The Future of the Deceiver and Deceived

     The anti-Christ and false prophet will be in the lake of fire while the serpent himself will be locked in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years,

     “Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth…”  Revelation 20:7-8a

     His final attempt to deceive mankind comes quickly to an end when God Himself spews fire from heaven and devours him and his cohorts.

     “The devil who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast (anti-Christ) and the false prophet are.  And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  Revelation 20:10

     Thus, the devil, the anti-Christ, and the false prophet are together in the everlasting lake of fire where they will be tormented (tortured) throughout eternity.

     But that’s not the end of the story.  What about those who have been deceived by them?  The truth must be told.

     During the forthcoming tribulation, those unwilling to die for the name of Jesus will succumb to the rule of anti-Christ.  Such will join the devil and his angels in the lake of fire.

     “If anyone worships the beast… and receives his mark... he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God…He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone…and the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever…”  Revelation 14:9-11

     Therefore, the deceived of mankind will spend eternity with the great deceiver.

      How about those who show no compassion for the brothers of Christ in troublous times?

     When Christ returns to judge the nations just before establishing His kingdom, all will be divided into two groups; one group who showed compassion for Christ’s brethren and the other group who showed no such compassion.

     “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.”  Matthew 25:32

     The criterion for this judgment will focus on deeds of compassion for other Christians, i.e. Christ’s brethren.

     “…for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”  Matthew 25:35-36

     Both groups asked when they did those compassionate deeds.  The King’s response:

     “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:40

     Those who showed love for the King’s brethren were told:

     “…Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  Matthew 25:24

     But for those who showed no such love for Christ’s brethren:

     “…Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels…”  Matthew 25:41

     It is extremely significant that the lake of fire was not prepared for mankind; rather mankind chooses to follow the deceit of the devil.  However, the eternal kingdom was prepared for obedient mankind from the foundation of the world.

     And then there are those who choose to obey the law instead of placing their trust in the vicarious sacrifice of Christ, i.e. those will be judged by their actual obedience to the law.  These will stand before the great white throne after the devil has been cast into the everlasting lake of fire.

     At this judgment there are books listing all of man’s works, and then there is the singular book which is the Book of Life.

     “…and books were opened….And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books…And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:12, 15

     It is a profound truth that the major issue facing all of mankind is the ‘sin question’ which must be dealt with by every individual. 

     Sadly, that doesn’t appear to be the world’s top priority.

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com

Deceit is a fact of life

     There was certainly an abundance of deceit in the recent political season; however, deceit is definitely not limited to the political arena.

     Deceit runs rampant throughout the world and can be found even at the end of the future millennial kingdom.

     As would be expected it all began in the early chapters of Genesis.

     “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made…” Genesis 3:1

     Various translations use several other adjectives for ‘cunning’ including ‘subtle, crafty, and sly.’

     Then the cunning beast enticed Eve to disregard God’s instructions relating to partaking of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

     When confronted with her actions, she replied:

     “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”  Genesis 3:13

     Other verbs for ‘deceived’ include ‘beguiled, deluded, and seduced.’

     Eve’s disobedience had universal effects.  She was tricked into doing something that, while appealing to the senses, was directly contrary to her Creator’s instructions.

     And so it began, the war between good and evil had come to earth.

     The writers of the New Testament related church age deceit to Eve’s actions.  Paul warned against falling for false doctrine.

     “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”  1 Corinthians 11:3

     The deception is the false doctrine that salvation requires something more than the vicarious death of Christ.  The early church had to deal with such heresy extensively.  Mankind is totally impotent to offer any assistance in the miracle of salvation.  Man can only respond to the call after the Spirit of God initially stirs his heart.

     Jesus warned in no uncertain terms that deceit would not only be present throughout the church age, but would in fact increase as week 70 approached.

     “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many…For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible even the elect.  See, I have told you beforehand.”  Matthew 24:11, 24

     The Greek for ‘deceive’ is similar to the Hebrew.  It means to be led astray, to be seduced, ensnared, lured, to err from the truth. 

     Jesus Himself issued the warning to be on the alert against false teaching, as did Paul. 

     “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy…”  1 Timothy 4:1

     Those who depart were never true members of the kingdom to begin with.  And Paul reveals that deceiving spirits and demons are one in the same.

     In his second letter to the church at Thessalonica Paul stressed again the great apostasy that will be experienced during the climax of the church age.

     “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, the son of perdition.”  2 Thessalonians 2:3

     Paul is explaining that the church will be purged prior to the revelation of the anti-Christ. 

     And then Paul confirms that those who fall away were never part of the true church.

     “The coming of the lawless one…with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie...” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11

     The church needs to be aware of such within their pews regularly, and relentlessly preach the simplicity found in Christ.

     The lawless one is a puppet of the devil himself along with his accomplice, the false prophet; both will find their destiny in the lake of fire after attempting war with the returning Christ.

     “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet…These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.”  Revelation 19:20

     At that time the devil himself will be locked in the bottomless pit to be released one last time after the millennium attempting to deceive the nations.

    

     Much more about deceit in coming weeks.

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com

    

    

The Seed of the woman has arrived!

     The birth of Jesus is celebrated on the 25^th day of December; the day we call Christmas.

     Many historians; however, believe Jesus was born in the summer.  But the time of the year of His birth makes no difference.  The 25^th day of Chislev on the Hebrew calendar began an 8 day Jewish holiday celebrating the rededication of the temple in approximately 165 BC in the time of the Maccabees.  This was the last of the Jewish holidays, or feasts, and it was originally called the Feast of Dedication, or Feast of Lights.  This was a jubilant time when the Jews carried branches of trees in their hands.  This Jewish holiday is better known today as Hanukkah.

     The date Christmas is celebrated is not nearly as significant as to what and why it is celebrated.  Who remembers the birth date of John F. Kennedy?  What is remembered is what he did during his life and how and when he died.

     When the birth of Jesus is considered it needs to be remembered that Jesus was the name given to God in the flesh, and Christ was His title, or position.  Jesus was born in Bethlehem, while Christ has always been.

     Though Christmas is the most popular of all secular holidays, it ranks perhaps third in importance on the Christian calendar.  No one has ever gained entrance to heaven just by believing Jesus was born in Bethlehem approximately 2,000 years ago.  Even the demons believe that.  According to the scriptures heaven is a gift through faith in the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.  Therefore, both Good Friday and Easter will have a deeper meaning to Christians.

     The Bible reveals the profound truth that Jesus was born to die.

     Though the account of the birth of Jesus is given in the gospel records, as are the other events of His life, so much depth of the Christmas story is missed if our understanding is limited to the few passages describing the events in Bethlehem.

     The story of Jesus Christ began long before the virgin birth.  In like manner the story of Jesus did not end at Calvary.

     “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God…And the Word became flesh…”  John 1:1-2, 14

     The Greek base for ‘Word’ is Logos which means the expression of a concept or thought.  In this case ‘Word’ is the image of God or the incarnate Christ, the second Person of the Godhead.

     “He is the image of the invisible God…”  Colossians 1:15

     “God, who at various times…spoke… to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…”  Hebrews 1:1-3

     God was the creator of all things including angels.  He created the most beautiful of all angels called Lucifer, son of the morning, but Lucifer thought because he was so powerful and beautiful that he shouldn’t be subservient to his creator.  Rebellion against the authority of God was the first sin in the universe.  Not much has changed.

     Now the question can be answered, i.e. “Why Jesus?”

     “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”  I John 3:8

     In other words, Jesus had to redeem, or buy back, the fallen earth and its inhabitants.  The price required would be His innocent blood.  Soon He will reclaim what He paid for.

     “…Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father…The last enemy that will be destroyed is death…Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.”  I Corinthians 15:24-28

          So then, the story of Jesus Christ is the implementation of God’s plan to cleanse the polluted earth, destroy Satan, and present the restored planet and its inhabitants back to the Father as they originally were, perfect. 

     What an incomprehensible, unalterable, journey we’re on!

     Merry Christmas to all!

    

The President and the Judicial System

     One of the major issues voiced by the populace during the recent political season was the quality of Supreme Court judges the new president would nominate and support.

     To address this issue with true wisdom the Bible needs to be consulted.  Remember, one of the most popular Biblical quotations used in our columns has been:

     “Now all these things happened to them as examples and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”  1 Corinthians 10:11

     Paul’s statement refers particularly to the revelation of God’s standard of righteousness during the 40 year wilderness journey.

     The book of Deuteronomy sums up God’s laws for the Israelites as given to Moses during the 40 year period following the exodus.  For example; regarding judges:

     “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates (villages), which the LORD your God gives you…and they shall judge the people with just judgment.”  Deuteronomy 16:18

     A judicial system would be established for the fledgling nation in every village of the Promised Land.  Note that God would give the villages to the Israelites.  The appointed judges were to judge justly which means ‘rightly’ according to God’s revealed standard of righteousness.

     “You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality nor take a bribe…”  Deuteronomy 16:19

     Justice shall not be perverted (stretched, or overthrown).  There shall be no partiality shown, meaning that the adjudication of any issue shall not be influenced by external factors such as the judge’s relationship with, or perception of, the one being judged.

     According to the Bible there is no room in the judicial process for the giving or taking of a bribe.  A bribe in this context means a gift or reward.  In present day terms it could mean quid pro quo or ‘pay for play.’

     “You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”  Deuteronomy 16:20

     Obeying God’s laws was/is a condition of living in and possessing the Promised Land.

     And we all know Israel’s choice in the matter.

     Israel also had a Supreme Court to handle matters considered too difficult or controversial for the village judges to solve.

     “If a matter arises which is too hard for you to judge, between degrees of guilt for bloodshed, between one judgment or another, or between one punishment or another, matters of controversy within your gates (villages), then you shall arise and go up to the place which the LORD your God chooses.”  Deuteronomy 17:8

     The place which the LORD chooses began with the location of the Tabernacle and would ultimately be located in their capital city of Jerusalem.

     The ‘Supreme Court’ would consist of Levitical priests and an appointed judge.  Their decision would be final.

     “And you shall come to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge there…they shall pronounce upon you the sentence of judgment.  You shall do according to the sentence, which they pronounce…”  Deuteronomy 17:9-10

     There is no further appeal.  Failure to abide by the decision of the ‘Supreme Court’ required death.

     “Now the man who acts presumptuously and will not heed the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die.  So you shall put away the evil from Israel.”  Deuteronomy 17:12    

     The above was spoken in approximately 1405 BC.  Let’s fast forward to the time of the kings, particularly King Jehoshaphat of Judah who ruled between 873 – 848 to see what changes might be noted after 550 years of Israel’s history.

     At the beginning of Jehoshaphat’s reign he set judges over the cities of Judah at which time he instructed them in their duty.

    “Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD…Now therefore, let the fear of the LORD be upon you…for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality nor taking of bribes.”  2 Chronicles 19:6-7

     So, since nothing has changed in God’s judicial process, and America is a Christian nation that takes God’s word seriously, why in the ‘world’ are we concerned about any president’s Supreme Court nominations?

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com

Has America Averted Judgment?

     Many have voiced their opinion that America has averted God’s judgment due to the appointment of the new Commander in Chief.  Once again, it is advisable to consult the Bible to examine Israel’s history to see if there are examples of similar situations.

     Judah’s King Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, ruled between 695 – 642 BC.  His reign is described in 2 Kings.

     “And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.”  2 Kings 21:2

     It is very plain that Manasseh did Judah no favors with his leadership.  He practiced abominations equal to those of the displaced heathen that God abhorred.

     One specific deplorable thing he did was offer his infant son to the heathen god Molech.  This specific act, among many other evil practices, was considered to be the shedding of innocent blood.  God hated the sacrifice of innocent children.  And remember, when Esau and Jacob were in their mother Rebecca’s womb, they were referred to as young children.

     After Manasseh died his son Amon reigned in Judah for just two years.  His rule is also described succinctly. 

     “And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done…He forsook the LORD God of his fathers…  2 Kings 21:20, 22

     Amon’s own servants killed him in his own house ending his short reign.

     Then Amon’s son Josiah reigned in his place for 31 years beginning his rule at the age of 8.

     When Josiah was 26 years old the temple was being renovated.  In the process, the Book of the Law was discovered hidden in the temple gathering dust for many years.

     When the Book was read to Josiah he reacted immediately.  He realized Judah had disobeyed the Law of the LORD and had stored up God’s wrath on themselves.

     “Go, inquire of the LORD for me… concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the LORD that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”  2 Kings 22:13

     Even though the Law was given 800 years earlier, it was still totally applicable.  Josiah’s heart was moved to action and he began to make things right according to the Law given to Moses.  God acknowledged Josiah’s repentance.

     “Thus says the LORD God of Israel...‘because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place…Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace…’”  2 Kings 22:18b-20

     At this point many would think judgment was averted when mercy was experienced.  That may have been the case for Josiah but not for Judah and Jerusalem.

     Notice the very first word in the following verses.

     “Nevertheless the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him.  And the LORD said, ‘I will also remove Judah from My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen…’”  2 Kings 23:26-27

     Therefore, Josiah received mercy for his repentance, but the sins of his grandfather Manasseh would still be dealt with.  Judah and Jerusalem would suffer similarly as had northern Israel approximately 113 years earlier when they were overtaken by Assyria.

     God’s mercy to Josiah was experienced by way of an early death at the age of 38.  Many would not consider the following to be an act of mercy.

     “In his days Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt went to the aid of the king of Assyria, to the River Euphrates; and King Josiah went against him.  And Pharaoh Necho killed him at Megiddo…”  2 Kings 23:29

     Josiah’s death was indeed an act of mercy inasmuch as King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had already been assigned to besiege Jerusalem where unspeakable suffering would begin within two years. 

     To properly assess America’s future, Israel’s past must be considered.

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com