February 5
Ex 21:22-23:13 | PS 29 | Prov 7:6-23 | Matt 24:1-28
Under an umbrella of apathy and ignorance we find ourselves completely unprepared for the end-time period that we are entering. Our enemy, the devil, is smart. He has been very effective in stripping the Bible, even the mention of it from society, as a whole. Yes, there might have been a fight when it was removed from our schools decades ago, but he won, and people forgot. Most Christian denominations never stress the reading of it in its entirety. I don’t care how uplifting the sermon is, their flock remains unprepared. Most Christians in Bible based churches choose not to read the Bible. Oh, they will read devotionals with a verse here or there, or spend their whole lives in their favorite books or passages, but they too are unprepared. Observant Jewish people have elevated the position of rabbi over that of the prophets and the actual word, such that they could elevate a man (who was truly described as a beautiful and humble man), Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson to the level of Messiah. This despite the fact that he fulfilled absolutely none of the prophecies surrounding the Messiah. After so many years of biblical illiteracy most don’t know who God is, don’t care to know, and are in a position to listen to anyone, no matter how false they may be, and follow them, and quote them, and sadly, will one day be punished alongside them.
When we come to the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25), it hinges on a series of 3 questions posed by the disciples to Jesus as shown in Matthew 24:3, “… Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”. This discourse refers to the seven year tribulation. The true church, the bride of Christ, will be removed or raptured preceding this event (I know not everyone agrees with this position, but it is mine, the position held by my pastor, along with many others who ascribe to a pre-tribulation rapture). As an overview 24:4-8 refers to the first half of the tribulation, which then moves into the second half beginning in verse 9, and concludes with four parables by Jesus. Please pay attention to Jesus’ many warnings not to be led astray by false teachers. We read in 24:4-5, “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Again in 24:11-12, “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” And again in 24:23-25, “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.”
How important is this portion of Scripture? Jesus knew His time was short, in fact, He was arrested days later and crucified. Knowing His time was short, consider how much time He devoted to a warning on being led astray by false teachers, leaders, messiahs. But here we are on the precipice of the tribulation and there are no shortage of these voices, these “experts”, literally pouncing on the sheep who have placed themselves, due to their biblical illiteracy, in a vulnerable position. Our society is so base and so ignorant that they will follow anyone. Daniel also warned us of these times in Daniel 12:4, “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Yes, knowledge is at our fingertips, but wisdom is sorely lacking. More than ever may we about spreading the gospel truth and exhorting people to go through God’s Word cover to cover.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: