Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?
Luke 18:8 KJV
In the parable of the persistent widow of Luke 18:1-8 KJV, Jesus taught His disciples the importance of persistent prayer and enduring faith. This message was not only spoken to the disciples in His day, but it was spoken unto all generations and with more emphasis unto those followers of Him that shall be upon the earth when He comes.
Scripture teaches us that a woman in prophecy represents the Church, Jeremiah 6:2; Isaiah 51:16 KJV; Revelation 12:1 KJV, Ephesians 5:25-27,32, KJV, Isaiah 54:5-6 KJV, and therefore, symbolically, this widow represents the Church, living in the time of trouble and tribulation, who is constantly harassed and afflicted by the great adversary, Satan. Using his agents in these last days, he will be ‘wroth with the woman’ and will go out to ‘make war with the remnant of her seed, those who keep the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ.’, Revelation 12:17 KJV.
She is a widow, for in the time of trial and tribulation that is soon to befall God’s people, it will appear as if God has forsaken His people; it will appear as if He has left the marriage covenant and divorced His Bride. Satan will seek with all wrath to wipe those faithful Bible believing Christians off of the face of the earth, for they refuse to depart from the truth found in God’s Word and refuse to worship the beast and its image or receive his mark in their forehead or in their hand, Revelation 14:9 KJV; Revelation 13:15-17 KJV.
Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame, for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name…For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit…
For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
Isaiah 54:4-8 KJV
Christ desires nothing so much as to redeem His heritage from the dominion of Satan. But before we are delivered from Satan’s power without, we must be delivered from his power within. The Lord permits trials in order that we may be cleansed from earthliness, from selfishness, from harsh, unchristlike traits of character. He suffers the deep waters of affliction to go over our souls in order that we may know Him and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, in order that we may have deep heart longings to be cleansed from defilement, and may come forth from the trial purer, holier, happier. Often we enter the furnace of trial with our souls darkened with selfishness; but if patient under the crucial test, we shall come forth reflecting the divine character. When His purpose in the affliction is accomplished, “He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” Psalm 37:6.
Christ’s Object Lessons page 174
Many fear the time of trouble spoken of by the Prophets and by the Apostles which is to befall the world before the Coming of Christ, as a result this has lead to many false teachings in the Church today to calm those fears. But perfect love cast out all fear.
Let us take encouragement from the persistent widow, who, in the time of her affliction and in the time of grave trial, held fast and endured, persistently coming before the judge, exhibiting that unshakeable faith, until she was avenged. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith, holding on to Christ, coming before Him day in & day out, seeking deliverance from our adversary.
Yes a time of trouble such as never was is soon to come upon all who dwell upon the face of the earth, Daniel 12:1 KJV; Luke 21:31-32,35 KJV; Mark 13:19 KJV, but we have the countless promises in Scripture not to fear, for Christ will never leave us nor forsake us.
It is in a crisis that the true character is revealed. It is in the time of trouble that all of the ‘fair weather’ Christians shall be shaken out and the true believers shall remain.
When we walk through the fire, we shall not be burned, the flames shall not kindle upon us, Isaiah 43:2 KJV, for Christ shall be with us as our Great Protector, He will not cast off His people, neither will He forsake His inheritance, Psalm 94:14 KJV.
Therefore, let us have a faith that endures, let us pray without ceasing, let us fight the good fight and stay the course, for we have a crown to gain, whom the Lord Jesus Christ shall give to all those who endure unto the very end, James 1:12 KJV; 2 Timothy 4:7-8 KJV.
Here is the patience of the saints, here are those who keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, Revelation 14:12 KJV
For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know not anything…
Ecclesiastes 9:5KJV
Death is a subject that affects us all in this life; we are born, we live and grow and eventually we die but what actually happens to us after death? This is the question that man has been asking for millennia.
We live in a world where there are so many conflicting views & theories. Some say we are reincarnated and come back to life in another person’s body, others say nothing happens at all, that when we die that is the end of us for all eternity. In addition, these conflicting views are seen not only in the world but also in the Church. Christianity today teaches that when a person dies, they go immediately to heaven or to hell and some say one even goes to a place called purgatory: a sort of limbo, where you remain for a time.
But with so many different views, which one is correct?
As a Bible believing Christian, I believe that we must allow the Bible to have its say on the topic, for it, the Bible, is the inspired Word of God, it is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path Psalm 119:105KJV, “the entrance of” God’s Word “giveth light, it giveth understanding unto the simple” Psalm 119:130KJV, therefore, we are to live “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” Matthew 4:4 KJV.
To understand this topic of what happens after death, we must lay a foundation that things may be made clear.
Scripture teaches us that when Eve was first approached by the devil, who appeared unto her as a serpent, he deceived her with the first lie ever told.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.
Genesis 3:4 KJV
Satan basically insinuated that it was fine to disobey the word of God, Genesis 2:17 KJV, and eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For if you eat from it, said he unto Eve, you shall not surely die, i.e., you shall live forever and have immortality, death does not exist.
This first deception sounds a lot like what we hear today, some thousands of years later. How many of us have gone to funerals of deceased loved ones, only to hear that our dead friend or relative is looking down on us from heaven? It is even taught in the secular new age teachings of the day that our dead loved ones become part of the “life force”, whatever that is, to live on in nature. Not to mention the amount of times we see these conflicting views of death in mainstream media and in Hollywood. These are the common teachings of the day.
But what does Scripture say?
…our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality…
1 Timothy 6:14-16 KJV
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Psalm 90:2 KJV
The Word of God teaches us clearly that God is the only one that has immortality, and man, being created by the very Creator Himself, is not immortal, he is a mortal being, that returns to the grave at death.
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Genesis 3:19 KJV
Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his maker?
Job 4:17 KJV
But having said all this, what actually happens to us when we die? This is the topic of discussion today.
The Bible teaches us that when a person dies, they are in a state of sleep in the grave. They return unto dust to await their reward. That reward is given by Christ to every single person who has ever lived upon the earth, according to our works done in the body.
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
Job 7:9-10 KJV
Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.
Psalm 13:3 KJV
Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
John 11:12-14 KJV
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Revelation 22:12 KJV
By accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, the only acceptable offering for our sins, John 1:29 KJV, and by living a life that reflects the principles of God’s kingdom and His character, in total obedience to Him, we shall receive the reward of eternal life at the Second Coming of Christ.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV
…for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Corinthians 15:52-53 KJV
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished…. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Revelation 20:5,11-13 KJV
If the dead are indeed already in heaven or hell, why then would they need to be raised again? It’s a serious question to consider because if one is already in heaven for example, why then is Christ returning?
On the other hand, if we reject the call of mercy to surrender our lives unto Christ, and to repent of our sins and continue to live a life of wickedness, then we shall receive the reward of eternal death and punishment in the lake of fire and brimstone.
For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
Isaiah 66:15-16 KJV
Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Jude 1:14-15 KJV
The primary reason for this teaching that our loved ones are already in heaven and not in the graves as Scripture makes clear, is that many misinterpret the meaning of what a soul is. A popular teaching among Christianity today is the the soul is a distinct and separate entity from the human body. However, this is contrary to the Scriptures.
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 2:7 KJV
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1 Peter 3:20 KJV
The soul that sinneth, it shall die
Ezekiel 18:20 KJV
The Bible shows us that man and the soul are not separate, but in fact, the lifeless body plus the breath of life which coms from God creates a soul. The soul is the living person. It is not a free flowing spirit floating around as we see taught today. Notice what God says.
The soul that sinneth, it shall die
Ezekiel 18:20 KJV
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 KJV
As we can see, when the breath of life, also called the spirit, is removed from an individual, that person or soul ceases to exist. The physical body with the breath of life in it refers to the living soul; the soul in itself is not a separate entity as is falsely taught.
All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils.
Job 27:3 KJV
If persons, therefore, had a much clearer understanding on what the Bible says on this topic, they would not be deceived by a lot of these false teachings that are in the world today, which have also found themselves in the Church. We need to study the word of God more and make the effort to search the Scriptures for ourselves, for it is “a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path”, making clear the way which God would have us to walk.
If we open up ourselves into believing that the dead are in fact not truly dead, then we are no different that Eve, who believed the word of satan, who said that “you shall not surely die.” Not only this, but we open up ourselves to be deceived by the many spiritists and mediums in the world, who claim that they can communicate with the dead or even worse off giving the devil an opportunity to deceive us even further by manifesting himself to us in the form of one of our dead relatives or loved ones.
Friends, Christ is coming and coming quickly and He has a reward with Him to give unto all of us according to the works done in this life. Some of us may die before that time comes for we don’t know when God will require the breath of life from us, therefore, let us turn to God and put away the sinful pleasures of this life. Let us set our minds on things above, that heavenly reward, and not upon the fleeting things of this earth which shall pass away.
Surrender your lives over to the Creator of the heaven, the earth, the sea and all that in them is, that we may receive “the crown of life which He has promised to them that love Him.” James 1:12 KJV
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.
Hebrews 2:11 KJV
What comes to mind when you think of a ‘next of kin’? A father, a mother, a brother, a sister? Someone who is our closest blood relative perhaps?
Well, indeed you are right. Webster defines a ‘next of kin’ as:
“one or more persons in the nearest degree of relationship to another person”
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
This definition does not only relate to our earthly family, but the Scriptures themselves teach us that Christ Himself, is our next of kin.
We are taught that Christ died for our sins and that through Him we have salvation, which is true, I won’t negate this, however it is a bit deeper than this.
Christ did die for us, suffering the punishment required by the Law for the transgression of that same said Law, which is death, eternal death. But why did He choose to die? why did He take the form of fallen man, could He not have redeemed us from Heaven? why did He choose to suffer temptations as we also suffer temptations?
All of these are viable questions to the ‘thinking’ Christian.
The fact of the matter is this, we could have never had salvation through Christ Jesus, unless He had not become our next of kin.
Let me explain.
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
1 John 3:4KJV
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23KJV
Scripture teaches us that anyone who transgresses or breaks the Law of God is a sinner, for sin itself is the transgression of God’s Law. It further teaches that all of us have transgressed the Law of God and therefore are sinners and the wages or reward given to all sinners is death, viz, eternal death at the last day. However, despite all of this, the Father, in showcasing His immense love for fallen humanity gave His only begotten Son, who in nature & substance is Himself also God, that whoever should believe on the merits of His Son, shall not suffer this eternal death but have eternal life, John 3:16 KJV.
However, being in the very nature and substance God, John 1:1-3,14 KJV, Christ Himself could not suffer as we suffer or endure the temptations of the devil as we go through daily being God, so “in all things, it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren“, Hebrews 2:17 KJV.
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Hebrews 2:9KJV
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,he also himself likewise took part of the same…
Hebrews 2:14 KJV
He therefore, had to be made like unto us, partaking of literal flesh and blood, born of a woman, in the fallen sinful nature of man, a descendant of Adam. “He, also, Himself, likewise, took part of the same” nature as us.
It is by doing this, that He became our next of kin, He became our blood relative, for we are all one family, descendants of our first two parents, Adam & Eve, and therefore took on their sinful propensities after they sinned. Christ, after taking on human nature, having been made like unto us, his brethren, was now able to suffer as we suffer, be afflicted as we are afflicted, tempted as we are tempted, and by His righteous, blameless life and the blood He shed for us, we can now be redeemed.
For the Law states that if any man be sold into slavery, he can be redeemed by his next of kin.
…if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger… After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him…any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.
Leviticus 25:47-49 KJV
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Matthew 5:17-18 KJV
We have been sold into bondage to sin because we in our very fallen nature are sinners, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And contrary to the wisdom of the world, we are not able to redeem ourself for we are like the poor slave, there is only one Way, one Truth, and one Life and that is Christ Jesus. He therefore, being made like unto us, His brethren, became our next of kin that He might be able to redeem us. For Christ has not come to abolish or do away with the Law of God, as some falsely claim, rather, He came to fulfil the requirements of the Law.
The Law of God demands that a next of kin redeem him that has been sold into slavery, therefore, Christ, became our next of kin, that He may redeem us as the Law required. If the Law of God had been abolished, why then would Christ have to become like us and suffer like us and even die for us? The Law requires not only that there be a next of kin, but it also requires death for the transgressors, for the wages of sin is death. Christ Himself, came and took the death that we deserved and bore all of our sins upon the Cross, that we might be redeemed from the hands of the devil. Therefore, fulfilling the requirements of the Law, not one jot or tittle was passed from the Law.
As a result, Christ suffered for us, being tempted like we are, and is thus able to help and strengthen us as we are tempted. For we have not an high priest (and a next of kin) which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 KJV.
“When ye shall see these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.”
Matthew 24:33 KJV
When we look around us what do we see in the world today?
A world thrown into disarray & utter confusion. Wars and rumours thereof, racial conflict, widespread natural disasters, pestilences and diseases in man and in beast, not to mention the major increase in the frequency and intensity of global earthquakes and other calamities.
Crime is on the rise, there seems to be no more morality left in the world or in the Church. No respect for elders, no respect for parents, no respect or care for one’s own children.
Natural affection for one’s neighbour has ceased, mankind has become lovers of them own selves and pleasure more than lovers of God. Surely, we are living in unprecedented times, surely these days are perilous ones.
If the world is like this today, what will it be like in 30, 40 even 50 years to come?
Surely the world cannot continue like this….. Can it?
Are these not the warnings and signs that were given more than two thousand years ago? Have these messages not been preached by the Church for centuries, especially in the last 150+ years? Are we actually seeing the unfolding of Bible prophecy right before our eyes?
I believe we are.
I believe that these events and the state of the world as described by Christ and His disciples shortly before Christ’s Second Coming are being revealed right before our eyes.
“Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?“
Matthew 24:3 KJV
These were the words spoken by the disciples of Christ just days before His crucifixion upon the Cross. Christ was about to yield His life willingly for you and I. The penalty for the transgression of God’s Law is death (eternal), and Christ came as the atoning sacrifice that we may not have to suffer that penalty, should we believe and live for Him.
It was upon the Mount of Olives, after His final departure from the Ancient Temple in Jerusalem, that he was about to reveal unto his followers, both present at that time and future throughout later generations, the state of the world preceding His 2nd Coming in power and glory.
“ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars...nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom”
Matthew 24:6,7 KJV
Just look around us today, in the last 20 years for example, and observe the amount of global and civil wars and unrest that have taken place in our world.
Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Isis, Yemen, Russia & Ukraine, India & Pakistan. These are but a few. Not to mention the civil upheavals in Sudan, Mexico, Central Africa, Bangladesh, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, North Korea and the list goes on.
Surely the words of Christ have been speaking loud and clear in our day.
“there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.“
Matthew 24:7 KJV
Droughts are more noticeable, and this has a direct effect on the agricultural sector. As a result we are seeing more and more famines across the world.
Monkey Pox, Covid-19, SARS, Ebola, Swine and Avian Flus, Chikungunya, Cholera, Horse Flu, Mad Cow Disease, Zika virus & Lassa Fever. These are just a few of the epidemics and pandemics seen in man and beasts in the past twenty years.
Should I even mention the earthquakes?
It seems like everyday there is a new one and yes, one can argue, we have been having earthquakes as far as we can remember, which is true. However, have we been seeing earthquakes and tremors with such high frequency? At the time of this writing, there have been 46 earthquakes alone, greater than 2.5 in magnitude, all ranging from small island states to large independent nations; all “in divers places.”
“upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity…Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth“
Luke 21:25,26 KJV
With all of what we see happening in the world today, are not “men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth”?
In addition to the words of Christ, the Apostles also had much to say on these times. For says the Apostle Paul:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent (uncontrollable), fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God“
2 Timothy 3:1-4
Does it not sound like Paul is writing to us today?
Many may scoff at this and other similar messages, saying “where is the promise of His (Christ’s) coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. 2 Peter 3:4
But does not God tell us in His Word “that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.”? 2 Peter 3:3 and again He says “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4
All of what was written in times past is literally unfolding before our very eyes. Jesus gave us these signs that we may know that His Coming is near, even at the doors.
Therefore let us not be found scoffing and rejecting the message which Christ has given to us in love, for all of what we see transpiring today is meant to wake us up for ” the Kingdom of God is at hand, repent ye and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:15
“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.“
We are living in perilous times. Multitudes are asleep and are not paying any attention to the events that are transpiring around us. Events that ultimately will determine our everlasting destiny.
“Great changes are soon to take place in our world and the final movements will be rapid ones. The condition of things in the world shows that troublous times are right upon us. “
Testimonies to the Church vol.9 pg 11.2-11.3
We live in a world today where many profess the Christian faith, yet if you ask them what they actually believe, they cannot tell you. Why? Solely because Christianity today is a mere profession of faith with no corresponding works. The Christianity that we see in the Bible and in the early Church is nothing like what we see today. Christians today do not even pick up their Bibles and read them for themselves, dedicating time to study, like what was done in times past. Additionally, many ministers stand in the pulpit teaching a half truth and the end result? We have a Church today, which has “a form of godliness but deny the power thereof”, 2nd Timothy 3:5 KJV. In other words, they profess the Christian faith but they have not the fruits of the Spirit in their lives; they have one foot in the Church and another in the world.
As a result, it has been a passion of mine to open up the Scriptures to people. I believe that there should be less preaching and more teaching of the Word. Therefore, I intend to share various Bible Study notes on this platform for persons to view and study for themselves. Various topics will be covered and it is my intention that by opening up the Scriptures to people for them to see what the Bible actually teaches, that the gospel can be spread across the world and that they might come to a knowledge of the truth that is needed for these last days. I, by no means intend to judge any one; however, the truth must be presented from the Word of God and it is up to the individual to make a decision for themselves.
“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion and sound the alarm in my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.”
Loud Cry Compendium 