Matthew 24:7b
"................ and earthquakes, in divers places."
Are true saints motivated and strengthen in their faith by the world's news? Again, I ask this question: before the world's news became like the speed of light going through this earth, how did saints labor to understand the scriptures, such as the one before us? I would venture to say, the very same way that we must do today~by seeking bible answers from the scriptures themselves, the very same way they Christ exhorted men to do. John 5:39 It does not get any harder than that. It does become very difficult, when we begin to look elsewhere, other than the scriptures. I have often said and do strongly believe, that if one was isolated on an island with nothing but the word of God, then that person could know all of the truths contain therein, "if" God was pleased to reveal it to that person. It is all hidden within the scriptures alone. This truth must be drilled into the minds of all young believers, and from them, to the next generation. But, we first must believe this with all of our hearts; if we do not, then we have no anchor for our souls to secure us from false prophets, who do not believe this.
"Earthquake in divers places"~To believe this in a literal sense, has it problems, more than I believe that they who hold the literal sense care to deal with. Consider a few:
1. "Those men who want to apply these earthquakes in a literal sense as a sign for the last days, should answer this question:" Have the things that are mentioned in this verse (famines, pestilences, and earthquakes) been common events that have been occurring since man has been upon the earth? The answer to that question is~yes. The scriptures from the OT gives us records of such events many times over. How could these be such a sign of Christ's coming, and warning for us to heed, in order to be prepared, when he comes? They cannot be.
2. "The literalist must prove that we must interpret these things literal." They can not do this, with support from this discourse.
3. The Literalist must disprove the spiritual interpretation as false." This no man can, nor do many even try to do so. They would expose themselves too much to their deceived followers. The historicist, those who are full blown preterist, will adamantly speak out and expose the premillennialist, because they are an easy target to expose, yet they for the most part will not enter into a debate with a spiritualist/idealist, who use scriptures to interpret scriptures, instead of history, and Josephus, and extra-biblical material that they force into the scriptures, and along side of them, give you a corrupt meaning of scriptures under consideration. I have heard men give different views of certain scriptures from Matthew 24; 2 Thess. and Revelation, yet never mention the spiritualist/idealist view, and they knew the view of them, yet did not want their followers hear it! Is that being honest?
5. "Do you believe that Christ would apply two things spiritual in this verse and not all three of them? He would not, neither did he. All three are to be understood in a spiritual sense. We must interpret scriptures, base upon what make sense with other plain scriptures; and what will flow with all scriptures, and allow them all to interpret each other. There must be a complete harmony with all scriptures, all should agree with this. Let us give some plain scriptures that will help us to interpret earthquakes to means what it does mean within this settings of this discourse, and the meaning is this: "earthquake=separation"
If we follow the discourse and the warnings carefully, then we should have no problem accepting the meaning that Christ intended for us to received from his use of his words.
Matthew 24 is a discourse given by Christ, concerning events that are signs showing believers that Christ's coming is at hand, and also warnings to the elect to help them to be prepared and ready for that day, and not be be over discouraged when these things are coming to pass, lest they faint and grow weary during those days. Those days will be a great testing period for all true believers, since they shall be overcome, and cast down, but not destroyed! 2 Corinthians 8-9. By the very fact that Revelation 20:9 speaks of the camp of the saints prove that during the little season when Satan regains his power as he had it in the OT, shows that the saints are still holding fast their profession and standing fast against the powers of darkness, even though, in those days there shall be earthquakes in divers places throughout this world, separating them from the majority of professing Christians, and the separation is more than mutual.
The holy apostle said these words concerning those days:
Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5~I will only quote the very last words, for the sake of time:
".......From SUCH turn away."
Paul, just as Christ did, said that we must turn away from such hypocritical professors, who loved pleasures more than the word of God. You read 1 Timothy 3 down to 4:5 and tell me if we are living in these days~without question we are. Our days are indeed very perilous when the churches are full professors, yet they are empty, void of God's Spirit and a love for the truth. In the latter days, just before Christ's coming true believers will be departing from the temple of God~ (more on God's temple later) not only here in America, but in divers places, saints are no longer welcome, unless, they are willing to lay doctrine aside, and godliness, and let people do as it seems good in their sight~the scriptures are not important, loving sinners is much more important (even though they really do not care for sinners as much as they claim, church is more like a country club to them, than a house of worship) so they say.
Paul also said:
1 Timothy 6:3-5
"If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and tot he doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strife of words, wereof cometh envy, strife, railing, evil surmising, perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: FROM SUCH withdrawn thyself."
Our Lord Jesus said these words, right after what he said in Matthew 24:15:
Matthew 24:16
"Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains."
We shall consider this verse later, but now, let it suffice us to say that that Christ is warning his elect to flee from Judea. Judea here being spiritual Jerusalem of the NT, or the place where he is worship~just as in the OT Jerusalem and the temple were in Judea. Christ is worship throughout this world in the outward professing churches/temples, by millions upon millions. But, sad to say, that in the very last days, the man of sin shall sit within those temples/church buildings, and declare himself that he is God, and that is done when they begin to corrupt the pure teachings of the scriptures to fit their wicked lifestyle. It is not no longer unusual to see or hear even sodomites talking about God as though God is their father and friend, while they are married, or kissing/hugging their lover! The reason why they can do that is because their church or minister (he/she might even be a sodomite) said that God is not against it, but for it. This is one extreme, yet there are many other ways that they declare themselves to be God. All in the name of religion!
God's children will separate themselves from such wicked sinners, and wicked they are. Not only that, they will separate themselves from you, if you are bold enough to take a stand.
There are earthquakes happening all over this world. Saints have and will exdous Judea in the latter days. Before closing let me answer a question that some may have.
Do I believe that we all should forsake the outward churches of Christ? I am not saying that. Every man must be fully persuaded in his own mind and judge for himself. I will say this, it is hard to find true saints in great numbers in any one church, at least, this has been my experience for the last fifty years. Wherever there is a true and faithful church, it will be in small numbers throughout this world.
Every man has been given a conscience, and he should labor with a honest spirit, to always make sure that his conscience is void of offense, both toward man and God. The elect belong unto God, not man, so we exhort all to be faithful in their heart, using the word of God has their judge in whatsoever they do, do all to the glory of God, and not to man.
RB
