Biblical Realities
There is no escaping some basic Biblical realities. 1. Not everyone brought into the kingdom by truth will stay in the kingdom. 2. It is a love of truth that changes us into kingdom-minded people who are willing to respond all the way.
Jesus won't be unequally yoked in love, and love is reflected in actual choices to lay down an old life and pick up a new one. Jesus gave it all, and we must, as well. Our "all" is small, and growing, but it's real... It's costly...in fact, if I do it right, it costs everything by the time I am done.
Matthew 13:44“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
46“who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Every writer of the New Testament described this same testimony...in fact, that is what the whole testiment is...a testimony that the way Jesus loved is worth it...first Jesus' four part testimony, called the Gospel, and then the testimony of his friends....all lives fully given up, and crowns fully gained:
2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The reason people heap up teachers is that the true expensive gospel is offensive...it will seem more and more unnecessary and inconvenient. This idea of responding in FAITH will be harder and harder as Jesus' return unfolds.
Faith is hard because it REQUIRES things not be obvious or often even clear. One of the hardest truths I stumbled upon about the the end times is that despite the hundreds of signs happening, it will never be obvious to anyone not TRYING to see it. For those trying to see it, more light is given, and the end time realities will be more obvious. This is what you get with a love of truth: more truth.
BUT...and this is a big warning....if you look for ways Jesus return is NOT happening...what you get is less truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:11And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
12that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
For those judging the signs as not happening enough, Jesus actually makes it easier to believe He ISNT returning...even though He is. This is because he is answering the desire of hearts. If you want delusion in the end times, you get it, and it won't seem like delusion...people going after truth will seem deluded to you. Deluded people in the end times will think of those getting more truth "what are these people so excited about? Nothing is actually happening!" And this will be delusion!!! Ugh, the reality of love is that Jesus won't make anyone see His return...even as they are seeing every promise fulfilled. They will find small details, and some large ones, that don't fit what THEY expected and in these small details throw out the very clear big picture being fulfilled.
You have to decide the attitude you are going to approach the end times with: am I looking for ways to respond....to actually become more committed by searching out how things could be true? Or, am I waiting to see if things are true or not?
"Waiting to see" is what leads to "scoffing" the actual truth:
2 Peter 3:1Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),
2that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
3knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
5For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
6by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
7But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
15and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
16as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
17You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen
scoff (skÉ’f)
Word forms: scoffs, scoffing, scoffed
intransitive verb
If you scoff at something, you speak about it in a way that shows you think it is ridiculous or inadequate.
Scoffing is important to understand. To actively scoff, means you are growing in your own argument about how something couldn't be true. Right now, because the earth is so heated up and intense, everyone is growing into a position. Wheat and tares are maturing together...simultaneously. we are coming incredibly near to the point the tares are separated:
Matthew 13:30‘Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
We have to resist waiting to see. It leads to scoffing. Disqualifying big picture realities because small details don't seem to fit will eventually lead to us forming an argument about how something fairly obvious isn't really happening. This is exactly how the leaders of Israel ended up killing the Jewish Messiah they claimed to be looking for and evaluating!!!
The Bible warns that the most common response to Jesus return and especially the Great Tribulation will be to mock or scoff at it. This is SUPER dangerous, because what God is actually doing is new and hard to understand...on purpose. God is actively sifting out, or threshing...finding out...testing... first the Church, then the world:
Isaiah 28:21For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim,
He will be angry as in the Valley of Gibeon—
That He may do His work, His awesome work,
And bring to pass His act, His unusual act.
22Now therefore, do not be mockers,
Lest your bonds be made strong;
For I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts,
A destruction determined even upon the whole earth.
23Give ear and hear my voice,
Listen and hear my speech.
24Does the plowman keep plowing all day to sow?
Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods?
Jesus came to thresh...or divide...or to test. What is He testing? ....
FAITH!!! Right now, Jesus is testing your ability to believe what you can't see and He is doing it by evoking a response....believe it or not, you are responding RIGHT NOW...even by not responding, you are answering a question on a test that will matter forever!
Matthew 8:10When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
11“And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
12“But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Right now, massive signs are over and over confirming the big picture of what is happening in the earth. Small details are coming into view, but aren't clear yet. Prophetic fulfillment is always clear in hindsight. That is why FAITH is the main quality being tested. As you see the day approaching, it should be gathering you into a company of people responding with zeal for being together and preparing to endure:
Hebrews 10:23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
24And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
26For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Being aware of Jesus and His kingdom isn't enough. We have to live the truth and allow it to change us into FAITH-full people. Those who respond for the sake of love and not eye sight. Those who are awake and see the day approaching more and more.
This hour of history will...according to the Bible...produce more weeping than any other:
Matthew 13:47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind,
48“which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.
49“So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,
50“and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
When it's obvious to the eyes...the one sign that will be indisputable...everyone will mourn that they didn't respond more when they could have. Some will be so offended that they will declare war on Jesus. There will be great gnashing of teeth.
Make peace with Him and His family in faith...now...while there is time.
Matthew 24:30“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Jesus won't be unequally yoked in love, and love is reflected in actual choices to lay down an old life and pick up a new one. Jesus gave it all, and we must, as well. Our "all" is small, and growing, but it's real... It's costly...in fact, if I do it right, it costs everything by the time I am done.
Matthew 13:44“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
46“who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Every writer of the New Testament described this same testimony...in fact, that is what the whole testiment is...a testimony that the way Jesus loved is worth it...first Jesus' four part testimony, called the Gospel, and then the testimony of his friends....all lives fully given up, and crowns fully gained:
2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The reason people heap up teachers is that the true expensive gospel is offensive...it will seem more and more unnecessary and inconvenient. This idea of responding in FAITH will be harder and harder as Jesus' return unfolds.
Faith is hard because it REQUIRES things not be obvious or often even clear. One of the hardest truths I stumbled upon about the the end times is that despite the hundreds of signs happening, it will never be obvious to anyone not TRYING to see it. For those trying to see it, more light is given, and the end time realities will be more obvious. This is what you get with a love of truth: more truth.
BUT...and this is a big warning....if you look for ways Jesus return is NOT happening...what you get is less truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:11And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
12that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
For those judging the signs as not happening enough, Jesus actually makes it easier to believe He ISNT returning...even though He is. This is because he is answering the desire of hearts. If you want delusion in the end times, you get it, and it won't seem like delusion...people going after truth will seem deluded to you. Deluded people in the end times will think of those getting more truth "what are these people so excited about? Nothing is actually happening!" And this will be delusion!!! Ugh, the reality of love is that Jesus won't make anyone see His return...even as they are seeing every promise fulfilled. They will find small details, and some large ones, that don't fit what THEY expected and in these small details throw out the very clear big picture being fulfilled.
You have to decide the attitude you are going to approach the end times with: am I looking for ways to respond....to actually become more committed by searching out how things could be true? Or, am I waiting to see if things are true or not?
"Waiting to see" is what leads to "scoffing" the actual truth:
2 Peter 3:1Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),
2that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
3knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
5For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
6by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
7But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
15and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
16as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
17You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen
scoff (skÉ’f)
Word forms: scoffs, scoffing, scoffed
intransitive verb
If you scoff at something, you speak about it in a way that shows you think it is ridiculous or inadequate.
Scoffing is important to understand. To actively scoff, means you are growing in your own argument about how something couldn't be true. Right now, because the earth is so heated up and intense, everyone is growing into a position. Wheat and tares are maturing together...simultaneously. we are coming incredibly near to the point the tares are separated:
Matthew 13:30‘Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”
We have to resist waiting to see. It leads to scoffing. Disqualifying big picture realities because small details don't seem to fit will eventually lead to us forming an argument about how something fairly obvious isn't really happening. This is exactly how the leaders of Israel ended up killing the Jewish Messiah they claimed to be looking for and evaluating!!!
The Bible warns that the most common response to Jesus return and especially the Great Tribulation will be to mock or scoff at it. This is SUPER dangerous, because what God is actually doing is new and hard to understand...on purpose. God is actively sifting out, or threshing...finding out...testing... first the Church, then the world:
Isaiah 28:21For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim,
He will be angry as in the Valley of Gibeon—
That He may do His work, His awesome work,
And bring to pass His act, His unusual act.
22Now therefore, do not be mockers,
Lest your bonds be made strong;
For I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts,
A destruction determined even upon the whole earth.
23Give ear and hear my voice,
Listen and hear my speech.
24Does the plowman keep plowing all day to sow?
Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods?
Jesus came to thresh...or divide...or to test. What is He testing? ....
FAITH!!! Right now, Jesus is testing your ability to believe what you can't see and He is doing it by evoking a response....believe it or not, you are responding RIGHT NOW...even by not responding, you are answering a question on a test that will matter forever!
Matthew 8:10When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
11“And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
12“But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Right now, massive signs are over and over confirming the big picture of what is happening in the earth. Small details are coming into view, but aren't clear yet. Prophetic fulfillment is always clear in hindsight. That is why FAITH is the main quality being tested. As you see the day approaching, it should be gathering you into a company of people responding with zeal for being together and preparing to endure:
Hebrews 10:23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
24And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
26For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Being aware of Jesus and His kingdom isn't enough. We have to live the truth and allow it to change us into FAITH-full people. Those who respond for the sake of love and not eye sight. Those who are awake and see the day approaching more and more.
This hour of history will...according to the Bible...produce more weeping than any other:
Matthew 13:47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind,
48“which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.
49“So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,
50“and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
When it's obvious to the eyes...the one sign that will be indisputable...everyone will mourn that they didn't respond more when they could have. Some will be so offended that they will declare war on Jesus. There will be great gnashing of teeth.
Make peace with Him and His family in faith...now...while there is time.
Matthew 24:30“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
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