Devotional, Devotion, Prophecy, Bible Study, Bible discussion, End of Days, End Times, Enter Ministry, Underground Church, Church, Fellowship, Tribulation, Salvation, Ordained, Love, Heaven, Miracles
Author: Michael Young, Sr.
I am a practicing Christian, a disciple of Jesus, a husband of over 50 years, a father and a grandfather, a business man, a veteran and a friend to all who will have me.
I have served or am serving, at various times, as an Evangelist, a Pulpit fill pastor, an Associate Pastor of Evangelism and as Senior Pastor of a church plant. My passion is for practicing and teaching the Bible, building small groups, reaching the lost with the message of the Gospel of Jesus, recovering the straying Sheep of God and the gathering together the Called of God, in neighborhoods, business settings and in churches by equipping other Christians.
I have authored a few small books and I have a background in professional business management, finance and investments.
I am glad to meet you, even if it is virtually. Write me at any time and let's become friends.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”“And He said to him, “’YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment.” Matthew 22:36-38
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Once again, things are not as they seem. The man who asked the question did not care about knowing the greatest commandment. He had nefarious motives.
Matthew 22:34 “But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. v35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing (tempting) Him, v36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
Jesus answers the question, takes command and captures the moment. He recites the Great Commandment from the Jewish law, the Torah in Deuteronomy chapter six.
Jesus then sets the stage
“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
In one brilliant moment, the Pharisees are confronted with the Christ!
“Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question:
“What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?”
Learn from this.
When people confront you and test you or test your faith, speak the Word of God.
Speak the whole Truth
Always bring your audience, your opponent or your friends to the Messiah. Always.
Of course, this implies you KNOW THE WORD OF GOD.
“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:8
Now, it is your turn:
HOW MUST YOU DO IT?
HOW MUST YOU TEACH IT?
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
“Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”
It can mean “to be overwhelmed with work or information, or to be inundated with an uncapped, unfiltered amount. To take a small amount from an enormous, hard-to-manage quantity.”
That’s how I used to feel on some Sundays after church.
There is an image of a clock on the Megatron-like screen looming over us, ticking down the minutes and seconds until the church service is to start.
There will be two services, so we must stay on time!
Then, just like clockwork, (pun intended) the announcements are made; then the music begins. It is often rhythmic but frantic at first. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, repeating lyrics over and over, song after song. The final ‘worship song’ slowing to a quieter pace, readying us for a sermon or a lecture.
There is a screen at the back of the auditorium for the preacher to view. It is reflecting the preacher’s notes and a CLOCK ticking down the minutes and seconds. He must stay on time!
We rapidly fill the blank spaces in the bulletin’s sermon notes section, occasionally peeking at our neighbors sheet for an answer we miss.
Next, the concluding remarks, a quick invitation to repeat a prayer and on your way out pick up literature confirming your decision today.
CLEAR OUT, the next audience is coming in just thirty minutes!
HURRY, HURRY, HURRY, and chat with others on the way out of the doors. Into you cars and leave. MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEXT SERVICE!
And then along comes the-not-so-“Pandemic”.
Research shows that, since the not-so-pandemic started, that 1 in 3 church-goers are not coming back to the ‘religious races’. Preferring instead to watch from home, or gathering in a homes in small groups, slow down the pace, but not forsaking the “GATHERING TOGETHER”.
They like to say “I like to know you name. I want you to know me. I want to get to know about you – to actually know you. I want your for a friend and I want you to be my friend.” You get it, right?
“Making your way in the world today Takes everything you got Taking a break from all your worries It sure would help a lot Wouldn’t you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go”
Where everybody knows your name And they’re always glad you came You want to be where you can see The troubles are all the same You want to be where everybody knows your name
You want to go where people know The people are all the same You want to go where everybody knows your name
This thought crossed my mind recently, “Am I ‘forsaking not the gathering together’ or AM I CLOISTERING?
Cloister. clois·ter noun
A religious way of life in which a person renounces worldly pursuits to pursue a spiritual life or works: monastic life, literally the act of “dwelling alone” (Greek monos, monazein, monachos), has come to denote the mode of life pertaining to persons living in seclusion from the world, under religious vows and subject to a fixed rule, in general as religious. The basic idea of monasticism in all its varieties is seclusion or withdrawal from the world or society.
verb
Seclude or “shut up in” or as if in a convent or monastery.
I don’t think I am a “cloisterer”. I look forward to Sundays at my church. We gather, meet, greet, shake hands, laugh, pray, worship, hear a sermon, then we usually go to lunch together. Afterwards, home. Then, next week, we do it al again! It is my favorite time of the week. (Maybe I AM a ‘closet cloisterer’. But, certainly not in the strict sense of the word).
While pondering the thought of ‘cloistering’, it dawned on me, that I don’t see many ‘religious seekers’ and fewer new ‘conversions’ at our church anymore. I do see the “not-so-regular attendees” on religious holidays. We will see someone from another church, either locally or from out of the area looking for a new church or a place to visit while they are on vacation. And that’s too bad, because, each week, our Pastor preaches a really good bible-based salvation message.
But, it seems to me that even during our ‘revival meetings’ I don’t see that many non-Christians coming down the aisles to get saved.
I wonder why? Is that I am not paying attention? are the ‘unsaved’ present in our services but our methods of anonymity during ‘the invitation to receive Christ into your life’ make it difficult to discover them?
I greet a lot of folks at our church each week. It is one of my favorite things to do. But, I am not discovering many ‘confessing non-believers’. (I have to ask myself, “Who wouldn’t love to join such a fun and loving group as ours?”)
Then I come back to this word, “Cloister”. I read the definition and was a little bothered that it might sound a little like what I have been doing with my life.
For example, I attend church at least twice a week (or more) and visit with my Christian friends, new and established ones.
During my week, I try to abstain from unnecessary worldly ‘pleasures and practices’ – and most associations of that kind. So I don’t venture far from my ‘safe places’. I go out to eat with friends, on occasion. We attend movies, ball games, the beach, etc.
Almost all my friends are Christians. But, I have very little in common with those who don’t have a Spiritual life or a relationship with Jesus.
I don’t drink alcoholic beverages so I don’t hang around with folks who frequent bars. I don’t smoke, don’t cuss (on purpose), don’t watch “R” rated or worse, movies, I don’t gamble, etc. I guess I have very few vices, if any.
I mean, this is what all my preachers have always said I should be and do. So, to facilitate ‘good behavior’ I avoid places where vices are practiced. I guess I might also be avoiding the people who practice such things. After all, the bible does say, “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
Aside from that, I wonder why I don’t have more non-believers as friends.
Then, there is that bible verse in Matthew 28:19, which says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Since it seems “they” aren’t coming to church as often anymore, does that mean I have to start going to where ‘they’ are?
Maybe that’s the problem. It’s me. I haven’t been GOING and MAKING. But how do I go THERE and not be accused of participating in ‘worldly things’?
“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14) I wonder if this can be applied to me, as a Christian?
Or this bible verse?
Mark 1:1 “¶The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (2) As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY; (3) THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.”
(This could really cut into my ‘free time’! How about yours?)
“Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.
“And He *said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”
“They *said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He *said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:19–21).
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
The full context of these verses starts at verse 15:
Matthew 22:15 “Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said.
16 “And they *sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.
17 “Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”
18 But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?
19 “Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.
20 And He *said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”
21 They *said to Him, “Caesar’s.
“Then He *said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”
22 And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away.”
Jesus correctly divides His Kingdom from the kingdoms of this world.
John 8:23, Jesus says “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”
In John 18:36, Jesus says, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
We, too, must correctly divide the Kingdom
Jesus tells us in John 15:19 that we are not of this world, either, because He chose us out of this world.
And we are not to be conformed to this world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, so that we may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Our mind should be “set on thing above”, doing the work of our Father.
I know that it is difficult to avoid being dragged into the issues which face us. But, as Christian soldiers we must divide kingdoms. I have trouble avoiding entangling myself in the world’s affairs.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 2:3, “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.”
The Apostle Peter calls us aliens and sojourners to this world. He says you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once you were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; we had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
This is the calling of a disciple of Jesus. This is our standard.
Now, it is your turn:
HOW MUST YOU DO IT? _______________________________________
HOW MUST YOU TEACH IT? _______________________________________
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PS: Reason with me. How can you engage the world around you – the social, political and economics – using Kingdom principals and practices, so that you PROVE what is good, acceptable and perfect?
Some say, “SOLA FIDE”! This means “By Faith Alone” a person is forgiven of their sins and “justified” or declared righteous (in right or good standing with God) and will go to heaven.
The doctrine of “Sola Fide” asserts that is salvation based on ones faith in Jesus and His death on the cross that a person is forgiven of their transgressions, rather than on the basis of any good works which the believer might have done. This forgiveness is known as “justification”. In classical Reformed theologies, good works are seen to be evidence of faith, but the good works themselves do not determine salvation.
And, the entire Word or the entire counsel of God tells us that…
SOLA FIDE is a Narrow Gate
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
The Narrow Gate: Narrow, Straight (STENOS)
From: to set or establish (HISTEMI)
to make firm, fix establish
to stand, be kept intact (of family, a kingdom), to escape in safety
to establish a thing, cause it to stand, to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything
to set or place in a balance
to stand immovable, stand firm
continue safe and sound, stand unharmed, to stand ready or prepared
to be of a steadfast mind
of quality, one who does not hesitate, does not waiver
SOLA FIDE is the The Eye of a Needle
23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24“Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
SOLA FIDE is Childlike faith
15 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it atall.”
SOLA FIDE is The Will of God
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
SOLA FIDE is Water and The Spirit
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
SOLA FIDE is The Many Tribulations
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
So, we would do well to adhere to the words of the Apostle Paul in
Philippians2:12 “,,,work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
14 “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life,”
We live in difficult and challenging times – this is especially true for Christians. We are being stressed, challenged, persecuted, reviled and tested, all for the Name of Jesus. So, now is not the time to withdraw. It is the time to stand fast, endure so as to overcome!
Let’s stand together, encouraging one another, spurring one another on to love and good works.
“Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea. 19 Then a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” 20 Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”
That is an odd thing to say to someone who wants to follow you, isn’t it? What does Jesus mean?
A scribe in the Bible, was a man learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter, teacher. Scribes examined the more difficult and subtle questions of the law; added to the Mosaic law decisions of various kinds thought to elucidate its meaning and scope, and did this to the detriment of religion.
Scribes were trained and enrolled in the Sanhedrin political and judicial council headed by the high priest (in his role as civil ruler); in the Talmud it is described as primarily a religious legislative body headed by sages, though with certain political and judicial functions. (notes from the Online Bible edition)
So, Jesus tells this Scribe, this judge and sage, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Foxes retreat to the safety of their lair. They live and remain in their holes, venturing out only to gather food and water, then they scurry back to the safety of the hole. Their focus is on their safety and their hole in the ground.
Same for the birds. They have the nest they build to lay eggs and raise their young. A safe place. They, too, venture out for food, but their focus is on the safety of a nest.
BUILDING HIS CHURCH
Jesus, however, is on mission. He knows that He is the permanent sacrifice for the reconciliation of all people to God. He is doing the work of His Father. Time is short.
He is telling this scribe and His disciples that He has neither the time nor the intention of settling into a “hole in the ground” or building “a nest” into which they can settle down and feel safe.
He has no time for building programs, no time for social programs, no time for endless debate over the ‘cummin and dill’ of the Torah or the endless list of man’s constructs designed to explain and contain the Holy Scriptures. No time for holes in the ground or nests.
Jesus is saying that He is the foundation of His Church, and He is on the move, building His Church. He is the foundation for Temple of the Holy Spirit in the hearts, minds and souls of people.
His Church is Spiritually alive, organic and naturally fluid and on the move; It cannot be contained by a program or an institution. It is powerful, transformative, life changing, world altering and cannot be taught in a school on religion.
If you come to know Jesus, you will know His Church and it is not to be found in a building, a hole in the ground or a nest.
THE CHURCH WAS A MOVEMENT
In AD 1 The Church of Jesus Christ, The Body of Christ, had no buildings, little money and no wealth. The Church was a Movement.
Jesus said to make disciples; collect no money except to make your journey.
However, the penalty for becoming a Christian was often death.
Still, the Church grew exponentially.
THE CHURCH BECAME A PHILOSOPHY
AD 49 The Church expanded into Greece. The Church became a philosophy to many. The Church grew and size and influence.
THE CHURCH BECAME AN INSTITUTION
AD 313 The Church expanded into Rome and it gained recognition. It grew in power and popularity. It obtained wealth, buildings, property and influence. It became an institution.
THE CHURCH BECAME A CULTURE
AD 380 The Church expanded into Europe. It was becoming a worldwide phenomenon. It grew in wealth, stature, power and influence. It had become a culture.
THE CHURCH BECAME A BUSINESS
AD 1607 The Church reaches America.
AD 1681 The Church became corporate. It had became a business and incorporated. It became regulated by the government.
The Corporate Church grew. It needed money to support growth and expansion, which meant the Corporate Church needed more people.
AD 1777 The state of Virginia granted tax exemption to houses of worship.
AD 1894 The corporate church was granted tax exemptions by the Federal Government.
AD 1954 The Federal Government regulated what a church could and could not say in order to retain tax exempt status.
The church continued to grow, and in order to attract more people the Corporate Church lowered its membership and doctrinal standards. More people became ‘members’ and gave more money to support more growth.
The Church corporation is complete with leaders, boards and membership and a business model.
Local churches compete against one another for members (customers). The church is selling itself in “three line slogans”.
The Church members now have choices and have become religious consumers. Church people can shop around for the religious brand and standards that best suits them. (2 Timothy 3)
The Leadership (pastors and preachers) have become CEOs, disciples have become church leaders, growing their 501(c)(3) business models.
Record numbers of pastors quitting because of stress, burnout or are being fired by their congregations (some stats say 1500 – 1700 leave “the ministry” each month).
Church debt in America soars; church foreclosures soar.
AD 1968 The church ordains homosexuals as clergy.
AD 1972 The United church of christ ordains homosexual clergy
AD 2010 The Lutheran church ordains homosexual clergy
AD 2012 The Presbyterian church ordains homosexual clergy
As the Day of the Lord draws near, part of our preparation is to know for certain that we, ourselves, are in the Ark of our Salvation, safe among the family of God. This includes knowing the difference between
the “Wheat” from the “Tares”,
the “The Good Shepherd” from the “Hireling” and
the “Gleaners” from the “Join-Heirs”.
Jesus said, see to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, and will mislead many.
(A video wrap-up is at the end of of this page)
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
John 10:7 “So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
“HIRELINGS” AND “GLEANERS”
These terms, “hirelings” and “gleaners” are found only a few times in the Bible. These terms can be either good or bad. However, they are just word; adjectives.
Adjectives, however, are words or phrases naming an attribute. Words added to a noun to modify or describe it.
These terms are revealing.
HIRELING
The Old Testament describes a “hireling” simply as a hired laborer, perhaps a mercenary, or someone who hires oneself out to earn wages.
The New Testament, however, contrasts the “hireling” with the Shepherd. See John 10:11-13
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.”
There are those who tend to the sheep for commercial purposes. Their intentions may be good and they offer a good service. But, they, too, are nothing more than “hirelings”.
Jesus says, in John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”
Jesus use of the word “shepherd” is used interchangeably for overseers, pastor, elders, and presbyters.
The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep to defend the sheep from attackers to heal the wounded and sick sheep to find and save lost or trapped sheep to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.
During World War II, a shepherd was a pilot who guided another pilot whose plane was partially disabled back to the base or carrier by flying alongside him to maintain visual contact.
Many “hirelings” like to use the moniker of overseer, pastor, elder, and presbyter. Such titles may bring them status, respect, influence, income or even power over others. But, they are just “hirelings”. Beware, however, because wolves are also lurking under the cover of such names.
Remember, unlike a “hireling”, Jesus tell us He requires we complete His Works as His servant as the cost for being His disciple, among His sheepfold. Besides the benefits, there is a requirement.
Don’t be fooled, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” Flee from the “hirelings”.
GLEANERS
Leviticus 19:10 says to the vineyard or landowner, “Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.”
We see that a “gleaner” is someone who picks up, or gathers up or collects. The Bible describes them as the “needy and the stranger” and not part of the family of the landowner.
The book of Ruth tells us of an account of Ruth, a Moabite, the widowed daughter-in-law of the widow Naomi. To prevent starvation, Ruth gleaned the fields of Boaz: “And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.’ Naomi said to her, ‘Go ahead, my daughter,’” (Ruth 2:2).
Ruth was a widow and had no husband to provide for her. She took the initiative and went out into the fields to take care of herself and Naomi. She made this effort as a foreigner among Naomi’s people.
In Chapter 4 of the book of Ruth, we read that Boaz takes Ruth as his wife. She is no longer a “gleaner” but is now part of the family, entitled to all Boaz has. The contrast between being a “gleaner” and a family member is stark.
The Bible says that you and I were once like the “gleaner”, not part of God’s family. Maybe “gleaning” what we could from generosity of others.
There are many people in the church and Christian organizations who are actually little more than “gleaners”. They are not like Ruth. Their mind is set to get what they can get from God and from others, whether it is material goods, money, recognition, status or influence.
GLEANERS ARE NOT GOD’S “CALLED OUT ONES”
You can tell the difference. “Gleaners” focus on themselves and their needs . They have little interest is actually humbling themselves before God or others. They aren’t sure how. They don’t consider “repentance” as an ongoing matter for their own lives, and they tend to pursue the “spiritual gifts” over spiritual disciplines. They usually don’t witness (tell or teach) the Gospel, and are usually unwilling servants.
They can act humble but crave recognition and leadership roles. The tip-off is how they act if they cannot get what they want.
A Believer and Follower of Jesus can also be identified by their behavior. A disciple of Jesus is a son or daughter in the family of God, a brother, sister and friend of Jesus. A joint-heir, entitled to all God has for His own children.
Don’t be a “Hireling”. If you are going to serve God, feed His Sheep.
Be kind to “gleaners”, just don’t be a “gleaner”. If you are going to come near to the House of God, stop being needy and a stranger. Become a child of God and a Joint-Heir with Jesus Christ.
The Day of the Lord is close at hand. Listen for His Voice and follow Him to safety.
(I have set the video to start at the 8:00 minute mark. Listen to at least 11 minutes and 21 seconds – from 8:00 to 18:21, to get the heart of the message)
This book is not meant to be an opinion of the author, but are practical steps in becoming a true disciple of Jesus, which is impossible for the natural mind. But, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, all things are possible through Christ.
“And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.
“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:21-22
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
There are times when Jesus will use similes, metaphors, idioms and even hyperbole to make a point. Those examples are easy to spot. Then there are times when Jesus is being literal and The Truth is so profound that many who hear it do not believe. This is one of those times.
Additionally, whenever Jesus uses the word ‘Truly’ He is actually saying “Amen”, in other words it is saying, “this word I am giving you is a firm and faithful statement.”
Truly or Amen, at the beginning of a discourse, informs the listener (or reader) of a coming truth. If it is used at the end of a statement it means “so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled.”
It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues to the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed, had offered up solemn prayer to God, the others responded Amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own.
Therefore, Jesus alerts His disciples (which includes His followers today) that a profound Truth is coming!
(I am breaking Jesus statement into parts, so we can see the importance of each ‘step’ and contemplate them, and I am putting the Greek translation from Strong’s concordance with the meanings in parentheses for your understanding),
“if you have faith (Faith: is a conviction of something, an assurance; faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.)
do not doubt, (in your heart and mind, have left no room for an alternative choice)
you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but (you will singularly see and complete (poieo) and create what God has prepared ahead of time)
even if you say to this mountain,‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. (even though you say, and if you say; affirm over, exhort and to command; to direct something to come into existence; i.e. to come to pass, happen)
In simpler words, Jesus is being literal. He is shaking the foundations of the natural world. But then, He is God Incarnate, Emanuel, God with us and He is saying to you that if you have faith and do not doubt, all things are possible for you.
You can literally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. You can put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For your struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, you can take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, you can stand firm.
Jesus is saying that you need to have no fear of any circumstance, no fear of any person. God is for you. No man can stand against you. No weapon which has been formed can prosper against you. Just, “Ask in faith”.
AND HAVING DONE EVERYTHING, STAND FIRM
Now, it is your turn:
HOW MUST YOU DO IT?
HOW MUST YOU TEACH IT?
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PS: It is and always has been the responsibility of each and every Christian to follow and obey Jesus, do the works He has done, and to make other disciples who will do the same.
Have we, the Church, abdicated one of the greatest commands and commissions by Jesus to the professional clergy? Have we engaged hirelings to do our work?
This is what Jesus told us we MUST BECOME and what we MUST BE DOING as His Disciples.
No one knows who the Antichrist will be, but we do know that when he is revealed he will not be a frightening figure. In fact, he will be just the opposite until he has gained power.
There is a reference in Daniel 11:21 comparing Antiochus Epiphanes to a type of antichrist, who is one of the most brutal rulers known in history, easily eclipsing the horrors of Adolph Hitler and his Third Reich.
But, the horrors of Antiochus Epiphanes will pale in comparison to the brutality and horror of the coming Antichrist.
Traits of the Antichrist Described in the Bible
Intelligent: Revelation 13:18; Daniel 7:8.
Charismatic Speaker: Daniel 7:8 Revelation 13:5.
Crafty Politician: Daniel 9:27; Revelation 17:12, 13, 17.
Distinct Physical Appearance: Daniel 7:20.
Military Genius: Revelation 4; 17:14; 19:19.
Economic Genius: Daniel 11:38.
Blasphemer: Revelation 13:6.
Utterly Lawless: 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
Selfish, Ambitious Egomaniac: Daniel 11:36, 37; 2 Thessalonians 2:4.
Greedy Materialist: Daniel 11:38.
Controlling: Daniel 7:25.
Proud and Self-exalting Above God and Everything: Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians. 2:4.
What is the purpose of the Antichrist?
His purpose is to deceive. The Antichrist is a person prophesied by the Bible to oppose Christ and substitute himself in Christ’s place before the Second Coming.
ANOTHER BEAST – The False Prophet
Revelation 13:11 says, “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.
He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.
And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.
And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life.
And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,
and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
“Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.” Revelation 13:11-18.
He will doom anyone who receives his “mark” and worshipshim to suffer God’s Wrath. “So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.” Revelation 16:2
Those which he deceived, those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image, are thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. Revelation 19:20
WHAT IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST
No one knows what ‘the mark’ will actually look like. There is speculation that it could be an image (icon) or a microchip or a tattooed type of barcode used in place of money or credit cards for tracking, commerce and trade. But, from scriptures we do know…
And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,
and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six. Revelation 13:11-18
And according to the Bible, the Antichrist gives his ‘Mark’ after the Seal Judgments, after the Rapture, and just after the 6th Tribulation Trumpet Judgment or during the 7th Trumpet Judgment, which is the Mid-Point of the Great Tribulation, which is after three and one half years of the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation period.
We have seen the 5th Tribulation Seal being opened in our lifetime, the great apostasy or falling away from the faith, false messiahs, great deceptions, a.k.a. the ‘deluding influence’ and alienation from one another, and it is become more pronounced as time passes.
The Apostle Paul informs us, in 2 Thessalonians 2
Verse 2. “you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
Verse 3. “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and
the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, Verse 4. who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”
What this means to you and to me is that some of us will have the opportunity to suffer awhile before God takes us away in the Rapture. How do we know this? The Bible says so:
1 Peter1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
verse 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
verse 5. who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
verse 6. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Revelation 6:9 tells us that, “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal,
I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; verse 10. and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
Verse 11. And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.
The Great Tribulation also known as The Wrath of God, that is the Wrath of the Lamb, begins with the breaking or opening of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation.
NOTE: The final 7 years of Daniel’s 70 Weeks, also known as the 7 Years of the Great Tribulation will begin with the Breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Seal. It will reach the mid-point (3 1/2 years) at the Blowing of the 7th Trumpet Judgment and will conclude with the pouring out of the 7th Bowl Judgment.
Be comforted by this, that God has not appointed us to His Wrath but to obtain His salvation!
Peace in the Middle East? Could world peace start with a peace agreement in the Middle East? There are some who think that if this area can find a solution, there may be real hope for the rest of the world.
Any prospect for a Peace Treaty for the Middle East garners great worldwide attention, as has the recent announcement of a Middle East peace initiative by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
“My vision presents a win-win situation for both sides,” Trump said. “Today, Israel has taken a giant step toward peace.” President Donald Trump, January 2020
“White House officials described President Trump’s Middle East peace plan as realistic and said Israel is prepared to act. According to White House officials, the plan calls for a two-state solution, including the state of Israel and the “future” State of Palestine. Under the plan, the Palestinians would have to reach certain benchmarks to achieve a state. Those benchmarks include rooting out terrorism, stopping what they call “pay to slay,” implementing steps toward free speech, and other political reforms.
“The plan is a basis for negotiations with Israel, Trump officials said, claiming many of the Palestinians’ red lines are met, including their calls for a Palestinian state and a capital in parts of East Jerusalem.
“The vision calls for more than doubling the amount of territory the Palestinians control.
“This plan will double Palestinian territory and set the capital of the Palestinian state in eastern Jerusalem, where the United States will happily open an embassy,” Trump said. “Our vision will end the cycle of Palestinian dependence on charity and foreign aid.”
“The plan also includes a map of a contiguous Palestinian state in the West Bank, with a proposed tunnel to connect the West Bank and Gaza Strip. There would also be land swaps south of Gaza to give the Palestinians more territory.
“This is the first time Israel has agreed to a Palestinian state with defined borders.
“A small strip of land between the Egyptian border and the proposed land swap areas south of Gaza would remain Israeli territory and be subject to Israeli security control. This was requested by Egypt as a buffer against cross-border terrorism.
“As part of the plan, Israel has agreed to halt settlement construction for four years. But in one detail sure to provoke Palestinian objections, the plan recognizes Israeli sovereignty over major settlement blocs in the West Bank.
“The plan calls for a demilitarized Palestinian state. Israel would maintain overall security, though it does create programs for the Palestinians to show the capability to secure their areas, including a local police force. The more the Palestinians show they can secure their areas and cooperate with Israel, the less Israel will have to do in terms of maintaining security, officials said.
“Israel would maintain sovereignty of the Jordan Valley east of the West Bank, according to the proposal. Israel would also maintain the security of the area.
“There is a plan that over time, Palestinians would be able to achieve some civil sovereignty in the Jordan Valley, like farming, officials said.” Excerpts from a Fox News article, January 29, 2020
BUT, WILL THERE BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST?
Searching for a peace plane for the Middle East is nothing new. The Messianic Prophecy Bible Project website, explains how this has been an ongoing idea for centuries.
“It is vital to understand what the Prophet Daniel and Jesus told us about a peace plan for Israel and the Middle East and the last days, so we can recognize the times and warn others also.
A Middle East peace plan will begin the final countdown to the return of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).
“The ninth chapter of the Book of Daniel, tells us that Daniel, who was in exile in Babylon with the Jewish People, was studying the Book of Jeremiah looking for answers.
“As he read, he understood that Jeremiah foretold a 70-year period of Babylonian captivity before the restoration of Israel would come to pass (Jeremiah 29:10).
“Daniel’s heartfelt, moving response was to pray, confessing his sin and the sin of the entire nation of Israel.
“As he prayed, the angel Gabriel came to him, telling him of an additional time period, this time of shevuim shevim (seventy sevens) or 490 years. This was the time that would elapse before sin would end and everlasting righteousness would be established:
“Seventy [shevim] ‘sevens’ [shevuim] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.” (Daniel 9:24)
End-Time Prophecy: What Are the “Seventy Sevens”?
“Shevuim (sevens) is similar to the concept of a decade (10 years), but refers to a seven-year period.
“Seventy sevens (70 X 7), therefore, represents a period of 490 years before the prophecy would be fulfilled.
“Of these 490 years, 483 have been fulfilled with remarkable precision; they represent the time between the decree by the Persian king Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1–8) and the cutting off of Yeshua HaMashiach:
“From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven [sheva] ‘sevens’ [Shevuim] and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One [Mashiach / Messiah] will be put to death and will have nothing. (Daniel 9:25–26)
“From Artaxerxes’ decree (Ezra 7:13–28) to Yeshua’s death on the Roman execution cross, was 483 years.
This leaves a seven-year span that has yet to be completed
and will be fulfilled
in the “Last Days” during the Tribulation Period.
“Daniel describes that time in Daniel 9:27: “He [the ruler at that time] will confirm a covenant [peace treaty] with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation.”
“When Jesus was asked about His coming and the end of the age (Matthew 24:3–15), He referred to the above verse. Jesus’ end-time explanation, confirms that there will be a third Jewish Temple in the last days and a seven-year peace covenant, which likely will be brought about by the anti-Christ.
“Just as the Hebrew Prophet Daniel searched the Scriptures for clues to understand the time in which he lived, we also should be diligently searching the Scriptures.
“Indeed, when we examine current events in the light of Bible prophecy, there can be no doubt that we are living at the end of the age.
“The necessity remains to scrutinize world happenings so we may be prepared for whatever is coming, especially since recent attempts at peace in the Middle East may be a precursor for the fulfillment of Daniel’s final seven-year period.
“This peace covenant will begin the 70th week in Daniel’s prophecy, the final seven-year stretch before the return of Jesus.
“Daniel also highlights the halfway point in the seven-year covenant, this leader will set up an abomination in the Temple, perhaps an image of himself to be worshiped. (The Book of Revelation also mentions a three and a half year period in Revelation 11:2–3; 12:6; and 13:5).” END OF EXCERPT
As I have said before and have written in numerous articles, we are now, undoubtedly, seeing the breaking of the 5th Seal of the tribulation period. https://www.whitestone2014.com/is-this-the-end
As stated in the Messianic Prophecy Bible Project article, This peace covenant will begin the 70th week in Daniel’s prophecy, the final seven-year stretch before the return of Jesus.
Additionally 2 Thessalonians 2:1tells us, “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.”
The Day of the Lord will not come unless
The apostasy comes first, and
The man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.”
The final seven-years of Daniel’s 70th week, also known as the period of the Great Tribulation begins with this peace covenant and will quickly be followed by the breaking of the 6th Seal, and thus, the beginning of the GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD.
The Bible tells us – Jesus tells us – no man know the day or the hour, but, we can know the season.
THE TIME TO PREPARE IS NOW
The Day of the Lord will come upon us like a thief in the night, and will overtake all who are not prepared.
If you would like to talk, use the form below to GET IN TOUCH or use the comments section.
” And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
“And He *said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” Matthew 21:12-13
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Please remember, we are studying what it means to be a disciple of Jesus so we can be like Him. This is an event which must can be misunderstood as Jesus showing calculated anger – which is incorrect. This teaching must be carefully framed as “Righteous Indignation”.
Very little is said about this subject, but in this example we have a clear look at a powerful demonstration of “Righteous Indignation”, when it is appropriate and when it is called for.
There are only a few examples of when Jesus appears get angry. Each time it is related to someone or some group blocking access to our Father in heaven. And each time Jesus demonstrates “Righteous Indignation”.
One account of this event tells us that Jesus takes time to braid a cord into a whip, before entering the Temple. That would take time and forethought. This was not a sudden outburst of anger. It was thought out.
Yet, today, almost every one of our churches, claiming to be a “House of the Lord”, have turned His House into a Robber’s Den.
How? At various times, Sanctuaries of God are being used as entertainment centers, athletic centers, political stages or voter registration centers. It is a place to sell religious literature, CDs, DVDs, to raise money for activities in and outside the church – just like we see in Matthew 21.
So, ‘what wrong with that?’ you ask? Let me say, that if you have to ask that question then it may be a sign that you have, along with thousands of pastors, churches and entire denominations, drifted from so far from a basic understanding God and His Teachings and His Ways, that this small space cannot facilitate your question. One of the main reasons the contemporary church has lost its power and effectiveness in our world is that we fail to have fervent effective prayers and fail to recognize what Jesus is telling us.
I will close by quoting what Jesus, our Lord and Teacher, says, “MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER”. Jesus has set the example before us and it is THE CHURCH as a House of Prayer.
I beseech all of us to take this seriously. It is as if we are hemorrhaging our spiritual life blood away from ignorance and neglect of this Great Edict.
Let’s turn back to God in fervent, persistent and regular prayer.
25 “Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
26 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,
27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;
28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26–28).
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Let’s step back and read these verses in context:
v20 “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him.
21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She *said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.”
22 But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They *said to Him, “We are able.”
23 He *said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”
24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.
Simply put, Jesus is both reminding and reprimanding the mother of James and John and her sons for seeking a position and an authority for which they are neither qualified nor eligible. Worse yet, James and John don’t ask for themselves, but have their mother make a request which comes from a self-serving attitude.
It is very common for people to “ride the coattails” of a great leader or teacher without having to earn the position of leadership and authority. Many people even prefer to act on the authority of another and some will attempt to usurp the authority rather than earn that right. These ‘usurpers’ rarely have the ability to fill the role they desire.
It is equally common for ineligible or incapable people to assume roles of authority or titles which confer authority within the Church. Many Church leaders have simply completed educational courses or are selected through an urgency or by way of favoritism but are ineligible and incapable.
Many church leaders revere the title or moniker of ‘pastor’ but few pastors, now-a-days, are eligible or capable or even desire to fill the role and responsibilities of a Biblical pastor.
Jesus, rather than offer a ‘curriculum or a course of study for leadership positions’, makes an astounding statement in response to this mother’s request: “Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
The word for ‘servant’ is ‘diakonos’ from which we get our word deacon. It is also used to mean minister; one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use; a waiter, one who serves food and drink.
The word for ‘slave’ is ‘doulos’ which is a man of servile condition or one who gives himself up to another’s will, especially those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men; devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests. Voluntary servitude in the cause of Christ.
Jesus, with His words, had turned their worlds upside down. He is, in essence, saying that the things you seek you neither understand nor desire.
The magnitude of the Cause and Mission of Jesus is incalculable. The soul of every person to ever breathe the breath of life, hangs in the balance. As Revelation 7:9 puts it “a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues.”
Jesus, alone, was Called, Capable and Qualified for His role as Savior of the World, and He called Himself a “Servant of many”.
Therefore, we, His followers, must and should eagerly desire not only to be called a servant and slave in the Cause of Christ, but we should eagerly desire to made capable and qualified to fill that role.
We could, once again, see the world being won to Christ if we, the follower of Jesus, would but humble ourselves and have the attitude in ourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, although existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Now, it is your turn:
HOW MUST YOU DO IT?
HOW YOU MUST TEACH IT?
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PS: I am saddened, as I have written this devotional today, that I know I am incapable and ineligible to fill the role I read about and teach about. Let’s please pray for one another, as the day draws near, that we will be found as willing and obedient servants to Christ and to one another.
(You can listen to this audio as you read along, and, you can pause the audio to follow links, then resume audio when you are ready.)
QUESTION & ANSWERS ABOUT “DANIEL’S 70TH WEEK”
1. When did Daniel have his vision about the End of Days?
660 BC
2. What is Daniel’s Seventy Weeks?
The prophecy contains a statement concerning God’s six-fold purpose in bringing these events to pass. Verse 24 says this purpose is
1) “to finish transgression,”
2) “to put an end to sin,”
3) “to atone for wickedness,”
4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,”
5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and
6) “to anoint the most holy.”
Notice that these results concern the total eradication of sin and the establishing of righteousness. The prophecy of the 70 weeks summarizes what happens before the End of the Age, and when Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom. (From Gotquestions.org, seventy weeks)
3. When did the 70 Weeks (490 years) begin?
Gabriel said the prophetic clock would start at the time that a decree was issued to rebuild Jerusalem. From the date of that decree, 445 BC, to the time of the Messiah (30 AD) would be 483 years. We know from history that the command to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” was given by King Artaxerxes of Persia c. 445 B.C. (see Nehemiah 2:1-8).
The first unit of 49 years (seven “sevens”) covers the time that it took to rebuild Jerusalem, “with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble” (see Daniel 9:25). This rebuilding is chronicled in the book of Nehemiah.
Using the Jewish custom of a 360-day year, 483 years after 445 B.C. places us at A.D. 30, which would coincide with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see Matthew 21:1-9). The prophecy in Daniel 9 specifies that after the completion of the 483 years, “the Anointed One will be cut off” (verse 26). This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified.
Daniel 9:26 continues with a prediction that, after the Messiah is killed, “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This was fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The “ruler who will come” is a reference to the Antichrist, who, it seems, will have some connection with Rome, since it was the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem. (From Gotquestions.org, seventy weeks)
4. When does the final week, the 70th Week of Daniel, begin?
Read again, in Daniel 9:26, the prediction that, after the Messiah is killed, “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This was fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
This issue has been hotly debated for centuries. Scriptures have been clear. A simple face-value reading of scriptures leads to the conclusion that the final 7 Weeks, the ‘BIRTH PAINS’ also known as a period of tribulation (not to be confused with the Great Tribulation Period or the “Wrath of the Lamb”), will END with the breaking of the breaking of the 6th Seal of Tribulation.
After that, Mid-Point of the Great Tribulation, (after 3 1/2 years) begins with the blowing of the 7th Tribulation Trumpet and will conclude after the pouring out of the 7th Tribulation Bowl Judgment.
5. What will happen to the people on earth?
All of those who, by faith, have repented of their sins, and who have confessed Jesus as savior and followed Him in obedience, will be saved. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Verse 17. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”
6. Is there anything I need to do to get ready for these events?
Yes. Romans10:9, says, “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; verse 10. For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Matthew24:42 also tells us, “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. Verse 43. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Verse 44. “For this reason, you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
Verse 45. “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Verse 46. “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.”
“And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?
“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (Matthew 19:3–6).
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Jesus is quoting the Old Testament, Genesis 2:24. From the time of creation, God has said that marriage is the joining of two people, a man and a woman, through a covenant relationship, into ONE person.
A man and a woman, separate, yet ONE.
A more detailed explanation of why it should be as God has said and HOW WE CAN find life & peace by way of God’s design for marriage is found in the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians5:”21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
The word Greek word for “to be subject to” or “submit to” is “Hupotasso”, which literally means:
To arrange under, to subordinate;
To subject, put in subjection
To subject one’s self, obey
To submit to one’s control
To yield to one’s admonition or advice
To obey, be subject.
To mutually agree upon
HUPO – arrange under; TASSO – mutually agree upon
The intention of “submission or subjection” is found in the CONTEXT of the words in this chapter of Ephesians which encourages us to be wise and moral, kind and pure, gentle and forgiving.
The context is also found in the meaning of the words in these verses.
Specifically, “Hupotasso” comes from a Greek military term meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader”.
These troop formations were called a Phalanx. The Phalanx was the formation, usually in triangular form, in which The hoplite phalanx of the Archaic and Classical periods in Greece (c. 800–350 BC) was the formation in which the hoplites would line up in ranks in close order.
Hoplites were citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greekcity-states who were primarily armed with spears and shields. Hoplite soldiers utilized the phalanx formation in order to be effective in war with fewer soldiers. The formation discouraged the soldiers from acting alone, for this would compromise the formation and minimize its strengths
The hoplites would lock their shields together, and the first few ranks of soldiers would project their spears out over the first rank of shields.
Those at the front were, what we would call today, THE TIP OF THE SPEAR or the POINT MAN. They presented the first defense against the enemy and were the first to engage the enemy and the first to take casualties.
The phalanx therefore presented a shield wall and a mass of spear points to the enemy. Making frontal assaults against it very difficult.
It also allowed a higher proportion of the soldiers to be actively engaged in combat at a given time rather than just those in the front rank.
This word, “Hupotasso”,
In non-military use,
is “a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden”.
The Bible gives this as an example for husbands and wives to cooperate and to successfully navigate life and in waging wars against ‘their common enemy’, Satan.
The wife is fully engaged in the marriage relationship, but, God says the husband is to be the Tip of the Spear in order to protect and preserve and, if necessary, the first to fall.
Interestingly, Ephesians 5:22, “be subject to your own” uses the word “idios” which means, uniquely one’s own, peculiar to the individual. It is “stronger than the simple possessive pronoun (‘own’). This emphatic adjective means ‘private, personal’ “.
God gives each husband a wife, designed by God, Himself, to fulfill a role specifically for that husband. God gives the wife gifts, talents, abilities and a calling uniquely designed to serve God and to compliment and to complete the husband.
This is why the Bible says “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
“So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself”.
It is also why God says, “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”
Neither, the husband nor the wife, can be made complete as persons, finding refuge, protection and provision as provided by God well as the God given ability to mature and sustain one another, until they understand this Spiritual principal and follow it.
Marriage has mutual strength through commitment and cooperation with one another under God’s Steady Hand.
Please take this to heart, dear ones. This message is so important.
The world and the Devil are deceiving the family in to thinking ‘what works for you is OK”. It is NOT OK. God’s design, His plan and His Word is what gives life, and life more abundant. Stop following the world and REASON through God’s Word. Understand it and live!
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PS: Marriage makes the two into ONE. Divorce is a violent tearing apart, no matter how amicable you try to be.
Imagine having your arm our your leg amputated. Can you imagine the pain and the loss? Literally losing part of yourself would impact and affect your body, your mind, your soul and your spirit.
Please dear ones, do not deliberately wound yourself and others.
