30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 21 20-24 WATCH AND PRAY III 03 Luke 21 20 Understanding the signs
📖 Luke 21:20-24
*FRIEND OF GOD*
26May2021 - *Understanding the signs* - _Luke 21:20-24_ - WATCH AND PRAY III (03) – Bible reading: _Revelation 13:5-6_
The Lord is revealing to us the signs of the end of the age. The Lord is calling us as His people not to be unaware of the signs of the times but to watch, pray and seek His face, so that we will not be sucked into the blindness that the devil is placing, over God’s people. We must be God’s people to the very end and *not fall away*.
Jesus gave a specific sign of the fall of Jerusalem and we know that the sign overlaps with what took place in AD 70 and with what is happening at the end of the age. _Luke 21:20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near._
We began to look at the sign of the end times and for the return of the Lord. _II Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for *that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed*, the son of perdition,_
There will be two specific signs that will happen before the return of the Lord and they are *(1) The falling away (2) the man of sin or the son of perdition is revealed*.
Here is another passage on the falling away. _II Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but *according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; (4) and they will turn their ears away from the truth*, and be turned aside to fables._
People will want to hear messages and teachings that suit them, that is convenient to follow, that they prefer and that which aligns with their own philosophy of a relationship with God.
Even if they listen to messages that are wholesome, *they will conveniently eliminate whatever does not suit them and their lifestyle* and take only what they want to hear and they will live by those partial teachings. *They will not come prepared to accept the whole truth and to live by the truth*.
*They will want preachers and teachers who will talk about how they can have personal gain, how they can be successful in life and how they can have a good future. These are the preachers who will attract large audiences*.
What is one of the most common deviations from the truth that is evident? This is one truth that people do not want to deliberate. This truth disturbs them for it is a matter of their choices and decisions that they make in life for themselves and for their children.
It is a matter related to their well-being, well settled in life, their relocation to different places and taking up assignments which they consider will be good for their future.
This is a topic that even established believers do not want to discuss. This is a subject considered as the normal way of life and not open for conversation.
The common teaching that lends support to this blindness is the teaching that says, God first, *Family second* and Ministry third. What does this ideology lead to? It leads to making choices for our personal and family wellbeing, first, which we have already decided as basic. Our family needs to be well settled, first, then we will think about what ministry we will do for God and His kingdom.
We tell our children that they must *study well so that they can be well settled in life*, be a good testimony and then serve the Lord through different ministries.
What has this done to us as the church? It has made us be toothless and backboneless people, *who will look for personal security first* before anything else. We have not raised giants, who will confront the evil of our nations and bring people from darkness to light.
This is major blindness that the devil has very effectively placed over the eyes of believers. This is the big falling away that is happening in our times.
_Ezekiel 33:31 So they come to you as people do, *they sit before you as My people*, and they hear your words, but *they do not do them*; for with their mouth they show much love, but *their hearts pursue their own gain*._
_I Timothy 6:9-10 But *those who desire to be rich* fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. (10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which *some have strayed from the faith* in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows._
The second sign before the return of the Lord is the revelation of the man of sin or the son of perdition.
_II Thessalonians 2:3-4 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, (4) who opposes and *exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God*._
The son of perdition will have the same agenda as that of Lucifer. _Isaiah 14:13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;_
_Daniel 8:9-11 And out of one of them came *a little horn* which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. (10) And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. (11) *He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host*; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down._
_Daniel 7:25 *He shall speak pompous words against the Most High*, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time._
_Daniel 11:36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: *he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods*, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done._
_Revelation 13:5-6 And *he was given a mouth speaking great things* and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. (6) Then *he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven*._
These are the two signs that will happen before the coming of the Lord.
*Thought to ponder*
```Let us be people of understanding.```