Jesus Tells Us About The Future – Part 3
Good day to each of you reading this column as I do hope you are enjoying this Christmas season.
Never lose sight of the real reason that we celebrate this time of the year—I have heard many say that Jesus was born in the spring or back in the fall, but we celebrate his birth on December 25.
Please realize that like Thanksgiving, Christmas best be celebrated each day with the birth of Jesus as we pray. Prayer, whether it be 30 seconds, three minutes or thirty minutes on a daily basis is a wonderful way to speak to God.
The routine of life and the busyness in these times seems to get in the way of our prayer life. Yes, we all have excuses, but if you were to analyze your time in a day, I think you would be amazed of the time that you could spend with God.
It comes down to will you or won’t you and do you, or don’t you? Only you can answer that question, but don’t allow the sand of the hourglass run out.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year to spread some laughter—
We all see the ambulance chaser lawyers on the TV—Just imagine one of those lawyers saying: If your grandma got run over by a reindeer, you may be entitled to compensation.
How Church women flirt? Here, I made you a plate—Lots of food on that plate
Straight from the Associated Press—Missippi’s literacy program shows improvement.
In a span of 11 years 115 people died in a weightlifting accident at the gym.
In the same 11 years only 1 person died eating a donut.
Make Good Choices.
Be sure to bring up politics at Thanksgiving dinner. It’s going to save you money on Christmas gifts. Follow me for more holiday tips.
For us who are hard of hearing,
Elderly Wife: I think you need a hearing test!
Elderly Husband: Why the heck do I need a hairy chest? And, funny how these college kids act like such experts on the Middle East, but if you ask them where Jordan is they say he’s retired.
Great stuff with lots of laughs and big thanks to my wife who has them sent to the Facebook page.
Now we turn to Matthew 24:15 (NIV) 15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—
Matthew 24:15 Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11
What was the “abomination that causes desolation” mentioned by both Daniel and Jesus?
As a double witness, Matthew 24:15 is repeated in Mark 13:14 and Luke 21: 2o (NIV) 20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.
The study in Daniel by Howard Rand gave further insight into the abomination of desolation for like other prophecies in Daniel, Mr. Rand says that we have both the short- and long-term fulfillments of this prediction. It was fulfilled in the days just preceding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. when the Roman armies besieged the city. The long-term fulfillment applies to the final phase of abomination during the consummation of the age when the overspreading abomination will bring extreme and final desolation.
Here is where it gets very interesting—Rev. Elbert Barnes, in his commentary on Daniel written in 1853 A.D., states that the Hebrew word rendered overspreading means properly “a wing,” like the wing of a bird, and he shall make desolate actually means “to lay waste, to make desolate.” Dr. Barnes was puzzled as to what this “thing with wings pouring out desolation” could mean.
It was impossible for Dr. Barnes to comprehend its full meaning nearly one hundred years ago. But no man today needs to be in ignorance of what “winged things passing overhead and pouring out desolation on the people below” really means. World War 2 fully established the devastation of such bombings from the air. Adolf Hitler began the use of airplanes in strafing his foes, demonstrating the extent to which desolation would be accomplished by this means and fulfilling the requirements of the abomination that makes desolate.
Since World War 2, we have numerous examples of both conflicts and wars that used airplanes, missiles and now drones to strafe the foe.
Here are a couple of rules of thought, could it be that Jesus is speaking about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in about 40 years?
There is a dual reference found in Luke 23:29 with Matthew 24:19 on the destruction of the temple, but beginning in Matthew 24:21, there is an interesting dual verse found in Joel 2:2.
The Wycliffe Bible Commentary says that verse 21 in Matthew—Then shall be great tribulation. The additional description, not since the beginning of the world, makes Christ’s reference to Daniel 12:1 unmistakable.
Here is the (KJV) version of Daniel 12:1– 12 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Matthew 24:21 (KJV) 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.
Joel 2:2 (KJV) 2 A Day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
We are experiencing great tribulation in our world as we are seeing nations against nations, wars and more wars, people against people, and a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that time.
You will agree that we are on the verge of World War III—tribulation that was predicted centuries ago with war looming on the horizon.
Consider that the Middle East war has the USA right in the middle as we side with Israel against the Hamas, Iran and indirectly against the evil axis of China, Russia and Iran.
False religions, false Christs, and false prophets bombard us with their thoughts on how to bring Christ down to the human level.
The Christian religion has begun so watered down that man found in 2 Timothy 4:3 (NIV) For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
If you watch many of the internet television ministers, you will agree that many of the ministers appear to perform signs and miracles for one might say that if it is too good to be true, then it is.
The question that arises is whether the congregation wants sound doctrine or feel-good sermons? Do you wish to be taught and challenged or do you want to put in time by saying that you went to church?
Is it possible that Satan is pulling the wool over our eyes by deceiving us with signs and miracles and wonders? We have too many ministers who teach the feel-good sermons as they do not want to upset anyone and want to be liked by all.
Turn to Hebrews 5:13-14 (NIV) 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
When leaving your minister’s sermon, do you receive solid food or milk? Are you still an infant or are you ready to take the next step and become more mature in your growth as a Christian?
These are questions that I ask of each of you—not judging, just asking? Only you can answer those questions.
Verse 23 says 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
Keep this verse in mind for this verse ties in with the ending of the chapter.
Verses 26-28 in Matthew 24 provide us that; we, as believers, will be tested and persecuted by those who are false messengers and messiahs.
We are to be aware of false disciples for Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Again, Jesus tells us of “that day” which is the final day of reckoning when God will settle all accounts including judging sin and rewarding faith.
The question arises, will you stand for something or will you fall for anything? We are tested on a daily basis and with the testing will come persecution and peer pressure. Just ask Peter who denied knowing Christ and the result found in each of the first four books of the New Testament.
We are told in Matthew 24:29 that after the distress of those days of the physical conditions of the Son of Man appearing in the sky, angels playing a loud trumpet call, and angels gathering the elect from one end of the heavens to the other.
Let us rejoice in being of the elect to gather with those in the elect for many will mourn in choosing the wrong side. The hourglass has run out and everything the unbelievers scoffed about will be happening.
The last clue Jesus gives us is in Matthew 24:32-33 (NIV) 32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.
I interpret that as summer is near then Jesus will return in that season. Yes, Jesus does say that no one knows that day or hour, but the Father.
Jesus gives us more clues and gives us the analogy of Noah’s time in verse 37-39 to show us that Jesus second coming will be swift and we are to be ready, unlike those back in Noah’s time.
As we close, please remember Verse 23 that says 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
The Bible has provided us with clues to be prepared and not do what those have done in the past. I believe we are near the end of the age and that Jesus will appear in the sky and all the nations of the earth will mourn.
This is not a time of mourning, but a time of rejoicing to be with our Lord. Death and sin will be placed underneath his feet, the kingdom will be established on this earth, and Jesus will be our king and we will be his people.
Turn to Revelation 22:20-21 (NIV) 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
May you bless God in all that you say and do!
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Best
Jeff
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