God often waits till things are glaringly impossible before he works his purposes. Then, when he works, it’s undeniable that what happens is the work of God and not the work of man.
This is on display in God’s dealings with Abraham. God told Abraham he would make his offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven. But then God waited 25 years before giving him a son. He waited till Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90. He waited till Sarah had gone through menopause 1. He waited till it was physically impossible for Sarah to conceive. Then, in this impossible situation, God worked and fulfilled His promise by giving them Isaac as a son.
During the time they were waiting for the promised heir, Sarah got impatient and gave her servant Hagar to Abraham to be his wife. This led to Ishmael, who was born several years before Isaac. But God made a sharp distinction between the two boys, declaring that all his promises to Abraham would be fulfilled through Isaac, not through Ishmael. Isaac is referred to as the son of promise and represents the work of God, while Ishmael was conceived in the normal way 2 and represents the work of man.
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At the beginning of Matthew chapter 24, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” For the rest of chapter 24 and on through chapter 25, Jesus addresses these questions.
In chapter 24, verse 9, Jesus says that believers will be put to death and hated by all nations. Throughout history, Christians have been persecuted to some degree, but this is persecution at an unprecedented level. He says we will be hated by all nations. Because of the severity of this persecution, Jesus says many will fall away.
In verse 11, he says there will be many false prophets who will lead many astray.
In verse 12, he goes on to say that lawlessness will be increased, and the love of many will grow cold.
Jesus states that a sign of his coming and of the end of the age, will be a great falling away. He drives this home by stating it three times, and scripture warns us not to be deceived about this coming event.
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first… (2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV)
Make no mistake, this will be a dark and dangerous time for believers, and Jesus makes it clear that many will not have what it takes to stand fast through this time. But he also says in verse 13 that “the one who endures to the end will be saved”. The word endure means to remain, to abide and not flee, to endure bravely and calmly. Just as there will be a falling away, there will also be a remnant who endure, who remain true and faithful to the Lord, enduring to the end.
Then in verse 14, Jesus’ narrative takes an abrupt and positive swing.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14 ESV)
How do we jump from a great falling away to the gospel of the kingdom being proclaimed throughout the whole world? Earlier in the chapter, when talking about the tribulations that would be coming on the world, Jesus said, “All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (vs 8). This statement is key to understanding how God will use this season of tribulation to work his purposes. The phrase birth pains, conveys the idea of something painful and difficult that cannot be avoided. Birth pains are a necessary process that brings forth something new and wonderful. There’s an Old Testament prophecy that gives insight into how God will use the falling away to work his purposes.
In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’ (Zechariah 13:8-9 ESV)
It is those who remain faithful and steadfast through the time of the falling away who will proclaim the gospel of the kingdom to the whole world. The church that emerges from this time of testing and refining is the embodiment of all that God has promised in the scriptures concerning His church, the body of Christ.
- It has come to full maturity, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ 3.
- It is the body of Christ that has grown up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ 4.
- It is the sanctified church, set apart as holy, useful to the master, and ready for every good work 5.
This is the fully mature body of Christ, perfectly connected and fully surrendered to the Head, available to carry out all that Jesus desires to do on the earth. Through this remnant, God’s message will be proclaimed throughout the whole world. This is not a personal salvation message. It’s the gospel of the kingdom, the message of God’s rule and reign. It’s the message that Jesus preached and told his disciples to preach. This will be proclaimed so completely and so powerfully that it will bring God’s purposes to an end. This amazing accomplishment will be birthed out of a dark and dangerous time, leaving no doubt that this is the Lord’s doing, the work of God alone.
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Matthew chapter 25 opens with the parable of the ten virgins. This is a continuation of Jesus’ narrative about signs that will precede his coming and the end of the age. In this parable, there are five wise and five foolish virgins who went to meet the bridegroom. When it was announced that the bridegroom was arriving, the foolish realized that their lamps were going out, and they went to buy more oil.
And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:10 ESV)
The wise virgins, who were ready, went in with the bridegroom to the marriage feast. This is the glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish, suitable to be presented to Jesus as his bride 6. This is the Bride of Christ, who will perfectly and completely represent Jesus to the world. And again, darkness precedes the revealing of the Bride of Christ.
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. (Matthew 25:5-6 ESV)
It’s significant that the bridegroom shows up at midnight. This isn’t when a bridegroom would normally be expected to come. But in this parable, he shows up at midnight, representing the darkest part of the night. It also says that all the virgins became drowsy and slept, implying they are in a period of diminished spiritual activity. This corresponds to the dark time of the falling away and fulfills what Jesus prophesied.
…night is coming, when no one can work. (John 9:4 ESV)
As stated before, the Bride of Christ emerges from this dark period and fulfills God’s purpose of proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom throughout the whole world.
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The falling away is communicated so clearly by Jesus that it’s very hard to dismiss it. However, there are some who will discourage any immediate concern, saying that we don’t know when this is going to happen. But according to Jesus, the very fact that we don’t know the time should be additional incentive to pay close attention to these warnings.
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:13 ESV)
How do we prepare for this coming darkness, so that we will be among those who endure to the end, and not among those who fall away? The answer is found in the fundamentals of what the scriptures teach us about following Christ. The more severe the trial, the more we must be living out the basics of the Christian faith.
Love The Lord
We must diligently pursue what Jesus proclaimed as the greatest commandment.
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 first commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38 ESV)
Jesus isn’t talking about loving Christian activities. He is talking about an all-consuming love for the Lord himself that far surpasses our love for anyone or anything else. In the following verse, Jesus defines how exclusive this level of love is.
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26 ESV)
One of the primary ways our love for the Lord is manifested is in our obedience to him.
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15 ESV)
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3 ESV)
We must have a love for God that is expressed in joyful obedience that delights to do his will and to honor him, no matter what the cost.
Lose Your Life
The great challenge of persecution is that people are trying to hurt you by taking things away from you. Taking your freedom, your sense of security, your dignity, your family, and even your life. The greatest defense against all of this is that you have already surrendered these things into God’s hands.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. (Luke 9:23-24 ESV)
Taking up your cross means dying to yourself. And we are called to do this on a daily basis. This is fundamental to our call to follow Jesus and becomes essential if we are to endure persecution. Many believers in America live very blessed lives, yet these blessings can become the primary means of destroying us if we don’t have a Biblical attitude towards them.
And they have conquered him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Revelation 12:11 ESV)
No one can take away from you what you’ve already given up.
Faith And Trust
Faith and trust are at the heart of a healthy relationship with the Lord. And while they are very similar, there are some distinctions that are important to understand. Both faith and trust are powerfully portrayed in the Old Testament story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. While these men were living in Babylon during the exile, King Nebuchadnezzar erected a large statue and commanded everyone in the land to fall down and worship it, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not worship the image, and this was reported to the king. Nebuchadnezzar gave them one last chance to comply, telling them that if they refused, they would immediately be thrown into a burning fiery furnace.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:14-18 ESV)
What an amazing demonstration of faith. Under threat of being thrown into a blazing furnace, these men calmly proclaim that their God can deliver them from its flames. But they also demonstrate an amazing level of trust, saying that if God doesn’t deliver them, it doesn’t change anything; they will not serve his gods or worship the image. Faith believes there’s nothing impossible for God. Trust is at peace with whatever God chooses to do.
Hebrews chapter eleven is commonly referred to as the faith chapter. Most of the chapter is dedicated to giving examples of faith in action. These verses tell of great victories that were obtained through faith.
who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. (Hebrews 11:33-34 ESV)
Then, in the middle of verse 35, the narrative takes a dramatic shift.
Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— (Hebrews 11:35-37 ESV)
The most important thing that happens through faith is that God is honored, and this can look like many different things. Through faith, some people bring honor to God by escaping death. Through faith, some people bring honor to God by being killed. These things are completely in the hands of God. But true faith delights to honor God and will prepare us for whatever path he calls us to walk.
Have An Eternal Perspective
What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (James 4:14 ESV)
Our life is but a moment. And compared to eternity, it’s a very short moment.
For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18 NKJV)
Lots of people believe in eternity, yet do not have an eternal perspective. An eternal perspective will define how you view this life. It means that eternity is your ultimate hope. It is so real to you, it is so fixed in your heart, that it is the lens through which you constantly view everything in this life. Having an eternal perspective allows us to see this life correctly.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV)
This verse is a powerful example of an eternal perspective. It reveals how affliction is actually working something wonderful for us. For a moment, we endure light affliction, so that for eternity, we will know an exceeding weight of glory.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 NKJV)
Jesus also revealed how powerful an eternal perspective is for overcoming persecution.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12 ESV)
If we take Jesus’ words to heart, not only will we endure, but we will do it with joy and gladness, knowing that our eternal reward is great.
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The New Testament places a lot of importance on one-another ministry. Love one another, be devoted to one another, instruct one another, and serve one another are just a few of the 50+ one-another verses in the New Testament. In hard, difficult times, we will need one another like never before. But scripture also teaches that we each have personal responsibility for our relationship with the Lord that no one else can do for us.
It’s disturbing how many believers operate from a herd mentality. They have a false sense of spiritual security simply because they’re involved in a very active church, and they’re surrounded by lots of people doing the same things they’re doing. They view church leaders as their spiritual covering, trusting in them to lead and to protect them. Their sense of security comes more from their connection with their church than from a strong personal connection with the Lord. I was hesitant to use the word many, but then I remembered that Jesus said many will fall away.
In the parable of the ten virgins, when it was announced that the bridegroom was arriving, the five foolish virgins realized that their lamps were going out.
And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ (Matthew 25:8-9 ESV)
The wise virgins weren’t being unkind; they were simply acknowledging a spiritual reality. The things needed to endure hard and difficult times must be personally acquired by each individual. Each of us must diligently pursue a sincere and pure devotion to Christ 7. We can challenge and encourage one another to diligently pursue the Lord, but no one can do this for us.
Jesus himself gave this advice.
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. (Revelation 3:18 ESV)
By grace we enter into God’s salvation. But we must personally invest ourselves in order to lay hold of all that this salvation provides for us.
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The purposes of God will never fail. His plans and promises will succeed in every way, and His glory will be revealed to all the world. Yet, Jesus makes it clear that towards the end, things will get worse before they get better, and many will not endure the difficult times so they can be part of God’s glorious victory.
Although it’s inevitable that the falling away will happen, I pray that the remnant will be as large as possible. Lord, please open our eyes to your ways 8. Grant us true humility, Godly sorrow, and deep repentance. Stir us in our very spirit to seek you diligently. Teach us to live for you alone, and to trust in you alone. Oh Lord, turn our hearts to you.
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. (Isaiah 60:1-2 ESV)
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Footnotes:
- Genesis 18:11 ESV Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.
- Galatians 4:22-23 ESV For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.
- Ephesians 4:13 ESV until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
- Ephesians 4:15 ESV Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
- 2 Timothy 2:21 ESV Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
- Ephesians 5:27,32 ESV So that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
- 2 Corinthians 11:3 ESV But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
- Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Test Everything 
Thank you
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