DOES EVERYONE
UNDERSTAND?
"For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities"(Rev 18:5).
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By the grace of God, we know where non-biblical tradition comes from and who it honors. What a Privilege! What Responsibility! "To him that knoweth the good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).
Although many religious organization talks about the end of the world, they almost do so in very general terms. Many preachers talk about Christ's second return, they are simply not able to list the specific events. Why?
Because God's inspired word tells us over and over that the vast majority of humanity is blinded to the real God and to His truth. Most professing Christians are actually part of this world and are being deceived by Lucifer, "Called the devil and Satan who deceives the whole world. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds are the gods of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them" (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Here the Apostle Paul clearly tells us that Satan the god of this age has blinded most human beings.
The inspired Apostle Paul is hereby describing the Satan as "The prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works is the son of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). Satan is busy, he is actually in charge of this world, it's society, it's politics and government, it's media and it'd educational system. He uses all this to completely deceive the vast majority of human being as Revelation 12:9 clearly states. "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
"Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonder in Your name? and then I will declare to them, I never knew you depart from Me, you who practiced lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:21-23).
Knowledge and Obedience
Jesus Himself stated that many religious people who think they know the Lord will claim that they have served Jesus. He corrects them by saying "I never Knew you; Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:21-23). This people may think that they love Jesus. They may talk about Him and profess to follow Him, but they, do not do what He commands them to do.
Jesus Christ did obey His Father's commandments. He stated that, "I have kept my fathers commandments and abide in His love" (John 15:10). And His inspired word tells us that, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). So by Christ living with us, through the Holy Spirit, true Christians are able to keep the Ten Commandments as the way of life.
Have you ever asked yourself, why do some people think they know God well enough to expect His blessing when they simply refuse to obey Him spiritually? They are spiritually blinded. Most people seem unaware of literally scores of statement in New Testament such as in Revelation 14:12, "Here is the patience of saints; here are those who keep the commandment of God and the faith of Jesus." As you can see, these verses gives us a description of true saints.
I am sure that all of us will wish to inherit the kingdom of God. But we have to keep God's commandment as a way of inheriting the kingdom of God. "For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3).
In that day when Christ returns as King of Kings, He will reject those religious people who simply do not obey His law. For they have not surrendered to let God be within them, His very character, the character they will need to have in order to become Kings and Priests under God the Father and Christ Revelation 2:26-27, 5:9-10.
Furthermore, God's inspired word tell us that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who keep His commandment. His praise endures forever" (Psalm 111:10). So as many may think that they know and understand the future and suppose they understand the inspired prophesies of the Bible, but they do not. Only those who genuinely obey God's commandments are given true understanding.
Remember brethren that Adam and Eve took of "the tree of knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2:9). Ever since, human beings have been constantly partaking of this same tree. A mixture of truth and error. The religion of this world have been partaking of this same tree. So even some professing "Christians" give off a mixture of good and evil to those who blindly follow them.
Of course we must understand that God has blinded most of these people as His word makes clear. We who understand should have every sympathy and complete out flowing concern for these blinded people. We need to tell them the truth and it will be up to them to change or refuse to change. Meanwhile, however, those of us who are having eyes opened should not be deceived by this mixture of good and evil .
God Protects His Church
Somewhere in this world, God has a little flock (Luke 12:34) His church. Twelve times in the New Testament, God's inspired word show that His Church is called by His Name, [Church Of God]. Over and over as we have seen, God instruct His true people to keep His commandments.
In Revelation 3:7-13, God describes the sixth era of His church. The most faithful of all eras occurring soon before Christ's return. He tell them, "Because you have kept My command to persevere I also will keep you from the hour of trial. Which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth" (Vs 10). This is God's promises to protect His people from the coming hour of trial, that many think has already begun when taking a keen look at what is happening in the world right at the moment. It will come upon the whole world as this verse attest.
So it is very important to be among the truly faithful people if we heartedly desire to escape, and if we really want to be in God's coming kingdom in the first resurrection, which God calls the "better resurrection" in Hebrews 11:35.
Best advice ever is, "Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins"(Revelation 18:4).
Bradox Ochieng, Kenya
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