Pam Padgett ... teacher
Deut. 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God:
but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our
children for ever, that we may do all the words of this
law.
There are things God has not chosen to reveal to us, secret things
that belong to Him. But God has revealed to us many things, so that
we might do according to His will.
As I read of the secret things that belong to God, I was reminded of
what Jesus told his disciples about His return ...
Mark 13: 32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no,
not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the
Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when
the time is.
Although we don't know the day or hour of His return, Jesus revealed
to us things that will happen before His return and instructed us in
what to do when we see these things.
We are warned to take heed, pay attention, that we not be deceived (misled
to believe what is not true) by the many who say "Jesus is
Lord" but are not of God, not led by the Holy Spirit.
Mark 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed
lest any man deceive you: 6 For many shall come in my
name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Although we hear of wars, we are not to be troubled, knowing that
these wars will come, but don't mark the end.
Mark 13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars,
be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but
the end shall not be yet. 8 For nation shall rise
against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be
earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and
troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
When we are "delivered up" for the sake of the Word of God, we are
to trust the Holy Spirit to give us what we are to speak at the hour
it is needed, rather than trying to plan it out for ourselves ahead
of time.
Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall
deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be
beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my
sake, for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first
be published among all nations. 11 But when they shall lead
you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye
shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall
be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye
that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Although we will be hated by all men because of the Word of God, we
are to endure until the end.
Mark 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death,
and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their
parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye
shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall
endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation,
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not,
(let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in
Judaea flee to the mountains: 15 And let him that is on the
housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to
take any thing out of his house: 16 And let him that is in the
field not turn back again for to take up his garment. 17 But woe
to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those
days! 18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
Although afflictions will be greater than at any other
time, God has shortened the days for the elect's sake, so that the
elect might be saved.
Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as
was not from the beginning of the creation which God created
unto this time, neither shall be. 20 And except that
the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved:
but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath
shortened the days.
False Christs and prophets will rise up, trying to seduce and
deceive the elect with signs and wonders and saying that Jesus is in
various places. We are to remember that Jesus
warned us of these things so that we won't believe them and won't
follow after them.
Mark 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is
Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false
Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and
wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But
take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Matthew 26:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is
Christ,
or there; believe it not. 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. 25 Behold, I have
told you before.
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. 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.
After that tribulation, there will be signs in heaven ...
the sun and moon will be dark, the stars will fall, powers in heaven
will be shaken ... then Jesus will come in the clouds with great
power and glory, and the elect will be gathered together by the
angels.
Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun
shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 And
the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in
heaven shall be shaken. 26 And then shall they see the Son of
man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then
shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect
from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the
uttermost part of heaven.
(Comments by Joan Boney ... And Peter tells us how we should live while we wait for the return of Jesus ... Peter says: Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
II Peter 3)
====================================