What Time Is It?

 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff, and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts. “So that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” (Malachi 4:1).

Hey Gang:  Do you think this day has arrived or is just around the corner?  What say you, are we living in that time referred to by the prophets of old as the “latter days” or ”last days” or perhaps it is as it was in the days of the ark builder, Noah?

Mathew tells us, "Jesus came out of the temple and was going away when the disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him" (Matt. 24:1).  It appears from Mark's account that "they" the disciples were mesmerized by its beauty. They exclaimed,  "Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings! (Mark 13:1b).  

His response, "Not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down" (24:2).  His words must have brought them back to the world of reality for we see a change of focus from man-made beauty to "Tell us, when will these things happen and what will be the sign of Your coming, and the end of the age"(v.3b). 

Their question? “When shall these things happen and what will be the sign of Your coming and the end of the Age?”  His first words in answering their question was one that we need to take to heart - “Do not be deceived.”   I recently heard a salty old preacher warn his sheep "beware of wolves in sheep's' clothing.  He mentioned three rapidly moving blasphemies that are leading even many of the elect to be taken down the Prime Rose Path.  Perhaps we had best read John 14:6, " I am the way, truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me."

The first he referred to as the Oprah road where there is more than one road to God.    Notice in verse 25 of the Olivet Discourse:  Jesus said “Behold I have told you in advance?" (Matt. 24:25).    In other words, you have a choice, you can be as the five prudent virgins and have your lamps prepared for the coming of the Husband or hear the door slam shut when the bridegroom comes unexpectedly.

 The second blasphemy, called’Replacement Theology’, teaches that Israel is no longer the "apple of God's eye" but has been replaced by the church.  Again I would draw your attention to God's Word:  "For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will remove ungodliness from Jacob,'” (Rom. 11:25-26).

The third, in the opinion of the writer is most damaging, is that to "believe" is all it takes to gain the eternal Kingdom of God and spending eternity with the Lord.  Well folks, I have very bad news for those that have been caught up in this web of deception.  James tells us "even the demons also believe and shudder". (James 2:16).    

Soooo, my good buddies, what am I trying to say here?  Very simply stated: "Be Not deceived".  "See that no one mislead you for many will come in My name saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many" (Matt. 24:4-5).  And how do we make sure we are not deceived?  By filling our minds and hearts with His Word and staying in communication with Yeshua and keeping our eyes on Him.

Blessings,

Gramps