Lesson 457 - Senior
Memory Verse
"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:36).
Cross References
I The Lord's Wrath
1. The Great Tribulation is near, [ZEP:1:14].
2. That day will be one of trouble and great distress, [ZEP:1:15-17]; [MAL:4:1].
3. It will then be too late for deliverance, [ZEP:1:18].
4. We are warned to prepare now to escape that terrible day, [ZEP:2:1-3]; [MAT:24:21-22]; [LUK:21:34].
II A Great Day for Those Who Are Prepared
1. Those who fear the Lord and prepare need not fear that day, [MAL:4:2]; [ISA:26:20-21].
2. John the Baptist (Elias), the forerunner of Christ, came preaching repentance, which is the important message of today, [MAL:4:4-6]; [MAT:17:10-13]; [EZE:33:15].
3. Christ shall come in His revelation at the end of the Tribulation [MAL:4:3]; [MAT:24:29-30].
III Prophecies Concerning the Day of the Preparation
1. Chariots of today and scarcity of forests were prophesied, [NAH:2:3-4].
2. The outpouring of the Holy Ghost was prophesied both for the early church and for the latter days, [JOE:2:22-29].
3. False prophets, wars, love of many waxing cold were foretold as events of the days just prior to Christ's return, [MAT:24:3-14], [2PE:2:1-3].
4. These things tell us that our redemption is near, [LUK:21:31].
Notes
We are living near the close of the day that we refer to as the Day of Preparation. God has sent His Holy Spirit into the world to seek out a Bride for His Son, and the Bridegroom is about to appear. This day began with the opening of the Holy Ghost dispensation on the Day of Pentecost. This "former rain" that was prophesied by Joel came, true to the promise of the Lord, upon those disciples who were in one place and of one accord waiting in the upper room. During the first part of this century we have seen the fulfilment of the latter part of this prophecy in the outpouring of the Holy Ghost again as on the Day of Pentecost. That was the "latter rain" that Joel said would come. It is likened unto the rains that were sent in Palestine so long ago to ripen the grain for harvest. The spiritual Latter Rain is being poured out today, and the Bride is being readied for the soon coming of the Lord back to earth again.
Prophecy Fulfilled
We have seen the literal fulfilment of Nahum's prophecy that "the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken. The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings." We here in the north-western part of the United States have seen all too vividly that our fir trees have been terribly shaken. The forests are becoming fewer every year because of large logging operations. Now loggers are beginning to lift logs out of deep gorges and off high mountains by helicopter. The huge machines that they use to build roads and to drag out logs now literally push their way through the forests until all parts of the mountains know that the fir trees are being "terribly shaken."
Our highways and freeways are a striking picture of what Nahum predicted would come to pass. The speed of highway travel, the terrible accidents with the great loss of life all too completely tell us that the chariots are jostling "one against another in the broad ways." Who would have dreamed a few years ago of the highway system we have today! This indicates the speed of the days in which we live. More is happening now in a week than happened in a year a few generations ago. People are running to and fro and knowledge is being increased. Many people now travel from coast to coast by automobile and return in two weeks' time and call it a vacation trip. One hundred years ago it took several months to make the trip by wagon, and then at the cost of hardship and privation as well as dangers along the way.
Knowledge is increasing at such a rate that few of us can comprehend what we read in the daily newspapers regarding scientific development. It has not been long since the knowledge of the geography of our own country was incomplete, and now man speeds on his way to find out the secrets of the universe. Knowledge increases but man seems never to be able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Considering the population of the world as a whole, spiritual knowledge does not keep pace with the material advances. But those who are preparing to meet the Lord when He comes use the things they see around them as a stimulus to being watchful and prayerful that they might be found prepared when He comes back for His own.
The events we have seen transpire in Palestine during the past few years are another indication that this is the final phase of the Day of Preparation. The Jews who were hunted, persecuted and slain by the millions during World War II now have a nation that we know as Israel. This land God had promised to them; and even though their disobedience brought about their banishment from the land for a time, God's promise that they would finally inherit this land still holds true today. At this writing the fulfilment of some of these promises are yet to be realized, but we all agree that the fig tree has begun to put forth its leaves and we know that summer is nigh. The promises to Israel as well as every other promise that we read in God's Word will prove true. Many of the prophecies concerning the Jews will be fulfilled in the Millennium period; but we believe that all prophecies to be fulfilled preceding Christ's coming, have been fulfilled and the Rapture is at hand.
Abounding Sin
In these last days iniquity abounds everywhere. Almost all authorities agree that the incidence of crime of every kind, as well as juvenile delinquency, is on the increase. Much of it is blamed on the breakdown of moral standards in the home. Many of the things that were thought of as vulgar or indecent a few years ago are accepted now or considered funny. The movies, and of late years television, are bringing things before the people that can do nothing but tear down their resistance to that which is sensual and devilish. The true Christian, who stands against such inroads that the devil is making these days is counted by many as old-fashioned or hopelessly out of date. People may say that these things are here to stay and that we might as well accept that fact and live with it. If we agree with that argument, we might as well say that since the time of Adam sin has been here to stay and we might as well not cry out against it nor try to stop people from following in the ways of sin. That is what much of Christendom is doing; but it is the duty of the true child of God to take a definite stand against sin -- both in living and in preaching.
Waning Love
We read in [MAT:24:12], "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." We see in this, too, evidence of the last days before our eyes. Very few Christians would contradict the statement that many people and church denominations that once had the love of God burning in their heart are now cold, disheartened, or outright compromisers when the issues of godliness and true holiness confront them. That has happened and is another proof that the days in which we live are the wind up of the Gentile dispensation. Church membership is made easy, and some people suppose they are Christians just because they have been accepted into the church. This makes church membership without having been born again an actual hindrance to spiritual enlightenment.
In the very days when men should be doing everything possible to make preparation for the Lord's coming, we find that Satan has turned many people's hearts away from a real hunger for God. The religious association is only a society or a means to better acceptance among other so-called Christians. This we see as proof of the fact that because iniquity is abounding the love of many is waxing cold. We will never learn our spiritual lessons by any other than spiritual pursuits. It takes prayer, self-denial and an aligning of our lives to the plain teachings of the Word of God.
False Prophets
Another sign that we are nearing the coming of the Lord is that false prophets are abroad in the land. Some religious leaders are neglecting to brand these enemies of the cross of Christ by their right name. Some ministers seem to think they are branded as un-Christian when they denounce anyone or anything. True ministers of the Gospel are careful to preach a positive Gospel, which shows up sin under any cloak. Some so-called ministers of the Gospel even deny the plain words of the Bible and the Blood that was shed to save them. Some even deny that Jesus is the Son of God and still claim to be Christian. We read in II John 10-11: "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." Sometimes it is sinful to be silent. Sometimes it is sinful to fail in obligations to let people know that we stand for all the doctrines of Christ.
The doctrines of Christ are God's doctrines and there is no reason to try to straddle the fence by saying that the Apostle John had reference only to the people who deny "that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh." To deny that, of course, would shut one off from his only means of salvation, but to deny any other teaching of the Bible is also to deny Christ. False prophets are used of Satan in his plan to occupy people with anything, even religion, to keep them from being among them who are "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" [REV:21:2]).
Delusions
One might wonder how it is possible for people to believe some of the things that are prevalent in these last days. We read the answer to that in [2TS:2:11-12]. "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." The decision was their own, they had refused to walk in the true way and had shut their heart's door to the Saviour. Some easier way seemed to them to be more desirable. But do these "easy" ways lead to Heaven? Jesus is the Door and to deny Him or His doctrine is to close the only gateway to Heaven.
World Perplexed
The problems that face the national leaders of today are staggering. True to prophecy, men's hearts are failing them for fear of the awful things that are coming upon the earth. When one tries to read the signs of the times without taking into account Biblical prophecy of what will come, there seems to be no conclusion to draw but one of despair. If the outlook is dark on the horizon we may do as the early Christians did: look up. They had the bright hope within their breast that was not lost, as they had at first supposed when Christ died, but they looked for the return of their Lord. That very hope was a purifying factor in their lives, for they were preparing themselves and preaching to others that they were not to be overly anxious about the things that might come on this earth, nor did they even preach for people to get ready to die -- their message was that people should prepare for the return of the Lord. That is the message of the Church Militant today. We do not despair; we are not discouraged. Our love is not growing cold; but the fervent desire to see the Lord in the clouds as He comes to rapture His people out of this world keeps our hearts alive with keen expectancy. The world thinks something drastic is about to happen, and it is. The Lord is about to come! Have you made the preparation?
Questions
1. How does the automobile today fulfil prophecy?
2. What prophecy would seem to speak of our freeways of today? of auto accidents?
3. What does "former rain" and "latter rain" mean in Palestine in the natural? In regard to spiritual things?
4. Why do so many people fall for the delusions of the last days?
5. What is to be our attitude toward those who come trying to give us a false teaching?
6. In what way have we seen the fig tree begin to bud?
7. Why is it that so many have grown cold in these last days?
8. What is one of the greatest factors to cause us to purify ourselves?
9. Why is it that some people's hearts are failing them for fear?