Colossians 2:14-17 is not about the 4th Commandment

In 2009 I was exposed to the truth about the Lord's day which is the weekly 7th day Sabbath (see Isaiah 58:13, Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, Luke 6:5 where the Sabbath, not Sunday, is identified as the Lord's day).  The 4th Commandment explicitly tells us it's the 7th day of the week which Hebrews 4:4 reconfirms.  Calling the 1st day of the week Sunday the Lord's day is a tradition of man that has no biblical basis.  I know people use 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 to claim Sunday is now the Lord's day. They claim "the collection for the saints" (verse 1) is tithing and it's to be done on the 1st day of  the week, Sunday.  Since it's customary to tithe while at church they claim this proves Sunday became the primary day of worshipping together in church.  But Paul said he wanted "no gatherings when I come" (verse 2) which makes no sense if these "gatherings" are really church tithes.  Why would Paul tell a church not to tithe when he's around? 

1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
1 Corinthians 16:3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

There's no logical reason Paul would say he wanted no gatherings/tithing done while he was there.  Look at the story of the poor widow in Mark 12:41-44.  She gave all that she had and Jesus praised her for it yet somehow people think Paul was demanding that nobody give a tithe in front of him.  That makes no sense since if Christ rejoiced then Paul should rejoice in witnessing tithing too.  In Philippians 4:16-17 Paul praises them for helping him with his necessities hoping that "fruit that may abound to your account[s]"  in the Lord's eyes.

If you read Acts 11:28-30 you'll see a man named Agabus prophesied a famine would happen in Judea so it was determined to have brethren elsewhere send relief.  Paul (still going by Saul) and Barnabas were put in charge of collecting it.  That's the "collection for the saints" from 1 Corinthians 16:1.  It's not tithing but a famine relief effort which is why he says he's going to bring it back to Jerusalem.  If it was a tithe it would go to the pastor's there in Corinth.  Paul wanted the relief gathering taken care of before he got to Corinth so the brethren there could focus on his teachings.  And the reason he said to do it on the 1st day of the week is this:  the epistle would have been read to the entire church on the Sabbath (when the whole church would be there to hear it) so Paul was saying take care of business the next day.  Don't gather your offering that day lest people accuse them of doing unnecessary labor on Sabbath.

That passage isn't the one I'm focusing on today.  Instead I'm turning my attention to Colossians 2:14-17 which is another misinterpreted verse about the Sabbath.  People use that verse to claim the weekly Sabbath was no longer in effect thus we cannot judge each other regarding it.  But like 1 Corinthians 16:1-3, there is more to this than meets the eye.

Before we continue ask yourself a couple of questions... who would teach you to rebel against the any of the 10 Commandments in any way, God or Satan?  Being etched in stone symbolizes they are in effect for all eternity everlasting does it not?

Here is the 4th commandment:

Exodus 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exodus 20:11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Okay now let's look at that passage in Colossians where Paul tells the church to not judge others regarding "the Sabbath days".  People use this passage to suggest that the 4th Commandment was symbolically nailed to the cross and blotted out at the crucifixion.  This passage tells us the Sabbath days were merely a shadow of things to come.  Here is the passage:

Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:
Colossians 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

But before you decide the 4th Commandment is no longer valid let me show you biblical proof that "the Sabbath days" in question are annual Sabbaths that are part of the feast days... and that God draws a clear line of distinction between those Sabbaths and 4th Commandment Sabbath.

In Leviticus chapter 23 the Lord tells the Israelites that they are to keep as holy convocations a series of feast throughout each year.  Some of these feasts lasted for several days, for example the Feast of Tabernacles lasted 8 days.  When you read chapter 23 you'll notice these feasts contained extra Sabbath days in addition to the weekly 4th Commandment Sabbath.

For example verse 32 speaks of a Sabbath that will always fall on the 9th day of the 7th month. 

Leviticus 23:32 It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath.

But as you read further God draws a very clear line between the annual feasts and the regular weekly Sabbath.  In verse 37 He says these feasts include meat and drink offerings (the meats & drinks Colossians 2:16 was talking about) but in verse 38 He says they are besides or separate from the standard weekly Sabbaths and the standard offerings that are presented throughout the year.

Leviticus 23:37 These are the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:
Leviticus 23:38 Beside the Sabbaths of the Lord, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the Lord.

But that isn't the only place in scripture were you can find clear, irrefutable proof God makes a distinction between those Sabbaths and His weekly Sabbath.  In Isaiah 1:13-14 the Lord reveals He hates the feasts, including their Sabbaths and in Hosea 2:11 God promises to bring an end to Israel's feasts, which He calls "her feasts" and He also refers to "her Sabbaths" as something He will do away with.  Yet in Isaiah 58 calls the weekly Sabbath His holy day and He also calls it honorable.  Obviously God is not transgender so His Sabbaths are not the same as her Sabbaths.  Also God would not call His holy day honorable in one part of the bible, then say he hates His Sabbaths in another part so the Sabbaths he hates are the ones which are part of the feast days. 

Let's see where God says he hate's her Sabbaths.  First Hosea then Isaiah:

Hosea 2:11 I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her Sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.

Isaiah 1:13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
Isaiah 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

Now let's see where God calls His Sabbath holy and honorable. 

Isaiah 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Isaiah 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

When He says "turn away thy foot from the Sabbath" it means don't trample it under your feet.  In Jeremiah 12:10 God says "Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness."  The psalmist said "It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold" (Psalm 119:126-127).  It would be wise to believe the Lord is going to pour out some serious wrath upon those who teach others to the weekly Sabbath can be disobeyed.  In fact Jesus vows they won't make to heaven.  In the following passage Jesus promises "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven... For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."  Right after saying that Jesus specifically mentions 2 of the 10 Commandments, which proves He was saying whoever teaches anybody it's okay to break any of them is going to lose out on salvation.  I've been to lukewarm churches where people would argue that since Jesus only mentioned 2 of the Commandments then He didn't mean the others.  You can take that risk if you must but I wouldn't recommend it for James 2:10 says "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."  Here is where Jesus says those who teach people to break the commandments will not go to heaven:

Matthew 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Matthew 5:18  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 5:19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:21  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
Matthew 5:22  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
...
Matthew 5:27  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Matthew 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
...
Matthew 5:31  It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
Matthew 5:32  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Regarding the commandments, reread verses 21-22 and 27-28.  In those verses we learn the letter of the law is to not literally kill someone and not literally commit adultery.  But the spirit of the law is to go the extra mile and not even hate anybody or even think about committing adultery.  Now go back and read Exodus 20:8-11 then Isaiah 58:12-14 again and you'll see the letter of the law is to obey the Sabbath (not do any secular work, nor make anybody do any secular work) yet the spirit of the law is to delight in the time you spend with God.  If keeping the Sabbath is a burden because you want to do your own ways or you want to shop or go to your secular job or then you aren't obeying the law in the spirit.  Yet how many Christians actually delight in the Sabbath and keep it holy AS GOD INSTRUCTED US?  And how many Jeremiah 12:10 preachers have taught people to trod God's portion under their feet in total defiance of the 4th Commandment and Isaiah 58:13's command to turn your foot away from trampling upon the Sabbath?  And remember nowhere does the bible say keeping Sunday holy in place of the real Sabbath is acceptable.  Isaiah 58:12 speaks of God's people being "repairer[s] of the breach, The restorer[s] of paths to dwell in" and then tells us that the breach is dishonoring the Sabbath!  The repairers of the breach are those who "call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words."

In Isaiah 42:21 we are told "The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable."  Magnifying the law is exactly what Jesus was doing when He said hating your brother without a cause was a violation of the 6th Commandment, or lusting after a women in your heart was a violation of the 7th Commandment.  And magnifying the Sabbath law is exactly what Isaiah 58:13 tells us to do; but thanks to the falling away (2 Thessalonians 2:3) virtually the whole Christian world thinks the 4th Commandment is just an optional guideline.  Christians actually teach each other to turn their foot towards the Sabbath and trample it into the ground!

I'm going to post Colossians 2:14-17 again then let's compare it to what we see in Hebrews.

Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:
Colossians 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Now let's see what it says about this very same subject in Hebrews chapters 9 & 10.  I'm going to post my comments in brackets.

Hebrews 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service [these are the handwritten ordinances to be blotted out; handwritten by Moses], and a worldly sanctuary.
...
Hebrews 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Hebrews 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances [the things we are no longer to judge on because they were] imposed on them until the time of reformation [they were caused to cease just as Hosea 2:11 foretold].
...
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.  [Notice it didn't say the whole law was a shadow of things to come.  But it does say the law had a shadow within it of things to come; this shadow within the law had was done away with, but not all of the law of Moses was done away with because not all of it was a foreshadowing of Jesus.  Much of the law of Moses is simply good moral behaviors the Lord expects us to follow.  Leviticus 18:23 forbids defiling ourselves sexually with animals and no doubt that ordinance wasn't done away with.  And of course we are still to love our neighbor as ourselves but the sacrificial offerings and all ordinances that had anything to do with ritually cleansing us from our sins including the feasts were done away with because the blood of Jesus fulfilled those things for as verse 10:4 says the blood of animals cannot take away sins.  As Colossians 2:14 says those ordinances were against us and contrary to us because they proved we were in sin and worthy of death.  Think about how ridiculous it is to say the weekly Sabbath is "against us" or "contrary to us."  Is communing with God on the day He sanctified against or contrary to us?  Certainly Not!]
Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Hebrews 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

I think there is nothing wrong with remembering the feast days.  In fact I think it's a very good thing to study them since they foreshadowed the works of Jesus.  What Paul was dealing with when he wrote his epistles was Jewish people constantly telling the Gentiles they had to keep the feasts as written in Leviticus which included animal sacrifices.  Paul was telling the Colossians not to let themselves be judged by ordinances which were made void at the cross.

I wish all who currently do so would stop using Colossians 2:14-17 to teach people they can disregard the weekly Sabbath.  It dishonors God and frankly it's dangerous.

I will end with this; Psalm 37:4 says "Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."  I hope the desire of your heart is to honor the Lord and be with Jesus for eternity.  If so there is a place in the bible where God tells you how to "delight thyself in the Lord" and I included in earlier in this study.  Do you remember where?  It's in Isaiah 58:13-14.  If you "call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."  The Lord is calling us to do His will "For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works" (Hebrews 4:4).  Since the Lord blessed one day over the others and since He calls you to delight in that specific day, why would you disregard it or substitute another day? 

I hope this was a blessing for you.  Amen.

My Take On Matthew Chapter 24 - Part 3

For Part 1 Click Here

For Part 2 Click Here

I've been making comments on Matthew 24 as we read through the chapter.  Part 2 ended at verse 30 but I'm going to include it again as we begin Part 3.

Matthew 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matthew 24:31  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Matthew 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Matthew 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Matthew 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Matthew 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Matthew 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Matthew 24:37  But as the days of Noe [Noah] were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Matthew 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

I don't believe in a pre-tribulation or mid-tribulation rapture because I don't think the bible supports it.  The pre or mid-trib rapture doctrine claims Jesus first rescues the church either 7 or 3 1/2 years before the end of the world with the people who were left behind getting another chance to repent.  But the bible clearly tells us when Jesus returns to claim His bride (the church) if you are not ready then it is too late.  As in the days of Noah, when the flood came if you weren't on the ark it was too late... so shall also the coming of the Son of man be!!! 

Matthew 24:40  Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Matthew 24:41  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

The ones who are taken are "caught up together... to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thessalonians 4:17) but what about the ones who are left behind?  The popular (but false) doctrine is that they get another chance at salvation but earlier in Matthew chapter 24 Jesus revealed they will dead "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together" (Matthew 24:28).  If you are left behind then it is too late.  You've been shut out from the marriage supper for eternity.

Matthew 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Matthew 24:43  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Matthew 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Matthew 24:45  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Matthew 24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Matthew 24:47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Matthew 24:48  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Matthew 24:49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Matthew 24:50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Matthew 24:51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

That's the end of the Matthew chapter 24.  I think the parable it ends with is pretty self-explanatory.  Over and over throughout the chapter Jesus is saying we need to be ready when He comes or it'll be too late.  Therefore it's vitally important to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).  So "Take heed that no man deceive you" (Matthew 24:4) because "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14) and "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7).

Amen.

My Take On Matthew Chapter 24 - Part 2

For Part 1 Click Here

Before I continue where I left off I want to say something about scripture in general and as we read through Matthew 24 I will apply it to what Jesus was saying.

I believe scripture have can have multiple layers.  By that I don't mean that scripture can mean different things to different people.  God didn't give us the bible so everybody could have their own interpretations.  Jesus and His disciples quoted the Old Testament many times.  Whenever they do it is always quoted because it means something specific.  For example in Matthew 26:31 Jesus quotes Zechariah 13:7.  He tells us Zechariah 13:7 was referring to His upcoming capture and crucifixion, saying the disciples will be afraid to admit they are His followers and will flee the scene.  Here are the verses.

Zechariah 13:7 Awake, O sword, against my shepherd [Jesus] , and against the man that is my fellow [His followers] , saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them [His disciples], All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

After Jesus quotes Zechariah do you know what He does NOT do?  He doesn't say "Well, that's what this verse means to Me, but if it means something else to you that's okay because the bible can mean different things to different people."  In fact not once can you find an example in the bible of Jesus or anybody else quoting scripture then saying "that's what it means to me... but if means something different to you that's fine..."  Yet the devil has convinced millions of Christians to think scripture can mean whatever personally works for them. 

As I said earlier I do believe scripture can have multiple layers.  The obvious meaning will be at the surface but there can be more to it on a deeper level.  So perhaps one could say Matthew 26:31 also applies to Christians throughout the centuries who become afraid to declare they follow Jesus because of the consequences.  An example could be at work fearing to say homosexuality is a sin because it might cost you your job.  Or even keeping silent about believing in Jesus because your peers at school will laugh at you.  After all scripture says "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9) so if followers of Christ denied Him out of fear then, there's no reason to say they won't do it now.  But what we want to avoid is twisting scripture so it means something out of context or doesn't build upon the basic meaning.  One verse cannot mean two totally different things.  Take this next verse for example:

Psalm 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

Some heretics like Kenneth Copeland claim it is saying we are all powerful deities, we are literally "gods" not just mortal men.  But is that really what it is saying?  Read it in context and you will see when it says "Ye are gods" it really means we are God's children, we are God's property, not that we are gods/deities ourselves.  If you think I'm wrong and agree with Copeland's interpretation so be it but at the very least I hope you don't think both interpretations are true.  The notion that bible verses can mean two totally different, contradictory things needs to be put to rest.  When scripture has multiple layers the deeper meaning has to build upon the foundation of the surface level meaning.  It cannot mean something else entirely.

Part 1 covered Matthew 24 up to verse 14 so let's continue starting with verse 15.

Matthew 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Matthew 24:16  Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Matthew 24:17  Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Matthew 24:18  Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Matthew 24:19  And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Matthew 24:20  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

In Daniel chapter 7 four dominent empires, referred to as kingdoms, are spoken of.  These kingdoms are symbolized as beasts; "... The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth..." (Daniel 7:23) and it represents the Roman Empire, who along with apostate Jews killed Jesus.  Rome is (RED LETTERS) "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" was Jesus warned about.  The pagan Roman Empire surrounded "the holy place"  (verse 15) Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD.  The Romans didn't immediately attack the city when they first surrounded it.  The Jews who heeded the warning Jesus had given took advantage of the Rome's tarrying and fled the city.  According to the Jewish historian Josephus, 1.1 million Jews who remained were killed in the ensuing combat and famine.

The reason Jesus said "pray ye that your flight be not... on the sabbath day" is because the city was surrounded by a wall and the gates were closed on the Sabbath to prevent traveling merchants from coming in and attempting to do business on the Sabbath day.  [As an aside, this proves the Sabbath was not abolished at the cross as some people claim and it also proves the Sabbath isn't any day you personally choose either, as others claim.]  Having the gates closed not only kept people out but it also locked people in.  That's why Jesus said to pray you didn't have to flee that day... because you were trapped inside the city!  At any rate, praise God that the Jews who followed Jesus knew they were surrounded by "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" and fled to safety when they still could. 

As with other verses I think that Matthew 24:15 has multiple layers, and will also apply it to the end time church.  The pagan Roman Empire collapsed and was taken over pseudo-Christian papal Rome, ruled not by the Caesar's but by the papacy, currently led by Pope Francis.  The Roman Catholic Church I believe is "Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth" (Revelation 17:5).  Whether or not Francis will be the last pope I don't know, but Rome was the abomination of desolation then... and still is today.  I believe they will attempt to trap the people of God again, not in one lone city, but wherever God's true followers are worldwide.  As Matthew 24:15 says "whoso readeth, let him understand" the people who have eyes that see and ears that here will flee before Rome (who gets their power and great authority from Satan) captures and kills them (Revelation 13:2).  They will be coming after Sabbath keepers soon, the saints "that keep the commandments of God [thereby rejecting the traditions of man and the church] , and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12).

Since I believe the warning "pray ye that your flight be not... on the Sabbath day" is or can be multi-layered then it could also apply to the end time church.  So it seems logical to me the antichrist will have some type of plan to trap people on the Sabbath day.  What specifically that trap might be I have no idea but Jesus didn't warn us for nothing so I will be vigilant.  Our adversaries not only have modern day technology to use against us but Satan's demons will be working alongside with them so I'm sure they think their plans to attack us will succeed.  But we have the assurance of God that "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper" (Isaiah 54:17).  So we shall "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest" (Joshua 1:9).

Matthew 24:21  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

When Rome surrounded Jerusalem in 70 AD 1.1 million Jews were killed while the number who fled and survived was only in the thousands.  Certainly a great tribulation period for them.  During the period of history known as the Dark Ages Europe the Roman Catholic Church was responsible for the deaths of over 100 million Christians who rejected Catholic authority.  This period was primarily the 5th to 15th centuries but their violence and hatred against bible-believing Christians continues to this day, only well-hidden beneath a veneer of peace.  So the tribulation is ongoing.  And now while lukewarm Christianity is joining hands with Catholic church, they are preparing to unleash the worst tribulation period for true Christians the world will ever see.  And most Christians won't see it coming because they are expecting an Islamic antichrist.  The "iron" empire Daniel warned of in Daniel chapter 2 is Rome. The fourth beast - the one with iron teeth - of Daniel chapter 7 is Rome.   Rome is "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" Jesus warned about... not Islam.  Islam is the brilliant deception Satan raised up to take our eyes off the real threat.

Matthew 24:22  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Now just because Isaiah said no weapons formed against us shall prosper doesn't mean many of us won't be imprisoned or killed during this period of great tribulation.  Revelation 20:4 tells us some of God's people will be "beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God. "  And we know it's speaking of the end times because the same verse tells us this will happen at the mark of the beast is being enforced.  Ultimately we need not be afraid because Jesus commands us to "fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).  If you die in this life but keep your salvation that is what matters.  The goal of Satan and his followers is to cause us to lose out on receiving our eternal crowns of glory so they will use every weapon at their disposal to achieve that goal, be it spiritual or physical.  But remember Matthew 10:22, 24:13 & Mark 13:13 assure us as long as we keep the faith "he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." 

Matthew 24:23  Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Matthew 24:24  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.

Jesus is warning us to not be fooled by miracles.  This reminds of Deuteronomy 13:1-3:

Deuteronomy 13:1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
Deuteronomy 13:2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
Deuteronomy 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

In other words, if a prophet or visionary promises you a miracle and it comes to pass... but he preaches "another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted" (2 Corinthians 11:4), you shall not hearken to the words of that false prophet or visionary.  God allowed the false miracle to take place (or He did it Himself) just to test you, to prove whether you will believe Him or the lies.  In Matthew Jesus warns at the time of the end the miracles of these false prophets will be so spectacular even the very elect, those with the most wisdom and best discernment will be tempted to believe them.

Matthew 24:25  Behold, I have told you before.
Matthew 24:26  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Matthew 24:27  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:28  For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

Rome is Mystery Babylon and the pope is "that man of sin [to] be revealed, the son of perdition" (2 Thessalonians 2:3) whom the world will bow down to after the churches fall away into apostasy.  I believe every pope who has lived was and is an antichrist for there are "many antichrists" (1 John 2:18) but I do believe the final antichrist will be Satan himself staging a fake Second Coming of Christ, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14). 

Now maybe you disagree with my beliefs.  Maybe you think I'm wrong about the papacy, maybe you think it'll be an Islamic antichrist or some other suspect.  Fair enough.  But I hope one thing you and I can agree on is this; what Jesus says in Matthew 24:23-28 can prevent you from being fooled by the false second coming of Christ  no matter who it is.  Jesus says "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not" and "if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not."  Now in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Paul tells us when Jesus returns "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."  When people say Jesus is here or there but you haven't been caught up in the clouds to meet Him in the air, then it's a lie!  Jesus will be in the air "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."  Amen!!!  Oh and everybody who does not meet the Lord in the air will be dead.  Paul says after Jesus claims His people the fate of the rest of the world is "sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:3) and Jesus confirms this in Matthew 24:28 when He says "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together." 

If you read the bible and still fall for these deceptions it is unfortunate.  At the real Second Coming you are either alive in the air with the real Jesus or down here dead.  The sad thing is millions of Christians will fall for the lie "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:10).  Let's look at two more verses which proves this to be the case:

Matthew 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Matthew 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Jesus said "all the tribes of the earth... shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds".  After we see Him we either go up with Him or die.  So when Christians end up believing He is in the desert or the secret chambers or here or there it is because they listen to false teachers rather than study the bible for themselves.

I'll finish up my take on Matthew chapter 24 in Part 3 of this study.  As for what you've read so far I hope and pray you've been blessed by it.  Love you.  Amen.

My Take On Matthew Chapter 24 - Part 1

I'm going to through the entire chapter of Matthew 24 and share a few thoughts about it as we read along.

Matthew 24:1  And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Matthew 24:2  And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Jesus was talking about the upcoming destruction of the 2nd Temple which was to happen a few decades after He spoke those words.  On the surface He was talking about the  physical building being destroyed but in scripture there are often many layers to be uncovered.  I think there is a spiritual lesson here as well.  Today we tend to think of a church as a building.  You drive by it during the week and think to yourself "there is my church."  But a church (ekklesia in the original New Testament Greek) is really an assembly or gathering of Gods people whether you are surrounded by four walls or out in an open field.  Now notice in verse 1 Christ's disciples follow Him out of the building in which Jesus had been speaking.  Jesus then continues to teach them outside the building, telling them the building itself is irrelevant and will be destroyed.  Likewise as believers we must remember that the buildings we meet in today are not "the church" but we are the church.  We are only part of the true body of Christ when we following Him outside the building and let Him teach us wherever we are.  If the only time you spend with Jesus is an hour or two every week at "church" then you really aren't part of THE church.

Matthew 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Matthew 24:4  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Matthew 24:5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Verse 24:4 is the most important warning in the entire chapter.  Jesus goes on to forewarn of many things which can get us killed but those things won't cost us our salvation.  However being deceived by false prophets just might cost you everything.

Matthew 24:6  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.

He says to "see that ye be not troubled" by these things you cannot control.  What should you be troubled by?  Deception by false prophets and false Christs.  Why should those things concern you?  Because you can do something about it!  You can learn to spot false prophets and study the truths of the bible to prevent from being deceived.  In verse 7 Jesus continues to foretell of things we will not be able to prevent.  There's nothing wrong with keeping track of these things but we should focus on the preventable things.

The key to remember about these warnings is that they are a mixture of things we can and cannot prevent.  You have the ability to prevent yourself from being deceived... but it takes due diligence.  Are you in the word daily?  Or are you only in the word at church once a week?  And do you actually follow Jesus wherever He leads you or only when He leads you where you want to go?  2 Timothy 4:3-4 says "For the time will come when they [people who profess to be followers of Christ] 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."  Why?  Because they only follow Jesus when it makes them happy to do so. That type of mindset is preventable... and if any of us have that problem right now the good news is the Holy Spirit can change us; He can and will lead us into all truth if we surrender our will to Him. 

As for the wars, the disasters and the diseases we shouldn't think it our place to stop these things from happening.  Jesus specifically said these things must happen so preventing these things is not an option. 

Matthew 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Matthew 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Okay so we cannot stop these things from happening.  But is praying for God to slow them down for the sake of bringing more non-believers into the assembly an option?  I think so.  And also to give the lost sheep, those who profess to be believers but are straying from the path, more time to repent.  But make no mistake, the Lord will not spare a people who reject Him once their cup of iniquity has overflowed.  I'm an American by birth, but my loyalty is to God by the rebirth He offers me through the blood of Jesus.  Whatever past claims this country had to being a Christian are irrelevant.  The United States has long since ceased to be a Christian nation and even though it will make people angry, I'm placing the blame squarely on the church.  If that angers you let me ask you a few questions.  Do you think this country was ever really a Christian nation?  I do although we have always had our flaws.  If you say "no I don't think this was ever really a Christian nation" then you have no reason be upset.  But if you say "yes I think this country was (or still is) a Christian nation" then I have a couple more questions.  Do you think as a society we have been dumbed down spiritually?  Morally?  Politically?  Do you think the education system in this country has been dumbed down?  If you said yes to any of those I have one final question.  How can you dumb down a Christian nation unless you dumb down Christianity first?  Sorry if it angers you, but the if the church in general was doing its job this country would not be in the state of decay it is in now.

Remember when Abraham pleaded with God to spare the city of Sodom (see Genesis 18:20-33).  Because his nephew Lot and his family lived in Sodom, Abraham asked the Lord to spare that city if at least 50 righteous people could be found living there.  Abraham eventually talked the Lord into sparing Sodom if only 10 righteous people could be found.  Did He find 10?  No, so "the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven" (Genesis 19:24) and I have no doubt the United States has the same fate coming, along with the rest of the world.  Jesus said the world in the end times would be "as it was in the days of Noe [Noah] (Luke 17:26).  Genesis 6:5 tells us it was like this; "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."  And throughout the bible we are told though the number of God's people (the number of professed believers) will be as the sands of the sea of the sea, only a remnant shall be saved.  A lot of people will verbally claim Jesus is Lord, but for most their hearts are actually quite far from Him.  In the grand scheme of things there won't be enough truly Godly people in this country to prevent the USA from the same fate as Sodom.   Now obviously the bible isn't exclusively for Americans so you can say the same thing about any other country of course.  The very next verse in Matthew 24 says Christians in all nations will be afflicted.  In fact verses 9 and 10 below continue to foretell of things that are going to happen which we cannot prevent, so we shouldn't think it is our duty to prevent these things.  It is our duty to be spiritually strong in Christ so that when they happen we keep the faith because as verse 13 below tells us only those who "shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."  So now let's read verses 9 through 14.

Matthew 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Matthew 24:10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Matthew 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Matthew 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Verse 9; we can't do anything about it.  It's going to happen.

Verses 10 and 11; these things will also not be stopped... but you can prevent yourself from being one of those betrayers who hates one another.  And you can take heed that those false prophets do not deceive you. 

Verse 12; we can't stop it.

Verses 13 and 14; you can be one who endures to the end & you can be one who preaches the gospel. 

This pattern continues throughout the chapter.  My prayer for us all is that we don't focus to much on the things we cannot stop, but will be diligent about the things we can prevent.  I'm not saying it's wrong to pay attention to the unpreventable things just don't obsess over them.  The church isn't going to stop earthquakes or any other natural disasters from happening.  You won't stop floods, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, meteor's or whatever else comes along but you can help bring people to Christ before they die in one of these types of disasters.  And you can help people learn to identify and avoid false prophets too. 

Keep in mind you can only help people who are willing to listen to reason; most will reject the truth so don't try to force it on people.  Focus on people who want to learn the truth, not on those who only want to easy way out.  Sad as it to say, most Christians will fall into the latter category.  Read verses 9 through 11 again.  But before you do keep two things in mind:

#1) Jesus said in John 16:2 "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service."  Jesus is telling us our fellow Christians are going to be the ones attacking us.

#2) No matter how popular the belief is that the greatest threat against Christianity is Islam, with an Islamic antichrist coming up against us one day, the truth is Islam is nothing but a deception from Satan to distract us from the fact that the bible is really warning us about a false Christian antichrist. Look at what the apostle John tells us in 1 John 2:18-19.  John points out there are many antichrists even back then when he wrote it, but take note the antichrist's he warns of come from us.  Notice verse 19 John uses the word us 5 times.  Who is us?  This is from a letter to Christians so obviously us means the Christian church. He's driving the point home to be on the lookout for a Christian antichrist, not an Islamic one!!!

1 John 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Now do see why Jesus said "Take heed that no man deceive you" and "many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many"?   Think about it.  There is nothing deceptive whatsoever about Muslims openly declaring they want to kill Christians, yet millions of Christians are convinced Islam is the great end time threat we face.  Nope, they are the red herring Satan raised up so false prophets in the Christian church can point the finger at them.  The ones who "shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you" are going to be deceived Christians who think they are doing God a service because they are going to think real Christians are the heretics, not them.  They are going to think because you don't bow down to "the church" then you are the reason God's wrath is coming upon them and the world.  These deceived Christians are going to think they have to kill us "heretics" in order to appease God so He will end the worldwide calamities.  Again Jesus said to let "no man deceive you" and their is nothing even remotely deceptive about Muslims openly declaring they want to kill Christians... so don't be deceived into thinking they are who the bible is talking about.  Antichrist will be a fake Christian leader who along with his fake Christian false prophets convinces lukewarm Christians to kill real God-fearing Christians.  When you read Matthew 24:9-11 that is what Jesus was warning about!!!

Brothers and sisters I pray you are not angry with me for saying these things.  Christians must get themselves prepared spiritually for what is coming.  Will terrorist attacks against Christians by Muslims increase as time progresses?  I'm sure they will and I'm not looking forward to it.  But you know what I'm looking forward to even less?  How the self-centered, me-first Christian community is going to respond!

I'm not saying this stuff to be hateful or because I think I'm so great.  As a man, I'm as much a sinner as anyone else, and I probably have more skeletons in my closet than most of you.  But remember Moses was a murderer and King David was a murderer and an adulterer.  And the apostle Paul was an relentless persecutor of the church, consenting to the death and imprisonment of Christians before his conversion.  The point is not that I'm trying to put myself on a pedestal because that isn't the case.  But God doesn't use people who are perfect either.  He uses people who are willing to believe Him whether or not the truth is popular.  I'm pleading with you, you have got to understand and NOT underestimate what is coming.  You must be prepared spiritually because Jesus said only those who endure till the end shall be saved.

Thanks for reading.  God Bless.

I've Posted A Few Updates

Today I updated The Letter Of The Law Vs The Spirit Of The Law.   It was a small addition that I added to the bottom of the post.  Click this link to check it out.  :)

I also updated a couple of other pages in May with the additions being added at the bottom of each post.  If you care to see the updates click the links below.

Do People Burn In Hell For All Time?

The Isaiah 28:10 Principle

 

The Lord Will Give You The Desires Of Your Heart Whether They Are Good Or Evil

Acts 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Psalm 10:17 Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Romans 1:26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Romans 1:27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Romans 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Romans 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Romans 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Romans 1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Romans 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Matthew 15:16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
1 Corinthians 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Corinthians 6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Galatians 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Galatians 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Galatians 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Galatians 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Ephesians 5:3  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Ephesians 5:4  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Ephesians 5:5  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Ephesians 5:7  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
1 Timothy 4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.
Revelation 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Revelation 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
1 Timothy 6:11  But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1 Timothy 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Ephesians 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Ephesians 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Ephesians 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Ephesians 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Ephesians 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Ephesians 6:20  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Galatians 1:5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.