Are You Watching?

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Isaiah 62:6-7

As the door opened I was shocked to see a mammoth of a man at the door.  He was so muscular that I  nearly cowered at the sight of him.  To make it worse, he was tattooed everywhere visible and wearing leather and chains.  There was no doubt that this massive biker was going to squash me like a bug.  "Holy Spirit, why did you bring me to this door?", was my prayer of "faith?".  I introduced myself and mentioned the Church of God Ministry to the Military church I attended just outside the gates of Ft. Polk, LA.  His expression told me that I might be having a rough day and that the pounding I expected may be soon.  As he began to close the door--in anger--I shouted for no apparent reason, "Keep an eye on Jerusalem--it is the key to the prophecies indicating the coming of Christ."  To my amazement, he swung around, asked me to repeat what I had just said, and then began to cry as I reiterated the  statement that seemed to come out of thin air!  He began to sob--outright tear filled sobbing!  I was still trying to figure out where the idea to mention Jerusalem had come from as it was an unusual statement.  He then said, "That is what my grandma used to always say to me."  Apparently, his grandmother had passed on a few years back, but she was a real prayer warrior who constantly tried to wake him up to his condition without Christ.  The statement about Jerusalem was something she had often said to him so he would not miss the coming of Christ.  Amazing!


In Isaiah's day, the city of Jerusalem was still intact.  However, the morality of the nation was disgusting and judgment was certain to follow.  God, however, was not finished with the city nor the children of Israel.  His ultimate plan was to bring salvation and righteousness.  God would not rest nor have peace until his plans for Jerusalem were realized.  Those plans are not yet fully enacted and that is why Christ, the High Priest, is at work now interceding for the city and all of God's people.  In the redemption of Jerusalem portrayed in this passage, there is a great parallel to God's overall plan of salvation for humanity.  Jesus would not rest until He purchased salvation.  He, himself, would pay the price of redemption by giving His own life as a ransom for humanity.  He, too, takes those men and women who are seemingly abandoned and forsaken and graciously provides love and His continual presence.  As The ultimate Prophet, Priest, and soon coming King, He is still on duty for all believers. What mercy!

His last promise to Jerusalem was to put watchmen over them.  Just as believer's have angels watching and protecting them, God has raised up a mighty prayer force to pray for the City of the Great King.  Every time the prayer, "Thy Kingdom come...", is uttered, believers are praying for God to establish the city where Jesus Christ will reign supreme.  Are you praying for the peace of Jerusalem?  Keep an eye on Jerusalem--it is the key to prophecies indicating the coming of Christ.  It is important!  There is much news today calling us to prayer and reminding us that Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!

Pray!
Israeli officials slam Obama's 'wretched' Iran red line - Israel News, Ynetnews
Ahmadinejad calls for annihilati... JPost - Iranian Threat - News
Turkish tank drills on Syrian border seen as warning to Kurds - chicagotribune.com
'Russia sends navy vessels, marines to S... JPost - International
Assad Transfers Missiles to Lebanese Border - Middle East - News - Israel National News
Jewish Home MK calls for a Third Temple in Jerusalem | The Times of Israel *********
Benjamin Netanyahu Says He Would Accept Responsibility for Consequences in Event of Israeli Strike Against Iran | TheBlaze.com
IAF to receive upgraded Arrow interceptor soon - JPost - Defense
Israel Racing against War, Upgrades Missile Shield - Defense/Security - News - Israel National News***
Iran official: Fire from U.S. actions in Syria will 'gobble up' Israel - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper
Israel to Arabs: No Ties with Israel? No Entry - Inside Israel - News - Israel National News
IDF in heavy firefight with terrorists on Gaza... JPost - Defense  ***** 
Shelling, Possible Infiltration on Gaza Border - Defense/Security - News - Israel National News

Bethesda--Its Own Opposite

After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

John 5:1-3

Bethesda--the house of mercy.  John's gospel tells us of a great miracle that took place at this site during the ministry of the Lord Jesus.  In mercy, Jesus found a helpless man who had been incapacitated for thirty-eight years.  By the time Jesus leaves the pool the man is walking whole and healed of his infirmity.  However, it is interesting to note that the word Bethesda is also its own antonym.  Amazing!

This name is a compound of two Hebrew words.  The first part is attached commonly to several towns in ancient Judah.  "Beth" simply means house.  The second part is the Hebrew word chesed.  What a wonderful word.  It is the Hebrew equivalent to grace or mercy and it is found translated as mercy, kindness, goodness, and other similar words over 240 times in the Old Testament.  Thank God for His mercy as it is everlasting!  Yet, this word was translated with a negative connotation a few times.  In those scriptures it is translated as reproach or wicked thing.  How can the same word be its own opposite?  Bethesda could just as easily be translated as the house of disgrace. 

The scripture even gives us several hints that the people of the day may have had mixed emotions about this pool.  First, it was near the sheep market around the sheep gate on the east side of Jerusalem.  The Roman historian Josephus, who was also Jewish, simply called it the pool of the sheep market.  This may also be the place where the incoming lambs were prepared for sacrifice.  Who would want to bathe in a place where sheep were watered or washed?  Then there is the problem with human nature. Most do not like to be around the broken and infirm.  If they are near someone with some strange affliction or caught in gross sin, they stare, gawk and offer judgmental glances to the place it makes the hurting individual greatly uncomfortable. It is apparent in the text that this place was a site where many hurting people lay daily hoping for the chance to be first into the waters.  "In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water (John 5:3)."  The last note is that this poor soul to whom Jesus ministered had no one to assist him. Was he such a pitiable case that family and friends had forsaken him? Is this why we have this interesting word that is its own opposite?  Many want to only "minister" to the well, the whole, the flourishing, and the capable.  Who wants to be around broken people near a stinking sheep market?  Jesus does!

Let's notice the verbs for a moment in this story from John 5.  Unlike the priest and the Levite who passed by on the other side of the road in the parable of the good Samaritan,  Jesus went specifically where those who were hurting could be found.  He made the effort to seek out those who were in need of help.  Did you notice that the man had no clue who Jesus was?  Quit standing around your church waiting for the "infirm" to come to you.  Reach out!  There are many hurting people who have no clue who Jesus is.  They are not able to come to you, so you go to them. Next, Jesus saw the man where he lay in such a terrible condition.  Christ sees your need and seeks to meet it if we will allow Him to.  After meeting your need He wants you to be a conduit of blessing to others.  Look around you and see those who need Jesus.  After He saw the man, Jesus knew the very depth of this soul's need just as He knows your need and the needs of those who are hurting around you.  Now comes the healing, Jesus saith.  Oh! When the Lord speaks!  He may want to speak through you, so find someone to share His word with.

Jesus commanded three things after the miracle.  First, The man was told to rise.  Christ has the power to make the worst of sinners to rise from their sin.  He has the ability to heal mentally, physically, and spiritually.  Let Him use you to reach those who the world sees as a disgrace so that in Him they can arise above their circumstances.  The Lord's next command was to take up the the mat of affliction the man was stuck to for thirty-eight years.  In other words, He is telling the man to make a break from His past, and to carry away the very thing he was reliant upon. It is the command to start a new life.  Finally, the man is told to walk.  The man had new legs, but now he needed to start exercising them in faith.

So, rise up!  Rise up off of that pew and find those who are laying around waiting for help.  Search out those inhabitants of Bethesda that so many others simply pass by while ignoring their deep needs.  Take up that mat of excuses that keeps you from being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ and go.  Walk like Jesus would!  Since He is Soon2Come, He may take you places where those who need Him the most are.  Remember, He loves the worst of sinners and those who have toughest of circumstances.

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: 

John 5:9a

*** I am greatly amazed at the number of nations where this blog is being read.  For all of those around this world who are faithfully reading, I pray that you are blessed.  I also ask you to pray for me that I may speak what the LORD, alone, wants and to always stay true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

You will notice the addition of a language translator on the right side of the page under the pictures.  Hopefully this will help you in your reading.  However, these translators do sometimes miss the original intent of the writing or misinterpret colloquial vernacular.  If you ever have a question, feel free to contact me and I will try to assist.

Jerusalem At The Forefront--Again!

Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

Zechariah 1:16-17

I wished that this post was on a new topic, but it is not.  It is one that has been discussed in posts such as, Sha'alu Shalom Yerushalayim (Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem), A Cup of Trembling, and many more.  So why write about Jerusalem again?  First, the rhetoric over this city is heating up.  Next, Jerusalem is the focal point of prophecy as it relates to the return of Jesus Christ our King. Finally, the world's rebellion against the God's sovereignty is played out in its treatment of Jerusalem, and it is certain that this is stirred by the enemy, himself.

Over the past week Jerusalem has again been the center of attention. In an old post from 2010, The World's Focal Point--Jerusalem, it was discussed how this rather small city, under 3 million people, is continually in the news while cities numbering in the tens of millions are not mentioned hardly ever.  Jerusalem is mentioned so often because it has an interesting future, it will be the capital of the whole earth.  "And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again (Zechariah 2:12)."  Jesus, like his earthy forefather King David, will rid the city of those squatters defiling His capital, and He will reestablish Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  Unlike David and like His Heavenly Father, He will rule the entire world from there.  This is why Jerusalem stays in the news.  Satan wants to try his best to keep this from happening, so he ignites men's passions against the Jewish people and the city itself in a vain attempt to stop God's plan.  His vanity is his own calamity.  Didn't he try to kill Christ for the same reasons and look what that did for him.  Consider the following items from this week's news:

Romney: Jerusalem Capital of Israel

Romney: “Jerusalem, the capital of Israel”

Video: White House Nixes Israel Naming Its Capital - Global Agenda - News - Israel National News

PA: Romney Recognizing Jerusalem is "Unacceptable"

China: Romney’s Pro-Jerusalem Views May Ignite War - Inside Israel - News - Israel National News

It seems that war in this region is inevitable and prophetic.  The problem revolves around the ancient site of the former Jewish Temple.  Daniel clearly mentions that some sort of temple or tabernacle like structure will be in place during the reign of the Antichrist.  He, the Antichrist, will defile this temple and stop the ensuing sacrifices from taking place while he commits the abomination of desolation (see Daniel 9:27).  This is the marker showing the middle of the Tribulation.  Just 3.5 lunar years from this time, the Lord Jesus will return to the battle beleaguered city and save the remnant of Israel that is left.  The problem is that this temple has to be built on the temple mount that is currently the site of Muslim holy places.  Any attempt to build, and war would be immediate.  As Zechariah prophesied, Jerusalem is surely a cup of trembling for the world who has already suffered through two great world wars.  All eyes are currently fixed on Jerusalem.

Zechariah also saw God's response to this futile demonic attempt to stop Christ's return.  Man and demon will try to destroy the city, but God will put a stop to it all.  Zechariah (and many other prophets) saw the Lord's response, "Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation (Zechariah 2:13)." Man has tried desperately to solve the Middle East Conflict.  It has been the bane of the last several US Presidents as well as many other world leaders.  Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace will do what no man can do in moments, bring peace to the world and make Jerusalem live up to its name "the teaching (city) of peace".  In short, the world's rebellion will cease as Christ has left the Holy Place to take His rightful throne and fulfill a host of prophecies just too numerous to mention.  What a day that will be!

With all eyes fixed on Jerusalem, are you paying attention to the time in which you live.  The branch is tender and putting forth leaves.  Summer is well nigh.  Will you be like those mentioned from Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12 who knew and attended to the times in which they live?  Again, summer is well nigh and Jesus Christ is Soon2Come.  Get ready!

More Foreboding News

Netanyahu: I Won't Let Israel Face An Iranian Atomic Threat

Obama orders new sanctions on Iran - Israel News, Ynetnews

PM: Time running out to resolve Iran standoff ... JPost - Defense  ****

Barak Tells Panetta Israel Will Decide on Iran - Defense/Security - News - Israel National News

Panetta: U.S. prepared to implement 'other options' to prevent a nuclear Iran - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper

Panetta says US force is an option against Iran nukes | Fox News

God's Veiled Message--The Secret Place

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Psalm 91:1-2

In the post, God's Veiled Message, it was mentioned that a secret message is found in the dimensions and the overall design of the Ark of the Covenant.  That message is that God by grace gives man new beginnings.  Furthermore, the net (a net is a two dimensional representation of the three dimensional shape that can form that shape when folded--sorry! I used to teach math. :) that is formed when the shape of the ark--a rectangular prism--is unfolded is that of a cross.  The cross is the instrument of God's grace and the message is not really a secret.  It is the master theme of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  It is the Holy Spirit, then, who is continually placing the idea of salvation by the work of Christ at the cross repeatedly in the scripture directly and indirectly so that all might see how important it is.  Eternal destinies are at stake, and God wishes that none should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  

Salvation is such a consistent theme that it shows clearly the divine inspiration of scripture.  This age is bombarded by many relativistic concepts that place all religions equal and having  none being the absolute truth.  This lie is also accompanied by an anti-supernaturalist viewpoint which removes God from His word and all of human history.  This is why many documentaries on the Bible always have a natural explanation to explain away the miraculous. "Fish were bigger in Jonah's day as were loaves of bread in Jesus' day", are but a few of the plethora of excuses to take away the divine hand.  However, the word alone is so amazing and so consistent on its own merit as to force any serious reader to carefully consider the absolute necessity of God's design and inspiration in its writing.  Simply put, the Word of God, the Bible, is amazing.

If we consider that the Bible claims the Holy Spirit inspired the writers then it means that even the smallest things it says have meaning.  Maybe this is why Jesus, Himself, said, "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. (Matthew 5:18)."  Jots and tittles are punctuation marks and Jesus ascribed meaning to them.

Consider the shape of the ark again.  It is a rectangular prism:

Prisms have 3 main surface structures.  First, there are the faces.  These are the smooth parts or flat surfaces. Next, there are the edges where two faces meet together. Finally, there are the vertices where three or more edges meet.  Notice how I explained the last two using the prior definitions?  They are most often counted in this manner--faces, edges, and vertices.  

Therefore, the Ark of the Covenant, like any other rectangular prism, would have had 6 faces, 12 edges, and 8 vertices.  (YHWH who wrote the Bible and created all things surely created mathematics as well.) Again, Six is the number signifying man.  Twelve is the number related to perfect government--perfected in Christ.  Eight is a new beginning.  When man accepts the governing presence of Christ the LORD there is a new beginning.  The inspired Word of God is simply amazing!

It is more amazing when you consider what the lid of the ark was.  It was the mercy seat, but it was also a throne.  A throne!  The very symbol of leadership.  Christ wants to reign in our lives wholly and completely.  When we allow it, all things become new.  "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17)." 

Finally, It may have been Doug Small who once shared the meaning of the word "ark" in a Bible study I attended.  The Hebrew word translated into English as "ark" is  'arown.  This is the same word translated as coffin in Genesis 50:26.  This gives a whole new meaning to the New Testament thoughts such as these,  "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it (Matthew 16:25)."  and, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:11)."  

This is the purpose of quoting Psalm 91:1-2 above.  The secret place where Christ reigns is that place where we die to self and live fully for Christ.  He reigns supreme.  When we bury ourselves in the ark (coffin) Christ sits as King in the place of lordship over of our lives.  The ark is the "secret place".  That is why His shadow is above us in Psalm 91.  What about you?  Have you died to self that Christ may have complete control?  Men who die to self allow Christ's reign over them and they add a whole new dimension of spiritual usefulness in His KINGDOM work.  It is literally a new beginning like the one soon coming when the King returns to reign physically from Jerusalem.

So much more could be mentioned here, but this post is long enough already.  Just let Jesus have control.  As always, He is Soon2Come.  Blessings

God's Veiled Message

And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.

Exodus 25:10

One point shared by Matthew, Mark, and Luke was that at the time of the death of Jesus the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom.  God had opened access into the most holy place.  In doing so, He also shared with us a secret message.  Actually, it was a message that was there for mankind to see the whole time as it is clearly recorded in the scripture above.  Paul, himself, may even have alluded to it in this scripture, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."  So how do we comprehend this veiled message?  We take a look at the Ark of the Covenant which sat behind the veil.

It seems unusual that God suddenly changed the dimensions of the Ark to half units when all of the other furniture was measured in whole units with a detectable message in their measurements.  For instance, the brazen altar measured 5 cubits x 5 cubits x 4 cubits.  5 is commonly known to symbolize grace while 4 stands for the world or creation.  Therefore, the message of the brazen alter by measurements is: grace upon grace for the world through an atoning sacrifice.  This sacrifice is Christ.  Doesn't John 3:16 clearly give this message?  So then, why the change beyond that curtain?  It was a veiled message, of course!

Let's look at those measurements closely-- 1 1/2 cubits x 1 1/12 cubits x 2 1/2 cubits (1.5 x 1.5 x 2.5 cubits). How many half cubits is one and a half cubits?  It would be 3 half cubits and 3 is a number with a clear meaning.  Three means what is real or complete.  It is also a number that relates to God--specifically the Trinity--one God eternally coexisting in three persons.  Two and a half cubits is 5 half cubits.  As mentioned above, five relates to grace.  So there is a message about God's grace hidden in the ark.  That makes sense since it was on the ark that the atoning blood was sprinkled and accepted.  God gives grace.

However, there is much more to the message.  The ark's shape is basically that of a rectangular prism like the one shown here.

In the diagram (S2) and (S3) would be the depth and height.  Both of these dimensions were given as one and a half cubits in Exodus 25:10.  That means the ends of the ark were in a square shape.  It also means that the perimeter of each end could be found by multiplying 4 x 1 1/2.  The perimeter of each end was 6 cubits, and 6 is the number for man.  Again, in the diagram (S1) would be the length measurement and Exodus informs us that it was two and one half cubits.  This would mean that to find the perimeter of the front we would add 1 1/2 + 2 1/2 + 1 1/2 + 2 1/2.  The front's perimeter is 8 and that is the biblical number symbolizing a new beginning.

Now, lets put those four number's together in the order we found them-- 3, 5, 6, 8.  These numbers in this order would mean: "The Trinity by grace gives man new beginnings."  What a secret message!  Actually, it is not a secret.  It is the master theme of scripture.  Christ's atoning death at the cross gives us new beginnings if we will confess our sin and call on Him.  What grace!

The mercy seat, which was the lid to the ark, did not have a means for the six to be figured in and this is also a clear message.  Salvation is the work of God and His grace.  Man has nothing to do with it.

One last note, the instrument of grace was the cross on which Jesus Christ our Lord suffered and died.  What do you get when you unfold a rectangular prism?

 

You get a cross!  My friend, it is no secret.  God loves you and wishes to extend His grace to you so that you, too, may have new beginnings.  Won't you call on Him today?  Please pray!  He is Soon2Come!!

  Here is an old post with similar information.  Blessings!!

Jesus Christ--Soon2Come: YHWH who...!

Imminent Danger

They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

Lamentations 4:5

What a dreaded and fearful sight!  Jeremiah the prophet, a failure by today's standards in that he won very few to his "mega-church movement", was forced to watch his beloved nation fall under the mighty hand of God's wrath for their sin.  Had they only heard his Holy Spirit inspired warnings!  The story may have been much different.  Now, as the scripture above says, those who were brought up in a prosperous land were made to embrace dunghills.  This verse is a tell.  It shows God's hand and the last great sign before the imminent danger of judgment--prosperity.

What do Sodom and Gomorrah, Noah's day, Judah, and Mystery Babylon all have in common as far as judgment is concerned?  They were all in times of prosperity just prior to their individual judgment.   Ezekiel comments on Sodom and says that there was abundance of bread (prosperity) and idleness in the land (shaqat--peace; a false sense that all was OK in the land due to the abundance even while the land was a moral cesspool--Ezekiel 16:49).  Jesus mentioned that it was a time of prosperity as well in Sodom.  He then parallels Noah's day as a time of prosperity too in Luke 17:26-27.  "They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;..."  There was plenty to go around so why focus on such "negative" messages?  Why harp on topics such as judgment or accountability? The above scripture from Lamentations also speaks of prosperity when it says that they who were brought up in scarlet in Jerusalem were later seen digging in the trash.  Finally, read Revelation 18 for a description of the state of Mystery Babylon just before its demise. 

Jeremiah relates a very disconcerting fact about those who suffered through the destruction of Judah in chapter 44 of his work.  Those who had fled to Egypt from the sword of the Babylonian's immediately fell back into gross sin and idolatry.  The prophet was frantic as he tried to reason with them.  He knew that their sin had brought this on them, but they only remembered the false sense of security that prosperity without morality brought them just before the decimation of their homeland.  Fathom the words of their flagrant rebellion against God, "But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil (Jeremiah 44:17)."  In short, we will follow our own ways and our own idols because we had plenty when we did things our way!

It seems that the same spirit of deception is rampant in America that was prevalent in all of the places named above.  Many are there who support candidates simply because of the promise of great economic bounty for the land, yet those candidates also promote murder (aka. abortion), homosexuality, pedophilia, pornography, and every other godless way while working tirelessly to remove anything associated with God from the public arena.  Have they forgotten the words of scripture?  "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34).  Do you know where I learned that scripture?  It was in the front of a Bible that was given to my dad when he was in the US Air Force in the late 1950s.  Just today I saw the pictures of a chapel on a camp in Afghanistan where a cross had to be removed from site.  However, in the same camp a homosexual pride flag was blatantly flown.  How much have things changed in one generation?  Such a duality!  Why is it that those who are so near to the ax laid at the base of the tree can't see the impending disaster?  

Solomon wrote that there is nothing new under the sun.  This message came about while I was researching for a study of 2 Peter.  Last week, a church member mentioned that much of what I said at a Wednesday night study sounded like a book he was reading called America's Last Call by David Wilkerson written in 1998.  Of all of his works, I had never read that one, but when the member let me borrow it, I could not put it down.  Much of what I said above was revealed in that book and could serve as a brief synopsis.  Earlier today, a friend's Facebook posting of Galatians 6:7-8 led me to write out what I have spent a few weeks studying. We are too focused on the temporal, material "blessings" in America.  However, we desperately need to be concerned about the gross and rampant sin that is infesting each and every part of our society.  The problem is that too many see their "things" and reason that God is blessing.   Many feel that there are just too many praying believers in America for God to judge.  This is the same attitude that was prevalent in Judah before the Babylonians came.  They even had the temple as assurance.  God, however, had warned them not to trust in a building as assurance but to trust in His word.  

There is a tipping point.  A point where the sin of the Amorites reaches its fill (Genesis 15:16).  A place where God even tells His servants to stop their intercession as He will hear it no more as He told Jeremiah.  "Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble (Jeremiah 11:14)."  God told Isaiah that Judah had crossed a line where He would no longer purge the land of its sin until all were destroyed (Isaiah 22:14).  He also shared that same message with Ezekiel  about Jerusalem.  "In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee (Ezekiel 24:13)."  There is a time of accountability for the shedding of innocent blood!  God have mercy.  Have we crossed that line?  Only God knows, yet the writing seems to be on the wall.  Interesting!  What was going on in Babylon the night the hand appeared and God pronounced sudden judgment?  All of the inhabitants of Babylon was partying and celebrating their prosperity.  They were oblivious to the Medo-Persian Army crawling under their walls until it was too late.

Stay focused on Christ and winning the lost.  They are the only treasures you can take to heaven with you.  Remember, Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!  

The True and The False

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 Peter 2:1

Like other portions of scripture, 2 Peter 1:16 through 2 Peter 2:3 appears to be in a chiastic structure.  Here the device is being used to compare and contrast the true ministers of the gospel with those that are false.  The photo below highlights this structure.  The apostle had a lot to say in those few short verses about what the true and the false witnesses for Christ look like.  In this time of great deception prior to the coming of the LORD, it would behoove us to take note.  Remember Christ's warning: " 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."  Matthew 24:24

Simon Peter begins this pattern, under divine inspiration, with the definitive statement that the true witnesses are not telling " cunningly devised fables", but they are telling you the truth about Jesus Christ.  Noting Christ's power at His first advent (parousia is used for "coming" and means an advent), the apostle gives us our first clue.  True witnesses of Christ stay focused on Jesus as they tell of His power and presence in their lives.  They are telling what they received from God. There is no adding things nor making things up.  What have you received have from God in Christ?  Tell the world.  Yet, keep your focus on what God says and does as the apostles did in verses 1:16-18.  Say what He says only.


Verses 1:19-1:21 take us back to the written word of the prophets which Peter would have known so well.  Again, the prophets stay on topic--Jesus.  They give a sure word that the Messiah would come and they specifically outline His ministry.  Their word illuminates our heart because they also are not speaking their own thing.  There is a diligent relating of what the Holy Ghost says only. There is a lot of stress in these six verses on sharing what God says and not misinterpreting for selfish reasons.  This is what makes a true witness true.  He or she speaks the things of God and not the things of man.  They do not take the word and try to make it into a personal revelation.  They share God's interpretation.  Just one last note here.  Did you notice the stress on the Trinity?  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all speak and the focus stays squarely on our Advocate, Jesus.   For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Verse 2:1a is a somber warning.  "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you..."  What makes false teachers and false prophets so successful?  They are like fishing lures or animal calls used to deceive, snare, and prey upon the unsuspecting and unawares.  They appear to be real.  To be sure that they are known for what they are, Peter clearly shares those bad fruits they possess.  So what is the first thing mentioned?  It is simple really.  If God spent so much time keeping us focused on Christ in the first verses, than it makes sense that demonically, fleshly inspired false witnesses would deny Christ and teach heretical things about Him.   Things like Jesus being a Muslim.  Christian prof says Jesus was Muslim

They would teach things that would make a Holy Savior and the only means of salvation be evil spoken of like:
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The point is that they would follow their own ideas, concepts, and philosophies about God and His word for their own selfish, "pernicious" reasons.  Peter then goes on to say how these false teachers will share a materialistic message that makes merchandise of the people of GOD.  Do I really need to go there? This is all very sad really because there is no future in being a false witness of Christ.  They will "  bring upon themselves swift destruction" and  "their damnation slumbereth not." 

Going back to the truth and being true to your witness, stay focused on Christ.  Truly, He is Soon2Come!

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 2 Peter 2:2-3