The American Wisdom Series 
 http://www.americanwisdomseries.com

Presents 

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
LUKE
Chapter 13

Caution to students of God's Word - Please remember two things when using our studies: #1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Dake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it?  Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "Key Knowledge" lessons. These are pamphlets containing knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
 published at http://www.theseason.org/ 

You can view it at the season`s web site (address above) as originally published
or here, as now edited by people at
 
The American Wisdom Series  

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

 Now here is our revised study of:

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO

LUKE

Chapter 13

"The Evil Generation. [1 - 5]"
"Parable of the Fig Tree. [6 - 9]"
"Synagogue Miracle. [10 - 17]"
"The Kingdom. Likeness. [18 - 21]"
"Entrance into the Kingdom. [22 - 35]"
"Individual Entrance. [23 - 30]"
"The King. Personal Departure. [31 - 33]"

The Apostle Luke was a medical doctor, and he put everything down in a orderly manner, one thought following another. He put one building block on top of the next, neatly fitting the thoughts into order as you would build a brick wall. Because of this it is important to remember how that end of volume one of Luke ended [the twelfth chapter] for we will pick up from their. The thought there was the unforgivable sin, and those things that lead one into committing that sin. That sin is allowed by letting the doctrine and traditions of the Pharisees, doctrines of men to slip in unaware of the effect that it was having on you. In these end times, you may think that you are hearing the Word of God, but maybe you're not; in many cases you're hearing the imaginations of some man. Be careful, always check out what you hear in the Word of God!

This is easy to happen, as Jesus pointed out, to those that only think within them-selves. As people go through life, they never stop to consult the Father and allow Him to direct their steps. However, Jesus instructed His disciples to keep in focus the things that they were doing, and having the faith in Him and working hard, will bring you to the end of the path leading to Christ. Today the common thought amongst many churchmen is that all I have to do is believe, and they think they don't have to work. But Jesus pointed out that the rewards and payment for the work comes after the work is done. Just the same way as when you go to your job, and pick up the paycheck at the end of the week.

So now in Chapter 13 Jesus comes into a teaching, following that unforgivable sin, as to how we should keep ourselves and not be deceived. So lets continue with Christ's teaching.

Luke 13:1 "There were present at that season some that told Him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices."

Within the Bible there is very little recorded about the actions of Pilate, and his mingling and polluting of their blood sacrifices, and the murderous actions that were going on at that time. However in the writings of Josephus, "Antiquities of the Jews" "Book XVIII [18], Chapter 4, and 5" we can read of this event taking place. Under Pilate there were many slaughtered for their beliefs and religious practices.

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

Now Jesus is asking his disciples; "Do you suppose that these Galileans that were slaughtered by Pilate were greater sinners above all the other Galileans because they suffered so much greater than the others?" This is the natural tendency for men and women to assume, that because something went wrong to someone and caused their death, that they deserved it. It is assumed that they got what they deserved. Most all of the hundreds of slaughtered people there were innocent of the murderous judgment that was done to them by Pilate. Do you think they were sinners above all sinners?

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

Jesus is telling his disciples that they do not want to think that way. The answer is "NO!" Jesus is saying that just as these people were slaughtered, if people do not repent of their sins, they shall in the same manner perish. "Perish" in the Greek text is # 622 in Strong's Greek dictionary; "apollumi, ap-ol'-loo-mee; it comes from 575, and the base # 3639; to destroy fully." Perish, or "destroy" is the prime for Satan's name, as given in Revelation 9:11. "And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon." Jesus is telling His disciples that for all those that do not repent, they will be destroyed right along with Satan, his fallen angels, and all those that follow him.

So this goes back to Chapter 12, where Jesus told us not to lay our treasures up where moths and thieves bother it: But store your treasures for the life to follow. God doesn't kill people because they are sinners, but natural accidents do happen. When a storm comes, common sense tells you to protect yourself, and when you hit the bottle and drugs, the natural results of sickness and the loss of self control will follow. When many perish, don't blame that on our heavenly Father, for mankind brings death and destruction upon himself. We allow those things to happen by our not paying attention to things when they arise. Bad people rise to power in government, when good people look the other way and allow it to happen. Bad things happen to people when they don't pay attention to what is going on around them. It happens.

Even those that have lost their lives, like in the slaughtering of many people under Pilate, but they still have to repent to have eternal life. There is more to your life than these flesh bodies, and that is the condition of your soul. Even so it is hard to accept someone being accidentally killed. What Pilate did was not as serious as when our Heavenly Father will kill the soul of them that followed Satan willingly. For those that do not repent, their souls will be destroyed in the lake of fire. This is called the "Second death".

Revelation 20:14 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." [14] "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." [15]

The first death is the death of these flesh bodies, most die from old age, but many such as from Pilate's actions, or by murder or even accidents.

Editor's Note: The first death is just the "shadow of death" talked about in Psalms 23. The valley of which, we are now in this flesh life, walking through.

But the death of the soul is the second death, and following the second death, there will be no record left that you even existed in any form, not even in the memory of your loved ones.

Editor's Note: The second death, the death of our soul, That is the death we need  to be concerned about!

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

The old tower Ophal was next to the pool or Siloam. When people came to bathe in the pool of Siloam, they sat and rested next to this tower. In time after many centuries the tower fell over, and killed these eighteen people resting poolside. So Jesus is asking, "Do you think that these eighteen people were more sinners that the rest of the men living in Jerusalem?" Remember that the number eighteen in biblical numerics stands for, or represents "bondage". Bondage is important to note here, for bondage to Satan will cause you to be led into the lake of fire.

Luke 13:5 "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all like wise perish."

Jesus repeats Himself; "No! Absolutely not, but except you repent of your sins, every last soul that lived on the face of this earth will perish like wise. The perishing will come at the end to the Millennium age of Christ's kingdom here on earth, after the great white throne of judgment, then comes the final death in the lake of fire. Jesus is giving us an analogy of a natural event that claims ones life; but in the first case with Pilate it was out right murder. Jesus is trying to open our eyes as to what it will be like walking into that lake of fire in our spiritual bodies, ending all existence of ones self. That is what perish mean; not the loss of these flesh bodies. However in these flesh bodies, accidents do happen and we are to use common sense protecting ourselves. While we are living in the flesh, this is the time we prepare for that time when we will be in our spiritual bodies like the angels have.

It is so simple and easy to love our heavenly Father and repent, and not have any part in that lake of fire. Traditionally there are many sayings that people follow, that were set generations ago. They were accepted as truths because of things that had happened, and the sayings became warnings. And just like those traditional warnings, Jesus is telling you that unless there is true repentance under the blood of Christ, the lost of our soul is absolute. The lake of fire is real, and so is judgment day, and you will face both of these times; "except ye repent, ye shall all like wise perish."

Luke 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."

The gospel of John [John 15:1] combines the fig tree and the vineyard parables together.

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

There are many directions to this teaching on the fig tree. Trees are planted to grow and reproduce themselves. The fruit comes when the trees are mature, and are healthy. God expects each tree to give off its seed to germinate, sprout, and grow where it will do likewise. Jesus is telling us that if we become like that fig tree that gives off no fruit, then what good are we? Then the warning, if that tree is no good, then cut it down and burn it for it has become a waste of space. It is time to not just repent, but mature in the Word, to where you can give off seeds of truth and allow God's Spirit to work in the minds of others also. Think on how this applies to your life.

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

Notice that it is after the third year that the dresser of this vineyard wants to loosen the soil, and fertilize. This tree has been sitting useless for three years with no fruit.

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

John the Baptist's message was the same as Jesus' message, "repentance". Neither John the Baptist nor Jesus beat about the bush, but came right to the point on repentance. Just as John's message to the Kenites was how they would be cut down, here Jesus is giving the same warning and message. When we bring this message of the parable of the fig tree and the Kenites to our generation, (The Fig Tree was planted in 1948 and hasn't produced any fruit yet; only leaves, you see, the Jews still don't believe in Jesus.) it will come to pass again. You will either produce the fruit or you will not exist. The harvest time is like never before, for we are living right before the coming of the false Christ, and once Satan has arrived, God will turn those minds not sealed with the truth of God's Word, over to Satan. Jesus is telling us that just like this man is pleading for another chance to make this tree come alive, you have this time to come alive spiritually, or you will be as this dead tree, and perish.

We are living in that time of the parable of the fig tree, and it is time to wake up. The fields are ripe for harvest, for though the world is full of men and women with knowledge and facts, at the same time, those people are biblically ignorant. People ignorant of the signs that mark the end of this earth age. While people seek the truth, there is a famine for the truth in our generation. This is no accident, the seed planters and teachers are just not here. They are all wrapped up in the religious thoughts of men, rather than seeking the truths from God's Word. The famine started at the pulpits of our nation and around the world, as they sought to conform Christians to man's traditions and doctrines, rather than the truths from the Word.

The first three year period was John and Jesus' time of teaching, and then there was time for planting the Truths that they gave us. That sowing of good seed is over when the last period of three and a half years is over. Fortunately that time of the great tribulation when Satan is here on earth to deceive the world has been shortened to five months, so that gives God's elect an additional 3 years to plant seeds of Truth about Satan in peoples minds. Then after Satan's five months here in person is the end, when the seventh trumpet blows and Christ returns to set up His 1000 year Millennial Kingdom. Then after the Millennium age, that is the time that Christ's angels alone will cut down the waste and cast them into the lake of fire

Matthew 13:41, 42 "the Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;" [41] "And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." [42]

Live Link to- Three Parables of Matthew 13 and Explanations of which reveal secrets which are still hidden from most of us to this very day on one file.

This is written and it shall come to pass.

Luke 13:10 "And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath."

Jesus is teaching on the sabbath in the synagogue.

Luke 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."

In the Greek text, this spirit "pneuma" was an evil spirit. She wasn't sick all that time, but she had this demon within her. This evil spirit had this woman so bound that she could not even stand erect. Evil spirits can bind people and their minds and leave them completely helpless. Here again the number eighteen comes up, the numeric number standing for bondage. In verse four it was the eighteen that were killed by accident at the pool of Siloam, when the tower fell.

Luke 13:12 "And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him, and said unto her, "Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity."

When Jesus came to this woman, there were two spirits present, the demon, and the Holy Spirit. One had to go. The Holy spirit booted the evil spirit back to where it came from, and she was healed here on the Sabbath. Back in the tenth chapter we learned that Jesus gave us power and authority of all evil spirits, and all of our enemies. I hope that you see that an evil spirit is your enemy. You don't have to stay in bondage to any evil spirit, so order it out of your life in the name of Jesus. Send it back to the pit where it came from. The Holy Spirit will set you free from the bondage of all evil spirits, but you must exercise the authority that God has given to you.

Luke 13:13 "And He laid His hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God."

When this bondage was lifted from her, of course she would glorify God.

Luke 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."

This lady could have come on any day of the week and she still would not have been healed. This poor Kenite Pharisee just did not understand it, the day made no difference at all for the healing; for it was a matter of whether Jesus was present on that day. This evil spirit felt right at home sitting in that synagogue under that pulpit week after week, and there was no way that this evil spirit would have departed. So lets see what Jesus said to this Pharisee.

Luke 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?"

Can't you see Jesus addressing this self-righteous Pharisee teacher before the entire congregation. He just called their preacher a hypocrite, a play actor for that was exactly what he was. Jesus said, stop and think for a moment, don't each one of you take care of your animals on the Sabbath, and feed and water them? Of course they do for they have money invested in their animals, and they need their use.

Luke 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?"

So this verse tells you why eighteen is the numerics for bondage, for Jesus assigned the number to it. Notice that it was Satan that did the binding of this woman. So just where in the Scriptures does it say that you should not heal on the Sabbath? This is what Jesus is asking this preacher, this Kenite Pharisee. The answer is, IT IS WRITTEN NO WHERE IN THE SCRIPTURES! No where in the entire Word does it say it is against the wishes of God that people should  be healed on the Sabbath.

Pay attention now. It is not a work of man that forces the evil spirit out of the person, or heals ones sickness, but a work of God; a work of the Holy Spirit. God does the healing and the casting out of devils, not man. You have the authority to order it, but God does the casting out. In this case here, it was the work of the Father, through the Son of God that did the healing. The Sabbath was made for man, not God. All days are the same for God and His kingdom. The statement that prevented men from healing on the Sabbath was a tradition of men, of the Kenites that this Pharisee was one of. This same thing goes on in our churches today, men say things and over time and when repeated often enough it is assumed to be of God, when in fact is from the imaginations of some man, practiced over time. Many traditions are completely wrong and foreign to God's holy Word.

Luke 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."

After Jesus spoke, this Pharisee kept quiet for he had no answer. Every word that Jesus spoke was true. "His adversaries were ashamed" for they were proven in error. For that congregation this was good news, for many of the things of bondage had been lifted from them, including this evil spirit that had hung around for the past eighteen years. Jesus did many good things in the congregations that day, and the people rejoiced.

This is the reason that it is important that each of us learn the Word well enough so that when false statement are made, we can tell it is a lie from their false statements. When an adversary, or false preacher makes his statements that go against the Word of God, you will know him for what he is; a false teacher. Don't be afraid to stand up to any person that does not rightly divide the truth from God's Word. One thing for sure, when you point it out to them, they will be far more ashamed than you will. However in our day and age, we are not to go around and make trouble in churches, for we are in that time when there is a famine for truth in many churches for the seal of God will not be in their minds.

However today we are able to come out from under Satan's bondage by taking charge, by following the instructions as given to us in Luke 10:18. It is up to each of us individually to order our enemies out when we feel the presence of evil spirit, by spiritual discernment. If you don't produce fruit, God will cut you down, and prune you up to where you will bear fruit. You do the work first, then He gives you the blessings. If you Love the Father, and claim to be part of the body of Christ, God expects more of you than just a walk down the isle and muttering of a few words. God expects a commitment on your part. He gives you gifts of the Spirit for a purpose, those gifts are to be used to advance the kingdom of God, not hid from them. The hour for God's election to be called up to give account of themselves, and used by the Holy Spirit is not far away. We are living in the generation of the parable of the fig tree, and all other things in our generation are secondary to Mark 13:11, for the Elect of God. The Elects purpose "in that hour, is to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you, for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost [Spirit]."

Luke 13:18 "Then said He, "Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?"

This question has entered the minds of most Christians. Have you tried to put it in order in your mind? Well Jesus is going to use some parables to explain exactly what the kingdom of God is like. So what can we liken Jesus and His dominion like?

Luke 13:19 "It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it."

This "grain of mustard seed", is one of the smallest seeds in all plant life. A man took this tiny seed and cast it into his garden, in this parable, and the tree grew to be very tall. The birds of the air came and built their nests in this tree, and lived their life in that tree. This is what God's kingdom on earth today is like. Jesus came and lived and was crucified, and the kingdom was then set into motion here on earth. Jesus reminded His disciples of this fact, when He said in Luke 9:27 "But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God." Of course all would not see the kingdom in this life, because Judas Iscariot would betray Christ and repent, and then be Murdered by the Kenite religious leaders, as is pointed out in Acts 1:18.

Jesus is the king, and His dominion is in this world. It started as a grain of mustard seed, very small with only a few men, and grew to where the church now reaches around the world. The disciples and many others say the kingdom of God come into being on that resurrection morning, and lived to be very instrumental in allowing that tree of life in Jesus Christ to grow into the kingdom that it is today.

Jesus warned us that as the tree grows, there will be many dirty birds come and build their next in this kingdom, this tree. Stop and look what is coming out of many pulpits around the world today, by religious leaders calling themselves Christian. If you get under the tree as it now stands, you will get the droppings off those dirty birds, as they sit smug in their ways, and put out their false doctrines and tradition of men that go against God's Word. This is the warning that Jesus has given to His disciples, and it is just as true in Jesus' day, as it is in this end generation. Today there are all sorts of droppings of lies, traditions, and distortions of doctrines, and if you allow it, those teachings will mess your mind up.

Luke 13:20 "And again He said, "Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?"

After Jesus gave the example of the mustard seed, He turned to His disciples and asked them. "Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?" Where is that dominion located. Friend, you are standing in that dominion. The dominion or kingdom is this world age of flesh man. It is right here on earth, while we are in our flesh bodies. If you are chasing after the things of this earth age, you will be living in that kingdom, and have no idea in the world what it is all about.

Luke 13:21 "It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."

Here then is another parable that Jesus is using to explain what the kingdom of God is like. Many teach this in a two fold manner, but remember Jesus is giving this parable to explain what the kingdom of God is like. That means that Jesus is using it to be used only in one manner, and that is spiritual. Jesus is the Bread of life, And leaven is dirt, germs, or something that is very negative. However, as Jesus is using it in this verse, He is trying to show how just a little leaven into a small part of the loaf, in time that little leaven will grow through out the entire lump of bread. This is viewing the loaf as the kingdom, and just as leaven makes the lump of dough grow, so will the kingdom. If you allow the teaching of Christ to enter your mind, it would grow just as the leaven, and in time with your studying the Word, His teaching and wisdom would take over your entire soul and body.

It grows from your mind, as the mustard tree grew, and seed comes forth and bears much more fruit for the kingdom. This kingdom will continue to grow, even as you obey God to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you to the world, and on the first day of the Millennium age, every knee will bow to Jesus Christ, as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is a promise that the whole loaf shall be leavened. This is what the dominion of Jesus Christ is like.

Revelation 19:13, 14 "And He was clothed with the vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God." [13] "And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean." [14]

Those that have lived in this earth age of flesh man, and belong to Christ's kingdom are coming back with him. That army will take control of the entire world. God's saints will be dressed in their fine linen, white and clean; washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 19:15 "And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."

This world age of flesh man will be over, because at the sounding of the seventh trump, all flesh will be changed into their incorruptible spiritual bodies. This next thousand year period will the day of the Lord whn He will rule with a rod of iron. There will be no corrupt judges and official, not deals under the table, no business as usual, but the rule will be the Word of the Lord.

Revelation 19:16 "And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

At the close of that millennium age, those that were not saved by their faith in the blood of Christ from this age of flesh man, will be judged entirely by their works done in that thousand year period of Christ here on earth. Jesus will be the King of kings and Lord of lords. Once you accept Christ during this age of the flesh and follow His ways, He expects you to never allow yourself to be taken in bondage of Satan, for the truth will set you free. Jesus has given each of us the knowledge and wisdom to be free from the bondage of this world age, and He expects you to use that wisdom. God expects you to take the wisdom from the Word He has placed in your mind, and share it with others, that is how the kingdom of God grows. People telling other people of God's love and grace, enlarges the tent of believers.

The problem today is the most churches have left teaching as we are suppose to, chapter by chapter and verse by verse; line upon line and precept upon precept. They are teaching from man's imaginations, the doctrines and traditions of men. This person said this and they quote freely from another so called scholar. All the time their word go against the Word of God. These are the dirty birds Jesus spoke of that like to build their nests in the mustard tree of God's kingdom. When you love people you teach them what it means to repent of to save their souls. You give them the meat of the Word to see that they are not deceived by the dirty birds that sneak in with their false doctrine. That is true love. When Jesus corrected that preacher in the synagogue by calling him a hypocrite, He showed love for him, for in correction there is true love.

Luke 13:22 "And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem."

Jesus is moving on toward Jerusalem, and for this trial and crucifixion that was the reason for His coming to earth in the first place. The things that will take place there have been well detailed throughout the Old Testament, such as Psalms 22, Isaiah 53 and so on.

Luke 13:23 "Then said one unto Him, "Lord, are there few that be saved?" And He said unto them,"

Luke 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 "straight gate" is the narrow gate. The narrow gate is the gate that God's elect will go through. Our heavenly Father election have things and duties that must be done to complete the plan or will of God. The false Messiah will come first, and this fact is not taught in many church houses today; but what is taught is the escape hatch, the fly away doctrine, that puts most Christians off guard, so that they will not be prepared for the sounding of the sixth trump with Satan and his fallen angels arrive. No, most Christians today do not care about that strait gate, that narrow passage that instructs you how to get through this great time of deception that is coming upon the earth. Those Christians relying on any other path, other than God's true path, "will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

The word "strive", is to contend or struggle to agonize, like you would in combat in a war. It is a serious thing, and you either win or lose. It requires an armor of defense and preparation. It requires that the Christian put on the whole armor of God, to stand against the wiles of the devil. You must know the tactics of the enemy, and where the darts of the enemy are headed. If you don't, you lose. Paul gave us the armor that we are to put on in Ephesians 6:10-20, whereby our shield must by a strong faith, and the wisdom of God, all of the Word, instilled or sealed firmly in our minds. If you don't know the signs of the time, nor an understanding of how Satan will come and what he shall do, though you seek to find that straight gate and enter through it, Jesus tells us that you will not be able to enter. You have to fight with the adversary to enter into that gate, or you will not enter. The false teachings, and all the lies of deception that his children have put in place within your church houses will have you running in many directions. But, there is only one way, one path to that straight gate, and that is detailed in His Word.

Luke 13:25 "When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to know at the door, saying, `Lord, Lord, open unto us;' and He shall answer and say unto you, `I know you not whence ye are:' "

Jesus is telling us in this verse how it will be at His return at the seventh trumpet. Many today are seeking their own personal ministry, chasing after people to teach them their church doctrines. Sure each of them believe firmly in what they believe, and it is nothing more than the traditions that have been taught down through the years. Nobody ever stopped to question whether it was truth or not, because it was accepted as truth. That is just as the rapture doctrine is taught today in many churches. If you think that you can chase after these fairy tales, and be in God's good graces, you are seriously mistaken. Jesus is telling you here that these false teachers of traditions of men will come to him at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, saying, `Lord, Lord, open unto us;' and Jesus will look at you and tell you get away from Him, "I know you not whence ye are." Even if you have come to recognize Satan at the last moment, you have still bowed down to and accepted Satan in your ignorance. Do you see why the rapture doctrine is so demonic? It gives a person a false sense of security, a wide path right up to Satan's door step. Do you still feel comfortable in your doctrine?

Friend, your mind will be either sealed with the truth before Satan's coming, or it will not. There will be no fense sitting at that moment in time. When Satan comes, God will close the understanding to all people in the flesh that are not sealed with the truth, and give them over to Satan for that last five months. That is what Jesus told us in Revelation 9:4, and 5. God will make your mind like mush, and Satan and his fallen angels will be like scorpions feeding off you till the coming of our Lord at the seventh trump. If you are looking for the first christ to come, you are Satan's, an enemy of God and His elect. And you think Jesus is going to welcome you to Himself after you played the role of a whore running to Satan? Think again! Do you see why the rapture doctrine is so dangerous?

Luke 13:26 "Then shall ye begin to say, `We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets.' "

Those that were not ready and sealed with the truth will tell Jesus, we have taken holy communion in our church houses for years, and taught your doctrines in the streets of our community. We love you Jesus!

Luke 13:27 "But He shall say, `I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity.' "

Jesus is telling each of these so called Christians, "you just can't come in, you are unfit for the kingdom. Get away from Me, I don't know who you are, ye workers of iniquity." So how could they be calling Jesus, "Lord, Lord," and still be workers of iniquity? Iniquity is doing Satan's work, supporting false doctrine; That is sin. Jesus is a very jealous God, and He does not like his bride to become a whore, and that is just what you will be when you bow a knee to Satan. Remember Matthew 24:19 "And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!" Jesus is the husband, and you are the bride of Christ. Jesus is the master of the house, and at his return His wife is there standing with another's child when He has been away for a very long time. Jesus is using something common to men and women to explain His feelings to those that mess around with Satan, and allow themselves to be deceived. So whose child is that? Satan's of course [spiritually speaking]. Jesus doesn't want to come back and take a bride that was suppose to be a virgin, and here she stands unfaithful to Him. This bride was untrue to her love.

II Thessalonians 2 tells us exactly how Satan's coming shall be, as Paul warns us not to be deceived by any letter, words from any man, and so on, for Christ shall not return until the false christ comes first and deceives the entire world.

II Thessalonians 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."

 Is that hard to understand? Jesus shall not come until after falling away comes first, and Satan, who is the son of perdition is revealed. Satan will come to this earth first and he will bring all of his fallen angels with him. When this happens, you will be in your flesh body, and either be sealed with the truth, or you will not.

II Thessalonians 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. "

Paul tells us not to let any man deceive you by any means. Then he tells us that Satan will come first, before the day of the Lord: Before the seventh trumpet sounds; and he will present himself that he is Jesus Christ and demand that all people worship him as Jesus Christ. If you don't know it's coming, and are look for a rapture, you will worship Satan as God; as he is sitting in the temple of God, calling himself God. Do you get it? Jesus is telling you that it is sin to mess around with Satan and go whoring after him. When the people of the earth worship Satan, that is the great harlot system of Revelation 17. This is why you must understand the events that bring this earth age of flesh man to a close, for if you don't you will be part of that harlot kingdom. Understanding those events is being sealed with the truth in your forehead, or mind and that is your defense against Satan when he comes as the spurious messiah..

Luke 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."

Literally millions upon millions of people will be thrust out at this time. Why? They did exactly what their preacher told them to do. However, God instructed you to do what He told you to do. If your preacher is teaching the traditions of men, and many of the other doctrines that are taught today, you are down that path that Satan wants you to travel. God wrote to you a letter that we call the Bible, and in these end times, there are plenty of tools that help you to rightly divide the Word of God. However, if you decide to follow the ways of men, the wide path of this world age, then that straight gate is not open to you.

No, you will not see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets while you are in your flesh body, and before you enter into your incorruptible body at the seventh and last trump, you will face the deceptions of Satan and his fallen angels. Paul is detailed this in I Corinthians 15:50-54. Flesh and blood bodies cannot enter into the kingdom of God, for we are talking about that Millennium age here. All flesh must change to their incorruptible bodies to exist in Christ's kingdom. If you see anyone that calls themselves Jesus Christ, and you are still in your flesh body, that person is a fake, no matter what miracles they do. Then Paul tells us of this great mystery, of a time when all flesh shall be changed from flesh to incorruptible, spirit bodies.

I Corinthians 15:52 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised [changed] incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

Faster than you can wink your eye, all flesh on the face of the earth will be changed from their flesh bodies, into their incorruptible bodies, thats right all human beings. 

God loves you enough that he gave you His Word so that you would read it and make it part of your thinking. He expects you to know the signs of the times you live it, and pay attention to the warning given in His Word. When somebody tells you that you don't have to learn Revelation, or the Old Testament, they are an enemy of yours and an enemy of God. God gave His Word [the Bible] to His children and if you are one of His, you will follow His instruction. The weeping and whiling and gnashing of teeth comes after this earth age is over, and if you go into that lake of fire, it will be because of your choice, not God's. You chose to listen to God's enemies and the doctrines of devils, and put them ahead of God's holy warning to you. God couldn't make it any clearer that the false Christ comes first, in every Gospel, as well as the letters of Paul and Peter, and throughout the Old Testament. The order of events, the coming of Satan and the coming of the Lord will be detailed in Luke 21, when we get there in our studies.

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

This is given in Isaiah 49:12 "Behold, these shall come from a far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim." The land of "Sinum" is China of today. This is telling us that people will come from all over the world to follow that pathway that God has made so straight and high up. Jesus said, "I am the way" and that means the pathway. However the entire forty ninth chapter of Isaiah deals with the guarantee of the true gathering of the saints, and not what some false teacher might say.

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

Many of those that think that they are high in the church world of Christianity will find themselves as outcasts and on the bottom, for their taking part in leading their flocks astray. Yet some that are looked down on, poor, and not well educated will find a crown with many jewels waiting for them, when they get to Christ's kingdom. Though they were not given much, the took the gifts that they had and used it wisely. These prayer warriors, and planters of the seeds of truth will be high up in Christ's kingdom. These faithful ones led others to the Savior, and then supported the new sheep with prayer, and support sound instruction. People don't save people, Christ does, through the Spirit of God. It doesn't matter how many people are in your church, for if you lead them into Satan's camp, you are an employee of Satan, not Christ: In Christ's kingdom you become an abomination, and full of shame. God doesn't like those that teach his children to fly to save their souls, and Ezekiel 13:20 tells us He is very displeased with them.

There is another approach to this 30th verse, and that comes from Romans 8, and Ephesians 1:4-6; and it deals with God's elect. These Elect of God were judged and ordained by God in that first earth age, when all souls were in spirit bodies. They stood against Satan's rebellion, and made a difference. Though these elect were chosen first, but, they will live in the last generation in this earth age, to serve a purpose for the Lord. That purpose is to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through them, in this generation of the fig tree. That generation will witness the things of Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Luke 21 coming to pass.

Luke 13:31 "The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto Him, "Get ye out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill Thee."

Herod had many faults, like sleeping with his brother's wife and so on. Herod did not like it when people pointed out his sins, and he had his way of keeping them silent. When John the Baptist spoke out against him, Herod never had a second thought about killing him and cutting off his head. Now Herod is thinking that maybe Jesus is John the Baptist risen from the dead. Luke 9:9 "And Herod said, "John have I beheaded: but Who is This, of Whom I hear such things?" And he desired to see Him." Jesus was becoming so famous in His ministry that Herod was starting to wonder who Jesus was. So Herod is sending word to Jesus through this Pharisee to get out of my region, or I will kill you also. Herod did not want Jesus around calling attention to his sins with his sister in law, and trying to scare Jesus into leaving. Can you imagine a government official trying to put a scare into God? This is Jesus' response to Herod's threats.

Luke 13:32 "And He said unto them, "Go ye, and tell that fox, `Behold, I cast our devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected."

Jesus called Herod an old fox, and Jesus let it be know that He would stick around casting out devils and healing people for three more days. After three days, I will be finished with my work here in your area. Does that sound like Jesus is going to run from Herod? Hardly.

Luke 13:33 "Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.' "

Jesus is telling Herod that I don't have to worry about you killing Me in this area, for He knew that He would be killed in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is where Jesus will go through the trial prophesied by Isaiah in chapter 53, and His death will be exactly as it is written in Psalms 22. Christ's crucifixion will take place on mount Zion, and not in Galilee.

Luke 13:34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!"

When you see an old hen after the eggs have hatch, and there many little chicks running all about. That old hen scoots all over the place, gathering her chicks and keeping them under her wings for their protection. That is how Jesus wanted to protect Jerusalem and all of God's children of Israel. Jesus is saying that I would have done this many times for you, but you would not allow Me to give you protection. Why? People feel more secure in their fairy tales of fly-away doctrine, and follow the doctrines of this world age. Fairy tales that grow out of traditions never come true, but the set a secure image in men's minds. People would rather chase their dreams than the truth and reality of God's Word. God's Word will come to pass exactly as it is written, but most Christians will not take the time to read it for themselves.

Luke 13:35 "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me, until the time come when ye shall say, `Blessed is He That cometh in the name of the Lord.' "

This is telling you that the "abomination of desolation" as spoken of in Matthew 24:15, as recorded by Daniel in Daniel 9:27; will happen in Jerusalem. This time spoken of saying; "Blessed is He That cometh in the name of the Lord" will be after the second advent. The "abomination" that Jesus is speaking of is that time when Satan will sit on the side of the north in Jerusalem, and declare himself to be God; and the world will believe him. Most Christians and their churches will stop taking communion because they will believe that Jesus Christ is with them. They will sit there in their flesh bodies and completely disregard Paul's words from I Corinthians 15:50-54, and II Thessalonians 2:3-7 fixing the time of Christ return to the seventh and last trumpet, and marking that day as the time of change from these flesh bodies, into our new incorruptible bodies, as the angels have.

The tribulation of Antichrist is nothing but lies and deception. Satan's will make you promises to buy your soul for what ever price you set for it. No God is not mad at you, but if you turn your back to Him and His way, than you are approached as an enemy, just as Satan is. Jesus is not a God of anger for those that love and try to serve Him, but our protection, just as the mother hen that tries to protect her chicks. He loves you, and He wants that love returned back to Him.

The people did not accept John the Baptist and the did not accept Jesus as the Christ, the coming Messiah. So the first advent could not be the time spoken of here in Luke 13:35. These two advents are recorded in Zachariah 9:9, and 10. The first advent in the ninth verse, and the second advent in the tenth verse.

Live Link to- Zechariah prophesied what shall happen to the New World Order and her wicked "would-be" king of kings!

Live Link to-All of  Zechariahs Visions

              

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.  We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


The American Wisdom Series

is

Published by:

Rhine Publishing Co.
E-mail address - americanwisdomseries@verizon.net

Here at the American Wisdom Series our goal is to make you think about and question the wisdom of the current:
doctrine of many of our Christian churches, (The Man on a White Horse)
political direction of our country, (The Man on a Red Horse)
economic direction our country has taken, (The Man on a Black Horse)
 and teaching of our schools and media, (The Man on a Pale Horse)

The Four Hidden Dynasties of the New World Order Revelation 6:1-8
"The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse"
Did you know all four are being ridden by Satan?