An explanation of topics for a dialogue with young people; topics where young people have to deal with in their lives, with support of Scripture.
In the previous part, in part 2, we spoke extensively about the value of money and how young people can deal with this. In that part it emerged, that love for capital or money apparently has become very obvious for many young people.
The Scripture says about people who desire wealth, that those people are pitiable, that such persons lack love for God (YHWH) and for his neighbors:
NKJV (Revelation 3:17) 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked–
In this part, the preparation for disappointment for young people will be treated, because disciples of Jesus, just like Jesus himself, will get disappointed.
Jesus was regularly disappointed in His days, by the traitor Judas Iscariot, by the Jewish priests, by the traders in the temple:
NKJV (Matthew 21: 12-13) 12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ “
The theme of this writing is dealing with disappointment as part of the development of Christian youth.
From about seven years, a child becomes more independent.
At this age, you often see that children find it difficult to deal with disappointments, such as losing a game, or not getting what they want.
Young children see the world as something positive. They are still idealistic and unprejudiced and are sometimes not prepared for setbacks, so that young children can react hypersensitive. That is why it is important that a child learns to deal with disappointment at a young age. Children who accept disappointments can – as they get older – recover more easily from setbacks.
Children are under the influence of news media, opinions and information from the world, which they have no experience with:
NKJV (Ephesians 4:14) 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ….
It is therefore important for young people, not just to believe everything:
NKJV (Proverbs 14:15) 15 The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.
And not to be blinded by unjust people who are apparently doing well:
NKJV (Proverbs 24: 1-2) 1 Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; 2 For their heart devises violence, And their lips talk of troublemaking.
On the other hand, who believes in Jesus words will never be put to shame or be disappointed:
NKJV (1 Peter 2: 6) 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
Christian young people must be thoroughly prepared for a difficult period on earth for all people, which is foretold by Jesus, and that many people will disappoint them in those days:
NKJV (Matthew 10: 34-36) 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’
NKJV (Proverbs 24: 19-20) 19 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the wicked; 20 For there will be no prospect for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out.
The difficulties people now have are only a harbinger of what still has to happen according to Scripture. That is why we will list the main points in a row.
The next part is therefore not an easy part, but it is a very important part. If it is too difficult, ask your parents to help you.
It all started with Jesus announcing of the destruction of the temple
NKJV (Matthew 24: 1-2) 1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.“
When would it happen that the temple would be broken down stone by stone?
That answer requires a careful explanation because Jesus in His answer no longer spoke about the temple that would be broken down stone by stone, but spoke of ‘the abomination of desolation’:
NKJV (Matthew 24: 15-16) 15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
In Matthew 24:15, in the inserted sentence, (whoever reads, let him understand), which means something like ‘to read this with discernment’.
What would have to be discerned?
According to our research, a discernment must be made between two different situations, the holy place of Jerusalem with its abomination and in the end times the holy place with its abomination.
After a siege of Jerusalem through a fence with pointed poles in 66 AD, Jerusalem including the temple was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans under command of Titus, the son of the Roman emperor Vespasian.
A little further in that same part, in Matthew 24:21, Jesus speaks of a great tribulation that will then take place, as it has never been before:
NKJV (Matthew 24:21) 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Now a great tribulation has taken place during the siege of Jerusalem, about 1 million Jews died during that time.
But in Matthew 24: 29-30 it says, that after that great tribulation the Son of Man will appear:
NKJV (Matthew 24: 29-31) 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 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.
Therefore it is impossible that with this mentioned great tribulation, the tribulation is meant in 70 AD , because immediately after the great tribulation, Jesus will return on the clouds to gather His elect, to meet the Lord:
NKJV (1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17) 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Jesus second coming (and gathering the chosen ones) has not yet taken place, so it is certain that the great tribulation is thus a tribulation that has yet to come.
This great tribulation mentioned by Jesus is also confirmed by Revelation 3:10 and Daniel 12: 1 where is spoken of an ordeal or tribulation that must come all over the world at the end time:
NKJV (Revelation 3:10) 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
NKJV (Daniel 12: 1) 1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.
This means that in Matthew 24:15, Jesus spoke of ‘an abomination’ in a holy place that would get two fulfillments.
What then is the second fulfillment of ‘the abomination of desolation’ in a holy place?
NKJV (Matthew 24:15) 15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place“….
What is a very holy place? That is without doubt God’s temple.
In the end times, Christians are forming the temple of God:
NKJV (1 Corinthians 3: 16-17) 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
NKJV (2 Corinthians 6: 16) 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
It is clear that with ‘the temple of God’ the Christians – each individual – are meant, the Christians have become God’s people after the coming of the Messiah.
But what then is the abomination of desolation in the last days?
Jesus speaks of an important addition in Matthew 24:15; ‘spoken of by Daniel the prophet’
About what did Daniel then speak about?
Daniel describes the despicable king in the last days
NKJV (Daniël 11:21) 21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.
NKJV (Daniel 11:31) 31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.
We now know, that a distinction must be made between two different situations, first of all the despicable Roman king with his abomination of desolation of the temple in Jerusalem and in the end times a despicable king – of the 7th and last world power, the USA – with its abomination of desolation of the Christian community or temple.
What then did Daniel mean with the daily sacrifices in the last days?
With the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in the 1st century with its sacrificial altar, the place was destroyed for the Jews where they brought their sacrifices like the annual Pesach sacrifice.
After Jesus’ perfect sacrifice as the Lamb of God, those recurring sacrifices were no longer necessary:
NKJV (Hebrews 10: 12,18) 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,… 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
This ‘taking away’ of the daily sacrifices in the last days is the silencing of the Christians with their message of the good news:
NKJV (Hebrews 13:15) 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
NKJV (1 Peter 2: 5) 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
But how will this message be silenced?
First, this message of the good news will be preached worldwide.
The testimony of the two witnesses in the last days
Two holy prophets will soon appear and will show powerful signs. (Rev.11: 1-14)
(See also for support: 3. The two witnesses https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3139&lang=en )
Meek Christians from all parts of the world will recognize the voice of the two witnesses as of divinely inspired origin and will support them after a call:
NKJV (Matthew 24:14) 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
NKJV (Daniel 11: 33-35) 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.
These holy prophets will do powerful signs:
NKJV (Revelation 11: 6) 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
The two witnesses will eventually be killed:
NKJV (Revelation 11: 7) 7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
After the fulfillment of the two witness prophecy, God’s Kingdom will have a start (Rev.11: 15-18), after which Satan will be cast out of heaven: (Rev.12: 7-11)
NKJV (Daniel 2:44) 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
When Satan is cast out of heaven, he has great wrath, because he only has a short period. (Rev. 12:12)
Many people will – according to Jesus – hate Christians who have supported this work.
Then many Christians will stumble and will hate and betray each other:
NKJV (Matthew 24: 9-10) 9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
According to Scripture, the false prophet, the son of perdition, appears in the last days
NKJV (2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4) 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God…..
The son of perdition is, according to Scripture, the false prophet:
NKJV (Revelation 19:20) 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image…. .
The false prophet exerts coercion on all people (including Christians) to accept the mark from 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 the mark can ‘buy or sell’.
Now we have arrived at the meaning of ‘reading with discernment’ as described in Matthew 24:15.
The abomination of desolation in the last days, the mark
This ‘mark’ is in the end times the abomination, which causes destruction, as described by Jesus.
In Revelation his method is written:
NKJV (Revelation 13: 16-17) 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
NKJV (Revelation 14: 9-10) 9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, … ..
That is the last great attack to deceive and persecute Christians. That is why it is such an abomination, because being forced to take the mark also means being forced to worship ‘the image’. So practicing idolatry. This puts Christians under great pressure, they do not want to receive that financial mark under any circumstances but can then no longer buy or sell anything.
Or to be hungry, not be able to pay the bills and trust in faith in Jesus coming, or taking the mark and practicing idolatry.
To sit in the temple of God – in the Christian community or temple – can mean nothing more than that the false prophet, the son of destruction, will succeed in deceiving or preparing a large number of Christians within the Christian community for the aforementioned idolatry:
NKJV (2 Thessalonians 2: 4) 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God…..
Faithful Christians will not accept the mark under any circumstances
It is the climax of the great tribulation for Christians according to Revelation.
In that way, every Christian, who has not received the mark of the false prophet, will be saved during the great war of God and protected from the extraordinary natural violence:
NKJV (Luke 21: 26-28) 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Know this, when they say there is peace and safety, then their destruction will come suddenly:
NKJV (1 Thessalonians 5: 2-3) 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
In the last days the war of Har-Mágedon will be.
Just before the attack on the faithful Christians is deployed, Jesus will intervene, (Rev.17: 14) and God’s people will be saved, those who are written in the book of life:
NKJV (Revelation 3: 5) 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
The inclusion in heaven
NKJV (Daniel 12: 2) 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
The inclusion in heaven takes place in two stages, first the saints (the first fruits) meet the Lord in the sky, in the very last stage is the inclusion of the great crowd of other Christians.
(see as support also: 6. The inclusion in heaven https://www.dojc.nl/?p=3596&lang=en )
When the Son of man will reveal Himself, and after the inclusion of the saints and Christians into heaven and brought into safety, then a violent fire will burn on the earth.
This will not be a symbolic fire, but real fire and brimstone:
NKJV (Luke 17: 29-30) 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
The preceding topics are only the main lines, but these are giving a good picture.
For young people, they will be recognizable subjects when they will be fulfilled.
Parents, prepare and have DISCUSSIONS with your children
First of all, it is important that children have free time and do not all the time feel that they have to perform.
Play as a family regularly a game, so that children also learn to be losers.
Discuss the idealism of young children, but explain that some people are misleading.
A child learns most from his parents, so it is good to give as parents an example that you yourself found very bothersome and how difficult it was to forgive others.
Use in your examples of disappointment also the similarities of Jesus, there are so many suitable examples such as ‘the choices of the two sons’:
NKJV (Matthew 21: 28-32) 28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”…
Ask your child questions such as: “What do you find most bothering?” And “How would you like it?”
Children, tell your parents where you have problems with:
“I still regret that I did not tell my parents about my disappointment at that time.”
If your child has found the courage to tell it, then do not blame your child. Therefore reason in terms such as; “We will help you solve the problem.”
By the ‘we’, your child gets the feeling, that he has not to solve it alone.
Transfer of knowledge and life experience are very important. Listen to your child and teach your child, how to present themselves and how to behave and how to defend themselves in a certain situation.
Finally
Children are vulnerable.
Disappointments can be an attack on faith and are a powerful weapon of Satan.
The ultimate goal of Satan is to destroy the faith in Jesus of the Christian youth and to obtain worship for Himself to humiliate God (YHWH).
But how can young people resist Satan?
NKJV (James 4: 7-8) 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…..
Will it be an easy task in the last days?
Certainly not, but the reward will be great, an eternal reward:
NKJV (John 10: 27-28) 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
NKJV (Luke 6:21) 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
Till so far this part about dealing with disappointments as part of the development of a Christian youngster.