The End of the Last Days
JESUS IS COMING SOON!!!
We have heard this mantra before and while “soon” is a relative term, I am going to state that this mantra is true. Nobody knows the day or hour (the specific time) Jesus will come but God declared the end from the beginning and recorded in the Scriptures specific indicators that would tell us what time it was on His clock and when Jesus’ return was approaching.
It is important to know the time and the season of Jesus’ return. He will come like a thief in the night to those not earnestly watching (Rev 3:3). The distractions at the end will sway the lukewarm away from the path of righteousness but we must endure to the very end to be saved. The time for repentance is now, once the trumpet is blown, it is too late and many will fall on their faces in fear pleading for mercy, but it will be too late. Now is the day of your salvation if you are not yet saved.
I don’t have time to get into it on this post, but Christ told us to watch, to be on our guard. Click here for an older post on the subject of watching for the end. The statement about not knowing the day or the hour has been twisted in error and does not nullify the scores of passages and the very promise of Christ that His true sheep would know when the end was near.
Mark 13:23 So be on your guard; I have told you EVERYTHING ahead of time.
While the “last days” began at the time of Jesus ministry, over 2,000 years ago, the Scriptures clearly tell us things that will be happening right before the very end. If you are lukewarm for God or you do not believe in God, your spirit is not at peace or else you are puffed up with worldly pride. The facade and false sense of security will soon vanish. Jesus is the answer and I hope this post about the “end of time” is a wake-up call to my brothers and sisters. It is getting very late on God’s clock.
The most comprehensive teaching on this subject was recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. Click Here to read Matthew 24. The signs that Jesus predicted would precede and announce his imminent coming are all around us. Everyone one of these signs is now prevalent in our world. It is time to prepare for the coming of the Lord.
We are not to sit idly by and wait for His return. We are the workers in His field if we are truly of God. God is raising up His true children in these end times to speak up and bring in the final harvest for His kingdom. Are you ready? If Jesus came right now, are you absolutely certain you are going home with Him? You need to know the answer without any hesitation and if the answer is you are not sure or NO, I pray you will get on your knees and call out to your God, repent of your sins, confess your transgressions, ask for forgiveness and surrender your life to Him now. He is merciful and if you do this with a true heart, you will be cleansed and He will remember your sins no more. Then you simply need to walk in obedience to His commands going forward and follow the leading of His Holy Spirit thru which He will guide you and speak to you and lead you to practice righteousness.
The remainder of this post will briefly isolate the many signs that Jesus gave us to identify the imminence of His coming. My goal is to ensure we are properly focused in these end times, remembering why we are here and what is truly important for eternity. What should blow your mind is the fact that each and every one of these signs has been fulfilled in some capacity. Are you ready?
1. Many false Christs and false teachers would come
Mt 24:5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ and will deceive many.
Notice that Jesus said the deception would be very successful. Many WILL BE deceived. I wrote a subsequent post on this one topic HERE. Jesus is speaking of religious deception and primarily about false apostate churches saying come see “my Jesus” and believe in my doctrine and my traditions. With 400 to 4,000 ”Christian” denominations (it depends on whose numbers you wish to cite) all spouting their man made doctrine as the one and only truth, there is obviously a ton of false religion out there. There have even been a number of high profile kooks claiming to be the Christ themselves, people like Jim Jones, Marshall Applewhite, David Koresh and many more based in other countries. The truth has fallen into disrepute just as Peter told us it would be in 2 Peter 2. We are in the midst of full blown apostasy (the falling away) from the truth that Paul warned would usher in the revealing of the anti-christ. There is only one true assembly/church of God and it is not contained in any building nor is it Lorded over by any men who set rules for membership.
2 Thess 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed
I recently wrote a comprehensive post on False Teaching. There are so many bloggers, Youtubers and the like on top of these denominations all proclaiming the truth — or so they think. I implore you to let no man be your teacher and that expressly includes me. God uses man as we are indeed His workers in His field of harvest but we should look for teachers that by their fruit demonstrate they themselves are following Jesus. You should test all teaching against the written word of God in the Bible but even more important than reading your Bible, you need to be in prayer and meditation with God. God is your teacher and His word says that if anyone asks Him for wisdom, He will give it to them. But you must ask.
2. Wars and rumors of wars
Mt 24:6-7 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
The two world wars we have endured over the past 100 years ushered in this sign. Since that time, wars have continued to proliferate with the 20th century viewed as the most horrific in terms of lives lost with a quick add of over 200 million deaths. We now have the capacity to destroy the entire planet and kill millions in a matter of seconds. It is not a matter of if but when nuclear war will occur on the earth. Man has never invented a weapon it did not use in war. During World War I and II, many Christians thought Jesus was about to come back, but Jesus made clear these world wars would just signal the commencement of the end time fulfilment and that other signs needed to follow.
Mt 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
The start of the 21st century has continued the pace withthe Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the whole war on terrorism that commenced at 9/11 along with the Israeli conflicts with Hammas, the Palestinians and others. Think about the news and the threats being made by Iran, North Korea, Russia, Al Quida to the US and other countries and the constant tension between many countries like India and Pakistan. Rumors of wars continue to swirl so this sign is still with us.
3. Famines
Mt 24:7 And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
I will first speak to famines. Jesus was referring primarily to spiritual famines and droughts. A spiritual famine occurs when the true Word of God, the bread of life, is not present and a drought where the Holy Spirit, not a fake pretender is absent the church. That defines exactly where the end time Babylon Church is at today my friends. When you begin to really grasp this truth that is spelled out throughout your Bibles, you will be astonished. While there is famine in the natural world as well, the real famine is in the churches themselves and has crept up on Christians without them being aware. The majority have indeed been deceived.
Amos 8:11 “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD,
“when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
If you really want to see the extent of the famine of the WORD, please read this post Famine in the Land. Very few people are hearing the voice of God the quiet whispers that guide those that truly have His Spirit. People are following precepts of men, all the while going to church and acting religious. For most, this is vain worship as Jesus is Lord in name only, not in deeds and actions.
As it relates to natural famines, there are signs there as well. Here are some selected quotes from a couple of good blog sites regarding the state of world famine in 2009. We are so inoculated from this kind of news in the USA but our day may indeed be coming.
“Over the last year rising food prices have affected poor people in countries around the world and in recent days many thousands of them have taken to the streets to protest. There have been food riots in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Haiti, Mauritania, Mozambique and Senegal. The World Food Program has reported food crises in 37 countries, and told governments that it faces a $500 million shortfall to meet the needs of 89 million hungry people.”
“The wheat fungus known as Ug99 continues to threaten the world’s “Staff of Life” and could destroy up to four-fifths of the world’s wheat crop, according to this article on the Ottawa Citizen online site. The effects are already being felt in shortages and higher prices for bread, pasta and dumplings on which about a third of the world’s people rely as a major source of nutrition”
Food prices are rising rapidly in the US and across the globe; even during a severe recession. Famine is spreading and I believe will soon reach unprecedented scale. The normal rescue countries like the USA, UK, France etc. will be immersed and neck deep into their own economic and health crises and will not be able to respond as in past crises.
4. Pestilences
My Bible says that if we walk in covenant with God, He will heal ALL our sickness and diseases. I am not saying all sickness is because of sin, but God is in absolute total control of everything and sends all sickness to us, some to test our hearts, some to manifest His glory and some to chasten/discipline us and get us to return to Him in repentance. This was the covenant given to Moses and the New Covenant has even better promises. When did God ever renege on His promise we would be without sickness? We are full of sickness and disease because we are not obeying God, we are in rebellion and are putting our trust in men and not God. As a result, the curses of sickness and disease are rampant yet everyone is spiritually blind. Here is what Moses shared with the people of God about the consequences of not obeying God. When did He change?
Deuteronomy 29:60-62 He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they will cling to you. 61“Also every sickness and every plague which, not written in the book of this law, the LORD will bring on you until you are destroyed. 62“Then you shall be left few in number, whereas you were as numerous as the stars of heaven, because you did not obey the LORD your God
The dictionary today defines a pestilence as a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating. There are increasing threats of disease just consider some of the “new” health threats of the past 50 years. Aids, Hepatitis C, Bird Flu, and Swine Flu. Consider the reemergence of diseases man thought it had eradicated or ones it has never been able to get under control such as Polio and Malaria. Almost all of our food is sprayed with chemicals otherwise the bugs would consume it. As it gets closer to the end, sickness and disease is clearly going to be widespread across humanity. While I do not know exactly when these things will happen we are told they will happen. Our modern experts are now very worried about the outbreak of widespread and devastating disease upon the world. When God takes away His restraint, at the very end, sickness will spread like wildfire. The birth pangs are being ratcheted up.
5. Earthquakes
I believe the earthquakes speak primarily to the spiritual reality. God is shaking everything and our hearts which are the land so often spoken of that soaks up the rain or hardens itself are being shaken by the attacks of the powers of darkness. The Gog war spoken of in Ezekiel 38 speaks to this shaking at the end.
Ezekiel 38:20 The fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all the creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the face of the earth will shake at My presence; the mountains also will be thrown down, the steep pathways will collapse and every wall will fall to the ground
But God is so amazing, His prophecy is coming true even if we only think about the natural and quakes on the earth. Sure there have always been earthquakes but as I heard Mark Finley recently say, in the past 50 years there has been a whole lot of shaking going on. Earthquakes are more prevalent than ever, since we began to measure and report on them and just in the past 5 years we have had several killer earthquakes including the one in China and Indonesia. Jesus compares these signs to birth pangs. Once they start, they come in increasing intensity and increasing frequency. That is what is happening while the majority of people go about their normal lives. We must prepare for the Lord’s return first and not be like the people in day of Noah.
6. Christians will be persecuted and reviled
Mt 24:9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
In many countries, Christians very lives are at risk. As the gospel is spread to the whole world, Christians are literally being killed, jailed and treated as outcasts. As good as it has been to live in the West and specifically the USA, even here, the politics and rights of minorities have been twisted into subtle attacks on God and His truth.
Many hide their Christianity to avoid rejection by friends, customers, business associates and the like. The separation of church and state has turned into to abolishing the rule of God in the land. Anyone who preaches a true gospel of repentance from Sin and the wrath of God is almost universally attacked by people and organizations that are Christian. A day is coming where being a Christian will be a huge liability even in the USA. We are not that far from this point and while I do not wish to discuss politics I believe the current political winds will usher in a new unbelievable direction for this country that will be directly against the ways of God. Tolerance of sin is not God’s way and the try to please everyone crowd will make God their enemy. Separation of the wheat from the tares will begin soon as those not truly following God will show their true hearts when the chips are on the line.
7. Bickering, Strife and Dissension
Mt. 24:10-11 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another, Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many
The ways of the world today is about taking not giving. It is about people’s individual rights and what is in it for them. This is what Jesus referred to in this verse, the ME GENERATION. We are taught to bicker, argue, sue, hate, get pissed off easily, seek revenge as a way of protecting our rights and beliefs. Jesus said “do not resist an evil man” and “turn the other cheek” and ” If someone asks you for your cloak to give them your shirt as well.” Our world and society is operating the exact opposite of what Jesus instructed and we are all offended by one another with very thin skin. Christians are turning against Christians. All the denominations we have is not the work of God — it is the work of man at best and in many cases the work of Satan.
Many are following a different Jesus. There is much division in so called church. People slander other people, accuse them as false witnesses and forget the words of Jesus. Everyone wants to be right and pride has overtaken many. This ME generation is another sign that we are in the last days. God has already sent the strong delusion He promised to send in the end times. Click Here to read my recent post on that.
8. Lawlessness will abound
Mt. 24:12 And because lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold.
I doubt this sign needs much explanation. Just read your daily news or look at the Internet news sites. People killing people, rapes, thefts, swindles, blatant evil to levels unprecedented in history are now every day occurrences. We think nothing to see a news article about mass murders, child abduction and killings, school shooting, mothers killing their kids etc. Evil is everywhere, Satan and his demons are ratcheting it up in the end and working through the sons of disobedience.
Eph 2:1-3 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience
Because of this evil, those not grounded on a solid foundation of faith and trust in the Lord, have let their love grow cold. They can walk by a hungry man and pay no heed. They can hear a plea for help for victims of some calamity yet be non-responsive. I wrote a post on Love is Waxing Cold that is a relevant drill down into this topic.
9. Gospel preached in all the world
Mt. 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Jesus concluded his laundry list of signs in Matthew by saying the last sign would be that the gospel would be preached worldwide. I am a telecommunications expert and in the last 15 years, we have seen more advancement in communications than in the 100 years prior. The explosion of information via the Internet, email, and the global networks of satellites, fiber optic and wireless have pushed access to the good news across the globe into territory where such access to the truth would have never been imagined. This going forth of the gospel is bearing fruit in hostile environments. Many Muslim and Communist countries contain some of the fastest growing churches. Disciples of Christ have given up their lives to go to Africa and the remotest areas of South America (now that travel allows this) to preach the Good News. God wishes nobody to perish and that is why He said He would delay His coming so everyone has an opportunity to come to true repentance. But time is running out and when that day comes, it will no longer be a time of mercy but a time of judgment.
10. It will be like the time of Noah
Jesus went to describe what it would be like in the end times.
Mt. 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
This begs the question, what was going at during the times of Noah? Noah’s time is referenced throughout Scripture as a time of Godlessness and violence. Jesus tells us the world will be much like Noah’s time right before He comes. Just like the people of Noah’s day who knew nothing of the coming flood and mocked and scoffed at Noah as a heretic; they lived life to please themselves and satisfy their own lusts. Genesis 6:11 records that in in that time God viewed the earth as corrupt and full of violence. The world today, including the majority of professing Christians, are going about their lives forgetting the lessons of the past and eating, drinking, partying and pursuing pleasure as if nothing was about to give — despite all these clear signs. We need to heed Peter’s admonishment to the early church to learn the lessons of the past that our merciful Father has given as guide posts.
1 Peter 4:3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
11. It will be like the days of Lot
In the parallel passage in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus compares the time right before His second coming to the times of Lot. The story of Lot and wickedness that permeated society that resulted in God’s wrath being poured out is told in Genesis Chapters 18-19.
Luke 17:28-29 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
The most oft remembered thing about Sodom and Gomorrah is the sexual perversion that was rampant. In fact our modern day term for illicit oral sex (Sodomy) was named after Sodom. These towns were known for the explosion of homosexuality and other perversion and practice of sexual sin.
The sexual revolution in the 1960s was a work of Satan and has portended the end times and the great falling away. Look at what has happened since, pornography is everywhere, sexual perversion is accepted under tolerance and not being judgmental. What was X rated 50 years ago has become acceptable practice and conversation for even most Christians. Even Fox News has a Sexologist who promotes ungodly sex and leads people away from God and the truth in her online column. Evil temptation is everywhere. Our women are taught to show it off, the most popular TV shows spin the acceptance and promotion of ungodly sexual practice whether it be adultery, fornication or homosexuality. Men are taught by society to lust after women and value good looks over the heart and inner beauty of God’s gift to man. The God created institution of marriage is under attack, our kids our being taught masturbation at age 5 and to promote tolerance, taught about alternative gay and lesbian families. Oh God have mercy on us all. God did not tell us to be tolerant. He told us to obey His commandments and come out of following worldly practices.
12. Israel would re-emerge as a nation
The UN declaration given in 1947, established Israel as a nation again in 1948. This ended a 2,000 year period where Israel was not a sovereign nation and not under control of armies or other kings. Jesus indicated very clearly that Israel’s re-emergence as a nation would indicate the time was very close. This sign alone is pretty convincing but when combined with the other 11 I chose to highlight should send chills up the spine of anyone waiting to get their act together with God.
Mt 24:32-34 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.
The fig tree was always a metaphor for Israel in the Bible. For brevity I will not go off to prove this point but simply read Joel 1, Jeremiah 24 and you will quickly make the connection.
A tree must first be planted by a seed and it takes some time for it to sprout and grow and bear leaves. It has now been 61 years since Israel was replanted. It is now mature as a nation, full of leaves. Jesus told us when we saw this happening, that His coming would be at the very doors. He went on to say this generation would not pass away before all the signs He referenced in Matthew 24 would take place. What is the average life span of a human today? Given it is 61 years since the rebirth of the fig tree, we are getting very close, time is about up.
13. Economic Distress and Uncertainty
The book of Revelation and Daniel contain prophecy regarding the end times. While it is way beyond this post go get into all of this prophecy it is important to note that God told us the end would a time of great tribulation and distress including economic calamity. We are sinking into the abyss economically and while there may be some optimism in the news, things are only going to get worse, much worse. The only thing you will have to rest on is your faith in God. God said He would shake ALL that can be shaken in the end times and the only thing not shakeable is a true faith.
Haggai 2:6 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. When the going gets tough, the true sheep of God will come to Him for comfort and rest. I see this happening already as many people who took comfort in their riches, their career and their friends have lost them and God is using these trials to bring them to godly repentance and fill up His house before the end comes.
I take no comfort in being negative but instead simply want to answer God’s call to awaken His sheep. The foolish virgins that had no oil in their lamps did not enter the Kingdom of God. God is going to shake out the fakes during the coming tribulation. The tares will side with the antiChrist, they will take the mark of the beast; they will put their own comfort and safety above doing the will of God. If we want to be saved, we must endure to the end. We must finish the race. Please do not be shaken out, know that it is coming. You will be tested severely and you need to decide now, in advance whom you will serve.
Hebrews 12:25-28 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe
I apologize for the length of this post. I want to end it by encouraging you not to listen to the scoffers and mockers. Peter told us they would be here in force to dissuade you from following Christ and mocking those that live in reverent fear for the return of their Lord.
2 Peter 3:3-4 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? The world and most that proclaim to be Christians are following after their own lusts and pleasures and serving and obeying God are the last things on their mind.
Paul’s version of the signs were put into a single set of passages when addressing Timothy.
2 Tim 3:1-5 There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. This describes the world that we live in folks. It is here now.
I encourage you to heed these signs. Nobody knows the exact time but we are clearly in the season of the end. Once Jesus comes it will be forever too light to make it right with Him. He will say to those who did NOT truly believe in Him (ie. did not obey Him, or follow Him) “depart from me, I never knew you”.
Are you ready? If not get ready. If I can help you in prayer or ministry, please comment back or send me an email at peter.wilson@cox.net. Remember Heaven rejoices over 1 lost sheep that returns to the fold. No matter your situation, what sins you have committed, God wants you in His house. Like the prodigal son He will welcome you back with loving arms when you return to Him.
Correction, on previous post
He showed me that flesh cannot mix with the things of God ( is correct ), not what
I previously had , he showed me that spirit cannot mix with the things of God.
Hopefuly this will edify,
I had several months of free time approx 8 years ago to work on a biblical Chart.
The chart was titled “the Kingdom Within”
It described the believers spiritual walk of progression in the “Kingdom Within”
It also showed , how the believer could go from outside of the grace of God, into salvation, and become a full stature Son.
” I ” used the childern of Israel leaving Egypt, traveling in the wilderness, and finaly conquering the giats in the promised land.
” I ” also used the temple worship system of Israel in the O.T.in regards to the outer court, holy place , and the most holy place, as a barometer of spiritual progression for the believer.
” I ” was so proud of that chart with its colered pictures and scripture references.
” I ” thought that it would bring an awareness to people as to where they stood in the ” “Kingdom Within”
” I ” brought it to the print shop to have it printed and finalized.
After about 3 weeks I returned to the print shop to see how things were progressing on the chart.
At first they couldn’t find “my” chart, then from behind a corner area of the building , they finally found it.
“WATER” had came in from the roof and ” destroyed ” the chart ( like the days of Noe, fleshly things destroyed ).
At first , I was angry inside, 8 months of “my” work destroyed through their neglect, then, Gods revelation and peace came.
God had revealed within minutes , what I had not realized in 8 months.
He showed me that spirit cannot mix with the things of God .
He showed me when God is mixed with self, it is still a “thing ” of babylon.
The leaven of self , had levened the whole lump, and destruction had came.
Now 8 years latter, I am so glad that the chart was not completed, because, he has shown me so many things of the spirit , that have replaced my fleshly understandings.
The point behind the story is this: We need to seek the Father in all humbleness ( I need reminded of this daily )and be totaly submissive to his will.
We need to challenge each other in a Godly manor, keeping each other in check ( the wise seek council ) so that something that is not Gods truth , will not go foward.
The scripture ” Come let us reason together ” will open ourselves up for Godly correction and affirmation
It will then knock pride out of the way , and bring the humble and meek spirit of a true bride , in our midst
Brother Pete has structured this site so that we can post what we believe God has shown us , and for questions and edification.
It will strengthen this body of believers through its many members and gifts that each of us posses.
But, we “must be challenged ” in a godly manor in what we think that God has shown us. Like fire purifies and burns off dross we must use these challenges of one another to remove the fleshly things from our lives.
I think that most of the people , because of the site material at truthinscriptures, are childern of God who have asked God for his truth.
I believe we have not come this far , to settle for things that are not the truth.
I would like to end with with proverbs 19:20-21 It says , Hear council and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.there are many devices in a mans heart:nevertheless the council of the Lord , that shall stand
God bless , Jer. 33:3
There are two kingdoms. The Kingdom of Heaven and The Kingdom of Earth. Jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible for His people to see The Kingdom of Heaven and to enter into it, He made it possible for them to be seated in the heavenly places with Him, that they may rule and reign with Him – this is all spiritual. They who do not believe have not been redeemed from the earthly Kingdom, they suffer in their spirits, not having the victory and overcoming life that Jesus wants them to have. Be not conformed to the world, Jesus warned us because the world is seeking to conform its inhabitants to itself. Through propaganda of the media, systematic governments, entertainment and pleasures – all these things are tools of entrainment to affect the naturally sound mind. These oppose the The Holy Spirit and vexes the spirit of man. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, according to The Word of God, ‘Sanctify them in Thy Truth, Thy Word is Truth.’
@ Paul I have always understood the fig tree to be the OT flesh old covenant. Its was a flesh covering like the fig leaves in the garden, and a covering for sins. But it did not take away sins like Christ. That covenant was not meant to be everlasting. It was described in the story of Nathanael when Jesus saw him sitting UNDER the fig tree. Nathanael was an Israelite in whom was no guile. Nathanael was actually still abiding under the laws of Moses and the OT, and he recognized Jesus immediately as the Son of God.. You might say that Nathanael was of a fig tree that was still producing fruit in a land of barren fig trees. Its is a flesh covering like the fig leaves in the garden. The covenant that was not meant to be everlasting. One might say a temporary covenant spare tire until a new and better covenant could be confirmed in Christ Jesus. (the everlasting covenant) which was codified in Gen ch 8 with the dove who had an olive branch in her break..
John 1 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Fig Tree The fig tree is a metaphor for both physical and spiritual Israel on two different layers. The establishment of Israel in 1948 is the fig tree that today’s church looks towards (the flesh covenant revived). The spiritual fig tree is today’s modern church that the false prophet is guiding as its branchs that shoot forth on the fig tree of the apostate movement. This is the tree of Babylon that the mustard seed turned into, Christians united for Israel is like the ultimate version of this (Matt. 24:32, Mark 13:28, Luke 21:29). The Lord comes upon a fig tree that is not producing any fruit (the apostate church today is fruitless) and He curses it (Matt. 21:1921,Mark 11:13, 11:20,21) The church is a 2nd time line repeat of the OT Israel who produced no fruit. (this is Hagar under the bond woman who is under the law of Mt Sinai.) Jesus on His way into Jerusalem in Matth 21, when He road into Jerusalem on a donkey they rejected Him as their their King. He then left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there. Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. Matthew 21-19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. Matthew 21-20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! —But leaves only, this is what Adam & Eve were trying to cover themselves with, (fig leaves only). aka Man in the flesh doing it his way and producing no fruit. On that same day Jesus told them the parable of the husbandmen and the vineyard, and when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parable, they perceived that he was speaking of them. This is the one parable that the Pharisees actually understood, and wanted to arrest Him on the spot.46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
In Matthew 24 Jesus said to LEARN the parable of the fig tree.—Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:—The apostate church is putting forth leaves now, but bear no fruit, and the summer is nigh. The fig tree putting forth her figs is a sign that the winter has past, and the spring is come and summer is at hand. Jesus having spoke of the signs preceding the two grand events, of which the apostles had inquired, the sign of thy coming, and the end of the world. He begins here to speak of that time. I believe that a fig tree puts forth the fruit first and then its leaves. Not sure on that but I think so.
Mark 11-11 he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
“for the time of figs was not yet”.–for it was not the season of figs.—the season for Israel to produce fruit was over possibly. This is a difficult piece of the verse to understand. This account in the gospel of Mark is the same account given in Matthew 21-19 . This happened about 4 days before the passover on which Christ was arrested. Maybe some others may understand this statement better than me.
Agape
Bill
Dear Friends of Jesus,
What do you think of this bible verse: [NAS] [Mark 11:13] Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
I was listening to it today and it struck me , for it was not the season of figs, yet Jesus rebuked the tree and He should have known it was not the season for figs. Why is that?
Love and Reason
I agree with your understanding Charles; they are being trampled upon by God’s instruments of tribulation, which are the uncircumcised Gentiles. The sufferings of this world will draw many of Gods people back into the spiritual faith of the inner court.
agape
Bill
1 Cor 15 is a difficult chapter, i believe it does shift from the spiritual to the physical, I have been wanting to do a show on this chapter, but i don’t fully understand it yet. There may be a double layer of meaning in many of these verses.
1 Corinthians 15:5050 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
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 incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
John 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
This verse says everyone who seeth the Son, (who already sees, and believes, may have everlasting life) I believe this to be saying those who are spiritually born again now in the kingdom. But then it moves forward to say; I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Once again it appears to be saying the same thing as verse 40 That you have eternal life in Christ, then a semicolon ; and I will raise him up at the last day. The word “at” is used an not “on”. “raise him up at the last day” is only 4 times in the text, written all in the gospel of John describing after the tribulations of life. This is written only in the gospel of John, which is the most mysterious gospel of the 4 gospels. It is written about the son of God and is the most spiritually written of the 4 gospels.
“In the last days” is only written 3 times in the NT, which I find interesting. “Time of the end” is only found in the book of Daniel.
Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
.
I believe this is a first time occurrence on a large scale done through the grouping and socialization in the post WW2 era.. In verse 2 it lists 8 things describing the number of perdition or falling away.
This so describes the baby-boom generation and today’s socialist society. The one that stands out the most to me of today’s society Is “disobedient to parents” I don’t think this has happened in past generations. It is truly a land mark in toady’s society. Also the total destruction of the Christian family has never happened before, 60 % divorce rate, which I believe these numbers are lied about, like all other numbers, I believe it to be more like 75 %. I believe this is a precedent and has never happened before in the post cross era. The common everyday person has never been so proud as they are today, They even continuously say how proud they openly flaunt the usage of the word “proud” as if it were was a good thing.
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
There are 6 things listed here describing man and his flesh nature.
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Verse 4 are 4 things listed tribultion. I believe this to be the great tribulation at the end.
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
The silly women are the lost multitudes within the apostasy of the de-global Corp Church Construct of worldly Babylon.–Hosea 7:11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. Both Ephraim and dove are metaphoric through out the text for describing the multitudes,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
This is the statement of the day. we have the supposedly most proudful and glorious learned systems of education ever in the history of man, plus great theological seminaries and yet people have probably the least amount of understand in the last 200 years. This truly is the day of “forever learning” on the steroids of vanity.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
How much worse can the deceiving become after 2000 years its never been so bountiful as today. (deceiving, and being deceived) 2 factions of evil.
This chapter describes today’s world perfectly. Since the physical discovery of steel in 1847, man does not have much time left regardless, it was the physical element which was added to the lust and pride of man that dramatically changed the a post-cross era which had changed very little for 1800 years, and even a 1000 years prior to that. Man is on the plane of Shinar to ready complete his self destruction. Evil is never satisfied, it will grow worse and worse just like before the the flood (in the days of Noah) at some point God intervenes. i believe this to be the 2nd coming of Christ and judgement day.
Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
prophecy of the pouring out of the holy ghost at pentecost.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Day of judgement–”restore again the kingdom” Matthew 13, “I will cast out of my kingdom all that offend, and doeth iniguity” 2 factions of evil
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
It was not given to them 2000 years ago to know the times or the seasons. The prophet Amos said Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Daniel which is the only book that speaks of the “time of the end” said –Daniel 11:35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, (((even to the time of the end))): because it is yet for a time appointed.—Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to (((the time of the end))): many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
“to and fro” a dual factional lost double-minded house divided.—”and knowledge shall be increased” With the earthly advancement of communication satellites etc. because of the discovery of mas production of steal, the knowledge has been increased massively over the last 150 years, but without the wisdom of God. Truly this is the day of increased knowledge globally like never seen before.–Daniel 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till((( the time of the end))). There are terms such as “last days”, “end of the world” “latter days” etc. but the term ‘time of the end is only found in the book of Daniel, which I believe very possibly is describing today’s world which is on the brink of destruction. –10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.—Truly today the wicked have no understanding at all, John 16-2.
Daniel 8-26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.
27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
Daniel did not understand the time of the end, but the vision made him faint and sick for days. (sounds like today’s world to me) First of all the world had to go global before this could happen, this was not possible before the descovery of steel, The British. Empire could only control about 25% of the world prior to the discovery of steel.
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
“behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;”–signiture of the 2 witnesses.
Acts 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.
“like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven”. First it states in this chapter of Acts 1 that the Holy ghost is going to be poured out, and then it states that ‘this SAME Jesus” will return in like manner.
! Cor 15-5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
By grace 500 brethren witnessed His presence after His resurrection.
“but some are fallen asleep”—. this is interesting is Paul saying they have physicaly died?
Peace be with you
Bill
Amen Charles. Very uplifting words. I pray none of us will be deceived and miss the grace of God all the while thinking our brand of religion is going to save us. The kingdom has come, Chris reigns now, we just need to decide to get in on it and walk the way Jesus showed us. True worldliness is the opposite of love, it is self centered. Christ won this victory for us. We need to walk in that victory or else…..
Brother Pete and Bill Johnson, and sisters and brothers,
I just want to say the following , because the revelation for me in all that was written , was the following.
The outer court childern( joel 2:17, rev. 11:2)need to come into a deeper revealing or presence of Christ in their lives.
I know not everyone will understand this, but the fullness of Christ will give them protection(pentecost and tabernacles ), so that they can move from the uncovered and unprotected outer court , into the temple of God.
Because the scriptual reference from rev. 11:2 may seems to indicate exclussion.
These 30 fold childern need to be prayed for , because they are receiving a natural light that will not protect them from the judgements of this world.
I know many of them, and love them, but they cannot stand with their limited amount of protection, being uncovered and exposed to the elements in these last days .
I would just pray for the fullness of God to visit all of his peoples.
As always , I do not wish to offend but edify.
Come , let us reason together.
Thank you Lord, Jer.33:3
Pete,
I liked what you said in one of your video’s regarding, If we are watching major news media, reading newspapers we will not see the things of God. that to me ,is so true , and cannot be disputed.
In court , when the the perspective jury members were being interviewed by the attorneys , they would use the pharse,” beyond a SHADOW of a doubt”.
The attorneys would explain to the perspective jury members, that proof to find someone guilty is to the exclusion of a reasonable doubt, not a SHADOW of a doubt.
A SHADOW has no substance to it, the reality is what is reflecting the SHADOW.
My friends, to me, the heartbreack of this world is CHANGE( loved ones dying, etc ), it is a SHADOW.
But in the real world , the spiritual realm that operates on the unchangable WORD of God, that world changeth not, because it operates on the WORD of God.
Shouldn’t are attentions then be be focused on that realm for Christs appearing, the realm that dosen’t change?Bringing Christ the WORD , to our eternal spirit , isn’t that the true reality of his coming ? The eyesight was wrong 2000 years ago for a natural delivier of the flesh of man, shouldn’t we be looking for a spiritual delievier within our spirit to appear? Shouldn’t we consider these things in prayer, before declaring heresy ?
For Christs second coming,what most people are doing by looking at this changing World , this SHADOW, that dosen’t have substance, it deverts or sometimes takes away the glory of Christs coming within the Kingdom or spirit of man.
It would be like always looking at someones shadow , and focusing on its movement, and just like the reference to WORDLY news media, it will mislead you.
, God in his WORD said that, he knows his childern before the foundation of the world.
He is going to reveal himself first, to those childern, within their spirit .
Every single one of those childern will receive the spiritual revelation of Jesus Christ ( the WORD)within their spirit before an actual appearence of our saviour comes to this shadow , or natural earth. Hopefully , it will be to its fullness (100 fold).
We are all adults, we can focus our eyesight on whatever realm you wish to give ascendency to, but, if we want to be seated with him in the heavens, and live seperate and apart from this shadow , or earthly exsistance , we need to bring his appearence within our kingdom or spirit within first
Because as brother Pete has well pointed out, to be a earthdweller and partake of the judgements that are coming, would be a spiritual tragedy.
Don’t wish to argue, but , brothers and sisters , get ready in these last days with the spiirit of truth at the helm, because some very profound truths are going to challenge our traditons of men.
It all has to go by the wayside, if it is not of God.
Pray, ask God for his revelation first , and he WILL give an answer .
God bless us in our search for his truths, Jer. 33:3
@Charles God being Spirit and Jesus being God and us having the Holy Spirit inside of us leads to the Father and Jesus making their abode in us. So in that sense Jesus has come just as He said He would, He promised it but we must be Born Again to see it (John 3:3)
John 14:19-21 A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
John who wrote Revelation 1:1, was standing there when Jesus said this. Mat 16:28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom
Pete , thank you ,
I don’t claim to have all of the answers, I just don’t want to look through the eyes of babylon to understand Christ’s second coming
It is a doctrinal weed in my opinion that keeps us always trying to live in a three dimensional world ( shadow) , always watching for a fleshly Jesus to appear again.
Everything is always in the future in relation to Christs coming.the devil has us living in a world that dosen’t exsist yet.
The reality of Christs coming will be to the spirit of man, the shadow of that coming in my opinion, based upon all scripture, Will then be reflected upon this natural earth.
If we are wanting and hoping for this process to be reversed, and Christ not reveal himself spiritually to our person within ,and expierience that second coming first, which is the proper order, Then I beleive we are sadly deceived.
We as worshipers in truth and spirit should have a different vision, a vision of the true reality of Christs second coming within our spirit.
I am not saying that Christ will not appear here in a three dimensional EARTH, but, it will be a shadow in comparrison to his spiritual coming within the kingdom of man.
It is a sad thing when we live in a world that does not exsist. Some people live in the past, wishing they could have been present with Christ when he walked on this shadow called EARTH. Some people want to always look to the future to a physical Christ coming to this physical EARTH , that world dosen’t exsist, we are now given this interior world within the kingdom of our spirit , to bring in the second coming of Christ, AMEN ?
We must live in the present, and bring Christ Jesus within us NOW.
That part of his coming is NOW, it is availible as we read these WORDS.
IT is not always a future event, that is a lie that babylon and the devil has rooted within the garden of our heart.
Pull it up!, because the root of that lie is planted deep within our spirit.
God has given us this present world to live in, the KINGDOM WITHIN OUR SPIRITS, to bring Christ into , to rule and reign.
I will list some scripture , to bring this truth to light, but after reading Gods WORD in its enterity, we should start realizing the spiritual intent of the Father.
2 thess.2:1, Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ( NOW),
Rev. 1:1 The revelation of Christ (NOW)
1Cor 1:28,
I would like to continue on, but the affairs of life sometimes require our time.
You see the direction of these writtings, please ask the Father, I don’t wish to be believed, Gods truth is to be beleived, we hopfuly can reflect it accurantley.
God bless, jer33:3
I wrote this post before I saw clearly who the Israel of God really is. While this nation is the fig tree nation, the figs are not going to be ripened. I see two Israels from two covenants (Galatians 4). These figs will be shaken by a mighty wind. So I do think Jesus meant this nation, the return of the FLESH Israel but as the Luke version says all the trees (not just the fig tree) are sprouting all over the world. That is Jesus awakening His witnesses who are standing up like you and me. I should go revisit this post as my understanding of the spiritual side of these prophecies has grown immensely since this was first written. Thank you for pointing this out.
Revelation 6:13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind
Peter: Are you sure the natural Israel that “re-emerged” in 1948 is the Israel spoken of in Mat 24:32?
I know that the 6 pointed star on the flag of Israel of not a symbol liked by Jesus.
[NAS] [Acts 7:43] ‘YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP. I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON.’
[KJV] [Acts 7:43] Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
Love and Grace
Paul
Thank you for your kind comments. As much as I see all these signs, I also see God working in many people, awakening them to the truth and leading them to step out in service for Him. I am not anti church as I see those that love God with all their hearts even in churches not teaching sound doctrine, but the numbers could be so much bigger if the whole truth be told. Jesus Bless You
Pete: Thank you so much for creating this site. I have emailed this to a couple of my friends to read as well. I remember reading some of these signs in the bible about the lords near return, and I commend you on what you have written here, for every word is the absolute truth, beyond the shadow of a doubt.
I have already seen some of the signs myself with regard to families separating from each other, sister not talking to brother, or mother and daughter etc…
In my own hometown I have seen several churches that have branched off as well and have given new names to them. It sounds terrible to say but a friend I have, went to one of those new churches a couple of years ago and actually received some sort of evil spirit. She had to be medicated to bring her back from whatever it was. Thankfully she is now fully recovered from it.
Be blessed Pete!
J. Hewitt