Christians are no part of this world;
be alert to the sign of Jesus’ coming
Jesus pronounces in John. 17 an intense prayer towards his heavenly Father concerning his disciples:
KJV (John 17: 14-17) 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
What do these words mean in John 17, to be ‘no part of the world’?
This will be the theme of this newsletter, because it is at the end times namely of utmost importance to interpret these words of Jesus and the corresponding protection correctly, our life depends directly from this.
- The father of lies and the deceiver of the end times
Who is the greatest liar according to Scriptures?
KJV (John 8:44) 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and 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.
In the end times there will appear another liar, the Antichrist or false prophet:
KJV (1 John 2:22) 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
KJV (2 Thessalonians 2: 8-10) 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Because the false prophet will be the great deceiver, it is important to highlight some tactics, which have everything to do with lies.
Because we have to be prepared for the false prophet who soon will do his signs and lying wonders and if possible, even to deceive the very elect. (Mark 13: 21-23)
Know this, that the Devil – and in its wake the false prophet – will mix lies with truth to make the lies plausible.
- The big lie and propaganda
The Big Lie (German: Große Lüge) is a propaganda technique. The term was coined by Adolf Hitler and called it in his book “Mein_Kampf” a so colossal lie, that no one could believe that a person could do such brute force against the truth.
Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s propaganda minister, has furthermore elaborated “The Big Lie”:
“If you tell a lie that is big enough and keep repeating, people will eventually believe it. The lie can only be maintained as long as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and / or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by its extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State. ”
‘The Big Lie’ theory thus argues that as a colossal lie is repeated many times, then the people will eventually accept this falsehood as true.
Remarkably, the big lie can be employed by the state, so by its own leaders. In Nazi ideology or falsehood, the Germanic peoples were described as the so-called Aryan race, superior to other races. The Aryan race consisted of ‘übermenschen’ and on the other hand the lesser races, the ‘untermenschen’.
People are generally easy carried along with such a make-believe world.
Propaganda is a form of communication in which the interested party tries to seek supporters for her ideas, by playing with the public opinion. This is accomplished by deliberately spreading one-sided and / or fictitious information.
Goebbels designed a system of highly centralized reporting and controlled the press ‘in a tight manner’. Little by little he managed to subdue the spiritual life and ideas to strict censorship. Goebbels and his ministry not only prevented certain unwanted messages in the media, they also forced the German press to include large-scale propaganda articles.
In this age of internet, propaganda can easily be done by censorship of messages and videos on social media such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube etc.
- To shock and inculcating the lie
Shock and awe is a term for a military strategy based on achieving rapid dominance over an opponent by using an overwhelming attack from the start.
This military strategy was in the news during the war against Iraq in 2003 for alleged weapons of mass destruction. In an information session in Qatar in March 2003, the American general Tommy Franks said: “This will be a campaign unlike any other in history, a campaign characterized by shock, by surprise, by flexibility, by the employment of precise munitions on a scale never seen before, and by the application of overwhelming force.”
The purpose of this military strategy is, to paralyze the enemy and destroy its will to fight back.
As paralyzed to give up the fight.
This military doctrine “Shock and Awe” can also be used – with adjustment – for other applications, such as applications against its own people, to start an incredible shocking event with brute force and accompany this with whole and half lies.
The spectators get paralyzed and can no longer contain or relativize the things that happen.
The lie is thus inculcated and will then be repeated endlessly.
Is it possible that something like that has already happened to us?
A large number of architects and construction engineers, subject matter experts from universities and security experts have a few years ago firmly sounded the warning bell about the disaster with the twin towers.
During the disaster with the twin towers, two towers were hit by a plane, the 3rd skyscraper of 47 stores, World Trade Center 7 was not hit by a plane but collapsed totally evenly down, as demolition buildings collapse down by a controlled explosion demolition.
A long list of experts could impossibly accept this collapse as a result of an office fire.
They are the designers and builders of such steel structures, know the characteristics of these structures and do everything possible to design these secure.
Consider the following video:
YOUTUBE: 9/11: Explosive Evidence-Experts Speak Out | (Free one-hour version)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVkBR26TfnM
If the government might be involved in bringing down, then the image of this government as protectors falls apart. The unthinkable, something that seems impossible, happens and there is a conflict with the worldview of confidence and sense of security.
For what is the harsh reality?
Wars are lucrative for different parties. Introducing hostility thus gives a lot of revenue.
Subjecting people to censorship and interception methods gives power. (See the Patriot Act after 9/11).
An old saying goes: It’s easier to deceive than to convince.
But should Christians need to feel vulnerable and become worried or fearful?
No, Christians know better.
These things must happen according to Jesus:
KJV (Mark 13: 28-29) 28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
- The disgusting thing that causes desolation
A long time, we – as Bible Students – had the conviction that the disgusting thing causing desolation was already fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem with its temple in AD 70 by the Romans under Titus.
At that event no stone of the temple complex remained on each other. Only the western supporting wall of the bearing platform of the temple complex kept standing, which is now called the Wailing Wall.
We will make every effort again to unravel these concerned texts.
KJV (Matthew 24: 1-3) 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. 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?
Three questions are actually asked by the disciples:
Question 1 When will the temple be broken stone by stone?
Question 2 What will be the sign of Your coming?
Question 3 What will be the sign of the end of the world?
Then Jesus begins to give answers to the questions by as first to warn for deception. (Matthew 24: 4)
In Matthew 24: 15-22 Jesus gives an answer to Question 1
In Matthew 24: 23-31 Jesus gives an answer to Question 2
In Matthew 24: 5-14 Jesus gives an answer to Question 3
We will further deepen answer 1 and 3.
Answer 1 Matthew 24: 15-22
When will it happen that the temple will be broken stone by stone?
This response requires careful explanation because Jesus no longer speaks about the temple that will be broken stone by stone in the answer, but only speaks about the abomination of desolation and a great tribulation:
KJV (Matthew 24: 15-22) 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: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 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.
KJV (Daniel 11: 31,35) 31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate….35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
In Matthew 24:15, in most translations – in an interleaved sense – is written something like ‘with discernment’ to read and understand the text about the abomination of desolation.
How should this ‘distinction’ than be interpreted?
As we understand it now, there is a distinction to be made in two different situations, the siege of Jerusalem with its abomination and the end times with its abomination.
After a siege of Jerusalem by an enclosure with pointed poles, Jerusalem including the Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. In the same section, in verse 21, Jesus speaks of a great tribulation that will take place, as there has never been. Now there has been a great tribulation during the siege of Jerusalem, more than one million Jews were killed.
But something further in Matthew, in verse 29-30, is written that after that tribulation the Son of Man will appear, so with this great tribulation can impossibly be meant the tribulation in AD 70. Jesus’ second coming will immediately be followed by the inclusion to heaven. And this ascension has not yet occurred.
(See Newsletter 6. The inclusion in heaven, https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3596&lang=en )
KJV (Matthew 24: 29-30) 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: 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.
Furthermore, it is written in Matthew 24:22 (see above) that, for the elect’s sake, those days shall be shortened, otherwise there should no flesh be saved. The elect in AD 70 certainly had responded to Jesus’ warning and had fled on time from Jerusalem to the mountains.
Also, this section should therefore cover the elect during the tribulation in the end times.
So what we need ‘to discern’ according to our study, is that in answer 1, Matthew 24: 15-22, not only is spoken about the abomination of desolation in relation to the holy city of Jerusalem, but also about the abomination of the desolation of the holy place in the end times, just before Jesus second coming.
The great tribulation in the end times (according to Matthew 24:29) is also confirmed in Revelation which speaks of a trial or tribulation which shall come upon the whole world:
ESV (Revelation 3:10) 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
Daniel also speaks of a great tribulation in the end times:
KJV (Daniel 11: 40,12: 1) 40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over…..
12: 1 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.
According to our research, in the end times the abomination of desolation will therefore appear in a holy place.
What is the most holy place? That is certainly God’s temple.
Paul gives a description of God’s temple in the end times, after all, the temple in Jerusalem has been destroyed:
(See Newsletter 2. The false prophet https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3041&lang=en )
KJV (1 Corinthians 3: 16-17) 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
It is clear that concerning the ‘temple of God’ Christians – each one personally – are meant.
In 2Thessaloniscenzen is written that in the end times Christians can expect the son of perdition, who will sit in the temple of God:
KJV (2 Thess. 2: 3-4) 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
How can the ‘son of perdition’ sit as God in the temple of God?
In the letter to the community at Corinth, Paul speaks further about this:
KJV (2 Corinthians 6: 16-17) 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,….
Sitting in the temple of God can mean – according to 2 Corinthians 6: 16-17 – nothing else than that the false prophet, the son of perdition, will succeed in deceiving many Christians to idolatry.
And in Revelation is described his way to do this:
KJV (Revelation 13: 16-17) 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
The false prophet thus exerts coercion on all people (so including Christians) to accept the mark of him. That mark consists of the name of the financial system or the number of the false prophet. He will ensure that only people with that mark can buy or sell.
Now we have come at the interpretation ‘in reading with discernment’ as described in Matthew 24:15.
This ‘mark’ in the end times is the abomination that causes desolation, as described by Jesus.
That is the last major attack to deceive Christians, to sit in the temple of God.
Christians will come under great pressure, they will not accept this financial mark under no circumstances and can subsequently no longer buy or sell.
Whoever will bow will have to drink the wine of the wrath of God. (Rev. 14:10) :
KJV (Revelation 14: 9-10) 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Why is it such an abomination?
Accepting the mark is linked to worship ‘the image’, so practicing idolatry:
KJV (Revelation 19:20) 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image.
According to our study, the image or picture of Rev. 13: 14-17 is an image of Satan.
Concerning the worship of the image, see:
5. Worship of the ‘image’ https://www.dojc.nl/?p=5272&lang=en
Answer 3 Matthew 24: 5-14
The 5th, 6th and 7th trumpet (the three woes) in Revelation are depicted as three woes of a woman in labor.
The woes are becoming faster and more intense:
Jesus used this given in his response to Question 3: What will be the sign of the end of the world?
ESV (Matthew 24: 7-8) 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
ESV (Matthew 24: 9-10) 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.
All nations will – according to Scripture – becoming clearer of hating Christians. Not only politics, but also the mainstream media such as newspapers, news channels and social media will contribute to this.
This hatred is already developing, we live in a taboo-cult of Christian values.
Trivializing and twisting of Islamic terror by the Mainstream Media is in full swing.
Christians will lose this fight, for them there is hardly any protection against persecution.
The violent persecution of Christians has already begun and the climax is not reached yet. Christians are persecuted around the world, mainly by Muslims. Little or no attention is paid to this in the Mainstream Media. https://www.opendoors.nl/vervolgdechristenen/ranglijst-kaart/
According to El Shafie, head of One Free World International, there are currently worldwide between 200 and 300 million Christians persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ.
Moreover, all nations will hate the Christians, because, despite everything, a group of Christians remains faithful and will soon support the two witnesses, while they perform their plagues:
(See as support: Newsletter 3. The two witnesses https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3139&lang=en )
KJV (Revelation 11: 6) 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
After completing the two witnesses prophecy, God’s Kingdom will begin, where after Satan will be cast out of heaven (see also Luke 10:18):
KJV (Revelation 12: 7,8,12) 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven….12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Then the tribulation intensity will be increased.
When the tribulation will erupt in full force, then many Christians will stumble and hate and betray each other. (See above Matthew 24: 9-10)
The mark will be the climax of the tribulation for the faithful Christians.
This forced mark, this idolatry (Rev. 14:9-10), will therefore be THE sign for Christians to recognize Jesus’ imminent second coming. (Matthew 24: 29-30)
- The world strives after wealth
The first who are eligible for the term ‘the world strives after wealth’ are the philanthropists, rich and super-rich, which still want to be richer or more powerful. And they deceive people under the pretext of ‘charity’.
(See also: Newsletter 2. The false prophet https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3041&lang=en )
When the interests are substantial, the box of tricks is opened with lies and deception.
The method of the rich is always simple, where big profit or power can be achieved, there they can be found:
ESV (Matthew 24:28) 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
Love of God and love of money does not go together:
KJV (Matthew 6:24) No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
From Jesus findings that one cannot serve God and mammon (money or wealth), it turns out that Jesus compares ‘love of money’ with idolatry:
KJV (Mark 10: 24-25) 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Rich people have always been there, like Abraham in his days was a rich man. That’s no problem.
Pursuing wealth or to trust on wealth is a problem.
It is therefore just how you deal with wealth, how you want to share and help your fellow man.
Jesus’ words about the rich are therefore so applicable.
(also read the illustration in Matthew 25: 31-46)
Proverbs gives a clear definition:
KJV (Proverbs 1:19) 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
While various Christian nominations will greatly weaken by the falling away in the end times, the love of money will increase sharply.
What about the love of money of the last and 7th world power, the United States?
The 39th US president, Jimmy Carter, said recently:
The US is an ‘Oligarchy With Unlimited Political Bribery’.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/videos/jimmy-carter-u-s-is-an-oligarchy-with-unlimited-political-bribery-20150731
He was referring to the donation by the rich to the election fund of politicians, which is actually buying influence.
In an oligarchy the power is in the hands of a small group of people who almost always are very rich.
They form in fact by their influence a shadow government. It is one of the five forms of state described by Plato and he identifies this group as wealthy as such, that they only have the advantage for themselves in mind.
In Newsletter: 2. The false Prophet https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3041&lang=en is described, that partly on the basis of the oligarchy the foretold false prophet can be recognized in the end times.
- Strangers and sojourners
YHWH made a covenant with the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and promised them a land, Canaan. But there they stayed as strangers:
KJV (Exodus 6: 1-4) 1 Then the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. 2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them. 4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
David also stayed as a stranger and sojourner in the land of Canaan:
KJV (1 Chronicles 29: 10-15) 10 Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 11 Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. 15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
Christians are also strangers and sojourners in this world:
KJV (1 Peter 1: 17-18) 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
KJV (1 Peter 2: 11-12) 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Abraham was as a stranger expecting the city which has foundations, the New Jerusalem:
(See also Newsletter 4. New Jerusalem; part 1 https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3328&lang=en )
KJV (Hebrews 11: 8-10) 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Also the ‘great crowd’ Christians will thus become fellow citizens of the saints in the New Jerusalem: (See also Newsletter 6. The inclusion in heaven https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3596&lang=en )
KJV (Ephesians 2: 17-21) 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 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; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
- What does Scripture say about the attitude of Christians in today’s world?
KJV (James 4: 4) 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
And the attitude towards authority figures:
KJV (Romans 13: 1-2) 1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
God is a God of order and therefore all government tasks must be regulated.
Government employees with their duties have the approval of God, as long as it is done in fairness, such as education, medical care, roads, etc.
However, not the injustice as occurs with many governments, such as wars, abuse of power, corruption etc.:
KJV (Titus 3: 1) 1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
KJV (1 Peter 2: 13-14) 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
Our weapons are not weapons of violence:
KJV (2 Cor. 10: 3-4) 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God ……
KJV (Acts 5:29) 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
On the promised new earth will be no more war:
(See also Newsletter 5. New Jerusalem; part 2 https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3330&lang=en )
KJV (Isaiah 2: 3-4) 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
- Finally:
Anger about politics, pension funds, exorbitant salaries, intrigues with money and rules………
These things are all foretold, that is the reason why Jesus exhorts us, not to be a part of this world.
The great tribulation seems already in the early stage, peace on earth has been removed in any case:
KJV (Ephesians 6: 11-12) 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Jesus never took a political stand, as he might have done against the Roman dominance.
On one occasion he said:
KJV (Luke 20: 24-25) 24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s. 25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
Christians point to God’s Kingdom for a just society, the present system is passing away, the New Jerusalem is the city with real foundations.
Christians are therefore not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
KJV (2 Corinthians 6: 14,17) 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?…..17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
Realize that Noah and Lot had to endure a lot in their justice:
KJV (2 Peter 2: 5-9) 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Our forefathers were strangers and sojourners, as we are in this world:
HSBC (Hebrews 11:13) 13 These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
The false prophet will soon begin to impress or to shock people with his powerful signs such as fire from heaven:
KJV (Revelation 13:13) 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Be alert to the sign of Jesus’ coming, immediately preceded by the ‘mark’ of financial idolatry at the end time.
Our heavenly Father and Jesus will not forget the righteous ones, but will certainly redeem them out of the great tribulation.
Jesus has given us the powerful example, to overcome the world.
In Jesus we will have peace during the tribulation:
KJV (John 16:33) 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.
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