The Lord Jesus Will Return to This Earth

 A Miracle and the Second Coming of Christ

 Book of Luke Chapter 17 verses 12-19, 30 through 37

 

 We know that our Lord Jesus is now making His way to Jerusalem. He has an appointment with a cross where He will die for our sins. He had no sin Himself!

 Even facing the death of the cross, Jesus still shows His compassion.

 Jesus could have gone around Samaria and Galilee to give Him more time, but He chose to go through them. He also had an appointment with ten lepers.

 We can see that the Lord Jesus was not afraid to walk where He was not wanted.

 *****Luk 17:11  And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 

Luk 17:12  And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 

Luk 17:13  And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 

 Lepers were not bound by geographic regions. Lepers were bound by their disease.

 Lev 13:46  All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.

 This leads us to believe that Jesus was now in the wilderness between Samaria and Galilee.

 These lepers stood afar off and would not approach the Lord Jesus.

 They had to raise their voices to be heard.

 They called Him Master, but the Greek word used here means more Commander than it does Rabbi.

 They knew who He was, and they knew He had the power to heal.

What is wrong with our world today? The world does not know who Jesus is!

 They knew Jesus had the power to meet their needs. We sometimes forget this.

 They knew more than most of the world does today!

 Notice how the Lord Jesus heals these ten diseased men.

 They spoke from a distance, and the Lord Jesus heals from a distance.

 Leprosy is, in fact, a type of sin, and the Lord Jesus does not have to be physically present to wash us in His blood and forgive our sins. 

Jesus does have to be spiritually present in our hearts because faith is still required.

 These ten lepers had to have faith in the power of the Lord Jesus.

 These ten lepers were desperate; they had the most feared disease of that day.

 It is somewhat like cancer. When cancer is mentioned, the first thing on our minds is death.

 The Lord Jesus can heal cancer too!

I know because He has healed me twice from this dreaded disease.

 These ten men interrupted the Lord Jesus Christ, not caring if it caused Him problems, but Jesus did not mind; He wanted to hear what bothered us at any time.

 The Lord Jesus understood their desperation, their humility, and their acknowledgment of being unclean.

 If we cannot realize that we are sinners in need of salvation, then the Lord Jesus cannot save us.

 We must recognize that, like these lepers, we were also unclean, and we must keep our distance from sinners except to witness to them.

 Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 

 The Lord Jesus told them to obey the Laws of Moses and present themselves to the priests, after He had healed them.

 No matter what the Lord Jesus tells us to do, we need to do. He will never tell us to go against the Word of God.

They had to present themselves to the priests before they would be welcomed back into society.

 As these men traveled to the place of the priests, they were cleansed on their journey.

 There must be believing, and there must be an obeying.

 Remember Namaan from the Old Testament.

 2Ki 5:14  Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

 Six times dipping in the River Jordan was not good enough; seven times brought his cure.

 While these men began their journey to the priests, one man, a Samaritan, realized he was clean.

 *****Luk 17:15  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 

Luk 17:16  And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 

 Leprosy was the most terrible disease in the days of Jesus. It was disfiguring, and most of the time it was fatal.

 The world had judged all lepers to be dead already; they were called the Living Dead.

 A leper had to wear a black garment so he could be recognized among the dead.

 He was banished, an outcast, removed from society, defiled.

 He was thought to be polluted and incurable!

 Doctor Jesus has never met a disease he could not cure, even death!

 This Samaritan was not of Judaism, and a Jewish priest would not even see him.

 We know the priests of the Samaritans were false priests of a false religion, so they could not have helped him.

 This Samaritan knew only one person who was worthy of his thanks, and it was the Lord Jesus Christ.

 We sometimes forget this, too!

 There is never a day that we should not be thanking the Lord for what He has already done for us, and we know a lot of the things that are in our future, and we should be thanking Him for these things also.

If your name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life, you owe the Lord your thanks; you owe the Lord your life.

 We should also be ready to worship our Savior at any time and at all times.

 Prayer is also worship, and we can pray anywhere and at any time.

Prayer is worship when we talk to the Lord, but not when we repeat some chant over and over again.

 The Lord Jesus is always worthy of our praise.

 The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Priest we need to see, and this Samaritan realized this truth.

 Why go to some man when we can go to the Living God?

 Jesus asked His disciples, where were the other nine?

 *****Luk 17:17  And Jesus answering, said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 

Luk 17:18  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 

Luk 17:19  And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. 

 The Samaritan is cleansed and saved, but the other nine who benefited from the power of God wanted to remain Jews rather than convert to become Christians.

 They had benefitted from the true Shepherd, but they were locked into the legal system of the Law.

 Rom_4:16  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

 The Lord Jesus is still asking this same question today.

 Many of the modern Church have forgotten who cleansed them from their sin, and many of them have returned to the Law, forgetting the Grace of God.

Many denominations today have added their own oral laws and traditions.

 Those other nine went back to their old lives doing the same things they did before they were overcome by leprosy.

 They may have gotten an outward cure, but only the Samaritan got the Spiritual Blessing!

 We should not doubt that it was faith in the work of the Lord that made this man whole!

 That word faith is in the New Testament 245 times in 229 verses.

 The word faith is used only twice in the Old Testament, but both are important.

 1) What happens to those with no faith?

 Deu_32:20  And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

 2) Only those with true faith are justified.

 Hab_2:4  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

 This Samaritan was justified.

 I think it is important to add a few verses to our lesson format.

 *****Luk 17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 

Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 

Luk 17:22  And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 

Luk 17:23  And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them. 

Luk 17:24  For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. 

Luk 17:25  But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. 

Luk 17:26  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 

Luk 17:27  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 

Luk 17:28  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 

Luk 17:29  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 

Luk 17:30  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 

 We see that the Lord Jesus begins dealing with His return.

 We know that the return of Jesus Christ will be in two stages.

 1) He will first return to take His Church, the Bride of Christ, out of this world. We will meet Him in the clouds, as He will not place His feet on the earth at this time.

 1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

 2) Jesus will return to end the Seven Years of Tribulation before those on earth destroy themselves.

 Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 

 Dan 7:13  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 

Dan 7:14  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. 

 Dan 7:22  Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 

 Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 

 We know the Kingdom of God is internal, but the Kingdom of God is also external.

 In the days of Noah, people lived their own lives, which God called corrupt in His sight.

 We can say that the Ten Commandments meant nothing to them, just as they mean nothing to the liberals of today.

The Ten Commandments only remind them of their sin, and they know they are sinners and do not want to be reminded of it.

 It was a world full of violence.

 In the days of Lot, people were more devoted to the gratification of bodily appetites and free indulgence in carnal pleasures.

 They accepted that this was the life that was meant to be.

 It was a corrupt and carnal place to live.

 Gen_13:13  But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

 Gen_18:20  And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

 The Lord Jesus Christ will begin His reign with the righteous judgment of sin!

 This world will not be prepared to meet King Jesus!

 The destruction of this world will be greater than what the flood caused and it will burn like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

 After these things the Lord Jesus our Creator, will restore this world as it was in the day He created it.

 Mic 4:1  But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 

Mic 4:2  And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 

Mic 4:3  And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 

Mic 4:4  But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

 Isa 32:17  And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 

 Isa 11:1  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 

Isa 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 

Isa 11:3  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 

Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

 The Lord Jesus will sit as King in Jerusalem!

 Zec 8:3  Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. 

 *****Luk 17:31  In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 

Luk 17:32  Remember Lot's wife. 

Luk 17:33  Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 

 Just before the Lord returns, people will be going about their wickedness as if nothing can happen to them.

 These are the same people who have denied the existence of God.

 When God's people, the Jews, realize what is happening, they will have to act quickly.

 They will need to move without packing or returning to their homes.

 We may not know when the Lord will come, but what we know for sure is that when He comes, it will be very quick.

 Rev_22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

 Then the Lord Jesus reminds them, do not look back, but keep going forward.

 Lot's wife was so close to salvation, but with one turn of her neck, she became a pillar of salt.

 There is no worldly way to save lives on that day; there is only the ways of the Lord Jesus.

 Faithfulness to the truth of God will be their only escape.

 Anyone who considers some earthly possession more important than his life will lose his life.

 Just as in salvation today, whoever lets go of his life and gives it to the Lord will be saved.

 *****Luk 17:34  I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 

Luk 17:35  Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 

Luk 17:36  Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 

 As far as the Rapture of the Church, the point is clear: people will be going about their daily routine, when all of a sudden, one here and one there will be taken up to meet the Lord Jesus in the clouds.

 The word "Rapture" means rapid seizing by violence.

 Only a believer who is truly prepared will be taken up to meet the Lord Jesus.

 "ALL" who oppose and reject the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ will be left behind.

 1Th 5:3  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.. 

 Believers will miss out on this destruction: 1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 

1Th 5:10  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 

 God knows who the true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ are!

 God knows that those who just claim to be the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ will be left behind to go through the seven years of Tribulation.

 Tit_1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

 God knows all those who reject the truth of Jesus Christ, and they will be left behind to go through the seven years of Tribulation.

 There will be no last-second decisions; it will be too late to claim the Savior at that point.

 Rom_1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

 *****Luk 17:37  And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

The Rapture of the Church will take place throughout the entire world all at the same time, At the same moment.

Some say instead of Eagles it should have been Vultures, but Jesus says what He means and He means what He says.

The vultures of Gennesaret are hideous-looking birds, almost the same size as eagles and matching their strength.

The things that the Lord Jesus is talking about here will be worldwide.

At this time, we should not expect a Deliverer of the Jewish nation, for it is devoted to destruction.

The Jews will face the wrath of God, as all the world will.

We must understand that the moral corruption throughout this world ensures that the Lord Jesus will return in Divine Judgment.

Amen

Hell Is a Real Place

 The Unjust Manager and the Reality of Hell

 Book of Luke Chapter 16 Verses 19 through 31

 

 What is the truth of the Scriptures? People will spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell after our death, based on our belief about what the Word of God tells us about being saved.

 Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 

 When we come into the House of God, we come in as the sons and daughters of the Almighty Living God.

 When we leave to go outside the House of God, we are to leave as stewards. We are to be stewards outside the House of God as long as we are upon this earth! 

 In the first part of Chapter 16, we have a parable that describes us as we leave the Church to go outside the Church.

 The rich man in this parable is a picture of God. We already know that we are to be the stewards.

 Not many of us can say we have been perfect stewards in our lives after our salvation.

 When we go outside the Church, we are to be the light of the earth, but to be quite honest, most of us have been kind of dull most of the time. I know I have failed the Lord many times. Far too many times.

 God has given us the Gospel through His Son, Jesus, and we are to share the Gospel with those outside the Church.

 God will call us to account one day, just as this Master called his steward.

 What will we say because it will not be time for excuses?

 This steward was removed from his position, so what did that make him?

 In this parable, it made him be at the mercy of those people around him.

 He needed some way to make them his friends.

 He made a personal contract with each of the Master's debtors, which meant robbing the Master of his just repayment.

 He reduced one debt by fifty percent.

 He gives another twenty percent discount.A certain future, 

 He does similar things to all the Master's debtors.

 He did this, looking to his future on this earth to secure shelter and food, material things of this earth.

 He did this without any knowledge of his Master.

 He was an unjust man, but he was wise, looking ahead when he had no means to care for himself.

 What the Lord Jesus is teaching the Church is that we are not that wise.

 We have a certain future written with the blood of Jesus Christ, but we live as if we have forgotten the debt we owe to the Lord.

 It is the love of money, the craving for riches, that is the root of all the evil we see in our world.

 1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 

1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

 So, the big question for each believer is what we will give to the Lord and what we will try to keep for ourselves.

 The Lord Jesus gave His life for us, and He asks whether we are willing to do the same for Him.

 Luk_9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

 God has given us Spiritual blessings that we never have to repay, but each of us is still God's property with all that we possess.

 Our life and our property are on loan from God.

 The importance of earthly wealth is lost forever!

 It is how we deal with these things that shows our relationship with God.

 As Jesus said to His disciples, we cannot have or serve two masters!

 God knows what is in our hearts.

 The Lord moves on to the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

 We should know that when the Holy Spirit uses real names, then a story is no longer a parable, but it teaches us like a parable.

 *****Luk 16:19  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 

Luk 16:20  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 

Luk 16:21  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 

 We should see this story in the Bible as the actual truth and not as a parable.

 The Lord gives the name of Lazarus, and the Lord also gives us Abraham as if he is still living, which we know to be true of all those in Heaven who have gone on before us.

 This man had everything his money could buy.

 The Lord Jesus does not recognize those whose name is not written in Heaven, so we do not have his name.

 Mat_7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 All those in Heaven are more alive than they could have ever been when they were in this life.

 Luk 20:37  Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 

Luk 20:38  For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

 This rich man had done very well while he was living, and he was enjoying himself very much.

 Today, nothing this rich man did would be called a sin, but the poor beggar would be just some homeless beggar who could get no help.

 Lazarus was a poor, disabled man who had to be laid at the gate of this rich man because he could not walk by himself.

 Lazarus was covered with sores and had no way to get help.

 Lazarus lay at the gate of this rich man in the hope of just getting a few crumbs from the rich man's table.

 This rich man had everything, but God said Lazarus had nothing but God.

 When a dog licks a wound, they are able to detect any changes in the scent or taste of the wound. This can be helpful in detecting infections or other issues that may need attention. Dogs are also known to have antibacterial properties in their saliva, which can help to clean and disinfect wounds.

 Dogs may lick wounds as a form of comfort or reassurance, much like how a mother dog would groom her puppies. It is a way for them to show love and support.

 *****Luk 16:22  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

 Life on earth can be good at times, but at some point, we die to this world.

 The one thing that happens is that there is a big difference in life with Jesus and life with the Devil.

 For Lazarus, he was no longer in misery, and angels delivered him to a wonderful place where he would never suffer again.

 Abraham's Bosom:

 We know that Abraham is the patriarch of the Hebrew children. The word "Bosom" suggests kindness, secrecy, intimacy, and security.

 Christ was in the Bosom of His Father: Joh 1:18  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 

 Jesus Christ our Savior carries His children in His Bosom: Isa 40:11  He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

 The theory of Abraham's Bosom was taught as a place of happiness where the souls of believers could expect to be upon their death before the time of Christ.

 They were sitting down and feasting with Abraham the Hebrew Father in Paradise until the Messiah came to live and die and rise to new life, for all God's children.

 Abraham's Bosom was a place of honor and the safekeeping of souls until the work of the Messiah.

 As for the rich man, he had an elaborate funeral, and then he was just buried, but that was not all; he woke up in Hell.

 Lazarus lived as he had never lived here on earth.

 He did not die. Oh, he might have left that old body wherever it was thrown. 

On the day of Lazarus, many of the poor were just tossed into the trash dump and not buried at all.

 Before that old cold body hit the ground, Lazarus was in the arms of God's angels getting a free ride to true Paradise.

 Heb 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? 

 Before the Lord emptied Paradise and took them on to Heaven, all the Old Testament Saints would have been in this place called Paradise, at least this is what the Pharisees taught.

 They would have welcomed Lazarus right on in.

 It was not the same for the rich man.

 *****Luk 16:23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 

Luk 16:24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 

 It was the death angel that snatched that rich man from his comfort and pleasures from the material things of this earth.

 The English word "Hell" comes from the Greek word "Hades". The Hebrew word for Hell is Sheol, for the world of the dead.

 This is the place the rich man was sent to. He was unfit for Paradise.

 He had lived in the only paradise this world has to offer, and the world only offers this paradise to those who are rich.

 He had lived off the material world and refused to share any part of it with the poor.

 Pro 21:13  Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. 

 This rich man only got to peek at the glory that Lazarus was now enjoying.

 *****Luk 16:24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 

Luk 16:25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

 This rich man was in a place where he was alone.

 A big mistake the rich man made was praying to Abraham. Abraham had no power to help him, even if he chose to do so.

 He could see no one else in Hell, but he could see what was happening in paradise.

 This should dampen the spirits of all those who say there will be a big party in Hell when they get there.

 What Jesus is saying is that a person will be tormented in Hell, and part of that torment is an eternity in loneliness.

 Jesus said they would face an eternal burning sensation of agony. If one drop of water could provide some relief, then this man was indeed suffering.

 Lazarus had plenty of water, but it was not to share with those in Hell.

 The rich man would never find any relief in Hell.

 The Lord Jesus says nothing about Lazarus being aware of the Hell this man was suffering.

 The Lord Jesus explains just how much misery there is with eternal life in Hell.

 We already know that there must be some places in Hell with different degrees of suffering, and it seems that this man is in a place of the least amount of suffering, but it is still eternal misery.

 The rich man begged Abraham for another chance, which could not be granted.

 He then begged Abraham to make sure someone would go to his brothers to witness to them about salvation so they would not go to Hell.

 He was saying that He did not want to ever see his brothers again and prayed they would be wiser than he had been.

 Everyone in Hell today is a prayer warrior, but it is much too late for them to pray in Hell when they should have prayed while they were alive.

 No matter what any denomination says, there are no second chances in Hell once you get there.

 No one upon this earth can pray you out of Hell!

 If they cannot trust the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation while they live, there is nothing that can change their eternal destiny.

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who tells us of a great gulf that is fixed between this Paradise and Hell.

 *****Luk 16:26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 

 Matthew Henry writes: "In this world, blessed be God, there is no gulf between a state of nature and grace; we may pass from sin to God, but if we die in our sins, there is no coming out".

 This verse is hard to explain because if we look at the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus, then we see that Moses and Elijah were already in their glorified bodies, so we cannot say they came from a place called Paradise, but they had to come from the presence of God the Father, who spoke to the Apostles Peter, James, and John.

 This was certainly the belief of the Jews, and the Lord Jesus was teaching in front of the Pharisees.

 The theory that Hell has two compartments, one for the righteous and the other a place of torment for the wicked, may be just a theory taught by the Jews.

 It is believed that the Lord Jesus is using the beliefs of these Pharisees to prove them wrong in their interpretations of the Scriptures.

 The Lord Jesus is teaching us about the contrast of life between the wicked and the righteous.

 Then the Lord Jesus teaches us the contrast between the death of the righteous and the wicked who end up in Hell.

 The Lord Jesus tells us that He drew back the veil to give us a glimpse of our life in the true Paradise.

 Where was Lazarus actually located? Rev_22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

 It was too late for the prayers of the rich man.

 *****Luk 16:27  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 

Luk 16:28  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 

 If we think about it, it is this rich man who dug this great chasm that separated him and his abundance from Lazarus. He had never thought about God being on the side of Lazarus.

 When he shut out Lazarus, he had shut out God.

 We have to be careful of these types of things as we live our lives.

 It was also too late to think about his other family members.

 Lazarus could no more bring him a drop of water than he could reappear to go warn this man's brothers.

 We can assume that this man's brothers lived by the same set of values as he had lived by.

 Abraham replied that this man’s brothers had the same Word of God that he had, the Books of Moses and of the prophets.

 The rich man said a great truth: the Books of Moses cannot save anyone. The Law can only take you so far. Only Jesus can take us to the true Paradise, Heaven.

 The truth is that people who are deaf to Moses and the Prophets would pay no attention to someone who was raised from the dead.

 *****Luk 16:30  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 

Luk 16:31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. 

 They had a lot of evidence from the time of Christ, but they had ignored the evidence that they had.

 The same thing is happening today!

 We must be believers in the Word of God to accept the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 Notice that the rich man in Hell still thinks he is smarter than Abraham, who was already in Paradise.

 The message of Hell must be presented along with the Gospel, but it must be taught in love, like all the Gospel.

 The fire we know of here upon earth is material and temporary.

 Earthly fire does not last forever!

 Nothing on this earth will last forever!

 The fires of Hell are spiritual and are eternal, never-ending.

 We cannot shrink away from the truth of Hell.

 The worst part of Hell will always be eternal separation from God!

 This one thing is much worse than any physical experience that we can imagine here in this life.

 This is the most important point that the Lord Jesus is making here.

 We must do everything we can to stay out of Hell!

 2Th 1:7  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 

2Th 1:8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 

2Th 1:9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 

2Th 1:10  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 

 

Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

 

Luk 16:17  And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 

 Amen

Are You a Prodigal

 Jesus Uses Parables to Preach the Gospel

 Book of Luke Chapter 15

 

We have answered this question before, but what is a parable?

 The Webster dictionary describes a parable this way: "A fable or allegorical relation or representation of something real in life or nature, from which a moral is drawn for instruction".

 In truth, a parable is not a fable nor an allegory.

 One commentary says: A parable makes it evident that an essential feature of the parable lies in the bringing together of two different things so that the one helps to explain and to emphasize the other.

 To make it simple, a parable was often used in a more restricted sense to denote a short narrative, under which some important truth is veiled.

 In these parables, it proves the great love God has in seeking lost sinners and His forgiveness for them if they will only repent and return to Him.

 Luke Chapter 15 begins with the Parable of sinners coming to Jesus, and next the Parable of the Lost Coin.

 We could say that Luke Chapter 15 is one of the most important chapters in the Bible.

 Our lesson spends its time on the Lost Son, whom we call the Prodigal Son.

 Praise the Lord, for He knows how to find lost things!

 I was once one of those lost things that He found.

 The Pharisees and the scribes of today see searching for the lost as a waste of time.

 What does God say? Luk 15:7  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

 Luk 15:10  Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. 

 If we make a few substitutions, we can better understand this parable.

 1) The lost son teaches us about sinful living and true repentance.

2) His father represents our Heavenly Father.

3) The other son in this parable teaches us about the self-righteous and those who reject the truth. 

 Remember this is the Lord Jesus speaking.

 ****Luk 15:11  And he said, A certain man had two sons: 

Luk 15:12  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 

 We could say the problem in this family is a problem of relationships.

 The problem of the relationship of the father to his two sons.

The problem of the relationship between the two sons and their father.

 One son will represent the sinner.

The other son will represent the Pharisee who was always against Jesus.

 The father represents the love of God for both of these sons.

 The Lord Jesus Christ died for every sinner and every Pharisee and all others on Mount Calvary.

 Those in the past, those who live now, and those who would live in the future. This also includes every Israelite.

 The truth is that man's love is narrow, shortsighted, and selfish.

We do not see much love in the world today.

 God's love is boundless, profound, reconciling, and unreserved.

 Both of these sons, in their own way, sin against the love of God.

 When we reject our Creator, we are sinning against His love!

 There are so many differences between these two sons, so it is hard to believe they are brothers.

 The one thing they have in common is that they have the same father.

 The youngest son is rebellious, as we see in many of our youths today, driven by the desire to leave home and treat his parents as if they do not exist.

 This son wants to make grown-up decisions and be his own, but no person alive then or today becomes so mature that they can declare their independence from God.

 This reminds me of all those politicians and preachers who claim to know the truth of God, but they do not uphold the truth of God's Word when dealing with the lost.

 How can any so-called Christian defend any kind of immorality when God says it is an abomination?

How can any so-called Christian defend any sin when God says for us to repent of our sinful ways?

 No one can claim they are saved and in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and then defend the sin, the wickedness, and the immorality in our nation or in our world; no matter what they say, they are liars.

 Even in Israel at the time of Jesus, it was the custom for the property to be divided among the sons after the death of the father, with the firstborn getting a double portion.

 Today, if there is a last will, the possessions of that father would be divided according to that will.

 This foolish young man convinced his father to divide his estate, which he did, and gave to both sons their inheritance while he was still alive.

 He was declaring that to him, his father was dead!

 The young man immediately exchanged his property for money.

 On that day, land and animals were a sign of wealth and not money.

 He had no intention of honoring his parents in their old age, which in that day was the responsibility of the sons.

 He severed his relationship with his father and wanted nothing else to do with his family.

 There have been many such sons and daughters who have done this today, and a great many of them have come back home because independence and the world are not what they thought they were.

 This is the picture of the sinner who wants to do with his life what he wants to and to heck with everybody else.

 *****Luk 15:13  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 

Luk 15:14  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

 In most family homes, the children are first trained to help keep the home clean, and they will have more responsibility as they get older.

 This young man wanted his independence from any such responsibility. He wanted to do his own thing and live as he wished.

 This father gave his son what he asked for.

 There is no clearer way to deny God than to give in to your own will and ignore the will of God!

 What do we see? He wasted all that his father gave him on riotous living.

 He tried to live in luxury.

He was wanton, he became immoral, and lived without moral restraints.

He was licentious, giving in to festive indulgences, which meant he lived the party life, ignoring the laws of his upbringing.

He ate only the best foods this world had to offer, no matter the cost.

 He chose a country that was far different from his father's home.

 He chose a country that was full of wickedness and immorality, where he could live a worldly, fleshy life.

 We could say he was living for pleasure.

 We know that King Solomon tried this lifestyle and found it a vain way to live.

 Solomon had much more money than this prodigal son.

 What does the word prodigal mean? One that expends money extravagantly or without necessity; one that is profuse or lavish; a waster; a spendthrift.

 In a short time, this son had spent every dime he had, as he had wasted his inheritance and was now broke in a foreign country.

 He had nothing left on this earth to help him.

 The world we live in is only nice to those who can afford it, but this world will take away everything that you have and laugh at you.

 When you wrap your life up in pleasure, you will find that the pleasures of this world get old fast.

 There is only pleasure in sin for a season.

 Isa 21:4  My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me. 

 This young man had found out that the world we live in is a corrupt world.

 I used to think we live in a nation that could not be corrupted, but I know no better.

 A certain political group has corrupted our nation, and they fight with the strength of the Devil to keep it that way.

 Proverbs 11:19 says so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. 

 Not only was he dead broke with no help, but a famine came to the country he was now living in, and he, being an illegal immigrant, would suffer even more.

 He became a slave and could only get the worst jobs.

 *****Luk 15:15  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

Luk 15:16  And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

 We should know that a Jew was forbidden by law to attach themselves to a Gentile.

 Even if we disregard this, the humiliation of cleaning hog pens was a terrible pain for this young man.

 The attitude of the Jews toward swine was also governed by the Law.

 Lev 11:7  And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 

Lev 11:8  Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. 

 In typology, those hog pens give us the picture of sin when a man is enslaved to it.

 Sin will enslave us!

 Pro 5:21  For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. 

Pro 5:22  His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. 

Pro 5:23  He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

 His bodily hunger became so great that he would have eaten the food that was given to the swine.

 The Greek text of the Bible says those husks were the pods of the carob tree, which was used for the feed of animals.

 Some say it had a sweetish taste, but it would tear your bowels up, and only the very poor would attempt to eat it.

 This young man came to his senses.

 *****Luk 15:17  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 

Luk 15:18  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 

Luk 15:19  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 

 He had sunk as low as he could go. Trying to do things his way just was not working out.

 When he could only see how his freedom had turned out, he began to think about home and the only one who had loved him, his father.

 Heaven will be so wonderful that God considers any person who rejects the Lord Jesus to be mad or insane for wanting to live in this unreal, wicked world.

 Our world is not only vain, but it is also fake.

 Our nation has been known as the land of opportunity, but it is fake.

 Only Heaven is the true land of opportunity.

 Ecc 9:5  For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 

Ecc 9:6  Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

 Inner conviction began to lead this young man to repentance.

 Repentance is the beginning of reality and the basis for building a sound life.

The beginning of repentance is thought, thinking about the need to repent and turn back to God.

 The Holy Spirit will first convince us that we are sinners.

Then He will put in our hearts that there is a God who loves us.

It is the heart that will convince us of our lost condition.

It is the heart that will bring us to confession.

This is how the Holy Spirit works to bring us under conviction.

God is Light, and God is Love.

As Light, He works in the Heart to convince us of our lost condition.

As Love, we can see in Him in His Goodness.

1Pe_5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

This son knew one thing for certain. If he remained in his condition, he knew he would perish!

His sin is staring at him in the face.

When we sin against God, we have sinned against His Love for us.

He began to think about his father and how his father had many servants, but not one of them were slaves.

They were hired help, taken care of, and fed from his father’s table.

He realized that he was no longer worthy to be considered a son and sought to just become one of his father's servants.

He knew he needed to get moving before he perished.

He knew he would have to turn from his sinful life.

He knew he would have to turn toward and move toward God.

This is repentance!

When we repent, we must turn from this world and turn toward God's New Heaven.

This begins after confession of our sin!

It was time to do this before another day passed.

*****Luk 15:20  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 

Luk 15:21  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 

Many a soul on this earth realizes their sinful life and realizes that they are not worthy to receive forgiveness, but they feel they cannot be forgiven, so they remain in their misery or seek an early death, having no hope.

When we do this, we dishonor not only ourselves, but we dishonor our Heavenly Father, who is waiting for us with open arms, with healing in His wings.

Mal_4:2  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

The greatest decision this young man would ever make was the decision to return to his father.

We need to reconcile ourselves with God!

Heb_2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

God is always ready to receive us!

God is omniscient, so this son was forgiven before he even confessed!

Repentance is the sign that we are sincere when we confess.

There is a movement in many places of worship to remove this step to salvation.

People want to be saved and then work on repentance, but repentance will not come without the help of the Holy Spirit.

God sees we are sincere when we turn from our wicked ways!

This is why the father ran to meet his son!

The God of the New Testament, the Father of all mankind, is most clearly revealed in His compassion.

When we take one step toward God, He will take two steps toward us!

Psa 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 

When this son returns to his father, he finds out that his father has never stopped loving him.

His heart had gone with his son even when he was far off.

This is the example the Lord Jesus was making.

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

It was time for a feast.

*****Luk 15:22  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 

Luk 15:23  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 

Luk 15:24  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 

This young son was now accepted and restored, but it would not have happened if he had not returned.

Before this son says just make me one of your servants, the heart of the father has taken over.

It is the position of our Heavenly Father that determines that we are still His sons and daughters.

Repentance is the key to returning to the arms of God.

When we walk through Heaven's Gates, we will walk in as a son or daughter who has returned home!

Luk_15:10  Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Our dirty, rotten, sinful clothing will be removed, and a robe of salvation will be given to us.

Notice an important point: the servants of this father knew exactly where this robe had been hanging in anticipation of the return of this son.

Not only do we have a mansion in Heaven prepared by the Lord, but there is also a Robe of Righteousness awaiting us.

Isa_61:10  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

The best robe we will ever wear is the robe we receive when we get to Heaven.

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

We will receive a ring as a sign of special honor and dignity: Gen 41:42  And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 

Those new shoes show that we now walk with our Heavenly Father.

Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

We should notice that this son receives much more than he received when he left.

That fatted calf is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was slain for our sins.

Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

There is much more that we can get from this parable of the Prodigal Son if we just take it to heart and remember our own salvation.

Amen

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb

 The Great Banquet and Discipleship

 Book of Luke Chapter 14

 

  The chief Pharisee of the Jews invited the Lord Jesus to a meal at his home on a Sabbath Day.

 The word Sabbath signifies a Day of Rest, a Sabbath of the soul.

 The Sabbath is the sign of the covenant between the LORD and His earthly people, the Israelites.

 Exo 31:13  Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

Exo_31:14  Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

 In reality, the Sabbath represents the soul resting in Jesus Christ: Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God, the Church. 

 Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 

Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 

 The Pharisees had no clue about the truth of the Sabbath, but they intended to somehow get the Lord Jesus to stumble on the day of this feast.

 What is the truth of the Sabbath? Jesus said: Mar 2:27  And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 

Mar 2:28  Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. 

 The priests of the Temple had much work to do on the Sabbath days, yet they were not considered to be breaking the Law of the Sabbath.

 Mat 12:5  Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 

 Every Jew would take care of their animals on the Sabbath, just as they would on any other day, and it was not considered work.

 The point being that the Lord Jesus Christ is far greater than any priest, and the Lord Jesus also had work to do.

 *****Luk 14:15  And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

 To eat bread in the Kingdom of God means to be among those who are present in the joys of the Messianic Kingdom.

 Here we see a self-righteous man is smugly sure that he will be among the righteous who will be in Heaven.

 The main importance of this passage is to get a clear picture of the invitation of the Lord to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, which cannot happen until we have accepted that the Lord Jesus is the Messiah sent from God.

 1Jn 2:22  Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 

1Jn 2:23  Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 

 We know that we cannot get to Heaven without the Lord Jesus Christ.

 To these self-righteous Pharisees, they could think only of the Messianic Feast.

 This was a supposed feast given to God's people, the Jews only, when He sets up His Millennial Kingdom.

 The Lord Jesus will use another parable to explain to this Pharisee the error in his thought process.

 It was customary for guests who were invited to these feasts of the Pharisees to attend.

 Israel had actually been invited to the Messianic Feast by God's messengers, the Prophets, but they had all made excuses about attending in an insulting manner.

 If any people thought that God owed them a place in the Messianic Kingdom, it was these Pharisees.

 They felt they would have the highest seats in God's Kingdom.

 The Lord Jesus begins to teach a parable that they found easy to understand.

 *****Luk 14:16  Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 

Luk 14:17  And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 

 This parable sends out a strong message to all the people of this earth for whom the Lord Jesus Christ died.

 No one can be saved or attend this feast unless they have received an invitation and have responded to it!'

This feast is the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. 

Those who make excuses will remain lost!

 All things are ready for today is the Day of Salvation.

 2Co_6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 The invitation is sent to all who have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, seen the Gospel, or read the Gospel.

 What has Israel done with the Lord's invitation, along with many others?

 *****Luk 14:18  And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 

Luk 14:19  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 

Luk 14:20  And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 

 We must keep in mind that God wants to share His riches with all people, but God also has determined the process of accepting His invitation.

 All these people mentioned had received God's invitation, and now it was time to decide on attending.

 God sent His servant to remind them that they had received an invitation.

 We should notice that God's invitations had first been sent to the super religious men of Israel, the Pharisees.

 Joh 7:47  Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? 

Joh 7:48  Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? 

 The modern Pharisees are all those who believe they will get into God's Heaven because of their good works.

 What had the Lord Jesus said? Mat_19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

 There is no work we can do to get into God's Heaven; we reach Heaven only if we have "faith" in the work of Lord Jesus Christ to bring forgiveness to us.

 They all agreed to make excuses for rejecting God's invitation to the Feast of God.

 The first excuse came from a businessman.

 His excuse was that he had bought a piece of land and he needed to look after it.

 If God is the center of our life, then any business, any profession, or any affair would not be allowed to consume our life, and God would be first in our lives.

 ,Next, we see a man who was wrapped up in a new purchase.

 An oxen team would be like buying a new tractor to plow with today, and he wanted to go play on it.

 It could be a new house, a new car, a new motorcycle, or even a new television, all material things, but material things should never keep us away from God.

 Third, we see a man who was wrapped up in his family.

 He had made a new marriage, and even if this marriage was ordained of God, we are never to put our wives before God. This is what Adam did, and sin entered the world, and we are still suffering with sin today.

 Salvation is just too important for us to give it up for material things, or family and friends, or any other reason.

 When we show contempt for the Word of God, we should not wonder that God gets angry.

 We know that some in Israel have accepted God's invitation, but there is still much room for many more.

 *****Luk 14:21  So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 

Luk 14:22  And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 

Luk 14:23  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

 Now the Lord sends His invitation to the Gentiles.

 We should understand that nothing will make God stop His plan of salvation.

 No power on this earth can cause God to cease His invitation to receive the free gift of salvation.

 To compel does not mean to coerce people to come to God; it means to assure them that it was God who sent them an invitation.

 We must all clearly understand that just getting an invitation to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb does not mean we will be accepted.

 There will still be a Marriage Feast in Heaven, whether we have been invited or not!

 The Lord Jesus is going to fill His banquet hall, but time is running out to accept His invitation.

 The Lord Jesus invites those who need some help to get to the banquet.

All sinners need the Lord’s help to get to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!

The self-righteous need no help; they will be rejected.

 If you are a sinner, you will need the Lord's help to be accepted to the Feast.

 If you are too poor, the Lord will provide the right clothing.

 2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

 Mat 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 If you are lame or crippled, the Lord will provide the means to get to His Feast.

 If you are blind, the Lord will guide or direct you to His Feast.

 As long as the Lord has room at His table, He will continue to accept us at His Feast through His “Mercy” and “Grace”. 

But those who were first invited and had nothing but excuses for not coming, they will not be accepted to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb of God.

 God said His House shall be filled! Therefore came "Grace".

Grace makes a way because the Law has failed!

 *****Luk 14:24  For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

These are the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Those who would be rejected were the ones the Lord Jesus was eating with at that time.

These are the ones the Lord Jesus used this parable on.

Though a few of the Israelites have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior, the majority of them have rejected Him.

The Apostle Paul wrote: Act 13:46  Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 

Act 13:47  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 

The Lord Jesus is not through with them, but they will go through the seven years of Tribulation.

Rom 11:11  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 

Rom 11:15  For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

God had shown His "Grace" to the Israelites many times throughout the Old Testament, but they could not comprehend the power of God’s Grace at that time. Israel will join the Church that is planted by the Lord Jesus Christ.

For the Jews, there were two stages: the present age and the age to come, which was the Messiah's reign on this earth.

The prophets had written much about these things.

Because they reject the New Testament, they have missed New Heaven and New Jerusalem.

The redeemed believers of all ages will live in New Jerusalem.

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

The New Jerusalem is also the New Heaven, the Kingdom of God.

This is the place of all God's banquets.

Mat 8:11  And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 

This is not the place of unbelievers.

Mat 8:12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

Heaven is a real place!

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 

Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 

Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 

There is still time to get an invitation to the Marriage  Supper of the Lamb, but time is running out.

God has made a way for the Israelites after and during the Tribulation period, but He has not made a way for Gentiles.

Amen

The Way of the Truth of God

 Repentance, False Religion, and the True Way

 Book of Luke Chapter 13

 

The Lord Jesus Christ was preaching about the signs of the times, or we could say the sins of the times.

 These are the same sins we have today, only they are getting worse.

 If we analyze the present time according to the Word of God that we have, we should be able to see that time is running out to make a decisive choice about the truth of Jesus Christ.

 Jesus said to the crowd: Luk 12:54  And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. 

Luk 12:55  And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. 

Luk 12:56  Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? 

 The Lord Jesus called them hypocrites because they could look at the patterns of the weather to see what was coming next, but they kept their eyes closed when it came to their spiritual condition.

 Most of the time we think much too much of ourselves!

 They knew the laws of nature and how to apply them, but they were ignoring the Law of God, and they lived according to their own thoughts and the ways of the world.

 God had explained that judgment was coming, but the Word of God was ignored.

 They did not think about the time in which they lived because they did not want to repent and place their lives in the hands of God.

 Their greatest mistake they made was not considering that our lives are already in the hands of God!

 If we know only one thing, it is that we are responsible for knowing right from wrong!

 Normally, this is the first lesson we try to teach our children.

 If we have a personal relationship with God, then we can be where God wants us to be, and God can save us.

 The Lord Jesus always seeks the salvation of each of us so He can show us mercy.

 Mercy means we will not get what we deserve, which is eternal death.

 Num 14:18  The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression,

 Psa 103:8  The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 

 The next question would then be, "Why do good people suffer"?

 One answer would be that we do not suffer more because we are far worse than others, so we can remove this from our thought process.

 *****Luk 13:1  There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 

Luk 13:2  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 

Luk 13:3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 

Luk 13:4  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 

Luk 13:5  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 

 Rome considered the Galileans the most turbulent and seditious people under their control.

 They were always ready to cause problems for Roman authority.

 The Apostles that Jesus had selected were all Galileans, either by birth or by where they lived.

 Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 

 Most of the Jews could tell if you were a Galilean by the way that you talked. Just ask Peter.

 Mat 26:73  And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 

 It would be sort of like the speech of us Southerners and those who live in the North of our own nation.

 Many would actually call Jesus Christ the Galilean God.

 This was used many times to keep from using the title Christian during the time of the early Church.

 The truth was, Pilate hated the Galileans so much that his army surrounded a group of Galileans at the Temple, where they had gone to worship, and murdered them and poured their blood on the sacrifices that were being made to God.

 By doing this, Pilate also showed his contempt for the sacrificial services of the Jews.

 The question to the Lord Jesus Christ was that these Galileans must have been sinners far greater than other men.

 They suggested that it was not so much the cruelty of Pilate as it was the judgment of God.

 The Lord Jesus said: "It is not up to any of us to decide whose sins are worse than others".

 Jesus's answer to these Jews was "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish".

 We know that there were not many of the Jews who did repent, and they were all slaughtered by the Romans in 70 A D.

 The Romans did to the Jews what Pilate had done to these Galileans.

 The answer is that we do not suffer more in this world just because we are greater sinners than most others.

 We are all sinners in need of repentance!

Every sin has the same "judgment" from God, eternal death without God.

 In fact, totally innocent people suffer, and we do not know any reason beyond the providence of God.

 We do know this verse we see so much: Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

 Then the Lord Jesus adds another incident.

 There was a great tragedy in Jerusalem when eighteen men were killed because a guard tower at the pool of Siloam fell and killed them all.

 Some commentaries say it was eighteen construction workers who were killed.

 Some say that Pilate used the Temple money to construct an aqueduct into Jerusalem, and some of the Jews said this was the reason these men were killed, again by God Himself, but it was merely an accident that happened to men trying to make a living for their families.

 Were these eighteen greater sinners than others in Jerusalem?

 Did they deserve to die more than others who live?

 We might ask ourselves, why are we allowed to live and others are not?

 The Lord Jesus said it was not because they had greater sin than others.

 There again Jesus said: "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish".

 It is not up to us to raise the question of the guilt of others.

 Do I believe there may be different levels of suffering in Hell? Yes, I do.

 Most suffering of the sinner upon this earth is caused by themselves.

 Go to the hospitals and see if you can tell who is good and who is bad.

 Much of our suffering as we get older is because of the way we lived our lives when we were younger.

 No one suffers upon this earth because we think they are greater sinners than others.

 These things are all in the hands of God!

 The greatest thing we can do is to repent and be saved, so we know we will not suffer in Hell.

 Heaven is going to be so wonderful. Why would anybody not want to spend eternity there?

 We cannot afford to die without Jesus Christ!

 Again, the Lord Jesus teaches us with a parable.

 *****Luk 13:6  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 

Luk 13:7  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 

Luk 13:8  And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 

Luk 13:9  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. 

 Israel is God's people.

 The Church is God's people.

 God expects us all who love Him to bear fruit.

 The fruit God expects from all His people is the Fruit of the Spirit!

 Isa 44:3  For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: 

Isa 44:4  And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. 

 Joh 7:37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 

Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 

Joh 7:39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

 Israel thought they were safe because they were the seed of Abraham under the promises of God.

 Israel did not even realize the precarious state in which they were in.

 (By the way, the Church is sinking so fast that the Church does not realize the precarious state it is in).

 It was totally inappropriate to speculate about the Galileans, and it was foolish to forget the people of Jerusalem.

 We could understand this parable as showing these Jews their own history that hangs over their heads.

 But without a doubt, it should also wake up the Church, which lives by the Grace of God.

 There will come a time when God elects to cut down fruitless trees.

 We must understand the need for repentance: Mat 21:28  But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 

Mat 21:29  He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 

Mat 21:30  And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 

Mat 21:31  Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 

 Repentance is a change of mind that brings a complete change in the heart. It is a heartfelt sorrow for sin and a confession of that sin, turning to God and righteousness.

 One day God's patience will run out with this world: 2Pe 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 

2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 

2Pe 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

 Israel is the fig tree of the Lord. Israel must stand before God in its righteousness.

 Adam and Eve, after falling into sin, tried to cover themselves with the leaves of a fig tree.

 Gen 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 

 This man-made apron could not cover their nakedness, so God made them garments of skin.

 They then stood before God covered by a sacrificial lamb, which we know now as Jesus Christ.

 This is the only way every single sinner can stand before our Holy God.

 We know of another Scripture that says the Lord Jesus sought fruit again from the fig tree and could not find it, and the fig tree withered away and died after the Lord Jesus cursed it.

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ who spent three years trying to convince the Jews to repent, but they would not.

 Jhn_1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 The Church also needs to repent and get busy for the Lord!

 It is God Himself who is looking for fruit!

 All those places of worship producing no fruit are just wasting space!

 Mat 3:10  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

Mat 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 

Mat 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

 *****Luk 13:10  And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

Luk 13:11  And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 

Luk 13:12  And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 

Luk 13:13  And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.  

 This is possibly the last time that the Lord Jesus got to teach in a synagogue of the Jews.

 This healing took place on a Sabbath, and we see that healing was not allowed on the Sabbath because it was considered to be work and not a movement of God.

 The Lord Jesus was doing exactly what He came to do.

 Luk_19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 Heb 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

 We can see that the Jewish synagogues were places where women could also worship along with religionists.

 That phrase "spirit of infirmity" probably means that this illness she had was because of a demon.

 So, we see that the devil and his demons try to be present in every worship service, and he still does this today.

 This woman had reached a point where she could no longer lift herself, but if she had not been committed to worship, she would have missed this opportunity when the Lord Jesus showed up at the worship service.

 Worship at church reaches another level when the Lord Jesus shows up to worship with us!

 We already know that God sings with us when we sing in our worship service.

 Zep 3:17  The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 

 When we rejoice in the Lord, we can have the Holy Spirit with us, the Almighty God singing, and the presence of the Lord Jesus to heal us.

 This illness this woman suffered with was for eighteen years, and she may not have been able to make it to another worship service if not for Christ also being there on that day.

 This type of illness is, in typology, a spiritual weakness in those who are weighed down by the Laws of Moses.

 This is what the Law does: it requires those who follow it to meet certain conditions before they can claim righteousness and escape the judgment of God.

Today, we call this legalism!

 The Law cannot make anyone righteous!

 Gal 3:11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 

Gal 3:12  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 

 This woman had a true Spiritual need!

 The Lord Jesus laid His wonderful healing hands upon her.

 This woman had not asked for anything; the Lord Jesus just knows our needs.

 She was no longer bowed over but was straightened.

 Such wonderful things are overlooked by traditionalists.

 *****Luk 13:14  And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 

Luk 13:15  The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 

Luk 13:16  And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 

Luk 13:17  And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. 

 The Lord stepped into a synagogue and just ruined the service for all those religionists, and they would not allow Him into another synagogue during the time He had left.

 Much of the Church would not allow the Lord Jesus to preach in any service today.

 Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 

Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 

This man worshipped God, but he did not worship the same God as this woman who was healed.

 The ruler of this synagogue was an arrogant man who was self-righteous because he followed the traditions of men rather than the Word of God.

 This woman sought God to meet her needs.

 This synagogue leader sought God through form and rituals, ceremony and rules.

 This is not what the worship of God is to be about.

 This man lost his temper with the Lord Jesus Christ, and this is not a good thing in any worship service.

 The Lord Jesus said he was a hypocrite and he was.

 He had already taken care of his animals before he came to worship, all these things done on the same Sabbath.

 He was a leader who put his own animals and his own rules above the people and above the Word of God.

 There are church leaders who do this same thing today!

 The Jewish people had allowed their religious leaders to corrupt the Word of God.

 The people inside this synagogue began to see the truth and rejoiced to hear the truth from the Lord Jesus.

 The Lord Jesus continued to travel and teach through the cities and villages that were between Him and Jerusalem.

 *****Luk 13:22  And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 

Luk 13:23  Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

 Just who are the saved?

 Will many of the world be saved?

 Jesus will answer these questions Himself.

 The Lord Jesus Christ knew exactly what was going to happen to Him in Jerusalem!

 This did not alter His message.

 The Lord Jesus would be killed by the hands of the Jewish people.

 Mat_27:25  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

 The Lord Jesus just kept doing what His Father sent Him to do as He traveled to His death.

 Then someone asked Him: Lord, are there few that be saved?

 Notice the Lord Jesus is not so much concerned by the question as He is by that person who asked the question.

 This is still one of the biggest questions asked by those who are religious.

 Many religions, including some Christians, still try to find some way to deny those whom they do not like the opportunity to get to God's Heaven.

 It is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can set the boundaries of getting to Heaven.

 It is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can separate the sheep from the goats.

 Only God can open the door to Heaven, and it is by His Grace through His Son Jesus!

 This doorway is narrow, and the Lord is the door!

 Jhn_10:7  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Jhn_10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

 There is a great price to be paid to get the Lord Jesus to open the door to Heaven.

 No halfhearted people can get through the door!

 The Apostle Paul wrote: 1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 

1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 

1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 

1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

 It is by repentance and by renouncing our self-righteousness, our arrogance, and our own self-will.

 It is difficult to enter this door when it is open and impossible once it is closed!

 We must be doers of the Word of God!

 Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 

Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 

Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 The Lord Jesus continues:

 *****Luk 13:24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 

 The way to salvation is specific, very specific!

 1) There are not many ways to salvation; there is only one way to salvation.

 Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

 2) The way to salvation is straight, very straight!

 It is not crooked in direction, it is not crooked in purpose, it is not crooked in morals.

 There is nothing in salvation that will make us great, so we must become small.

 We must be in the right relationship with God!

 Joh 14:7  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

 We must diligently seek God!

 Most of those in our world are not willing to pay the price.

 The Lord knows it so, therefore the gate is narrow.

 *****Luk 13:25  When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 

 We must understand that God is long-suffering and truly patient, but there will come a moment when God puts an end to entering the Door of Jesus Christ!

 In the Bible, we have a great example in Noah.

 Gen 7:15  And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 

Gen 7:16  And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: "and the LORD shut him in". 

 The salvation of God is now, today, that door may be closed tomorrow.

 If your name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, then the Lord Jesus will say that He does not know you, and if He does not know you, then the God of Heaven does not know you.

 Luk_10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

 It will be too late to call for the "Mercy of God," and He will cut off the flow of "Grace" from His throne.

 *****Luk 13:26  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 

 Then those who have had one foot in the Church and the other foot in the world will be rejected.

 They were friends of true Christians.

They listened to the preacher, and they may have even attended Sunday School.

They had witnessed great movements of the Holy Spirit and had seen souls who were truly saved.

 They were citizens of so-called Christian nations.

They even allowed their streets to be used for evangelism.

 However, they professed a relationship with Jesus Christ that they did not have.

 Tit 1:15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 

Tit 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. 

 We should understand that the Lord Jesus was outside the doors of the Church at one time, knocking, almost begging for them to let Him back in.

 Now we see just the opposite. We see those who were playing Church on the outside of the door of salvation begging the Lord Jesus Christ to let them in.

 What will the Lord Jesus say to them?

 *****Luk 13:27  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 

Luk 13:28  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

 We see that the saved shall be separated from the lost, and it appears that those who are lost will get to see those who are saved enter into the Kingdom of God.

 Mat 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

 On the day of the Rapture, many will look around and wonder why they were left behind.

 They will be upset with themselves and with God's saints who are no longer on this planet.

 They will see godly parents, friends, children, and neighbors enter the Kingdom of God and see themselves shut out.

 They had not denied themselves: Luk 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

 *****Luk 13:29  And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. 

Luk 13:30  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. 

Those who were saved are mainly Gentiles, and the Lord will do a new work on the Jews after and during the seven years of Tribulation.

There is a revival of sorts today in many nations, though not in the USA.

We need to be praying for a revival while there may still be time to have one.

I have never seen so much sin and corruption in our nation as I see today, and no one seems to care.

Our politicians have allowed these things to go on for far too long.

Those who are lost have their conscience seared with a hot iron and do not see the sin and corruption in our land today.

Those who are corrupt accuse everyone else of being corrupt to hide their own corruption.

They have it in their minds that we are all fools when they are not fooling anybody.

The great "Marriage Supper" of the Lamb of God is closer than we think, and we must know that we know we are saved.

There will be no classes of people in Heaven. Race will not be considered, nor riches, nor classes of people.

Only Christians will be there, those who love the Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart.

Act 10:34  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 

Act 10:35  But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 

Amen