Month: October 2021

While walking through a Flea Market, I stopped at a vendor and he said, “we are definitely living in the end time”.  To which I replied, “that’s true”. Another man who overheard the conversation joined in by saying, “we are definitely in the Revelations”. He continued, “I think Jesus is about to wrap things up and ‘rapture’ the church”.  I was struck by his sincerity.  Rapture the Church – why is this doctrine so popular among the Protestant Churches, especially when scripture clearly marked out the progression of last day events? 
And Jesus answered and said unto them, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet”. (Matthew 24:4-6 [KJV])

While I will not address the rapture at this time, the level of deceptions that are in the world are staggering. People are prone to be deceived by influential people they know or associate with.  The higher the reputation, the greater the power to deceive.

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” [Proverbs 16:25.] Ignorance is no excuse for error or sin, when there is every opportunity to know the will of God. A man is travelling, and comes to a place where there are several roads, and a guide-board indicating where each one leads. If he disregards the guide-board, and takes whichever road seems to him to be right, he may be ever so sincere, but will in all probability find himself on the wrong road”.  {Great Controversy (GC) 88 597.3}

I have been shown that Satan has not been stupid and careless these many years, since his fall, but has been learning. He has grown more artful. His plans are laid deeper, and are more covered with a religious garment to hide their deformity. The power of Satan now to tempt and deceive is ten-fold greater than it was in the days of the apostles. His power has increased, and it will increase, until it is taken away. His wrath and hate grow stronger as his time to work draws near its close.  {2 Spiritual Gifts (SG) 277.1} 

It was through deception that Eve fell and sin took the world captive.  Likewise, deception will gather the whole world against Christ. 

“And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone”. (Revelation 19:19-20 [KJV])

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs [come] out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, [which] go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty”.
(Revelation 16:13-14 [KJV])

“And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live”. (Revelation 13:14 [KJV])

“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect”. (Matthew 24:23-24 [KJV])

As Christians we often think of deception in relation to spiritual things, but that should not be.  Sin is a deception, which covers more than doctrine that people believe. The Bible tells us that consumption of alcoholic drink to the point of being inebriated is a form of deception.
“Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1 [KJV])

On the mount of temptation, the Devil offered Christ the whole world if he would bow down and worship.  This was a deception.  Christ is the maker of the world. (See Matthew 4:8-10). That deception is offered to the whole world.

 In  the book of Proverbs, Solomon made it clear that gluttony is deception.
“When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what [is] before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou [be] a man given to appetite.
Be not desirous of his dainties: for they [are] deceitful meat.” (Proverbs 23:1-3 [KJV])

The apostle Paul makes it clear that sin is a deception.
“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! Certainly, I would not have known sin except through the law. For indeed I would not have known what it means to desire something belonging to someone else if the law had not said, But sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of wrong desires. For apart from the law, sin is dead.  And I was once alive apart from the law, but with the coming of the commandment sin became alive and I died. So I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life brought death! For sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it I died. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good. (Romans 7:7-12 [NET])

Many choose a life style that produces diabetes, and in many cases lose their health, legs, eyesight and organs instead of changing the lifestyle.

The same goes for smokers.

Many will not consider their fatty diet even after a heart attack.

One of the greatest deceptions is seen below.

“God has given us his Word that we may become acquainted with its teachings, and know for ourselves what he requires of us. When the lawyer came to Jesus with the inquiry, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” the Saviour referred him to the Scriptures, saying, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” Ignorance will not excuse young or old, or release them from the punishment due for the transgression of God’s law, because there is in their hands a faithful presentation of that law and of its principles and its claims. It is not enough to have good intentions; it is not enough to do what a man thinks is right, or what the minister tells him is right. His soul’s salvation is at stake, and he should search the Scriptures for himself. However strong may be his convictions, however confident he may be that the minister knows what is truth, this is not his foundation. He has a chart pointing out every way-mark on the heavenward journey, and he ought not to guess at anything.”  {Great Controversy (GC) 88 598.1}

These words are spoken millions of times per day and in many cases are well intended.  Nevertheless, the outworking  has produced heartaches, pain and even death. How often two individuals meet by chance and, by exchanging names and numbers, develop a friendship.  As this friendship blossoms and intensifies, these words are uttered which causes longing and desire. With these longing and desire come those words.  The result is one or the other is now willing to leave family, friends and associates to be with the other.  They may live on different continents or in different countries, knowing no one except the person in whom their thoughts and emotions are centered.  The willingness to risk all solely on the word of a stranger is truly phenomenal.  That is faith.  

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 [KJV])

This is truly interesting, how is it that such implicit trust can be placed in a person we barely know?  Scripture’s account of the word of mankind is clear. “The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9 [KJV])

 “O LORD, I know that the way of man [is] not in himself: [it is] not in man that walketh to direct his steps”. (Jeremiah 10:23 [KJV])

Thus saith the LORD; Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. (Jeremiah 17:5 [KJV])

Mankind’s thoughts and affections are so easily changed that placing so much confidence is not wise, yet it is done daily.

What is so remarkable about that experience is, the great and Sovereign God of the universe who cannot lie (Titus1:2) and who does not change (Malachi 3:6), speaks and is not believed. 

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee”. (Jeremiah 31:3 [KJV])

“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine.  When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  For I [am] the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt [for] thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.  Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.  Fear not: for I [am] with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west”. (Isaiah 43:1-5 [KJV])

 “I will mention the loving kindnesses of the LORD, [and] the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.  For he said, Surely they [are] my people, children [that] will not lie: so he was their Saviour.  In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old”. (Isaiah 63:7-9 [KJV])

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16 [KJV])

“That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” In the light of the Saviour’s life, the hearts of all, even from the Creator to the prince of darkness, are revealed. Satan has represented God as selfish and oppressive, as claiming all, and giving nothing, as requiring the service of His creatures for His own glory, and making no sacrifice for their good. But the gift of Christ reveals the Father’s heart. It testifies that the thoughts of God toward us are “thoughts of peace, and not of evil.” Jeremiah 29:11. It declares that while God’s hatred of sin is as strong as death, His love for the sinner is stronger than death. Having undertaken our redemption, He will spare nothing, however dear, which is necessary to the completion of His work. No truth essential to our salvation is withheld, no miracle of mercy is neglected, no divine agency is left unemployed. Favor is heaped upon favor, gift upon gift. The whole treasury of heaven is open to those He seeks to save. Having collected the riches of the universe, and laid open the resources of infinite power, He gives them all into the hands of Christ, and says, All these are for man. Use these gifts to convince him that there is no love greater than Mine in earth or heaven. His greatest happiness will be found in loving Me. {Desire of Ages (DA) 57.1} 

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:4-8 [KJV])

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.” (Ephesians 5:2 [KJV])

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it,” (Ephesians 5:25 [KJV])

Even the angels marveled at the love where with God has shown for man. 

“For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?  Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing [that is] not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.“ (Hebrews 2:5-8 [KJV])

What has God done or not done for such a deep distrust of all His goodness and love to us?

“For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the LORD. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 [NET])

What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32 [KJV])

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35 [KJV])

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 [KJV])

With all the wonderful promises that God has given us, how can we doubt His goodness, mercy and his paternal care?

*Please review the wonderful promises of God on the home page of this site. As you meditate upon them, pick your favorites and commit them to memory.  You will find that He will bring them to your remembrance in time of need*