The Plan Of God's Servant
"The Course Of This Age"
Book of Mark Chapter 13:1-23
When we last left Jesus, He was inside the Temple complex observing those who were giving to the work of the Lord.
Many of the activities of our Lord the last week of His life centered on the Temple that sat in Jerusalem.
It is a shame that so many in the world seek proof that the Jewish Temple even existed and existed on the Temple Mount that now has the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim Mosque, built where the Temple once stood.
Jesus will foretell of the complete destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem.
The Bible has already foretold of it's still future reconstruction in many places!
Let's begin:
*****Mar 13:1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
Jesus had withstood the entire religious system of Jerusalem by exposing their true character.
Jesus had wept over the city of Jerusalem.
Jesus would leave the Temple for the last time and He would tell the disciples of it's complete destruction.
No doubt these disciples thought a great deal about the beauty of the Temple that stood in Jerusalem but man's monuments just do not stand the test of time.
The Jewish Temple was first built in 960 BC by King Solomon.
It is important to understand that God created this entire world that we can see and still much more that we cannot see and it is God that makes the rules for all His creation!
God had explained to Adam the result of sin, but Adam had still not obeyed.
In spite of this God still loved humans and had mercy on them.
Before Jesus Christ, and His death, and His resurrection, and His ascension back to the glory world, God provided a way for people to atone for sin.
This was the purpose of the Tabernacle and then the Temple, places to get right with God!
In the times of kings this Temple was plundered by the rulers of many nations and many times it had been repaired.
King Nebuchadnezzar stole all the Temple's gold vessels and took them to Babylon and 11 years after this, he caused that the Temple be destroyed in 586 BC.
It is believed, that it was at this time, that the Ark of the Covenant disappeared and has never been found.
50 years later, the Lord sent Zerubbubel to rebuild the Temple after King Darius of Persia allowed some of the Jews to return to Jerusalem.
This Temple was completed in 516 BC, 70 years after it's destruction just as prophesied.
The people who still lived and that had seen Solomon's Temple wept over Zerubbubel's Temple because it was so modest in comparison to that of Solomon's.
It is this same Temple that King Herod rebuilt between 20BC and AD 64, a period of over 80 years.
This Temple was completely destroyed by the Romans in AD 70 and this is the destruction that Jesus will begin to describe in our passage.
Will the Temple be rebuilt again?
1) Many people believe that the Temple will just remain the hearts of believers but that is not true. The Holy Spirit has a great desire to live in the Temple of our hearts but so many resist Him.
Act 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye
2) Many believe that the Temple will be rebuilt, as do I but probably not before the Rapture of the Church.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
The Temple must be rebuilt before the Anti-Christ can sit in the Holy of Holies, in the Temple of God!
Because Satan cannot enter into any believer!
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
3) The Lord Jesus said it was He that is the true Temple, as I also believe.
Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Joh 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
4) The believer is truly God's Holy Temple!
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
The Temple in Jerusalem was truly a beautiful place but most of man's downfall is because of man's love for doomed things!
1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
*****Mar 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
The Jews were extremely proud of the Temple in Jerusalem. By this time of Jesus work on the Temple had been going on for at least 46 years.
Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
And history tells us that work was not completed until 64 AD.
The Temple was built of white marble with some stones 60 feet in length. and 18 feet high by 16 feet thick.
This wonderful white marble was decorated with gold.
The last Temple, or Herod's Temple was a beautiful work of man-made construction!
From the "court of the Gentiles" the ground level raised 8 feet to the "court of the women".
From the "court of the women" the ground level raised another 10 feet to the "court of Israel".
From the " court of Israel" the ground level raised another 3 feet to the "court of the priests".
From the "court of the priests" the ground level raised another 8 feet to the floor of the Temple itself.
And the Temple was marvelous to gaze upon from the Mount of Olives.
But the disciples of Jesus did not view the Temple as did the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said that the fall of this Temple would be so great that there would not be one stone left upon another!
The Jewish historian Josephus wrote, that Caesar had given orders that that city of Jerusalem and the Temple to be demolished and laid so completely to the ground, that there be not even enough left to make those who would come later believe that it even existed and many still do.
Many have their doubts today that such a Temple existed but recent explorations have proven it did exist.
The Muslim Mosque, the Dome of the Rock is centered on bare projecting rock measuring 60 by 40 feet.
What do we know of this rock?
1Ch 21:18 Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
1Ch 21:19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD.
1Ch 21:20 And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.
1Ch 21:21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
1Ch 21:22 Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.
This is why this site was chosen by the Muslim!
Their intention was then and is now, to desecrate the things of God!
Allah is not Jehovah, the Tri-Une God!
But the disciples wanted to know the future.
*****Mar 13:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
Mar 13:4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
We may not know which one of these four disciples had glorified the beauty of the Temple, but these 4 wanted to know when the Temple would be destroyed.
Herod's Temple was not considered to be totally completed until 64 AD.
The Jewish religious leaders and the elders of Israel had allowed the defilement of the Temple and Jesus had departed from it and left it desolate.
Jesus Christ will leave every House of God desolate, that does not make that house a house of prayer, to the One True God!
Notice it says in the Book of Revelation, The Lord is on the outside, knocking on the door to get back in!
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.
Why would the Temple be destroyed?
Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Mat 23:36 Verily I say unto you, "All these things shall come upon this generation".
God would allow the Romans to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple which happened in 70 AD, only 6 years after Herod's Temple was completed.
It is likely that these disciples thought that all these things would take place in their life time and they would also witness the Second Coming of Our Lord but that did not happen.
What Jesus does say is that the generation that sees all His prophesy take place will be the last generation before His Millennial reign.
Now, there is no one that completely understands all prophesy!
BUT, We can be sure that what God has said, will come to pass!
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
God gives us all a 4 fold warning!
If we look in the context of the last days we will see these signs of things to avoid:
A) We must avoid being a victim of religious deception.
B) We must avoid being discouraged by persecution.
C) We must avoid being impressed by false signs and wonders.
D) We must avoid the temptation to set dates for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Jesus had already wept over Jerusalem, so how did He respond to this question?
*****Mar 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
Mar 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
What is deception?
Deception is the misapplication of the truth, in order to mislead.
The world is full of deceivers!
Jesus said the first sign of His Second Coming, would be the fact that many men would proclaim that they are the true Messiah.
There have already been many pretending to come from God with some new revelation since the death of Jesus Christ.
What is the greatest sign of a false Messiah?
Innocent people die!
There is a great difference in life and life eternal and death for the sake of death!
It is amazing how many deceivers have already been seen throughout the ages, with their false salvation programs!
It is also amazing that this world we live in, truly rejects the Lord Jesus Christ but the world will go after such men who claim to be the Messiah and offer so little proof of that claim.
The end of the Church Age will be marked by religious apostasy!
This "apostasy" is the abandonment of the true "Faith" in Jesus Christ.
And, just as many claim to be the Messiah, there will be many who falsely claim to be Christians.
The entire New Testament establishes this fact:
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
We may not know the exact day nor the exact hour, but we do see "deception" in our world increasing in every way, everyday that we live.
And the Bible still says:
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
People deceiving other people.
Governments deceiving people.
False religions deceiving people.
The rewriting of the scriptures deceiving people.
Even those in the Church falling away because of this deception.
We may not know the exact time, But because we can see all these things, We Do Know It Will Be Soon!
*****Mar 13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
Mar 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
Until I was drafted to serve in the Army in 1970, I did not pay much attention to the world that we live in.
It was good to be an American and it still is. Since that time, I do not remember a year when there was not some war raging somewhere and certainly rumors of war continuously.
These are things that are going to happen until the very end!
But to know the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior is also to realize that to trust in Him is to place my worries in His hands.
We may ask ourselves why?
God teaches us the simple explanation.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Psa 82:5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
What is destroying the foundations of our world?
God asked this:
Psa 82:1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
Psa 82:2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
It is the duty of every judge to protect the innocent and the poor, but these things are reversed in the societies of our world.
Corruption at the upper levels of every nation, have not only excused the wicked, but even decided in their favor, and against all that is righteous.
Those in power think only of themselves!
The basic foundations of society can be found in the Book of Genesis.
1.) The Creation of "life" itself, is being destroyed by the lie of Evolution.
2.) The institution of the family, which is the basis of every nation, is being destroyed by immorality, abortion and the gay lifestyle.
3.) The institution of government is being destroyed by ignoring the basic laws of God, the 10 Commandments.
4.) The institution of marriage is being destroyed by the lies of the gay lifestyle and immoral living.
5) Cultures of each separate society is being destroyed by leaning toward a one rule government.
6.) Every institution that had it's beginning in the Book of Genesis, the Book of the Beginnings, is being attacked and systematically destroyed by the evil of this world.
This is why there is such a great attack on the Book of Genesis!
If you destroy the foundations of anything, that structure will collapse!
If you want to destroy any building, you are guaranteed early success if you first destroy the foundation.
God says if you want things to improve then you have only one choice:
Psa 82:4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Get the innocent out of the hand of the wicked!
Jesus says this will not happen at the hands of mankind!
Nations will rise up against other nations. These are major wars.
Kingdoms will rise up against kingdoms, these are civil wars.
Because of technology, we hear the fact that earthquakes are happening just about everywhere and seem to be increasing and more devastating.
More people in this world we live in, die of starvation than from any other source.
One eighth of the world's population starves to death yearly, with 7 out of every 8 being children.
Starvation and abortion and divorce, are destroying our children!
There is a war going on behind the scenes, for population control and race domination. This war takes it's greatest toil on children!
Children starving, children dieing because of abortion, and selective fertilization, just to name a few.
One half of our world makes less than 2 dollars per day, yet it could take just the amount of money spent on perfume to feed every starving person in this world for an entire year.
And do not be deceived, there is enough food raised on this earth to feed all the world's population!
Even Judas said that one bottle of perfume could have fed more than 300 people for a day but Judas said this knowing his own greed for riches:
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
Starvation is the leading killer of the world's children, and the world's people and why?
The leading cause of poverty, is the control of the world's resources by powerful men who are just simply evil!
They are all like Judas!
Job said these words:
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Job 14:2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: "he fleeth also as a shadow", and continueth not
A shadow flees from light until it can find total darkness!
These evil men are the same ones that love darkness more than the light!
The leading cause of wars and rumors of wars and the poor of our world, is because of these evil men seeking to control of the world's resources and having no regard for human beings.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Those "troubles" are disturbances! They could describe, hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons, and tsunamis but these troubles can also mean sedition or revolt and rebellion against tyranny.
Sedition happens when powerful and evil men control the world's resources.
BUT, the greatest famine in the last of the last days will be a famine from the Word of God!
As we see these things happen, Jesus says, these are just the beginnings of the end!
We can be sure that the disciples were seeing these things as they began the Church and Jesus was also speaking of what is happening in our world today!
Then Jesus gives a warning to all His disciples but especially to the 11 that were with Him this day.
*****Mar 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
We must be prepared to defend the truth of the Gospel along with ourselves and our families!
This is not to say, we will start our own war, but when God says to put on the Holy Armor, this means we will be in a spiritual war, but a war that can cause our physical death.
Of the 11 disciples that began the early Church only the Apostle John lived to be an old man. The world destroyed the other apostles.
But God's Word cannot be destroyed nor stopped!
Satan hates God's people and He will do everything he can to stop the spread of the "Gospel"!
Satan has already used the Roman Caesars, the Spanish inquisitors, the Holy Roman emperors, Communism, and many evil dictators and along with these, he has infiltrated every government and has also made his way inside the church.
The persecuted church faces it's greatest war in these end times!
We do not see much of it in the news but there are more Christian martyrs today than at any time in the history of the church!
But the "Gospel" must still go forward and it is!
*****Mar 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
The great commission given to the Church is to preach the "Gospel of the kingdom" to all nations.
That kingdom is achieved "on this earth" with every saved soul that comes to Jesus!
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Until the Rapture of the Church, God's spiritual kingdom is within each individual believer.
And, Within each individual believer must be that treasury of God's truth, which is the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ".
But individual believers can still only be a partial revelations of God's Glory!
In every case it is the Lamb of God, that must sit on the throne in the midst of God's kingdom!
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The Christian Temple must be a place of sacrifice.
The Christian Temple must be a place of worship.
The Christian Temple must be a Holy Place.
The Christian Temple must be dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ who abides within that Christian Temple.
This is the "Gospel of God's Kingdom" that must be spread throughout all nations, until the end of the Church Age!
This challenge to the Church will remain far from completion and upon the Rapture, the Holy Spirit will begin again to save souls until the second return of Christ Jesus to this earth.
Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
None of those that reject Jesus Christ in the Church Age will be in this great number that are saved during the Tribulation Period.
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
But to the Apostles and also to those that are persecuted during the Church Age, Jesus gives us these words:
*****Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Mar 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
Mar 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
There is a time coming and now exist in many nations that the Christian will be persecuted just for teaching and preaching the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ. For the 12 apostles that time was immediate!
In America there is such a thing as "hate crime legislation" that will most likely allow the Word of God to be treated as a hateful language against the evils of this world.
BUT as Christians, we are to take a stand on the Word of God:
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, "to stand".
If we have taken that stand, then one day we will be "led" not "forced" before the judge, to defend the Word of God, and very willing do so!
1) 11 of the apostles were martyred because they stood on the Word of God.
2) John the Baptist was martyred because he stood on the Word of God.
3) Only the apostle John is said to have died of old age but their are many things told of John, that would have killed a normal man. God had a special task for John who brought us the Book of Revelation.
4) A Christian of today will not be treated differently!
When this happens, then our defence will be provided by the Holy Spirit who abides in every believer.
Jesus is our example in all things but especially in this:
Act 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
Act 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophesy.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Our fulfillment is to follow the Lord, when these things happen!
We are all in the hands of God and it may be that God will not allow most of us to be delivered to such men, but we already know that many will be.
Remember these words:
2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
History has proven that even families take separate sides in most every conflict.
Treachery and betrayal always show up in times of persecution!
But these things will be more prevalent in the time of the Tribulation period.
Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, [I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held]:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
No mercy will be shown by the Anti-Christ to anyone who proclaims the Lord Jesus Christ!
BUT, We only get to see "the beginning" of these things as part of the Church!
*****Mar 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Mar 13:15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
Mar 13:16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
Mar 13:17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mar 13:18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
Mar 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
Many say that this prophesy was fulfilled at the destruction of the Temple and of Jerusalem in 70 AD and it was, but only in part!
When the Anti-Christ arrives, and he may be actually on the scene now but only in the background, he will eventually become the world's dictator.
It is believed that at this time, he will unveil his secret plans to the world by seizing a newly rebuilt Jewish Temple and putting his own image within the Holy of Holies.
Now the Jews may not know who the true Messiah is, but they sure know who he is not and a war will break out, ending the false peace of the Anti-Christ!
The Anti-Christ will then command for all people to seek the "mark of the beast".
It is those martyrs under the altar that have refused this mark!
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
God says this Anti-Christ is just only part of His creation and not some god:
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: "for it is the number of a man"; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
What is one of the greatest signs that we are in the end times?
May 14, 1948, Israel again became a nation!
But it is during this time of the Anti-Christ, that the Jews will flee again from Jerusalem:
Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Rev 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
Rev 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
*****Mar 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elects sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
In the time of Titus and the destruction of Jerusalem, Titus himself realized that it was Jehovah, the God of the Jews who had allowed him to prevail with such a destruction.
But God had still allowed "a remnant" to escape this destruction!
That word "remnant" in the Bible always means "a holy seed".
What does God say about this remnant?
Mic 2:12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
Mic 2:13 The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.
In the time of the Church Age there will be only "a remnant" of the world's population that will actually be saved!
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
This does not mean that we should be slack in reaching out to all that are lost because that is still the sin of disobedience!
After these are gathered at the time of the "Rapture", God will then turn His attention back to that "remnant" of the Jew!
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.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
God will always shorten those days of destruction until He has removed "His remnant" because He has chosen these, who have selected Him!
Who are the elect?
Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
But God still give us all another warning!
*****Mar 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
Mar 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Mar 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
The Lord Jesus Christ teaches us that His return will be a literal, and a physical event.
In fact He said He would return the exact same way as the disciples had seen Him leave.
Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
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.
Jesus also said He would return to get His Church, His Bride.
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
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.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
These are two separate events.
If we believe these two things, then we cannot be fooled by false messiahs, nor false christians, not false prophets!
We must realize that Satan does have tremendous powers but he is still a deceiver and he teaches lies!
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Questions?
Let's Pray!
"The Course Of This Age"
Book of Mark Chapter 13:1-23
When we last left Jesus, He was inside the Temple complex observing those who were giving to the work of the Lord.
Many of the activities of our Lord the last week of His life centered on the Temple that sat in Jerusalem.
It is a shame that so many in the world seek proof that the Jewish Temple even existed and existed on the Temple Mount that now has the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim Mosque, built where the Temple once stood.
Jesus will foretell of the complete destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem.
The Bible has already foretold of it's still future reconstruction in many places!
Let's begin:
*****Mar 13:1 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
Jesus had withstood the entire religious system of Jerusalem by exposing their true character.
Jesus had wept over the city of Jerusalem.
Jesus would leave the Temple for the last time and He would tell the disciples of it's complete destruction.
No doubt these disciples thought a great deal about the beauty of the Temple that stood in Jerusalem but man's monuments just do not stand the test of time.
The Jewish Temple was first built in 960 BC by King Solomon.
It is important to understand that God created this entire world that we can see and still much more that we cannot see and it is God that makes the rules for all His creation!
God had explained to Adam the result of sin, but Adam had still not obeyed.
In spite of this God still loved humans and had mercy on them.
Before Jesus Christ, and His death, and His resurrection, and His ascension back to the glory world, God provided a way for people to atone for sin.
This was the purpose of the Tabernacle and then the Temple, places to get right with God!
In the times of kings this Temple was plundered by the rulers of many nations and many times it had been repaired.
King Nebuchadnezzar stole all the Temple's gold vessels and took them to Babylon and 11 years after this, he caused that the Temple be destroyed in 586 BC.
It is believed, that it was at this time, that the Ark of the Covenant disappeared and has never been found.
50 years later, the Lord sent Zerubbubel to rebuild the Temple after King Darius of Persia allowed some of the Jews to return to Jerusalem.
This Temple was completed in 516 BC, 70 years after it's destruction just as prophesied.
The people who still lived and that had seen Solomon's Temple wept over Zerubbubel's Temple because it was so modest in comparison to that of Solomon's.
It is this same Temple that King Herod rebuilt between 20BC and AD 64, a period of over 80 years.
This Temple was completely destroyed by the Romans in AD 70 and this is the destruction that Jesus will begin to describe in our passage.
Will the Temple be rebuilt again?
1) Many people believe that the Temple will just remain the hearts of believers but that is not true. The Holy Spirit has a great desire to live in the Temple of our hearts but so many resist Him.
Act 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye
2) Many believe that the Temple will be rebuilt, as do I but probably not before the Rapture of the Church.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
The Temple must be rebuilt before the Anti-Christ can sit in the Holy of Holies, in the Temple of God!
Because Satan cannot enter into any believer!
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
3) The Lord Jesus said it was He that is the true Temple, as I also believe.
Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Joh 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
4) The believer is truly God's Holy Temple!
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
The Temple in Jerusalem was truly a beautiful place but most of man's downfall is because of man's love for doomed things!
1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
*****Mar 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
The Jews were extremely proud of the Temple in Jerusalem. By this time of Jesus work on the Temple had been going on for at least 46 years.
Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
And history tells us that work was not completed until 64 AD.
The Temple was built of white marble with some stones 60 feet in length. and 18 feet high by 16 feet thick.
This wonderful white marble was decorated with gold.
The last Temple, or Herod's Temple was a beautiful work of man-made construction!
From the "court of the Gentiles" the ground level raised 8 feet to the "court of the women".
From the "court of the women" the ground level raised another 10 feet to the "court of Israel".
From the " court of Israel" the ground level raised another 3 feet to the "court of the priests".
From the "court of the priests" the ground level raised another 8 feet to the floor of the Temple itself.
And the Temple was marvelous to gaze upon from the Mount of Olives.
But the disciples of Jesus did not view the Temple as did the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said that the fall of this Temple would be so great that there would not be one stone left upon another!
The Jewish historian Josephus wrote, that Caesar had given orders that that city of Jerusalem and the Temple to be demolished and laid so completely to the ground, that there be not even enough left to make those who would come later believe that it even existed and many still do.
Many have their doubts today that such a Temple existed but recent explorations have proven it did exist.
The Muslim Mosque, the Dome of the Rock is centered on bare projecting rock measuring 60 by 40 feet.
What do we know of this rock?
1Ch 21:18 Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
1Ch 21:19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD.
1Ch 21:20 And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.
1Ch 21:21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
1Ch 21:22 Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.
This is why this site was chosen by the Muslim!
Their intention was then and is now, to desecrate the things of God!
Allah is not Jehovah, the Tri-Une God!
But the disciples wanted to know the future.
*****Mar 13:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
Mar 13:4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
We may not know which one of these four disciples had glorified the beauty of the Temple, but these 4 wanted to know when the Temple would be destroyed.
Herod's Temple was not considered to be totally completed until 64 AD.
The Jewish religious leaders and the elders of Israel had allowed the defilement of the Temple and Jesus had departed from it and left it desolate.
Jesus Christ will leave every House of God desolate, that does not make that house a house of prayer, to the One True God!
Notice it says in the Book of Revelation, The Lord is on the outside, knocking on the door to get back in!
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.
Why would the Temple be destroyed?
Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Mat 23:36 Verily I say unto you, "All these things shall come upon this generation".
God would allow the Romans to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple which happened in 70 AD, only 6 years after Herod's Temple was completed.
It is likely that these disciples thought that all these things would take place in their life time and they would also witness the Second Coming of Our Lord but that did not happen.
What Jesus does say is that the generation that sees all His prophesy take place will be the last generation before His Millennial reign.
Now, there is no one that completely understands all prophesy!
BUT, We can be sure that what God has said, will come to pass!
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
God gives us all a 4 fold warning!
If we look in the context of the last days we will see these signs of things to avoid:
A) We must avoid being a victim of religious deception.
B) We must avoid being discouraged by persecution.
C) We must avoid being impressed by false signs and wonders.
D) We must avoid the temptation to set dates for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Jesus had already wept over Jerusalem, so how did He respond to this question?
*****Mar 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
Mar 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
What is deception?
Deception is the misapplication of the truth, in order to mislead.
The world is full of deceivers!
Jesus said the first sign of His Second Coming, would be the fact that many men would proclaim that they are the true Messiah.
There have already been many pretending to come from God with some new revelation since the death of Jesus Christ.
What is the greatest sign of a false Messiah?
Innocent people die!
There is a great difference in life and life eternal and death for the sake of death!
It is amazing how many deceivers have already been seen throughout the ages, with their false salvation programs!
It is also amazing that this world we live in, truly rejects the Lord Jesus Christ but the world will go after such men who claim to be the Messiah and offer so little proof of that claim.
The end of the Church Age will be marked by religious apostasy!
This "apostasy" is the abandonment of the true "Faith" in Jesus Christ.
And, just as many claim to be the Messiah, there will be many who falsely claim to be Christians.
The entire New Testament establishes this fact:
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
We may not know the exact day nor the exact hour, but we do see "deception" in our world increasing in every way, everyday that we live.
And the Bible still says:
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
People deceiving other people.
Governments deceiving people.
False religions deceiving people.
The rewriting of the scriptures deceiving people.
Even those in the Church falling away because of this deception.
We may not know the exact time, But because we can see all these things, We Do Know It Will Be Soon!
*****Mar 13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
Mar 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
Until I was drafted to serve in the Army in 1970, I did not pay much attention to the world that we live in.
It was good to be an American and it still is. Since that time, I do not remember a year when there was not some war raging somewhere and certainly rumors of war continuously.
These are things that are going to happen until the very end!
But to know the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior is also to realize that to trust in Him is to place my worries in His hands.
We may ask ourselves why?
God teaches us the simple explanation.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Psa 82:5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
What is destroying the foundations of our world?
God asked this:
Psa 82:1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
Psa 82:2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
It is the duty of every judge to protect the innocent and the poor, but these things are reversed in the societies of our world.
Corruption at the upper levels of every nation, have not only excused the wicked, but even decided in their favor, and against all that is righteous.
Those in power think only of themselves!
The basic foundations of society can be found in the Book of Genesis.
1.) The Creation of "life" itself, is being destroyed by the lie of Evolution.
2.) The institution of the family, which is the basis of every nation, is being destroyed by immorality, abortion and the gay lifestyle.
3.) The institution of government is being destroyed by ignoring the basic laws of God, the 10 Commandments.
4.) The institution of marriage is being destroyed by the lies of the gay lifestyle and immoral living.
5) Cultures of each separate society is being destroyed by leaning toward a one rule government.
6.) Every institution that had it's beginning in the Book of Genesis, the Book of the Beginnings, is being attacked and systematically destroyed by the evil of this world.
This is why there is such a great attack on the Book of Genesis!
If you destroy the foundations of anything, that structure will collapse!
If you want to destroy any building, you are guaranteed early success if you first destroy the foundation.
God says if you want things to improve then you have only one choice:
Psa 82:4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
Get the innocent out of the hand of the wicked!
Jesus says this will not happen at the hands of mankind!
Nations will rise up against other nations. These are major wars.
Kingdoms will rise up against kingdoms, these are civil wars.
Because of technology, we hear the fact that earthquakes are happening just about everywhere and seem to be increasing and more devastating.
More people in this world we live in, die of starvation than from any other source.
One eighth of the world's population starves to death yearly, with 7 out of every 8 being children.
Starvation and abortion and divorce, are destroying our children!
There is a war going on behind the scenes, for population control and race domination. This war takes it's greatest toil on children!
Children starving, children dieing because of abortion, and selective fertilization, just to name a few.
One half of our world makes less than 2 dollars per day, yet it could take just the amount of money spent on perfume to feed every starving person in this world for an entire year.
And do not be deceived, there is enough food raised on this earth to feed all the world's population!
Even Judas said that one bottle of perfume could have fed more than 300 people for a day but Judas said this knowing his own greed for riches:
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
Starvation is the leading killer of the world's children, and the world's people and why?
The leading cause of poverty, is the control of the world's resources by powerful men who are just simply evil!
They are all like Judas!
Job said these words:
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Job 14:2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: "he fleeth also as a shadow", and continueth not
A shadow flees from light until it can find total darkness!
These evil men are the same ones that love darkness more than the light!
The leading cause of wars and rumors of wars and the poor of our world, is because of these evil men seeking to control of the world's resources and having no regard for human beings.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Those "troubles" are disturbances! They could describe, hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons, and tsunamis but these troubles can also mean sedition or revolt and rebellion against tyranny.
Sedition happens when powerful and evil men control the world's resources.
BUT, the greatest famine in the last of the last days will be a famine from the Word of God!
As we see these things happen, Jesus says, these are just the beginnings of the end!
We can be sure that the disciples were seeing these things as they began the Church and Jesus was also speaking of what is happening in our world today!
Then Jesus gives a warning to all His disciples but especially to the 11 that were with Him this day.
*****Mar 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
We must be prepared to defend the truth of the Gospel along with ourselves and our families!
This is not to say, we will start our own war, but when God says to put on the Holy Armor, this means we will be in a spiritual war, but a war that can cause our physical death.
Of the 11 disciples that began the early Church only the Apostle John lived to be an old man. The world destroyed the other apostles.
But God's Word cannot be destroyed nor stopped!
Satan hates God's people and He will do everything he can to stop the spread of the "Gospel"!
Satan has already used the Roman Caesars, the Spanish inquisitors, the Holy Roman emperors, Communism, and many evil dictators and along with these, he has infiltrated every government and has also made his way inside the church.
The persecuted church faces it's greatest war in these end times!
We do not see much of it in the news but there are more Christian martyrs today than at any time in the history of the church!
But the "Gospel" must still go forward and it is!
*****Mar 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
The great commission given to the Church is to preach the "Gospel of the kingdom" to all nations.
That kingdom is achieved "on this earth" with every saved soul that comes to Jesus!
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Until the Rapture of the Church, God's spiritual kingdom is within each individual believer.
And, Within each individual believer must be that treasury of God's truth, which is the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ".
But individual believers can still only be a partial revelations of God's Glory!
In every case it is the Lamb of God, that must sit on the throne in the midst of God's kingdom!
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The Christian Temple must be a place of sacrifice.
The Christian Temple must be a place of worship.
The Christian Temple must be a Holy Place.
The Christian Temple must be dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ who abides within that Christian Temple.
This is the "Gospel of God's Kingdom" that must be spread throughout all nations, until the end of the Church Age!
This challenge to the Church will remain far from completion and upon the Rapture, the Holy Spirit will begin again to save souls until the second return of Christ Jesus to this earth.
Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
None of those that reject Jesus Christ in the Church Age will be in this great number that are saved during the Tribulation Period.
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
But to the Apostles and also to those that are persecuted during the Church Age, Jesus gives us these words:
*****Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Mar 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
Mar 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
There is a time coming and now exist in many nations that the Christian will be persecuted just for teaching and preaching the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ. For the 12 apostles that time was immediate!
In America there is such a thing as "hate crime legislation" that will most likely allow the Word of God to be treated as a hateful language against the evils of this world.
BUT as Christians, we are to take a stand on the Word of God:
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, "to stand".
If we have taken that stand, then one day we will be "led" not "forced" before the judge, to defend the Word of God, and very willing do so!
1) 11 of the apostles were martyred because they stood on the Word of God.
2) John the Baptist was martyred because he stood on the Word of God.
3) Only the apostle John is said to have died of old age but their are many things told of John, that would have killed a normal man. God had a special task for John who brought us the Book of Revelation.
4) A Christian of today will not be treated differently!
When this happens, then our defence will be provided by the Holy Spirit who abides in every believer.
Jesus is our example in all things but especially in this:
Act 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
Act 8:33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophesy.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Our fulfillment is to follow the Lord, when these things happen!
We are all in the hands of God and it may be that God will not allow most of us to be delivered to such men, but we already know that many will be.
Remember these words:
2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
History has proven that even families take separate sides in most every conflict.
Treachery and betrayal always show up in times of persecution!
But these things will be more prevalent in the time of the Tribulation period.
Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, [I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held]:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
No mercy will be shown by the Anti-Christ to anyone who proclaims the Lord Jesus Christ!
BUT, We only get to see "the beginning" of these things as part of the Church!
*****Mar 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Mar 13:15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
Mar 13:16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
Mar 13:17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mar 13:18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
Mar 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
Many say that this prophesy was fulfilled at the destruction of the Temple and of Jerusalem in 70 AD and it was, but only in part!
When the Anti-Christ arrives, and he may be actually on the scene now but only in the background, he will eventually become the world's dictator.
It is believed that at this time, he will unveil his secret plans to the world by seizing a newly rebuilt Jewish Temple and putting his own image within the Holy of Holies.
Now the Jews may not know who the true Messiah is, but they sure know who he is not and a war will break out, ending the false peace of the Anti-Christ!
The Anti-Christ will then command for all people to seek the "mark of the beast".
It is those martyrs under the altar that have refused this mark!
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
God says this Anti-Christ is just only part of His creation and not some god:
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: "for it is the number of a man"; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
What is one of the greatest signs that we are in the end times?
May 14, 1948, Israel again became a nation!
But it is during this time of the Anti-Christ, that the Jews will flee again from Jerusalem:
Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Rev 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
Rev 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
*****Mar 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elects sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
In the time of Titus and the destruction of Jerusalem, Titus himself realized that it was Jehovah, the God of the Jews who had allowed him to prevail with such a destruction.
But God had still allowed "a remnant" to escape this destruction!
That word "remnant" in the Bible always means "a holy seed".
What does God say about this remnant?
Mic 2:12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
Mic 2:13 The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.
In the time of the Church Age there will be only "a remnant" of the world's population that will actually be saved!
Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
This does not mean that we should be slack in reaching out to all that are lost because that is still the sin of disobedience!
After these are gathered at the time of the "Rapture", God will then turn His attention back to that "remnant" of the Jew!
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.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Rom 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
God will always shorten those days of destruction until He has removed "His remnant" because He has chosen these, who have selected Him!
Who are the elect?
Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
But God still give us all another warning!
*****Mar 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
Mar 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Mar 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
The Lord Jesus Christ teaches us that His return will be a literal, and a physical event.
In fact He said He would return the exact same way as the disciples had seen Him leave.
Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
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.
Jesus also said He would return to get His Church, His Bride.
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
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.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
These are two separate events.
If we believe these two things, then we cannot be fooled by false messiahs, nor false christians, not false prophets!
We must realize that Satan does have tremendous powers but he is still a deceiver and he teaches lies!
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Questions?
Let's Pray!
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