but diligent to keep ourselves in every way in which we are exhorted to do so. Keep yourselves in the love of God, praying in the Holy Ghost. Gather yourselves all the more together as you see the day approaching. Bless and curse not, forgive, hate evil and love righteousness...and so on.

To take away this expectation removes urgency in the lives of believers. If there is no catching away, what are we expectantly waiting for? We expect the final salvation that Paul earnestly contended for, to obtain the resurrection of the dead, not the wrath which will come upon the world and all the rebellious and impenitent ones as a thief in the night.

The Catching Away (CA)

The importance of the doctrine of the catching away is often misunderstood. Many will claim today that it is not a doctrine of the first century, but a doctrine of the nineteenth century. In actuality it is the scripture which tells us of the resurrection of the righteous dead and the changing of the righteous who are alive.

1 Thess 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Cor 15:50-58 tells a similar story

It is a comforting thought, not a fearful thought. The fact of the resurrection is fundamental to the good news in Jesus Christ. If Christ is not raised than we are yet in our sins, and there is no hope. (1Cor 15:17)

The key points to the importance of this fact are as follows:
Paul lived his life expecting that this event could happen at any time. He fully expected the return of the Lord in his lifetime; we know this because he says WE which are alive and remain...
We need to be watching at all times, to suggest that his coming is in some way delayed is a place we would rather not find ourselves; 2 Pet 3:3-4. Being watchful and ready for his return is a common admonition to us.
The wrath of God will be poured out upon sin, whatever your particular belief about its form and manner, it will come and salvation from that wrath is promised to those who call upon the name of Jesus.
The end of the church age will come when the church is removed, and though God will always have his witness, the church will have finished its course. The end of this time is the catching away.
Many will say that Rapture is a poor choice of word for this event, but it is simply an english transliteration of the latin word for catching away.

I will be expanding on these thoughts over the next few months to work on a book on this subject.

Jesus; creator of all

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:all things were created by him, and for him:And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col 1:16-17

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 1Jn 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. Jn 1:1-4

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise:When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Matt 1:18

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35

Knowing Jesus for who he really is a large step toward knowing the power of his word. The word of God is not the word of man. Truly the creator of all is the source of the true word and the one in whom we can trust.

The Truth

Sanctify them through thy truth:thy word is truth. Jn 17:17.

To be sanctified is to be set apart. Given over to the truth, the truth that is the word of God. There are many voices in the world, and many "facts", but there is only one truth. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except by him.

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matt 4:4

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1Jn 2:4

In addition to beginning in the truth of his word, we continue in the word of truth, we choose to keep his commandments and he empowers us to do so.
Earlier I tweeted this:

StuGMD Set aside all philosophy and vain deceit, live according to the word of God. Too often we rely on our understanding instead of God's word. 2/22/14, 5:27 PM

Let us come to the Lord in sincerity, humbling ourselves before Jesus, the way, the truth and the life and choose to follow the way of truth rather than the philosophies of men. Vain deceit is the way of men, it is deception which holds men in bondage to understandings which are not according to God, but according to a lie. No matter what men may see, no matter what they may say, they cannot know the way of life except by Jesus and the truth He brings.

It is time to return to long form blogging. It is funny how there are many things which I would love to write when I am not in a position to do so. But today I will start anew writing these down.

Today particularly I have been reading on faith and praying about what it means to have little faith or no faith.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow:for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matt 6:30-34)

Jesus tells us that when we see our dependence on what we can measure we should take no thought for these things. What we actively need to do is to seek the kingdom, and the righteousness of God. It reminds me that Paul said in Romans that the failure of the leaders in Israel was based on seeking their own righteousness instead of the righteousness of God. To trust that my right doing or my right thinking will give me right standing with God leads me to depend upon those things rather than to trust solely in Jesus.

The first thing to know is that:
But without faith it is impossible to please him:for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb 11:6)

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17)

Seeking first the kingdom will bring you to the place of hearing the word of God; and obedience to the word and not your own idea will lead you into faith. The Holy Spirit is with me and sees and knows everything about my life, there is nothing hidden from him. Jesus made a way that I could live not my life, but His.

The fact is that Jesus loved ME so much that he died so that I might live. When I live by my own strength I come to places of doubt as to God's love for me. Oh, I may not call them such, but searching out the place of humility leads me to understand that it is true. To stand in a place of trust in what I have done, or what I can do or understand puts my trust in me and not in God.

The best news in all this searching is the knowledge that the power of repentance is there for me. In all sincerity of heart calling out to the Father and declaring my lack of trust (sin) and asking for the cleansing of the blood leads to complete freedom from that sin. Faith does not require intensity of effort so much as intensity of relationship.

So today I will seek first the kingdom!