Presents
Matthew #2520
It is written that most of our loved ones, though they call themselves Christians, will be deceived by the spurious messiah, Satan when he comes to earth claiming to be Jesus, and will believe in their hearts that he is really Jesus Christ, the Messiah, when in fact he is none other that the "son of perdition", the son who has already been sentenced to die (Ezk. 28:18-19) and perish in the lake of fire.
Jesus Christ is now giving final instructions to His disciples (students) before sending them forth as apostles (ones sent forth) to teach the Word of God and "proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mat. 10:7)". He told them that they did not need financing for their journey (to teach His Word) so there was no need to take a purse, nor were they to take a "beggars bag" to plead for money, for as long they went forth as per His instructions, which means according to the Word of God, then He would see to it that their needs were well taken care of. You see, the reality is that our Father, the One who created and owns this vast universe, is quite capable of blessing and taking care of His own. Either you believe that or you don't! Those who spend a great deal of their teaching time asking and pleading for money, obviously don't! In fact, they even rob, as in "take away", the very opportunity for the people to freely give. Think about it!
Christ also told His disciples that in their going forth they were to seek out those houses who were worthy, those who would receive His truth, and to freely and graciously give the truth and blessings of His Word, for the love of God, even as they received it freely and graciously from Him. That only makes sense for when you think about it, if one truly loves the Lord and His righteousness then how could one have it in his heart to do otherwise?
Then Jesus warned them that they would be as sheep sent forth in the midst of wolves. Therefore they should be wiser than the serpent always using good common sense so as to not invite trouble, while at the same time being peaceful and harmless as doves. Of course doves will defend their homes and their loved ones with a ferocity that would seem to many to be uncharacteristic of an otherwise peaceful bird. Those who come against or mess with the home or loved ones of a true Christian will likewise be surprised.
Nevertheless, even though the wolves will not be able to devour you, take heed and beware for men will deliver you up and persecute you because of the Christ in you, because of your discipleship and apostleship concerning what you believe and say and teach.
These are instructions to God's elect in this final generation concerning the witness and testimony that must be fulfilled as it is written concerning "that hour" (vs. 19) which is that final hour of temptation spoken of in Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Luke 21.Matthew 10:17
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
To further document that fact, we will parallel some of the scriptures from Luke concerning these last days.
Why would Christ allow this to happen to His servants? Because it is part of the plan to give witness to the wickedness of this generation and those who are part of it in the hopes that eventually some might be saved. You see, judgment is coming and if you know the proceedings of a courtroom, then you know that when there are multiple firsthand witnesses who as victims themselves give undeniable and irrefutable testimony against the persecutors, then the verdict of "guilty" is ironclad and indefensible.Luke 21:12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
Are you willing to be one who gives testimony against "them and the gentiles (meaning the nations)"? That is what the delivering up is all about! It is an act of love and service. Are you mature enough in His Word to understand the love of God involved in this in that it is ultimately for their own good else they be destroyed in the lake of fire? Remember, Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price by dying on the cross so that whosoever will, even the very sons of Cain, can have salvation!Matthew 10:18
And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.Luke 21:13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
The good news is that Christ has promised His servants that He will never leave them nor forsake them (Heb. 13:5). That means that the Shepherd will be with you always, even unto the end of the world (Mat. 28:20). And since you are to give testimony for Christ, you are not to worry nor be anxious nor premeditate about you will say. Why not? Because the Holy Spirit will speak through you at the time just as He did through those disciples on that first Pentecost Day following the resurrection, which as Peter documented was done to show us an example of how it will be in these last days.
Here is Luke's account.Matthew 10:19
But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
This documents what we stated earlier that the witness and testimony that the Holy Spirit shall give through you will be totally "irrefutable" and against which there is no "defense", no not even by Satan's best trial lawyers.Luke 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:Luke 21:15 For I will give you amouth and wisdom,which all your adversaries shallnot be able to gainsay norresist.
So take comfort and be not anxious and always remember who it is that shall do the speaking through your lips!gainsay, G471 ??????? antepo an-tep'-o
From G473 and G2036; to refute or deny: - gainsay, say against.resist, G436 ?????????? anthistemi anth-is'-tay-mee
From G473 and G2476; to stand against, that is, oppose: - resist, withstand.
What an honor and privilege it is to be used in such a manner in serving our Father in these last days.Matthew 10:20
For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
It is written that most of our loved ones, though they call themselves Christians, will be deceived by the spurious messiah, Satan when he comes to earth claiming to be Jesus, and will believe in their hearts that he is really Jesus Christ, the Messiah, when in fact he is none other that the "son of perdition", the son who has already been sentenced to die (Ezk. 28:18-19) and perish in the lake of fire.His name therefore IS "death" (Heb. 2:15).[21] And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
The point is that your loved ones will believe they are doing the right thing by bringing you to the one they think is "Jesus" when in fact they shall unknowingly be delivering you up to death himself. How so unknowingly? Because they are Biblically ignorant of who is actually standing in the holy place and sitting in the temple claiming to be God (2 Thes. 2:4). Many have been listening to false shepherds who have been telling them that Christ is going to return at any moment and take them up in some "rapture" while the rest of us sinners are left here to face Satan, the false-christ. Do not listen to preachers and ministers and pastors, including this one, without first checking out what they say in the Word of God to see whether or not it aligns with that which is written. Start with the fact that Christ just said His disciples will be delivered up, not raptured out of here!
Luke 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Current event note: It is amazing, since 9/11, to see that our government is now recruiting one million of our kinsfolk, our friends and brothers and sisters who are postal workers, utility workers, etc., i.e. those who have access and are most privy to our homes, to report any suspicious terrorist activity to the authorities. Just wait until the prince of spiritual terror arrives at the sound of the 6th Trump and exercises all the power of the first beast, which is the NWO. Then shall the betrayal and persecution be taken to a new level!
Make no mistake about it! If you stay committed to the truth of God's Word, you shall be hated (i.e. persecuted) by all men! Therefore, "Beware of men: for they will deliver you up...!" However, since it is written that it is he that perseveres and endures to the end, shall be saved, then here is a question for the "rapture" enthusiasts who claim they are already saved by Christ yet want to escape from taking a stand and witnessing against the false-christ! "Do you know what the word 'endureth' means in vs. 22?" Check it out in your Strong's Concordance because it is the Greek word "hupomeno" which means to be tarry or stay behind... as in "Left Behind"!Matthew 10:22
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.hated, G3404 ?????? miseo mis-eh'-o
From a primary word ????? misos (hatred); to detest (especially to persecute); by extension to love less: - hate (-ful).
You "see", God's warriors who have the gospel armour on and in place (Eph. 6) are going to stay right here and take a stand, even take "the stand", and endure and kick dragon unto the very end! God's elect are not fearful one bit of Satan and his troops! Have you not read that Christ has given them power over snakes and serpents and over all the power of the enemy (Satan)? He cannot hurt us for our Shepherd is always with us! Luke 10:19 "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
Here then is Strong's definition of "endureth":
Well, so much for the "Rapture Theory" and man's vain and ignorant imaginations and traditions. You see, the woman who is taken first in the field in Matthew 24 is taken (as in seduced) by the false messiah who comes first claiming that he is Jesus, the true bridegroom, and he will take most "virgins" to himself and seduce them! In other words, they will marry the wrong husband, another Jesus who is not the true bridegroom. Paul warned us in 2 Cor. 11 about the "other Jesus", the false husband!endureth, G5278 ???????? hupomeno hoop-om-en'-o
From G5259 and G3306; to stay under (behind), that is, remain; figuratively to undergo, that is, bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere: - abide, endure, (take) patient (-ly), suffer, tarry behind.
Will you remain working in the field as a faithful "virgin" or will you be as the first woman taken in the field who is spiritually seduced by Satan, the false-christ, and impregnated with his lies? That is why Christ will say later in Mat 24:19 "And woe unto them that are with child,and to them that give suck in those days!"When the true bridegroom returns and finds that His bride is nursing a baby, WOE!He won't be too pleased with her knowing that she has whored around with another Jesus, will He?2 Cor. 11:1
Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.[2] For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
The analogy of Eve being physically seduced in the fig grove is given to warn us to beware of the Satan's spiritual seduction in these last days, the generation of the fig tree! Why? Because he will claim he is Jesus... but that jesus is not our Jesus! Their rock is not our Rock, the true bridegroom.Therefore, beware of Left Behind stories and other un-Biblical fairy tales which will lead you to another Jesus... if you bear it![3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Do not "bear", as in put up with, false doctrines and evil spirits. Do as John admonishes us in 1 Jn. 4 and "try the spirits", testing (assaying) them with the Word of God to see whether or not they are of God. In other words, "Document, document, document!"[4] For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
In our next study we will see what kind of commitment it takes to be a true disciple of Christ. Don't miss it!
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