Isaiah 5:20-21 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!”
Our Tuesday afternoon Bible Study will be concluding our 32-weeks of lessons on the End of the Age. The group from the Senior Living facility in my hometown asked me to lead the discussions on the End Times as given to us in the Bible and following sermons and outlines by Christian Pastor Dr. David Jeremiah which focused on the Rapture of the Church, the Tribulation Period and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ at the End of the Age. The rebellious anti-God days in which we live today, where Isaiah 5:20-21 prophetically has largely overtaken our culture and society more daily, and has these devoted elders and many others in our community wondering if Christ is returning any day now.
Romans 1:28-32 confirms, “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. It's a war on God, their Maker.
Of course evil is the absence of good and darkness is the absence of light. In Galatians 5:16-21 the Apostle Paul says, “walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Bottom line: it’s sin. And Paul tells us in Romans 6:23a “For the wages of sin is death.” And in Ephesians 2:1, you were dead in the trespasses and sins.” Everyone is mortal and eventually dies, so what exclusive death is from our sin against God?
In Revelation 20:11-15 the Apostle John “saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." That is eternal death.
In Matthew 24:3 As Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Christ could come at any time now. Many see the signs of the times, the unethical and immoral advancements and are wondering. The question is: Are you ready (obeying and doing what the Lord told you and I to do)?
In Matthew 24:12-14 Jesus tells His disciples (then and now), “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Jesus Christ gives eternal life. Be dedicated, devoted and center your desires on the Lord, your God and obey His holy Word. Remember that the End of the Age is the beginning of eternity in Heaven with the Lord.
In Christ, Brian
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